Groce gets to the end of the season and a tournament birth should be the only way he keeps his job. I was a Groce fan, but it's now hard to see us beating any quality opponent so Greg Marshall would be my first choice. I like Mark Few also but I think he's comfortable at Gonzaga. I don't know if there are any Avery Johnson type hires out there or not, but a guy with NBA experience as a coach or player would make a splash. Jerrance really doesn't have any experience, but our guys seemed to like him between the Weber to Groce transition and he seems to have good ties to Chicago recruiting.
2017 Coaching Carousel
- Status
All depends on how the contract is set up.
Great call. I really like him as high-risk, high-reward candidate, but he's probably too high-risk at this point.
My guy is Kevin Keatts
IlliniForTheWin
- Georgia
J.W. needs to give Gregg Marshall a blank check and pay for his buyout
Deleted member 19448
D
Guest
Whoever Whitman decides is the #1 target must be hired regardless of the cost. The cost of continued mediocrity is far greater than paying what it takes to get your top choice.
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LincolnIlliniFan
- Lincoln, IL
Why would Donovan or Stevens leave a successful NBA team for Illinois? That's not even worth asking
illynifan34
That's a winner!!
- OH
I don't even know where to start with these people.
I still think Groce stays, but 1-2 assistants are gone. Not enough out some of the coaches regarding recruiting or teaching to retain the same 4.
Wouldn't be surprised if all those guys and Ben Jacobson say no, though I agreee they are all obvious top choices. Marshall and Miller are at mid majors with big fan bases and resources, and Jacobson loves it at UNI.
This is no reason not to fire Groce. There are plenty of impressive candidates who will have interest
Illini34
- Champaign, IL
I've been a huge Groce supporter since the day he got hired. I'm really hoping we can turn it around soon. If we can't then I think Groce's time is up. With that being said I'm not sure how ready he is to step up into the head coach position but I would love to see us get Roger Powell Jr
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Ugh I like Roger Powell but no thanks. He needs to go mid-major first as a head coach before jumping to Illinois.
I don't really care to discuss a coaching change, regardless of The inevitability but I have concerns about Marshall:
1) He is really, really abrasive with kids. Doesn't change approaches with kids based on how much 'Suck it up, whimp' he can handle.
2) My dad who has friends in the WSU athletic dept all say that he has no desire to leave WSU. He is a king in Wichita, 3M there is like 6 in Champaign cost wise, and will only play new offers to a pay raise unless 'maybe' a blue blood... but he will never attract 'Top Recruits' on a regular basis because of his abrasiveness with kids.
I think it's best to just cross him off the list.
Ryllini
- Lombard
I like the names being listed, but what about Frank Martin? He is only 50 and he wins. Hugging Bear obviously loaded him up at KState, but he maintained and I believe he has South Carolina of all places playing well and rated. Give him the keys here and let him retire, I guarantee he would established an identity for our program and could set us up for the future.
Here's a controversial one, unless it's been brought up already: Jerrance Howard.
Dream Scenario:
Archie Miller
Gregg Marshall
Randy Bennett
Rick Byrd
Would be happy with
Frank Martin
Bob McKillop
Ben Jacobson
Roger Powell
Tommy Amaker
Could live with
Roger Powell
Stew Morill
Greg Kampe
Archie Miller
Gregg Marshall
Randy Bennett
Rick Byrd
Would be happy with
Frank Martin
Bob McKillop
Ben Jacobson
Roger Powell
Tommy Amaker
Could live with
Roger Powell
Stew Morill
Greg Kampe
You'd love to see us get a guy who you're not sure is ready to be a head coach?
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
Rick Byrd is your dream scenario coach for Illinois? Good god..
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
Schroyer would be an interesting choice. Did an amazing job turning a UT-Martin team that was in eternal doldrums into an instant contender in the OVC, but Illini fans would have to deal with him wearing his emotions on his sleeve. Last time he came to EIU, he was very animated and his behavior came off as almost childish. Add that to the fact that he inexplicably left a head-coaching gig for an assistant coaching job at NC State (yes, big-time program, but I still question why you wouldn't want to move to a better head-coaching gig right away) suggests that he could be another Self.
- Status