The Illinois Coaching Search

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#1,052      
#1,053      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
I don't know if you have to get dirty to recruit in Chitown. What I do know is that the Illini need to change the perception of it in the Chicago media. Except for times like right now, you can go weeks and months without hearing much of anything about the State University. Pro sports rule along with the obligatory Notre Dame and Northwestern coverage. Kids growing up on the West and South sides never hear anything about the Illini from the media. If the new Illini coach can establish some long-term decent media coverage in the hotbed of Big City ball, that would make a big difference in the trajectory of the Illini program.

Maybe control the message the media puts out. 670 has broadcast basketball and football games for 2 or 3 years. Lovie and at the time Groce new coach going forward, should have weekly segments on that station. I haven't heard them on air for a long time. Last time being Beckman and wint.
 
#1,054      
So, if March 20th comes and goes with no application package submitted by potential candidates (per AD's list: Marshall, Archie, Buzz, et al), does AD pick up the phone and check one last time with whomever to see if they may be interested possibly?

"Submitting" the application is a formality. It's state mandated legalize. Whitman will know long before someone writes down their social security number whether they are interested or not
 
#1,055      

RedRocksIllini

Morrison, CO
"Submitting" the application is a formality. It's state mandated legalize. Whitman will know long before someone writes down their social security number whether they are interested or not

You would hope. If Whitman has to sift through resumes, then most of us on this board (myself included) are totally way off-base about his abilities.
 
#1,056      
Looking at his recruiting classes as VT, I'm underwhelmed. If he could get the right assistants to be recruiting specialists* and then provide solid coaching to get the most out of them at Illinois, well, I'd be happy as a clam.

*Jamall Walker, perhaps?
Virginia Tech is even less a desirable location than Illinois. Geographically, its isolated from any other big town/area. Roanoke VA(about 100K population) and Johnson City, TN being the closest "big cities". And it has very few minorities outside of the university. And at least the last time I was there, which admittedly was over 10 years ago, their idea of culture seemed to be along the lines of SIU back in the day. So am I surprised that he has problems recruiting? No.
 
#1,058      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
Missed it. Any way to summarize? Thx.

Was at the end of the 3pm hr if you find the podcast. Pretty much Goff talked about finding ways to have more positive voices in chicago. Not just media. Bridging the gap with alumni players. Maybe not having them on staff, but working those relationship because guys like gill Bardo, deon, and dee are still influential. Negative talk behind the scenes on the next coach needs to stop.
 
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#1,059      
What ever happened to/with Dee Brown? Why the sudden departure and then NO news for all of these months? Can anyone shed some light on the situation? I heard a rumor that he's been coaching in the Chicago suburbs and has made more than one appearance in Evanston at the FAAM league games on Sundays (youth hoops program). Would love to have him join the new coach's staff
 
#1,061      
Was at the end of the 3pm hr if you find the podcast. Pretty much Goff talked about finding ways to have more positive voices in chicago. Not just media. Bridging the gap with alumni players. Maybe not having them on staff, but working those relationship because guys like gill Bardo, deon, and dee are still influential. Negative talk behind the scenes on the next coach needs to stop.

This sounds deja vu Mike Thomasy to me.
 
#1,062      
Had Bill Self stayed, we likely would have started regularly reeling in said talent, but we let him get away. Find our next great coach, pay him like elite schools pay their coaches, and we don't have to worry about losing them.

Negatory. Bill Self was offered a job at a storied, elite program. Only a fool or someone who is completely satisfied with their situation and doesn't want the pressure that a program like that has would turn it down(e.g. Mark Few at Gonzaga).
 
#1,063      
What ever happened to/with Dee Brown? Why the sudden departure and then NO news for all of these months? Can anyone shed some light on the situation? I heard a rumor that he's been coaching in the Chicago suburbs and has made more than one appearance in Evanston at the FAAM league games on Sundays (youth hoops program). Would love to have him join the new coach's staff

Dee left for a reason. He had a great, cushy job here getting paid A LOT of money with an inside route to an assistant job at some point. Everyone wanted him there, the fact he left should be a big enough clue that something happened. Whatever it was, what we know is that it wasn't illegal (nothing EVER hinted with the cops), and bad enough that he had to leave.

Dee isn't coming back for awhile, most likely it's his fault. He'll go coach elsewhere, and hopefully he gets an opportunity to come back.
 
#1,065      
Negatory. Bill Self was offered a job at a storied, elite program. Only a fool or someone who is completely satisfied with their situation and doesn't want the pressure that a program like that has would turn it down(e.g. Mark Few at Gonzaga).

Many accounts have said that Self was torn and might have stayed given more money or more cajoling. He knew what he had coming back in 2004-5 and what he could build at Illinois. Unfortunately, Guenther felt like his girlfriend had cheated on him and closed that door so we'll never know.
 
#1,066      
Dee left for a reason. He had a great, cushy job here getting paid A LOT of money with an inside route to an assistant job at some point. Everyone wanted him there, the fact he left should be a big enough clue that something happened. Whatever it was, what we know is that it wasn't illegal (nothing EVER hinted with the cops), and bad enough that he had to leave.

Dee isn't coming back for awhile, most likely it's his fault. He'll go coach elsewhere, and hopefully he gets an opportunity to come back.

This is probably accurate. Dee was having some health issues (hip replacement), but his departure was sudden and mysterious. Presumably something happened behind the scenes. Nothing has leaked about the situation, which makes sense when you consider that Dee is an iconic figure in Champaign and still a reference point for hoop heads everywhere. It's in everyone's best interest to keep whatever led to his dismissal/departure under wraps. Hope he lands on his feet. Love that guy.
 
#1,068      
Some people's lack of self awareness is head scratching. On what planet does Deon think he has the credentials to be a high major DI coach?

He compared himself to coach K, saying they had about the same amount of previous coaching experience. It was a tough listen.
 
#1,070      
Many accounts have said that Self was torn and might have stayed given more money or more cajoling. He knew what he had coming back in 2004-5 and what he could build at Illinois. Unfortunately, Guenther felt like his girlfriend had cheated on him and closed that door so we'll never know.
I'm sure he was probably torn, but at least at that time and definitely before, there was very low turnover at storied programs like Kansas and UNC. So I'm sure he mullled it over and realized that the Kansas job was the best offer he was going to get for a while. I can't blame him for leaving, even if it was heartbreaking at the time. I think it took me about 5 years to stop saying "Bleeping Kansas". though I did get some measure of revenge in my brackets against Kansas pretty much every season....
 
#1,071      
Dee left for a reason. He had a great, cushy job here getting paid A LOT of money with an inside route to an assistant job at some point. Everyone wanted him there, the fact he left should be a big enough clue that something happened. Whatever it was, what we know is that it wasn't illegal (nothing EVER hinted with the cops), and bad enough that he had to leave.

Dee isn't coming back for awhile, most likely it's his fault. He'll go coach elsewhere, and hopefully he gets an opportunity to come back.

My understanding is that situation was not nearly as simple as you make it sound. And I think there is a possibility of him returning sooner than you think.
 
#1,073      
I'm sure he was probably torn, but at least at that time and definitely before, there was very low turnover at storied programs like Kansas and UNC. So I'm sure he mullled it over and realized that the Kansas job was the best offer he was going to get for a while. I can't blame him for leaving, even if it was heartbreaking at the time. I think it took me about 5 years to stop saying "Bleeping Kansas". though I did get some measure of revenge in my brackets against Kansas pretty much every season....

I don't know, Self seemed to be interested in every option available to him. Let's not forget the Arkansas opening the year before he left. If not Kansas, which I don't see many turning down, he would have bolted for Arizona, Kentucky, or Oklahoma St.
 
#1,074      

Illwinsagain

Cary, IL
Illinois led the nightly sports coverage in Chicago in 2005. Win and you force them to cover you

True, we not only dominated Chicago, but nationally! It didn't hurt that there was an NHL lockout that year too. ESPN had to cover something. And the basketball was beautiful.
 
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