Speedy Search? Wren Baker Expects to Find Next WVU Basketball Coach Very Soon Before Mark Kellogg Departure…

Speedy Search? Wren Baker Expects to Find Next WVU Basketball Coach Very Soon Before Mark Kellogg Departure…

 

 

West Virginia University’s athletic director Wren Baker has made it clear: the search for the next head coach of the men’s basketball team won’t be a long one. Amid swirling rumors and speculation following the departure of former head coach Josh Eilert and just before Mark Kellogg’s sudden exit from the women’s basketball program, Baker is moving with urgency and precision.

With WVU’s storied basketball tradition and passionate fanbase, there’s little room for error—or delay. Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Baker emphasized the importance of acting quickly but wisely. “We’re not dragging our feet,” Baker said. “We’ve already begun discussions and are confident that we’ll have someone in place very soon.”

This rapid timeline may come as a surprise, especially given the recent instability in both the men’s and women’s programs. However, Baker has gained a reputation as a decisive leader. When Eilert was named interim head coach following Bob Huggins’ tumultuous exit in 2023, Baker managed to stabilize the program under pressure. Now, he’s aiming to do the same—only faster.

Sources close to the program say interviews are already underway, with several high-profile candidates either contacted or scheduled to meet with Baker and the hiring committee. The university is reportedly focused on finding a candidate with strong leadership skills, recruiting prowess, and the ability to unite a locker room that has endured a whirlwind of transitions in recent years.

Adding urgency to the men’s search is the unexpected exit of women’s head coach Mark Kellogg, who accepted a new position at another university just months after being hired by WVU. While Kellogg’s departure wasn’t entirely unforeseen—he has long been seen as a rising star in women’s basketball—it’s a tough blow for a program that had just begun to build under his leadership.

Some fans have expressed concern that the dual vacancies might stretch the athletic department too thin, but Baker remains confident. “These situations are never ideal,” he admitted, “but we’ve prepared for multiple scenarios. We have a great team in place to make sure both programs land in the right hands.”

Names like Dusty May, Pat Kelsey, and even former WVU assistants have circulated in connection with the men’s job, while the women’s program is expected to move a bit slower in its search due to the timing of Kellogg’s departure.

For now, all eyes are on Baker as he leads one of the most consequential coaching searches in recent WVU history. The clock is ticking, but Baker seems undeterred.

“The program deserves a leader who will bring stability, integrity, and winning basketball back to Morgantown,” Baker said. “And we believe we’re very close to finding that person.”

If Baker’s confidence proves correct, Mountaineer fans won’t have to wait long to meet the next head coach—and perhaps the next chapter of WVU basketball greatness.