Check out this story about the Blazers-Sixers game tonight, <a href='http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=250110020' target='_blank'>http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=250110020</a>

Nick had a great game tonight, scoring 28 for Portland, including a team record 8 three pointers. Ruben Patterson also had 13 for them. But the big news is that the article said that Van Exel wants to get into coaching once he retires (he says this is his final year), maybe at Cincinnati. I, for one, would love for that to happen. To have one of the all-time great Bearcats on the bench, one of the guys that really started the Huggins tradition of winning with the Final 4 and Elite 8 teams. I think that would be awesome. I think he could recruit, as well. You've got to think that Nick would be able to sell recruits on UC, telling them all about how Huggs made him into a great basketball player, who had a very good, and long career in the League. And who knows, maybe one day he could take over for Huggs and be our next head coach :) Probably a pipedream, I know, but it got me excited to know he wants to coach here, since I'm such a big fan of his. Thoughts?

Personally, I'd rather see Andy Kennedy as the next head coach...a great college player, who's paid his dues (esp working under Huggs), excellent Recuiter, you can tell he coaches his kids!
I don't see a pro coming to the college ranks immediately as a major college head coach. So if VE wants to come in, coach guards, recruit, scout, run practice..then no question he'd have pro credibility.

i wouldn't call it that big of a bombshell. if he's serious about it, he should give huggins a call. since he has absolutely no coaching experience at all at any level, he probably won't have much to do with recruiting when he starts out. i don't know a whole lot about him other than that he was a damn good player. can he scout?? can he come up with comprehensive game plans (which you need moreso in college than in pros)??, can he contribute to designing 20hrs of practice each week that is conducive to all the players as student athletes??

there is a lot to learn. if he starts out at uc, i don't think he'll do much right away. his primary responsibility may be to make sure all the vcrs are programmed to tape all the game film of their opponents. however, that's not a reason to be discouraged because that's pretty much where everyone starts out.

hell, maybe i should apply for a job. i watch more college basketball than anyone else i know. i could scout. :D :D

Yeah, I get what you guys are saying. I'm not saying he would come in and be the head coach immediately. I realize if he wanted to coach here (I think Huggs would find a spot for him on the staff if he called looking for a job) he would have to pay his dues just like everyone else. Obviously, at this point Kennedy is a much better choice to take over a major college basketball program than Van Exel (and if not here at UC, somebody will snatch up Kennedy sooner rather than later). I guess I'm just excited at the possibility of Nick coaching here, since he did so many great things as a player. It's at least good to hear that a former great Bearcat wants to give back to the program that gave him so much.

Me Thinks he would have to complete his degree first.

Yea he would be a great addition but I think the coaching staff is pretty much full at he moment, there really wouldnt be anything for him to do

Now that being said AK could leave at anytime for a head coaching job at a smaller school, he has been getting a lot of pub the last couple years as a top assistant so you never know

We have Legree to work with gaurds and recruit...so I really dont see how Nick fits on this staff

I've got a job for him! He can take Legree's clipboard.

Seriously though if Van Exel wanted to come here you could not possibly turn him away. I think by being in the NBA for 10+ years he knows things others on the staff may not. I also think it would be very good to eventually get him involved in recruiting.

Actually isnt there an open coaching spot left from Peters? OR did they sign another coach?

cincinnaticats6 Wrote:Actually isnt there an open coaching spot left from Peters? OR did they sign another coach?

Umm...have you forgotten about Frank Martin?

My thought is Kennedy is still at UC because he was given the impression that he would be the next coach of Cincy. He could have left for his alma mater this summer, if that doesnt make you leave, what will? Or I could be totally wrong.

I don't know about being a full coach right away but I think he should start by doing informal teaching clinics for the players in the summer.

I think it would be a good start to teach these guys bona fide"swagger". Lots of guys and even teams at UC have had swagger, but I think Van Exel is clearly the best in that regard.

Too many guys now think of swagger as the dance you do or the gestures you make after a great play. But you watch Van Exel and you realize that it really is an attitude and a cool as dry-ice self confidence.

Here is the syllabus for Van Exel BEARCAT SWAGGER 101

Ball Handling: maximum funk with minimum turnovers

3 Pt Shooting: cryo-therapy techniques for becoming a perimeter assasin

2nd Half magic: Just give me the damn ball: made to look way to damn easy.

I never understood why people think that just because you were a great player you are going to be a great coach. I dont know if hes going to be a good coach or not, but Id much rather have someone with experience and knowledge for a coaching position than someone with no experience.

oleskl Wrote:

cincinnaticats6 Wrote:Actually isnt there an open coaching spot left from Peters?&nbsp; OR did they sign another coach?

Umm...have you forgotten about Frank Martin?

Yes I have. Thanks for clearing that up.

I don't know if he would make a great coach but I do think it would be very beneficial to recruiting.

I don't think anyone is saying that Nick would definitly make a great coach, Jarr. I think it could be really interesting to have Van Exel back a part of the UC program, but I don't know how well he can coach. I do think he could definitly help with recruiting. I would love to see him get a shot, that's all I'm saying.

Bearcatfan4life Wrote:I don't think anyone is saying that Nick would definitly make a great coach, Jarr. I think it could be really interesting to have Van Exel back a part of the UC program, but I don't know how well he can coach. I do think he could definitly help with recruiting. I would love to see him get a shot, that's all I'm saying.

NVE ties to the NBA would help immensly. I always hear kids mention Reggie Theus as a reason that they went to Louisville. He has ties to the league just like Nick does.

Could you imagine the PGs we'd get to come here and be coached by NVE. I'd be all for it if we had an opening. However none of the current staff deserves to be fired.

I have to agree with everyone that said that he would need to prove himself to get a lot of responsibility. Don't forget how bad the Clyde Drexler did at Houston.

Is it possible for NVE to be a volunteer coach (ie unpaid) or a team advisor that works with the 1s and 2s in an official supervised capacity while he gains some experience?

Like several have said, it would be a great recruiting coup to have VE as a recruiting tool. Same could be said for Corey Blount for the bigs if/when he would choose to come back. Take the new BE affiliation and add their connections to The League with Huggs as a closer and its a great recruiting connection IMO. Plus, you would have players who have been to the Final 4 with UC to dispel some of the recent lack of tourney success to the kids.

I hope UC/Huggs/VE can get this to happen. IMO it would be great.

I think adding Corie is a good idea, as he is close to the program (I think he was at Huggs press conference right after his DUI), and still lives in Cincy I believe. However, he is recuperating from injuries, and spending time with his family this year. There was an article in the paper recently that said he would like to take one last shot at the NBA, so we may have to wait for a while on Blount. Whereas, Van Exel has said this WILL be his last year, unless a contender calls. So, we could probably get Nick into the fold sooner than Corie.