Coaching Carousel

[Deleted member 747671]

So is the Chin situation tied directly to OA? Why not finalize him first, if possible?

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Assistant coaches are not fungible. Sure, you might be able to find someone who can recruit at OA's level. And you might be able to find someone who can develop big men like he can. But this bidding war is proof that two experienced head coaches and their respective ADs don't think you can easily identify someone who offers the same combination of skills that OA brings to the table.

OA's recruiting and development are consistently mentioned on here. When you go over to the UK boards, they also talk endlessly about OA's talent evaluation abilities. Since OA's departure, UK has continued to bring in highly-rated classes, but those rosters haven't functioned well and they have had more than their expected share of "busts." We've seen the opposite these last two seasons. We are seeing rosters that come together beautifully over the course of the season and many of our players are playing to or exceeding expectations.

Someone who is elite in identifying talent, attracting talent, and developing talent is going to be worth a lot. A whole heckuva lot. That sure sounds like a fair description of the best assistant coach in the country to me. We lose OA, then fine, we do our best to identify our next best replacement. But until he tells us no, you treat him like the "franchise player" he is.

 

[Illwinsagain]

So is the Chin situation tied directly to OA? Why not finalize him first, if possible?

We have no idea if they are trying to do this or not. At least, most of us don't.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Assistant coaches are not fungible. Sure, you might be able to find someone who can recruit at OA's level. And you might be able to find someone who can develop big men like he can. But this bidding war is proof that two experienced head coaches and their respective ADs don't think you can easily identify someone who offers the same combination of skills that OA brings to the table.

OA's recruiting and development are consistently mentioned on here. When you go over to the UK boards, they also talk endlessly about OA's talent evaluation abilities. Since OA's departure, UK has continued to bring in highly-rated classes, but those rosters haven't functioned well and they have had more than their expected share of "busts." We've seen the opposite these last two seasons. We are seeing rosters that come together beautifully over the course of the season and many of our players are playing to or exceeding expectations.

Someone who is elite in identifying talent, attracting talent, and developing talent is going to be worth a lot. A whole heckuva lot. That sure sounds like a fair description of the best assistant coach in the country to me. We lose OA, then fine, we do our best to identify our next best replacement. But until he tells us no, you treat him like the "franchise player" he is.

Very well said.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

So is the Chin situation tied directly to OA? Why not finalize him first, if possible?

Along those lines, are Chin and OA a package deal for UK? Like, if we successfully retain OA, does UK continue to pursue Chin or is their interest in him contingent on also getting OA?

 

[WestSuburbanIllini]

Assistant coaches are not fungible. Sure, you might be able to find someone who can recruit at OA's level. And you might be able to find someone who can develop big men like he can. But this bidding war is proof that two experienced head coaches and their respective ADs don't think you can easily identify someone who offers the same combination of skills that OA brings to the table.

OA's recruiting and development are consistently mentioned on here. When you go over to the UK boards, they also talk endlessly about OA's talent evaluation abilities. Since OA's departure, UK has continued to bring in highly-rated classes, but those rosters haven't functioned well and they have had more than their expected share of "busts." We've seen the opposite these last two seasons. We are seeing rosters that come together beautifully over the course of the season and many of our players are playing to or exceeding expectations.

Someone who is elite in identifying talent, attracting talent, and developing talent is going to be worth a lot. A whole heckuva lot. That sure sounds like a fair description of the best assistant coach in the country to me. We lose OA, then fine, we do our best to identify our next best replacement. But until he tells us no, you treat him like the "franchise player" he is.

Can I upvote this, like 1000 times?

 

[Joel Goodson]

Assistant coaches are not fungible. Sure, you might be able to find someone who can recruit at OA's level. And you might be able to find someone who can develop big men like he can. But this bidding war is proof that two experienced head coaches and their respective ADs don't think you can easily identify someone who offers the same combination of skills that OA brings to the table.

OA's recruiting and development are consistently mentioned on here. When you go over to the UK boards, they also talk endlessly about OA's talent evaluation abilities. Since OA's departure, UK has continued to bring in highly-rated classes, but those rosters haven't functioned well and they have had more than their expected share of "busts." We've seen the opposite these last two seasons. We are seeing rosters that come together beautifully over the course of the season and many of our players are playing to or exceeding expectations.

Someone who is elite in identifying talent, attracting talent, and developing talent is going to be worth a lot. A whole heckuva lot. That sure sounds like a fair description of the best assistant coach in the country to me. We lose OA, then fine, we do our best to identify our next best replacement. But until he tells us no, you treat him like the "franchise player" he is.

+1

And props for fungible.

 

[NB2D]

OA and family liked their time in Lexington and the fans liked them as well. In my opinion, it will tough to keep them from moving. We will be fine.

 

[WestSuburbanIllini]

Best part about this, even if OA does indeed decide to head back to UK... this will be every high- caliber assistant coach's reaction now when they see a missed call from BU/JW.

We might truly be in the process of shaking our "University of East Central Illinois" reputation, guys and gals.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Best part about this, even if OA does indeed decide to head back to UK... this will be every high- caliber assistant coach's reaction now when they see a missed call from BU/JW.

We might truly be in the process of shaking our "University of East Central Illinois" reputation, guys and gals.

Yep. Even if we have to look hard for a silver lining, having a publicized bidding war over an assistant shows future prospective employees that U of I values and is willing to reward those who perform at a high level.

 

[WaltJabsco]

Best part about this, even if OA does indeed decide to head back to UK... this will be every high- caliber assistant coach's reaction now when they see a missed call from BU/JW.

We might truly be in the process of shaking our "University of East Central Illinois" reputation, guys and gals.

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

 

[partial popliteus]

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

We haven't, but with them, we likely have a better chance to.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

But by paying the highest assistant salaries in college basketball history Illinois will be closer to reaching those heights.

 

[FlotownIllini]

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

The potential is clearly there, though. It's not for nothing that UK, even being who/what they are, is trying to get these guys. We may not have reached the promised land yet, but we have the guys to get us there, and it would be in our best interest to do whatever we can to keep them. If nothing else (as has been mentioned), it sends a message to other top guys that we're ready to be a truly top program nationally.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

So which is it? We fail if we lose OA to UK, or we fail if we pay him what it would take to retain him? One thing I am absolutely sure of is that we can't do both.

 

[BlabDunkAnd1]

Everyone needs to relax. According to Bill Walton, this is the only difference between Illinois and Kentucky that matters ...

 

[Roundball Sage]

WestSuburbanIllini: "We might truly be in the process of shaking our "University of East Central Illinois" reputation..."

Coach Underwood: “We’re a Top Ten program. We should ACT like it... We’ve got to continue to act like ‘The Duke’s and whoever you wanna talk about...”

One way to act like a Top Ten program is to not obsess over what any one individual (or two) decide to do with their lives. Have a foundation of confidence and pride and a program that’s all about bringing out the best in all the talent who choose to go there. Emphasis on: Program. Not any individual.

Josh Whitman and Coach Underwood have been all about healing the wounds of past Illini disappointments. They could hardly have done a better job up until now. These are intelligent guys who have proven they know how to get results... Acting Like a Top Ten Program. They "Get It".

 

[lexwaldez]

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

How will you reach such heights by not paying the very best assistants the very best salaries???

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

I've been looking, but cannot find a recent Assistant Coaches Salary chart for NCAA. I found Kenny Payne was the highest about 3 years ago at $805,000, but nothing recent.

Anyone got a link to the highest paid asst. coaches? I'd be curious to look at it

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

WestSuburbanIllini: "We might truly be in the process of shaking our "University of East Central Illinois" reputation..."

Coach Underwood: “We’re a Top Ten program. We should ACT like it... We’ve got to continue to act like ‘The Duke’s and whoever you wanna talk about...”

One way to act like a Top Ten program is to not obsess over what any one individual (or two) decide to do with their lives. Have a foundation of confidence and pride and a program that’s all about bringing out the best in all the talent who choose to go there. Emphasis on: Program. Not any individual.

Josh Whitman and Coach Underwood have been all about healing the wounds of past Illini disappointments. They could hardly have done a better job up until now. These are intelligent guys who have proven they know how to get results... Acting Like a Top Ten Program. They "Get It".

That's one way to look at it. Another way is to say a top 10 program is coming after some of our best employees. If we are all about joining that company, we can't let a few dollars be the reason they can swoop in and take our talent.

If it's about more than dollars, we will move on to whomever is the next best available.

When you are building an organization, continuity is a good thing, no matter how talented the guys at the top are.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Something just occurred to me. If UK hadn't gone for Coleman, in additions to Antigua, I wonder if the fight would be the same. I know, for me, I was actually "dealing" with losing OA, I mean, it is UK. But once they went after Chin too, I felt mad. Did UK go too far, and then get fired everyone up? Or would the bidding war still be just as intense, if it were only OA? (by the way, not saying that my original thoughts were good/appropriate, non-loser mentality. It is just what they were). Very glad that Whitman is stepping up, with donor's to maintain our university's reputation!

 

[QCtoKC]

We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.

And with that attitude, we never will

 

[TheFameProtector]

One way to act like a Top Ten program is to not obsess over what any one individual (or two) decide to do with their lives.

If the top programs don't obsess over individuals, then what do you call Kentucky? B/c their fan base has been rabid about OA on the interwebs for weeks now. Until 3 days ago, I can almost guarantee you their fans were talking more about OA than our fans were.

 

[billybaroo]

Everyone needs to relax. According to Bill Walton, this is the only difference between Illinois and Kentucky that matters ...
View attachment 8795

Good one Olaf

 

[Loyalillini10]

As a fan base, we've become adept at rationalizing finishing second best. Michigan didn't play enough games. Loyola was underseeded. And if we get beaten for Antigua, that will somehow demonstrate our seriousness.

In the fan bases of more successful programs, these would all be disappointing outcomes.

BU, OA, Chin et al have done an excellent job at Illinois, but we talk about retaining staff like we're protecting some unassailable dynasty. We have not reached such heights that it warrants paying assistants more than anyone's ever been paid before.