Six Candidates Who Could Replace Lindsay Gottlieb at California

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 13: Rice Head Coach Tina Langley looks on during a college basketball game between the Rice University Owls and the Florida International University Panthers on January 13, 2018 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Florida. FIU defeated Rice 68-58. (Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 13: Rice Head Coach Tina Langley looks on during a college basketball game between the Rice University Owls and the Florida International University Panthers on January 13, 2018 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Florida. FIU defeated Rice 68-58. (Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS – MAY 11: Joy Cheek #21 of the Indiana Fever poses for a portrait as part of 2010 WNBA Media Day on May 11, 2010 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS – MAY 11: Joy Cheek #21 of the Indiana Fever poses for a portrait as part of 2010 WNBA Media Day on May 11, 2010 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Here are the six most likely coaching candidates to take over at Cal

Former University of California head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, made history on Tuesday, as the first woman to go from the college ranks to the NBA.  Gottlieb was hired as an assistant coaching position with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and will work alongside former head coach of the Michigan men’s basketball team, John Beilein.  Gottlieb’s hiring came on the heels of Swin Cash being hired by the New Orleans Pelicans, to a senior-level front office position.

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With Gottlieb departing the Cal women’s basketball program, this leaves a vacancy that will likely be highly sought after.  Gottlieb led the Golden Bears to seven NCAA Tournaments and one Final Four during her eight-year tenure at the helm.  Gottlieb’s teams recorded seven 20-win seasons during that time, and one 30-win season in 2012-2013.

Cal is coming off of a season in which they finished 20-13 overall, and 9-9 in a loaded Pac-12 Conference.  Cal defeated the University of North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, before ultimately falling to the eventual National Champions, the Baylor Bears, in the second round.

While Cal will lose their top three offensive scorers from a season ago, including Kristine Anigwe, who was drafted ninth in this year’s WNBA Draft, the head coaching opportunity at Cal is one that should draw interest from many great coaches across the country.  Here are six names that could rise to the top, and one of these five may be the newest coach to enter — what many believe — to be the best conference in women’s college basketball.