Jensen: How about Geoff Arnold at Drexel?

I've suggested jobs for Bruiser Flint before that he had no interest in taking, so let's do it again. This job, admittedly, is a bit off the wall, since it doesn't actually exist.

Czar of Philadelphia hoops.

Flint, whose time at Drexel ended Monday, already counts, by anyone's educated estimation, as one of the leaders of Philly hoops. He's a connector to virtually every part of the local basketball community.

So how could that be more official? Those people who are hoping to raise $25 million to build a sports and education complex on the Logan Triangle - put Flint in charge. His voice would resonate in every part of the city and might turn the whole thing into a viable deal, a bigger deal. What would the job really involve? Let Bruiser figure it out.

In some ways, it would be a back to the future kind of thing since Flint's late father was a longtime top honcho in the Sonny Hill League.

After 15 seasons at Drexel, Flint knew his time was up, since he always knows the score. He had only to look at his wins and losses or the vast emptiness in the alumni seats across from Drexel's bench at the DAC. He had good years and bad years and a couple of great years that the NCAA tournament selection committee didn't quite understand. He had more than a few unlucky years. Bottom line: Fifteen years ago, Drexel picked the right man to lead the Dragons. But another NCAA bottom line always includes the words March Madness, and the stars never aligned in that direction on Market Street.

Flint will have all sorts of less idealistic options if he wants to jump right back in. His former Massachusetts boss, John Calipari, always wanted him on the bench at Kentucky. SMU coach Larry Brown once told me Flint was an immediate thought for top assistant and "coach in waiting" when Brown took over there. Bruiser could also work in the NBA. By the way, he'd also be dynamite on TV.

What's next for the Dragons? Let's state the obvious and acknowledge that Drexel isn't a job for just anybody. The school has an endowment much bigger than Villanova's and overall aspirations that match all its local brethren. But the Colonial Athletic Association is a one-bid league, so aspirations are nice but reality always comes down to a few March days of needing to find some lightning.

Finding that magic - as former coach Bill Herrion did when a tuba player from Overbrook High eventually proved to be an NBA player, only after Malik Rose led Drexel to the NCAAs - is the job description.

Good basketball coaches can't be outcoached, but they really need to have a voice that resonates both internally, within the team, and to the outside community. (Flint certainly had one).

It's possible to give you a list of extremely qualified candidates, some with Drexel connections (Wagner coach Bashir Mason and Villanova assistants Ashley Howard, former Dragons players, are that, and extremely well qualified). But I'll argue that this is Geoff Arnold's time and the right place.

The eight-year assistant for the St. Joseph's Hawks, formerly Flint's top Drexel assistant for seven years and at Massachusetts before that, reminds me of Joe Mihalich. Maybe you thought of Mihalich as a career assistant when he was at La Salle. In fact, Mihalich proved he was meant to be a head coach, at Niagara and now at Hofstra. Arnold is in that mold. He has his own voice, and it resonates, internally and externally.

It would take some courage for Drexel to bring back the former assistant of the coach who was just let go, but people at Drexel know Arnold and know this isn't a stretch, not off the wall at all.

mjensen@phillynews.com

@jensenoffcampus