I just want our coaching staff filled out so I can sleep at night.
Illini Coaching Staff
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I disagree. Programs can (and do) win without big-name Chicago recruits.
Did N. Irvin not say that Paris "did his job" and got Chicago guys on-campus. I think we didn't see dividends with Chicago because we weren't winning with Weber and Groce.
All things being equal, wouldn't we take a Chicago kid with similar fit and skill set over someone out of state?
Why else would Underwood and Whitman publicly speak to the importance of Chicago being a fertile recruiting ground that makes Illinois an attractive destination? I realize that they may not necessarily admit it publicly, but there's apprehension in having to "play the game" with Chicago kids and their handlers, but it's not like we don't try. I would suspect the reason why is that everyone knows that Chicago talent can put you over the top.
We need to win, period. But why does a Chicago guy on staff and winning have to be mutually exclusive?
We should be reluctant to act like we "don't need Chicago" when we'd take the talent from there in a heartbeat. In my humble opinion we need to have a Chicago guy on staff with this new administration to help defrost the relationship, but, more importantly, win.
I guess we'll see how much Chicago matters in one of these next two hires ...
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
But but but.... We've already had the Chicago guy on staff, PP, and it didn't help in a significant way. So what does that tell us? We Must WIN! Let's get the best possible coaching staff together, right now, and win some games. THEN we can worry about the Chicago recruiting. Not having a Chicago guy on staff doesn't mean we won't have a presence there. If we can win games and be near the top of the conference on a regular basis, couple that with Underwoods style of play, and we could have a dude from Hoboken, NJ recruit Chicago for us and do well! :thumb:
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
This thing has to go in phases, we (or any program) can't jump straight to a FF without spending a few years rebuilding the program (yes, I'm aware there are flukes, but we're talking about sustained success, not one-off E8 runs). To get to that regular SS/E8/FF expectation that we all have it will absolutely take big-name recruits, but it's silly IMO to think we'll get there in 2-3 years.
This is a process, and it took Lou a long, long time to build the program to where it was a regular in the top 5 of the polls in the 80's, and then a while for Kruger/Self to rebuild it to get there again in the early-mid 00's. To think that there's one magical assistant out there who can grab the big CPL recruits in 2017 and have us in the upper echelons in 2018/19 is being realistic.
Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
Exactly. Each time a new coach like Will Wade hires a great !!!'t like Tony Benford, I discover I'm suffering from "assistant coach hiring envy". At least I think that's what my psychiatrist called it.
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That's the whole point. It's a process and in order to develop that relationship you need to have someone on staff who can connect with Chicago. Granted, Jimmy Collins was from NY, but his impact in Chicago speaks for itself. Same with Jerrance - he's from Peoria but he started to make those inroads in Chicago even though the actual return on investment wasn't 5*s. If we're trying to cultivate relationships with Chicago, why not have a guy on staff who "gets" Chicago and can make inroads.
These are all abstract arguments, so very curious to see who BU brings on board. I'd be shocked if at least 1 of the 2 positions wasn't filled by someone with Chicago ties.
So two of our best recruiters in Chicago weren't Chicago guys and more than likely didn't have real Chicago contacts?
We need someone that can speak the same language as the people in Chicago and has a personality that will led to allowing them in the door. After a good recruiter is in the door all bets are off. This person doesn't have to be from Chicago (though it would make it easier) and does not currently need to have Chicago ties (though it would make it easier). They need to be able to earn those ties by recruiting well in the city and having those players go on to play well at Illinois.
Collins may not have been born in Chicago, but he was most certainly a Chicago guy and had plenty of connections.
what do you know about a guy named Ron "chin" Coleman?
He was an assitant and Bradley under Ford. He allegedly has good relationship with the Irvins. He was instrumental in both Cunningham and X. Taylor coming to Bradley.
I mentioned Ron Coleman over a week ago and it makes a lot of sense. He has deep ties with the Irvin's and Chicago AAU basketball. He has proven he can get top Chicago players to go to mid major and P5 lower tier programs. And he's already a UofI employee(UIC). I think they are looking around to see what's out there before they settle on an easy choice like Coleman. He would be universally accepted by the Chicago establishment and a solid hire that would pay dividends instantly. That being said, BU seems like the type who could care less about what others think and he will do whatever he wants with these hires.
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BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Ronnie Coleman?
Light weight, baby, light weight! Nuttin' but a peanut! :thumb:
I'm sure he could intimidate Chicago coaches into sending us some top recruits.
Coleman's time at Bradley was unfulfilling and left Bradley fans feeling like they had been swindled. Bradley fans celebrated when he left Peoria.
True, but Geno wasn't going to get it done even with the few 3 star recruits that Chin help reel in early on. Chin, Walker, and another key assistant could make this very interesting...
Bradley fan voting no to Coleman. I don't hate him. But he would be way, way, down the list.
Should be able to do better.
Should be able to do better.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Anyone know what kind of reputation Orlando Antigua has? Connections to Coach Cal and a scandal at USF don't fill me with confidence.
Great recruiter......
...recruited nationally for Pittsburgh, Memphis and Kentucky. Big reputation as a recruiter.
...recruited nationally for Pittsburgh, Memphis and Kentucky. Big reputation as a recruiter.
Deleted member 8213
D
Guest
Plus the first Hispanic Globetrotter... who can beat that eh? :thumb:
A quick Google search turned up the 2014-15 banquet being held on April 13. May 1 really does seem late.
MrOizo
- Chicago
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/...tate-time-underwood-play-recruiting-game.html
Tate gives some details on the coaching search in a nice article today. Details on Evan's OSU salary and mention of lots of interviews at the final four.
Tate gives some details on the coaching search in a nice article today. Details on Evan's OSU salary and mention of lots of interviews at the final four.
