INDIANAPOLIS – Speculation about Chris Holtmann is starting early this year.
The Butler basketball coach is being mentioned as a possible successor at North Carolina State, even though N.C. State still has a coach.
The Sporting News reported N.C. State is in the process of searching for a replacement for coach Mark Gottfried and gauging the interest of potential candidates. A Raleigh TV station reported N.C. State has decided to fire Gottfried at the end of the season.
Holtmann, 45, has a stance of not commenting about job speculation. Last May he was awarded a contract extension through the 2021-22 season, and his annual salary is believed to exceed $1 million.