Starting Your Head Coaching Career In The ACC Can’t Be Easy

Some were among the greatest coaches in ACC men’s basketball history. Others were among the ACC’s most forgettable bench commanders. And now we’ve added two more to the mix — at Duke, replacing a legend, and at Louisville, trying to fix a mess of a program that secured a national title a mere decade ago.

The track records of those lacking head coaching experience contradict the oft-heard protestations of athletic directors who insist they want –no, need — to hire someone tested on the sidelines. Seasoning is useful and instructive in gauging and sustaining coaching talent, but hardly a prerequisite for success.

Taking a chance on an unproven leader is often worth the risk. And cheaper, too.

Tru…