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Jim Calhoun out for Opening Round Game
CBS Sports reported on the online/ March Madness on Demand feed that Jim Calhoun will not coach tonight’s game against Chattanooga due to illness.
2009 College Basketball Hot Seat: More Fire – Leitao, Lowe
Virginia’s Dave Leitao has resigned as head coach of the University of Virginia Cavaliers basketball team. We know he was asked to resign. There’s a quote from ACC rookie of the year Sylven Landesberg’s dad expressing regret… St. John’s fans, of course, hope Syl will come home and play for St. John’s. We can always hope.
And I am sure that, though the administration of DePaul doesn’t want him back, the Blue Demon faithful would take him in a heartbeat over who they have now.
I see an axe hanging over North Carolina State’s Sidney Lowe, as well… Both schools are willing to spend, even in these times of belt tightening. Check out profiles of some of the hotter coaching candidates, and comment freely.
2009 College Basketball Hot Seat: The Candidates, Part 1
Coaching Candidates
see earlier posts in this series: 2009 College Basketball Coaches on the Hot Seat | 2009 Coaches On the Hot Seat: The Firing Squad Started, Gottfried + Felton
It’s part of the job, and every college coach knows. They probably fear it. No one wants to hear they they are on the hot seat. It means abuse for your family who come out to watch the games, it means the kids you recruited are going to be called “bums,” it means that every fan all of a sudden knows the Athletic Director’s name, email, and phone number, and writes impassioned (or just plain rude) screeds imploring him or her to REMOVE THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH! Froth, anger, and a spinning carousel of coaching possible swirl in the local papers. National columnists write off your team for good.
Fully understand – putting together a quality basketball program and achieving the metrics of success that a coach promised in their interview – conference banners, fans in the seats, an exciting style of play that attracts students and players, an increase in “Q” score – all of that is a tough task in the face of competitive conferences. Fans are dissatisfied with anything short of a national championship, though for most teams, a lot less will do.
But sometimes, there is so little improvement or so little consistency that an Athletic Director really needs to turn the reins over to someone else. And there are different reasons, such as the abject failure of DePaul; the 5-year mostly uncompetitive streak at one of the top-10 winningest programs of all time at St John‘s (I’ve written about it here, here, here, and here, I think that counts as “ad nauseum“); the perennial hot seat and vast (ridiculous? over-marketed?) resources at Oregon; the Lute Olsen retirement at Arizona; the not meeting expectations when bringing in a major conference coach like Larry Eustachy at Southern Miss; or not meeting the big-time in everything expectations at Georgia and Alabama, where the coaches are already at home getting over the ignominy of a mid-year firing, settling into a good book between networking calls. No one wants to hear how hard the job is – the call is for results.
Interestingly, a mix of a down economy and more likely, decent success may keep the coaches at Northwestern, Florida State, Penn State, and even Rutgers and Seton Hall in place; it might even save some of the coaches who work at previously mentioned schools.
Meanwhile, some good coaching jobs are being done out in college basketball. Some coaches from the professional ranks might like a different kind of pressure and the opportunity to teach. Some retreads are looking to recapture their good name. And schools are looking to make the right kind of hire, the guy who will excite the fans, sell season tickets (in a down economy), get the buzz out to recruits, and help but a little shine on the school.
Without further ado, here are some candidates, broken up into categories:
Sexy Candidates – The [Fill In Name of Flash in the Pan Actress Here] of coaches, 2009
I don’t know what’s got people thinking that he’s such a candidate to leave. Certainly, Memphis is not the heart of the world, but he has a fiefdom. And he makes his win total swell in bunches every year he’s there. He is nearly guaranteed to make the tournament every year. Maybe he likes being a huge fish in a pond (and with a schedule) of his own making, pumping up his win total and tournament achievements.
Why So Sexy: Winning. Slickness. Top Recruits. Great on defense and offense. He understands marketing. He has handled top-level one-and-done players, sends ballers to the NBA, gets his teams to play tough. Getting to the NCAA finals sure doesn’t hurt his name any, either.
Drawbacks: Gosh, I don’t know… vacated Final Fours/ Camby taking money, players’ off court indiscretions, more off court indiscretions, the presence of Worldwide Wes, Worldwide Wes and Milt Wagner’s employment at Memphis, the recruiting calls to Abdul Gaddy from a Memphis booster… he is perceived as too slick. Wonder why.
Good for: The team that doesn’t mind winning at all costs… and he wouldn’t come cheap, commanding one of the highest fees for coaching in the nation.
Being nearly named the next head coach of Florida before Billy Donovan reconsidered has its perks. His Virginia Commonwealth team knocked off Duke in the NCAA tournament and has done well in the parity-filled Colonial Athletic Conference, but it’s the only place he’s coached.
Why So Sexy: He’s been the “it” name for SEC openings, seems to be able to recruit a little. Personally, the fact that he has single digit losses in each of his three years means the man can likely coach a little. He has a very good “name” point guard in Eric Maynor to his credit, one who beat Duke in 2007’s NCAA Tournament.
Drawbacks: He’s only been a head coach for 3 years. His roster still includes the former coach’s players, and the former coach is Jeff Capel… Hasn’t sent players to the NBA as a head coach, but he is in the CAA.
Good for: The south; teams who want a solid, young name; a school with a solid recruiting base (he made his name as a recruiter at Florida).
Having a top-5 Oklahoma Sooner team all season – and possibly a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament – brings in accolades. As does recruiting very well, being a former Duke player, and getting Virginia Commonwealth to the NCAA Tournament. The coach that quickly turned around the scandal-marred post-Kelvin Sampson Sooners has done a great job.
Why So Sexy: See above. Winner. And he’s young. Georgia has a bit of a chubby for Capel. He’s a former standout Dukie, so he knows successful systems from Coach K. His dad’s a coach as well.
Drawbacks: Oklahoma’s a football school that pours money into its athletics. Would Capel leave to come back to the southeast? If the region isn’t a draw, Oklahoma can either match whatever money Capel’s offered or drive up Jeff’s price into the prohibitive range. I can’t think of any top NBA draft picks that have come out of either school, but Blake Griffin will soon change that. Not many negatives here. But he’s only been to the NCAAs twice and has reached just the second round.
Good for: The team willing to spend oodles of money on a near sure-thing.
The Xavier Musketeers coach comes from the Pittsburgh system, and has brought Xavier to even better heights than the program has enjoyed under the other great coaches they have had. Single digit losses for three years running (only 3 losses in 08-09) and a 72.5% winning percentage. His team will soon make it 4 straight NCAA appearances in what is probably the best conference that is not SEC/ ACC/ Big East/ Big 10/ Big 12/ Pac 10. The man can coach. He recently brought in Book Richardson to help him recruit the New York City area.
Why So Sexy: He’s good. Tough defense. Deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. Good recruiting, good staff that helps with recruiting. Has worked with a McDonald’s All American (transfer Drew Lavender). Was a standout guard at Pittsburgh. Worked well with a young team and a freshman point guard. Has an Elite Eight run to his credit.
Drawbacks: It’s gonna cost ya. Xavier is a lot better than a lot of other jobs; and Miller might choose to wait for the Pittsburgh job, or he might love being in Cincinnati.
Good for: What ails ya. Besides the fact that he hasn’t been a head coach at the top levels – he elevated the level of his team instead – I don’t know why teams wouldn’t want him… but the price will be high.
One of the most famous names in coaching has over 900 wins. He also quit on his team in the middle of a season. Personally, I think that is low, and not the behavior of someone I would hire for a head coaching position. That is not the way to teach young men perseverance. You can google video of many of his misdeeds. But Knight’s got a interest in the sweet peach of Georgia.
Why So Sexy: Name recognition. Doing it the “right way.” Solid fundamental basketball. Tough disciplinarian. Puts fans in the seats by that name recognition. Has had great teams, doesn’t take guff, wins with very little talent.
Drawbacks: You think this guy wants to recruit top-level athletes? Name the top athletes he’s brought in… over the last 15 years! He does things the “Knight way.” He is tough to deal with for administrators (though that can be a good thing). Mediocre results in the past 20 years. Doesn’t use the three-point shot enough. Quit on his Texas Tech team in mid season.
Good for: A school that wants things done the old-school disciplinarian way. A school with okay talent that wants to maximize it, and prefers good students to high-level talent, and isn’t thinking about a long-term solution at coach.
For nearly ten years Mark Few has been rolling at Gonzaga, overseeing an expansion of the Gonzaga brand and helping fund their conference. He is often mentioned for coaching openings, and is a friend of the Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny (edit: who is now the former AD, giving up the job to former football coach Mike Bellotti); rumors had Ducks men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent run out so the AD could bring in Mark Few. Now, Kent’s probably near the end of his tenure at the U of Oregon (8-22 overall) so is the time right…? Others, like Arizona, would like to make a run at Few’s coaching skills as well.
Why So Sexy: Winning. Building a mid-major program that rivals Memphis and is the goal for teams like Xavier. A near 80% win percentage. Players know his name, and he has sent a few guys to the NBA.
Drawbacks: He’s only coached at Gonzaga. His teams are often… a little soft. No final four teams. High-ranked Bulldog squads that routinely are upset by lower seeds in the tournament (see: 2002, 2004 as a 2 seed losing to a 10, 2005, 2008). Most of those guys sent to the NBA are not there anymore, outside of Ronny Turiaf… but he does coach at Gonzaga, so he might get better talent at another school.
Good for: A team that needs a strong, experienced coach who knows how to build a whole program. A coach clearly motivated by things other than looking for the next stop, or he would have left Spokane long ago.
The youthful-looking Butler Bulldog coach inherited a solid squad from now-Iowa coach Todd Lickliter. With freshmen and sophomores this year, however, he is burning up the win column. His team was picked to finish fifth in the Horizon league, and finished first. He’s not just youthful looking… he’s 32 years old…
Why So Sexy: He’s young, he’s successful, he’s building a great program. Well-spoken, he’s led an experienced team (last year) and led an inexperienced team of talented freshmen he brought in. Seriously, those freshmen were amazing, and that has to do with training and getting his point across.
Drawbacks: He’s only been a head coach for 2 years. It’s not entirely known if he can sustain strong recruiting (but the class he brought in was great). He’s been coaching at a small school, different than the frothy fishbowl of schools like Georgia.
Good for: A team who needs a young, dynamic coach and a face of the program.
Coming up: Part 2, the more likely candidates.
2009 Basketball Hot Seat: Firings 3.12.09
Surprisingly, DePaul’s Jerry Wainwright got a vote of confidence.
But those let go from their jobs:
Boston University‘sDennis Wolff (which really surprised me) – Coaching record by season; Boston Herald | Boston Globe
Conference: America East
Tenure: 15 seasons;
Record: 17-13 in 2009 + 11-5 conference, 247-197 overall at Boston
Texas-Pan American‘s Tom Schuberth – Coaching record by season; article
Conference: Independents
Tenure: 3 seasons
Record: 10-17 (no conference record), 42-45 at UTPA
Elon‘s Ernie Nestor – Coaching record by season; article
Conference: Big South
Tenure: 6 seasons
Record: 11-20 in 2009 + 7-13 conference,
61-116 overall at Elon
High Point‘s Bart Lundy – Coaching record by season; article
Conference: Big South
Tenure: 6 seasons
Record: 9-21 in 2009 + 4-14 conference;
96-87 overall at High Point
Meanwhile, an uncertain future at St. John’s.
2009 Coaches On the Hot Seat: The Firing Squad Started, Gottfried + Felton
Since I last posted on the college coaching carousel, and the coaches on the hot seat, Mark Gottfried and now Dennis Felton have both been asked to leave their respective programs, Alabama and Georgia. Alabama and Georgia are going to be staring at some of the same coaches; with Mike Anderson using “right now” to say “Mizzou better up my deal or I will look at these other jobs,” and one columnist thinks Anthony Grant has a jones for the Georgia Bulldog basketball job.
Mark Bradley has a short post on how Dennis Felton was the right man for the job, but had the wrong results. I’d add, though, that any coach that has to repeatedly kick players off the team (see: Mike Mercer, et al) has a bit of a problem. If that comes with some decent coaching, that’s fine, but roster turnover and good teams don’t seem to happily coexist. I also wonder if the timing of the move was not to get up in VCU coach Anthony Grant’s business, to start subtly sweet talking the man so he can come to the fertile recruiting ground of Georgia.
My list is shrinking by the day, and Jerry Wainwright got a few words of support… or was that the dreaded vote of confidence (the phrase was “intention to retain” Wainwright, after all)? An 0-16 Big East year should be cause for firing, especially with no big recruits in the works.
A coaches on the move post is coming.
No Cowher for the Jets
According to the NY Post, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher decided he is not interested in the Jets job. He wanted his own personnel man and no Brett Favre meddling. Who wouldn’t want Brett Favre meddling? In between interceptions, he’s the best “white-TO” at QB in the NFL!
An Apology About my Last Lute Olsen Post
Turns out that Lute had a stroke last year and is suffering from depression, explaining his bizarre behavior. An explanation from the Dagger blog on Yahoo! Sports.
So I apologize for my last Lute Olsen post; I should have added that Lute may have had his reasons. And this blogger will try not to go off half-cocked in writing opinion pieces. No, that’s not right; when I go off half-cocked, I’ll make a point to give some nods to each person’s right to live how they want, as long as it’s not infringing on another’s livelihood.
More About Lute Olsen
(photo courtesy of AZ Central)
And not "Lieut", as they say on Law and Order.
Gary Parrish has a piece on how perhaps Lute Olsen should have resigned, that he was losing a step or had lost control. And that if he had stepped down, at least earlier in the year, the school could have found a new, high profile coach (more on that below). The AZCentral/ Tuscon Citizen has a timeline of Lute’s crazy last year, filled with drama, weird moments, and rancor.
It’s sad to see a college basketball icon go out like that. And really, it’s sad to see anyone struggle with the decision and then choose to leave at an inopportune time. As long as he doesn’t claim to be rejuvenated in a few months and asking for his job back.
But I always hate that coahces of any age love to tell kids not to be quitters… but then they quit, like Bob Knight. And they quit when their team needs him. Look, a man or woman has to know if they can fulfill their obligations. Not so far as "I didn’t blink", but at least to the point where if they accept the job, they plan on trying their damnedest to make it work for the duration of the important period of their jobs.
Coaches like Bill Parcells and Bob Knight just piss me off. It’s obnoxious to simply decide, a few days into practice, that he doesn’t want to coach anymore. If it is health related, say so. To me, sports is supposed to teach responsibility. The man could have called his retirement at the end of the year and done his goodbye tour, letting some of his assistants do some game coaching, taking a game off for "health reasons" or "chasing Arizona skirt" reasons.
The future of Arizona basketball will likely be bright. Though some top recruits have moved on (Negedu to Indiana, for example), there is some talent. And The Wildcats have a strong brand name in college hoops. Parrish mentions a couple of very likely candidates to be candidates – Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon. Dixon is a California guy, and has coached at Northern Arizona. he did turn down an offer to become coach at Cal – was it because he loves Pittsburgh so much or because Cal is a weaker job in the Pac 10? The Associate Head Coach, Tom Herrion, has been a head coach before.
Whoever gets a look at Arizona will start the annual coaching shuffle, where coaches are booted from their hot seats and hot coaches are elevated. Will Mark Few want the Arizona job (Gonzaga’s pretty nice and almost ensured a spot in the NCAAs)? Will Lute Olsen’s spectre loom over the program? Will Lute Olsen’s influence loom over the program? What hot mid major coach will try to make a jump (Fran MCCaffrey from Siena is the first who comes to mind)?
Will the mercurial Bob Knight make his return in Arizona (I doubt it)?
But food for thought. Any coaching names that sing out to you?
Sports Hits 08.16.08
Now complete with unnecessary photo of Emma Stone and Kat Dennings!
+ You may have heard that Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens, famed oilman, is investing in wind power. Well, it’s not all about energy; the wind power project allows him to get eminent domain over a conveniently adjacent aquifer with water that he can then pipe to Dallas at a profit.
+ Team USA put a real whipping on Spain’s ass, 119-82, with a second half that was all garbage time. An aside: during the game, Craig Sager reported that the gatekeeper for sports news in China (hey, it’s national control) didn’t think the Spanish slit-eyed picture was worth mentioning; apparently he felt the people of China are less sensitive to politically incorrect actions.
+ South Florida loses another recruit, Gene Teague, who would have factored in to the forward rotation (6’8″, 295). He didn’t meet eligibility, like Dwan McMillan. The article states that he will attempt to attend Miami-Dade College and has a scholarship waiting for him in 09-10.
+ Bill Self’s Kansas squad is taking a preseason trip to Canada for exhibition games. Marcus and Markieff Morris have not been cleared by the NCAA to play, yet, but they should be eligible.
+ An article on how new Oregon State coach Craig Robinson’s adjacent fame (being the brother in law to the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama) helps get his name out there with the recruits. The better part of this article starts with the first comment response, where some troll starts with some crap about how terrorist organizations want Obama to be our next president… with the underlying premise that Obama will be “more forgiving” in hunting down the countries’ enemies. The it devolves into supposed liberal slant, the zionist media, and how the Republicans hunt down enemies (damn, those guys are slow hunters), conspiracy theories… it’s head-smackingly funny.
+ Man, someone’s sensitive about the portrayal of Clemson w/r/t Ray Ray McElrathbey, who graduated from the school. But has a couple more years of football eligibility left (Clemson gave away his scholarship, though they offered him a graduate assistant’s position); he is moving on to Howard University.
+ Like other Met fans, I wonder why people listen to Mike and the Mad Dog, and why people have such strong feelings about those Yankee-loving, Met-hating, frontrunning, name-dropping moronic blowhards. Here’s a perspective from the Metsblog.
+ Someone tried to extort money from Tom Coughlin… focusing on non-existent extramarital affairs. As long as there’s no Tom Coughlin sex tape…
+ The Oakland Raiders completed a pass, and it’s worthy of a news article.
+ Three notes on the new Friday Night Lights season – a new QB behind Matt Seracen, that new QB’s family, played by DW Moffett and Janine Turner (of Northern Exposure fame), and Kim Dickens (Joanie Stubbs) from Deadwood as Seracen’s mom.
the east coast bias 