Who do you think would be the best HC hire for USM's long term future?

Note....I added for USM's long term future.

I'm personally undecided at the moment.

why not try for Billy Kennedy?

(04-16-2019 11:27 PM)techdawg88 Wrote:  why not try for Billy Kennedy?

Considering he still has 2 years left on his Texas A&M contract we could afford him the first 2 years but after that he probably wouldn't be for the massive pay cut. Then again, he was at Southeastern La and Murray St prior to A&M so he knows what it's like to live on $300k or so a year.

Looks like Ladner was hired.

If Ladner was chosen over Adams, we hired the wrong AD.

(04-17-2019 07:39 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  If Ladner was chosen over Adams, we hired the wrong AD.

Ehhh. Adams prob would be the best HC...for 1-3 years before he left. And hey...maybe that's the way to go. But maybe not. You choose Adams over Spoon and Ladner and you are alienating a whole lot of USM alum, donors and fan base. Could lose a lot of potential support. If Adams wins big then who cares? Until he leaves - and Jeremy may be gone too by then. Then our faith is in Bennett making another good hire at AD, that would hire the next HC. I have no faith in Bennett doing anything right consistently.

I say all that to say this - IF Ladner does well...he will be a lifer here. USM NEEDS a good coach to stick around SEVERAL YEARS (Lifer Years) to reach our aspirations of being a legit / consistent / highly successful basketball program. If Ladner is a bad coach and sux / fails the next 3 years, Jeremy will fire his ass. Its not like the USM basketball program is on top of the world or is coming off several 20+ win seasons or the most wins in its history (Doc fcked all that up already). Therefore, the reward is worth the risk of hiring Ladner. Hell, he may even keep Spoon on board if Spoon wants. Hire Adams (or anyone other than Ladner and Spoon), and the risk is not worth the reward.

I hope he does well because he’s the head coach now, but this feels like we’re just throwing a bone to a small, vocal group of fans who otherwise aren’t going to contribute a whole lot. If Ladner doesn’t do well, these same folks are just going to get their feelings hurt anyway when it’s time to part ways with him.

Frankly, I’m reaching the point of looking back fondly on Giannini’s decisions.

(04-17-2019 08:12 PM)Reggie Favre Wrote:  

(04-17-2019 07:39 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  If Ladner was chosen over Adams, we hired the wrong AD.

Ehhh. Adams prob would be the best HC...for 1-3 years before he left. And hey...maybe that's the way to go. But maybe not. You choose Adams over Spoon and Ladner and you are alienating a whole lot of USM alum, donors and fan base. Could lose a lot of potential support. If Adams wins big then who cares? Until he leaves - and Jeremy may be gone too by then. Then our faith is in Bennett making another good hire at AD, that would hire the next HC. I have no faith in Bennett doing anything right consistently.

I say all that to say this - IF Ladner does well...he will be a lifer here. USM NEEDS a good coach to stick around SEVERAL YEARS (Lifer Years) to reach our aspirations of being a legit / consistent / highly successful basketball program. If Ladner is a bad coach and sux / fails the next 3 years, Jeremy will fire his ass. Its not like the USM basketball program is on top of the world or is coming off several 20+ win seasons or the most wins in its history (Doc fcked all that up already). Therefore, the reward is worth the risk of hiring Ladner. Hell, he may even keep Spoon on board if Spoon wants. Hire Adams (or anyone other than Ladner and Spoon), and the risk is not worth the reward.

If a coach comes here, stays 1-3 years and wins championships or brings us to the NCAAs, then leaves, he left us in a better place than he found us. We will be a much more coveted job by assistants the next go round and will be able to attract an even better coach, and the cycle will continue. We're Southern Miss. We aren't going to have lifetime coaches with tons of success. That's not how college athletics works nowadays. If Ladner were to win big, don't think he won't take the pay raise and go to a big program.

Choosing Adams over Ladner alienates Oak Grove people who haven't been to a game in years. Outside of Hattiesburg, this hire is about as blah as could be. No one cares and unless they're winning big, no one is going to drive an hour to watch a Ladner team play. I don't know a soul outside of Lamar County that thinks this was a good hire. Resume says it wasn't.


This was an important hire to get our basketball program on the right track as new tv contracts will be coming in a few years, which could mean some reshuffling when the Big XII collapses. If our basketball program is where it's at currently when that happens, we might as well drop to DII, because we'll be in an even (unbelievably) worse spot than we are now.

(04-17-2019 09:35 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(04-17-2019 08:12 PM)Reggie Favre Wrote:  

(04-17-2019 07:39 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  If Ladner was chosen over Adams, we hired the wrong AD.

Ehhh. Adams prob would be the best HC...for 1-3 years before he left. And hey...maybe that's the way to go. But maybe not. You choose Adams over Spoon and Ladner and you are alienating a whole lot of USM alum, donors and fan base. Could lose a lot of potential support. If Adams wins big then who cares? Until he leaves - and Jeremy may be gone too by then. Then our faith is in Bennett making another good hire at AD, that would hire the next HC. I have no faith in Bennett doing anything right consistently.

I say all that to say this - IF Ladner does well...he will be a lifer here. USM NEEDS a good coach to stick around SEVERAL YEARS (Lifer Years) to reach our aspirations of being a legit / consistent / highly successful basketball program. If Ladner is a bad coach and sux / fails the next 3 years, Jeremy will fire his ass. Its not like the USM basketball program is on top of the world or is coming off several 20+ win seasons or the most wins in its history (Doc fcked all that up already). Therefore, the reward is worth the risk of hiring Ladner. Hell, he may even keep Spoon on board if Spoon wants. Hire Adams (or anyone other than Ladner and Spoon), and the risk is not worth the reward.

If a coach comes here, stays 1-3 years and wins championships or brings us to the NCAAs, then leaves, he left us in a better place than he found us. We will be a much more coveted job by assistants the next go round and will be able to attract an even better coach, and the cycle will continue. We're Southern Miss. We aren't going to have lifetime coaches with tons of success. That's not how college athletics works nowadays. If Ladner were to win big, don't think he won't take the pay raise and go to a big program.

Choosing Adams over Ladner alienates Oak Grove people who haven't been to a game in years. Outside of Hattiesburg, this hire is about as blah as could be. No one cares and unless they're winning big, no one is going to drive an hour to watch a Ladner team play. I don't know a soul outside of Lamar County that thinks this was a good hire. Resume says it wasn't.


This was an important hire to get our basketball program on the right track as new tv contracts will be coming in a few years, which could mean some reshuffling when the Big XII collapses. If our basketball program is where it's at currently when that happens, we might as well drop to DII, because we'll be in an even (unbelievably) worse spot than we are now.

This is just another he's one of us hires. Just like Ellllllos and Hop. We will see how it turns out i've know Ladner since his days at Stanislaus and hes always been a good coach i just don't think it was the best hire for USM given the other candidates.

Wish him well. Better be able to recruit.

https://www.sunherald.com/sports/college...16474.html

(04-18-2019 09:35 AM)Black and Gold Battle Umbrella Wrote:  Wish him well. Better be able to recruit.

This. College basketball is all about Jimmys and Joes. Xs and Os only matter when the Jims and Joes are equal. Only 5 players play at one time.

(04-18-2019 09:35 AM)Black and Gold Battle Umbrella Wrote:  Wish him well. Better be able to recruit.

better vote "yea" next tuesday...maybe jaybird will have a chance....

I grew up with JL behind the plate and on the floor in opposition....

I can only wish him nothing but the best at this point....

and to those that have pointed out, he will be a 'lifer' if successful....

like his father, he's a good man....we'll see how that translates moving forward...