He's not exactly been impressive at Alabama and is already making more than Weber so wouldn't come cheap. Not a terrible choice, but pretty far down on my list.

I think Illinois should consider Thompson III (Georgetown) and Frank Martin (Kansas State). Both are making $1.5mm or less.

Throwing $2.2 million a year at them should at least grab their attention. Worst case is they use us to get a well deserved raise and stay at their school. Best case they jump and we get a great coach.

Hard to think that Thompson would leave Georgetown. School is his family's coaching home. And idk about Martin, the guy is a screamer, the exact type of coach that the modern generation of kids is one bad losing streak away from tuning out. Not to mention he isn't that great of a recruiter

Seriously...it is IMPOSSIBLE for any assistant coach to own anything given that they are limited (or enhanced) by the Head Coach that governs them. All recruits, families, h.s. and AAU coaches realize the same thing.

We've lost more than one big time Top 50 recruits in the past 5 years merely because they didn't relate to/like BW. Crandall Head LOVED Jerrance and vice versa, but CH didn't enjoy playing for BW who is the coach. JH can win over recruits big time, but he is still handcuffed by BW and the system he has chosen to religiously implement...JH can't change that.

I love having a personality like Frank Martin prowling the sidelines of college basketball. He's one of those guys that makes it fun to root for a team you otherwise don't care about in any way.

That being said, I don't want him anywhere near our sidelines.

He would have absolutely dominated as Frank Haith's replacement at Miami, and yet they never reached out to him due to his scandalous past. Keep in mind that the whole "booster pays for strippers and abortions and everything else" scandal hadn't broken in April when UM was looking for coaches. I can't recall the timeline of everything, so perhaps the athletic department knew that the story was going to break eventually and that made them gunshy about contacting Martin, but who knows...

That being said, even without the advance knowledge of trouble brewing on the horizon, hiring Frank Martin would make any compliance department a little uneasy.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/ripti...mi_scandal.php

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/ripti...rtin_the_k.php

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/ripti...candal_w_1.php

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/ripti...ller_bryan.php

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1998-03...ws/dream-team/

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-02...ruiting-rules/

+1

Agreed 100%

Exactly. When you see how they ultimately end up in BW's system, it makes you realize how good of a recruiter Howard is to get them to come here in the first place.

On the other hand, I don't believe MT should be choosing a coach based on what the talkers in Chicago want. So, what if say, Shaka Smart is not the guy those folks like? Will we continue to be left holding the bag on big-time recruits?

MT's job is not just the coach; he has to make this program have an appeal on its own, regardless of who the coach is.

That is why I argue Howard has been an exceptional recruiter during his time here. Bruce is a giant anchor around any recruiters neck. He isn't the type of guy who recruits will immediately relate to and our on court success hasn't been high enough to overcome his lack of personality in regards to recruits.

I don't think he is saying pander to Chicago rather give them something to be excited about again

Yeah, so imagine what could happen if there are guys like Howard on staff when/if there is a dynamic personality as head coach, like Smart. Imagine those personalities recruiting Chicago. CPL coaches, and other high schools, would love it. Open up the pipeline!

It is fun to think about. A dynamic young coach with charisma and skill and a top recruiter like Howard who knows all the ins and outs of the complexities of recruiting this State.

Definitely. Now the question is that when/if the job comes open, does Smart take it? Are there other programs that would need a new coach that would jump ahead of Illinois on the list? I think this is another moment for Thomas and the rest of the fanbase to assess just where the program is in terms of national perception. You gotta think it's better than football, but I think we're about to find out.

Yep, and it also means that just because a guy has years of head coaching experience that doesn't make him an effective head coach either. There is a fine combination of skills that come into play, and Jerrance may or may not possess them already. Recruiting is a HUGE piece in the puzzle, and I'm telling you right now that JH's success in recruiting will infinitely increase if he is either made head coach, or if he is the primary assistant under another quality head coach. Howard is more than capable of pulling off the quality of recruiting that we've seen O$U have under Matta, if he is not handcuffed by a head coach that is questionable and a system that doesn't appeal to many of today's players.

Problem now is that any elite recruit wants to see tangible proof of a change in style and success on the court, and that takes time. We don't have much more time for the 2013 and 2014 classes unless a change is made immediately. They've all heard the same thing for 6+ years now from BW that "we want to run"...it hasn't happened, and they'll want that tangible evidence, so the change must be quick and evident. :chief:

Agree 100%

Replace BW
 

My current list and reasons:

1. Buzz from Marquette - great run and gun offense (would do great with Chicago players), solid recruiter despite his Universities limited resources, young (39) and energetic, does more with less

2. Martin from K state - disciplinarian, solid teams offensively, supposed violations in high school but clean program by all accounts in college

3. Shaka - great energy, but teams are "slow" on offense and rarely score above 65-70. Not sure with more athletic players that he would do better offensively. However, great motivator and has his team in first

4. Stevens - master strategist, great defenses. Again, slow on offense and not sure if he can recruit/work with the Chicago kids.

I see things this way, too, though I also acknowledge some recruits and their families have said how much they have liked BW. I don't think it's fair or accurate to characterize him as a "giant anchor" around a recruiter's neck, because were he that much of a negative, I can't imagine Illinois would have had the success it has had in attracting highly ranked recruits. But I do believe he needs a lot of help in the area of recruiting and doesn't have an attractive, upbeat personality, which is something JH has.

Very true, but BW is not disliked as a person by the majority of Chicago coaches...the primarily do not like his system and style of play and the results that have been demonstrated over the past couple of years.

Remember, these coaches tried to pull the same thing prior to the BW hire. They will try to establish a measure of authority in the situation, and while MT will do his political part in acknowledging it, he won't let any group dictate what direction he will take in the best interest of our programs. In the end, they will be heard and recognized, we'll hopefully get a quality coach in place, and during the whole mix we'll be in the headlines as it unfolds during the busiest time in college basketball (around the Final Four weekend) to generate publicity and maybe even turn some recruits heads out of curiousity. There is alot of opportunity as regards our basketball program...and alot of good candidates out there. :chief:

Not sure if anyone has touched on this yet or not, BUT...Weber is the coach, not Jerrance. They don't take turns coaching the team. Weber tells the assistance what to do, not the other way around. So we don't have any idea as to whether Jerrance can coach or not. There is only one way to find out.

This is a VERY important facet that is too often overlooked in the success that a coach has over his tenure. If you've ever listened to BW's pregame and halftime speeches, they are incredibly obvious and unmotivating.

One of the worst things I've ever heard from a head coach is what was shared with our '05 squad prior to taking the floor against UNC. For crying out loud, if that was what was going to be shared he might as well have just let them bump Tupac in their iPod's to motivate themselves. Seriously, BW's fist analogy and the lack of enthusiasm behind it may only be surpassed by Quin Snyder's shameful rendition of "Eye of the Tiger".

Being able to motivate a team is paramount, and it is one of the reasons that Tom Izzo has been so successful over his tenure at MSU. :chief:

I still say we pry Leonard Hamilton away from Florida State

I'm pretty sure these posts belong in the other thread. Just sayin' :D

Very good coach but he's 63 and in Florida already...just a couple hours from the beach and retirement.

This isn't the replacement for Weber thread? Seems like every thread in the basketball forum has a list of potential coaches.