BYU is Reportedly Going to Hire a New Basketball Coach This Week

BYU is trying to wrap up its search over the next few days

Dec 18, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; Brigham Young Cougars assistant coach Chris Burgess looks / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

BYU is going to hire a new head basketball coach "as early as Wednesday and no later than the end of this week," according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. He reports that BYU will interview candidates on Tuesday and Wednesday and he named his top six candidates for the job:

1. Chris Burgess - Utah assistant
2. Barrett Peery - UNLV assistant
3. Alex Jensen - Dallas Mavericks assistant
4. Kevin Young - Phoenix Suns assistant
5. Quincy Lewis - Former BYU assistant/Lehi and Lone Peak head coach
6. Cody Fueger - BYU assistant

Norlander described the two NBA assistants, Alex Jensen and Kevin Young, saying, "it's hard to see either of those guys opting in [to taking the job at BYU]."

Burgess and Peery have been viewed as the two frontrunners for the job ever since Mark Madsen removed himself from consideration. Burgess spent time on BYU's staff under Coach Pope and he played a role in the recruitments of a large number of the players on BYU's roster. If BYU wants to retain the roster from last season, Coach Burgess probably gives BYU the best shot.

Cody Fueger would be a fascinating hire by BYU. Fueger is certainly capable - he's been Coach Pope's right-hand man since their days at UVU. Fueger, however, is not a member of the church. While it's been practice, not policy, to hire members of the church as the head coach, Fueger would be the first BYU head men's basketball coach that isn't a member of the church.

Quincy Lewis would be a controversial hire since his head coaching experience is at the high school ranks, but he's arguably the best high school basketball coach ever in the state of Utah. Lewis won seven state championships at Lone Peak including a national championship in 2013. Lewis left Lone Peak to be an assistant at BYU during the end of Coach Rose's BYU tenure. After Mark Pope was hired, Lewis took the head job at Lehi where he just won his second state championship.

If BYU announced the new head coach on Wednesday, it would be six days since Pope left for Kentucky. Friday would be eight days. By BYU standards, that is very, very fast.

Time is of the essence for BYU. Three of BYU's top players have entered the transfer portal since Coach Pope left. Two of them, Aly Khalifa and Dallin Hall, have named their top schools and both of them are considering a return to BYU. Richie Saunders has not named his top schools. BYU knows that they have to move fast and they're trying to get things wrapped up this week.