sacraig
- The desert
On the bright side, it's one more way to poke Michigan in the eye if and when we have an opening.
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Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
- Status
Mike Boynton would have been perfect- he’s a defensive first coach who had OSU in the top 20 KenPom defense rankings three years in a row.
Brad brought him to Stephen F and OSU with him and this would have been the perfect time to bring him here- he could have brought Javon Small and at least one more player with him. I’m sure Josh would have opened the purse strings to get him.
This might be the biggest miss of this offseason.
A miss would mean we were in the market for a coach and tried to get him and he went elsewhere
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
It's a bit of a George Costanza and Marissa Tomei situation
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
His agent is doing his job, to be honest. I’m sure he is at least looking at what other schools are willing to pay so he can go back to Whitman.
No one in this situation is stupid. I’m sure Josh Whitman has fully expected this and is working on a solution that will be good for all parties involved.
We were not going to show someone the door just to get him ...
If any of our ACs got HC jobs ... Mike was going to be here ...
They didn't get HC jobs ...
DReq
Always Illini
- Central Illinois
So what are the chances that Lebron decides that he can help Bronnie's status by buying USC a real team to go with the new coach? He'd never miss the money and could fund NIL alone. USC needs some sort of major help and Bronnie would be assured a college career (purchased by dad).
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
That is true, but it sounds like he is doing this every single offseason. I feel like to operate in good faith you have to be willing to not try to leverage open positions every single year.
That’s what I’m pushing on - why wouldn’t Brad show Hamer the door for Boynton?
It’s a huge upgrade and after the defensive year we just had, certainly justified. I get Brad wants to be loyal to his guys but he can still help Hamer find another Assistant job.
Brad’s first responsibility is what is best for the University of Illinois- if he’s prioritizing anything but that, I have a huge problem with that
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I remain a little fuzzy on what the difference is between the "Assistant Coach" job that Frazier, TA and Alexander have versus the "Assistant Coach" job Tyler and Hamer have.
I missed the boynton news. Indy Illini Fan LvilleILL illini0440 Got any insight into how BU, whitman, and others with the program feel about that?
the first 3 are recruiting positions
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
So essentially they're all the same on-campus, but only the first three can contact outside recruits and visit them and go to AAU tournaments and such?
It's still unclear to me why Hamer is taking up an AC spot. Nothing about his resume leads me to believe he deserves that spot. But I could 100% be ignorant on this one.
Pretty much. The assistant to the head coach essentially got moved into 2 non recruiting(off campus) assistant coaches spots. Tyler and Zach can go evaluate players at tourneys just can't have contact.
Usc football and basketball are messes, due to both inside and outside factors. Huge hire in Lincoln Riley and a Heismsn winner… how’d that translate on the field? Good coach with top recruits in basketball…. How’d that work out? Basketball in particular, the actual games themselves seemed secondary to ‘hey, I’m bronny’ and their nil deals. It’s set up there to garner attention, not necessarily win in my opinion. If I were already making millions, why would I move to California for a job I could be out of in 3 years, likely with head trauma?
Mike was not coming here for a non recruiting position ...
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I also think it was huge for our program's prestige/brand. When Weber was fired, I remember a LOT of national (not particularly Illini-friendly) pundits calling this a top 10 job in the country ... and Mike Thomas struck out with a few options and ended up with a relatively unproven MAC coach. That bruised our pride, no way around it. To have Whitman effectively "flex" on a respected, historically relevant Power Five program like Oklahoma State REALLY helped to restore our image as somewhat of a destination job, even before the wins came. Now that we have finally broken through in March Madness, I think the respect is fully there again.
If we can reload in the portal and be in the preseason top 25 next year for the FIFTH straight year after losing so much ... man, we have officially made it!!
Boynton likes short, funny, quirky bald men?
This is how I feel as well. It's a card you play once in a while if you feel you're not being compensated fairly.
However, I don't mind an agent reaching out, if that's all that happened. That's just his job. This feels different than past off seasons where it seemed like BU was actively courting and connecting his name to other schools.
Agreed- so you move Geoff to a non-recruiting spot (same title same money) and make Boynton a recruiter- he would be a home run recruiter. Geoff can still evaluate talent just not have contact and be the lead recruiter. My point is, you figure out how to fit him into the staff when he would be a big upgrade even for a year
He would be a home run recruiter, bring a PG and top freshman with him right now and he’s a defensive coach that know Brad extremely well - it just seems like a missed opportunity to make it work.
We cannot demote Geoff ... Brad would never do it ...
Now getting someone to replace Hamer ?? That's a separate discussion ...
sacraig
- The desert
Okay, so let's have this discussion. Will we be replacing Hamer?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Our history in basketball is almost as much better than USC's as their football history is compared to ours, lol. A bit of an exaggeration, of course, but they are way behind us in current status, facilities, history, fan support, etc. Not saying it couldn't be a bit of a sleeping giant job, but I think any Illini fans worrying too much about Brad leaving ANYWHERE - much less USC - are letting their completely unfounded inferiority complex show. Would Arizona or Michigan or MSU or Villanova fans be worried about losing their coaches to anyone? To USC or Arkansas or KANSAS STATE?! This state, school and program are in need of a serious injection of fully earned PRIDE that we are lacking a bit ... we're coming off an Elite Eight and a BTT championship, maybe it's time to even get a little cocky again?? Better than the opposite!
We are a great program, an even better job and we won't lose Brad if we pay up (as we should), IMO!
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Probably not.
- Status