2017 Coaching Carousel

[Second and Chalmers]

I think this is way off base, but time will tell.

Yeah we'll see. I will be legitimately shocked if he's not their next coach.

And if he's not, we need to make him say no to us.

 

[sacraig]

I lol'ed :thumb:

 

[illynifan34]

Rumblings among some boosters is Groce is going to be back. Most disagree but Whitman is willing to let Groce go 1 more year because of his recruiting class. Really hope this doesn't cause a rift between boosters and Illinois.

It was funny the first time you said it, now it's just trolling.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I have a feeling it will be someone out of left field (as many do).

I will bet my beach house that the next coach at Illinois' name appears somewhere in this thread.

 

[illynifan34]

TODAY

Now we're cooking with gas.

 

[PlayAZ]

I am still intrigued by the Dan Majerle discussion we had a couple weeks back. There was talk about him not leaving Grand Canyon out of loyalty to the program. At the time, my initial reaction was a big, fat PSSSSSSSSSSSH. I still think he will leave them for the right opportunity, but then I read an article in the Player's Tribune (great website for those not aware of it) that talks about how next year will be the first year they are eligible for the NCAA Tourney. They appear to have quite a bit of talent, a respectable fanbase and quite a bit of support.

So I honestly don't know what to make of that situation and where Majerle's head is at, but if he would listen, that is another coach I would be very interested in talking with. In any event, I recommend giving the article a read for anyone that is a general college basketball fan.

Colangelo is tied to GCU, as well as USA Basketball as well as Illinois...this all said, his word carries a lot of weight. His word is what got Majerle in the door at GCU (Majerle's own admission), and that is where Majerle would stay at least till they participate in the NCAA. Next year as you stated...his loyalty to the program, Colangelo, admin, and himself will keep him at GCU at least through a few more years....

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I have serious doubts about his ability to coach in the long run

Me too. And if it turns out he's great, that just shows you that the world is a mysterious place.

John Groce could return, instantly turn it around, and be the next John Wooden. We could hire Tony Bennett and end up in the Big Ten cellar. There are no guarantees.

 

[Poe's Law]

Maybe Nebraska, but Steve Pikiell is better than Groce I think. I'd take him over Groce.

Top 25 Caliber: Izzo, Belien, Turgeon, Painter, Matta

Probably Belongs Above, But I Just Don't Like Him: Crean

Time Will Tell: Collins, Garrd, Pitino

Good Coaches with Tough Jobs: Miles, Pikiell

Bottom Dwellers: Groce, McCaffery

Side note, I'm starting to suspect Garrd may be Wisconsin's Weber.

 

[Roundball Shaman]

In many ways, this decision will be a big litmus test for our AD. Many posters have already cited that he and Groce are nice guys of good integrity. OK, we've got that. But as I said once before, a program like the Illini should not be an on-the-job training program for the head coach. It's all about results. In any job review, isn't that what matters most to your superior who is evaluating you? Groce just can't seem to get the most out of his players. Our AD could stick with him, but in doing so he would seem to be putting his faith in this one man above the entire future of the program. There has to be one or more men (or women) out there who would accept the Illini job and get better results. Being mediocre mediocre is not acceptable. Being UPPER mediocre is not acceptable either. There is no Holy Book that says that Kansas, NC, Duke, and Kentucky have to soak up all the talent and national attention. The Illini have a place at that table if the Powers That Be have the guts to sit down and grab it.

You are either hammering the cool-aid, snorting cheeto dust or both. We are not, nor is it likely that we will ever be, in that "Holy Book".

It's clear that most people on this blog agree with you. But I have yet to see a single good reason why people think this is so. If lowered expectations is all a person has, then that is all they'll get. Some of us want more. I guess this means we're fans of the wrong team?

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Whitman would not have done it [announced Groce was staying] before the end of regular season, it would have shown bias of making his own personal evaluation before having complete information from he entire season.

That's not what my post said, you need to learn how to read.

Elucidate me.

 

[sacraig]

TODAY

Which obviously means his replacement is named by Monday, right?

RIGHT?

 

[MainelyIllini]

TODAY

This would be good. Not for Groce obviously but for getting a jump on this search.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Maybe Nebraska, but Steve Pikiell is better than Groce I think. I'd take him over Groce.

I like Pikiell a lot. Picture-perfect hire for Rutgers.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Who wants to place bets on whether or not JW cries in his press conference when he announces JG's firing? I foresee some tears in that one, personally. It's gotta be beyond tough when you have to let someone go who you feel is a close, personal friend who you wanted badly to succeed.

 

[Captain Bubbles]

These 2 resumes don't look that different but o were the results.

Kim Anderson was a D1 assistant for about 15 years at Mizzou and Baylor. He took over a D2 program, won 75% of his games, won a D2 national championship and had several final 4s. Returned to his alma mater where he was worshipped and went down in flames in a weak basketball conference. Melissa Click and all that stuff notwithstanding.

Bo Ryan won 81% of his games at D3 and 4 national titles but it was D3. Had two very mediocre years at UWM and was hired at UW. I remember it well. Kohl had just been built and Wisc was shooting for a star. Ryan was not first choice, or second, or third. When he was hired I remember a national writer saying that Wisc thought they could parlay their new digs into a top tier coach but none were interested and they (his words) "finally settled on Bo Ryan". It was almost condescending.

Hiring coaches is a crap shoot normally and sometimes dumb luck is part of it but not counting interims, I have seen 8 athletic directors and JW strikes me as the best and maybe by a lot. I trust in JW

Best post of the day, and no one else has come even this close to greatness.

 

[PlayAZ]

Maybe. I wouldn't put him definitively worse than Groce though. The point is that there's an argument to be made that we might very well have the worst coach in the B1G.

There is an argument? I don't believe so...I honestly think we DO have the worst coach and he has been the worst coach for awhile now....there is not a competition IMO....

 

[Captain Bubbles]

TODAY

This is worth keeping an eye on.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Top 25 Caliber: Izzo, Belien, Turgeon, Painter, Matta

Probably Belongs Above, But I Just Don't Like Him: Crean

Time Will Tell: Collins, Garrd, Pitino

Good Coaches with Tough Jobs: Miles, Pikiell

Bottom Dwellers: Groce, McCaffery

Side note, I'm starting to suspect Garrd may be Wisconsin's Weber.

You forgot Chambers at Ped St. I'd probably put him under "Good Coaches with Tough Jobs".

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I remember it well. Kohl had just been built and Wisc was shooting for a star. Ryan was not first choice, or second, or third. When he was hired I remember a national writer saying that Wisc thought they could parlay their new digs into a top tier coach but none were interested and they (his words) "finally settled on Bo Ryan". It was almost condescending.

Yup. And compare that to Anthony Grant's arrival at Alabama.

There are no guarantees.

 

[GoIllini40]

This is worth keeping an eye on.

Nothing is being announced today. Sometime this weekend or more than likely on Monday.

 

[KBLEE]

TODAY

 

[PlayAZ]

I will bet my beach house that the next coach at Illinois' name appears somewhere in this thread.

Just to clarify, by your Beach house, you don't mean a tiny one that moves constantly so one cannot ever find it after you may lose this wager right?

 

[Obelix]

Elucidate me.

My post does not say that it would be irresponsible to make a decision before regular season is over because he needs information to make his decision, but because the timing of announcement before the season would show bias. Whitman may have had all information that he needs, one way or another, and may have reached his decision long time ago, yet there is a PR aspect on the timing, that he has considered the entire season before announcing his decision.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

It's gotta be beyond tough when you have to let someone go who you feel is a close, personal friend who you wanted badly to succeed.

This idea that Whitman and Groce are bosom buddies, what evidence do we have that that's a thing? The same evidence we had of a "true connection" between Groce and Cliff Alexander?

Obviously those are both two great dudes who are very personable. I am sure they have a much better relationship than Mike Thomas and Bruce Weber did at the same moment. But it's not like the two have some intimate personal history together, they've been coworkers for a year and five days.

 

[FatGreg]

If I remember correctly the only currency that is acceptable to bet around here is beach houses.

Put me down for my 2nd, 4th, and 5th best beach houses on Groce being gone by tomorrow afternoon - rumors immediately, official announcement Monday.