Why isn't Miami interested in Frank Martin's services?

The Miami coaching search is a curious one to follow.

Frank Martin seems to be the obvious fit. He's a native South Floridian and the son of a Cuban immigrant. He cut his teeth coaching at the high school level in Miami. And, if you read between the line of this AP report, he appears to want the job.

"I'm never going to say I'm not listening to anybody. Someone might call and it might be an opportunity, a new challenge, something that intrigues me," Martin said. "It might be an (athletic director) that I've known my whole life and he says, 'Frank, I need you.' I'm never going to come out and say I'm not going to listen."

The question, however, is whether or not Miami wants him.


Greg Cote at The Miami Herald wrote earlier today that "supposedly, UM is enamored with Harvard’s Tommy Amaker", and Michelle Kaufmann of the same paper reiterated that sentiment, saying Amaker "appears to be UM's top target".

What Amaker has done at Harvard is impressive. He turned a school that was 8-22 when he arrived four years ago into one that finished 23-7 this season and was legitimately involved in the discussion for an at-large bid the past two seasons. One of his players, Jeremy Lin, graduated and played in the NBA this season. But this is the same Tommy Amaker that didn't reach the NCAA Tournament in six seasons at Michigan, something that John Beilein has been able to do two of the past three years.

Amaker isn't the only coach that the Hurricanes are apparently interested in. Mike Davis (UAB), Rob Jeter (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Donnie Jones (UCF), Tony Barbee (Auburn) and Billy Kennedy (Murray State) have also been mentioned in the search.

But no Frank Martin.

Could it be as simple as Miami being scared away by Martin's reputation?

If you don't know the back story, Martin was the head coach of the powerhouse Miami High program in the mid-to-late 90's. But he was forced to resign and had a state title taken away after it was discovered he broke high school regulations by recruiting players, including Steve Blake and Udonis Haslem, and lying about whether they were living in order to get them eligible to play at Miami High.

And then there is this from Curtis Kitchen, who was on the Kansas State beat last season:

Last November, K-State played Florida in the 2010 Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Miami. The game turned out to be the worst of the season for the Wildcats, who scored their lowest point total of the season in a 57-44 loss.

During the game, sources say, several important people associated with Miami took in the contest a few rows behind the K-State bench, sitting within earshot of Martin, who has demonstrated, at times, the vocal ability to make an entire naval battalion blush.

Martin did his normal thing that night, and it left a lasting impression with those in attendance - enough that when coupled with Martin's gray high school coaching past in Miami, they feel now he isn't worth pursuing despite the larger fanbase's desire for them to do so.

Forget all the talk about coaching salary and basketball budget issues. Forget the fact that Miami currently doesn't even have an athletic director. Is it possible that Miami simply doesn't want Frank Martin, his baggage or his coaching style?

If it is, that would be a tremendous shame.

The Hurricanes have a better-than-you-think roster returning, headlined by the dynamic back court of Durand Johnson and Malcolm Grant. Even if big man Reggie Johnson decides to keep his name in the draft, the next head coach isn't walking into an empty cupboard. Martin has, by far, a better track record than any of the coaches Miami is currently looking at. If he went to Miami and got that team in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid next season, wouldn't it stand to reason that, with his recruiting connections, he would be able to own South Florida? And if he brought assistant coach Dalonte Hill, who has strong recruiting ties in the Washington DC area, Martin might be able to build Miami into a powerhouse program.

That's at least what the fans and the media are thinking.

Miami, apparently, is more worried with their bottom line and their reputation.