Avery Johnson making staff change

University of Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson is planning at least one change on his basketball staff for the upcoming season and former Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey is on campus in Tuscaloosa today interviewing with Johnson to fill one vacancy, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.

Scott Pospichal, who joined Johnson’s staff last summer on a one-year contract, is expected to seek opportunities in his home state of Texas, creating the vacancy. Pospichal, who was a prominent AAU coach in Texas before coming to UA, was not immediately available for comment.

Among other coaches who have been contacted by UA in recent days are Brent Scott, a top assistant from TCU, former Tulane head coach Ed Conroy and former Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint. Johnson has also contacted coaches at the NBA level, The News has learned.

Alabama went 18-15 and played in the NIT in 2015-16, Johnson’s first season as head coach. He retained former Alabama star Antoine Pettway on his first staff, bringing in Pospichal and former top Providence assistant Bob Simon.