I don't purport to know the entire landscape of assistant coaches, but I probably would have done Antigua, Stephen Gentry for cheap, and then take the rest of your war chest and look for the best guy you can find who has high major experience in a system similar to Underwood's with some recruiting connections somewhere. Maybe that's enough money for Lamont Evans but I doubt it, maybe that money keeps Chuck Martin from South Carolina, not sure he's that guy anyway. But my staff would be focused on coaching and player development, and would have gotten rid of Groce's entire team including Fletcher and would not have burned one of the three assistant spots on a token Chicago guy.
But what's done is done. Let's go get the players these guys were brought in to get, and if we can't, let's reconvene in a year and rethink this. We have a good head coach, plenty of money and plenty of time.
Well then, let's continue to be happy you're not making the decisions. I don't know why it's hard to believe that a good coach, which most agree Underwood to be wouldn't be able to break down his offensive and defensive schemes to his assistants. I mean how hard can it be to teach coaches what you want them to coach within your system? Let's not act like these guys are bumbling fools when it comes to coaching X's and O's. Underwood will set the guidelines for what he needs and expects in his system and it will be coached up.
Illinois is in a precarious position right now. We've gotten 1 recruit from Indiana in he last what 20 years, Chicago hasn't been our friend since the 80s, and St. Louis is basically a war zone for recruiting with Mizzou and whatever manure is being shoveled by SLU. I want coaches that are great at coaching too, but you have to go out and get the kids to coach at some point. We're going to have to trust that Underwood is competent enough to get his assistants to help teach his system.