2017 Coaching Changes
 

I know the Archie Watch 2017 has information about coaching changes.

Illinois took Oklahoma State's coach.
NC State took UNC Wilimington's coach.
Missouri took Cals coach

How about this one.

Syracuse gave Mike Hopkins the title of Head Coach - Designate to take over for Boeheim after the 2017-18 season. Today, he's announced as the head coach for the University of Washington. He had been in Syracuse for 22 years, starting in 1995. Either there is smoke up there in northern NY, or money was flowing out of UW's pockets.

LSU, Cal, Indiana, and Oklahoma State are the BIg5 schools that are still open.

Hopkins is probably tired of that nut job, Boeheim.

Jeff Goodman is reporting that Will Wade is a frontrunner for the LSU job. Think he interviewed with Clemson yesterday from the reports I saw.

Am I the only one who thinks VCU is a much better job than both of those?

Agree completely
 

I am with you.

I think it's better than both, too, although I think Wade went to Clemson which could be appealing for some to go to their alma mater.

I just quickly looked at LSU's basketball Wikipedia page. Since the 2000-2001 season (used it as a start just because it's a round year), LSU's been over 0.500 in the SEC five times and at .500 five other times. They been SEC champions twice (also, in fairness, 1999-2000). They've made five NCAA tournaments and four NITs. I'm not sure that's more appealing than VCU.

Yes but he is a Clemson alum is why that is getting mentioned. LSU at least has some history of success and it's not like there isn't room at the top of the SEC for them to be successful again. Wade could just be letting his agent plant rumors to try to make VCU pay him more money too which is what VCU fans are saying. I don't think Archie operates that way and if/when he takes a job nobody will know it has happened until there is an official announcement or just before. Goodman will probably be the first to announce it because he is tight with Matta, the Millers, Mack, and that group of coaches.

IU is going to wait to make a decision until after Xavier is out of the tournament. I'm sure Chris Mack is high on their list. I'm sure they have already reached out to Archie and Greg Marshall.

I don't like the fact that the Dayton Daily News has been virtually silent on this topic. Should be a interesting few weeks.

We love Archie, but I would think Mack and Marshall would be ahead of him on the list.

Coaches
 

I just dont think archie is going there i think he has a job in mind that he is waiting for.

Billy Donavon name keeps coming up on IU site, let's see how it plays out

ESPN reporter said this afternoon that Steve Alford was all but signed, sealed and delivered for the Indiana job.

Jim B. just got an extension to stay. My guess is he did not want to retire and the Head Coaching "in waiting" was told the team was Jimmy B's. So he changed his mind and got out. Went as far from NY as possible....lol.

I think that is a job that Steve Alford has aspired to since he started coaching at Manchester College.

He will be able to recruit the Indiana players, something Crean has miserably failed at. I think "Hoosiers want a true Hoosier." There is not anyone who is a bigger Hoosier than Alford, at least in the minds of the Hoosier fans - New Castle High Scool and IU...true blue Hoosier.

Wants to get far away from the LaVar Ball circus.

Alot of IU fans on their site don't want Alford, plus to much baggage from his days at Iowa and New Mexico.

Some people will say he Ran from Iowa to New Mexico cause the seat was just too HOT! HE DID!!! The writing was on the wall and if he got fired no way he is even considered for the IU job and now he can demand any salary and the Hoosiers will pay!

Smart Player

Smart Coach - it seems so with the above move anyway!

The LSU job is the perfect example of how much difference a coach makes and just how quickly a program can fall. Dale Brown was at LSU for 1972-1997.

They had a really good run from about 1978 to 1993 where they made the tournament pretty close to every year and made some deep runs including 2 Final Fours.

It was a power program within its conference and had good support. We have a tendency to look at X and Butler where the transitions have been great but there are plenty of examples of where it didn't.

Brownell staying at Clemson
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas...clemson-tigers

Lotta buzz that Will Wade is pretty serious about taking that LSU job. Either that or using them to get a raise.

Will Wade to LSU. 6 year deal. Jeff Goodman ESPN

https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/stat...06376066105344

and Rothstein tweets it too.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/sta...06911804620800

He loves the pro game. Not going back as long as he has Russell Westbrook.

Don't worry about OK State. They had a much better team, and always still played second fiddle to OU here in OKC, and statewide for visibility. Would be a step back in community support. Also a state school, not sure how much they would be willing to pay.

Will Wade is a dirt bag. He couldn't be more different from Archie. He is leaving VCU at a time when they are losing so many players to graduation. LSU is a dead end job
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Ya because that 7 seed as of tonight in the WC is just such a great spot to be in. They need another stud to take that team back to the top. Who they going to sign? Otherwise, he'll be in this same spot next few years.

For anyone who wants to see how not to act when your coach leaves just search VCU on twitter and go read vcuramnation.com

Surprised Wade would covet the LSU job more than others he could probably get. Timing-wise, it's not a great look to jump so early probably but actually leaving when you have so many graduating, isn't the worst. Hurts because of the recruiting class, but the decision gives VCU time to get someone in with time to hit the trail. With coaching changes, mass transfers, and players being let out of LOIs, there will be a new crop of top guys, so it may not sting as bad it would seem initially for VCU. They literally just went through this, choosing Wade over another former Shaka assistant who is the head man at Rice. Rhoades I believe. VCU could hire him tomorrow if they wanted. So I think VCU comes out of this okay while we shall see about the decision for Will Wade. I think he's a really good coach. But we'll see how good he really is at LSU, where coaches haven't fared particularly well as of late.

Don't know why anyone is surprised. VCU fans are a lot of things, but "classy" generally isn't one of them.

I haven't gone there but I think they do have a right to be pi$$ed. He was only there 2 years and according to Avid, has been actively looking. Our situation was a little different with 2 years after Archie. VCU was more established and I can't believe that anyone thought they were hiring anyone that was only going to use the job as a 2 year stepping stone. Wade could have stayed at his old job and gone straight to a LSU type job. I consider this a low character move unless something went on that made Wade really unhappy. Sure, it is his right but that doesn't mean everyone has to accept it and wish him well.

Also what is interesting is both LSU and VCU are going to be in Maui this year.

According to local radio in Richmond, Wade left without telling his players or the school that he accepted the job. VCU and his players found out from the media. If that is true, I can see why their fans are mad.

It's a free country, and any coach can jump whenever they want. However, after only 2 years I see this as a BS move, and if one of our guys had departed under similar circumstances, I would be steamed.

VCU fans have been saying the same thing. Even going as far as saying he met with players/coaches after accepting the job (meetings that were already scheduled) and still didn't tell them.

If true - that is a cowardly exit.

They will get a good coach. Most of their board seems to want to get away from the Shaka Smart coaching tree.

Tom Crean's name was tossed around.

This x100.

I understand/agree that they have a right to be angry, but the crazy part of their fanbase has gone way over the top. Even the guy who runs vcuramnation.com and is usually very fair and reasonable wrote an article the other day basically saying VCU is the Gonzaga of the East and he went absolutely nuts on Wade on twitter last night.

The players finding out on twitter like the rest of the world is a bad. My bet is that Wade/LSU were planning an announcement today, and that Wade probably wanted to have a meeting with the players this morning. The problem with that is that guys like Goodman/Rothstein are going to find out and release the info. If a coach is going to leave they have to call a meeting with their current players as soon as they decide to leave otherwise it's going to get out.

I'm not sure Will Wade was even at VCU long enough to learn everybody's name, let alone to owe the guys a goodbye. :)

If Crean wants to coach this year, he will land on his feet. Not at another Indiana, but probably a place that appreciates him a lot more.

Even worse - Underwood jumped to Illinois from Okie State after only 1 year.

Disagree on Underwood, promises made by the AD went unfullfilled. Poor relationship between the two. Why stay under those conditions. Be happy elsewhere.

Poor relationship may be true, but Underwood agreed to terms on a contract when he went to OK State. After year one would be the first opportunity to revisit those terms. But Underwood actually struck a deal with Illinois before his meeting with the OK State AD was scheduled. So I'm not sure OK State was even given the opportunity to make promises?

So the difference is that Wade met with the AD as customary at the end of the year, for whatever that is worth. The VCU side of the story is that they were willing to give Wade exactly what he was asking for.

LSU is not a dead end job. Perhaps you thought South Carolina was a dead end job 5 years ago. Bottom line - far better recruiting potential, far better chance of making the dance, far better exposure and chance to land the big time job in the future. Don't confuse dead end job with poor coaching, Johnny Jones couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag.

they had success with one coach(Dale Brown), like every job it is about the coach.

Great coach = great results

Good coach = good results

I do not what the expectations are.

Yes, he titled the article about Wade leaving "The End of an Error". Really, guy?

Not only that, he's leaving after riding two years on the success of Shaka's recruits. He left Harvard after only 2 seasons also and I'm wondering, and too lazy to look up how much of the success he had there came on his predecessor's players.

I get the feeling that Wade might not have much confidence in himself building up a program and jumps at every first upgrade opportunity that comes his way to make sure he gets all he can before he's exposed.

Chattanooga.

He had a top-25 recruiting class coming in, so I don't think it was going to be a lack of talent problem. I don't know that Archie has had a class rated that highly yet.

The Harvard of Tennessee?

Hahaha. Mixing up Harvard and Chattanooga...can't imagine this has ever been done before!

He was an assistant at Harvard for 2 years before joining Shaka's staff as an assistant.

Yep, reading his bio and knew he left his last job after 2 years. Quickly looked at the list and grabbed the wrong school. Everything has been 2 years with him other than as asst. at VCU. I have a feeling if he leaves LSU after 2 years it won't be his own decision.

Looks like VCU is going with Rhoades.

https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/stat...34862018011137

UMASS has hired Pat Kelsey. http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=2...626041371516-4

And that means UMass made the best head coaching hire of the day in the A10. Kelsey would have been on my list if Archie were to leave.

I'm waiting to see how VCU fans spin this. After they hired Rhoades they've been going with the line that they never really wanted Wade in the first place and should have hired Rhoades 2 years ago.

Well done by UMass... really good coach

How much was Wade getting paid at VCU?

1.4 Million this year. Going up to 1.5 next year.

http://www.richmond.com/sports/colle...a0d0b74f5.html

Both Rhoades and Kelsey are very good hires in my opinion. Kelsey is a great coach. VCU needs a good coach that will actually stick around awhile. Rhoades has VCU ties and lived in Richmond for years before his stint at Rice so that has to be part of the thinking.

I was advocating Kelsy for GW early in the season when their coaching situation was unknown. I think that is a great hire for UMass and for the A10.

I think UMass made a good selection. It's been some time.

both good hires, i agree. dayton doesn't want to be alone atop the A-10. more RPI top-100 programs, the better. hopefully rhoades can stabilize VCU and their incoming 21st-ranked recruiting class.

the longer indiana waits, the shorter the list for the job vacated by that candidate ... it's gotta be alford or marshall, right?

I am just hoping UCLA and Xavier lose soon so we can see if either Alford or Mack are going to IU. I think if Alford goes to IU, Marshall at UCLA could be a possibility (although his wife might have messed that up). It would be great to get through this with Archie still on board.

Great pick by UMASS.... he is Top notch!!!

King Rice to Duquesne. Hopefully he doesn't bring the Bench Mob with him.

http://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/...ths-king-rice/

Didn't Marshall himself have a similar incident in Europe this past year. Maybe it runs in the family.

Indiana seems to be in no hurry, and they have no reason to be as no one they are looking at is coming off the board right now. The fact that no one seems to have been contacted about the job suggests that they are either doing a very good job of keeping it quiet or more likely their first call(s) is/are still coaching. So probably Alford, Marshall and/or Mack. Guys like Archie and Holtmann may be somewhere down their list as well of course. Where of course is the question...

From what I understand, Gregg Marshall isn't the easiest guy to deal with. He's a heck of a coach though.

From Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel:

“Multiple athletic directors who’ve explored him as a candidate over the years have come away squeamish, as he’s as overbearing as he is talented. (Texas officials didn’t even kick the tires, which should tell you something.) Marshall’s lack of self-awareness would make the jump from the backwoods of the Valley to the fishbowl of Bloomington a potentially untenable leap. Indiana is one of the few places that could pony up the $4 million annual salary likely needed to pay Marshall, but if Tom Crean’s personality wore on people here, it’s hard to imagine Marshall would be received better.”

http://albersangle.com/indiana-baske...-candidates/4/

UPDATE: King Rice says he is not taking the Duquesne job. He may or may not even know where Duquesne is. http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...ersion=pgevoke

Marshall went nuts on refs during their summer visit to Canada.


http://thecomeback.com/ncaa/gregg-ma...fs-canada.html

Hiring decisions matter, and Kelsey is a good hire.

But for the success of the A10, I think they need to find a way to find a group of schools equally committed to funding the resources necessary to build and sustain a program. That could include schools currently down (like UD post JOB) but willing to spend. And it may rule out current competitive schools.

In the willing to do what it takes I group UD, SLU, VCU, and probably SJU and URI as absolutes.

In the unwilling/uanble to do what it takes I group Fordham, Duquesne, LaSalle, St Bonnie.

In the unsure group there's Richmond, UMass, Mason, GW, Davidson.

Finding a way to set conference criteria/expectations with respect to athletic budgets, comprehensive athletic programs and other factors that convince the unwilling/unable to believe they are better fits elsewhere and the unsures to step up is the key to the growth of the league. And it's in the best interest of the willings to do so, as they are unlikely to find themselves in a "better" conference. Some combination of the willings, some of the unsures plus Wichita and Bradley would be a step forward. Probably about as good as the A10 could be. Travel obviously an issue.

Just a bit off topic, but the VCU board has a thread about Rhoades that has 22 pages. Impressive, until you realize it was started five hours ago. That's Herculean...

I haven't seen the thread, but I'm sure each post is no more than 1 or 2 sentences. The majority of posters over there don't put much actual content into their posts beyond "Go VCU" and "I hate Will Wade".

I agree.:D

Sooo... wonder if any of VCU's recruits might be looking elsewhere?

Winning solves everything. If i recall correctly, Indiana used to have a coach that wasn't exactly a teddy bear. But he won an awful lot of basketball games and is still viewed as a God there. In fact, the firing of Crean is practically a yearning to get back to the days of Bobby Knight. I love that Indiana thought that Crean's personality was 'a bit much'. Kind of hilarious when put into the full context of the history of Indiana basketball coaches.

Of course times have changed. Would people now put up with Knight or Woody Hayes? First time they were not winning, they would be done.

In the Kelsey article I Read it said UMASS is completing a $30 mil practice facility for basketball. I would say they are in the top tier if true.
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Does anyone really think Mack leaves Xavier. Why? he gets solid recruits, he wins, the school seems to like him and he's successful. I just don't see him going to Indiana when he's having doing well. To me there isn't motivation to leave. I say he's a lifer at Xavier similar to Phil M.

As for Alford going to IU. I'm not sold on the story line. Let's not forgot he bolted from Iowa where he had some major PR nightmares with a player from the Chicago area who was accused of a sexual assault. It was a PR nightmare for the school and it wasn't long thereafter that he bolted for New Mexico. He then lands in the UCLA gig and takes his son with him to NMU. Alford does not have a great reputation.

Indiana has much their eyes on big profile candidates. I don't care what Billy Donnovan says in the press he's not happy that KD is gone and Westbrook is going to leave soon. That's the problem with the NBA it's a thankless job unless you have a superstar. As for Stevens, his situation is much better Celtics are on an upswing. He's not leaving. Let's not forgot a coach just down the road from IU made the the mistake going to the NBA and look where he is now. It set Cal back years and I think he's pretty darn happy coaching the Wildcats.

As for Marshall I put him in the same category as Crean, Kevin O'Neil, and Buzz Peterson. They recruit well, coach well but they're not the most likable guys so when the media comes down on them in the heat of the moment they don't react well. Like it or not, that's the kind of pressure you have in a blue blood program. If Marshall is smart he stays where he is and avoids the media circus that IU and UCLA can be.

The gift that Arch has is character. He's calm under pressure, handles the media well, relates to players and has an eye for talent. I hope we get many more years with him as our coach, and IU goes after some other bigger fish and lands him instead.

Totally agree. There are plenty of programs who would put up with the Marshall's. If Archie left Dayton, and we all found out that Gregg Marshall secretly loved Dayton more than any other town in America, I'd take him in a heartbeat. Unlikeable I can deal with. Crazy drunk wife, no problem. We'll hide her in the flight deck and let her get as lowd as she wants. Just don't cheat and win a lot of games you know...

If Arch was a top candidate at IU, the deal would already be done. Given that he isn't, why would he go there knowing that he wasn't their 1st choice?

Arch and his best recruiting class since he came to UD will all be all together on campus next season. Color me exited!

I wonder if Archie's wife is interested in living in rural Indiana or if there is even a gymnastics center for his daughter. Archie said in his press conference when he was hire at UD that he hoped there was good shopping inDayton for his wife because she loves to shop. Archie Has haracter and he's a family guy. Not sure Indiana meets all of his needs.
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IU might want him right now, AM has a lot to weigh. One being the contract. He's not going to leave UD to sign a contract not significantly better to have to prove himself. UD is obviously a great job for him, he doesn't want to leave, have issues(personality or other things not basketball related) only to have to part ways and then lose all his leverage for the next one.

I'm not sure I would call 40k people (80k if includiing studnets) rural - Bloomington is a great college town with several major gymnastics clubs, international food, and shopping

I don't know about that...it's Los Angeles: they love crazy!

Archie is no idiot here and trust me that he does not believe he's 2nd fiddle to anyone. But he also knows how the game is played and does not take it personal one bit that IU may want their own son, Steve Alford first. He doesn't give a rats rear-end they may also want Mack or Marshall either because those guys have earned their rank more than even Archie to this point. Truth of the matter is Archie may be simply waiting patiently for an IU interview or he could be getting ready to sign even a bigger $ deal here at UD. The only real fact(s) we know here is that probably nobody on this site nor anyone outside of his immediate family knows what Archie wants at this exact moment..

If that young, drunk blonde were my Queen, after that performance I'd have no choice but to take her back to the palatial estate and give her the Royal you-know-what...

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view8/469...spanking-o.gif

Bradley really? they are 92-168 tha last eight years, with six 20 loss seasons. There are reasons the MVC is so weak, the Braves are one of those reasons.

WildcatAuthority.com is reporting on twitter that Archie has been spotted in San Jose at the Arizona team hotel so in terms of what Archie wants at this exact moment, it's probably just to see his brother finally make a final four. But I'm guessing that our man has already accepted another coaching gig, albeit an unpaid and unofficial one, as an assistant to Sean for the next few days. Here's hoping that's the only new job offer he accepts in the coming weeks!

So the question of the day is where is Fred Glass, Indiana's AD...

Is he headed to San Jose to meet with either Archie or Chris Mack (Thurs, Xavier vs Arizona)?

Is he headed to Memphis to meet with Steve Alford (Fri, UCLA vs Kentucky) or Chris Holtmann (Fri, Butler vs UNC)?

I'd love to have a strong Bradley program in the A10. Nice tradition, facilities and fanbase. The problem as you point out is they've been AWFUL. Just a total dumpster fire. I think they have averaged 3 players transferring out each of the last four years. We've got one of those guys of course. Three guys announced as transferring out this year as well, so the fire continues to burn...

The answer to the above is YES, just don't know which one.:o

My bet is he is there to help Sean against X, or at least to visit family during the down time and see Arizona take down X.

Rumors have been made though that Sean would like to return to the midwest and may have had his agent reach out to Indiana. Then if Archie would take the eventual tOSU they could coach against one another.

Of course Archie is going to support Sean.

They have said they don't want to coach against each other.

Sean Miller is not taking the Indiana job. That "rumor" is best classified as wishful thinking.

Why would Indiana want Sean? He hasn't made a Final 4 at AZ yet. That's the same problem they just fired a guy for.

Kinda like Dayton at the end of JOB and beginning of OP.

The problem at Bradley isn't commitment and resources. Their program is a mess, but can win given resources. In contrast, the Bonnies have had some level of success in recent years. But they will not be a consistently average to good team because they don't have the resources to do so.

I would not make membership about record over the years.

Bonnies simply have to rely on transfers and giving out a new NLOL( new lease on life) to these players.....Both of their backcourt players are back next year and they only have 3 seniors on their roster (only 2 of significance) which means they can win 20 plus games and compete for a top 3 spot in the A10...Tough to really build up a program that way...

I really doubt Mack is leaving. If Mack was even considering it, I don't think Kelsey takes the UMass job, as he would have been a legit option, possibly a perfect one, to take Mack's spot at Xavier.

Things were so bad at Xavier Kelsey quit and was considering getting out of the profession altogether. He's an X grad but you couldn't pay him enough to go back there. He turned his back on evil. Smart guy.

That's exactly why I think the Alford thing could be true because if they wanted Marshall/Archie who are already done for the year the hire would already have been made. Look how fast these other jobs fill up once the coach they wanted was eliminated. This could also mean Mack or Holtmann are possibilities too as both are still playing.

For what it is worth, I just heard Gottlieb on Cowherd's show and he said really no doubt that Alford will end up at Indiana.

Indiana hired a search firm to assist in their hiring process. Why, I don't know. But that will definitely slow you down.

If you google Pat Kelsey and Tu Holloway you find what is one theory as to why Kelsey just up and quit. Supposedly Tu slept with Kelsey's wife and Kelsey demanded Mack kick him off the team or he was leaving. Mack deemed Tu more important and Kelsey quit.

I'm a UD grad/fan living in Richmond--and VCU STH. The VCU AD (who I don't particularly like) hit a grand slam with the Rhoades hire. He is literally beloved here--and probably should have been the one hired two years ago when Smart left. 3 year assistant under a legendary DIII coach at Randolph-Macon (10 miles north of Richmond), 10 years as head coach at Randolph-Macon, and 5 years as VCU assistant (Smart's top assistant towards the end) before leaving for Rice.

A total opposite of Wade in so many ways--Rhoades is very approachable, loves Richmond, still loves to play the game (he was DIII player of the year while in college), and is a big supporter of his players. He once had teeth knocked out while participating in a VCU practice drill--and kept playing.

He'll likely bring back Joey Rodriguez (PG from the FF team) as an assistant--and my guess is he'll be able to keep most/all of the four recruits.

I've never quite seen anything like this before in the coaching carousel--in under 18 hours, VCU got blindsided and turned it into a coaching upgrade.