Micah Shrewsberry, asked if he'll coach at Penn State next season: 'That's a great question'
As buzz has grown for his candidacy around college basketball’s prime coaching vacancies, Penn State’s Micah Shrewsberry has been tasked with addressing the topics surrounding his tenure with the Nittany Lions. Wednesday afternoon, David Jones of PennLive slammed through the weeds in favor of something more direct.
In Des Moines, Iowa for Penn State’s first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday (9:55 p.m.), Shrewsberry took to the podium to answer 15 minutes of questions from reporters. Within the first questions, Shrewsberry was asked the most direct regarding his future at Penn State.
“I think a lot of Penn State fans not only like what you’ve done with this team, but they’ve gotten a bond with you. They like you,” Jones said. “Are you going to be the Penn State coach next season?”
Shrewsberry, smiling, had this to say in response.
“You know what? That’s a great question,” he said. “There’s been a lot of those. I got that question last week at the Big Ten Tournament.”
Micah Shrewsberry addresses future at Penn State
At that point, Shrewsberry launched into a familiar refrain. One he’s often tested when providing insight into the status of Penn State basketball, or where he’ll be coaching next season, his message has been singular in focus.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
Rejecting distractions at a time when he believes his team needs his best, most attentive self, Shrewsberry said he’s giving that to the program.
“We’ve just played four games in four days. We’ve had our backs against the wall for three weeks. And now I’m getting ready to coach my first opportunity as a head coach to be in an NCAA Tournament game,” he said. “I don’t have time to focus on anything else, but just being the best version for these guys. And that’s all I’m focused on. When the offseason comes, then I can focus on other things. But, I’m tunnel vision on playing this game for our guys tomorrow.”
Pushed for clarity in a follow-up from Jones, one in which the reporter asked where Shrewsberry’s response would fall in a “yes, no, or I don’t know question,” Shrewsberry said, “It’s an ‘I don’t know’ question.”
Shrewsberry is currently in the second year of his contract with Penn State. This offseason, buzz has circulated that both Georgetown and Notre Dame, each of whom currently have head coaching vacancies, are interested in Shrewsberry to take over their programs.
