Carousel – a term tossed around to describe movement in the coaching labor market, but why? Upon further review, it’s oddly accurate – constantly in motion until some pimpled, power hungry AD teenager throws off the gears, needlessly detailed, exciting to kids and their parents while alternatively boring and creepy to everyone else. Properly cited, we’ll pick up the nomme d’art and talk about the school’s who lack the courtesy to save their coaching news for next week when we have nothing else to write about.

After bolting Iowa for the calmer … plateaus? … of New Mexico, Steve Alford was rewarded Monday with a three-year extension with the Lobos, putting him under contract through 2016. All of this for one season of work that got the Lobos to 24-9 and a first round loss in the NIT. When notified of the extension, Charlie Weis nodded his head with approval. Combined with Herb Sendek’s desert revival at Arizona State after leaving the boobirds in Raleigh, one has to think there is something to the whole “life is easier in the Southwest” theory, even amongst the coaching ranks. Outlook: Sunny, even with those killer cacti.

Just after getting back into town from a Sweet 16 appearance, Darrin Horn took the first bus out of Bowling Green and the Sun Belt, leaving Western Kentucky for a gig with South Carolina. Makes sense to us. WKU plays and recruits between a rock and a hard place, with four local major programs right on top of them to snatch up what few prospects are available in rural west Kentucky. Unfortunately, the move puts Horn at the Sun Belt of the SEC – USC has made the Dance only three times since joining the conference, and not since 2003. Here’s hopin’ he learned something that will help him succeed in big-boy land. Outlook: Makes sense for now.

Apparently, we’re not the only ones who pay too much attention to the WCC – Oregon State has focused its coaching search exclusively on USD coach Bill Grier and Saint Mary’s Coach Randy Bennett. We understand the attraction to big conference ball, but this seems like a terrible move for both. Oregon State hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since Ralph Miller patrolled the sidelines in the ’80s, and now must recruit against not only the successful programs in the rest of the Pac-10 but also the very teams these coaches would leave. Why abandon the WCC, royalty amongst mid-majors in terms of quality of ball and quality of life? Why one would consider leaving friendly California shores for the backwoods of Corvallis is beyond us. Outlook: Wet and barren.

We’re normally skeptical of ESPN’s non-journalist analysts reporting news, but when we read that Doug Gottlieb’s sources have Sean Sutton resigning after two years at Oklahoma State, we’re inclined to believe them. Unlike other stories “broken” by tWWL’s talking meatheads, Gottlieb may actually have sources near the OSU program from his playing days. Sure, the sources are all underground gamblers with tables in back alleys and skimming machines, but sources nonetheless, and exactly the type who would know if a favorite son coach was being pushed out the door after two not-great-but-not-terrible years. Perhaps to hire his younger brother Scott, currently at Oral Roberts? Outlook: Fraternal.