Coach K: Top 10 Candidates to Replace the Duke Head Coach

Now, I'm not saying Coach K is going anywhere anytime soon, but he is not getting any younger. At some point he is going to call it a day. Maybe in five years, maybe 10, or maybe next year, but at some point Duke better have a short list ready to go.

I think when that day comes, Duke will likely promote their top assistants and the top assistant at the time will get the job. If not, they probably would go with a former Duke player like Capel or Amaker.

But if I were a Duke fan, here are the 10 guys I'd want them to pick from...

Mark Few

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 19: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs gestures from the bench against the Brigham Young Cougars during the third round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Pepsi Center on March 19, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Phot

Few's name comes up every time there is a big-time opening. And for good reason. Gonzaga makes the NCAA Tournament every year. They are now considered a national power. The Zags have been on top for the better part of a decade despite being a small church school in the far northwest corner of the country. They play at a nice, up-tempo pace and typically shoot the three well.

Brad Stephens

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HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Butler Bulldogs looks on from the sidelines against the Connecticut Huskies during the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on April 4

He takes Butler to the final game two years in a row? Imagine what he could do at a place like Duke? And he could be there a long time, too.

Billy Donovan

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators looks on during the second half of their game against the Butler Bulldogs in the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on Marc

Kentucky couldn't get him to leave Gainesville. Why would he? He has it made there. He is to UF what Coach K is to Duke. One day the floor will have his name etched on it. But if Coach K were to retire, he'd be the first guy I'd call, just in case. He is a big-time winner and has been for a long time now.

Anthony Grant

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Head coach Anthony Grant of the Alabama Crimson Tide coaches against the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox

If Billy turns you down, maybe your next call should be to his top protege? Grant did a great job at Alabama this year. And remember, he is the one who got VCU started.

Mark Fox

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Head coach Mark Fox of the Georgia Bulldogs talks with Dustin Ware #3 in the first half while taking on the Washington Huskies during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on Ma

Mark Fox has done a super job at Georgia. The Bulldogs were the Clippers of the SEC East. You used to look forward to playing them. No longer is that the case. Before the UGA job he had Nevada on the rise, too.

Kevin Stallings

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 17: Head coach Kevin Stallings of the Vanderbilt Commodores shouts from the bench against the Richmond Spiders during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Pepsi Center on March 17, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.

This guy gets absolutely no respect. But Vanderbilt is tough every year. Think about that. Think about the Vandy football program and then compare it to basketball. Enough said. This guy is good.

Sean Miller

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ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats gestures from the sidelines against the Duke Blue Devils during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anahe

Duke fans already know how good this guy is. They are still feeling it. And he wins wherever he goes, too. Xavier, Arizona, Duke. He'll win.

Thad Matta

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 25: head coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the court during the first half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the east regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Prudential Cent

I don't know if you could get him away from Ohio State, especially now that the football team is going to be thrown down the trash chute by the NCAA. But it would be worth calling him just to see. He has Ohio State fans thinking hoops now instead of football recruiting and spring football practice. And that was no small task. They are a basketball powerhouse now.

Jay Wright

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CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 18: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats reacts during the game against the George Mason Patriots during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Quicken Loans Arena on March 18, 2011 in Cleveland,

He had a bit of a down year this past year, but Jay Wright is a good coach. He has his Villanova team in the hunt most years in the toughest conference in the land.