If Lick is fired in the next year or two I think Iowa will have to get creative to find a new coach. Our program will be in shambles and with poor facilities, poor attendance, and few natural recruiting bases. Most coaches will have forgot that it is possible to win here (it will have been about 15 years since we had consistently competitive teams). I think coaches that have or believe in the coming years will have other options will not come to Iowa, and will simply view this position as a place you can't win at.
Barta will have to do his homework. Identify what the strenghts and challenges of this program are. Identify what type of coach is needed to play to our strenghts and overcome our weaknesses. Barta will they have to scourt unheradled guys (there are plenty) who either are assistants or have had moderate success at other levels.
In basketball teams always higher that coach of the mid-major who makes a post-season run. However, that coaches fleeting success does not ensure he will successful in a different situation. And sometimes a mid-major coach with moderate success might be the perfect fit at your school (See Kirk Ferentz who had a losing record at football powerhouse Maine). Barta just needs to do some serious self-assement of the program and identify what type of coach is needed to revitalize the program, and then go find that type of coach (regardless of hype).
