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Washington Huskies Coach Mike Hopkins Continuing Coaching Staff Search

Bret Stuter
Bret Stuter

The Husky Haul

Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. PITT won 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 22, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; It was Syracuse Orange assistant coach Gerry McNamara and assistant coach Mike Hopkins who look on prior to the game against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at the Carrier Dome. And Syracuse defeated South Carolina State 101-59. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; It was Syracuse Orange assistant coach Gerry McNamara and assistant coach Mike Hopkins who look on prior to the game against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at the Carrier Dome. And Syracuse defeated South Carolina State 101-59. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

University of Washington Huskies Mike Hopkins Targeted USC’s Jason Hart and Cal’s Tim O’Toole. Reports now that Tim O’Toole remaining with California

When University of Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball team head coach Mike Hopkins traveled across the nation to assume the head coaching job for the University of Washington, there were many hurdles. Moving. Coaching. Players. Right now, filling out his coaching staff appears to be a bigger challenge than expected. Earlier the team failed to land Jason Hart, but recovered nicely in landing Cameron Dollar.

In that report, we identified Tim O’Toole as a risk. He took the job at the University of California because he was no longer interested in moving.  In the end, that adversity to starting over may have been the ultimate deciding factor.

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In either case, the Washington Huskies search continues.

So where does that place the search?

Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Back To The Drawing Board

So where does that place Mike Hopkins? Back to the drawing board. We had listed a series of coaching choices when the head coaching position was vacant, and so that’s a good place to start.

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But there is a difference in the head coaching position versus an assistant’s position.  So who would be under consideration?

Well, one hat worth tossing into the ring is that of Glen Miller, former Assistant Head Coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies Men’s Basketball Team.  He has ended a five year role with UConn, reports confirm.  If he comes to UW, he can at least remain a Husky, albeit a fiercer version.

In a UConnblog.com article, Shawn  McGrath spells out the role of Miller with UConn:

"Miller was the coaching staff member responsible for working with the big men, a group which the Huskies did not recruit very successfully and also struggled to develop."

That is also an area of immediate need with the University of Washington Huskies.  In fact, big men on the roster is a true area of growing concern.  Could Glenn help?

He couldn’t hurt.

Dec 22, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange acting head coach Mike Hopkins reacts to a play against the Montana State Bobcats during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange acting head coach Mike Hopkins reacts to a play against the Montana State Bobcats during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

More Assistance From Assistants

But two other PAC-12 assistants are reported to have left to “pursue other interests”.  Per Jacob Thorpe’s report, both Washington State University assistant coaches Greg Graham and Silvey Dominguez have left the program. Greg Graham worked with the offensive schemes, while Silvey Dominguez worked with the defensive aspects of the Cougars.

From the eye test, the Washington Huskies need coaching help on the defensive side of the ball. While both Graham and Dominguez are very familiar with PAC-12 competition, that would tend to lean logically towards Dominguez.

Silvey Dominguez may be an excellent choice here, even in the short term. He’s had stints at USC in 1996, as an assistant coach for Utah in 2002, and with Washington State University most recently.

For Hopkins, Dominguez seems to fill numerous pronounced needs impacting the immediate future. He has a wealth of knowledge about the PAC-12 opponents, is familiar with Washington and the Pacific Northwest. But he has the ability to coach the defensive side of the ball.

Next: Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball Team Preparing For Lean 2017

For now, we wait. One coaching spot remains vacant for now.  Hopefully, the Huskies will be just as fortunate in landing their next coach as they were in landing Cameron Dollar.  Two names listed are certainly not an exhaustive list. But they are names to keep in mind.

Bret Stuter

Bret Stuter

Bret Stuter is the site expert for Ramblin Fan who has covered the Los Angeles Rams for 5 years. Swept up into loving professional sports from a family that listened to games on the radio, he is at home cheering for HC Sean McVay and the Rams. Articles have been featured on B/R, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Sporting News, and Washington Post. Bret loves to fish, and watch games at sports bars over pizza.