Quick Look: Chris Mack
Missouri needs a new basketball coach. You may have heard. In addition to following developments in Missouri's search, PowerMizzou.com will highlight some of the potential candidates over the next few days. Each day, we will put together a feature on a different candidate.
WHO: Xavier head coach Chris Mack
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BIO: Mack is a 1992 graduate of Xavier and has spent the vast majority of his coaching career there. Mack became a Musketeer assistant in 1999. He left for Wake Forest from 2001-2004, but returned to Xavier and worked under Sean MIller until 2009. When Miller left for Arizona, Mack got the job. He has won 111 games and lost 57 (.661) in five seasons since and has made four NCAA Tournaments. Mack was the 2010-11 Atlantic Ten coach of the year.
CONTRACT: A list of coaching salaries in the NCAA Tournament listed Mack as making $865,000 last year. That is technically true, but that figure represents only Mack's base salary. As a private institution, Xavier is not required to disclose contract details. Sources have indicated Mack's final take home is close to $2 million per season. He signed a contract extension in May of 2011 that runs through the 2017-18 season.
FROM MISSOURI'S PERSPECTIVE: Mack has been a name on the radar of major schools for a couple of years now. He has won an average of 22 games per season and is beyond reproach off the court. Mack won the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award in 2011, given to a coach who represents the game on and off the floor. If Missouri is talking about a coach with a Midwestern feel that represents the right values, there may not be a more perfect example than Mack. His teams have ranked in the top 90 in both offense and defense all five of his seasons at Xavier. Eleven of the 18 players he has signed have been four- or five-star prospects. On the downside, if Mack makes two million at his alma mater, what does it take to get him to Columbia? And is it worth it?
FROM MACK'S PERSPECTIVE: Let's start with the negative here. As stated, Mack is a Xavier alum. Why would he leave? Just two weeks ago, after turning down Wake Forest, Mack talked about how Xavier was home. And there's no question that's tough to overcome.
At the same time, sources have indicated to PowerMizzou.com throughout the process that Mack would be interested in the Missouri job. His best player headed off to the NBA and Xavier is going to the Big East which, to be kind, ain't what it used to be. If he's going to make a move, this might be a time to do it. And, as we've said a couple of times, Missouri is the best job on the market at this point.