After leading Tulsa to its first NCAA Tournament in 11 years, Danny Manning has moved on to a larger program by accepting Wake Forest's offer to become its next head coach. The former national champion and first team All-American as a player compiled a 38-29 record in two seasons with the Golden Hurricanes; however, it was only a matter of time before he used his first head coaching gig as a stepping stone to a job in a power conference.
"I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of the history and tradition of Wake Forest," Manning said in a statement. "I am extremely humbled by this honor and look forward to being the head coach and competing for championships both on and off the court."
The ceiling is high for Wake Forest even if the coach he's replacing slightly damaged the foundation. In four seasons, Jeff Bzdelik went 51-76, alienated the fan base to the extent that the campus quad was rolled with toilet paper after his "resignation" and his efforts were impaired by eight players transferring from the toxic environment created during a four-year span.
It's also worth noting that although Manning rose to prominence at the University of Kansas, he attended high school in North Carolina. We may be getting ahead of ourselves, but if Manning succeeds in returning Wake Forest to ACC contention, a slew of athletic directors from blue-chip programs will be banging on his door for a chance to interview him.
