Jerrance Howard named interim head coach at Illinois

[ryls]

Great to give him this oppurtunity, he is the one the players are closest to and can try to keep recruits on board and a good start to keeping him with the new coaching staff

[Ransom Stoddard]

Hopefully if we make the NIT, Snacks has a Steve Fisher-type run.

[illininks]

Could Crandall Head be pondering a return? Per his tweets.

#1
RT @HEAD_ofSTATE: “@Mr_Ron_Mota: @HEAD_ofSTATE @KMDuce you wanna go back to the U of I?” it's a thought

#2
RT @HEAD_ofSTATE: “@KMDuce: @HEAD_ofSTATE you coming back to the Paign now?” thinking bout it..

Wonder how that would work? I gather he likes Howard

[ervinsmall]

let's go Snacks!

[BrooksTaylorFan]

Originally Posted by illininks

Could Crandall Head be pondering a return? Per his tweets.

#1
RT @HEAD_ofSTATE: “@Mr_Ron_Mota: @HEAD_ofSTATE @KMDuce you wanna go back to the U of I?” it's a thought

#2
RT @HEAD_ofSTATE: “@KMDuce: @HEAD_ofSTATE you coming back to the Paign now?” thinking bout it..

Wonder how that would work? I gather he likes Howard

Would he have to sit out a year?

[BrooksTaylorFan]

Would Parker come to Illinois if Howard were head coach?

[orange julius]

It's great to have a REAL AD who understands the big picture, is making all the right decisions, and skillfully and articulately handling the media today. Putting Jerrance in the top spot lays the foundation to keep him on with the next coaching staff, maintains relationships with our recruits- and the new coach will undoubtedly realize the benefit of keeping Jerrance around as the top assistant.

[ill07]

Meh, I've heard rumblings from people close to the team that JH was part of the problem. I like Snacks, but the things I've heard about him undermining and causing confusion, and babying his recruits make me unsure that this is a road we want to travel down.

[zpfled]

I would be thrilled if Crandall came back. The new coach better run him through the gauntlet to make him prove his commitment, but I really liked Crandall's potential and I think he could be a key player for us in the coming years. Plus we need options to go to when DJ and BP aren't cutting it, and I think the competition will be good for everyone IF THE NEW COACH ACTUALLY IS WILLING TO BENCH GUYS WHEN THEY NEED IT.

[89illinigrad]

Just like Wayne McLain was the bridge between Bill Self and Bruce Weber, Jerrance is the bridge between Weber and whoever the new coach is.

While Thomas is probably not requiring that the new coach retain Jerrance, he may recommend it.

[zpfled]

Originally Posted by 89illinigrad

Just like Wayne McLain was the bridge between Bill Self and Bruce Weber, Jerrance is the bridge between Weber and whoever the new coach is.

While Thomas is probably not requiring that the new coach retain Jerrance, he may recommend it.

Well, I require it!

If the new coach doesn't retain Jerrance, I will be sending him a strongly worded letter.

[89illinigrad]

Originally Posted by zpfled

Well, I require it!

If the new coach doesn't retain Jerrance, I will be sending him a strongly worded letter.

Hey, I want Jerrance to stay at Illinois too, but if its a choice of getting Shaka and letting him pick his own assistants or Shaka saying no if we try to force him to keep Jerrance, which would you rather have?

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by ill07

Meh, I've heard rumblings from people close to the team that JH was part of the problem. I like Snacks, but the things I've heard about him undermining and causing confusion, and babying his recruits make me unsure that this is a road we want to travel down.

We certainly hear from a number of sources that the various assistants were all pulling in different directions. Some of that may have been due to a lack of leadership from Weber.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by 89illinigrad

Hey, I want Jerrance to stay at Illinois too, but if its a choice of getting Shaka and letting him pick his own assistants or Shaka saying no if we try to force him to keep Jerrance, which would you rather have?

You take Shaka and let him pick his assistants. I would hate to lose Jerrance, just as I hated to lose Koenning in football, but you have to let the head coach hire his assistants.

[Atreides]

Originally Posted by CrazedUIFan

You all have really high expectations for Howard. What makes you think this instantly means players will play better?

Because the guy who told the world how much they sucked during his press conferences got his butt fired this morning.

[CrazedUIFan]

Originally Posted by Atreides

Because the guy who told the world how much they sucked during his press conferences got his butt fired this morning.

Oh I see. They will instantly learn to feed the post, run a fast break, decrease turnovers and shoot better. Got it!

[Hugh Jorgen]

Originally Posted by CrazedUIFan

You all have really high expectations for Howard. What makes you think this instantly means players will play better?

I think it instantly means that players will be utilized better...Mike Shaw, Myke Henry, Egwu,and Djimde all fit a niche even right now in that they should be seeing minutes to rest the current top players to keep them fresh.
We have woefully mismanaged the bench during this conference season and anyone who believes that it doesn't drastically affect the explosiveness on your first step, perimeter shot, or lateral movement on defense simply hasn't played this game at this level. Little things make a BIG difference, and utilizing players properly is valuable at this level.

Secondly, the style of play that we promote can also change the outcome of the product that we see on the floor...doesn't necessarily mean the players skills become better all of the sudden, but it can mean that we play a different way to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.

[Fighting Billini]

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan

Would Parker come to Illinois if Howard were head coach?

It doesn't matter. Obviously, promises are easily broken in recruiting, but even if hypothetically there was a guarantee he would come to Illinois to play for Snacks, that should't be a reason to hire a coach. One player may be able to put a talented team over the top in one year (as Carmelo Anthony did), but one player doesn't make a program. You would still have Howard as coach after Parker left.

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

You take Shaka and let him pick his assistants. I would hate to lose Jerrance, just as I hated to lose Koenning in football, but you have to let the head coach hire his assistants.

The key thing to remember is that Jerrance Howard is not the only stud recruiter out there.

[DaytonIllini]

This is what I was hoping for some time ago. I suggested it after the Northwestern loss. I thought it would give him a great opportunity to show his stuff. Sudden death now. I am not sure how the team will respond to him. Could be interesting.

[illininks]

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan

Would he have to sit out a year?

Not sure? Might be a difficult decision to bring back a kid who left your program before...whatever the reason.

I liked Crandall's athleticism, but he would have to be a fit for the new coach.

[CrazedUIFan]

I realize that a different style may make this a better team, but you cannot expect that style to be good when you only practice it for a few days. The reality is Howard is not going to instantly have an impact in the W column. The only way they can be successful during the NIT is if they are mentally better off. That's up in the air. Even if certain players were deep down happy to see Weber go, it's still mentally draining to have your program under a microscope and to play away.

This move is strictly to keep the current players on this team and to help with recruiting and it's a smart move.

[Atreides]

Originally Posted by CrazedUIFan

Oh I see. They will instantly learn to feed the post, run a fast break, decrease turnovers and shoot better. Got it!

Besides, your boy Weber had years to do it and failed, how could JH do worse...

[4LaCosaNostra]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

You take Shaka and let him pick his assistants. I would hate to lose Jerrance, just as I hated to lose Koenning in football, but you have to let the head coach hire his assistants.

Totally different imho.. Jhoward is basically for one specific thing that is very good if not great at=recruiting..So the new head coach can and should realize that and keep him.. he is not going to find someone with better ties to chicago and with current and upcoming commiments. period.

football- with Koenning / they probably did not agree on style of play on the defense, blitzing, coverages, different packages, etc. more and more apart of the actual game and gameplan. Basketball is much different, jhoward would of course recruit; but gameplans, in game adjustments, development is on the HC in hoops/ football OC and DC have a lot of power and say so.

it is up to SS, personally- with the ties jhoward has and the chicago "game" he would be foolish to say bye to jhoward for an assistant he knows better. that assistant is not going to know nearly as much as jhoward about Illinois and our recruiting grounds and battles

[zpfled]

Originally Posted by 89illinigrad

Hey, I want Jerrance to stay at Illinois too, but if its a choice of getting Shaka and letting him pick his own assistants or Shaka saying no if we try to force him to keep Jerrance, which would you rather have?

I'd keep Jerrance and get Theus!