...to catapult ND into the higher echelon and -- in turn -- their names into HC play.

I can understand assistant coaches at major programs being a bit picky: the pay has undoubtedly increased so they don't have to jump at the first bite.

Still, if you look at recent ND alumni moves:

- Beth Morgan Cunningham, who was a head coach at VCU for 9 years, went from being an assistant coach at ND and Duke, to Missouri State;
- Melissa D'Amico Graves, after being an assistant at Yale and Wake Forest, got the Boston University position.

But, as you said, even schools like Toledo are looking for head coaching experience: they hired the head coach from Monmouth, NJ. Hey, that's just a few miles from the Mabrey's residence? Hmmmm.

I see very few Neile Ivey - Kate Paye type situations happening anymore. The stakes are too high. It will only happen when a 25+ year legend coach retires and has more power than the AD on naming a replacement (MM, Tara, Coach K) and they reward a longtime loyal assistant. There are very few of those anymore.

As for Cunningham, she really didn't improve her chances at a HC by becoming an assistant at ND and Duke. She was already HC at VCU. You would have thought she could do better than Missouri State.

Today's ADs will pay up - but they want a history of success. I guarantee you La Rocque turned down very good jobs, same with Berube. Heck, they may have even been called by Tennessee.

The real problem right now is so few black female HCs, especially at the "starter" schools. Coaching entrepreneurship is the key. Go somewhere small and win. That is what Caldwell did a couple times.

..that led her to leave a pretty successful stint at VCU to return to ND as an assistant coach.

Cunningham left VCU abruptly. Why? A hint came later when she filed a complaint against Norwood Teague when he was the athletic director at VCU. VCU paid Cunningham $125,000 in July 2012 to settle the complaint.

Teague was later hired by Minnesota (how the search firm hired to do this missed that one is beyond me) and he didn't last long. Why? Sexual harrassment charges were filed by internal and external people and he was gone.

She and her husband -- both ND grads -- liked South Bend a lot and were probably taken out of left field a bit when she wasn't offered an assistant slot with Coach Ivey (her call), leading to going to Duke for awhile.
Still, like you, I expected her to find a bit more high-profile position than Missouri State.

She's had two 20-win seasons but lots of transfers out this year. It will be a transfer and coaching challenge this year. If she can pull a W out of the hat, maybe she can nudge up a conference.

I agree...I think Michaela could do a lot worse than Monmouth. School likes hoops, it's in a talent-rich area where she could establish/deepen relationships that will help her there and the next stop and she's close to home. Will keep track of this one.

Make as much or more than HC. What does Mabrey make? I bet $150K to $250K range. If so, then MANY HC roles she would get considered for are laterals on pay.

But you have to be the man before getting the top job IMO. No P5/6 school needs to hire someone else's assistant unless a disastrous situation.

I hope Cunningham got a call from Marquette. Better resume than Consuegra.

Maybe when Bruno retires at DePaul she will get called for that.

The Marquette Athletic Director, given his long stint at ND, would certainly know (of) Beth and could just speed dial Muffet to get input.

Two jobs in Chicago should be opening up soon: DePaul (as you said) and Northwestern, when "Uncle Joe" hangs it up (I'm surprised he's still there.)
Beth's agent should be all over both of them...