(05-26-2021 03:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  A couple points...

1. Wayne is not going to re-engage with Rice with JK still around. Non-starter. Full stop.

I didn't want to be this blunt, but my point was that he needs to show a little ability to admit that he was wrong... and reaching out to Wayne would be part of that. I would expect that he would likely be gone one way or another before Wayne accepted the outreach, but it's still the right thing to do, regardless of how Wayne responds.

Even if you're 100% right about Wayne Walt, so am I about what JK should do. The right thing is still the right thing. Full stop as well.

Quote:2. The baseball coaching hire needs to be the "right" choice, not necessarily a "splash" choice. And the AD does not hire a team of coaches. No one would accept the head coach job if they didn't have the freedom to select their own coaching staff. And do tell why Hallmark would struggle without "pro credibility"? I could see Pat bringing on Van Hook (as Assistant Head coach), a quality pitching coach (though Pat, as did Wayne, would work with the pitchers), possibly retaining Janish and/or bring back Shepperd. That's a pretty darn good coaching staff, IMHO.

I think the new 'free agency' of college sports requires a different perspective that includes fairly recent experience with being a free agent... especially at the top levels, as opposed to the experience of the minor leagues as was the case previously. I think ANY coach that comes on board, including Pat, would want such a person and that it would aid in recruiting... especially for those 'top' kids... getting guys who would make their one transfer TO Rice.... so I think the 'right' choice IS a 'splash' choice....

and while you're taking issue with my characterization, I think a Berkman hire would likely include Pettit and that he would be wise to add some college recruiting capabilities.... while Pat Hallmark would (IMO) be wise to add some pro credibility. I didn't suggest that they not be able to pick their own assistants, I just gave some scope to my suggestions... AND I think if I were AD, I'd be more inclined to look favorably on a coach whose process involved leveraging (for both players and donors) the meaningful number of top pro graduates that we have associated with our program. Whether it is Berkman or Pettit or Cruz or maybe even Janish... but I think the first 3 might carry more weight based on name recognition.

Note Walt that you disagreed that Pat needed pro credibility, and then you added Paul Janish (a veteran of 9 pro years) to your list for him of a quality staff. SO what are you arguing against??

I call it a 'splash' because I want to differentiate it between the same staff you listed but without Janish... or Cruz or Pettit or Berkman. That to me is not meaningfully different from what everyone else in Texas college baseball puts out there. As good as Schloss and others may be, the stakes are even higher in the new world, and we need to experience a quick turnaround. While we might get a bunch of Schloss's or Hallmark's current players who want to transfer to Rice, I think we might get players from all over to transfer to us for Berkman et all or Hallmark plus a Cruz type name. MAYBE Janish would have the same/similar pull, I don't know. Let Pat decide who and why, but this is the new reality.

Berkmann, Hallmark and Pettit would of course be the dream team... Pitching, hitting, name recognition and strategy, but I don't see that happening

But hey, if Basketball Free Agents can essentially create their own dream teams, why not former pro/college coaches??