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ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb interested in the Kansas State opening?

Sprint NBA All Star Celebrity Game

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Celebrity Jesse Williams (L) drives the ball against Doug Gottlieb during the Sprint NBA All Star Celebrity Game at Orange County Convention Center on February 24, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/WireImage)

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The coaching carousel tends to offer up some interesting names every year and included in that this season is Kansas State, who needs to find a replacement for the departed Frank Martin.

In an interesting development ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb’s name has come up, and he could be intrigued by the job opening in Manhattan.

In a phone interview with Cole Manbeck of the Manhattan Mercury, Gottlieb did admit that this would be an uncommon road traveled seeing as he’s never coached at the collegiate level.

But that doesn’t mean that the man who was the national assist champion at Oklahoma State as a junior and runner-up as a senior doesn’t believe that he’s incapable of getting the job done.

“I’m pretty self aware and I understand that the idea is not necessarily out of left field, but it would not technically be the norm for an athletic director,” Gottlieb told The Mercury in a phone interview on Thursday. “But I do believe if given the chance I would do it pretty well.”

There have been ESPN analysts who have gone from the studio to the sidelines, but it’s important to point out that the likes of Mark Gottfried (NC State), Steve Lavin (St. John’s) and Rick Majerus (Saint Louis) all had coaching experience prior to joining the network.

Gottlieb hasn’t spoken with Kansas State athletic director John Currie about the job, but according to the story there have been people associated with the school who have been in contact with the 1998-99 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

“I have not spoken to (K-State athletic director) John Currie, but I have spoken to some people at Kansas State ,” said Gottlieb, who has been with ESPN since 2003. “I had a conversation with a couple people about the job. I told them about how good of a job I thought it was. I think Kansas State is in an elite place right now.

“They said something along the lines of ‘it kind of sounds like you’d be interested in it.’ And I said ‘hell yeah I am. Why not?’”


Whether or not Currie (or another school with an opening, for that matter) is willing to make what would be an unprecedented hire remains to be seen.

But to hire a person who’s seen in living rooms across the country could pay off when it comes to making a first impression with prospective recruits. And it isn’t as if Gottlieb hasn’t been around the game either. A job as an assistant may be more realistic, but why not?

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.