ESPN’s Pete Thamel lists four candidates for Notre Dame’s men’s basketball head coaching vacancy

Despite learning the fate of head coach Mike Brey about 50 days ago, the Notre Dame men’s basketball program still plans to be patient with its vacancy, according to ESPN College Gameday Insider Pete Thamel.

On the Saturday morning edition of ESPN College Gameday, Thamel reported the Irish coaching search could extend until after the conclusion of the 2023 season.

“As for Notre Dame, don’t expect the Irish to make a hire soon,” Thamel said. “They have to wait out some targets who are going to be playing in the NCAA Tournament.”

Thamel also listed two top candidates for the position, as well as two other names to know.

“Those include Penn State’s Micah Shrewsberry and Colgate’s Matt Langel,” Thamel said. “Shewsberry is an Indiana native who was actually the head coach at (Indiana University)-South Bend in the mid-2000s. 

“Other names to look at here: Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann, Langel of Colgate — the Patriot League Champs — and Drake’s Darian DeVries.”

Here’s the latest from @collegegameday on the openings at Georgetown, St John’s and Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/OrKkZLVUUD

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 11, 2023

What to know about the candidates Thamel mentioned

Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry

The 46-year-old Shrewesberry attended Indianapolis Cathedral High School and played his college basketball at Hanover (Ind.) College. Before being named the Nittany Lions head coach in 2021, Shrewsberry assisted at Purdue, the Boston Celtics, Butler, DePauw and Wabash. And as Thamel mentioned, Shrewsberry was the head coach at IU-South Bend from 2005-07.

Shrewsberry has a 50-77 (.394) record in four seasons as head coach, including a 35-29 mark at Penn State. The Nittany Lions are in the middle of a 21-12 campaign and take on Indiana in the Big Ten semifinal at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Colgate head coach Matt Langel

The 45-year-old Langel has been the Colgate head coach for 12 seasons and compiled a 202-173 (.539) overall record. This season, the Raiders are 26-8 and clinched their fourth NCAA Tournament berth within the last five seasons. Langel is a three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year (2018, 2019, 2020)

Before he took over at Colgate in 2011, Langel was an assistant at Temple and the University of Penn. 

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Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann

The 51-year-old Holtmann has spent six of his last 12 years as a head coach with the Buckeyes. During that time, he’s registered a 123-74 record, including a 16-16 mark this season.

Before taking over at Ohio State, Holtmann coached at Butler (70-31) and Gardner-Webb (44-54). Holtmann was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2018, Big East Coach of the Year in 2017 and Big South Coach of the Year in 2013. 

Holtmann’s teams have made six NCAA Tournaments and won at least one game since 2015. He’s been an assistant at Ohio, Gardner-Webb, Taylor and Geneva. 

Drake head coach Darian DeVries

The 47-year-old DeVries has led the Drake Bulldogs to a 122-47 record, including two NCAA Tournament appearances in five seasons, as head coach. He’s also been named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year twice (2019, 2021).

Prior to his time at Drake, he was an assistant at Creighton University for 17 years. 

Former Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey not done coaching yet?

Also during Thamel’s College Gameday report, he mentioned Brey as a potential candidate for the Georgetown head coaching vacancy.

“If not (Providence head coach Ed) Cooley, look for Mike Brey’s name to emerge there,” Thamel said. “He could resuscitate the relevance of Georgetown in D.C.” 

According to BetOnline, Brey is 5/1 (+500) to become the next Georgetown head coach. Rick Pitino, who Thamel mentioned is the leading candidate at St. John’s, is the odds-on favorite at 1/2 (-200) to coach the Hoyas. Cooley is listed at 8/1 (+800).