Some Brief Thoughts On The Oklahoma Coaching Search
by dishingoutdimes on Mar 19, 2011 10:11 PM CDT
in Basketball
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PrintLet's face it, the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball program is at a low point - about as low as you can get in one of the biggest college conferences. Over the last two seasons, they've combined for just 27 wins. As a result, the Sooners are probably not going to get a successful veteran coach to take on the massive task of rebuilding a team with not a whole lot of talent on the roster.
I would also not expect someone to leave a pretty comfortable setup for not much more money and a rebuilding project. Guys like Brad Stevens at Butler, Josh Pastner at Memphis, and Buzz Williams at Marquette are already at "basketball schools", have had success there, and have a comfortable life with their recruiting connections all set up. Why would they leave that to go to a school that has horrible attendance for their games, has hit rock bottom, and doesn't show a lot of promise for immediate success?
And yet, Joe Castiglione is going to have to target a guy who can bring interest back to OU basketball, preferably sooner rather than later. Someone like that is going to probably need to have either a flashy personality, or a track record of success but they just aren't happy where they are at right now. He's also probably going to go after someone with one of those (or both), and with a history of rebuilding a program(s).
A move from Minnesota to Oklahoma would probably be an upgrade for Tubby Smith who has already said he'd listen to similar offers. Let's remember that Tubby is getting nearly $2 MIL a year from Minnesota, though, which makes it unlikely that OU would pay big money to lure him away.
Bruce Pearl certainly fits the bill, and he has had a troubled season at Tennessee. Despite that, I think he would stay put unless he's fired. UW-Milwaukee only had two winning seasons between 1990 and 2001 when Pearl was hired. After he was hired they made a tournament in 4 consecutive years, and the Sweet 16 once - unprecedented for the small program.
This leaves the unconventional hire, which is certainly the M.O. of Joe Castiglione, and probably what is most likely. Geno Auriemma's name has been bantered about, and that would certainly be unconventional. It's not completely crazy either, as it was reported that OU tried to lure Auriemma in right before they settled on Capel.
Who are the unconventional hires that you like? Keep in mind that Capel was making $1.05 MIL a year, so OU probably won't target someone who makes much more than that. Post your thoughts in the comments section!
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$2 mil in Norman goes a heck of a lot further than $2mil in Minneapolis.
Fact. No matter who they hire.
I figure they throw in some incentive laden contract… With a base the first 2 years then ramp it up substantially with performance & heck even attendance ….
It also has to be someone confident – not cocky- but confident & ok with the pecking order Self, Barnes then #3….
by OU JJ on Mar 19, 2011 10:35 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Maybe
but I still don’t think we’re going to pony up 2 MIL for Tubby. Joe C doesn’t make those kind of hires.
"Coach Gundy, why was Oklahoma able to march right down the field against you?" --Erin Andrews
by dishingoutdimes on Mar 19, 2011 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions
I dont think so either, but maybe it doesn't take that upfront.
My gut says tho he & Buzz are front runners… Maybe a little luck & get Few or the Butler -Esque type coach, but it’s unlikely. This isn’t rebuilding it’s restoring, to allow rebuilding in 2-3 seasons…..
by OU JJ on Mar 19, 2011 11:12 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't think Buzz would leave
I think Tubby would leave, but we would need to put up some serious cash.
We’ll go for a cheaper hire, I bet.
"Coach Gundy, why was Oklahoma able to march right down the field against you?" --Erin Andrews
by dishingoutdimes on Mar 19, 2011 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions
For the record, the under-the-radar guys I like:
Lon Kruger, current coach of UNLV:
Currently earns about $1.2 MIL base salary
He’s been in coaching for 35 years, spent 1976-1990 in the region at Kansas State, Pittsburg State, and UT-Pan American. He’s taken 13 teams to tournaments including Florida to the Final Four in 1994 and UNLV to the Sweet 16 in 2007. Career record 478-302 (0.613).
Mark Few, current coach of Gonzaga
Reported salary in 2006 was $600,000
Gonzaga has made the NCAA Tournament every year under Few, and he has been there for 12 years. They have advanced in the tournament 9 of the 12 times, including 4 Sweet 16 appearances. Career record 315-83 (0.791).
Mark Fox, current coach of Georgia
Earns about $1.2 MIL per year
Has been in coaching since 1991, including a stint as a Kansas State assistant from 1994-2000. He’s been a head coach since 2004, and recently jumped from Nevada to Georgia. His teams have made the NCAA Tournament 4/7 years and Georgia made the tournament this year for the first time since 2008 (prior to Fox). Career record 158-71 (0.715).
Gregg Marshall, current coach of Wichita State
Originally he coached at Winthrop, building them into a powerhouse in the Big South Conference, and a team that always made the Tournament. He moved to Wichita State who was able to offer some more money in 2007. His Shockers teams have improved record-wise every year and have spent the last two seasons in the NIT. Career record 271-137 (0.664).
"Coach Gundy, why was Oklahoma able to march right down the field against you?" --Erin Andrews
by dishingoutdimes on Mar 19, 2011 10:52 PM CDT reply actions
I like Mark Few...
of those guys you just mentioned. However, I feel that OU has become an EXTREMELY unattractive position in College Basketball. Fans are not going to show unless the team is winning, that has been well documented. Even when I was in school in the 90s and the basketball team was more successful than the football team, 40-60% of the campus seemed to be oblivious to the fact that we even had a basketball team. Compare that to the 2-3% for the football team. I think the names everyone seems to be excited about like Buzz Williams and Josh Pastner are just pipe dreams. Those men would be fools to leave their current set ups. Personally, I think that OU needs to give the job to Terry Evans. It would be his baby. Give him time to resurrect the program to what he needs it to be. I feel that everything will fall in place because Evans was wildly popular as a player at OU, and I am sure he would be the same as a coach.
I'm a Sooner Born and a Sooner Bred, and when I die I'll be a Sooner Dead!!!
good luck!!
Been there done all of that at my Alma Matter the University of Iowa. Learn from our mistakes and get somebody that can recruit, recruit and recruit!! For your sake I hope they play up tempo ball and do stay away from coaches like Todd Lickliter!! Boring boring basketball. Go for an up and coming assistant and not the “attractive mid major” coach. Hopefully it will be someone who knows Big 12 basketball and can be an exciting coach that puts buts in seats. If not you guys will be like Iowa…LONG rebuilding process!!
Great Article as usual Dimes!
but I have one, small change…..I heard from my source that OU was willing to pay what ever it took to get the right coach. If that was $2MM then OU would pay it. Emig of the Tulsa World wrote he thought $ 1.5MM would be OU’s top, but if the person I know knows anything it’s the money side, and OU is willing to pay more for the RIGHT person.
Key there is “RIGHT PERSON”…not sure Tubby Smith is that guy at the price range.
BUT…if OU is willing to pay…that opens up the door to a wider range of candidates given OU’s “challenges” in their basketball program.
When I write: Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com)
"Suck it monkeys, the Rockies will win this year"
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