Ben Howland in 2014, choosing instead to hire a D-2 coach.
Coincidentally, the school that ended up capitalizing on that mistake was Mississippi State, whose program is now ranked in the top 15 nationally by most experts; e.g.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2018-19-college-basketball-rankings-kentucky-adds-2-big-pieces-moves-to-no-1-in-the-top-25-and-1/
(Note: I say "coincidentally" because of the conversation I've with 'Gary P' in this same thread
http://tigerboard.com/boards/view.php?message=15679134 )