Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
- Status
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
A quote from the earlier thread.
“
The minute Whitman fires Hamer he can no longer hold Underwood accountable for the results. If it works, then Underwood is permanently compromised because all the assistant coaches will be more concerned about what Whitman will do instead of what Brad will do. If it doesn’t work then Brad will just blame Whitman for the failure. That’s not what CEOs do.
Instead, Whitman must provide Underwood with the expectations of success and give both the authority and responsibility needed for Brad to achieve those ends. That way, success or failure is squarely on Brad. That’s what CEO’s do and that’s how Whitman appears to be handling business.”
Whitman wouldn’t be firing Hamer. Whitman would be telling Underwood to upgrade his staff by firing Hamer, and Underwood fires Hamer.
Who does everyone think is in charge in the DIA?
“
The minute Whitman fires Hamer he can no longer hold Underwood accountable for the results. If it works, then Underwood is permanently compromised because all the assistant coaches will be more concerned about what Whitman will do instead of what Brad will do. If it doesn’t work then Brad will just blame Whitman for the failure. That’s not what CEOs do.
Instead, Whitman must provide Underwood with the expectations of success and give both the authority and responsibility needed for Brad to achieve those ends. That way, success or failure is squarely on Brad. That’s what CEO’s do and that’s how Whitman appears to be handling business.”
Whitman wouldn’t be firing Hamer. Whitman would be telling Underwood to upgrade his staff by firing Hamer, and Underwood fires Hamer.
Who does everyone think is in charge in the DIA?
In reply to @Indy Illini Fan post of four coaches…
Is there a coach you think would be the best fit for us, and why? Is that the same or different from what you believe Brad is prioritizing?
Is there a coach you think would be the best fit for us, and why? Is that the same or different from what you believe Brad is prioritizing?
On the surface Whitman doesn’t appear to be a micromanager.
If coaches are gonna succeed or fail, you gotta let them do it their way. That’s why you hired them in the first place.
Brad can do what he wants with his staff, because he goes to the Tournament every year. His players have been good enough to get him into the tournament even without great coaching. Remember, when Brad started here we were a joke and getting to the tournament was our ceiling. But we are getting to the point when being in the tournament is our floor rather than our ceiling. Now getting to the ceiling will require both great players and great coaching. Nothing breeds higher expectations like past success. That’s why this next year will be so interesting - and challenging.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I posted in a previous thread about this, but this is an interesting visual of the timeline for some of the goals we've achieved to "get back" to where we wanted to be...
2018 -
2019 - First big-time recruit joining (Ayo)
2020 - Back into the top 25; (would have had a) NCAA Tournament appearance
2021 - BTT championship; #1 seed in the NCAAT
2022 - Big Ten regular season championship
2023 -
2024 - Made it past the Second Round in the NCAAT, reaching the Elite Eight; another BTT championship
2025 -
So it is indeed worth remembering that we started in a VERY humble spot, and so much has been accomplished that we could have only DREAMED of back when Underwood was hired. I think what gives people pause is the "evenness" of that visual. Even with the Loyola loss, the clear trajectory upward from 2019 (when we began to show flashes of potential in Ayo's freshman year) to 2021 (a clear championship contender at the national level) was astonishing, and even in 2022 after losing Ayo, we hung our first Big Ten championship banner since 2005, also still being a top 15 team and earning a top 4 seed. We then seemingly reloaded with talent via the portal in a way that made a lot of us feel REALLY stable about this program, especially after early marquee wins vs. #9 UCLA and #2 Texas in 2022-23.
The end of the 2023 season was really a bit of a shock to the system for many, IMO ... it was such a disappointment and sort of stalled momentum. It put a lot of pressure on 2024 to right the ship, which it did in spectacular fashion via FINALLY getting the Second Weekend monkey off of our back with the Elite Eight and hanging another BTT championship for good measure. It decidedly pushed our program narrative in favor of stability and made 2023 look like an outlier. However, last year's results eerily echoed 2023 (although much better at the end of the day), and that sort of pushed us back to a "make or break" scenario for this coming season as far as making us all feel the warm and fuzzies again.
I think this is a fair representation of the traditional model. I think however NIL is changing that relationship as well. As JW is the guy out beating the bushes for $ to hand out, I think there is a change to this model. As the donors tell JW "I'll give you money for the latest Balkan, but you don't also fix the Swiss cheese defense or it's the last $ you get", JW has to make sure Brad understands the realities involved.
This NIL world AD isn't the Fortune 500 CEO of old. This is more the world of the startup founders. When you have to rely on the VC guys, there are times you have to listen them despite it being "your company, your vision".
DevILLDawg
- Meredosia, Illinois
Stealing Preston Murphy away from Bama with a 900k bag drop would be the biggest splash.
Then any of the other 3 are great coaches and/or have landed some phenomenal recruits.
Idc if Mike had to pay Cade Cunningham under the table..he got him to OSU.
Ben Johnson? Phenomenal coach. Minnesota is gonna realize what they had at some point
I would love to see what Ben could do in a much better spot. Dude drew up some absolute smoke on out of bounds and late game situations. Really strong X's and O's coach imo.
I think Boynton is far and away the best fit … Familiar with Brad … Great defensive coach …
I think P Murph brings the most on the trail …
Ben Johnson brings that HC experience and has great relationships in the Midwest … Especially in Minnesota which produces a lot more talent than people realize …
Justus brings a lot on the trail … He’s been a lot of places as an Assistant … East coast, West coast, Midwest … That’s valuable … He’s got relationships everywhere …
As far as what Brad’s prioritizing … Brad and I don’t see eye to eye on what’s needed …
Last edited:
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Well, what is the co-winningest coach in the Big Ten the last 6 years' side of the story?
What do you think we need? What does Brad think we need?
Besides, Hammer being let go or demoted, which I think we all can agree on, or at least here on the board. @Indy Illini Fan
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
The last thread would say otherwise.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Data and eyetest does not lie. Our defense has gotten much worse.
JMO
- chosing to play personnel that are poor/avg. defenders has huge impact. Last year KJ, Wil, Ben were weak defenders.
- you can use scheme to hide weak defenders. I don't think we did a good job of that
- the buck stops with Brad. I don't think he is satisfied with 2nd round exit in NCAA.
- 2025-6 team is older, stronger and as a result should play better defense. I suspect that is what Brad is counting on.
a. Addition of Mirkovic, Rodgers and Big Z to rotation impact on defense should not be underestimated.
b. Playing Ben less will help.
c. KJ was turnover machine in some games giving up unconstested layups.
JMO
- chosing to play personnel that are poor/avg. defenders has huge impact. Last year KJ, Wil, Ben were weak defenders.
- you can use scheme to hide weak defenders. I don't think we did a good job of that
- the buck stops with Brad. I don't think he is satisfied with 2nd round exit in NCAA.
- 2025-6 team is older, stronger and as a result should play better defense. I suspect that is what Brad is counting on.
a. Addition of Mirkovic, Rodgers and Big Z to rotation impact on defense should not be underestimated.
b. Playing Ben less will help.
c. KJ was turnover machine in some games giving up unconstested layups.
DevILLDawg
- Meredosia, Illinois
Which of our coaches would find a better job immediately if they were to be let go? Maybe OA? That doesn't sound like a Top 10 staff to me. I wouldn't even put it at a Top 25 staff and our expectations SURELY are higher than that?
I'm sure we can rehash the "Tyler was offered NBA assistant jobs" line again....He just WANTS to be around his dad soo much because Brad coached and was away a lot...As if his knee capping his sons possibility of a Future coaching career, makes up for his Past lack of being around.
Secondly, hasn't he played/coached for Brad the last 9 straight years?? I'm as understanding as anyone can be towards being away from your kids due to work. 4 deployments will do that to a guy....but I wouldn't hold my son's career back so I can feel like I'm making up for past transgressions.
ILFaninFL
- Nature Coast in Florida
We have a defensive coach
Again, Tyler not going anywhere. But unfortunately Brad sees something about Hamer Leggings to keep on the big boy staff. I just hope that Kwa gets reassigned to the second row behind the bench. And they find a solid assistant coach, strong in X&O's at least.
If it's status quo and Kwa remains in same role.....oh boy.
If it's status quo and Kwa remains in same role.....oh boy.
DevILLDawg
- Meredosia, Illinois
Unsure if this has been approached...We have a defensive coach
Is there a possibility that Brad has Hamer because this is the style of defense he WANTS to play and he needs a lackey who will just run this Defense and doesn't have the chops or backbone to stand up to it. ((I.e. Chester Frazier 2023-24))
Bigtex
- DFW
Holding him back? Tyler is mid/late 20's and making $200,000+ salary. I would say that Dad has given him more opportunity than most young men his age.
From the outside, it would seem like Boynton would be the easy choice and the one Brad would be most interested in. That would check the box for fans who want better coaching and those (maybe Brad) who think coaching is fine and want recruiting. Are you suggesting he is more interested in someone like Murphy or Justus?
Edit: Or worst case scenario… is Brad considering making 0 coaching changes?
DevILLDawg
- Meredosia, Illinois
Read the text above ...it was mentioned in this forum that he had multiple college coaching offers and even some NBA assistant coaching interest.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
If this is the case, then I fear that the ceiling for the program (under Brad) will be much lower than what we are all hoping for. The best programs need to have a voice that will help right a "wrong" when things are not working. Brad has every right to select who he wants on his staff, but I truly hope the bolded is not the reasoning. If so, then I fear that Brad's seat will be very warm if the next season does not result in at least a S16 appearance.
- Status