Here is the D1 Dirt article


The long, strange search at Chicago State seems to finally be making progress. HoopDirt.com first reported that CSU and former head coach Tracy Dildy had parted ways back on March 12th (DI DIRT). There has still been no official statement from the school since our original report, but the job was officially posted on 3/23, and then re-posted last month. Finally, on May 8th, CSU hired former Chicago Bear Chris Zorich as their athletic director, replacing Dildy who also served in that role. Now that Zorich is on board, the search has been moving, and it sounds like the final group is starting to take shape.

I have heard that candidates were on campus last week for the job that will reportedly only pay in the $70,000-$90,000 range. Some of the names that I’ve heard are:


Al Bruehl – Former head coach at Robert Morris University-Illinois. CCAC and IBCA Hall of Famer who won 609 games during his 20-year tenure as the men’s coach at RMU.

Rick Carter – Former associate head coach at DePaul. Resigned to enter the private sector following the 2017 season. Had been on the DePaul staff for two seasons, and also worked assistant at Xavier, Missouri, Western Michigan, and Fairfield.

Steve Christiansen – Head Coach Triton College (IL). Captured the NJCAA DII National Championship this past season, and was named as the NJCAA Division II National Coach of the Year. Has gone 367-96 in 14-seasons as the Trojans head coach.

Lance Irvin – Former assistant at Southern Illinois, DePaul, Loyola-Chicago, Iowa State, Illinois State, Texas A&M, Missouri, and SMU. Son of the late Mac Irvin who was known as the “Godfather” of Chicago basketball, and was the founder of Mac Irvin Fire AAU.

John Pigatti – Head Coach South Suburban College. Has compiled a 353-71 record in 12-seasons at SSC. Went 28-7 this past season, and won the NJCAA Region IV Championship.

I have also heard that Chicago State reached out to Chicago native and former DePaul standout Mark Aguirre, but sounds like he has not been on campus yet. There may be two additional DI assistants involved here.

Chicago State is one of only three remaining DI schools still looking to hire a coach. Detroit and Delaware State are both still on the hunt as well.

It sounds like this one could be wrapped up with in the week.

Love Pigatti. He is incredibly charismatic and one of the most animated, funny characters you’ll find in basketball.

Lance Irvin stopped at like 5 consecutive schools for a year or two where they so happened to freefall while he was there. SIU went from 6 straight NCAA’s and 2 Sweet 16’s to plummeting once he was on board back in the Chris Lowery era.

I’m hopeful they’ll go the route of Pigatti or Christiansen. Both are proven winners, and I think would be able to turn around the CSU program.

$70.000-$90,000 is absurd for a college division 1 college coach. Jan's with incentives I think is around $300,000.00? Majerle is probably around $700,000.00. I can't imagine how Chic State is surviving.[/align]

Just give Titus & Tate the job and be done with it.

(06-07-2018 04:56 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  Just give Titus & Tate the job and be done with it.

Don’t need to become even more of a joke to others.

Yeah, no famewhores please.

I guess UVU is happy with the job Mark Pope is doing...

(06-06-2018 01:25 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  $70.000-$90,000 is absurd for a college division 1 college coach. Jan's with incentives I think is around $300,000.00? Majerle is probably around $700,000.00. I can't imagine how Chic State is surviving.[/align]

According to the 2018-2019 Chicago State budget, which is available on-line, they have Tracy Dildy's basketball salary at $154,000 and the women's head coaching position at $102,000. There is an open position for a Director of Athletics at $125,000. The baseball head coach will make just under $66,000 annually.

I have to believe that a salary of $70,000 to $90,000 for a new head basketball coach is not accurate. If the baseball coach is getting about $66,000 annually, then you have got to pay the basketball coach at least $120,000 annually. The NMSU baseball coach, Brian Green, signed a five year deal in 2014 for $90,000 per year plus incentives. Jans makes what he makes at NMSU compared to Green because basketball is a revenue sport. The same should be true at Chicago State.

Still no coach? Just asking.

(06-10-2018 04:18 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Still no coach? Just asking.

When one is named, it will be posted.

Chicago State’s AD, Chris Zorich, spoke in the BoT meeting last week (6/21), and provided an update on the coaching search. He said he’s only interested in someone with D1 experience whether it be HC or assistant. So I’m sorry, but That Titus guy can go on to whatever other promotional gimmick he has next.

I’m actually pretty excited for what he had to say, and anticipate some major improvements over the next few years. Summarizing (from what I can remember), he wants to work more with other departments in the university. For instance, he specifically mentioned financial aid? Apparently, the athletic department basically kept to itself.. He also mentioned ensuring they bring a professor with them for the road trips.

Zorich discussed more community involvement to get the CSU brand out there, and gave some marketing ideas. He’s aware of the negative/losing picture people have of CSU and wants that to change. Finally, he wants to schedule more home games for the basketball team with local teams.. Home/away series matchups with the Chicago schools and universities in Illinois.

Here’s the link.. it starts at about the 47:45 mark: http://www.csu.edu/boardoftrustees/meeti...1-2018.mp3

(06-29-2018 07:32 PM)joshadam84 Wrote:  Chicago State’s AD, Chris Zorich, spoke in the BoT meeting last week (6/21), and provided an update on the coaching search. He said he’s only interested in someone with D1 experience whether it be HC or assistant. So I’m sorry, but That Titus guy can go on to whatever other promotional gimmick he has next.

I’m actually pretty excited for what he had to say, and anticipate some major improvements over the next few years. Summarizing (from what I can remember), he wants to work more with other departments in the university. For instance, he specifically mentioned financial aid? Apparently, the athletic department basically kept to itself.. He also mentioned ensuring they bring a professor with them for the road trips.

Zorich discussed more community involvement to get the CSU brand out there, and gave some marketing ideas. He’s aware of the negative/losing picture people have of CSU and wants that to change. Finally, he wants to schedule more home games for the basketball team with local teams.. Home/away series matchups with the Chicago schools and universities in Illinois.

Here’s the link.. it starts at about the 47:45 mark: http://www.csu.edu/boardoftrustees/meeti...1-2018.mp3

That all sounds promising. I hope these changes take hold and improve things for you guys.

(06-29-2018 07:32 PM)joshadam84 Wrote:  but That Titus guy can go on to whatever other promotional gimmick he has next.

+1. Titus is a fan of Titus. Chicago St is merely the tool to draw attention to a “Look at Me!” personality.

The High School coach at my son's alma mater, Archbishop Mitty is paid (significantly) more; to try to prevent him from being snagged as a college assistant. Seems to support my suspicion that dumping the two coaches, even hiring an AD, was designed to reduce spending on athletics even more.

I don't know what they will do if they lose another 15-20% of their enrollment, since funding comes directly from headcount. They have cut everything they can and then some already.