So why did Iowa never hire Altman?

J

Jonrn

Well-Known Member
So I like Fran, but how did bowlsby and barta whiff on not putting the hard sell on Dana Altman when he was coaching creighton just across the state. He's a Nebraska/Midwest native. He seemed like he would have been a great fit in IC. Instead we got alfraud and lickliter.

I know it's just sour grapes since Oregon will likely be a final four team, and Iowa didn't even make the big ten final four, but I want answers.
 
I have a weird conspiracy theory about this....none of which is probably true but the timing sure lines up. When Iowa hired Lick, days before that it was rumored that Dana was in IC. It was rumored on this very site. So, again... IMO, I think Iowa talked to him and went with Lick instead. Dana wanted that job.... I think he always wanted the Iowa job, so much in fact that he was already committed to leaving Creighton back in 07 when Iowa spurned him that he took the Arkansas job a few days after because he was already committed to moving on from CU. Well, that didn't work out so well and he never coached at Arkansas and returned back to CU in a really weird circumstance a few days later. Well, fast forward 3 years and the Iowa job comes open again when we canned Lick. Altman is still at CU. Altman still wants a look, doesn't get the Iowa job and we hire Fran. Altman bolts to Oregon shortly after.
 
BTW, Dana is a hell of a coach but his demeanor and press conference attitude would go over in Iowa like the Jeb Bush primary.
 
InGoodCo said:
BTW, Dana is a hell of a coach but his demeanor and press conference attitude would go over in Iowa like the Jeb Bush primary.
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I think Iowa fans could overlook pretty much any demeanor is a final four bid was in the cards.
 
InGoodCo said:
I have a weird conspiracy theory about this....none of which is probably true but the timing sure lines up. When Iowa hired Lick, days before that it was rumored that Dana was in IC. It was rumored on this very site. So, again... IMO, I think Iowa talked to him and went with Lick instead. Dana wanted that job.... I think he always wanted the Iowa job, so much in fact that he was already committed to leaving Creighton back in 07 when Iowa spurned him that he took the Arkansas job a few days after because he was already committed to moving on from CU. Well, that didn't work out so well and he never coached at Arkansas and returned back to CU in a really weird circumstance a few days later. Well, fast forward 3 years and the Iowa job comes open again when we canned Lick. Altman is still at CU. Altman still wants a look, doesn't get the Iowa job and we hire Fran. Altman bolts to Oregon shortly after.
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Interesting. If true, barta should be sued for malpractice:
 
I've been thinking about this, too. How would Altman have done at Iowa? I'm guessing he would have gotten nowhere near the caliber athlete at Iowa that he's been getting at Oregon, but wonder if he'd have us at a higher level than we are now.

Back in the day, I recall being skeptical of an Altman hire, because his days at K-State weren't that spectacular, but that was a long time ago, and he's clearly getting it done at Oregon so seems I underestimated him. I also recall getting knocked around by his Oregon team in the NIT back in 2012 and that program has only gotten better and better..
 
He went to Creighton University if my memory is correct. It's been so long ago! I already moved on to Fran's and his company.
635893486282836054-Assistant-coaches.jpg
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Jonrn said:
So I like Fran, but how did bowlsby and barta whiff on not putting the hard sell on Dana Altman when he was coaching creighton just across the state. He's a Nebraska/Midwest native. He seemed like he would have been a great fit in IC. Instead we got alfraud and lickliter.

I know it's just sour grapes since Oregon will likely be a final four team, and Iowa didn't even make the big ten final four, but I want answers.
Click to expand...


I'll grant you he's had success at Oregon this year, but hasn't he really underachieved in the tournament more years than not? Too lazy to go look up his record but I don't remember his teams lighting it up in the Big Dance most years.
 
Altman wouldn't have Iowa in the final four. It's a whole lot easier to recruit to Oregon than Iowa. The west coast has a lot of basketball talent, and Oregon has a lot of Nike money.

I think Fran was, and has turned out to be, an excellent choice back in 2010. We needed someone with broad experience, and someone who had built programs back. We had below average facilities, fan support, and talent when Fran was hired, and we hadn't even been competitive in the conference for about 5 years.
 
SteveGarvey said:
I'll grant you he's had success at Oregon this year, but hasn't he really underachieved in the tournament more years than not? Too lazy to go look up his record but I don't remember his teams lighting it up in the Big Dance most years.
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Altman at Oregon. A Sweet 16 and at least an Elite 8 in the last 4 years, and at least the second (third) round. Not bad.


Oregon (Pacific-10/Pac-12 Conference) (2010–Present)
2010–11Oregon21–187–11T-7thCBI Champions
2011–12Oregon24–1013–5T-2ndNIT Quarterfinals
2012–13Oregon28–912–6T-2ndNCAA Sweet Sixteen
2013–14Oregon24–1010–8T-3rdNCAA Third Round
2014–15Oregon26–1013–5T-2ndNCAA Third Round
2015–16Oregon30–614–41stNCAA
Oregon:153–63 (.708)69–39 (.639)
 
Have you seen how many stars the Oregon basketball players have? The football teams success is flowing over to recruiting for the basketball team. Oregon is a household name now. No way Altman would be as successful here. Even though he is a phenomenal coach.
 
Jonrn said:
...but how did bowlsby and barta whiff on not putting the hard sell on Dana Altman...
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How do you know that they didn't put the hard sell on him? Are you some sort of "insider" who left out important details in your post?
 
HawkU said:
How do you know that they didn't put the hard sell on him? Are you some sort of "insider" who left out important details in your post?
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Yes, they might have. Keep in mind that at that time, Iowa's facilities were sub par and the improvements where not even thought of at the time. Oregon on the other hand, well has Phil cutting checks for anything that they wish including all this extra entertainment crap for players. You are not going to top Oregon on facilities as Phil will just continue to cuts checks to keep them ahead.
 
Iowa needs a Phil. Speaking of that, anybody know of an alumni of Iowa who is the most successful private corporate businessman. Just curious?
 
Wasn't it similar to Bowlsby wanting to hire Terry Allen after Hayden retired? The backlash from the fan base would have been so bad you could not hire him. I think he interviewed for the Iowa job, but there was a lot of Iowa fans that did not want him. I can't remember why he had so many detractors I think it had something to do with what 1977hawkeye alluded to his stint at K-state.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeUZFagfR80

You want this guy huh.

Altman's thing was worse, but I also remember Lick saying something like at his first press conference, "I don't know Iowa, but I'm going to try to learn." Right there was our huge red flag. He didn't want to leave Butler, but fell in the love with money at Iowa.
 
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