With Wainwright out, who's next for DePaul?

After firing Jerry Wainwright, DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto says she'll conduct a national search to find his successor.

"I don't think (DePaul) is a hard job," Ponsetto said. "I think this is a great job, as a matter of fact."

Here are five candidates who fit most or all of Ponsetto's parameters, which include proven success on the court, Chicago recruiting know-how and the willingness to treat their guys as much as students as athletes.

Chris Lowery: The sixth-year Southern Illinois coach owns a 118-63 record in Carbondale, but the 37-year-old hasn't taken the Salukis to the NCAAs since the Sweet Sixteen trip in 2007.

A big plus? Lowery has a close connection with every hot Chicago recruit, as does top assistant Lance Irvin.

Gene Cross: After paying his dues as an assistant at UIC, DePaul, Virginia and Notre Dame, the 38-year-old Illinois graduate is in his second year trying to rebuild Toledo.

Cross, like Lowery, boasts every Chicago recruiting relationship you could want. He also built up good will with Ponsetto while serving as Dave Leitao's top assistant when DePaul went 58-34 from 2002-05.

Tyrone Corbin: DePaul loves to reward its family, and the 47-year-old Corbin ranks high on the list of favorite alums.

After serving as a two-time captain at DePaul (1981-85), Corbin played 15 years in the NBA. He's now in his third year as a Utah Jazz assistant.

Craig Robinson: After serving as Bill Carmody's top assistant for six years at Northwestern, the First Brother-in-Law turned around Brown in two seasons and led Oregon State to the 2009 College Basketball Invitational title in his first season at Corvallis, Ore.

The 47-year-old Robinson's reputation has taken a hit this year as the Beavers took embarrassing losses to UIC, Seattle (by 51 points at home) and Sacramento State.

Tracy Webster: Over the next two months, DePaul's interim coach has a great opportunity to prove he can make the leap from being a lead assistant.

Webster, 38, mentored Illinois' guards during the school's run to the 2005 NCAA title game and owns a reputation as a strong recruiter in the Chicago area and beyond.