hockey still hasn't figured out that running on grass is a lot easier than putting little knives on your shoes to move on ice. maybe one day
Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
he's a great coach no doubt but I kinda think the offense Illinois has crafted around the players they target are the perfect counter to that pressing defense and we would be able to counter it every game. we did against Iowa State and Houston in the sweet 16 last few years
The key against those teams is not turning the ball over (because that’s legitimately what they’re gonna try and do).
Against ISU: only 12
Against Houston: only 8
The catch is, 2024 and 2026 are our two lowest turnover rate seasons. Our teams in 2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 all had much higher turnover rates.
When you’re not turnover prone — along with our size and skill — then yes it becomes difficult for those teams to beat us.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Hiring Boynton in an extended interim deal also gets them past the Warde deal and allows the new AD to make the decision.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
^^ Odd timing!
Probably has a guy he wants installed as interim a la Bruce Pearl retiring right before season started?
Yeah probably. Tony Stubblefield is going to be the interim. Given his track record as a HC, zero chance he'd have gotten that opportunity otherwise, and him and Altman go way back.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
It is said that Ron Guenther wanted to keep Wayne McClain on staff because a deal was in place to sign Shaun Livingston, but had there been an agreement to bring his whole staff over, Altman would have been the hire to replace Bill Self.
One of the great "what-if's" in Illini history.
Dan
Admin
Dana Altman Announces Retirement as Oregon Men's Basketball Coach - University of Oregon Athletics
Altman won 382 games in 16 seasons in Eugene (382-182, .677) from 2010-11 through 2025-26 and was 792-425 (.651) in 37 seasons as a Division I head coach.
What’s up with high profile (subjective I know) coaches retiring literally the last second before the season starts. Tony Bennett, Satan, and now Altman just handed the keys over weeks before the season starts.
Is it really as simple as one last gift to their top lieutenant in the form of an interim HC position? Just feels like a middle finger to a school that’s been supportive of them.
Is it really as simple as one last gift to their top lieutenant in the form of an interim HC position? Just feels like a middle finger to a school that’s been supportive of them.
What’s with this trend of coaches retiring right before the season starts?
Ensuring their guys get a shot in interim basis.
Feels like a big ole' FU to the school and your players. You recruit and sell visions and go through the offseason as if you're the coach and 3 weeks out you retire? Just so you can handpick the interim? Weak sauce IMO
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Also worth noting that Altman had been a former assistant to Lon Kruger at KSU (who reportedly was advocating for him to Illinois), and that one of the Creighton assistants that Altman had on the staff he wanted to bring over was a young Darian DeVries.
Given how loaded the Illini roster was at the time and the heightened importance of in-state recruiting in that era, a bit surprising (to me anyway) that retaining someone with Wayne McClain's standing in state as a single holdover on staff was a gating issue. ... Wouldn't be surprised if family also played a role. (A few years later, Altman verbally accepted the Arkansas job but then reversed course the next day after discussing with wife and kids. And when he did finally leave Creighton for Oregon a few years after that, his wife and HS senior daughter reportedly stayed behind for several months until she graduated.)
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Less nice reasons why Altman reneged on Arkansas in 2007
But after Altman was introduced as the Razorbacks' coach during a raucous news conference at Bud Walton Arena, his opinions of the job began to change. Although Altman declined to identify his specific areas of concern about the Arkansas program, sources close to the situation said he learned as many as six returning players were in serious academic trouble and two others had tested positive for illegal drugs and faced suspensions.
Good coach 35 years at Mashall (1) KState (4), Creighton (16) and Oregon: (15) - 1 FF 3 sweet 16s. If Kruger had stated at Illinois we would have seen similar.
Bill Self elevated Illinois, Weber had 2 great seasons with Self's player. Groce was a failure. Brad has an elite 8 and FF in 9 years.
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MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Interesting, was curious what actually transpired the next season. Short answer is no academically ineligible players in the next season, though Pelphrey was a lot more forthcoming about what he inherited years later. Pelphrey: 12 Hogs were ineligible after 2007 season That is ~11 more than Arkansas mentioned in their press release (one player suspended for academic shortcomings) the day after Altman backed out. Link #SEC