Micah Shrewsberry responds to latest coaching rumors
After the Penn State Big Ten semifinal win over Indiana on Saturday in Chicago, head coach Micah Shrewsberry had a lot to say about his team’s performance as they faced Purdue in Sunday’s Big Ten championship game and more. As Penn State prepared to face the Hoosiers Saturday afternoon, rumors and reports surfaced about Shrewsberry raising interest in filling vacancies at other schools and also had him answering questions about his future at Penn State.
“I’m absolute tunnel vision on our team,” Shrewsberry said in his post-game media availability after a 77-73 win over Indiana when asked about the reports linking him to potential opportunities elsewhere. “That’s all I focus on. I’m happy to be here.”
Shrewsberry’s name has been associated with coaching in Georgetown and Notre Dame. Georgetown fired its head coach Patrick Ewing after his elimination from the Big East tournament. Notre Dame is trying to replace retiring Mike Brey.
Shrewsberry’s stock as a coach candidate is hotter than ever. In just his second season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Shrewsberry has assembled a roster based on transfers and returning players and recruits that will end the 11-year NCAA tournament drought and compete for the Big Ten championship. It’s been quite a run for Shrewsberry, and Penn State fans are hoping it won’t be over anytime soon.
Penn State should be able to keep Shrewsberry in Happy Valley. When it comes to money, Penn State should be more than able to match or beat any bid that comes its way. Penn State simply derives too much revenue from the Big Ten’s media rights deals for that to be a reason for Shrewsberry leaving town. But if Shrewsberry wants the opportunity to coach a program with a little more basketball history behind it, Penn State would have to sell Shrewsberry the opportunity to build a similar history at State College.
It’s a gamble that Penn State has briefly achieved every decade or so, but has never sustained for one reason or another. But now it’s time to keep Shrewsberry most interested in continuing what he started with the Nittany Lions.
Penn State is under pressure because the more Shrewsberry wins, the hotter his name will be in the coaching market.
Story originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire