Big Sky Coaches Could be Candidates for Colorado State Job?

As you know by now, Colorado State coach Tim Miles has become the head coach at Nebraska. Miles had a great run at Colorado State, and I think he will be a big success with the Cornhuskers (but as they say, that's another story for another time). He also left behind a very full cupboard for the Rams, and a new coach that will have a chance to step up and compete for a conference title.

Could that new coach come from the Big Sky? Maybe. Certainly the frontrunners are guys already in the program, but Randy Rahe and Wayne Tinkle could get at least a look.

The Coloradoan has already suggested that Rahe may be a candidate.

Other possible candidates might include Mike Dunlap, an assistant at St. John's who led Metro State of Denver to Division II national titles in 2000 and 2002; Weber State coach Randy Rahe, a former CSU assistant; Indiana assistant Steve McClain, a former Wyoming coach; Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton; or Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Rob Jeter. Sutton and Jeter reportedly were on Nebraska's list of potential candidates.

For Rahe, it would be easy to see why he would be interested in the job. His best player is likely gone (as are two other starters), and even though WSU will be very talented next year, he saw this year how hard it can be to make the Big Dance out of the Big Sky. A move to Colorado State could potentially double his pay, and as mentioned, the CSU job looks very enticing.

For Wayne Tinkle, a match could make sense, at least on paper. Tinkle has to be one of the short list for most openings out west, as he has a strong track record (two tourneys in three years, including a 15-1 conference mark this year), and he is a relatively young 46 years old. He can coach (especially defense), and he has recruited a lot of nice talent to Missoula. It wouldn't be difficult to see CSU show some interest.

At the end of the day, as said, these guys aren't the favorites for the Colorado State job. But one of these days, they are likely to get scooped up by a bigger program in a bigger conference. Tinkle interviewed for the Fresno State job last year, and after both coaches had good years, those types of schools could come calling once again.

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