Houston athletic director Mack Rhoades wasted little time mulling Tom Penders’ future as the University of Houston’s men’s head basketball coach.  Two days after the Cougars were bounced from the first round of the NCAA tournament, reports surfaced online that Penders would step down.

It was a weekend of highs and lows for the 64-year-old coach, who shepherded his fourth school to the Big Dance on Friday and found himself out of a job by Sunday.  Perhaps it was fitting:  After all, highs and lows defined Penders’ sixth and final season at UH.  While the team came together to defeat Conference USA’s top two teams, UTEP and Memphis, ugly losses against middling teams such as Tulane and Central Florida resulted in a losing conference record (.500 overall).  A magical run through the CUSA tourney landed the Coogs their first berth in the Dance in 18 years before Maryland turned Houston away in Spokane. 

It’s almost certain that Rhoades’ decision to hire a new coach was made long before that final game, of course.  Houston’s new athletic director has been evaluating all of UH’s athletic programs as well as their facilities since taking the job last year.  At times during the season, it was difficult to believe that Penders still had it in him to take the program where Rhoades and UH chancellor Renu Khator envision it.  Unflattering comments Penders made to the New York Times last week regarding the hardships he faced as Houston’s coach probably didn’t please his bosses.

With Penders out, to whom will Rhoades turn to carry the Cougars forward?  Heavy speculation has centered around former Texas A&M and Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie, who coached at UTEP while Rhoades was a senior staffer at that school’s athletic department.   Gillispie has struggled with off-the-court issues in the recent pass, but he has been a proven winner in the state of Texas.  It’s unthinkable that he wouldn’t be contacted about the opening.

Also on the short list must be Sam Houston State University coach Bob Marlin, who took his 25-8 squad to the first round of the NCAA tournament this year. 

As has become standard procedure, UH will hire a search firm to interview candidates for the vacant head coaching position.