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Following Tennessee’s early exit in the NCAA Tournament, Rick Barnes might just be set to lose one of his top assistant coaches. According to John Brice, who is always plugged into Tennessee athletics, English is the frontrunner for the vacant George Mason job.
The @Vol_Hoops season is done & major changes looming for Rick Barnes’ program. Per multiple sources the past 48 hours, top #Vols assistant Kim English, widely seen as a brilliant up-and-coming coach, is the frontrunner for the George Mason head coaching job. #Vols #RockyTop
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) March 19, 2021
Brice went on to say that it would be an “upset” at this point if English didn’t land the job.
English just finished his second season on staff at Tennessee. The former Missouri guard entered the coaching ranks after a brief stint as a player in the NBA. He spent time at Tulsa and Colorado before joining Barnes after the departure of Rob Lanier.
English was reportedly in the mix for some lower-level head coaching jobs last offseason, but turned those down. Now it appears he’s ready to cash in that bet that he made on himself.
George Mason fired head coach Dave Paulsen after going 13-9 in the A10 this season.
English’s best work may have come on the recruiting trail for Tennessee, helping land five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler over traditional powers Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Keep an eye on this situation over the next few days.