Several former University of Cincinnati men's basketball players have spoken, and the consensus is they want longtime West Virginia assistant and fellow former UC player Erik Martin to be the program's next head coach.
After only two seasons at Cincinnati, men's basketball coach John Brannen on Friday was relieved of his duties effective immediately, UC Director of Athletics John Cunningham announced, following the university's review into unspecified allegations related to Brannen and the men's basketball program after six of Brannen's players entered the transfer portal.
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Brannen's termination sparked reactions from all over, as fans began clamoring for former Bearcats point guard and longtime NBA player and assistant coach Nick Van Exel to take the reins.
Former UC players have another plan in mind.
"Nick is working on his degree, so as Bearcats hoops alumni, we are promoting Erik Martin," Bearcats basketball radio color analyst and former UC player Terry Nelson told The Enquirer. "Erik will bring Nick on staff so he can finish his degree by the summer and help with recruiting and all the other day-to-day operations."
Nelson, who along with Martin and Van Exel, helped lead the Bearcats to the Final Four in 1992 and the Elite Eight in 1993 under then-UC coach Bob Huggins, formerly served as the director of the C-Club, the University of Cincinnati alumni group comprised of former student-athletes. Nelson also was the head of the basketball alumni.
James White, who played for the Bearcats from 2003-06 before becoming a second-round pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, also backed Martin as Cincinnati's next men's basketball coach.
"I like Erik," said White, who now coaches and trains high school and Division I men's basketball players. "He was around a lot when I was there. He has the passion to make the Bearcats what we were. He's going to care about the players and the school. I want someone who is a part of Bearcat history to get the job. I know they're going to care more than anyone else."
Martin, who has spent the past 15 seasons as an assistant under Huggins, the all-time winningest men's basketball coach in UC history, said it would be a "dream" to come back and coach at his alma mater.
"To be given the opportunity to coach at Cincinnati, what can I say? You can't put it into words," the 49-year-old Martin said. "I haven't been a head coach before, but I've been learning from a hall of famer and I've spent enough time with him, and he's spoken about some of the things that are a challenge at Cincinnati. I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to be that guy that leads the university."
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Huggins, one of six coaches in Division I men's basketball history with 900 career wins, spent 16 seasons at Cincinnati before being forced to resign in August 2005 following an arrest and conviction of drunken driving in 2004 and a rift with then-UC President Nancy Zimpher.
Martin was Cincinnati's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer (trailing only Van Exel) during the 1992-93 season. The 6-foot-7 forward was one of the first players Huggins brought in at UC to provide the toughness that has become the longtime brand of the Bearcats program.
After stints as an assistant at Jacobs Center and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Martin joined Huggins at Kansas State in 2006. Martin then followed Huggins to West Virginia the following season where Martin has been responsible for post-player development for the Mountaineers as well as assisting with game scouting, recruiting, fundraising and community outreach.
While in Morgantown, West Virginia, Martin continues to recruit the Cincinnati area. Martin helped the Mountaineers land former Moeller High School standout Miles McBride. The 6-foot-2 sophomore guard recently declared for the 2021 NBA Draft after averaging 15.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.9 steals and earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. McBride had 30 points, six rebounds and six assists against Morehead State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
"I'm still very much connected to Cincinnati," Martin said. "Great city, great university. What they've done with the campus since I've left is unbelievable. I barely recognize it when I do come back. It would be an honor to call that place home again."
Cunningham said the university will "work quickly but judiciously in finding a new head coach."
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