College Hoops Coaching Carousel
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Please. Anything to get him off my TV.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Would be really sad to lose Chester so soon. But obviously that would speak volumes about the program BU is running. Would love to see him come back theoretically as the next head coach years down the road.
Bigtex
- DFW
I think part of the downfall for Weber and Groce - they didn't develop assistants who were valuable to outsiders. In addition, they didn't replace assistants to help remain as head coach and change things up. And nobody was coming for the assistants.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Same here.
Tex, your quote has some level of irony to me since you replied to a quote about Chester leaving and the type of program the BU is building. I wanted to mention a few things that popped into my brain and made me smile when I read your reply.
BU was a long time assistant before his first HC chance. He has spent far more time as an assistant coach than he has as a HC. Heck, he was an asst. at WIU for longer than he's been a D1 HC at all his stops combined. Did the coaches he coached under not develop him to be valuable to outsiders? Nah. This is just the natural progression of college coaching (see toolbox reference below).
Chester spent his first 7 seasons as a coach with Weber. His getting a HC job would fall under the Weber "coaching tree" (includes Matt Painter too) just as much as it falls under the BU "coaching tree". I am sure that Chester learned great things from both coaches.
In terms of John Groce assistants, Jamal Walker was a holdover on BU's first staff and his departure was not because Brad wanted him to go. It was even rumored that Jamal would be welcomed back by BU during the last assistant search by a few insiders. He clearly had to develop some under Groce and at the time of his retention to the new staff, BU was the "outsider" who Jamal was valuable to.
I've often thought assistant coaching at the college level is akin to adding tools to your toolbox. You pick up "tools" from every coach you work for. Some of those tools you use all the time. Some of those tools you do not use often. Some of those tools you learn not to use. You expand your recruiting network with each new assistant position you move into. At some point you build a big enough network and assemble a toolbox valuable enough for someone to trust you to run your own program. There are remnants of every single coach you have worked for inside that "toolbox". I've been building my tool box for almost a decade now under 4 different HC's haha.
Have a blessed day,
Go Illini!!!
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Bigtex
- DFW
well stated and agree. was replying to your Chester comment - as I see it as a good thing if Chet or any our other assistants are looking at and being considered for new opportunities. Felt like under Weber and Groce - assistants were comfortable where they were. Good perspective regarding length of time as an assistant and progression from assistant to head coach.
sacraig
- The desert
I think that's more a symptom of the other problems than a cause.
band camp
- STL City
Tacomallini
- Washington State
Yeah, I can still remember last week
I don't of a single one. Certainly never saw one in this forum.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Yeah no one actually said it.
There's always a gradient of opinion on the coach though, that's part of what makes college sports message boards fun.
Yeah like last week. They are all still around on the recruiting thread complaining about coaches that yell.
Oh it was out there, for sure. Both here and on twitter/reddit threads.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
That is exactly 1 more female than I've ever witnessed enjoying a Rush song.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Hey, just wondering if Calipari goes to Texas, should we expect any chatter about Coach Underwood being on Kentucky's radar? I'm not trying to doom and I know there are a bunch of names that will be more likely like Musselman and Oats. Just seems interesting that if Kentucky liked what Brad was doing so much that they take his two top assistants, it seems plausible that they may be interested in him outright.
It would also seem plausible that after having 2 of his assistants poached in 1 year, including his top guy, that Underwood might not be a big fan of Kentucky.
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