Jim Larranaga from George Mason.
A friend of mine who is a Division 1 head coach told me that the heavy rumors in the coaching circles have us naming the George Mason coach as soon as we win the NIT.
Again, this is just a rumor, but he has had pretty accurate information in the past regarding coaching changes.
OK - If the stipulation is "as soon as we win the NIT" we need to lose tonight then so we don't have to hire this guy.
That was my edit.
I couldn't get myself to write as soon as we lose.
Bearcat Otto Wrote:That was my edit.
I couldn't get myself to write as soon as we lose.
I'm just looking for a way not to hire him.
I would be shocked if the Bearcats do not quickly fall off the face of the map in college basketball if they hire this guy, believe it or not I would rather have Orr.
Here is my take on this debacle: Prosser probably was the first choice all along (where there is smoke there is some fire) and ended up wrecking their little plans by saying no, as it appears most other MAJOR candidates have probably done or will do. So the end result is that the two guys who could probably make this thing work based on their age, drive, recruiting ability etc. in Andy Kennedy and Mick Cronin will probably never see the light of day because of some "ties" to Huggins. The end result is an aging coach who had a miracle run in the NCAA tourney and has no pedigree that I can tell based on his long mid-major coaching stint, welcome to basketball hell I guess
LARRANAGA: I have had the luxury of having some terrific players and assistant coaches to help me build our program. We have great facilities and a beautiful campus. Our geographical location is ideal for recruiting up and down the east coast, as well as overseas. We?ve also had great support from our administration. Nothing can be accomplished without the support of your superiors. At George Mason, our administration is first class. Tom O?Connor, our AD, is a former Division 1 head coach and has a great feel for everything going on in college basketball. He is always one step ahead of the curve. Whenever I go to him he is always willing to help. We are also blessed with a great President. Dr. Alan Merten is truly an inspirational leader and is very supportive of all of our athletic teams.
Does the current administration at UC reflect any of the characteristics Larranaga wants? UC Admin is 8 steps behind the curve...and I don't exactally draw my inspiration from ANYTHING Dr Zimpher has done.
Relax - it's just been one rumor after another. At this point I don't think there is anyone that actually knows who the candidates are except Mike Thomas, Nancy Zimpher, and their staff.
No matter who they name, I'll be glad when it's over. If it's someone I don't like at least I can focus my energy on that and not have to worry about the latest rumor.
hell, zimpher probably doesnt even know who the candidates are, she just knows who isnt one. ;-)
Holy crap. This would be a new depth to the misery! Is there no end to the abyss. Stallings was my nightmare candidate, then Orr but this fossil would be the worst. An absolute stiff with no youth and enthusiasm who has never coached on a major level. The guy has one great year at age 57 and he is going to come to UC and recruit. I have to believe this rumor is total garbage. A friend of mine watching the G. Mason game the other day laughed and said, "how long before someone reports him as a candidate." Well not even 48 hours later there it is.
I agree UC needs someone more youthful, but I wonder how some of our aged posters feel about being called "fossils"?
lmfao
On second thought, perhaps we should all root for the absolute worst candidate possible. Hear me out here. The next two years are pretty much lost seasons for us (most would agree with this). If they hire a guy like Hobbs or Stallings they may be able to stick around for 4 or 5 years languishing in mediocrity. If UC hires a guy like Orr or Larranaga, and they end up being a total miserable failure this could hasten the demise of Nancy and Company and hasten a return to normalcy. Maybe the absolute worst coach is actually the best outcome for us fans who want her gone and a competent supportive administration in her place. As sad as it may be, perhaps our best chance at long term success (if they wont go the AK, Cronin or any other top notch candidate) is for them to hire a horrible coach who will bring Nancy down with him as opposed to someone who may be just good enough to make us mediocre and will string out the pain and suffering for several years.
We aren't going to hire a 55 year old mid-major flavor of the month loser.
Kenyon#4 Wrote:We aren't going to hire a 55 year old mid-major flavor of the month loser.
May we quote you on that, how could you possibly think that this admin wouldn't do something like that?
bcatwilly Wrote:Kenyon#4 Wrote:We aren't going to hire a 55 year old mid-major flavor of the month loser.
May we quote you on that, how could you possibly think that this admin wouldn't do something like that?
It all got started with Andy Katz posting about a mystery candidate on UC's list, nobody knows who it is, Katz gusssed it was the Mason coach. There is no evidence to back it up. Thomas might be stupid, but I don't think he's that stuipid. If we go mid-major is going to be someone like Cronin.
My problem with Larranaga is his age, period. Also, he has never coached a major program before. I have to question whether he has the energy to recruit like we need him to do. I have to question whether he has the energy to handle the current fiasco at UC.
The only thing positive I will say is that I know people who went to college in the MAC when he was coaching there and they said he's a very good X's and O's coach, and that he gets the most out of the talent he has.
But can he get talent to come here, that would be the question?
Murph29 Wrote:On second thought, perhaps we should all root for the absolute worst candidate possible. Hear me out here. The next two years are pretty much lost seasons for us (most would agree with this). If they hire a guy like Hobbs or Stallings they may be able to stick around for 4 or 5 years languishing in mediocrity. If UC hires a guy like Orr or Larranaga, and they end up being a total miserable failure this could hasten the demise of Nancy and Company and hasten a return to normalcy. Maybe the absolute worst coach is actually the best outcome for us fans who want her gone and a competent supportive administration in her place. As sad as it may be, perhaps our best chance at long term success (if they wont go the AK, Cronin or any other top notch candidate) is for them to hire a horrible coach who will bring Nancy down with him as opposed to someone who may be just good enough to make us mediocre and will string out the pain and suffering for several years.
Murph, with all due respect, UC is not a basketball franchise. It's a university.
I'm not trying to stir things up, but looking at it honestly, Zimpher is not going to be fired if the basketball program goes in the tank for 2-3 years. She will not be judged solely on the performance of the basketball program, like it or not.
Kenyon#4 Wrote:bcatwilly Wrote:Kenyon#4 Wrote:We aren't going to hire a 55 year old mid-major flavor of the month loser.
May we quote you on that, how could you possibly think that this admin wouldn't do something like that?
It all got started with Andy Katz posting about a mystery candidate on UC's list, nobody knows who it is, Katz gusssed it was the Mason coach. There is no evidence to back it up. Thomas might be stupid, but I don't think he's that stuipid. If we go mid-major is going to be someone like Cronin.
I heard the mystery candidate is Rob Jeter of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
I agree fan. No matter how much we wish it were so, Nan is not getting fired becausse of basketball.....we all think of it as being the hog with the big balls at this school but the truth is it is such a small piece of the pie that it is just a rock in her shoe.
We are the vocal minority when it comes to making a difference in policy at this institution. Sucks but true.
bearcatfan Wrote:Murph29 Wrote:On second thought, perhaps we should all root for the absolute worst candidate possible. Hear me out here. The next two years are pretty much lost seasons for us (most would agree with this). If they hire a guy like Hobbs or Stallings they may be able to stick around for 4 or 5 years languishing in mediocrity. If UC hires a guy like Orr or Larranaga, and they end up being a total miserable failure this could hasten the demise of Nancy and Company and hasten a return to normalcy. Maybe the absolute worst coach is actually the best outcome for us fans who want her gone and a competent supportive administration in her place. As sad as it may be, perhaps our best chance at long term success (if they wont go the AK, Cronin or any other top notch candidate) is for them to hire a horrible coach who will bring Nancy down with him as opposed to someone who may be just good enough to make us mediocre and will string out the pain and suffering for several years.
Murph, with all due respect, UC is not a basketball franchise. It's a university.
I'm not trying to stir things up, but looking at it honestly, Zimpher is not going to be fired if the basketball program goes in the tank for 2-3 years. She will not be judged solely on the performance of the basketball program, like it or not.
No she wont be canned on basketball failures alone but as she has said athletic success and academic success are TWO things a university should strive for and when her UC21 visions are not materializing and she is failing on both fronts, it will be much easier for the Board to push her out the door.
Bearcattitude Wrote:The only thing positive I will say is that I know people who went to college in the MAC when he was coaching there and they said he's a very good X's and O's coach, and that he gets the most out of the talent he has.
But can he get talent to come here, that would be the question?
Anyone who told you that Jim Larranaga "gets the most out of the talent he has" is crazy. The 1997 Bowling Green team that he coached, which included Antonio Daniels (4th pick in the '97 NBA Draft), Jay Larranaga (coaches son who is still playing in Europe) and future MAC player of the year Anthony Stacey, was one of the, if not the, most talented MAC team in recent memory and they lost in the MAC Tournament SEMI-FINALS to an Earl Boykins-led Eastern Michigan team. That was the story of his tenure at BG, talented teams that never won the MAC tourney to get to the big dance. He even said this week he has had several talented teams that did not get at-large bids when he felt they deserved it. If he had just won the MAC tourney, he wouldn't have had to worry about the at-large bid.
I think Coach L could get talent to UC, but I am not sure he would succeed with it. I am shocked at the success he has had at GM after his years of underachieving at BG.
As a BG grad who watched this guy coach for a couple of seasons, I would suggest the UC administration not hire him. His age is certainly a factor, but his ability is the more important factor to consider.