Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Jerry Sloan is not the ideal choice, as he's been battling health problems.
2017 Coaching Carousel
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If this is about his three years at Gardner-Webb I'm going to be very upset.
I'm all for it in theory. Chris Collins was the #1 guy on my list when Groce was hired.
But other than Jeff Capel, who has other head coaching experience, there isn't really a college assistant who fits the bill.
LOL... No, I actually had forgotten about that. Holtmann is a very close friend of Groce and one of his former assistants at Ohio. I had read an interview a while back and this guy was sounding just like Groce, some of the meaningless coach-speak that Groce uses (e.g., "Illini guy", I believe he had said "Butler guy", etc.). He is riding the coattails of a very established mid-major success at Butler and personally I have doubts he will be able to keep Butler at that level. Too early to be considered at UI, but I would also make a clean break from the Groce regime and tree if we were to make a change.
Ivy League educated--that Whitman likes smart people thing
Top NBA assistant
Excellent teacher and top notch motivator
Recommendations--Kerr, Curry, Lin, and Larry Brown
Character is impeccable
42 years old
AA
Wants Dad (Paul) to be able to coach with him and be part of family
Wants to be HC and prefers college game to NBA grind
Interesting. His name hasn't come up in ANY conversations I've had with people that either have inside info or know people that do. Hmm. He sounds like a solid B choice.
Not a chance, if it is someone from the NBA (which I personally doubt) it would be someone better known.
What names have come up?
Is Holtmann a big no because of his ties to Groce and feasability, or something else? Not seeing any justification for that considering his performance at Butler thus far, unless you are worried about recruiting.
EDIT: Just saw your comment above, I think it's a little unfair to lump him in with Groce considering their resumes are just so so different.
I think either I or others have mentioned them, but the big names are Sean Miller (maybe not a pipe dream), Tony Bennett (not thrilled at UVA?), and Cuonzo Martin.
We've discussed assistants a little bit, I mentioned Jeff Capel which was semi-controversial, but it's pretty hard to key in on assistants and differentiate their impact from the rest of a staff/HC. As such, the only resumes we can really evaluate there are assistants with previous HC experience, hiring someone who does not fit that mold would require inside info, recommendations, interviewing IMO and that is obviously something we cannot do
But certainly possible in the search. I think what you are referring to is a quoting of Thomas' rule -- he only hired coaches with HC experience, no assistants. Some people share that philosophy, certainly, but it is not a requirement. Just difficult for us to assess.
The former two are prayers and would be grand slams
There will be lots of leaks from both sides.
So 2 big names and an average coach have come up. So basically going for average because don't see first two coming.
Never change, Illinois Loyalty, never change
Paul Silas is pretty well known, at least to old guys like you and me.
:thumb:
I think my earlier "Big NO" was probably too strong, suggesting something personally wrong with him. The strong ties to Groce is a negative IMO but also not a big name, untested, and riding the coattails of long established success at Butler. We can do better.
This is insanity. Holtmann is a tremendous coach who took over Butler under extremely difficult circumstances and has not just survived but thrived in a conference that, the Brad Stevens era or not, Butler had no business being in. He'll be on any list for bigger jobs.
He'd be a great hire for Illinois, it's just tough to imagine him stepping over the grave of his four-year college teammate, former boss at Ohio, and person who surely had a hand in him getting a slot at Butler when Brandon Miller took over after being on Groce's staff.
I like Steve Lavin if healthy.
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I doubt it, maybe in couple of years, but I do not think Holtmann will be a candidate at Illinois, neither should he be.
He's a mediocre coach. Also, TV needs him.
Another name that will not make the list. His failure at St. Johns was a killer to this level jobs.
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