2017 Coaching Carousel

[Cheez]

The whole notion that Groce will be negotiating with candidates before he fires Groce, and he will only fire Groce if he succeeds, remains laughable.

Groce won't be negotiating anything.

"Negotiating" might be strong, but Whitman will be gauging interest through back channels. If there is mutual interest, then Whitman makes the move. They might not have the terms of the contract nailed out, but there will be talks.

This is not an uncommon practice amongst competent ADs (see: not Mike Thomas). I dont know why you find it laughable.

 

[GBPillini]

Ha Ha...that's me laughing. I fully expect Whitman to kick some tires prior to firing Groce. I could be wrong, but don't call it "laughable" because it isn't...

Remember, he had a replacement prior to firing our football coach. But I hate to use prior experience as to what will happen with basketball...

Groce won't be negotiating anything.

"Negotiating" might be strong, but Whitman will be gauging interest through back channels. If there is mutual interest, then Whitman makes the move. They might not have the terms of the contract nailed out, but there will be talks.

This is not an uncommon practice amongst competent ADs (see: not Mike Thomas). I dont know why you find it laughable.

You guys really like making Obelix repeat the same message don't you.

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=1283940&postcount=7266

 

[EJ33]

Hey, if experience and Midwest ties are your thing, Bruce Weber was your ubercandidate.

Guenther hired Weber because he was tired of his coaches getting poached. It was a reaction to losing Kruger and Self. And he was right - nobody poached Bruce because nobody good wanted him.

 

[Cheez]

You guys really like making Obelix repeat the same message don't you.

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=1283940&postcount=7266

Gotta get this topic to 10000 posts somehow

 

[Jkat00]

Groce won't be negotiating anything.

"Negotiating" might be strong, but Whitman will be gauging interest through back channels. If there is mutual interest, then Whitman makes the move. They might not have the terms of the contract nailed out, but there will be talks.

This is not an uncommon practice amongst competent ADs (see: not Mike Thomas). I dont know why you find it laughable.

He's been guaging interest through backchannels for a while now. Lovie was a special circumstance. Most of the time, an AD/GM etc DO NOT have somebody lined but before they fire somebody. Groce will not be kept another year because candidates through backchannels don't express enough interest. If Groce needs to go, fire him.

 

[illinibballfan]

If I'm Whitman, I'm offering Monty or Keatts and tell them that to make up for their lack of recruiting connections in the area, I get to hire their top recruiting assistant. At that point, I back up the brinks truck to Lawrence, Kansas and don't leave until I bring back Jerrance Howard with me. No price should be too high to have his connections and I think he would be able to lock up our current class along with Mark Smith. He'd also allow us to make up for lost time with the class of 2018.

We've seen what happens when you go cheap on a coaching staff, so we need to pay top dollar for not only the head coach, but also the assistant coach positions. Do that and you won't have to give away free tickets on senior night against Michigan State any longer.

 

[Obelix]

Groce won't be negotiating anything.

"Negotiating" might be strong, but Whitman will be gauging interest through back channels. If there is mutual interest, then Whitman makes the move. They might not have the terms of the contract nailed out, but there will be talks.

This is not an uncommon practice amongst competent ADs (see: not Mike Thomas). I dont know why you find it laughable.

Because it is laughable.

If that was the case, schools with much more experienced ADs, but more importantly more resources, more prominent boosters, better back channels, more connections, better network, more money (e.g., Oregon, UCLA, OK. State) would have done exactly the same and would have avoided embarrassing searches. Furthermore, from my working experience and involvement at UI, I can tell you that what you call "back channels" are not all that great at UI. Even more, let's not blame everything on the incompetency of Mike Thomas. Ron Guenther made some good hires, yet he struck out so badly with Bruce Weber that he sent the program into a tailspin.

As for Cubit, it has been explained many times that it was such a different situation that they are not even comparable. I have explained, along with others, so many times, a simple search would do.

As for what would happen from a timing perspective, Whitman will decide on Groce first and make an announcement. IF he decides on a change, he will follow appropriate channels and conduct a search, I'd imagine in an expedited manner, without wasting time. Whitman is certainly young enough and smart enough to know that if he wants to have a career as an AD, it is a profession that you do not burn bridges.

 

[Jkat00]

How about Jerence Howard?

Illinois guy-check
Midwestern guy-check
Chicago Recruiter-check
Protege of one of the best-check
Keep current recruits-check
Experience-no check. Assistant's would be critical.

You want to think outside the box...There ya go.

Got caught smoking weed as a Kansas asst- CHECK
Hid those charges for over 6 months- CHECK

Telling you right now and anybody else who thinks Jerrance would be a good candidate.... Jerrance is similar to a Paris Parham. Knows how to recruit but isn't very involved with game planning. He will never be the head coach at Illinois.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Guenther hired Weber because he was tired of his coaches getting poached. It was a reaction to losing Kruger and Self. And he was right - nobody poached Bruce because nobody good wanted him.

Oh, I know. I'm just poking holes in Kleevage's arbitrary list of candidate qualifications.

 

[EJ33]

Brad Evans chimes in:

My realistic Illinois head coach wish list: 1) Chris Holtmann, 2) Buzz Williams, 3) Cuonzo Martin, 4) Ben Howland, 5) Kevin Keatts

 

[Jkat00]

Just throwing a name out there....As the same five or six names here are coming up and all have elements of risk, less a guy like Marshall. He's about as sure fire as it gets. He'll have his choice of jobs when the time is right however.

Jerrance? Believe it when I see it.

 

[Obelix]

Brad Evans chimes in:

Wish list? Other than Keatts, this is one of the least inspiring lists.

 

[Deleted member 236589]

Jerrance? Believe it when I see it.

I said a guy like Marshall, from Wichita State, is about as sure fire as it gets and will have his choice of jobs.

Some of these lists that are being conjured up....Are swings for the fences. This is what we went through the last time around. Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens were on our "list". There's a reason we ended up with an under qualified Groce.

Not sure the circumstances have changed unless it's approved to throw a stupid amount of dough at some of these guys on your wish list.

Howard was just another name and probably is about 18th on the list....But I'm sure Groce wasn't far from that at the time.

 

[Jkat00]

I said a guy like Marshall, from Wichita State, is about as sure fire as it gets and will have his choice of jobs.

Some of these lists that are being conjured up....Are swings for the fences. This is what we went through the last time around. Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens were on our "list". There's a reason we ended up with an under qualified Groce.

Not sure the circumstances have changed unless it's approved to throw a stupid amount of dough at some of these guys on your wish list.

Howard was just another name and probably is about 18th on the list....But I'm sure Groce wasn't far from that at the time.

 

[Deleted member 236589]

Wish list? Other than Keatts, this is one of the least inspiring lists.

That's because the depth of candidates that people are hoping are available, might not be all that much better than the guy we have, with the established relationships and quality incoming class.

Unless they are committed to opening up the checkbook and making a significant investment, change when the timing isn't right is a worse option that changing for the sake of change. It's a four to five year commitment once you pull the trigger. It needs to be the right guy and if that means waiting another year for that guy to become available.....So be it.

 

[Whitman2020]

NCAA Sweet 16 & Elite 8 rounds-- March 23-26th

NIT Final Four -- March 29th

I agree with you about the 2nd part. Whitman wants to fire and hire in a short time frame. Best case scenario Groce is fired after they lose in the NIT next Wednesday or Friday. Whitmans man gets bounced in the 1st weekend and everything comes together on that Monday or Tuesday (March 20-21)

At the 7 seed, Dayton probably goes past first weekend.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Arbitrary is funny....I've given my qualifications. You've dodged the bullet.

1. Chicago/Midwest Ties
2 Head Coaching Experience
3. Winning culture (yes, so did weber)
4. Personality test based on interview

More than just being the hot topic in D3 games....

Here's mine:

1. Likelihood to win lots of games at Illinois

 

[Jkat00]

At the 7 seed, Dayton probably goes past first weekend.

Or loses in the 7 vs 2 game Saturday 3/18. Accepts Illinois 3/20

 

[Whitman2020]

Or loses in the 7 vs 2 game Saturday 3/18. Accepts Illinois 3/20

This would make me a repeat donor.

 

[ILLHangOut]

"Ties" are overrated, at least as you're describing them here. In my mind, the biggest value they bring is a candidate would have additional reasons to say yes.

I agree with you. The right person for the job can create these ties and develop them. There's a trust factor that can take time, but it doesn't need to be years.

That's one reason I'm on the Monty bandwagon. I think he has a lot of good publicly visible qualities about himself. Everything you see googling him is positive. The top NBA stars are tweeting him thanks, team USA shoutouts, etc. if Monty can make it happen on the court I think he has selling points that no team outside of maybe Izzo can pitch.

 

[ILLHangOut]

I agree with you. The right person for the job can create these ties and develop them. There's a trust factor that can take time, but it doesn't need to be years.

That's one reason I'm on the Monty bandwagon. I think he has a lot of good publicly visible qualities about himself. Everything you see googling him is positive. The top NBA stars are tweeting him thanks, team USA shoutouts, etc. if Monty can make it happen on the court I think he has selling points that no team outside of maybe Izzo can pitch.

Too late for me to edit - *no BIG TEN team outside of Izzo

 

[Serious Late]

Brad Evans chimes in:

IF possible, Buzz Williams would be right in the thick of my top 5 guys list. He is right there with Archie Williams in my opinion. That said, I honestly don't think he will give us the time of day. Here is a fascinating read on why he left Marquette for Va Tech. Given he took a paycut to leave Marquette for a program with reduced expectations, I am struggling to see how he sees Illinois as right for him.

But if he does, let's gooooooooooo!

 

[Ubermensch]

IF possible, Buzz Williams would be right in the thick of my top 5 guys list. He is right there with Archie Williams in my opinion. That said, I honestly don't think he will give us the time of day. Here is a fascinating read on why he left Marquette for Va Tech. Given he took a paycut to leave Marquette for a program with reduced expectations, I am struggling to see how he sees Illinois as right for him.

But if he does, let's gooooooooooo!

I'd love to get Buzz. It's probably not realistic but who knows.

I've heard from a couple different sources that Groce is toast.

 

[Tempo34]

I still struggle to see why Whitman would view a guy with 2-3 years of head coaching experience with zero ties to Chicago from a small conference as a top candidate for the job. I might be wrong, but it just doesn't scream "Whitman" if he hires Keatts.

His college rèsumè is a bit shorter and lacks that miracle elite eight run, but his rèsumè is reminiscent of Bill Self's IMO. Lots and lots of winning, and a steady upward trend.

 

[Tempo34]

I haven't heard his name mentioned for any coaching job but my sources tell me John Scheyer is ready. With the success of the Duke coaching tree, it might be smart to get this guy before he becomes a hot commodity. He's an Illinois guy who could recruit nationally also. Has anyone heard his name mentioned for any job?

The pitchforks would be out in full force if we made that hire. And with good reason.