Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is a ‘top candidate’ to become Colorado State’s men’s basketball coach

Colorado State needs to find a new men’s head basketball coach -- and athletic director Joe Parker isn’t limiting his search to just one sex. When pressed on who would replace the since-resigned Larry Eustachy, Parker’s open mind could make San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon a legitimate candidate to take the reins at her alma mater.

Parker didn’t name Hammon specifically, but made sure the press knew he’d consider any and all worthy choices when reporters asked him whether or not he’d be interesting in hiring Division I men’s basketball’s first female head coach.

“I’ve thought a lot about that,” Parker said. “It’s the most frequently asked question I get, and recommended candidate. I’m not closing the door on any thought.”

But Colorado State may be thinking about more than just considering its famous alum. According to Yahoo! Sports Pete Thamel, Hammon “is considered one of the top candidates by the administration.”

Though ambiguous, that statement seems to lift Hammon into the program’s list of viable coaching candidates. She’s one of the most decorated athletes in school history after earning All-American honors three times and lifting the Rams into the Sweet Sixteen of the 1999 NCAA Tournament as a do-everything point guard. She spent 15 years as a pro, where she earned WNBA all-star honors six times, carved out a spot in the New York Liberty’s Ring of Honor, and had her number retired by the San Antonio Stars.

But Hammon wasn’t done making history when she retired from the sport in 2014. She made the immediate transition from San Antonio point guard to San Antonio assistant coach — only this time, with the NBA’s Spurs. In the process, she became the league’s first salaried female assistant coach. She’s held down that position for the past four seasons, leading the Spurs Summer League team to a preseason championship in 2015 and serving on an All-Star Game coaching staff as well.

While her coaching resume remains light, Hammon’s accomplishments make her a worthy candidate. Her history and success at Colorado State give her a built-in story to pitch recruits, who would have the opportunity to make history alongside her. While the university may opt to roll with a more established veteran, its recent experience with Eustachy — a 21-year head coaching vet when he took the job in Fort Collins — could push the program to an outside-the-box hiring instead.

The Larry Eustachy era ended as many Larry Eustachy eras end — with disappointment, scandal, and confusion. While he pushed the Rams to three postseason appearances (one NCAA Tournament, two NIT bids) in five full seasons, his administration was marred by allegations of abusive behavior. The university didn’t exactly handle its investigation and removal of Eustachy with grace, either — players boycotted practice after hearing the news not through any official channels, but on Twitter.

Parker’s regime looks sloppy through all this, and one way to win back his alumni base is to bring the school’s most accomplished athlete back into the fold. Hiring Hammon wouldn’t just deliver an accomplished professional with NBA coaching experience under a future Hall of Famer to the Rams’ sideline; it would also create a long cycle of Colorado State headlines and shift attention away from the program’s newfound negligence.

Hammon may not have the most complete resume of the candidates Fogler Consulting will be digging up, but she’d represent a clean break from Eustachy’s tainted reign while signaling the university’s desire to move forward. There’s no guarantee she gets the job — or even an interview — but Parker’s willingness to consider merit over gender in his coaching search is a step in the right direction for the Rams. Even if it’s an obvious and easy one.