2017 Coaching Carousel

[Second and Chalmers]

I don't reject the Jerrance Howard idea out of hand, but other than him, there is not another Illinois alum qualified to take on the position, end of story.

Well, technically John Giannini holds a doctorate from UI, but he's more likely to get fired by LaSalle this year than to land a bigger job.

Scott Nagy might also hold a graduate degree of some sort given that he was a GA under Henson, but I can't find any evidence of that via Google.

 

[Obelix]

Why do you think HS recruits would be drawn to or know about someone whose NBA career ended when they were in diapers?

Hey, watch it man...

 

[Obelix]

No way anyone would hire him with no head coaching experience! How about Chrissy at Northwestern?:tsk:

There are plenty of assistant coaches who get head coaching jobs. That is not surprising. Gill is not an assistant coach.

 

[jmilt7]

I'd love for old Lon to finish his coaching career with us. Wonder what the chances are he'd ever come back.

I second this. I just started reading this topic yesterday and noticed it has gone from who should replace JG to a more philosophical (for want of a better word) discussion. But I am going back to possible replacements. Maybe it is the nostalgia in me. I have been following Illini basketball since the 70s (and still know nothing about nothing) but I would like to see Kruger come back. He is arguably the best coach I think the Illini ever had. He outcoached Bobby Knight every time they met. I was hoping we could lure him here when the position opened in 2012 (2011?) but he was just one year into his contract at OK. Also, he was a point guard in college and I remember he had a way with developing point guards. Something we seem to need. He might also be able to hang onto the ’17 recruits. On the other hand, he had a brief tenure here and I don’t know if there are any residual feelings one way or the other. Based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever (and I stress that) I just get the feeling he is trying to get back here. Left the NBA and did a stint at a mid major (?) school, UNLV, then moved on to a major, Oklahoma, which doesn’t have the basketball cred. that Illinois has. Maybe he feels that he left things undone, didn’t finish the job or whatever, and now wants to. But I am sure I am completely wrong. Also, while I don’t consider 63 (or so) to be old, that may be too old for some.
And someone mentioned that there is not another Illinois alum qualified to take on the position. And while I am sure that to be the case what about Rob Judson? What happened to him? I seem to remember that he desperately wanted the job. And he certainly has Illinois connections. But he seems to have fallen off the map and maybe is irrelevant now?

And for a giggle:

<http://smilepolitely.com/culture/updated_john_groce_fired_as_illini_basketball_coach/>

 

[Obelix]

To be successful at Illinois, you need to be a good recruiter, have charisma, and be able to deal with the HS/AAU scene. Not only be able to deal with it, embrace it. On top of my list would be:

1. Archie Miller
2. Kevin Keatts
3. Chris Mack

All "hot" names, but may be more realistic and easier to approach than Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens were in our last search. I like Cuonzo Martin, but I do not think he will leave Cal with all his recruiting success to start from scratch at Illinois at the current state of our program.

If we can't close on those, I am a risk taker. I would not take the mild flavor of the day from mid-major or low high major ranks. I'd take a chance with some high risk/high reward names who fit the criteria mentioned above (recruiter, embracing HS/AAU scene):

1. Jeff Capel
2. Anthony Grant
3. Jerrance Howard

 

[Second and Chalmers]

And someone mentioned that there is not another Illinois alum qualified to take on the position. And while I am sure that to be the case what about Rob Judson? What happened to him? I seem to remember that he desperately wanted the job. And he certainly has Illinois connections. But he seems to have fallen off the map and maybe is irrelevant now?

Oh shoot, I knew I forgot somebody.

Judson is now an assistant under Crean and is absolutely nominally qualified to be head coach. But like Giannini, is not someone we'd ever want to hire.

 

[cjcastan]

I am not worried about the fan base.. we are all to fair weathered..



I am worried more about recruits and perception. Why would a Jabari Parker want to play for Archie Miller? ( don't get me wrong I think he is a good coach). I seriously think we need the next HC to be someone HS recruits know and would immediately be drawn to..



I just want to look at it from another direction that most here..

The only type of candidate with no head coaching experience would be someone that had spent a lot of time in an NBA front office like a Steve Kerr or Fred Hoiberg.

Unfortunately I don't think there are any candidates that would take this job that have those credentials.

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

vs John Groce?

Huh?

I will take the over/under on Gill

Double huh?

.. Again people got my original email wrong

email? WTF?

I just used Gill as an example. Not that I support or want him. The mole hill just gets larger.

Oh, OK. :huh:

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

The only type of candidate with no head coaching experience would be someone that had spent a lot of time in an NBA front office like a Steve Kerr or Fred Hoiberg.

Unfortunately I don't think there are any candidates that would take this job that have those credentials.

How is Mannie Jackson's health? Or maybe Jerry Colangelo?

 

[homesickalien]

To be successful at Illinois, you need to be a good recruiter, have charisma, and be able to deal with the HS/AAU scene. Not only be able to deal with it, embrace it. On top of my list would be:

1. Archie Miller
2. Kevin Keatts
3. Chris Mack

All "hot" names, but may be more realistic and easier to approach than Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens were in our last search. I like Cuonzo Martin, but I do not think he will leave Cal with all his recruiting success to start from scratch at Illinois at the current state of our program.

If we can't close on those, I am a risk taker. I would not take the mild flavor of the day from mid-major or low high major ranks. I'd take a chance with some high risk/high reward names who fit the criteria mentioned above (recruiter, embracing HS/AAU scene):

1. Jeff Capel
2. Anthony Grant
3. Jerrance Howard

Top list I'm right there with you. Those are my top 3 guys too. I think you throw all the money you can at at Miller and Mack. Bottom 3 list. Scary and really risky. I'd hope we could do better.

 

[StateFarmCenter]

I listen to Cuonzo speak and think that guy is desperate to get back to the midwest

 

[Second and Chalmers]

If we can't close on those, I am a risk taker. I would not take the mild flavor of the day from mid-major or low high major ranks. I'd take a chance with some high risk/high reward names who fit the criteria mentioned above (recruiter, embracing HS/AAU scene):

1. Jeff Capel
2. Anthony Grant
3. Jerrance Howard

Grant is the black John Groce. Hard pass.

Snacks is intriguing, but there's information about him you just can't know at this point. Whether he can really handle the crunch time X's and O's and the CEO aspects of a head coaching job.

I think Capel is an outstanding candidate though. Perhaps the single best recruiter in the nation, and a head coaching record with real excellence at multiple stops and real major conference success. There's not going to be another candidate with more positives on their resume than that, it's just pockmarked by the sudden, inexplicable implosion at Oklahoma. I would be willing to give him another chance for sure.

But, he turned down Georgia Tech last year. Would he say yes?

 

[Tribe88]

My problem really hasn't been recruiting in the Groce era and even when we don't get our plan A guys, most would concede that Groce has been great as a talent evaluator. Even the guys we've secured had garnered high major talent across the country. The one consistent denominator is our lack on skill development. When I look at the trajectory of our misses from D Jack, Juwan Evans, Tyler Ennis, Monte Morris, Trevon Bluiett, and even Scoochie Smith have out turned out to be strong contributors to successful programs. Those guys ranged in rankings from RSCI 20-110 (give or take). It's not like we haven't gotten that before. When I look at our guys, I can't say anyone has gotten any better skill-wise. Leron looks to be a bit bouncier this season and it's helped as a rim protector but you shouldn't depend upon a 6'7" guy as your best rim protector. I can't say any guard is that much better handling the ball or even making decisions. No post player is that much more of a prolific scorer. Maverick made strides but I think that's more aligned with just being comfortable. He's still a huge defensive liability. Most importantly, our defensive scheme is terrible. It seems everyone is a terrible off-ball defender which makes no sense because that is about instruction vs natural ability to move laterally.

I have to wonder if other recruits are considering their skill development into their decisions. It's one thing to be able to sell the nba to players , but it's another thing to have a team full of one-dimensional guys that actually have potential to perform better.

I agree with these comments. I think we also need to look at the kinds of kids we are recruiting. Do they have the ability to respond well to coaching or not. No matter how talented or athletic you are coming out of high school there is still some kind of learning curve going into the college game. On the flip side, the coaching staff needs to get the best out of player. Every player is different and it's the coaches job to know how to get the maximum effort for each kid. I think this incoming class possesses hungry players. The jury is still out on damonte. I do think groce and staff have to consider new methods in order to get maximum effort.

 

[Tevo]

I can see the logic in that but who is to say that some with NBA experience has any less knowledge of the game than Groce? I was totally sold on him when we hired him but this is becoming laughable at this point. Don't see that it could hurt at this point. Make the head coach the CEO of a multi million dollar corporation and then hire an experienced staff. I am not saying Gill is the answer just a name to discuss..

I'd saying doing and teaching are very different. I can do math, but I am NOT good at teaching my kids how to do it -- I don't have the patience, the temperament, nor the simple teaching skills it takes to break down the concepts and build them up in such a way that the kids GET it. But we do see this all the time -- successful business people brought in to teach a class, assuming that having "done it" is all it takes to be a good teacher.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Grant is the black John Groce. Hard pass.

Snacks is intriguing, but there's information about him you just can't know at this point. Whether he can really handle the crunch time X's and O's and the CEO aspects of a head coaching job.

I think Capel is an outstanding candidate though. Perhaps the single best recruiter in the nation, and a head coaching record with real excellence at multiple stops and real major conference success. There's not going to be another candidate with more positives on their resume than that, it's just pockmarked by the sudden, inexplicable implosion at Oklahoma. I would be willing to give him another chance for sure.

But, he turned down Georgia Tech last year. Would he say yes?

Groce was National ROY in 2006.

 

[EJ33]

I've never seen so many silly ideas for a coaching search. Most of these people would be riskier than just sticking with Groce.

An NCAA tourney bid this year is not a bright-line test for Whitman. Groce can miss the tourney and keep his job IF the team looks respectable and there are no more off-the-court issues. Groce still has time to get this team looking respectable. If he can't do that he will get fired.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I've never seen so many silly ideas for a coaching search. Most of these people would be riskier than just sticking with Groce.

Of course they're riskier. But there is potential reward. There is no potential reward with Groce.

When there is no bird in your hand, you take the two in the bush.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

I think Capel is an outstanding candidate though. Perhaps the single best recruiter in the nation, and a head coaching record with real excellence at multiple stops and real major conference success. There's not going to be another candidate with more positives on their resume than that, it's just pockmarked by the sudden, inexplicable implosion at Oklahoma. I would be willing to give him another chance for sure.

"So he can bolt for Duke when K retires? NO THANKS!" - Area idiot

Sorry, just trying to get ahead of that one.

 

[Tevo]

Are Keatts and Archie Miller considered strong recruiters? Certainly they both were assistants for programs recruiting some of the best high school players, but did they play primary recruiting roles, and were they credited with "getting" some of the top notch players that went to Louisville and Arizona?

I love the idea of bring in a coach with a long history of winning conference games. All things being equal, conference teams tend to attract similar types of player, so the teams who win are doing it with coaching. Moving up to an Illinois-level program (as sad as that may be, these days) will get them in the conversation for better players, and especially access to markets like St. Louis and Chicago. If they've shown big-time recruiting chops before, that bodes well.

TL;DR: I'm all-in for Miller or Keatts, too. Maybe it's time for Illinois to give an African American coach a chance to see if he can bring in some of the truly top quality players from the state.

 

[Tevo]

"So he can bolt for Duke when K retires? NO THANKS!" - Area idiot

Sorry, just trying to get ahead of that one.

Question is, why would he leave Duke now, when's he's Associate Head Coach, a well-loved alum, and Coach K is probably a couple years from retiring?

 

[Hoppy2105]

I've never seen so many silly ideas for a coaching search. Most of these people would be riskier than just sticking with Groce.

An NCAA tourney bid this year is not a bright-line test for Whitman. Groce can miss the tourney and keep his job IF the team looks respectable and there are no more off-the-court issues. Groce still has time to get this team looking respectable. If he can't do that he will get fired.

I'm not sure what Whitman thinks, but I disagree. Groce HAS to make the tourney this year or he is gone.

"Looking respectable" is not our goal for Illinois basketball. Groce doesn't get a pass this year because he tanked the non-con. No extenuating circumstance kept him from being competitive in our pre-conference slate. This season is 5 years into his tenure here and in his 5th year, he should easily be able to field a team talented enough to make the tourney and coach them there.

If he is retained without making the tourney, do we give him another mulligan next year if he tanks in the non-con because he "has so much youth"? The only true excuse was last year with all the injuries. Since he came here, he had a good year, a rebuild year, a bad year, a mulligan year, and what looks like could be the worst year. That trend is pointing straight down.

Whitman SHOULD make a change if things don't turn around.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Question is, why would he leave Duke now, when's he's Associate Head Coach, a well-loved alum, and Coach K is probably a couple years from retiring?

If Coach K really is close to retirement, and Capel really is going to get that job, then surely he won't leave.

We have no idea whether either of those things are true.

 

[Golfer63]

Are Keatts and Archie Miller considered strong recruiters? Certainly they both were assistants for programs recruiting some of the best high school players, but did they play primary recruiting roles, and were they credited with "getting" some of the top notch players that went to Louisville and Arizona?

I love the idea of bring in a coach with a long history of winning conference games. All things being equal, conference teams tend to attract similar types of player, so the teams who win are doing it with coaching. Moving up to an Illinois-level program (as sad as that may be, these days) will get them in the conversation for better players, and especially access to markets like St. Louis and Chicago. If they've shown big-time recruiting chops before, that bodes well.

TL;DR: I'm all-in for Miller or Keatts, too. Maybe it's time for Illinois to give an African American coach a chance to see if he can bring in some of the truly top quality players from the state.

Cuonzo Martin is an intriguing candidate in regards to meeting this criteria. I think the Irvins and other Chicago AAU crooks would like this hire and would stop telling their kids to slow play us. There was an article saying the Irvins were mad we didn't hire an African American coach back in 2012.
While I am personally not a fan of playing the Irvin's game because I think they are dirty worthless POSs, maybe this will get us a better shot of landing more Chicago recruits.

 

[Golfer63]

If Coach K really is close to retirement, and Capel really is going to get that job, then surely he won't leave.

We have no idea whether either of those things are true.

I honestly think Chris Collins will leave NW to take the Duke job once K retires.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

I've never seen so many silly ideas for a coaching search. Most of these people would be riskier than just sticking with Groce.

An NCAA tourney bid this year is not a bright-line test for Whitman. Groce can miss the tourney and keep his job IF the team looks respectable and there are no more off-the-court issues. Groce still has time to get this team looking respectable. If he can't do that he will get fired.

And yet, the bold is the silliest thing in this thread!