Potential candidates for the UCLA men's basketball job

UCLA has not won a men's basketball national championship since 1995 or reached the Final Four since 2008. Yet, it's still among the most high-profiled programs in the country, as is its coaching job, which goes without saying.

That's mainly because we're talking about history. The Bruins' 11 national titles are still a record, and names like Wooden, Alcindor and Walton are synonymous with the game of basketball. That's why there is plenty of talk and intrigue regarding who will be UCLA's next full-time coach after Steve Alford was fired last month and assistant Murry Bartow took over in the interim.

There are plenty of big names being tossed in the ring as potential candidates for the position. Here's a look at 10 who might make sense on some level.

Chris Beard
Beard is the new "it" coach on the national scene, with Texas Tech a top-10 team that's challenging for the Big 12 title. He's probably one UCLA can get and would not have to pay a ton for. Beard, though, is not really a sustainable commodity and has just four seasons of Division I head coaching experience. He looks to be a rising star but has yet to be at a place where the pressure to win is as important as breathing.

Tony Bennett
This would seem like a pipe dream for the Bruins. Bennett's Virginia teams have suffered just one double-digit loss campaign in six seasons, including this one, in which it has yet to lose. He coaches one of the best programs in the premier basketball conference in America, so UCLA would likely need to offer close to the farm to entice Bennett. Then again, with the state of the Bruins' program, it would be inexcusable for them not to inquire about Bennett.

Mike Brey
He's the winningest coach in Notre Dame history and is steeped in basketball tradition. Brey coached under two of the game's greats in Morgan Wootten and Mike Krzyzewski and is as laid-back as they come while still getting the most from his players. One potential drawback in a possible pursuit of Brey is that the Irish have some exciting young talent that could be ready to seriously challenge in the ACC and beyond within a season or two.

Jamie Dixon
Dixon has no real ties to UCLA, other than he was born in North Hollywood. Still, his Pittsburgh teams were perennial NCAA Tournament participants, and he's won more than 50 games in less than three seasons at his alma mater, TCU. Dixon would seem like a safe choice and someone who would be easy to play for. He takes pride in his job and has the potential to make the Bruins successful for a good while.

Mark Few
Like Bennett, Few has a real good thing going at Gonzaga, but it can't hurt UCLA to gauge his interest. Few has elevated the Bulldogs' program beyond mid-major status to perennial national power that has more modern-day appeal than the Bruins. Considering Spokane is more of a West Coast basketball destination than Westwood for elite prep talent is enough to keep Few with the Zags — that and the fact he's dying to win a national title with his current team.

Fred Hoiberg
A popular choice simply because he's available after being let go by the Chicago Bulls earlier this season. He enjoyed great success at Iowa State, winning 115 games in five seasons and making the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive years. However, recruiting has never been Hoiberg's strong suit, and he's a Midwestern guy whose career as a coach and player has been confined to that part of the country.

Gregg Marshall
He was a target of the Bruins before they hired Alford in 2013, and the school could revisit the longtime Wichita State boss' availability this time as well. The Shockers' streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (now at seven) looks to be in jeopardy this season, so maybe it's the right time for Marshall to take on a new challenge.

Eric Musselman
Musselman might not be a marquee name, but he could be the right one to bring the Bruins back to prominence. Like Hoiberg, he has NBA coaching experience, which might play a factor in UCLA's decision. The bigger plus for Musselman is that he's won almost 100 games in three-and-a-half seasons at Nevada, which is currently among the best teams in the country. He's done it with transfer talent, and that may be the route he takes at UCLA, which would at least give the Bruins a chance to get better faster than most.

Rick Pitino
There's been plenty of talk about Bruins boosters wanting the disgraced Pitino to get the UCLA gig. Hiring the former Louisville coach, who is now coaching overseas, would certainly be a Hollywood move but obviously a risky and controversial one. If the Bruins are looking to revitalize their program on the court and off, this might not be the way to go. Then again, the man can coach.

Earl Watson
Watson is a former Bruin who knows the program's legacy well and would have a passion to rekindle its basketball flame. However, he's never coached on the college level and won just 33 games in a little over two seasons as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Tabbing a former player would cater to the UCLA fan base initially, but his lack of coaching success and experience on a college sideline seem like red flags.