Former Vol Coach Listed As Candidate For Tournament Team Opening

Image: NBC Sports

By Cody McClure

Remember the days before Rick Barnes? And after Bruce Pearl?

A dark time for Tennessee Basketball, indeed.

Two great coaches, Barnes and Pearl, but sandwiched in between — after a mediocre tenure under Cuonzo Martin — was one Donnie Tyndall.

He ended up being fired from Tennessee for unethical conduct when he was at Southern Miss previously.

Now, according to Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, Tyndall is a candidate for the recent job opening at McNeese State.

Here's a list of potential candidates for the McNeese State opening, source told @TheFieldOf68:

Bill Armstrong (Baylor), former West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins, James Miller (Okl St.), Matt Woodley (Wake), former Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall, Chase Buford (KU) and…

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 24, 2025

The McNeese job opened up after Will Wade decided to leave for greener pastures — to coach NC State.

As the Vols coach for just one full season in 2014-15, Tyndall posted a dead even 16-16 record.

Would he have made it here ultimately? It’s hard to say. He had been fairly successful at Morehead State and Southern Miss despite the unethical conduct.

He may have been OK at UT, but we can all assume with confidence that he wouldn’t have been better than Barnes.

I guess it worked out.

But good luck with this one, Donnie. Hope you’re not out of your element.