2021-22 College Hoops Coaching Carousel

#751      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Boomauer said:
If I'm not mistaken JW has talked to and taken advice from RG in the past.
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Literally … so? Lol. No one is saying RG was worthless, but he was a small time thinker. He trained a GENERATION of people to associate the Illini with (only) Central Illinois, and the local big-fish-small-pond types were cool with it, and it made Illini Athletics behave like a private university - elite alumni only, others need not apply! If one can’t realize how damaging that is psychologically to our sports, I can’t explain it further. There are zero reasons kids from Rockford to Cairo shouldn’t grow up such huge Illini fans that they cheer for them even after they attend Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, etc …. and people in our state don’t look at it that way. Say what you want about “pro sports,” but RG was instrumental in perpetuating that perspective.

I was born in Peoria. Parents went to NIU, moved us to Iowa City when I was 8 and I went to Iowa ($$$) and DePaul for school. Know why I’m an Illini fan?? Because I’ve loved our teams since I was a little kid, as my dad did. Because I’m an Illinoisan. I think it’s awesome most here are alumni (proudest day of my life was getting admitted to Illinois, money just prohibited going there), but it’s honestly a problem that the SOLE big state school for a state of 12.5 million has a fan base mostly made of alumni … I think JW and co. are changing the narrative, but kids need to grow up with the default of being an Illini, not caring about where you go to college. We’d be so much better for it.
 
#752      

BackThatPassUp

B
BackThatPassUp
ptgrd23 said:
Multiple assistant coach roles

-- X&O, scouting, game plan
-- player skill development /practice
-- recruiting

It appears Jerrance can only do the recruiting. Hard to get a HC job unless you can either do all 3 or manage assistants who can do all 3
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That's just simply not true. Assistants take turns with the scouts throughout the schedule. There's this false assumption that so many assistants are only recruiters or practice managers.
 
#754      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Tipsheet: Ultra-successful Matta attempts coaching comeback at Butler

IF Thad Matta can handle the rigors of college coaching again, Butler made a fabulous hire and schools that didn't hire him will look dumb.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Jeff Gordon
In recent years, Thad Matta’s name would pop up on wish lists as college basketball programs bought out their old coach and threw big dollars at a new one while chasing NCAA Tournament dreams.
Matta has posted a sterling 439-154 head coaching record while averaging 26 victories per season. He went 24-8 at Butler, 78-23 in three years at Xavier and 337-123 in 13 years at Ohio State.
His time with the Buckeyes ended in 2017 while he was battling back problems and related foot nerve damage. Ohio State forced him out after a 17-15 season.
Indiana seemed poised to hire Matta, 54, as head coach last year – but lingering concerns about his health apparently prompted the school to shift gears.

The Hoosiers brought Mike Woodson in from the NBA instead while installing Matta as the associate athletic director in charge of aiding Woodson’s transition to college coaching.
So Matta’s coaching career seemed over. One by one, Southeastern Conference schools hired up-and-coming coaches this spring as the carousel whirled . . . and Matta watched from the perimeter.
But now Matta is back in the game. He returned to Butler, where his collegiate head coaching career started, to replace the cashiered LaVall Jordan.
Will power conference schools that passed on Matta come to regret that decision?

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4 opinions about FF ..........................
 
#755      

IllinoisssssssVarsity

I
IllinoisssssssVarsity
pruman91 said:
www.stltoday.com

Tipsheet: Ultra-successful Matta attempts coaching comeback at Butler

IF Thad Matta can handle the rigors of college coaching again, Butler made a fabulous hire and schools that didn't hire him will look dumb.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Jeff Gordon
In recent years, Thad Matta’s name would pop up on wish lists as college basketball programs bought out their old coach and threw big dollars at a new one while chasing NCAA Tournament dreams.
Matta has posted a sterling 439-154 head coaching record while averaging 26 victories per season. He went 24-8 at Butler, 78-23 in three years at Xavier and 337-123 in 13 years at Ohio State.
His time with the Buckeyes ended in 2017 while he was battling back problems and related foot nerve damage. Ohio State forced him out after a 17-15 season.
Indiana seemed poised to hire Matta, 54, as head coach last year – but lingering concerns about his health apparently prompted the school to shift gears.

The Hoosiers brought Mike Woodson in from the NBA instead while installing Matta as the associate athletic director in charge of aiding Woodson’s transition to college coaching.
So Matta’s coaching career seemed over. One by one, Southeastern Conference schools hired up-and-coming coaches this spring as the carousel whirled . . . and Matta watched from the perimeter.
But now Matta is back in the game. He returned to Butler, where his collegiate head coaching career started, to replace the cashiered LaVall Jordan.
Will power conference schools that passed on Matta come to regret that decision?

------------------------------------------------------------------

4 opinions about FF ..........................
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That’s gotta be a weird hiring process. He has all these publicly known health issues, but it’s illegal to ask about personal health history in interviews.

You gotta do as much research as you can. You gotta ask around as much as you can. But you can’t get caught, and it can’t really get public that you’re asking for that.

You can’t officially not hire someone due to their personal health history. But objectively, Thad Matta could be the best coach you interview. I don’t envy the decision makers in those situations.

I just hope he’s healthy. Always liked how his teams played.
 
#756      

Big Jack

Big Jack
Decatur
Big Jack
very true but I would bet whomever Thad hires as his asst head coach will be the aire to the throne.. I am betting he was hired to right the ship get the program back on solid ground then will groom his replacement. I just don't see him wanting to coach a lot longer but you never know!
 
#757      

illini0440

illini0440
illini0440
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
That’s gotta be a weird hiring process. He has all these publicly known health issues, but it’s illegal to ask about personal health history in interviews.

You gotta do as much research as you can. You gotta ask around as much as you can. But you can’t get caught, and it can’t really get public that you’re asking for that.

You can’t officially not hire someone due to their personal health history. But objectively, Thad Matta could be the best coach you interview. I don’t envy the decision makers in those situations.

I just hope he’s healthy. Always liked how his teams played.
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This was the worst kept secret in the coaching world....Thad is doing much better health wise though.
 
#758      

BashCtIllini

BashCtIllini
BashCtIllini
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
That’s gotta be a weird hiring process. He has all these publicly known health issues, but it’s illegal to ask about personal health history in interviews.

You gotta do as much research as you can. You gotta ask around as much as you can. But you can’t get caught, and it can’t really get public that you’re asking for that.

You can’t officially not hire someone due to their personal health history. But objectively, Thad Matta could be the best coach you interview. I don’t envy the decision makers in those situations.

I just hope he’s healthy. Always liked how his teams played.
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Just get him a Hoveround, he can go anywhere and do anything.

has selena gomez GIF
 
#760      

ptgrd23

ptgrd23
ptgrd23
Fantastic to hear Thad's health has recovered.

Imagine if Ron Guenther hires Thad Matta instead of Bruce Weber. I think we still have the magical 2005-6 season but avoid the 12 year dip (Weber last 5, Groce 5, Underwood first 2).

Thad rebuilt Buckeyes and took them Championship game, Final Four, Elite eight and 2 sweet 16s.
 
#761      

Heisenbobble

Heisenbobble
Heisenbobble
ptgrd23 said:
Fantastic to hear Thad's health has recovered.

Imagine if Ron Guenther hires Thad Matta instead of Bruce Weber. I think we still have the magical 2005-6 season but avoid the 12 year dip (Weber last 5, Groce 5, Underwood first 2).

Thad rebuilt Buckeyes and took them Championship game, Final Four, Elite eight and 2 sweet 16s.
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The 05-06 season ended in complete frustration against UWash. LOL! ;-) But yes, the 2004-05 team likely would've had great success with Matta or Self (or some other relatively competent coach).
 
#762      

Indy Illini Fan

Indy Illini Fan
Indy Illini Fan
Watch for Jonas Hayes to GA State …

Just led Xavier to an NIT championship. Dude can really recruit (Former top 50 guard, Dwon Odom is in portal and could see him following Jonas), and showed he can really coach during that NIT run.

His brother was at Georgia State as an assistant coach on the last staff as well. Those two are going to get a lot of kids …
 
#766      

SuperintendentChalmers

SuperintendentChalmers
SuperintendentChalmers
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
That’s gotta be a weird hiring process. He has all these publicly known health issues, but it’s illegal to ask about personal health history in interviews.

You gotta do as much research as you can. You gotta ask around as much as you can. But you can’t get caught, and it can’t really get public that you’re asking for that.

You can’t officially not hire someone due to their personal health history. But objectively, Thad Matta could be the best coach you interview. I don’t envy the decision makers in those situations.

I just hope he’s healthy. Always liked how his teams played.
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Random hiring interview story:

The great neurologist Oliver Sacks was being interviewed to lead the neuroscience department at Columbia. His assistant was part of the interview as well. She had been with him many years and would be hired too. As someone who struggled for much of his life with the fact that he was gay, Sacks had been celibate for decades.

The interviewer said to him, "Dr. Sacks, I need to ask you a personal question, would you like your assistant to leave the room?"
Sacks laughed and said, "You can ask me anything you want in front of her. I haven't had sex for 35 years!"
The interviewer replied, "Well, I'm very sorry to hear that, and if you're hired we'll see what we can do about that. But I was going to ask for your Social Security Number."
 
#767      

RJK01

R
RJK01
sacraig said:
He just got extended here and hasn't ever made it very far in the tournament, so he would probably be a pretty ho-hum hire with a massive buyout for UK.
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I think the Billy Gillispie hire taught them that they have to hire someone with a very strong resume. Also, I have a feeling that Underwood wouldn't like the pressure that goes with the Kentucky job. I still think it drove Gillispie off the rails. Good coach, couldn't handle the stress.
 
#769      

alaskaillini

A
alaskaillini
RJK01 said:
I think the Billy Gillispie hire taught them that they have to hire someone with a very strong resume. Also, I have a feeling that Underwood wouldn't like the pressure that goes with the Kentucky job. I still think it drove Gillispie off the rails. Good coach, couldn't handle the stress.
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Kentucky coach now has to recruit on a more level playing field. With NIL, boosters with paper sacks full of cash aren't as big of an advantage in getting you a roster of 5 stars. The job is going to be more difficult in the future.
 
#770      

MannyBianco

MannyBianco
MannyBianco
alaskaillini said:
Kentucky coach now has to recruit on a more level playing field. With NIL, boosters with paper sacks full of cash aren't as big of an advantage in getting you a roster of 5 stars. The job is going to be more difficult in the future.
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I think Kentucky's sacks of cash will be bigger than most. This is a top tier coaching job, regardless of rule changes.

Not worried about BU, though. They'll be looking for a bigger name (I hope.)
 
#771      

ptgrd23

ptgrd23
ptgrd23
I think KY would go bigger

Done it already
- Billy Donovan HC of Bulls, 2x NCAA champion, 1 Runner up
- Bill Self 2x NCAA champion
- Scott Drew NCAA champion
-Jay Wrignt NCAA champion

Up and coming
- Mark Few
- Chris Beard

Others under consideration (long long shot)
- Kelvin Sampson
- Juwon Howard
- Brad Underwood
- Mick Cronin
- Greg Gard
- Chris Holtman
- Thad Matta

I keep waiting for somebody to hire John Beilein. he was ridiculously successful at Michigan.
 
#772      

sacraig

sacraig
The desert
sacraig
ptgrd23 said:
I think KY would go bigger

Done it already
- Billy Donovan HC of Bulls, 2x NCAA champion, 1 Runner up
- Bill Self 2x NCAA champion
- Scott Drew NCAA champion
-Jay Wrignt NCAA champion

Up and coming
- Mark Few
- Chris Beard

Others under consideration (long long shot)
- Kelvin Sampson
- Juwon Howard
- Brad Underwood
- Mick Cronin
- Greg Gard
- Chris Holtman
- Thad Matta

I keep waiting for somebody to hire John Beilein. he was ridiculously successful at Michigan.
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I think the only people on that list that are reasonable are Donovan, Drew, and Wright. Others either have zero chance of happening or do not have the resume.
 
#773      

MDchicago

MDchicago
Lake Norman NC
MDchicago
sacraig said:
I think the only people on that list that are reasonable are Donovan, Drew, and Wright. Others either have zero chance of happening or do not have the resume.
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I have a tough time picturing Jay Wright in Lexington, but he would class up the joint.

Then again I didn't see Mick Cronin as a fit at UCLA and that seems to be working out ok. 🤷‍♂️
 
#774      

RodSerlingsHeater

R
RodSerlingsHeater
ptgrd23 said:
I think KY would go bigger

Done it already
- Billy Donovan HC of Bulls, 2x NCAA champion, 1 Runner up
- Bill Self 2x NCAA champion
- Scott Drew NCAA champion
-Jay Wrignt NCAA champion

Up and coming
- Mark Few
- Chris Beard

Others under consideration (long long shot)
- Kelvin Sampson
- Juwon Howard
- Brad Underwood
- Mick Cronin
- Greg Gard
- Chris Holtman
- Thad Matta

I keep waiting for somebody to hire John Beilein. he was ridiculously successful at Michigan.
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Mark Few, the up-and-comer.
 
#775      

drsmitty74

drsmitty74
Rochester
drsmitty74