Multiple candidates reportedly turn down men’s basketball coaching job

Three candidates have turned down the UB men’s basketball head coaching job, according to reports from The Buffalo News and WIVB.

The men’s basketball team has now entered its third week without a head coach since parting ways with Jim Whitesell back on March 11.

According to Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News, two potential candidates — Xavier associate head coach Adam Cohen and Northwest Missouri State head coach Ben McCollum — were brought in to visit campus in the past week. Both have reportedly turned down the job offer.

Cohen is fresh off a March Madness bid that saw Xavier go all the way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He also is a graduate of Williamsville North High School and a former UB student manager.

McCollum is a highly decorated coach in the Division II basketball ranks, having won the D-II national championship four times. He also has been named the NABC Division II National Coach of the Year five times. McCollum owns a career record of 334-83.

Jonah Bronstein of WIVB reported that a third candidate turned down the UB gig. Jerrod Calhoun, head coach at Youngstown State,also declined the UB offer, according to Bronstein.

Having been the head man at Youngstown State for seven seasons, Calhoun owns a career record of 220-134. The Penguins tallied 24 wins during the 2022-23 season, their most since 1963-64, which led them to an NIT Tournament berth.

George Halcovage, assistant coach at Villanova, has interviewed for the job, according to Bronstein. Lenzi reported that Robert Jones, head coach of Norfolk State, as also been interviewed. The status of both candidates is not known at this time.

Brandon Cochi is an assistant sports editor and can be reached at brandon.cochi@ubspectrum.com