Only name on the list that would create any kind of "splash" would be Joe Kleine. None of us would ever have heard of Mark Downey if not for Karl. No more than a handful of people, outside of this board, in Little Rock will have ever heard of him. Not sure how much that matters, except Joe would likely sell a few tickets. Craig Robinson, Ms. Obama's brother and former Oregon State coach, is available. That would give us some national publicity for a day or two anyway. Anyway, if selling more tickets is an issue, Joe would be the only one of those mentioned that would help in that area. Anthony Grant might sell some tickets, but I think he is more likely to head back east to maybe George Mason.

(03-24-2015 07:13 PM)mjs Wrote:  Only name on the list that would create any kind of "splash" would be Joe Kleine. None of us would ever have heard of Mark Downey if not for Karl. No more than a handful of people, outside of this board, in Little Rock will have ever heard of him. Not sure how much that matters, except Joe would likely sell a few tickets. Craig Robinson, Ms. Obama's brother and former Oregon State coach, is available. That would give us some national publicity for a day or two anyway. Anyway, if selling more tickets is an issue, Joe would be the only one of those mentioned that would help in that area. Anthony Grant might sell some tickets, but I think he is more likely to head back east to maybe George Mason.

You are correct about Joe and the splash factor. And Craig Robinson would probably just make our fine legislature come back into session to investigate some perceived coverup by his brother-in-law about how he got the job. We sure as hell don't need that. When you really think about it, Joe is well liked and has really earned a shot at it. I don't think he is any big risk for the program. If it doesn't work out, then so be it, and we move on to the next coach.

(03-24-2015 09:05 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 07:13 PM)mjs Wrote:  Only name on the list that would create any kind of "splash" would be Joe Kleine. None of us would ever have heard of Mark Downey if not for Karl. No more than a handful of people, outside of this board, in Little Rock will have ever heard of him. Not sure how much that matters, except Joe would likely sell a few tickets. Craig Robinson, Ms. Obama's brother and former Oregon State coach, is available. That would give us some national publicity for a day or two anyway. Anyway, if selling more tickets is an issue, Joe would be the only one of those mentioned that would help in that area. Anthony Grant might sell some tickets, but I think he is more likely to head back east to maybe George Mason.

You are correct about Joe and the splash factor. And Craig Robinson would probably just make our fine legislature come back into session to investigate some perceived coverup by his brother-in-law about how he got the job. We sure as hell don't need that. When you really think about it, Joe is well liked and has really earned a shot at it. I don't think he is any big risk for the program. If it doesn't work out, then so be it, and we move on to the next coach.

And if it does work out, I really don't think we have to worry about Joe leaving for a "better" job.

(03-24-2015 10:26 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 09:05 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 07:13 PM)mjs Wrote:  Only name on the list that would create any kind of "splash" would be Joe Kleine. None of us would ever have heard of Mark Downey if not for Karl. No more than a handful of people, outside of this board, in Little Rock will have ever heard of him. Not sure how much that matters, except Joe would likely sell a few tickets. Craig Robinson, Ms. Obama's brother and former Oregon State coach, is available. That would give us some national publicity for a day or two anyway. Anyway, if selling more tickets is an issue, Joe would be the only one of those mentioned that would help in that area. Anthony Grant might sell some tickets, but I think he is more likely to head back east to maybe George Mason.

You are correct about Joe and the splash factor. And Craig Robinson would probably just make our fine legislature come back into session to investigate some perceived coverup by his brother-in-law about how he got the job. We sure as hell don't need that. When you really think about it, Joe is well liked and has really earned a shot at it. I don't think he is any big risk for the program. If it doesn't work out, then so be it, and we move on to the next coach.

And if it does work out, I really don't think we have to worry about Joe leaving for a "better" job.

That should certainly make Jim T feel better!

You all make good points for Joe. I think maybe the pluses outweigh the minuses. At least we would be dealing with someone we all know and like as a person, and respect as a basketball person. Plus we would keep our record intact of hiring our top assistant. First Porter, then Steve, Now Joe? And as you all like to point out, he already has a UALR I.D. and name tag.

(03-24-2015 10:40 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  You all make good points for Joe. I think maybe the pluses outweigh the minuses. At least we would be dealing with someone we all know and like as a person, and respect as a basketball person. Plus we would keep our record intact of hiring our top assistant. First Porter, then Steve, Now Joe? And as you all like to point out, he already has a UALR I.D. and name tag.

I think that is Scotto's mantra!

(03-24-2015 10:40 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  You all make good points for Joe. I think maybe the pluses outweigh the minuses. At least we would be dealing with someone we all know and like as a person, and respect as a basketball person. Plus we would keep our record intact of hiring our top assistant. First Porter, then Steve, Now Joe? And as you all like to point out, he already has a UALR I.D. and name tag.

I have no problem with Joe. Still tend to believe that Chasse would like to change that pattern. But, if he wants to hire Joe, he could do it tomorrow and get this over with. There might be a few mumbled complaints about not doing a "national" search, but the media would be totally behind it since Joe is so well liked.

(03-24-2015 11:06 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 10:40 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  You all make good points for Joe. I think maybe the pluses outweigh the minuses. At least we would be dealing with someone we all know and like as a person, and respect as a basketball person. Plus we would keep our record intact of hiring our top assistant. First Porter, then Steve, Now Joe? And as you all like to point out, he already has a UALR I.D. and name tag.

I have no problem with Joe. Still tend to believe that Chasse would like to change that pattern. But, if he wants to hire Joe, he could do it tomorrow and get this over with. There might be a few mumbled complaints about not doing a "national" search, but the media would be totally behind it since Joe is so well liked.

Totally Chasse's call. That's what he was hired to do as AD. I trust his judgment and will support him whichever way he goes on this.

Joe is the only hire that would get us positive media coverage throughout the State. Wally would write his first UALR article in years and probably come to some of our games. The local TV media would love it. it would sell some tickets. It would likely bring in some new boosters. Of course, that was the thought process that led to the hiring of Sidney and Corliss, and those were disasters. One major difference is that Joe has been a DI assistant for a number of years and learned a lot from Steve. That is the only thing that makes him a very realistic candidate at this time.

Would be severely disappointed if they hire Joe.

My personal choice: Dickey Nutt. Reason: would heavily recruit in-state.

Are you Nutts? Just kidding Curtis. Couldn't resist the pun!

(03-25-2015 12:38 AM)UALRSuperFan Curtis Wrote:  My personal choice: Dickey Nutt. Reason: would heavily recruit in-state.

I felt a strong NO in my gut on that one, Curtis. I would take a chance on Big Joe or another SBC retread like Felton or Pelphrey before any of the Nutts. In-state recruiting will be easier when the program is winning on the national stage again. Or it should be. The key is people want to follow a winner regardless of what high school the players attended.

(03-25-2015 08:23 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  Are you Nutts? Just kidding Curtis. Couldn't resist the pun!

If had to chose a nut, I'd likely go with Dennis. Great college player. Some time in the NBA. Had a great season at OBU. And I've heard that he is not the sociopath/used car salesman type, like his brothers.
I feel I can say with 100% certainty we won't hire Dickie. I don't think Dennis, is out of the question, but seems unlikely to me at the moment.

Hiring Joe or Darrell Walker only creates a splash among older hog fans. No recruits or anyone outside of hog fans in Arkansas knows who those guys are anymore. They were drafted what, 30 years ago?

At least Kleine has recruited in college and coached college ball for years.

Either one would get kudos from Wally Hall and other hog media and a temporary bump in Arkansas media in general. That has to take a back seat to finding a guy who can recruit to UALR and can win 20+ games every few years if not very often to get fan interest back.

(03-25-2015 01:24 PM)Crump1 Wrote:  Hiring Joe or Darrell Walker only creates a splash among older hog fans. No recruits or anyone outside of hog fans in Arkansas knows who those guys are anymore. They were drafted what, 30 years ago?

At least Kleine has recruited in college and coached college ball for years.

Either one would get kudos from Wally Hall and other hog media and a temporary bump in Arkansas media in general. That has to take a back seat to finding a guy who can recruit to UALR and can win 20+ games every few years if not very often to get fan interest back.

That's my concern if we decide to hire Kleine. The older folks know about him in Arkansas. But to the younger Arkansas generation and people out of state they will not know who he is. On our level, we need to find somebody that has shown the ability to recruit the type of players that will make a program like UALR successful. If we do hire Kleine, he will need an assistant that has some good recruiting ties. I know he is his own man but to folks unknown to the program, he will be initially labeled by rival recruiters as an assistant that has been involved in a losing program. He may have the persona to overcome that, but if not that's why I think it will be important to have an assistant that can overcome that obstacle on the initial early years on the recruiting trail.

[quote='Crump1' pid='11922015' dateline='1427307855']
Hiring Joe or Darrell Walker only creates a splash among older hog fans. No recruits or anyone outside of hog fans in Arkansas knows who those guys are anymore. They were drafted what, 30 years ago?

That's a point worth noting. We have enough old fans, just not enough young ones. Creating a "splash" only lasts for a short time anyway. Still I don't know that hiring Joe or Darrell is any more of a crap shoot than any assistant we could get. Those 2 might garner some increased financial support, media coverage, etc. that an unknown assistant would not. An assistant coach, from (insert school here), would result in a collective yawn from the media. Joe or Darrell would, at least, get us some short term attention.

(03-25-2015 01:24 PM)Crump1 Wrote:  Hiring Joe or Darrell Walker only creates a splash among older hog fans. No recruits or anyone outside of hog fans in Arkansas knows who those guys are anymore. They were drafted what, 30 years ago?

At least Kleine has recruited in college and coached college ball for years.

Either one would get kudos from Wally Hall and other hog media and a temporary bump in Arkansas media in general. That has to take a back seat to finding a guy who can recruit to UALR and can win 20+ games every few years if not very often to get fan interest back.

Plus one

20 games most every year, and 25+ occasionally.

Splash, yeah, like a turd hitting the punch bowl. We need to quietly spike the damn punch and let the buzz of success sneak up on the public unexpectedly.


(Metaphors. Yes, I know. At least it's not puns or word play. )