The search for Oklahoma's next men's basketball coach to replace Porter Moser has begun, at least for the fan base with Moser still on the bench as a dead man coaching with the Sooners at 12-12 this season. OU fans have already had their eyes on a few possible coaching candidates for when the time comes, but sometimes even dream candidates wouldn't be the right hire and aren't worth the time for fans to watch out for.
Coaching candidates the Sooners should avoid
Kelvin Sampson, Houston head coach
Kelvin Sampson is the most popular name among fans, and although that door might be open for Sampson to leave Houston and return to Oklahoma, the Sooners should close it.
It's never good to go back to an ex no matter how good they look later, especially after an ugly breakup. Sampson is also 70 years old, so even if he does want to coach at one last program before retirement, it won't be for long, and turning the OU men's basketball program around won't happen overnight or by a coach already burnt out on NIL and Transfer Portal chaos.
For fans who do want Sampson back inside Lloyd Noble Center, they should instead look at his son, Kellen, who has spent almost his entire coaching career assisting his father after playing for the Sooners.
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska head coach
With Nebraska ranked as the No. 7 team in the country at an impressive 21-2, Fred Hoiberg will have plenty of programs trying to lure him away from Lincoln after the season, but the Sooners shouldn't fall for what's a one-hit wonder so far.
This time last year, Nebraska fans wanted Hoiberg fired and the athletic director even had to release a statement to show support for Hoiberg and simmer his hot seat. Even including this year's stellar season, Hoiberg is still well below .500 as Nebraska's head coach with a 105–110 record in almost seven seasons. That sounds like another Porter Moser situation waiting to happen.
Brad Underwood, Illinois head coach
Brad Underwood seems to be a dream hire that's too good to be true, but he already has a relationship with new OU athletic director Roger Denny, who was beloved by coaches while at Illinois. However, even if getting Underwood is possible doesn't mean the Sooners should do it.
Underwood has been at Illinois, where men's basketball is actually a top priority, for nine seasons and has gotten the Fighting Illini past the second round of the NCAA Tournament only once in five trips despite earning a top-4 seed half the time. Underwood, who would come with a hefty price himself, has all the support and resources he could ask for at Illinois, but still can't get his teams to the next level, so he'd disappoint quickly in the state of Oklahoma (again).