Being reported by Kendall Rogers. Should make some people happy!

As an assistant...

This could be a potential opportunity for JK to hire someone that could step into Wayne's shoes upon his retirement. Need to hit a home run with this hire, as Hallmark was the last of the assistants that were part of a CWS squad at Rice.

Very interesting. Let's hope for someone with more of a track record in DI than the previous assistant hires. Looks like Mizzou was looking for experience since the new HC has only been a college ball HC at SE Missouri State for the past four years.

(07-06-2016 06:29 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  As an assistant...

This could be a potential opportunity for JK to hire someone that could step into Wayne's shoes upon his retirement. Need to hit a home run with this hire, as Hallmark was the last of the assistants that were part of a CWS squad at Rice.

??? JK does not hire assistant coaches for any of our sport programs. He may very well interview them and have a final veto, but he doesn't get involved in recruitment.

Too bad we're several weeks too late for Skip Johnson. Need a pitching-oriented coach to round out the staff since no one else on the staff has any experience working with pitchers. Opportunity to hire a name as Assistant Head Coach and heir apparent. Unfortunately, it's a bit late in the game to be hiring as most of the quality guys have already played musical chairs.

BTW, not sure everyone has heard of a strange move-- a couple days ago UCF's hirely regarded head coach, Rooney (who was previously Clemson's assistant coach and primary recruiter), left to join Goff's staff at Alabama as Assistant Head Coach.

(07-06-2016 07:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Too bad we're several weeks too late for Skip Johnson. Need a pitching-oriented coach to round out the staff since no one else on the staff has any experience working with pitchers. Opportunity to hire a name as Assistant Head Coach and heir apparent. Unfortunately, it's a bit late in the game to be hiring as most of the quality guys have already played musical chairs.

BTW, not sure everyone has heard of a strange move-- a couple days ago UCF's hirely regarded head coach, Rooney (who was previously Clemson's assistant coach and primary recruiter), left to join Goff's staff at Alabama as Assistant Head Coach.

If we pay enough, people will come flocking. I say we should offer Skip as much as we possibly can.

(07-06-2016 07:44 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 06:29 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  As an assistant...

This could be a potential opportunity for JK to hire someone that could step into Wayne's shoes upon his retirement. Need to hit a home run with this hire, as Hallmark was the last of the assistants that were part of a CWS squad at Rice.

??? JK does not hire assistant coaches for any of our sport programs. He may very well interview them and have a final veto, but he doesn't get involved in recruitment.

Sure, so it's a big hire for Wayne. Point remains.

(07-06-2016 07:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Need a pitching-oriented coach to round out the staff since no one else on the staff has any experience working with pitchers.

Graham has been working with pitchers for decades.

Maybe he can hire Andy Pettitte. That would be a splash hire. If they want to look at former Owls, Tim Byrdak is another name that comes to mind. Or he can go full circle, and hire Rayner Noble.

(07-06-2016 08:58 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 07:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Need a pitching-oriented coach to round out the staff since no one else on the staff has any experience working with pitchers.

Graham has been working with pitchers for decades.

Maybe he can hire Andy Pettitte. That would be a splash hire. If they want to look at former Owls, Tim Byrdak is another name that comes to mind. Or he can go full circle, and hire Rayner Noble.

I don't think Andy or Tim have their degrees which is a showstopper as a full time assistant...and Hell No to Rayner.

I wonder if we could offer enough money to take the pitching coach from LA Tech... I've heard great things about him.

I'd love to get a "coach in waiting" for when Coach Graham finally decides to retire (take your time, please).

Given how tough a time UT had with hiring an established coach, perhaps we could grab a promising assistant with this promise down the road.

(07-06-2016 08:58 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 07:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Need a pitching-oriented coach to round out the staff since no one else on the staff has any experience working with pitchers.

Graham has been working with pitchers for decades.

Maybe he can hire Andy Pettitte. That would be a splash hire. If they want to look at former Owls, Tim Byrdak is another name that comes to mind. Or he can go full circle, and hire Rayner Noble.

Andy would be a very interesting pick. Wonder if he'd even consider it.

I may be in the minority (possibly a minority of one), but I'd like to see a hire who will work successfully with coach Graham and take the team to Omaha next year and the years after, more so than be a coach in waiting.

(07-07-2016 06:49 AM)I45owl Wrote:  I may be in the minority (possibly a minority of one), but I'd like to see a hire who will work successfully with coach Graham and take the team to Omaha next year and the years after, more so than be a coach in waiting.

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. I kind of tend to think that the better at one, the better at the other.

(07-07-2016 07:54 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-07-2016 06:49 AM)I45owl Wrote:  I may be in the minority (possibly a minority of one), but I'd like to see a hire who will work successfully with coach Graham and take the team to Omaha next year and the years after, more so than be a coach in waiting.

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. I kind of tend to think that the better at one, the better at the other.

I agree. However, of the two, I tend to agree with I45 that I would like to see improvement NOW. Immediately if not sooner.

Getting a replacement quickly will be a priority as Hallmark was our primary recruiting coordinator.

I don't think the "head-coach-in-waiting" type of hire now to replace Hallmark would be a good idea, considering that it appears that the OG wants 3 more years. Were it several years ago when Pierce and Taylor were still on staff and one was so designated, I might have a different opinion since both of them had major hands in our 1999-2008 production and recruiting. But finding someone who has the qualifications to take over an elite program like Rice, such as either a head coach at a less-prestigious school or top assistant with an elite program, but who's untried within the Rice system, and guaranteeing them the head job in 3 years doesn't sound like the best way to go. If that new assistant turned out not to be able to recruit and coach up to our standards, we're either stuck with him or we end up with egg on our face for over-committing.

(07-07-2016 04:26 PM)ColOwl Wrote:  I don't think the "head-coach-in-waiting" type of hire now to replace Hallmark would be a good idea, considering that it appears that the OG wants 3 more years. Were it several years ago when Pierce and Taylor were still on staff and one was so designated, I might have a different opinion since both of them had major hands in our 1999-2008 production and recruiting. But finding someone who has the qualifications to take over an elite program like Rice, such as either a head coach at a less-prestigious school or top assistant with an elite program, but who's untried within the Rice system, and guaranteeing them the head job in 3 years doesn't sound like the best way to go. If that new assistant turned out not to be able to recruit and coach up to our standards, we're either stuck with him or we end up with egg on our face for over-committing.

??? If we were to hire an Assistant Head Coach it would be one with a proven recruiting and coaching track record. Given Hallmark's major role in recruiting, a priority may be getting a well-connected Texan. I still think Skip Johnson would be an seamless fit. What about the head coach at DBU?

(07-07-2016 04:31 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-07-2016 04:26 PM)ColOwl Wrote:  I don't think the "head-coach-in-waiting" type of hire now to replace Hallmark would be a good idea, considering that it appears that the OG wants 3 more years. Were it several years ago when Pierce and Taylor were still on staff and one was so designated, I might have a different opinion since both of them had major hands in our 1999-2008 production and recruiting. But finding someone who has the qualifications to take over an elite program like Rice, such as either a head coach at a less-prestigious school or top assistant with an elite program, but who's untried within the Rice system, and guaranteeing them the head job in 3 years doesn't sound like the best way to go. If that new assistant turned out not to be able to recruit and coach up to our standards, we're either stuck with him or we end up with egg on our face for over-committing.

??? If we were to hire an Assistant Head Coach it would be one with a proven recruiting and coaching track record. Given Hallmark's major role in recruiting, a priority may be getting a well-connected Texan. I still think Skip Johnson would be an seamless fit. What about the head coach at DBU?

I would like Heefner, but, at least IMO, I doubt he will leave DBU unless it's to be named head coach at Rice...I don't even think it would matter if we formally gave him a head coach in waiting position.

I agree a well-connected Texan is a priority, as well as getting someone who could POTENTIALLY be the head coach one day...the formal head coach in waiting title doesn't need to be a part of it, but it should absolutely be someone that would be considered for the head coach position when Wayne leaves.

(07-07-2016 04:31 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-07-2016 04:26 PM)ColOwl Wrote:  I don't think the "head-coach-in-waiting" type of hire now to replace Hallmark would be a good idea, considering that it appears that the OG wants 3 more years. Were it several years ago when Pierce and Taylor were still on staff and one was so designated, I might have a different opinion since both of them had major hands in our 1999-2008 production and recruiting. But finding someone who has the qualifications to take over an elite program like Rice, such as either a head coach at a less-prestigious school or top assistant with an elite program, but who's untried within the Rice system, and guaranteeing them the head job in 3 years doesn't sound like the best way to go. If that new assistant turned out not to be able to recruit and coach up to our standards, we're either stuck with him or we end up with egg on our face for over-committing.

??? If we were to hire an Assistant Head Coach it would be one with a proven recruiting and coaching track record. Given Hallmark's major role in recruiting, a priority may be getting a well-connected Texan. I still think Skip Johnson would be an seamless fit. What about the head coach at DBU?

I like your thinking Walt about Skip Johnson. Many casual fans don't know, but he's probably the top pitching coach in the country. Clayton Kershaw goes to Disch-Faulk in some off seasons for sessions with Skip. Friend told me his son is a "way deep back-up catcher" at Texas, who will never see the field, but his utopia is bullpen sessions as the catcher for all the MLB pitchers who come to see Skip. Alas, Skip has signed with OU now that the UT staff has turned over:

http://www.hookem.com/2016/06/27/texas-p...ts-job-ou/

Doesn't mean he'd come to Rice to be an assistant coach "in waiting" as some have posted, but I seriously doubt someone with his with credentials would want to come to a CUSA school and wait for the coach to retire to get his chance. But, who knows.