If Pitt opens that moves UC another notch down the food chain. Ugh. I know, I know, UC is a better job than Pitt. Well, given our circumstances, it probably isn't. They'd be equal at best, and with no recruits + the Zimpher factor we probably move below them.
Time is really a factor now - there is going to be quite a rush by all of these schools to get coaches in place.
I hope we hear something very soon.
Quote:If Pitt opens that moves UC another notch down the food chain. Ugh. I know, I know, UC is a better job than Pitt. Well, given our circumstances, it probably isn't. They'd be equal at best, and with no recruits + the Zimpher factor we probably move below them.
That is a defeatist way of looking at it, IMO.
Pitt was seen as a dead-end job until Ben Howland got there (and don't you think there were a few Pitt fans who wondered who the hell he was when that hiring was announced?)
The Pitt and UC jobs are comparable. They have a little higher academic profile, and we have a little better hoops tradition. If Jaime Dixon leaves now, then they start to take on a Xavier-type question, "Why do good coaches find success there, and then leave?"
Our hire needs to be the right coach for our situation, not merely a contest to see who can hire the highest-profile coach available. It's possible -- even likely -- that we could end up choosing the right coach, only to have it greeted by another round of outrage from the disgruntled segment of our fan base. Even if they hire AK, I think they'll be some grumbling on this board.
Socko Wiethe Wrote:Quote:If Pitt opens that moves UC another notch down the food chain. Ugh. I know, I know, UC is a better job than Pitt. Well, given our circumstances, it probably isn't. They'd be equal at best, and with no recruits + the Zimpher factor we probably move below them.
That is a defeatist way of looking at it, IMO.
Pitt was seen as a dead-end job until Ben Howland got there (and don't you think there were a few Pitt fans who wondered who the hell he was when that hiring was announced?)
The Pitt and UC jobs are comparable. They have a little higher academic profile, and we have a little better hoops tradition. If Jaime Dixon leaves now, then they start to take on a Xavier-type question, "Why do good coaches find success there, and then leave?"
Our hire needs to be the right coach for our situation, not merely a contest to see who can hire the highest-profile coach available. It's possible -- even likely -- that we could end up choosing the right coach, only to have it greeted by another round of outrage from the disgruntled segment of our fan base. Even if they hire AK, I think they'll be some grumbling on this board.
It's the realistic way of looking at it, IMO.
Those that claim UC is in some rosy situation are looking through their homer goggles. The way the Huggins situation was handled, the lack of recruits and who our President is will no doubt play a major role in what coaches are willing to come here.
I don't think anyone can argue that since Zimpher has taken over the UC job has lost some of the luster is once held.
If you keep in mind the current administration, this job may not be very attractive. We are viewed in a poor way due to the current administrations way of handling AK. I just hope like heck we can do something to keep AK here. I don't have a whole lot of confidence though.
The thing is....I don't know how great a job it ever was. I'll never take anything away from what he accomplished but Huggs did what he did with a combination of sheer will, personality and a tier 2 conference. When he left the house of cards may have come tumbling down behind him. Hope I am wrong. This is something people have been discussing for a few years, though.
If the next coach is to have any success, he will have to blaze that trail almost single-handedly. The administration headaches just compund things.
Rathskeller_Crew Wrote:The thing is....I don't know how great a job it ever was. I'll never take anything away from what he accomplished but Huggs did what he did with a combination of sheer will, personality and a tier 2 conference. When he left the house of cards may have come tumbling down behind him. Hope I am wrong. This is something people have been discussing for a few years, though.
If the next coach is to have any success, he will have to blaze that trail almost single-handedly. The administration headaches just compund things.
Absolutely Rath...our best hope is someone like AK or Cronin that knows the situation and how to make it work.
The adminstration and BEast just tightened the screws some more.
As far as Few, hard to believe...Few is a native of the NorthWest area...this place is not a fit for Few IMO
Zarathustra Wrote:Rathskeller_Crew Wrote:The thing is....I don't know how great a job it ever was. I'll never take anything away from what he accomplished but Huggs did what he did with a combination of sheer will, personality and a tier 2 conference. When he left the house of cards may have come tumbling down behind him. Hope I am wrong. This is something people have been discussing for a few years, though.
If the next coach is to have any success, he will have to blaze that trail almost single-handedly. The administration headaches just compund things.
Absolutely Rath...our best hope is someone like AK or Cronin that knows the situation and how to make it work.
The adminstration and BEast just tightened the screws some more.
As far as Few, hard to believe...Few is a native of the NorthWest area...this place is not a fit for Few IMO
UC is not a Kansas, UNC, or uk where they will just always be great because of who they are. I think uc is more comparable to Georgetown, UNLV,Temple, and St. Johns in that they had great coaches who were there for a long time, but it wasnt the program. They can have a recovery like Georgetown, but it isnt going to happen for a at least 5 years. Or they could go the UNLV route which I see more likely.
Also...the rumors are out there...UC does not have the coin to play in the big pool any longer.
Supposedly whether fund shortages or Nancy's ego, the 1 Mil tag it would take for a big name coach is not getting past Monica's (Nancy's) financial approval
jarr Wrote:Zarathustra Wrote:Rathskeller_Crew Wrote:The thing is....I don't know how great a job it ever was. I'll never take anything away from what he accomplished but Huggs did what he did with a combination of sheer will, personality and a tier 2 conference. When he left the house of cards may have come tumbling down behind him. Hope I am wrong. This is something people have been discussing for a few years, though.
If the next coach is to have any success, he will have to blaze that trail almost single-handedly. The administration headaches just compund things.
Absolutely Rath...our best hope is someone like AK or Cronin that knows the situation and how to make it work.
The adminstration and BEast just tightened the screws some more.
As far as Few, hard to believe...Few is a native of the NorthWest area...this place is not a fit for Few IMO
UC is not a Kansas, UNC, or uk where they will just always be great because of who they are. I think uc is more comparable to Georgetown, UNLV,Temple, and St. Johns in that they had great coaches who were there for a long time, but it wasnt the program. They can have a recovery like Georgetown, but it isnt going to happen for a at least 5 years. Or they could go the UNLV route which I see more likely.
Jarr...you are correct in saying that we are closer to UNLV/Gtown/St.Johns than KU UNC, etc. but remember, UNC sucked right after Dean retired and yes, they are UNC and they are back but really, they sucked at first, IU sucked (final 4 fluke aside) etc. so seems like no matter who the school is, the coach IS the difference. UC has been good multiple different decades so one coach hasn't made UC what it is today. But yes, we will prob. suffer for a few years and maybe the UNC's and KU's don't suffer as long but coaching changes affect everyone. UNLV has gone the way of the dodo but they also were made under 1 man...Tark and so we are in a better boat than they are there. Plus, we are in a much stronger conference than UNLV so, I think if the school plays their cards right we will have minimal down time....
Then again, why should I have any confidence that they will play their cards right because so far they have shown complete ineptitude in handling bball situation......
It is going to be interesting.
I believe the whole placement of Monica in the financial position was motivated in part because of anger and frustration when Nancy realized the level of debt service UC has on it's sport programs for things like Varsity Village.
That combined with the fact they have killed the golden goose should make for one very interesting coaching search