The Illinois Coaching Search

kcib8130 · Mar 14, 2017

I struggle at wrangling Twitter, but I advise to give @CoachingChanges a follow. Guy knows his stuff top to bottom.

Tweeted about an hour ago that he had heard Cuonzo to Illinois was gaining steam and an announcement may be made soon. Put up about an hour ago.

I do get a little hesitant because that account misspells Martin's name every single time (????)

Second and Chalmers · Mar 14, 2017

Fighter of the Nightman said:
Pretty good press, honestly.

Set up perfectly for "no one wanted the job" when the contract comes in well under that.

kcib8130 · Mar 14, 2017

mattcoldagelli said:
Because he just won a national championship.

Definition of a basketball school, as well.

TownieMatt · Mar 14, 2017

kcib8130 said:
I struggle at wrangling Twitter, but I advise to give @CoachingChanges a follow. Guy knows his stuff top to bottom.

Tweeted about an hour ago that he had heard Cuonzo to Illinois was gaining steam and an announcement may be made soon. Put up about an hour ago.

I do get a little hesitant because that account misspells Martin's name every single time (????)

There also can't be an announcement until Monday so......

sacraig · Mar 14, 2017

Bardo4assistant said:
I was just looking up coaches salaries and notice that Jay Wright is at 2.47m
With 4-5m being talked about why has no one been talking about Jay Wright?!

He's been brought up several times in this thread and every time several posts immediately and violently shoot that idea down.

89illinigrad · Mar 14, 2017

kcib8130 said:
I struggle at wrangling Twitter, but I advise to give @CoachingChanges a follow. Guy knows his stuff top to bottom.

Tweeted about an hour ago that he had heard Cuonzo to Illinois was gaining steam and an announcement may be made soon. Put up about an hour ago.

I do get a little hesitant because that account misspells Martin's name every single time (????)

Are they misspelling it "Miller"?

The Galloping Ghost · Mar 14, 2017

Bardo4assistant said:
I was just looking up coaches salaries and notice that Jay Wright is at 2.47m
With 4-5m being talked about why has no one been talking about Jay Wright?!

It's important to note, unlike state schools that have to be transparent about a coach's salary, private schools aren't under the same obligation. Take all public salary figures for private school coaches with a grain of salt.

You can bet that with bonuses Jay Wright is making considerably more than that public figure.

kcib8130 · Mar 14, 2017

TownieMatt said:
There also can't be an announcement until Monday so......

Depends on your definition of soon, so....

89illinigrad said:
Are they misspelling it "Miller"?

lol he writes "Cuanzo". Can't get past it.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 14, 2017

So here's my pitch to Tony Bennett if he agrees to listen to our timeshare pitch in exchange for his free vacation from UVa:

Tony, you're too good of a coach for this conference. Sure, there are legends of the game at Duke and UNC and Louisville, but you know there isn't actually any coaching going on at those schools. They soak up the 10 best freshmen in the country and just try to bludgeon you with simple AAU-style basketball. It's a challenge, sure, but is it any fun? Are these actual intellectual competitors for you when you're always throwing apples at their oranges?

Of course not. You belong in the Big Ten where there is a genuine competition of programs and systems and execution, not just yearly conveyor belts of one-and-dones. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter and John Beilein and Greg Gard will be a genuine challenge to you and the style of basketball you want to play. You'll win with scouting and executing, not just frustrating some 19 year old freakazoid who'll be riding the pine for the Orlando Magic next year.

I know what you're thinking, at Illinois I'm going to have to dive into the Chicago muck for those same kinds of kids. This is my promise to you: not only do I not expect you to, I don't want you to. I want you to recruit your kind of player that can execute your kind of basketball, and I'm going to reward you for having a program with integrity. And when I hire you on top of Lovie Smith, that guarantee really means something because I will have lifetime job security.

Now, what Illinois will give you is access to a better and more diverse talent pool than you have now. There's nobody you've recruited where Illinois wouldn't better open that door. And you will have more resources than Virginia can or will ever give you.

Virginia isn't a sports school, you know this. Win all you want, you'll still be a fun curiosity for the rich kids and alumni who aren't even from the state. You know what Big Ten basketball means in the Midwest, you've lived it. You can run a program with integrity and not have to give into the gross diploma mill attitude of a Florida State-type football factory, while not having to be the bookish weirdo of the conference.

This culture is where your Dad belonged and it's where you belong, and together we're going to win so much you'll be a living legend.

TownieMatt · Mar 14, 2017

kcib8130 said:
Depends on your definition of soon, so....

Lol, nice.

illini8507 · Mar 14, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
So here's my pitch to Tony Bennett if he agrees to listen to our timeshare pitch in exchange for his free vacation from UVa:

Tony, you're too good of a coach for this conference. Sure, there are legends of the game at Duke and UNC and Louisville, but you know there isn't actually any coaching going on at those schools. They soak up the 10 best freshmen in the country and just try to bludgeon you with simple AAU-style basketball. It's a challenge, sure, but is it any fun? Are these actual intellectual competitors for you when you're always throwing apples at their oranges?

Of course not. You belong in the Big Ten where there is a genuine competition of programs and systems and execution, not just yearly conveyor belts of one-and-dones. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter and John Beilein and Greg Gard will be a genuine challenge to you and the style of basketball you want to play. You'll win with scouting and executing, not just frustrating some 19 year old freakazoid who'll be riding the pine for the Orlando Magic next year.

I know what you're thinking, at Illinois I'm going to have to dive into the Chicago muck for those same kinds of kids. This is my promise to you: not only do I not expect you to, I don't want you to. I want you to recruit your kind of player that can execute your kind of basketball, and I'm going to reward you for having a program with integrity. And when I hire you on top of Lovie Smith, that guarantee really means something because I will have lifetime job security.

Now, what Illinois will give you is access to a better and more diverse talent pool than you have now. There's nobody you've recruited where Illinois wouldn't better open that door. And you will have more resources than Virginia can or will ever give you.

Virginia isn't a sports school, you know this. Win all you want, you'll still be a fun curiosity for the rich kids and alumni who aren't even from the state. You know what Big Ten basketball means in the Midwest, you've lived it. You can run a program with integrity and not have to give into the gross diploma mill attitude of a Florida State-type football factory, while not having to be the bookish weirdo of the conference.

This culture is where your Dad belonged and it's where you belong, and together we're going to win so much you'll be a living legend.

Sounds good to me. In place of or in addition to your fsu example you could include UNC and their fake classes:thumb:

UofI08 · Mar 14, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
So here's my pitch to Tony Bennett if he agrees to listen to our timeshare pitch in exchange for his free vacation from UVa:

Tony, you're too good of a coach for this conference. Sure, there are legends of the game at Duke and UNC and Louisville, but you know there isn't actually any coaching going on at those schools. They soak up the 10 best freshmen in the country and just try to bludgeon you with simple AAU-style basketball. It's a challenge, sure, but is it any fun? Are these actual intellectual competitors for you when you're always throwing apples at their oranges?

Of course not. You belong in the Big Ten where there is a genuine competition of programs and systems and execution, not just yearly conveyor belts of one-and-dones. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter and John Beilein and Greg Gard will be a genuine challenge to you and the style of basketball you want to play. You'll win with scouting and executing, not just frustrating some 19 year old freakazoid who'll be riding the pine for the Orlando Magic next year.

I know what you're thinking, at Illinois I'm going to have to dive into the Chicago muck for those same kinds of kids. This is my promise to you: not only do I not expect you to, I don't want you to. I want you to recruit your kind of player that can execute your kind of basketball, and I'm going to reward you for having a program with integrity. And when I hire you on top of Lovie Smith, that guarantee really means something because I will have lifetime job security.

Now, what Illinois will give you is access to a better and more diverse talent pool than you have now. There's nobody you've recruited where Illinois wouldn't better open that door. And you will have more resources than Virginia can or will ever give you.

Virginia isn't a sports school, you know this. Win all you want, you'll still be a fun curiosity for the rich kids and alumni who aren't even from the state. You know what Big Ten basketball means in the Midwest, you've lived it. You can run a program with integrity and not have to give into the gross diploma mill attitude of a Florida State-type football factory, while not having to be the bookish weirdo of the conference.

This culture is where your Dad belonged and it's where you belong, and together we're going to win so much you'll be a living legend.

Do you believe all this? Seems like a very strange pitch. I agree with most of your posts, but this one is just weird. There is great coaching going on at those ACC schools to go with the great talent.

Branson53 · Mar 14, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
So here's my pitch to Tony Bennett if he agrees to listen to our timeshare pitch in exchange for his free vacation from UVa:

Tony, you're too good of a coach for this conference. Sure, there are legends of the game at Duke and UNC and Louisville, but you know there isn't actually any coaching going on at those schools. They soak up the 10 best freshmen in the country and just try to bludgeon you with simple AAU-style basketball. It's a challenge, sure, but is it any fun? Are these actual intellectual competitors for you when you're always throwing apples at their oranges?

Of course not. You belong in the Big Ten where there is a genuine competition of programs and systems and execution, not just yearly conveyor belts of one-and-dones. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter and John Beilein and Greg Gard will be a genuine challenge to you and the style of basketball you want to play. You'll win with scouting and executing, not just frustrating some 19 year old freakazoid who'll be riding the pine for the Orlando Magic next year.

I know what you're thinking, at Illinois I'm going to have to dive into the Chicago muck for those same kinds of kids. This is my promise to you: not only do I not expect you to, I don't want you to. I want you to recruit your kind of player that can execute your kind of basketball, and I'm going to reward you for having a program with integrity. And when I hire you on top of Lovie Smith, that guarantee really means something because I will have lifetime job security.

Now, what Illinois will give you is access to a better and more diverse talent pool than you have now. There's nobody you've recruited where Illinois wouldn't better open that door. And you will have more resources than Virginia can or will ever give you.

Virginia isn't a sports school, you know this. Win all you want, you'll still be a fun curiosity for the rich kids and alumni who aren't even from the state. You know what Big Ten basketball means in the Midwest, you've lived it. You can run a program with integrity and not have to give into the gross diploma mill attitude of a Florida State-type football factory, while not having to be the bookish weirdo of the conference.

This culture is where your Dad belonged and it's where you belong, and together we're going to win so much you'll be a living legend.

You've got me convinced.

MadSeason · Mar 14, 2017

UofI08 said:
Do you believe all this? Seems like a very strange pitch. I agree with most of your posts, but this one is just weird. There is great coaching going on at those ACC schools to go with the great talent.

It's a pitch. You have to spin it to your advantage

UofI08 · Mar 14, 2017

MadSeason said:
It's a pitch. You have to spin it to your advantage

I get that. I just disagree with the first couple paragraphs. The rest is great, I just can't get past the weird coaching and one and done thing. It's not accurate and almost laughable.

Deleted member 8213 · Mar 14, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
So here's my pitch to Tony Bennett if he agrees to listen to our timeshare pitch in exchange for his free vacation from UVa:

Tony, you're too good of a coach for this conference. Sure, there are legends of the game at Duke and UNC and Louisville, but you know there isn't actually any coaching going on at those schools. They soak up the 10 best freshmen in the country and just try to bludgeon you with simple AAU-style basketball. It's a challenge, sure, but is it any fun? Are these actual intellectual competitors for you when you're always throwing apples at their oranges?

Of course not. You belong in the Big Ten where there is a genuine competition of programs and systems and execution, not just yearly conveyor belts of one-and-dones. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter and John Beilein and Greg Gard will be a genuine challenge to you and the style of basketball you want to play. You'll win with scouting and executing, not just frustrating some 19 year old freakazoid who'll be riding the pine for the Orlando Magic next year.

I know what you're thinking, at Illinois I'm going to have to dive into the Chicago muck for those same kinds of kids. This is my promise to you: not only do I not expect you to, I don't want you to. I want you to recruit your kind of player that can execute your kind of basketball, and I'm going to reward you for having a program with integrity. And when I hire you on top of Lovie Smith, that guarantee really means something because I will have lifetime job security.

Now, what Illinois will give you is access to a better and more diverse talent pool than you have now. There's nobody you've recruited where Illinois wouldn't better open that door. And you will have more resources than Virginia can or will ever give you.

Virginia isn't a sports school, you know this. Win all you want, you'll still be a fun curiosity for the rich kids and alumni who aren't even from the state. You know what Big Ten basketball means in the Midwest, you've lived it. You can run a program with integrity and not have to give into the gross diploma mill attitude of a Florida State-type football factory, while not having to be the bookish weirdo of the conference.

This culture is where your Dad belonged and it's where you belong, and together we're going to win so much you'll be a living legend.

Meh. Hope Whitman has an argument that doesn't sound like a rejected script from Hoosiers.

Illinois13 · Mar 14, 2017

Second and Chalmers said:
So here's my pitch to Tony Bennett if he agrees to listen to our timeshare pitch in exchange for his free vacation from UVa:

Tony, you're too good of a coach for this conference. Sure, there are legends of the game at Duke and UNC and Louisville, but you know there isn't actually any coaching going on at those schools. They soak up the 10 best freshmen in the country and just try to bludgeon you with simple AAU-style basketball. It's a challenge, sure, but is it any fun? Are these actual intellectual competitors for you when you're always throwing apples at their oranges?

Of course not. You belong in the Big Ten where there is a genuine competition of programs and systems and execution, not just yearly conveyor belts of one-and-dones. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter and John Beilein and Greg Gard will be a genuine challenge to you and the style of basketball you want to play. You'll win with scouting and executing, not just frustrating some 19 year old freakazoid who'll be riding the pine for the Orlando Magic next year.

I know what you're thinking, at Illinois I'm going to have to dive into the Chicago muck for those same kinds of kids. This is my promise to you: not only do I not expect you to, I don't want you to. I want you to recruit your kind of player that can execute your kind of basketball, and I'm going to reward you for having a program with integrity. And when I hire you on top of Lovie Smith, that guarantee really means something because I will have lifetime job security.

Now, what Illinois will give you is access to a better and more diverse talent pool than you have now. There's nobody you've recruited where Illinois wouldn't better open that door. And you will have more resources than Virginia can or will ever give you.

Virginia isn't a sports school, you know this. Win all you want, you'll still be a fun curiosity for the rich kids and alumni who aren't even from the state. You know what Big Ten basketball means in the Midwest, you've lived it. You can run a program with integrity and not have to give into the gross diploma mill attitude of a Florida State-type football factory, while not having to be the bookish weirdo of the conference.

This culture is where your Dad belonged and it's where you belong, and together we're going to win so much you'll be a living legend.

Not sold.

Genuinely impressed by your ability to navigate between Illinois, high level collegiate athletics, hiring processes, Josh Whitman, and thought processes. Serious statement.

You stopped posting for a few weeks.

Now it's LIKE(it's like...) a bird from Planet Earth that doesn't know if she wants to be swooned - rightfully so, but I think we could all use a better sell than this.

Counting on you.

ILLINIShox24 · Mar 14, 2017

Indiana may be opening up after their loss tonight. I hate Crean but wish they weren't competing with us in the coach search

haasi · Mar 14, 2017

Ya pitch a little hokey/Lou Holtzy, and I'm not sure how much the central theme of intellectual challenge of B1G coaching will appeal to him. You'd have to know his psyche pretty well to know whether he likes/dislikes playing in a conference where he's doing something very different than a lot of other coaches.

But apart from that you definitely hit a lot of essential points:

(1) More $
(2) More resources / great facilities
(3) Better recruiting platform
(4) More invested fans at a basketball school
(5) Come back to midwest/B1G where your family history is
(6) His style of play 100% suited to B1G
(7) Whitman's long term job security if he gets Bennett

I'd also add in that roster will be in pretty good shape so doesn't have to worry about massive rebuild - and I'm emphasize players on current roster who might fit his scheme.

cam · Mar 14, 2017

I wonder if there is any chance Cal struggled down the stretch due to rumors of Martin leaving? I think he could really recruit here but would like to see him have some great assistants if he's the guy. I am not completely sold on his coaching

GoIllini40 · Mar 14, 2017

ILLINIShox24 said:
Indiana may be opening up after their loss tonight. I hate Crean but wish they weren't competing with us in the coach search

They're not competing with us unless we're going after a Gregg Marshall

InterimLoyalty · Mar 14, 2017

(...scratches Larry Krystkowiak off list...)

ivwilsoniv · Mar 14, 2017

tv2 said:
I saw Jerrance Howard listed by someone. Hasn't he been an assistant to Krueger, Self, Calipari, Brown and loves the Illini? I think I saw him listed as the 12th best recruiter in the country, although he is at Kansas.

What do you think are the pros and cons of him being the head coach at Illinois?

Cheers.

(1) He's never been a head coach of a basketball team.
(2) Illinois is not the place where assistants get their first jobs.
(3) We. Are. Illinois.

Hoopster · Mar 14, 2017

Whitman2020 said:
Nooooo!

Martin about to be available to meet, Cal getting worked on their home court by CSU Bakersfield, no Raab tonight, but no way they should be down 20 at home, please pass JW

GoIllini40 · Mar 14, 2017

Cuonzo Martin losing by 20 to Cal State Bakersfield. Illinois better lock him up quick.

The Illinois Coaching Search

kcib8130

Second and Chalmers

kcib8130

TownieMatt

CU Expat

sacraig

89illinigrad

The Galloping Ghost

kcib8130

Second and Chalmers

TownieMatt

CU Expat

illini8507

UofI08

Branson53

MadSeason

UofI08

Deleted member 8213

Guest

Illinois13

ILLINIShox24

Orange Krush '04 & '05

haasi

cam

GoIllini40

InterimLoyalty

ivwilsoniv

Hoopster

GoIllini40