Chris Mack not ready to return as coach, though 'people have reached out'

Chris Mack, the former St. Xavier High School standout who played at Xavier University and has won more games than any head coach in the Musketeers' history, said Monday night on "The Field of 68 After Dark" that he's not ready to return to coaching, though schools "have reached out."

"I'm coaching St. Mary's second-grade soccer team right now currently," Mack said. "Here's the thing: When this time of year comes around, you know, and all the agents doing all the backchanneling and talking and putting your name here. I decided that this cycle, it just, it's not right for the timing of my family. … I'm sort of a volleyball dad. And we're moving to Florida here in a few months. So I haven't even inquired about any jobs. I mean I've been flattered there have been several that have reached out to my agent. But at this point, I just - I'm not gonna say never. But not for this coming year. I think, you know, this time of the year always gets your juices flowing. And, you know, I miss it. But for me, for this coming year, it's not something that's gonna be in the cards for me."

Mack also addressed whether Providence head coach Ed Cooley might be tempted to leave for Georgetown.

"I think Ed would do wonders at Georgetown. … Ed's got so much equity in the place that he's at. I think that you don't mess with happiness sometimes. I'm not gonna say I learned that the hard way. But, you know, that happens."

Stadium's Jeff Goodman, who joined Mack and John Fanta for "After Dark," wrote in Jan. 2022 that it wouldn't surprise him if Mack never coached again by his own choice. Mack had parted ways with the Louisville Cardinals days earlier.

Mack coached at McAuley and Mount Notre Dame before becoming an XU assistant from 1999 to 2001. He returned to the school as an assistant from 2004 to 2009 and replaced Sean Miller as head coach when Miller left for Arizona.

Mack became XU's all-time winningest head coach in 2018, and left for Louisville after that season.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chris Mack not ready to return as coach, but has received inquiries