1. Please just ensure the next hire is a coach who wants this job BECAUSE it is the University of Iowa, not because it is a step up or a pay raise.
2. Please ensure this person has a high energy enthusiasm for the media, the fans, the players...someone who really enjoys the public relations side and relationship side of the game.
I was not a fan of Tom Davis basketball strategy. It literally drove me insane to watch us put the full court press on teams so much bigger, faster and stronger...almost watching them laugh as they ran layup drills on us at times. Despite that, I was very passionate about Iowa basketball and I was a rabid, rabid fan of the teams and the coach. I could get past "down" years, I could get past my dislike of the style of play, I could get past the fact that he was not the greatest recruiter. Mr. Davis was a personable guy who was easy to root for. His players by all accounts would walk to the end of the earth for him. His interviews were as entertaining as the games at times. He clearly loved being the Iowa coach and that breeds enthusiasm in the fan base. He had both of these qualities.
Alford had neither of these qualities. He clearly dreamed of the Indiana job and took this as his Plan B step up job. I have no idea what type of person Steve Alford is, but by all appearances he made very little attempt to embrace the fan base. I think that was a combination of decisions regarding players, a cocky attitude prior to earning the right, and his demeanor in general.
I really don't believe Lickliter was ever a good fit. I believe much like Alford he took this job as a step-up, not BECAUSE it was Iowa, it just happened to be Iowa. His personality was very reserved and could be described as almost closed off. I think this could be fine in many markets and he will undoubtedly find success at some level again. The problem is this is eastern Iowa. We have no pro teams, we have far fewer distractions in the winter months to help temper expectations. This really puts Hawkeye sports front and center in so many people's minds so the importance is inflated and the expectations are inflated. These are not expectations to win as much as an expectation that Hawkeye basketball will represent our state in a certain manner and a big part of that is the face of the program, which is the coach.
Fans will be more patient and fans will weather the storm when they are rooting for the coach as much as the team. Lute Olsen is a legend here for more than just the successful seasons, it is because of who he was. Hayden Fry is a legend here not only because he was such an incredibly successful coach, he was a legendary personality. Eastern Iowa loves its people as much as its teams. We love to have a great character leading our story (teams).
Bring us a coach that is just as entertaining and fun to root for in the dry years. The bottom line is the best recruiters are going to be the most successful as far as wins and losses, strategy on the court rarely makes a difference as there is not THAT much difference in the quality of coaching strategy. Recruiting to Iowa will always be a tougher sell than other places so it will always be a little bit harder to be consistently great...so first and foremost give us the person that will be great to root for on the off years.