(04-15-2021 07:29 AM)Lush Wrote: why ten years at greensboro?
The job was so unattractive they had to hire from within, which is how he got the job at 28. It took him about 5 years to build the program up. His name probably started to pop up for jobs around 3 years ago, but my guess is the dude was waiting for the UNC opening. I don't think its any coincidence he decided to move on almost immediately after being turned down by UNC. Greensboro is also his hometown, so he was probably enjoyed living there as well.
He was born and raised in Greensboro as well. Dream job aside from a UNC-esque one. All I know is we got 'em now!
(04-15-2021 04:52 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: This is almost universally being hailed as a home run hire. Not just in the media. When guys like Roy Williams and Mick Cronin were not only consulted ahead of the hire but have gone out and publicly tipped their caps, that is the type of press that helps retain players and restock a roster.
Cunningham nailed this process.
Yes!
(04-15-2021 05:09 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: Already rumblings players in the portal are coming back. Miller was on the phone with everyone on the team and in the portal before news of the hire even broke. Full court press. Team meeting today. Lord God Almighty we have some energy and a dynamic communicator back in the coach’s corner office.
Let’s lock up a great staff and burn up the lines. I’m pretty stoked about UC basketball right now. Feels good. It’s been a while.
(04-15-2021 04:52 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: This is almost universally being hailed as a home run hire. Not just in the media. When guys like Roy Williams and Mick Cronin were not only consulted ahead of the hire but have gone out and publicly tipped their caps, that is the type of press that helps retain players and restock a roster.
Cunningham nailed this process.
Yes!
(04-15-2021 05:09 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: Already rumblings players in the portal are coming back. Miller was on the phone with everyone on the team and in the portal before news of the hire even broke. Full court press. Team meeting today. Lord God Almighty we have some energy and a dynamic communicator back in the coach’s corner office.
Let’s lock up a great staff and burn up the lines. I’m pretty stoked about UC basketball right now. Feels good. It’s been a while.
And, Yes!
Rath is woke - in a good way.
If Rath is positive about this hire, this whole board better be
I love the reception the coach is receiving as well. Good to hear he's already reached out to the whole team. Can't wait for the presser! Go Bearcats!
The last season has been tough but it's great that we got the chance to quickly hit the reset button. Even though the timing of the dismissal was similar to two years ago there was a lot more turnover in the carousel then so it seemed like we got a consolation candidate. I never would have advocated firing someone for performance after two years but given the extreme circumstances it's great to have the chance to correct the situation now vs. in two years. I'm pumped!
Never was a Brannen hater. Would have been ok with this year’s results due to Covid and the fight the team showed finishing out the season. That being said- the mass Exodus ruined any momentum we had and was totally deflating. The guy had to go.
Really excited about Wes Miller. Just feels better than Brannen did 2 years ago.
Admittedly, this does feel like a Brian Kelly situation, in that CWM won't be around long if successful. But if he takes us to Brian Kelly type heights, I'm willing to deal with it.
(04-15-2021 08:57 AM)Cat-Man Wrote: Admittedly, this does feel like a Brian Kelly situation, in that CWM won't be around long if successful. But if he takes us to Brian Kelly type heights, I'm willing to deal with it.
I mean he stayed at UNCG for a decade. I think it was clear his last couple seasons he could have taken a job somewhere else. He ultimately left because Cincinnati is a damn good job. I wouldn't worry too much about him leaving. Everyone has jobs they'd leave for, but I'm betting his list is smaller than you think.
(This post was last modified: 04-15-2021 09:02 AM by bearcatmark.)
04-15-2021 09:00 AM
BearcatMan
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(04-15-2021 08:57 AM)Cat-Man Wrote: Admittedly, this does feel like a Brian Kelly situation, in that CWM won't be around long if successful. But if he takes us to Brian Kelly type heights, I'm willing to deal with it.
I mean he stayed at UNCG for a decade. I think it was clear his last couple seasons he could have taken a job somewhere else. He ultimately left because Cincinnati is a damn good job. I wouldn't worry too much about him leaving. Everyone has jobs they'd leave for, but I'm betting his list is smaller than you think.
The only thing I'm worried about is the cultural fit seeing as how he has only lived outside of the state of NC for 1 of his 38 years on Earth...outside of that, I see no red flags, hell, issues of any type, with this hire. Exactly the kind of coach I wanted us to go after.
(04-15-2021 08:57 AM)Cat-Man Wrote: Admittedly, this does feel like a Brian Kelly situation, in that CWM won't be around long if successful. But if he takes us to Brian Kelly type heights, I'm willing to deal with it.
I mean he stayed at UNCG for a decade. I think it was clear his last couple seasons he could have taken a job somewhere else. He ultimately left because Cincinnati is a damn good job. I wouldn't worry too much about him leaving. Everyone has jobs they'd leave for, but I'm betting his list is smaller than you think.
The only thing I'm worried about is the cultural fit seeing as how he has only lived outside of the state of NC for 1 of his 38 years on Earth...outside of that, I see no red flags, hell, issues of any type, with this hire. Exactly the kind of coach I wanted us to go after.
In general i worry very little about that in Cincinnati. First, these guys work and travel a ton. There have been very few coaches who leave here at any level because of the city. It's one of the better stops on the college trail.
Question - is the Basketball Director of Sports Performance (the weight guy who was leaving) definitely gone? Does the basketball coach usually bring their own guy or is that person hired by the Athletic Department? I have no opinion about the guy who was here the past year...the guys seemed in fine shape but things were weird the past year. Just curious how this works and if he stays. I would love to see some hype pics etc. It's always nice to see how the guys are being built up.
(04-15-2021 09:00 AM)bearcatmark Wrote: I mean he stayed at UNCG for a decade. I think it was clear his last couple seasons he could have taken a job somewhere else. He ultimately left because Cincinnati is a damn good job. I wouldn't worry too much about him leaving. Everyone has jobs they'd leave for, but I'm betting his list is smaller than you think.
The only thing I'm worried about is the cultural fit seeing as how he has only lived outside of the state of NC for 1 of his 38 years on Earth...outside of that, I see no red flags, hell, issues of any type, with this hire. Exactly the kind of coach I wanted us to go after.
Before the recent debacle our two previous permanent coaches lasted 16 and 13 years and each left with long NCAA runs. I agree with Mark; everyone has their lists but this is a great job. Leaving for a middle tier ACC job would reduce his chances of eventually becoming the UNC coach vs having sustained success here like Sampson is currently enjoying at UH.
There's all kinds of parallels to the Fickell/OSU situation. We all concede Fickell would walk to OSU if he were offered the job. But the fact that 5 years in Fickell has raised his profile to the point where he'd be considered a prime candidate means he's blown by any reasonable expectations we had when he came. Miller already came close to his dream job at his alma mater but if he doesn't do well here he won't get that opportunity again.
(04-15-2021 09:12 AM)bearcatdp Wrote: Question - is the Basketball Director of Sports Performance (the weight guy who was leaving) definitely gone? Does the basketball coach usually bring their own guy or is that person hired by the Athletic Department? I have no opinion about the guy who was here the past year...the guys seemed in fine shape but things were weird the past year. Just curious how this works and if he stays. I would love to see some hype pics etc. It's always nice to see how the guys are being built up.
(04-15-2021 09:12 AM)bearcatdp Wrote: Question - is the Basketball Director of Sports Performance (the weight guy who was leaving) definitely gone? Does the basketball coach usually bring their own guy or is that person hired by the Athletic Department? I have no opinion about the guy who was here the past year...the guys seemed in fine shape but things were weird the past year. Just curious how this works and if he stays. I would love to see some hype pics etc. It's always nice to see how the guys are being built up.
(04-14-2021 11:46 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote: Something to add about the conference Wes is coming from -- the Southern has been pretty good the past 5 years. Here is their conference RPI rankings of late:
This is a good point. The southern was in that next tier of conferences below the mountain west, wcc, Missouri Valley and Atlantic ten over the last several years. It's been a true mid major not low major conference.
He averaged 25 wins a year in a decent conference for 5 years. Tells me he is getting the right guys and that they are being developed. Not sure why he didn’t get a look from UC 2 years ago. Oh well. Better late than never.
Have you seen what one of those Mayflower trucks costs per day???
Not to mention all the expensive long distance calls on the rotary dial desk phones
(04-15-2021 04:52 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: This is almost universally being hailed as a home run hire. Not just in the media. When guys like Roy Williams and Mick Cronin were not only consulted ahead of the hire but have gone out and publicly tipped their caps, that is the type of press that helps retain players and restock a roster.
Cunningham nailed this process.
Yes!
(04-15-2021 05:09 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: Already rumblings players in the portal are coming back. Miller was on the phone with everyone on the team and in the portal before news of the hire even broke. Full court press. Team meeting today. Lord God Almighty we have some energy and a dynamic communicator back in the coach’s corner office.
Let’s lock up a great staff and burn up the lines. I’m pretty stoked about UC basketball right now. Feels good. It’s been a while.
And, Yes!
Rath is woke - in a good way.
If Rath is positive about this hire, this whole board better be
I love the reception the coach is receiving as well. Good to hear he's already reached out to the whole team. Can't wait for the presser! Go Bearcats!
I'm not sure I can get behind this hire without first hearing from Skyblade.
(04-15-2021 07:29 AM)Lush Wrote: why ten years at greensboro?
I wondered about that. Everyone wondered why Martin was a WVU assistant for so long. Seems Miller should have had an offer he could not refuse in under 10 years.
Perhaps he thought he would wait for the real UNC, but now that it is gone he is willing to move.
If he has UC in The Dance in 3 years he will be gone back to the first Carolina (N or S) that opens.
(04-15-2021 08:57 AM)Cat-Man Wrote: Admittedly, this does feel like a Brian Kelly situation, in that CWM won't be around long if successful. But if he takes us to Brian Kelly type heights, I'm willing to deal with it.
I mean he stayed at UNCG for a decade. I think it was clear his last couple seasons he could have taken a job somewhere else. He ultimately left because Cincinnati is a damn good job. I wouldn't worry too much about him leaving. Everyone has jobs they'd leave for, but I'm betting his list is smaller than you think.
The only thing I'm worried about is the cultural fit seeing as how he has only lived outside of the state of NC for 1 of his 38 years on Earth...outside of that, I see no red flags, hell, issues of any type, with this hire. Exactly the kind of coach I wanted us to go after.
In general i worry very little about that in Cincinnati. First, these guys work and travel a ton. There have been very few coaches who leave here at any level because of the city. It's one of the better stops on the college trail.
Yeah, I agree.
The Tri State is not perfect for everyone, but it's "middle" enough that it's at least tolerable for almost everyone.
(04-15-2021 07:29 AM)Lush Wrote: why ten years at greensboro?
I wondered about that. Everyone wondered why Martin was a WVU assistant for so long. Seems Miller should have had an offer he could not refuse in under 10 years.
Perhaps he thought he would wait for the real UNC, but now that it is gone he is willing to move.
If he has UC in The Dance in 3 years he will be gone back to the first Carolina (N or S) that opens.
So, he gets UC to one NCAA tournament in three years and Chapel Hill comes calling? Got it.
(04-15-2021 07:29 AM)Lush Wrote: why ten years at greensboro?
I wondered about that. Everyone wondered why Martin was a WVU assistant for so long. Seems Miller should have had an offer he could not refuse in under 10 years.
Perhaps he thought he would wait for the real UNC, but now that it is gone he is willing to move.
If he has UC in The Dance in 3 years he will be gone back to the first Carolina (N or S) that opens.
Was reading that WM’a father was on the BOT at Wake Forest and the practice facility is the Dr. Kenneth Miller Practice Facility. Guess WF is out due to a conflict of interest.
Can we get Dr. Miller to throw some money over here to Clifton?
Miller took over a program that was not only the worst in the Southern Conference, it was one of the bottom feeders in all of basketball. Like the kind of teams we bitched about scheduling. That’s the reason he got hired at 28. It was a crappy job. Took 5 years to build it and the next 5 he’s killed it.
Don’t think for a minute he wasn’t holding on for a shot at the belt when Roy Williams retired from the place he was team captain. He did and apparently finished a close second for possibly the best NCAA basketball gig in America.
(This post was last modified: 04-15-2021 09:52 AM by rath v2.0.)
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Wes Miller
