The Gophers men’s basketball team has begun its coaching search. Here’s a list of six potential candidates.

On Monday, the Gophers athletics department announced it will be parting ways with men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino, citing the need for new leadership.With Pitino officially out the door and on his way to New Mexico, Minnesota will look for its next coach to try and turn around the men’s basketball team. It’s an enticing opening with many capable candidates to take over. Many of the candidates who have been floated have ties to Minnesota, which could help in-state recruiting, something Pitino was often criticized for not doing enough of.“I’m excited about our search process as we begin that process. I feel like we have a very attractive job, we play in the best conference in America — in the Big Ten, a very competitive conference. I feel like we have great opportunities in front of us and we look forward to starting our national search,” University athletics director Mark Coyle said.Another factor in Minnesota’s coaching search is diversity. As first reported by the Star Tribune, the University is the only school in the Big Ten that is without a person of color in the role of athletics director, head coach or president. When Pitino was still at the helm of the men’s basketball program, all 19 Minnesota head coaches were white.It has been 14 years since the last person of color was hired by Minnesota as a head coach, which was when Tubby Smith joined the men’s basketball team. Coyle hopes to increase diversity within the school’s coaching staff and told the Star Tribune that his athletics department is “the most diverse group on campus” in terms of its athletes and staff.As Coyle and the athletics department begin their search for the next head coach of the program, the Minnesota Daily came up with a list of six possible candidates who are likely on Coyle’s list.