With the late decision to let Ramsey go, we missed out on a lot of good candidates. Who in the way of candidates is left?

Steve, someone - should start a coaching candidates thread ASAP.

P.S.I UNDERSTANBD THE WHOLE STAFF WAS FIRED. uSUALLY SOMEONE IS PUT IN CHARGE UNTIL A REPLACEMENT IS IN PLACE, BUT APPARENTLY NOT? WHO HANDLES RECRUITING DURING THE SEARCH FOR A NERW HC? God knows we need players.

Just like in the past we get 3rd pick.

(04-06-2011 10:07 AM)Dennis D. Rachwal Wrote:  With the late decision to let Ramsey go, we missed out on a lot of good candidates. Who in the way of candidates is left?

Steve, someone - should start a coaching candidates thread ASAP.

P.S.I UNDERSTANBD THE WHOLE STAFF WAS FIRED. uSUALLY SOMEONE IS PUT IN CHARGE UNTIL A REPLACEMENT IS IN PLACE, BUT APPARENTLY NOT? WHO HANDLES RECRUITING DURING THE SEARCH FOR A NERW HC? God knows we need players.

All the contracts where tied together.

There are still a lot of good candidates out there.

Dane Fife at IPFW?

Maybe Dutcher out at SDSU with Steve Fisher?

I don't want to sound cynical, but Gragg went to Houston and apparently did a lot of schmoozing with coaches who might be looking to move on and maybe he thought it was time to go fishing?????

There can be a lot of 'back channel' discussions. Maybe Gragg asks Izzo who looks good? Maybe Gragg asks a Steve Fisher? or a Matta? Or Coach B in Ann Arbor?

Gragg wouldn't talk directly to the candidates but would talk with others ABOUT the candidates.

E.g., Might ask Tom Crean about Dane Fife.

If one doesn't know, the Final Four is a baskteball event but also like a 'coaches convention' - this is where they get to know each other, meet ADs, etc. etc.

HCs are always filling vacancies and they like to have the opportunity to share a drink and make first impressions of prospective coaches. Very often, a 10 minute chat means more then reading a resume.

One can use the word 'networking' to describe what happens there.

Brian Dutcher would not be a success here without the "resources,'' he had with Fisch at UM that allowed him to "aquire talent."

What about Jim Boylen? Just let go from Utah, ties to the state and midwest.

I would think that Gragg would look at any solid asst coach or maybe former head coach with solid Midwest roots.

As always, it is timing.

Who is looking to be a MAC HC when a MAC AD is looking for a HC?

I haven't kept up with Todd Lickliter. Last I remember he was the former HC at Iowa???

BTW, I don't worry about Montgomery. We had our opportunity six years ago.

If you don't hire someone then it probably won't happen six years later...

Kent is interviewing the other Michigan State assistant Dwayne Stephens. Might not be a bad move to try and get some Izzo mojo. Of course I would much prefer Jim Boylen who is one of the hardest working coaches I've ever seen a former HC and a former Izzo assistant when Michigan State basketball wasn't dysfunctional.

Freep has some names...

http://www.freep.com/article/20110406/SP...|FRONTPAGE

what I find most interesting about the list in the Freep and here is that Gragg can simply call Izzo, Matta, etc. and ask about Stephens, Boylen, Lichliter, etc. etc.

This is PURE speculation but as both Boylen and Lichliter are unemployed coaches, I believe, Gragg could have had nice chats with them in Houston if he so wished.

Talk about speculation, ESPN adds Dan Marjerle and ready for this, some dude by the name of Ben Braun... and Bacari Alexander.

I believe Ben has struggled at Rice after being fired, I believe, at Cal.

Maybe "you can always go home..."

It would be strange but a lot of EMU fans would be glad to see it happen...

I'm a big Ben Braun fan...

(04-06-2011 11:05 AM)emu steve Wrote:  I would think that Gragg would look at any solid asst coach or maybe former head coach with solid Midwest roots.

Sounds like Jim Les, formerly of Bradley. He had the Braves in the NCAA three years ago and knows the Chicago recruiting market.

David Goracki adds Tony Jones to the mix. Also Todd Lichliter.

BTW, Goracki quotes Ramsey as saying the asst coaches don't have contracts for next year.

(04-06-2011 10:57 AM)emsg06 Wrote:  Brian Dutcher would not be a success here without the "resources,'' he had with Fisch at UM that allowed him to "aquire talent."

What about Jim Boylen? Just let go from Utah, ties to the state and midwest.

Pure speculation, but I had previously heard that Boylen would once again reunite with his former coach Izzo and take over the position left by the departure of Montgomery. Time will tell...but I think that would be a good hire if possible. Im rooting for Dane Fife though. Given the shot, I think he could bring some wins here. Personally, we need to find a "systematic" coach that has high quality BASKETBALL IQ, and a HIGHLY DEVELOPED offense. Not sure who that would entail, but we need IDENTITY at EMU. Something that has lacked for over a decade.

When Boylen was fired at Utah Izzo said he thought Boylen would go back to NBA.

But that was before Montgomery left.

The unusual timing aside, isn't it likely that if Gragg spent weekend in Houston he's got some likely and interested candidates already lined up - especially with LOI Day so near?

Interesting write up here.

http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...onsid.html

Mann - interesting article. Has the experience, MAC experience and recruitign abilities. As stated, he would probably bring players with him..

without being selfish, I would hope that whoever is hired will implement a fast break offense and pressure defense. Tired of walking the ball up the floor and then opassing it around the perimeter.

(04-06-2011 03:46 PM)Dennis D. Rachwal Wrote:  without being selfish, I would hope that whoever is hired will implement a fast break offense and pressure defense. Tired of walking the ball up the floor and then opassing it around the perimeter.

I remember Boone telling me he'd love to play Duke style ball but he didn't have the talent to do it.

Ramsey didn't either this year.

Joey Rodriquez played for VCU, not EMU.

As we've discussed here many times, the PG is an absolute key.

Anyone who watched EMU's women could see that. Cassie just loved to drive the lane.

If the new coach gets blind lucky with a new PG, he'll do well. Otherwise, ????

This would be the first guy I'd call:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quin_Snyder

I don't know if he'd take a pay cut, but I'd at least have the conversation.