Renardo Sidney is leaving (good).  Arnett Moultrie says he’s leaving, too (bad).  Dee Bost has graduated (bad).  The presumed replacement at point guard, DeVille Smith, is also leaving (bad).  And at least one Mississippi State signee has asked for a release from his scholarship papers (bad).

Rodney Hood — the only starter set to return to the Bulldog roster next season — could also bolt.  His father Ricky Hood — himself a former MSU hoopster — says that he wants to see a good coach take over and talk his son into staying.

Either way, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports that Hood the Elder still believes MSU is a “good job” despite numerous mid-major coaches deciding to stay in their mid-major jobs and make mid-major money despite interest from State:


“Our program is not in shambles as some people make you believe.  We’re going to have a difficult year, regardless, like most programs do.  It’s going to be a different team.”


Shambles or not, AD Scott Stricklin is helping a lot of guys get raises this spring.

You can now scratch another name from the list at Mississippi State.  Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew withdrew his name from MSU’s consideration last night according to this report from The Jackson Clarion-Ledger.  And that means State will be without Drew next season.

ESPN reported yesterday that Drew had interviewed in Atlanta for the job on Monday.  This follows reports linking MSU to Murray State’s Steve Prohm… who signed an extension with the Racers just days after having his name connected to the job in Starkville.

Both Prohm and Drew have been head coaches for exactly one season.  Ohio’s John Groce was also believed to be on AD Scott Stricklin’s radar, but he’s now been hired by Illinois.

That’s three mid-major coaches who’ve not been interested enough in State to make the move to Starkville.  State’s roster has suffered, too, as a number of players and signees have decided to leave or ask for their release from the school.  Currently there are only six returning starters on the Bulldog roster.

Wonder how State fans feel about running off Rick Stansbury now?  At the time of his “retirement” (two weeks ago today) I received a number of emails asking why a big name coach wouldn’t want to take over at State.  Now it seems even small-name coaches aren’t interested.  And that’s leading players like Arnett Moultrie to walk toward the exit.

A few other names have been mentioned in connection with State’s opening:  Mississippi Valley State head coach Sean Woods (a former Kentucky player), Oral Roberts head coach Scott Sutton, current Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne, current Kansas assistant Joe Dooley, and MSU alum Kermit Davis who is currently the head coach at MTSU.

If one of those men is hired, will he be an upgrade over Stansbury — the winningest coach in MSU basketball history?  Possibly.  But I wouldn’t bet on it.

The best bet for Stricklin at this point might be to chase proven program-builder Gregg Marshall from Wichita State.  Problem is, he reportedly wants $2 million per year to leave Kansas, he could be on K-State’s radar now that Frank Martin has departed for South Carolina, and Marshall has not been hired by an SEC school previously despite several interviews.

Hunker down, Bulldog fans.  This one’s starting to look like a bumpy, bumpy ride.

Forward Arnett Moultrie won’t return to Mississippi State for his senior year.

Moultrie announced his intention on Wednesday to enter the NBA Draft and sign with an agent, which would end his college career.

“I have enjoyed my time at Mississippi State University and I will never forget the people I met and got to know,” Moultrie said. “Keep me in your prayers and I will keep Bulldog Nation in mine.”

There’s still a chance Moultrie could keep his college options open, according to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. Parrish cites sources saying Moultrie is considering, on some level, the idea of graduating from Mississippi State, entering a graduate program at another school and applying for a waiver to finish his career elsewhere.

Parrish also wrote on twitter he thinks it’s unlikely Moutlrie, who has yet to sign the paperwork with an agent, will decide to remain in college.

Let me be clear: I fully expect Arnett Moultrie in the draft. I’m just telling you that other option has been discussed with him.

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 28, 2012

One thing is certain: Moultrie’s time at Mississippi State is finished.

When Mississippi State AD Scott Stricklin hired the Parker Executive Search firm from Atlanta, you knew there would be a few leaks here and there.  The first came when someone contacted Murray State’s Steve Prohm before first getting permission from Prohm’s athletic director boss (who went public with his displeasure).

Now ESPN.com is reporting that Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew interviewed for the open MSU gig on Monday in Atlanta.  Like Prohm, Drew has one year of head coaching experience under his belt, after taking over the Valpo program from his father Homer Drew.

One thing definitely working in Drew’s favor happens to be the most memorable moment from his playing career (also at Valparaiso) from back in 1998:





State fans gotta love a guy who stuck a dagger in the hearts of Ole Miss fans everywhere, don’t they?

The 37-year-old Drew went 22-12 this season and won the Horizon League regular-season title.  After losing in the league tournament, Valpo was ousted in the first round of this year’s NIT by Miami (FL).  Drew spent the previous six seasons on his father’s staff at the Indiana school.

Other names connected to State’s search: Ohio’s John Groce (who’s reportedly now the top choice of Illinois) and Milwaukee’s Rob Jeter (who was reportedly a done deal before said report was discredited and retracted).

From the names leaking out it seems that Sticklin is determined to go the young up-and-comer route.  And in the cases of Prohm and Drew it’s apparent he’s not too worried about finding someone with a long track record of success.

After initially defending his track record after a season-ending NIT loss, Rick Stansbury decided to “retire” two days later.  In the two weeks since his announcement, Mississippi State’s coaching search has been pretty quiet aside from the mention of Murray State’s Steve Prohm as the Dogs’ “top priority.”  But Prohm re-upped with the Racers yesterday.  And a late night post from Wisconsin claiming Milwaukee’s Rob Jeter would be taking over in Starkville turned out to be poppycock.

Now, in addition to Stansbury, there’s going to be a lot more turnover in Starkville.

Much-maligned big man Renardo Sidney announced last night that he will turn pro.  “I appreciate Mississippi State giving me an opportunity to play, but I feel it’s time for me to move on. … I’m entering the draft to follow my dream of playing in the NBA and to help my family.”

Here’s hoping Sidney grows up, turns his attitude around, and has a successful career (though it’s more likely to start in the Ukraine than in the NBA).  Still, this appears to be addition by subtraction when it comes to team chemistry.

Freshman guard DeVille Smith will also be hitting the road.  Yesterday it was learned that he will be transferring, possibly to nearby Jackson State.  Dee Bost just graduated and one point guard signee has already asked for his release from State (though it’s not been granted yet).  In terms of the point guard position, Smith’s loss is purely subtraction by subtraction.

Meanwhile, MSU’s double-double man from last season — former UTEP transfer Arnett Moultrie — is still mulling his own NBA future.  Expected to make a final announcement yesterday, the player said instead that he’ll decide “right after” he meets with AD Scott Stricklin on Wednesday.

As South Carolina celebrates the hire of Frank Martin from Kansas State on the other end of the conference, Mississippi State looks to be a tad wobbly at the moment.  That’s not to say Stricklin can’t land a top-notch coach to calm the situation.  But a top-notch coach is exactly what he must find at this point.

Murray State basketball coach Steve Prohm won’t be Mississippi State’s next coach.

Murray State announced it has agreed on a one-year extension with Prohm, whose new deal will run through May 31, 2016.

Prohm’s base salary will increase to $270,000 and his total compensation will be $300,000 annually, which would fall well short of what Mississippi State was capable of offering.

“I love it here,” Prohm told CBSSports.com of his deal to stay at Murray State. “They gave me a great opportunity.”

Prohm was considered last week to be Mississippi State’s “primary target” to replace Rick Stansbury. Now, MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin will have to look elsewhere.

And with South Carolina expected to hire Kansas State coach Frank Martin, you can expect Mississippi State fans will push even harder for the Bulldogs to land a big name in Starkville.

Mississippi State is a better basketball program — traditionally speaking — than South Carolina.  By a wide margin.

Yet it’s Carolina that appears to be on the verge of landing a “name” coach in Kansas State’s well-established Frank Martin.  Granted it seems that if Martin moves he will do so partly out of spite for his current boss, but that won’t matter to MSU fans who will most assuredly ask, “Why not us?”

Scott Stricklin hired Parker Executive Search out of Atlanta to help drum up candidates to replace Rick Stansbury.  They kicked the tires on first-year Murray State coach Steve Prohm, but talk’s gone quiet on that front since Prohm’s boss said he thought there was a good chance his coach would stay put with a new contract. 

Other than Prohm, some assistants (Kentucky’s Kenny Payne is a Mississippi native) and a few other connect-the-dots type candidates (MTSU’s Kermit Davis played at MSU for his father), State’s search has been — to quote “LA Confidential” — off the record, on the QT and very hush-hush.

For comparison’s sake, Martin served as a Bob Huggins assistant at Cincinnati and Kansas State for three years before being promoted to replace his old boss in 2006.  Since then he’s had five 20-win seasons in five years, has made the NCAA Tournament four times, and has reached one Elite Eight.

Even if MSU lands Prohm or one of the nation’s fastest-rising assistants, that new coach won’t be able to equal Martin’s short, but proven track record.

That’s not to say an assistant hired by State wouldn’t have as much or even more success than Martin if he winds up at South Carolina.  There’s no way of knowing how any college football or basketball coach will do (save a very few — Nick Saban, John Calipari, Roy Williams, etc).

But what we do know is that State fans who just ran off the school’s all-time winningest coach will want to land a bigger name coach than whoever is hired by Carolina.  If they don’t, Stricklin will have some ‘splainin’ to do.

When word leaked out that the firm aiding Mississippi State in its search for a new basketball coach had contacted Murray State’s Steve Prohm, Twitter took off with reports that Prohm was the Bulldogs’ top choice.

Maybe, maybe not.  Search firms contact lots of guys.  Some of those calls are leaked to the press by coaches (or their agents) who want a nice raise at their current spot.  Some of those calls are never revealed.  The fact that Parker Executive phoned Prohm doesn’t necessarily mean he’s Scott Stricklin’s first choice to replace Rick Stansbury.

Good thing, because it sounds like Prohm is in the process of trying to work out a new deal at Murray State.  Immediately after his team’s elimination from the NCAA Tournament, the 37-year-old coach said he would definitely be back at the Kentucky school next season.  Now his AD is hinting that a new deal is in the works.

Reached for comment by The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Murray State athletic director Allen Ward said: “A this time, I’m not making any further comment as to coach Prohm and his contact with MSU.  I hope to have a statement in the coming days.”

Prohm just led the Racers to a 31-2 record in his first year as the school’s head coach.

Dan Mullen is his upbeat, usual self when describing his 2012 Mississippi State squad.  In fact, he thinks last year’s struggles have aided his team on the attitude front:


“Now, as I look at it from the previous two years, I think there is a little bit more hunger for the guys.  Even though we’ve made it to a bowl game, won a bowl game and won three straight Egg Bowls, nobody is patting anybody on the back around here, which happened last offseason.  This is a little more edge to our guys to take that next step forward…

Our focus is how we’re going to improve, how we’re going to be different from last year.  Last year wasn’t good enough, so we have to be very different.”


Meaning?  Mullen suggests — after studying the passing games of Oregon and Oklahoma State this offseason — that the Bulldogs will open up the passing game now that Tyler Russell is set to take over full-time duties at quarterback.  “You have a quarterback who throws the ball well, and an experienced group of wide receivers,” the coach told The Jackson Clarion-Ledger.  “So, as we view things, you’re looking more to throw the football than you have (in the past).

According to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com, Mississippi State’s search to replace Rick Stansbury is focusing in on Murray State head coach Steve Prohm:


“According to sources, at least one person working on behalf of Mississippi State has already reached out to Prohm, whose Racers were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Marquette on Saturday.  The next step in the process remains unclear.  But, multiple sources said, Prohm is Mississippi State’s primary target for now.”


Parrish also states that Prohm would be interested in MSU’s job because of the clear upgrade from Murray State (“prestige) and a big boost in salary (“milions of dollars”).  Prohm is also a good ol’ Southern man, raised in Georgia and an Alabama grad.  He’s also recruited the Magnolia State well for Murray State.

To make if more clear that State is targeting Prohm, WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky is reporting that Murray State AD didn’t appreciate MSU’s search firm — Parker Executive Search out of Atlanta — placing a call to his coach last week during the Racers NCAA run.

“I think there’s a right way to do things.  Considering we were still playing — it is what it is.”  He said his coach handled things properly by alerting him to the “would-ya-be-interested” call he received.

Also in that television report it’s pointed out that Prohm said after his team’s ouster from the tournament (and after being contacted by MSU):  “Oh, yeah, I’ll be back in Murray.  I’ll be back in Murray.  I love Murray and I want to be at Murray.  We signed a great class and we’ve got great kids coming back.  We’ve got a great future here.”

Is that a play for leverage with State?  Maybe.  But after a meeting between the coach and Murray State AD that lasted “for several hours” yesterday, Ward said: “There’s a great chance he’ll stay.  In the end, I think he’ll be back.”

Prohm is 37-years-old and he just concluded his first season as a head coach, replacing Billy Kennedy who left the Racers for Texas A&M prior to this season.  Granted, a 31-2 record is pretty doggone impressive, but hiring Prohm would basically be like hiring an assistant coach — which is what he was from 1998 through 2011 at Centenary, Southeastern Louisiana, Tulane, and under Kennedy at Murray State.

When a major school hires an assistant said aide usually comes from a bigger program.  Had Prohm not had his one year in the sun this season, would State be chasing him?  Or is a one-year run long enough for Parker Executive and AD Scott Stricklin to truly gauge a winner?

Arkansas once hired a long-time assistant with one good year of head coaching experience under his belt named Stan Heath.  Heath left that program in a mess roster- and APR-wise when he was dismissed in 2007.  Five years later, he took South Florida on an impressive run to the NCAA tourney this year.  But that success doesn’t mean much for Arkansas.

Prohm makes sense in that he knows the SEC and he’s recruited Mississippi.  But his track record as a head coach is short and there’s no denying that Kennedy was the head coach as Murray State’s program was being built.

If, however, Prohm does wind up being Mississippi State’s man, expect us to write that “There’s a date for the Prohm” when the Bulldogs schedule the announcement.  There’s no way we’ll be able to avoid writing that.  Sorry in advance.

Meanwhile, Oral Roberts head coach Scott Sutton has also been mentioned in connection with the job in Starkville.