Who the new coach needs to be.....

[Rawkhawk73]

Not by name, but by what he needs to bring to the table:

1. Proven program-building ability - The person needs to have shown that he can take a program that has been down and bring it back to prominence.

2. High-Major/BCS Conference experience - The person needs to currently be or have been in a major conference in order to understand the type of players needed to compete in that level of conference.

3. Uptempo/Pressing style - I really believe that the person we bring in needs to have a "gimmick" to set Iowa basketball apart from everyone else in the conference.....especially now that we don't have a recent winning tradition to sell. At this point, we don't have anything to set us apart from MSU, OSU, PU, etc in the conference. If we can get back to a running, pressing, fast-break style of offense/defense, then that will give us something tangible to sell to recruits until we can start having positive win/loss results. In addition, the fanbase NEEDS excitement right now. I think that people would be okay, initially, if we didn't win right away, but still put a product on the floor that was compelling to watch and worth paying money for.

4. Assistants with good recruiting ties - This is paramount as we've seen with both the Alford (BN - Before Noodles) and Lickliter hires. We can't have a guy use the job as a way to get his friends/family/yes men paid.

5. Willingness to embrace Iowa's tradition - I am so tired of hearing the past 11 years about either Indiana (Alford) or Butler (Lickliter). Iowa's got a pretty damn good tradition of its own and the person who comes in needs to embrace it and let the fans know that he cares about that tradition and communicate a passion for getting that tradition back.

 

[Pooker]

OK --who fits your criteria that would be available?

 

[Rawkhawk73]

OK --who fits your criteria that would be available?

I'm not the one that gets paid the big bucks to figure that out. I am just pointing out what my opinion is of what qualities that coach needs to have.

If I had a gun to my head to come up with a name, and that person was guaranteed to come, it's obviously Bruce Pearl. He's the one that I know of off-hand that has all of the above qualities.

But I'm sure if I researched it enough, I could come up with more.

 

[drew003]

I disagree on points 1 & 3. On point 1, I think program building is such school-specific thing that a coach's success/failure at another school doesn't carry great predicative value for his success at Iowa. Each school has different values, identities, challenges, strengths, ect... For example, the plan for rebuilding St. Johns is a lot different than the plan for rebuilding Iowa.

On point 3, I want what ever style that will win. Gimmick offenses might breed temporary excitement, but it will fade if we don't win. If the coach brings in a few more athletes, and allows even moderate on-ball defensive pressure and fast-breaking we will be much more exciting that previous years.

I would suggest a few other key traits.

(1) Instead of understanding "traditions," I would modify and say the coach has to understand the institutional strengths/challenges of Iowa. He needs to come in to this job, eyes-wide-open about what Iowa is. To this point, I think some high-major experience is necessary. He needs to how power schools operate, how recruiting operates, ect...

(2) The coach needs to be a people person. He needs to have some charisma, charm, and communication skills. This coach needs to be optimistic and bring some level of "fun" to Hawkeye basketball. Lick hasn't had any fun since his has been here, and his players look like robots. If the coach has the personality and skills to develop rapport with fans, media, AAU clubs, recruits, and his players this will go along way toward re-building this program. At this point X's & O's are secondary to me. We need to hire a CEO, a guy that understands people, and a guy that puts other people in positions to be successful so as to orchestrate a successful program.

I think people get caught up in a coaches past resume. Just because a coach won somewhere else doesn't mean he will win here. And just because a coach didn't win somewhere else, doesn't mean he won't win here (Kirk Ferentz). Barta needs to understand Iowa's strengths and weaknesses and find a coach with skills to thrive in this environment.

 

[jparmley3]

Who the coach needs to be....


....is anyone but Todd Lickliter.


If I have to come up with a name to fit the profile, I can come up with one:

Billy Gillespie.

I really think he would be a shock to the system on the UI campus. Perhaps that is what we need to try to keep up with the Joneses.

 

[hawkeye12345]

Who the coach needs to be....


....is anyone but Todd Lickliter.


If I have to come up with a name to fit the profile, I can come up with one:

Billy Gillespie.

I really think he would be a shock to the system on the UI campus. Perhaps that is what we need to try to keep up with the Joneses.

It's Gillispie not Gillespie and although you can't spell his name, he is at the top of my list without a doubt. It damn near breaks my soul to think that he may end up at Iowa State. That guy will have ANY program in the top 25 in year 2.

 

[Southernhawk]

1) I think we need to get someone with previous Iowa ties...no Butler buddies or Hoosier heroes. 2) We need to get an energetic fellow who will reach out to players, fans (especially student section), AAU teams, and who will play a style of ball that is current. 3) He better be prepared to recruit well himself in addition to any "lead recruiter." The only person I know of that meets this is Pearl. Doubt he would come, but you never know unless you make a REAL offer.

 

[Rawkhawk73]

I disagree on points 1 & 3. On point 1, I think program building is such school-specific thing that a coach's success/failure at another school doesn't carry great predicative value for his success at Iowa. Each school has different values, identities, challenges, strengths, ect... For example, the plan for rebuilding St. Johns is a lot different than the plan for rebuilding Iowa.

On point 3, I want what ever style that will win. Gimmick offenses might breed temporary excitement, but it will fade if we don't win. If the coach brings in a few more athletes, and allows even moderate on-ball defensive pressure and fast-breaking we will be much more exciting that previous years.

I would suggest a few other key traits.

(1) Instead of understanding "traditions," I would modify and say the coach has to understand the institutional strengths/challenges of Iowa. He needs to come in to this job, eyes-wide-open about what Iowa is. To this point, I think some high-major experience is necessary. He needs to how power schools operate, how recruiting operates, ect...

(2) The coach needs to be a people person. He needs to have some charisma, charm, and communication skills. This coach needs to be optimistic and bring some level of "fun" to Hawkeye basketball. Lick hasn't had any fun since his has been here, and his players look like robots. If the coach has the personality and skills to develop rapport with fans, media, AAU clubs, recruits, and his players this will go along way toward re-building this program. At this point X's & O's are secondary to me. We need to hire a CEO, a guy that understands people, and a guy that puts other people in positions to be successful so as to orchestrate a successful program.

I think people get caught up in a coaches past resume. Just because a coach won somewhere else doesn't mean he will win here. And just because a coach didn't win somewhere else, doesn't mean he won't win here (Kirk Ferentz). Barta needs to understand Iowa's strengths and weaknesses and find a coach with skills to thrive in this environment.

I disagree with you on not needing a "gimmick". Look, we aren't going to get a "name" coach, not with the environment and program we have now. So what is going to bring in recruits? Is it our beach access? Our beautiful mountains? Our "mild" weather? Our tradition (recent tradition is so bad that the current recruiting class was 7 years old the last time we went to the Sweet 16)? You've got to bring something to the table. If you can't bring a "name", weather, or tradition, the only thing left is style of play.

 

[BA96MA99]

You've got to bring something to the table. If you can't bring a "name", weather, or tradition, the only thing left is style of play.

Or an SUV, some nice clothes, some cash left in manilla envelopes, etc.

There are coaches who can recruit, and then there are coaches that can RECRUIT, if you know what I mean.

 

[hawkeye12345]

1) I think we need to get someone with previous Iowa ties...no Butler buddies or Hoosier heroes. 2) We need to get an energetic fellow who will reach out to players, fans (especially student section), AAU teams, and who will play a style of ball that is current. 3) He better be prepared to recruit well himself in addition to any "lead recruiter." The only person I know of that meets this is Pearl. Doubt he would come, but you never know unless you make a REAL offer.

Bruce Pearl is not going to leave the SEC and come to Iowa. Power conference to power conference is hard enough but it usually is a powere conference to elite school like Kansas, Duke, UCLA, etc. As much as I would love for it to happen, it just isn't going too. His ties to Iowa aren't exactly strong. He didn't play for us, he was only an assistant and he nearly committed coaching suicide here which of course would be brought up time and time again if he did come here.

 

[hawkeye12345]

I disagree with you on not needing a "gimmick". Look, we aren't going to get a "name" coach, not with the environment and program we have now. So what is going to bring in recruits? Is it our beach access? Our beautiful mountains? Our "mild" weather? Our tradition (recent tradition is so bad that the current recruiting class was 7 years old the last time we went to the Sweet 16)? You've got to bring something to the table. If you can't bring a "name", weather, or tradition, the only thing left is style of play.

Its our loose women.

 

[BA96MA99]

Its our loose women.

No, it's our stalker women.

 

[jparmley3]

It's Gillispie not Gillespie and although you can't spell his name, he is at the top of my list without a doubt. It damn near breaks my soul to think that he may end up at Iowa State. That guy will have ANY program in the top 25 in year 2.

a) We are referring to the same person. So, why the spelling police? I could bring out the grammar police on your response, but that would be a case of splitting hairs.

b) Uh, ISU AD Jamie Pollard(ini) stated this week that Greg McD is safe for one more season. Honestly, I don't see Billy G lasting that long on the open market.

 

[drew003]

I disagree with you on not needing a "gimmick". Look, we aren't going to get a "name" coach, not with the environment and program we have now. So what is going to bring in recruits? Is it our beach access? Our beautiful mountains? Our "mild" weather? Our tradition (recent tradition is so bad that the current recruiting class was 7 years old the last time we went to the Sweet 16)? You've got to bring something to the table. If you can't bring a "name", weather, or tradition, the only thing left is style of play.

Recruits go where they like the coaches. If we hire a coach that connects with kids, kids will come. Tradition and facilities certainly help (hopefully our renovations will make us competitive), but so much of basketball recruiting is relationships. Basketball involves intimate personal relationships, there are 4 coaches and 13 players. They get to know each other well, during recruiting and on the team.

If we hire a coach that connects with kids, then all of the sudden kids like Paige, Staten, Jok, Randles, ect.. will start giving us looks.

 

[Southernhawk]

Bruce Pearl is not going to leave the SEC and come to Iowa. Power conference to power conference is hard enough but it usually is a powere conference to elite school like Kansas, Duke, UCLA, etc. As much as I would love for it to happen, it just isn't going too. His ties to Iowa aren't exactly strong. He didn't play for us, he was only an assistant and he nearly committed coaching suicide here which of course would be brought up time and time again if he did come here.

I've said it many times on this site before like I did in my previous post in this thread...I doubt Pearl would be interested...That being said, make Pearl tell you, "No thanks."

 

[AHawk1]

To win at an Iowa or an ISU is not a easy task.

A few factors:

1. Get lucky on a new up and comer.
2. Spend the big bucks and get a proven coach.
3. Have a coach who will stretch the recruiting rules as far as your willing to allow.
4. Get a coach who has a new or a gimmick style (kinda like Mr. Davis).
5. Find a coach who can relate directly with a lot of the top players and be a great recruiter (George Ravling)-Im not calling him a great coach

 

[GhostofBTT]

Not by name, but by what he needs to bring to the table:

1. Proven program-building ability - Why would a coach like this come to Iowa

2. High-Major/BCS Conference experience - Why would a coach like this come to Iowa
3. Uptempo/Pressing style - Is it really that important to you that we lose 88-75 over 68-43? Good players make exciting basketball, not the other way around

4. Assistants with good recruiting ties - Why would a coach like this come to Iowa?

5. Willingness to embrace Iowa's tradition - Exactly how has Lick or anyone else violated Iowa's tradition?

 

[BA96MA99]

Ghost: There is no reason, except a boatload of cash. The next coach is going to break the bank.

 

[djwoody98]

"Exactly how has Lick or anyone else violated Iowa's tradition?"

Check the record the past 3 seasons. I don't think losing has been a tradition in men's basketball at the University of Iowa.

 

[hawkinaclownhouse]

Why did Johnny Orr go to ISU in the 80s?

Michigan was way higher than ISU in every respect but ISU threw a boatload of cash out there. The story is that ISU contacted Johnny looking for a name to pursue, when he found out how much ISU was willing to pay he threw his name in for consideration.