http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/...th_al.html

Richie Riley was coach at Nicholls State.

From the article:

"Riley, 35, is 35-28 in two seasons at Nicholls. The Colonels went 21-11 in 2017-18, sharing the Southland Conference regular-season championship."

Hopefully he can take the team we have returning and have us as a contender in year 1.

http://usajaguars.com/news/2018/3/15/ric...abama.aspx

This article is better and gives more information. It also includes quotes from other coaches on Riley.

Brad Brownell, Clemson head coach
"Richie had a great impact on our program at Clemson. He was creative and worked hard every day to put our program in a position to be successful. His growth as a man and as a coach has been a joy to watch. He is an immediate impact type coach and has turned into a fantastic coach."

Cliff Ellis, Coastal Carolina head coach
"I have known Richie for a very long time. He is a man that possesses a tremendous work ethic. Richie is an immediate impact coach because of his tireless work ethic, and his leadership skills are why he is an elite basketball coach."

Shaka Smart, Texas head coach
"Richie's basketball IQ is just terrific. He understands the game and is not afraid to be innovative, but he also knows how important it is to be fundamentally sound. He has also built a national reputation as an immediate impact and outstanding recruiter."

Will Wade, LSU head coach
"I have known Richie for 10 years now and have come to respect him as a coach and a friend. He understands what it takes to build a successful program in this business on and off the court."

Looks like a good hire. Young, with some head coaching experience, and regional ties.

Winning at Nichols isn’t easy.

Good hire. He loads up on grad transfers, so you're about to get good quickly. His freshman recruiting at Nicholls was also pretty good. Shocked he went to USA tbh.

Was Andy Kennedy not on USA's radar?

(03-15-2018 06:04 PM)Warhawkman Wrote:  Good hire. He loads up on grad transfers, so you're about to get good quickly. His freshman recruiting at Nicholls was also pretty good. Shocked he went to USA tbh.

He will get some transfers, no doubt, but I’m not sure he’ll “load up” on them at USA. He is inheriting a team that he should be able to compete with immediately. He has been able to recruit well at all stops, so I expect that to continue and not just rely on the transfer. I love that his peers say he has a high basketball IQ.

Who knows what goes on behind closed doors, but this moved rather quickly and one has to wonder at what point he talked to USA. I know that EKU, his alma mater, was after him as well.

(03-15-2018 06:24 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  Was Andy Kennedy not on USA's radar?

We were on his radar and he was on ours to an extent, but there is a lot of baggage there. He was never going to be our first (or second) pick.

(03-15-2018 06:30 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(03-15-2018 06:24 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  Was Andy Kennedy not on USA's radar?

We were on his radar and he was on ours to an extent, but there is a lot of baggage there. He was never going to be our first (or second) pick.

What kind of baggage?

I was hoping Cunningham could have been gone by now so we could have a chance at Kennedy. He's a great coach and knows how to recruit Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee.

(03-15-2018 07:21 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(03-15-2018 06:30 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(03-15-2018 06:24 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  Was Andy Kennedy not on USA's radar?

We were on his radar and he was on ours to an extent, but there is a lot of baggage there. He was never going to be our first (or second) pick.

What kind of baggage?

I was hoping Cunningham could have been gone by now so we could have a chance at Kennedy. He's a great coach and knows how to recruit Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee.

Cunningham beating USA three times in one year might have saved his job.

Riley loaded up and had ten seniors between the JUCO's from the year before and grad transfers. His goal was to get the hell out of there ASAP.

South bit on it.

I'll take a wait and see attitude on this one.

(03-18-2018 11:00 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  Riley loaded up and had ten seniors between the JUCO's from the year before and grad transfers. His goal was to get the hell out of there ASAP.

South bit on it.

I'll take a wait and see attitude on this one.

I can’t tell you how happy I am that we went fishing.

(03-18-2018 11:00 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  Riley loaded up and had ten seniors between the JUCO's from the year before and grad transfers. His goal was to get the hell out of there ASAP.

South bit on it.

I'll take a wait and see attitude on this one.

Our AD looked a little closer than you're giving him credit for. He didn't just look at 1 year of success and make a hire, it's a little tougher to hire coaches than that.