Job Openings

By Yoni Cohen on Wed Feb 15, 2006 at 10:23:54 PM EST

Cincinnati

Missouri

Indiana

Likelihood Bob Huggins will coach next season: 100%

Likelihood Steve Lavin will coach next year: Better than 40% (Amen).

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Job Openings | 36 comments (36 topical, 0 hidden) | Post A Comment

Add... (none / 0)

Add OK State to that list. Sutton's going into rehab.

by Anonymous Hero on Wed Feb 15, 2006 at 11:02:10 PM EST
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Sutton (none / 0)

Sutton will be replaced by Sean Sutton, his son, who has essentially been half a coach over the last few seasons.  That job will not be open

by Anonymous Hero on Wed Feb 15, 2006 at 11:35:55 PM EST
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Lavin (none / 0)

Yeah, I'll be glad that he isn't on my TV as a color guy or studio "analyst" any more.  What type of job does he get, though?  I don't think he's going to be on the short list for any of those three schools.  Maybe he'll get in on the carousel when other jobs come open as a result of filling those spots.

by Martin on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 08:51:32 AM EST
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Lavin (none / 0)

I think we'll all be very glad when he's gone.  Here's hoping that something opens up for him.  There should be an enormous amount of coaching turnaround this Spring as a result of all the marquee jobs that are opening up.  That should fuel huge change as its effect filters down.  I certainly hope that Lavin gets caught up in it and removed from his post at ESPN.

by jsnoop36 on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 09:30:35 AM EST
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Majerus (none / 0)

while they're at it, I hope some school takes Majerus. He's awful. I remember a GW game last year on TV where he kept talking about Lewis taking the shot and Lewis playing good D - except neither team had a player named Lewis, or anything close to it.

by squidpants on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 11:09:29 AM EST
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I like Majerus as an analyst (none / 0)

While I agree that Majerus is terrible with names (both recollection and pronunciation), I think he is one of the sharpest pure basketball minds around. He is clearly not a polished analyst from a presentation standpoint, but he will make more astute observations in one game that many analysts will make all season. You need to focus on WHAT he is saying rather than HOW he says it.

His good friend Al McGuire was also terrible with names.


by Jeff79 on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 12:03:26 PM EST
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Majerus (none / 0)

I'd take him back as a coach here at BSU any day.  Besides being a great coach, a great motivator, and a great finder of talent, he was at his best in front of a mic and gave the school some much needed pub.  After he and Hunsaker made their exit, the program has steadily declined to the point where we are looking at a third losing record in four seasons.  This coming from a team that was in the Sweet 16 during the Rick 'n Dick era, and that dominated the MAC for several years, and made several tournament appearances during the McCallum era that followed.  

I figure if he's medically able, Rick will land back in the NCAA coaching mix.  I like him as a commentator (previous complaints acknowledged), but I like him much better on the sidelines...


by bigby on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 12:49:45 PM EST
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polar bears and pepperpots (none / 0)

call me crazy, but i kind of like lavin as an analyst, and can't stand majerus.

on the subject of lavin, does anyone else think that a non-white announcer would take some serious flak for using some of the terms lavin has coined to describe white players, like "polar bear," "honyok" (sp?) or "pepperpot"?  what if a white announcer referred to an african-american player as a "black bear" or some such thing?

i'm not really offended by these lavinisms; i just think it's an amusing double-standard.


by ben r on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 02:55:42 PM EST
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lavin/majerus (none / 0)

I actually like Lavin too. I don't like Majerus as an analyst though. I cringe every time he says offense (that's OH-ffense).

by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 07:13:11 PM EST
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Polar Bears (none / 0)

Generally people can get away with things like that if they make a comment about someone of the same race/religion/etc. People may still get offended, but it won't create as big of an uproar if it is about someone perceived as different.

As far as the specific nicknames I dont know where they originated - eg if Lavin made them up, or he is simply repeating them.

Lavin is entertaining as an analyst but he is more of the Vitale-variety than the Majerus-variety.


My College Basketball commentary blog
by ncaahoopstoday on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 08:02:52 PM EST
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Majerus as an analyst (none / 0)

Majerus is a great analyst on the XOs and internals of the game. How many other TV analysts have the level and depth of knowledge/analysis as Majerus? I am guessing less than 5. He is in some ways like Hubie Brown as an analyst.

He is (at times) a disaster on the delivery and presentation level and he does not know what is appropriate to say. He says things like "p-ing in the shower", and rating a player's mom and grand-ma (!) as perfect 10s, among many other things. But his main task is to break down basketball games, not be the next Brad Pitt :-)

Overall, I think ESPN is lucky to have Majerus as an analyst.


My College Basketball commentary blog
by ncaahoopstoday on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 07:50:16 PM EST
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Majerus is bad on TV...Musberger equally so (none / 0)

Majerus - great basketball mind, but good god does he slobber all over the microphone! Both literally and figuratively with his mis-pronunciations and poor grasp of college basketball trivia. I hope he gets a coaching job so I don't hear him on TV anymore.

Lavin is okay by me - his partner in crime, Mr. Musberger, really needs to go though. I've been pretty annoyed to have Brent at all major Big 10 games on ESPN the first half of the season...he only memorizes one or two facts for a team and hammers on them every game...get some new material!


by Anonymous Hero on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 11:16:06 AM EST
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Two more job openings.... (none / 0)

Albeit not as high profile:

ASU and Oregon.  Lavin to ASU perhaps?


by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 12:29:32 PM EST
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Re: ASU or Oregon (none / 0)

After the verbal beatings that Steve Lavin took at UCLA, I can't imagine he'd want to step back into the Pac-10. Just the thought of taking that kind of flack again every time he played UCLA might be enough to turn his stomach.

More than likely he'll get a much better reception at an MVC or A10 school whose coach passes along to a vacated BCS coaching job. Much like Matt Doherty moved to the Atlantic Sun, I'd wager that Lavin will step a few rungs down the coaching ladder where the pressures will be far less intense.


by jay on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 02:14:53 PM EST
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A10 or MVC (none / 0)

I also agree that Lavin is much more likely to reappear in a lesser known conference and not to get another shot in the Pac-10.  I think that would be better for the program and for him.

He could follow in his old boss, Jim Harrick's, lead and go to the A-10.  Harrick was really successful at Rhode Island after his controversy plagued ending on the West coast.  Now, granted, we all know the Harrick story didn't turn out too well at Georgia, but I think the model for rehabbing your coaching career on the opposite coast in a lesser known, but still respectable league is the one that Lavin in most likely to follow.


by jsnoop36 on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 03:38:31 PM EST
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Lavin (none / 0)

Unlike Matt Doherty and Mike Davis and Jim Harrick, Lavin left without really complaining or whining or taking shots at people or leaving a mess behind - at least as far as I know.

If he wasn't at UCLA (or one of the other top 10 schools), multiple Sweet-16s would have been considered successful. I think he was only behind Duke on the # of Sweet 16s.

But if he wasn't at UCLA, could he have gotten the equivalent talent level to achieve that?

Another option for Lavin could be to go as a package with a high profile coach as his top assistant so he can pick up more experience, or even become a head-coach-designate.

I don't think he is going to be in the Top of anyone's list, but he could get another job at some of the struggling or smaller programs without the history/tradition.


My College Basketball commentary blog
by ncaahoopstoday on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 08:14:49 PM EST
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Lavin left a mess (none / 0)

The man left us overrated unathletic tweeners who were unable to function as a cohesive unit.  His final recruiting class of one (Trevor Ariza) left after one year.  I don't care if he's an analyst or not, but he should be banned from commentating all future UCLA games, because the subtle shots he takes at our current coach is unacceptable.

He was lucky to be able to recruit at UCLA and get some studs based on reputation alone, but once recruits found out he couldn't coach, that was the end of that gravy train.  Multiple sweet 16s is not successful based on the talent he had at his disposal.  Lavin is a trainwreck and may God have mercy on whatever school decides that the grease monkey is the way to go.


by Anonymous Hero on Sat Feb 18, 2006 at 07:42:24 PM EST
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Mid-Major Coaches.... (none / 0)

We should start a list of the names that will be bantered about in coming weeks.

by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 12:53:34 PM EST
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Here's a name.... (none / 0)

Mark Fox, Nevada

Nevada is in position to win the WAC, again.  Another strong showing in the tourney will make it hard for the Reno school to fend off suitors.


by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 02:24:58 PM EST
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job opening (none / 0)

Arkansas job may be opening up soon.

by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 02:20:01 PM EST
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Heath had it so good @ Kent State (none / 0)

....it would be a good lesson to Mid Major coaches looking to jump to a high-major for a few extra duckats.

by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 02:28:00 PM EST
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Arkansas job (none / 0)

I grew up in Arkansas and have been keeping tabs on the program lately.  It seemed earlier this year that Heath might get the Hogs into the NCAA tourney...now, not so much.  I dont' hear the daily banter around the state now, but I'd like to see Heath get another year to try to take that one extra step.

Is Broyles ever going to retire?


by Martin on Fri Feb 17, 2006 at 10:10:11 AM EST
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Prosser to Cincy (none / 0)

Is this a done deal?  Most people in WInston-Salem believe it is.  Skip loves Cincy.  He spent 15 years at Xavier and that's where he met his wife.  Besides, the honeymoon is over at Wake.  Recruiting is tough in the state of North Carolina (against UNC, Duke, NC State). If Skip goes to Cincy, he'll do much better.  

by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 03:28:18 PM EST
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Skip loves Cincy. (none / 0)

The main problem with Wake is that unlike Duke and Carolina, the Wake administration will not make any exceptions academically for athletes.  Very few of the best kids can get by admissions.  Recruiting against UNC, Duke, and NC State are hard enough, but becomes impossible when you give yourself a disadvantage of only accepting kids with a 1300 or better SAT.

by Anonymous Hero on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 05:16:21 PM EST
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Uh-huh. (none / 0)

This is a joke, right?  Wake's basketball team has never had a reported average SAT score over 1000.  They're far from the lowest in the league, but they make plenty of exceptions.

by Ramar on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 07:16:36 PM EST
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Link? (none / 0)

Link please?  A friend of mine works in Wake's AD and would love to have that info.  Thanks.

by Anonymous Hero on Fri Feb 17, 2006 at 10:01:42 AM EST
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that's BS (none / 0)

and you know it.  I doubt there's a single scholarship player at Wake with a 1300 SAT.

by Martin on Fri Feb 17, 2006 at 10:12:56 AM EST
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That rumor seems popular (none / 0)

Prosser to Cincy
Belein to Wake Forest
Huggins to West Virginia

Next Carousel spin???
Alford to Indiana
Craig Neal takes over as Head Coach or an MVC coach or ???


My College Basketball commentary blog
by ncaahoopstoday on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 08:22:59 PM EST
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CSTV just mentioned Rutgers/Waters rumor (none / 0)

Apparently he missed a flight to a game or something like that and he may be the next coach on his way out.

My College Basketball commentary blog
by ncaahoopstoday on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 08:43:27 PM EST
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That's just a way for Rutgers to... (none / 0)

...weasel their way out of paying Waters some of his guaranteed money after he gets canned. The real reason for his firing, naturally, is the fact that the other Big East coach in the state of New Jersey has won as many conference road games in the past three weeks than Waters has in his entire tenure at Rutgers.

by SetonHallPirate on Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 09:37:43 PM EST
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Heath -- Arkansas (none / 0)

At the surface, you look at Heath and think he'll settle in next year and be fine. . . however, if you've seen any of these games Arkansas is not playing with any passion.  They storm out to a lead, play scared and watch their lead dwindle.

The LSU game at Baton Rouge was just another nail in the coffin.  LSU was up big, makes key mistakes, Arkansas can't help but take advantage and storm back.

With 23 seconds left and a two point lead, Heath puts in a freshman guard who has barely seen the floor all night and who has shot 8 free throws all year.

Guess who ends up with the ball and a foul.  

After missing both, LSU rebounds, races down the floor and Darren Mitchell hits a three for the win.

Arkansas has looked pathetic ever since.  Heath has lost this team, and now news is getting out that Kent State's senior leadership "voted out" Heath's system early in his first head coaching year.  Whether true or not, Stan is getting way too much heat and I just can't see him even wanting to stay another year.  


by Anonymous Hero on Fri Feb 17, 2006 at 02:36:05 PM EST
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Stan Heath (none / 0)

Heath's substitution patterns are incomprehensible at best.

by Anonymous Hero on Fri Feb 17, 2006 at 02:37:53 PM EST
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WANTED: College Bball coach (none / 0)

I read some of the comments and was really scratching my head.

I'll start with Cincinnati.  The administration has cooled on the idea of Prosser.  It would be really difficult to hire Prosser if Wake Forest has a losing record and Andy Kennedy guides the team to the NCAA Tournament.  It seems they're looking at Karl Hobbs of GW.  Hobbs was an assistant for 8 years at UConn (Big East ties/recruiting) but word has it he can do better.  Who does that leave?  I don't know, Mike Montgomery, Kevin Stallings those are few names I here.

That said, my guess is Mike Anderson leaves UAB and Kennedy gets the UAB job where he once played for Gene Bartow.

Also the Prosser/Beilein/Huggins rumor is silly.  I think Huggins is pushing it because he would like to coach at WVU.  How is West Virginia a better job than WVU?  Beilein isn't leaving for Wake Forest.

Guys you're not thinking about to keep an eye on are Mark Turgeon at Wichita State and Mick Cronin at Murray State.  These guys are going to win.  Cronin, a Cincinnati native and former Huggins assistant, is who the Bearcats should hire but for obvious reasons will not.  

Let me make some educated guesses on coaches in new places next season.  Feel free to tell me how wrong I am.

Oregon - Steve Wojciechowski
Missouri - Dana Altman
Arizona State - Lon Kruger
UNLV - Bob Huggins
Indiana - Steve Alford
Iowa - Greg McDermott
 


by BG on Sat Feb 18, 2006 at 11:55:12 PM EST
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Mike Montgomery (none / 0)

As much as I'd love to see Montgomery come back to the college level -- because he's as much a teacher as a coach -- it ain't gonna happen any time soon. He's successfully made the Warriors a middling team after years of piss-poor showings in the League. That's a cushy job with at least a few years worth of steam left in it.

by jay on Sun Feb 19, 2006 at 06:20:51 AM EST
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Jarvis? (none / 0)

Will Mike Jarvis get any looks for D1 jobs this year, or is he untouchable since the debacle in Queens?

by Anonymous Hero on Sun Feb 19, 2006 at 12:36:50 AM EST
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Wake Academics (none / 0)

Last Time I checked Duke was the hardest school to get in for academics in th ACC. Duke is about as well known for academics as they are athletics. I can't believe that Wake averages a 1300 SAT score. That is bending the truth so far. I mean I highly doubt everyone on any IVY league team (excluding Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) has that.

Back to the coaching discussion:
Yes I agree Prosser isn't drawing in the recruits but I have one question what the hell happened to this years team? Started out in almost everyones top 25 and now they're like 2-11 in the ACC. You can't say he doesn't have the talent because Gray, Williams, and Downey (I think)are very talented and Visser hustles and is pretty skilled. Last year Wake Forest should have won the National Championship by far. Prosser didnt use Paul enough and Williams was always in  foul trouble. But his team was as talented as anyone elses in the country. He isn't as great a coach as some people think he is.

If Wake Forest is lookin to hire anybody they should go after Beilein. In 2nd I would take Capel from VCU b/c his teams are always in the CAAs conference championship games.

I think that any school lookin to hire Lavin is just asking for trouble. He recruits the most overrated players and he couldnt coach. If he could have coached worth a squat at UCLA i think they would've made at least one final four. The only reason recruits came to him was because of the tradition of UCLA. Whoever said they don't like how Lavin criticizes Howland is very correct. Howland has won games and has borught recruits in and I dont think he is hated by most every other coach in the Pac-10. If Lavin goes to a lower profile school he will lose his job in 3-5 years and be out of coaching.


Nova Nation NCCA mens national champs 1985, 2006?
by novafan11 on Mon Feb 27, 2006 at 10:00:09 PM EST
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Job Openings | 36 comments (36 topical, 0 hidden) | Post A Comment
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