The Illinois Coaching Search

BananaShampoo · Mar 13, 2017

Musselman is indeed intriguing. Seems high energy like Groce, but with the Xs and Os to back it up. Sign me up.

Two concerns, though:

1. Wonder what his desire is to move to the midwest? It would be tough to leave the Tahoe area for the flatness of Champaign.
2. His resume is all over the place. He's rarely stayed in any one position more than 2 years. Seems like we'd always be fearful he'd jump ship whenever the next opportunity came knocking.

I mean:
1989–1990 Rapid City Thrillers
1990–1991 Minnesota Timberwolves (asst.)
1991–1995 Rapid City Thrillers
1995–1996 Florida Sharks
1996–1997 Florida Beach Dogs
1998–2000 Orlando Magic (asst.)
2000–2002 Atlanta Hawks (asst.)
2002–2004 Golden State Warriors
2004–2006 Memphis Grizzlies (asst.)
2006–2007 Sacramento Kings
2010–2011 Reno Bighorns
2011–2012 Los Angeles D-Fenders
2012–2013 Arizona State (asst.)
2013–2014 Arizona State (assoc. HC)
2014–2015 LSU (assoc. HC)
2015–present Nevada

And that's not even including his international stops.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 13, 2017

MadSeason said:
I am surprised you like him as much as you do as he sounds like basketball Fleck

Every coach has a bit of the clappy try hardy thing going on. (Except for tha gawd Steve Spurrier, my favorite ever) But Fleck is one of a kind. He's taken it to a millennial sort of place.

Deleted member 29907 · Mar 13, 2017

TownieMatt said:
Will Wade hasn't shown me enough. Two decent years at Chattanooga, then he's kept a solid VCU program about where it was for two seasons. Am I missing something there?

Kinda a yawner for me. I've watched him some this year only and I don't think his team overachieves. Two of his wins this year were last second flukes.... I would rather take a bigger gamble on a higher ceiling guy. Do we know how much of the recruiting is him vs the recent VCU buzz/success of SS.

He could turn out to be a great coach - but I am hoping we can attract a more exciting pick.

MadSeason · Mar 13, 2017

BananaShampoo said:
Musselman is indeed intriguing. Seems high energy like Groce, but with the Xs and Os to back it up. Sign me up.

Two concerns, though:

1. Wonder what his desire is to move to the midwest? It would be tough to leave the Tahoe area for the flatness of Champaign.
2. His resume is all over the place. He's rarely stayed in any one position more than 2 years. Seems like we'd always be fearful he'd jump ship whenever the next opportunity came knocking.

I mean:
1989–1990 Rapid City Thrillers
1990–1991 Minnesota Timberwolves (asst.)
1991–1995 Rapid City Thrillers
1995–1996 Florida Sharks
1996–1997 Florida Beach Dogs
1998–2000 Orlando Magic (asst.)
2000–2002 Atlanta Hawks (asst.)
2002–2004 Golden State Warriors
2004–2006 Memphis Grizzlies (asst.)
2006–2007 Sacramento Kings
2010–2011 Reno Bighorns
2011–2012 Los Angeles D-Fenders
2012–2013 Arizona State (asst.)
2013–2014 Arizona State (assoc. HC)
2014–2015 LSU (assoc. HC)
2015–present Nevada

And that's not even including his international stops.

He'll be moving on after two years anyway so he can stomach Champaign for that long. :thumb:

Seriously though, if he succeeds that mightily that the pros or someone else takes him from Illinois we will be in a great position to hire another successful coach. If only someone would have stolen Weber after 2005!

KrushCow31 · Mar 13, 2017

MadSeason said:
He'll be moving on after two years anyway so he can stomach Champaign for that long. :thumb:

Seriously though, if he succeeds that mightily that the pros or someone else takes him from Illinois we will be in a great position to hire another successful coach. If only someone would have stolen Weber after 2005!

That didn't work out so well the last time we had so much success...that's how we got Weber in the first place haha.

MadSeason · Mar 13, 2017

KrushCow31 said:
That didn't work out so well the last time we had so much success...that's how we got Weber in the first place haha.

True.

Guenther was so upset at being left, that he found the exact opposite of Self instead of the next Self. Kansas and North Carolina aren't going to come open every year and it was just a perfect storm. Had we went Thad Matta who knows how well things may have gone

MainelyIllini · Mar 13, 2017

If we're just throwing names out there, how about Reggie Theus?

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TownieMatt · Mar 13, 2017

Stevegarbs said:
I believe it is likely. Absolutely no factual information to support it, just a hunch.

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I've got a feeling it's not 100% over with Monty. Here's the Woj tweet:

"Sources: Illinois willing to make Monty Williams one of NCAA’s top paid coaches, but he'll pass. He’s focused on prompt NBA coaching return."

"he'll pass" suggests he hadn't actually done so at the time. I'm sure Woj has good reason to think Monty isn't interested, but I don't think that tweet completely rules out any possibility. That being said, I don't think it's likely since it seems he'll get another head job in the NBA.

haasi · Mar 13, 2017

S/C remind me your rankings

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champaignchris · Mar 13, 2017

MainelyIllini said:
If we're just throwing names out there, how about Reggie Theus?

What is it about his 47-81 record at Cal State Northridge that impresses you?

mattcoldagelli · Mar 13, 2017

champaignchris said:
What is it about his 47-81 record at Cal State Northridge that impresses you?

You've really gotta look at what he did at Deering.

ChiefIlliniwek2 · Mar 13, 2017

Assuming Whitman already has someone in mind (which is definitely not a sure thing, or maybe even probable) would the 7 day window thing mean it's not a minority candidate?

Charleston · Mar 13, 2017

carmelillini said:
The only local media that Tom Crean is at the top of is in B'town and they want his scalp. Get real.

Dude, I live in CoMo. Crean is the most talked about candidate here by far. Not that it will happen, though.

UofIChE06 · Mar 13, 2017

ILNative said:
....NO

I've already said it but I'll lay it out again. Groce before IL does not in any way equal what Keatts has done. Groce took a mediocre/okay program and KEPT it there. Besides the "caught lightning" sweet 16 run at the end, the conference record and overall body of work at Ohio was consistent with the coach preceding him. The conference records should have been a huge red flag.

Keatts on the other hand was handed the keys to a veritable dumpster fire and now they have won their conference twice in a row and are a 12 seed and the upset du jour for this tourney.

UNC-W is going to get smoked by Tony Bennett and the fighting Cavs so scratch that. Also, a lot of coaches have success at low majors. Not really indicative of success up the chain. Never said Keatts can't or won't be successful but sure would like to see him at an AAC, A10, or even a Mountain West before anointing him the next great P5 coach

OldGreg · Mar 13, 2017

FatGreg said:
Anyone else planning to apply? Apart from having no relevant experience, my resume is pretty good: experience in sales and marketing, management of large staffs and budgets, founded a modestly successful startup, UIUC alum. Fat for next head coach? FFG.

Fat Greg and Old Greg, co-head coaches!

MainelyIllini · Mar 13, 2017

champaignchris said:
What is it about his 47-81 record at Cal State Northridge that impresses you?

Nothing. Just pulling names from the last coaching search that were humorous. Clearly I shouldn't quit my day job. [emoji3][emoji106]

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SuperintendentChalmers · Mar 13, 2017

mattcoldagelli said:
You've really gotta look at what he did at Deering.

Where's your loyalty to Illinois? Dick Butkus was a far superior coach at Deering.

Tygor · Mar 13, 2017

i haven't paid much attention to Shaka at Texas. What's happened so far?

ILL in IA · Mar 13, 2017

Tygor said:
i haven't paid much attention to Shaka at Texas. What's happened so far?

Not much.

GoIllini40 · Mar 13, 2017

Tygor said:
i haven't paid much attention to Shaka at Texas. What's happened so far?

He's got talent to go there, just had a rough year.

Jeffcobrad · Mar 13, 2017

I really want to trust JW but after 35yrs of seeing the Illini "close but no cigar" act I just cannot let myself get excited about this hire. My mind tells me mid major hire, recruits decommit, fans unhappy, Chicago HS/AAU coaches blast hire in the paper..... Please just one time let what happened to the football program happen to the basketball side.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 13, 2017

haasi said:
S/C remind me your rankings

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Among the guys I see as bona fide options right now

1. Keatts
2. Musselman
3. Capel (not getting enough mention)
4. Jankovich
5. Wade
6. Cuonzo
7. McDermott

I'm obviously very interested in the Archie/Marshall/Buzz group, but if I don't get hot and heavy interest immediately, I wouldn't waste a ton of effort trying to beg. Same with any continued Monty pursuit.

If Steve Prohm were interested I think he'd be right behind that top group. Larry Krystowiak would be more in the Jankovich range. Other sitting P5 guys, keep your ear to the ground and see what happens.

I still like Ben Jacobson, but I just can't see that being viable right now. Kermit Davis is a good coach, but not for us.

That's where I'm at.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 13, 2017

Jeffcobrad said:
I really want to trust JW but after 35yrs of seeing the Illini "close but no cigar" act I just cannot let myself get excited about this hire. My mind tells me mid major hire, recruits decommit, fans unhappy, Chicago HS/AAU coaches blast hire in the paper..... Please just one time let what happened to the football program happen to the basketball side.

In that 35 years you've seen an awful lot of winning and at least a couple of big coups in the coaching market.

We've already pretty consistently had in basketball what we're scratching and clawing and hoping to build on the football side.

Jeffcobrad · Mar 13, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
In that 35 years you've seen an awful lot of winning and at least a couple of big coups in the coaching market.

We've already pretty consistently had in basketball what we're scratching and clawing and hoping to build on the football side.

That's what make these last 10 plus years so hard. O for the days of couldn't wait till game time and then the next two hours you were glued to your TV and then couldn't sleep because you kept replaying the victory over in your mind. Those were the days! I remember you got all your recruiting news through the Trib or Sun Times or Street & Smith.

TownieMatt · Mar 13, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
Among the guys I see as bona fide options right now

1. Keatts
2. Musselman
3. Capel (not getting enough mention)
4. Jankovich
5. Wade
6. Cuonzo
7. McDermott

I'm obviously very interested in the Archie/Marshall/Buzz group, but if I don't get hot and heavy interest immediately, I wouldn't waste a ton of effort trying to beg. Same with any continued Monty pursuit.

If Steve Prohm were interested I think he'd be right behind that top group. Larry Krystowiak would be more in the Jankovich range. Other sitting P5 guys, keep your ear to the ground and see what happens.

I still like Ben Jacobson, but I just can't see that being viable right now. Kermit Davis is a good coach, but not for us.

That's where I'm at.

What's your thinking with Capel? He clearly has some chops, but that ending at OU was ugly.

The Illinois Coaching Search

BananaShampoo

Captain 'Paign

Second and Chalmers

Deleted member 29907

Guest

MadSeason

KrushCow31

Former Krush Cow

MadSeason

MainelyIllini

TownieMatt

CU Expat

haasi

champaignchris

mattcoldagelli

ChiefIlliniwek2

Charleston

UofIChE06

OldGreg

MainelyIllini

SuperintendentChalmers

Tygor

ILL in IA

GoIllini40

Jeffcobrad

Second and Chalmers

Second and Chalmers

Jeffcobrad

TownieMatt

CU Expat