I knew he was at Cal for a long time- 12 years, 5 NCAA and 3 NIT appearances. Didn't know he was also the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan history. Of personal interest, he coached the USA Team in the Maccabiah (Jewish Olympics) in Israel in 1989. The fact that he has an Iranian (only one in NCAA DI) and an Egyptian (can't be many of them either) player really shows that sports, particularly basketball, is a way to build bridges between different countries and cultures.

Brings up another issue. If we do change coaches, at some point, do we go for a young wippersnapper (a role of the dice) or a retread that has a proven coaching record (ex. Billy Gillispie). Would we even have the resources to hire someone like Ben Braun or a Billy Gillispie-type in the future? Rice certainly has big donors and deep pockets, although I don't how much of that they're willing to spend on athletics.

(12-17-2010 04:19 PM)mjs Wrote:  I knew he was at Cal for a long time- 12 years, 5 NCAA and 3 NIT appearances. Didn't know he was also the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan history. Of personal interest, he coached the USA Team in the Maccabiah (Jewish Olympics) in Israel in 1989. The fact that he has an Iranian (only one in NCAA DI) and an Egyptian (can't be many of them either) player really shows that sports, particularly basketball, is a way to build bridges between different countries and cultures.

Brings up another issue. If we do change coaches, at some point, do we go for a young wippersnapper (a role of the dice) or a retread that has a proven coaching record (ex. Billy Gillispie). Would we even have the resources to hire someone like Ben Braun or a Billy Gillispie-type in the future? Rice certainly has big donors and deep pockets, although I don't how much of that they're willing to spend on athletics.

First things I would look for would be a young, but experienced young guy. A top assistant somewhere like Mike Newell was at Oklahoma. One who could sell ice boxes to eskimos and was really fired up to the head coach at UALR. One who could fire up the fans. There are probably a hundred guys out there that fit that description and who would jump at the opportunity to have their own ship to run in D1 ball. But it has to be someone who plays up tempo ball. That's what excites fans, especially if you win.

(12-17-2010 05:04 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 04:19 PM)mjs Wrote:  I knew he was at Cal for a long time- 12 years, 5 NCAA and 3 NIT appearances. Didn't know he was also the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan history. Of personal interest, he coached the USA Team in the Maccabiah (Jewish Olympics) in Israel in 1989. The fact that he has an Iranian (only one in NCAA DI) and an Egyptian (can't be many of them either) player really shows that sports, particularly basketball, is a way to build bridges between different countries and cultures.

Brings up another issue. If we do change coaches, at some point, do we go for a young wippersnapper (a role of the dice) or a retread that has a proven coaching record (ex. Billy Gillispie). Would we even have the resources to hire someone like Ben Braun or a Billy Gillispie-type in the future? Rice certainly has big donors and deep pockets, although I don't how much of that they're willing to spend on athletics.

First things I would look for would be a young, but experienced young guy. A top assistant somewhere like Mike Newell was at Oklahoma. One who could sell ice boxes to eskimos and was really fired up to the head coach at UALR. One who could fire up the fans. There are probably a hundred guys out there that fit that description and who would jump at the opportunity to have their own ship to run in D1 ball. But it has to be someone who plays up tempo ball. That's what excites fans, especially if you win.

To be honest, love him or hate him, I think Newell was one of a kind. With all the resources in the world the Chickenhawgs got Heath and Pelphrey- do they have a 10th of Newell's charisma? Yes, there are a lot of good young coaches out there- But, I think you're in a dream world if you think we'll find another Newell. A lot of midmajors have hired coaches in the last few years- give me one that's another Newell? Chris will hire a solid coach- he won't have Newell's personality I can guarantee you that.

(12-17-2010 05:15 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 05:04 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 04:19 PM)mjs Wrote:  I knew he was at Cal for a long time- 12 years, 5 NCAA and 3 NIT appearances. Didn't know he was also the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan history. Of personal interest, he coached the USA Team in the Maccabiah (Jewish Olympics) in Israel in 1989. The fact that he has an Iranian (only one in NCAA DI) and an Egyptian (can't be many of them either) player really shows that sports, particularly basketball, is a way to build bridges between different countries and cultures.

Brings up another issue. If we do change coaches, at some point, do we go for a young wippersnapper (a role of the dice) or a retread that has a proven coaching record (ex. Billy Gillispie). Would we even have the resources to hire someone like Ben Braun or a Billy Gillispie-type in the future? Rice certainly has big donors and deep pockets, although I don't how much of that they're willing to spend on athletics.

First things I would look for would be a young, but experienced young guy. A top assistant somewhere like Mike Newell was at Oklahoma. One who could sell ice boxes to eskimos and was really fired up to the head coach at UALR. One who could fire up the fans. There are probably a hundred guys out there that fit that description and who would jump at the opportunity to have their own ship to run in D1 ball. But it has to be someone who plays up tempo ball. That's what excites fans, especially if you win.

To be honest, love him or hate him, I think Newell was one of a kind. With all the resources in the world the Chickenhawgs got Heath and Pelphrey- do they have a 10th of Newell's charisma? Yes, there are a lot of good young coaches out there- But, I think you're in a dream world if you think we'll find another Newell. A lot of midmajors have hired coaches in the last few years- give me one that's another Newell? Chris will hire a solid coach- he won't have Newell's personality I can guarantee you that.

Maybe there's one out there with Mike's good qualities without his negative ones. Couldn't hurt to look.

(12-17-2010 05:15 PM)mjs Wrote:  With all the resources in the world the Chickenhawgs got Heath and Pelphrey...

There you go with your obsession with all things Razorback.

(12-17-2010 05:22 PM)Scotto Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 05:15 PM)mjs Wrote:  With all the resources in the world the Chickenhawgs got Heath and Pelphrey...

There you go with your obsession with all things Razorback.

Yes, I can't help myself. But it was the closest example, that everyone was familiar with, of the hiring of young, up and coming coaches.

(12-17-2010 06:07 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 05:22 PM)Scotto Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 05:15 PM)mjs Wrote:  With all the resources in the world the Chickenhawgs got Heath and Pelphrey...

There you go with your obsession with all things Razorback.

Yes, I can't help myself. But it was the closest example, that everyone was familiar with, of the hiring of young, up and coming coaches.

Personally, I'd probably go the retread route. There are very good, proven coaches, who lose their jobs every year. They have a down year or two, the fans get tired of them, or whatever. Many times a coach has been incredibly successful at the midmajor level, but it doesn't work out for him at the BCS level. No doubt they could come here and win. A young, hungry assistant may work out well and it may not. It's pretty much a crapshoot if they have not been a head coach before.

we probably have 150k to spend.

(12-18-2010 09:27 AM)insideualr Wrote:  we probably have 150k to spend.

I guess that could get a retread who has plenty of money in the bank from his BCS job. Economics are different than when Newell was hired. I think the top assistants at big-time schools (which OK was at the time) may make more than that. Doesn't mean they wouldn't consider a head job. But top assistants at Duke, UNC, Kentucky, etc. are usually content to wait for a better job than UALR.

(12-18-2010 09:40 AM)mjs Wrote:  But top assistants at Duke, UNC, Kentucky, etc. are usually content to wait for a better job than UALR.

Say it ain't so. And we were even NuDuke for a week.

(12-18-2010 12:25 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 06:07 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 05:22 PM)Scotto Wrote:  

(12-17-2010 05:15 PM)mjs Wrote:  With all the resources in the world the Chickenhawgs got Heath and Pelphrey...

There you go with your obsession with all things Razorback.

Yes, I can't help myself. But it was the closest example, that everyone was familiar with, of the hiring of young, up and coming coaches.

Personally, I'd probably go the retread route. There are very good, proven coaches, who lose their jobs every year. They have a down year or two, the fans get tired of them, or whatever. Many times a coach has been incredibly successful at the midmajor level, but it doesn't work out for him at the BCS level. No doubt they could come here and win. A young, hungry assistant may work out well and it may not. It's pretty much a crapshoot if they have not been a head coach before.

If we were lucky enough to get a Cliff Ellis type, who just loves coaching and has done a great job at Coastal Carolina, I would be all for a proven coach. But it couldn't be someone like Wimp, who, although a great coach, felt the job was beneath him. But I would have no problem with someone who ran an up tempo offense and who could recruit. You can bet there are a number of those guys out there.

Personally I wouldn't mind someone who might have played under Nolan and would run that type of scheme. Like Mike Anderson's nephew who was a point guard for the Hogs and coached with Mike at UAB. I'm not sure he's still with him at Mizzou. T.J. Cleveland. Very smart young man and might be someone who would be ready for a job like ours if he's been coaching all this time. Just a thought.