Former NC State coach Mark Gottfried reportedly talks to Cal about basketball opening

We have a new name to enter into the race. Former North Carolina State Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried has reportedly showcased interest in being the next head coach for the California Golden Bears.

Gottfried has been a head coach for over two decades, making stops at Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference, Alabama in the SEC, and most recently NC State.

Gottfried went 68-24 at Murray State in three seasons, making the NCAA Tournament twice and finishing first or tied for first all three seasons. He was at Alabama for over a decade, winning the SEC in 2001-02 and never finishing lower than fifth in the conference each season he was there. In 2003-04, Alabama made a run to the Elite Eight, the deepest their program has ever advanced in the tournament.

After resigning from Alabama in 2008-09 and taking the NC State job, Gottfried went to the Wolfpack, took them to the NCAA Tournament in his first four seasons, including two Sweet 16 appearances. He was fired from NC State after finishing next-to-last in the ACC for the second straight season, going 15-17. His overall record as an NCAA coach currently stands at 401-241, although his record in SEC play at Alabama (83-82) and ACC play at NC State (48-58) is less impressive.

Gottfried does have previous Pac-12 (well, Pac-10) experience, having coached at UCLA as an assistant under Jim Harrick. Gottfried was on the final staff that won the national title under Harrick in 1995.

Gottfried is one of several coaches outside of the original purview of the Cal coaching search; Steve Lavin also expressed interest in the job and might have interviewed, as has reportedly Brian Shaw and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Russell Turner and Jim Les have been confirmed as getting interviews. Eric Musselman the same (twice apparently), but has since moved on to secure a lucrative raise and extension from Nevada. Randy Bennett and Travis DeCuire have also withdrawn their names.