Yes, and many of those coaches have been discussed already within this thread.
2017 Coaching Carousel
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Yes, and many of those coaches have been discussed already within this thread.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Not trying to set anyone up for disappointment, but let's not undershoot Whitman, either. I don't think anyone thought Lovie was remotely possible.
:thumb:
Tornado's thinking it's Randy Ayers instead of Anthony Grant.
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Would Monty Williams, the family man who disappeared from basketball for awhile to be a parent to his 5 kids after his wife was killed in a car crash, be willing to put aside his family to become a college coach for the first time at an unfamiliar university that has been majorly struggling or would he rather stay in his current position as a behind the scenes operations guy who can probably set his own hours?
As great of a guy and as great of a coach he may be, I can't see him pushing his kids to the side while he picks up a 24/7/365 days a year job for a couple extra bucks.
I trust Whitman will make the best hire possible, but I doubt it will be Monty.
As great of a guy and as great of a coach he may be, I can't see him pushing his kids to the side while he picks up a 24/7/365 days a year job for a couple extra bucks.
I trust Whitman will make the best hire possible, but I doubt it will be Monty.
DrewD007
- Woodridge, IL
IIRC, Brandon Paul, DJ Richardson, and Jereme Richmond were all committed at that point. I think that gave him extra slack at the time.
I think this Monty video explains his desire to return to coaching, including his kid's desire for him to do it too. His in laws are in San Antonio currently helping him. Keep in mind that the in laws are from the Midwest/SW Michigan. As I also posted yesterday, his oldest daughter is at Wheaton College.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17169437
I like the idea of Monty, but I'm with you on Ayers. If he made someone like Dennis Gates the associate head coach I would be excited.
I don't think his options are dry, but he's approaching the end of his career and may relish the idea of mentoring young coaches and teaching young players without the incredible stress of running a collegiate program. Ayers could easily get a job as head coach at a mid-major school or as an NBA assistant. He's very well regarded in coaching circles. He's proven himself at every level and his next coaching job will likely be his last.
The other angle I'm seeing is that Randy's 30 year-old son Ryan Ayers is an assistant at Notre Dame. Maybe they'd be interested in coaching together for 3-4 years? ND is Ryan's alma mater (you may recall that he was a pretty good player there several years ago), so there's no guarantee he'd leave, but it would be a unique opportunity for the Ayers family.
Re your first paragraph, Pitino had a similar coach on his bench last year. He persuaded him to take the job for a year to help them get to the Final Four. And then, the post season ban. Don't know if he's still there; I've forgotten his name.
Regarding Ryan Ayres, there are all kinds of holes to be poked in that, but we're a long way from it even being a possibility.
Walker a future star? Hmm. Not sure on that. I'd gladly have him stay on the staff with his connections to Tilmon (and maybe Smith?). But Cuonzo would accomplish keeping Tilmon, too.
Being a scout for the Nets isn't necessarily a feather in his cap. LOL!
Yea that's something that I've been wondering about lately too. Is Walker that highly regarded in coaching circles. I understand he's recruited well for us, but outside of keeping Tilmon, is there another reason people want him to be kept on staff?
Geniunely curious
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
I'm gonna be honest, I really don't get the Cuonzo train. Really not that impressed by anything he's done. Just seems like we would be getting more of the same.
bredhartmann
- Centralia, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Another thing I'll throw out: I REALLY don't get some of our fans (specifically casual ones who don't donate, like myself!) fretting over the money we'll spend ... don't we want to be a big-time athletic department? I was so sick of seeing coaches listed by salary and for Illinois to be down by Northwestern and Purdue. I think it's good for the perception of UI athletics to be seen as having deep pockets that we're more than willing to dip into when we need to. If we took history out of the equation and just started everything over in the Big Ten, we'd start with more advantages than nearly any other school and be assumed to be the richest ... history can't be taken out of the equation, but let's at LEAST be on par!
OrangeAndBlues
- Indianapolis
Absolutely, I could not agree more.
Now as far as overpaying if we have to settle a little bit, there I will concede the money point. But I seriously doubt it comes to that.
I don't entirely agree with this sentiment, but I'm not entirely sold on it. What specifically are your concerns with him?
NCAA tourney appearances are more of the same?
This year will be the third time (9 seasons) that Cuonzo has made it to the dance, FWIW
OrangeAndBlues
- Indianapolis
Those are my specific concerns with him. I'd be more than a tad worried if he is our answer.
illynifan34
That's a winner!!
- OH
SEC weakness hurt him at Tennessee. He finished tied for second and fifth but didn't have enough quality wins to make the tournament.
I like to look at how a coach does in conference and his worst finish is eighth in a power five and tenth his first year coaching.
NCAA tourney appearances are more of the same?
Cal likely makes the tournament this year which would give Martin his 3rd tournament appearance in 9 seasons, the same as Groce.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
You'd generally prefer to have more NCAA appearances in your P5 jobs than at your mid-major one, so Cuonzo has that on him.
Which begs the questions doesn't it? If Groce is finally going to have the type of players to run his system, wouldn't it make sense to let it play out one more year? I am as frustrated as anyone, but this curren recruiting class has more promise and more apparently good quality kids who play hard and have the skill to compete in the new athletic focused world of college basketball than any in many years. I just hate to tear it down when he Groce is finally getting the players he needs for team to excel. Not sold on his coaching prowess on defensive end yet. Needs to hire a veteran coach who knows how to coach defense and more importantly team defense. Also needs new strength coach so guys are able to play tough defense for 40 minutes. Just afraid that another change in coaches just sets team's redevelopment further back. I just want to win and winning starts with players. And winning big starts with getting excellent players and that appears to be our recruiting class and Smith would get us that much closer.
Tear what down? It's a smoking pile of rubble.
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