Thoughts on who would be worth a try as new coach

[TheCat]

I can not think of many realistic coaches but I will throw out one.

Brian Dutcher at San Diego State. He has a winning percentage of (.756) as a head coach. Small sample size but he is 96-31 as a head coach. Instrumental in recruiting the FAB 5 at Michigan and brought in Kawhi Leonard to SDSU. Thought he had a real chance at the Michigan job before Howard got it. Steve Fisher made him the coach in waiting and San Diego State agreed.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Why aren't we talking about Bryce Drew?

He's done really well against his league, his brother just rehabbed a program in way worse shape than ours with way less tradition and took them to a Natty.

The Lopes made the tourney this year, the fans love him, can't believe nobody has mentioned his name.

Forgive me if someone has but I can't remember his name coming up recently.

I put this in the tommy lloyd thread but it fits better here.

Ps I don't know anything about this stuff, but it makes me feel better to throw darts at a map with a blindfold on.

[Beachcat97]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

[Merkin]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

Arizona is the second-best job in the Pac-12, behind UCLA

[Basketcats]

Realistically, I feel we are bound for a mid-major conference assistant head coach type. With all the money that has had to have been shelled out this year and the stupid pandemic knee capping funds, UofA can't afford to swing for the fences.

Honestly, I would like to see Ben Howland get a shot. Not a popular choice I know.

[BeardownZonaZona]

Pretty sure Miles Simon wants the job. That's a not for me. Whole administration would have to hide their wives

[dmjcat]

It appears that Heeke, excuse me...Robbins, has already picked the new coach so this is probably a moot discussion.

That being said, I think that the UA will have to settle for a Non-Elite coach for several reasons.

1) We are broke
2) The IARP/NCAA mess is still hanging over our heads. Not too many elite coaches want to deal with someone elses dirty laundry
3) Most elite coaches probably don't appreciate the way Miller has been treated by the UA admin.

In 2018 I suggested parting ways with Miller, self sanctioning and pursuing either Musselman or Beard. Unfortunately, that ship sailed and both Musselman & Beard are in much better positions. Getting either one away from Arkansas/Texas would be very difficult and financially painful.

I like Mark Pope.

We can afford him and he has a solid track record.

[ekat]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

In fairness, opening up the vault here would reveal nothing but cobwebs and dust at this point.

I take Wilner’s opinion with a mountain of salt since he hates Arizona so much.

[phxcat23]

Was listening to Jody Oehler this morning and he had Goodman on. Goodman saying he thinks it would be someone like Damon or Lloyd. After he got off Oehler gave his remarks and was spot on. Oehler wasn't sold on any of the guys Goodman recommended. At this point, I'd let Murphy just grind out next year and then have more options for a long term shot at a coach. Are we really going to get a long term coach that is a good fit for us by rushing to get a hire right now? Our core group is probably going to transfer, but if they let Murphy just keep the interim job for next year I think we have a better pool of candidates to choose from.

[Beachcat97]

I don't want a year of Murphy-as-interim. It just slows down our recovery. If we can get Lloyd or Musselman or Pope right now, do it.

[SCCats]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

Man those Mussleman trajectories look really good. Interesting.

[Beachcat97]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

Man those Mussleman trajectories look really good. Interesting.

Musselman has proven he can win. Granted, I've never been to Fayetteville, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Tucson is a more desirable place to be, for a variety of reasons. UofA is also a considerable step up from Arkansas.

Still, it would very much surprise me to see him leave, unless the UofA could offer him a sizable pay raise.

[Beachcat97]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk ... li=BBnb7Kz

[Merkin]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

Man those Mussleman trajectories look really good. Interesting.

Musselman has proven he can win. Granted, I've never been to Fayetteville, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Tucson is a more desirable place to be, for a variety of reasons. UofA is also a considerable step up from Arkansas.

Still, it would very much surprise me to see him leave, unless the UofA could offer him a sizable pay raise.

Same with Drew in Waco, and Few in Spokane. Not very desirable places, at least for me. Spokane is probably a nice city, but in the middle of nowhere and winter seems like half the year.

[Beachcat97]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

Man those Mussleman trajectories look really good. Interesting.

Musselman has proven he can win. Granted, I've never been to Fayetteville, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Tucson is a more desirable place to be, for a variety of reasons. UofA is also a considerable step up from Arkansas.

Still, it would very much surprise me to see him leave, unless the UofA could offer him a sizable pay raise.

Same with Drew in Waco, and Few in Spokane. Not very desirable places, at least for me. Spokane is probably a nice city, but in the middle of nowhere and winter seems like half the year.

I'd say the difference is that Drew has now won Baylor's first title in school history, and Few's name is synonymous with Gonzaga hoops. He is their Lute. So you're talking about two guys who've taken their respective programs to heights hitherto unknown. It is VERY unlikely guys like this would leave for another job, unless it's their alma mater, which UofA is not.

[phxcat23]

I don't want a year of Murphy-as-interim. It just slows down our recovery. If we can get Lloyd or Musselman or Pope right now, do it.

It would be like Russ Pennell but I feel it's an upgrade from that. If we get handed more sanctions does it even matter who the coach is? If we go hire some mediocre coach and then find out we have more sanctions, we might as well have Murphy around and then really go after a coach we want that is elite when things start to clear up. I've accepted the fact that no matter who comes in next year, we are going to be bad.

[dmjcat]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/08/ ... years/amp/

Man those Mussleman trajectories look really good. Interesting.

I would take Musselman in a heartbeat but I just don't think he is a realistic target.

First we would need to outbid an SEC school........highly unlikely given the UA's financial position
Second, Musselman would have to want to move to a school with potential NCAA sanctions about to fall...not too many elite coaches go for that.

He is certainly worth making inquires.........but I would not get my hopes up.

[azcat49]

If the decision is a quick one (early next week), I don’t think anyone transfers yet. To many kids in the portal already. Look at the football kids

[phxcat23]

If the decision is a quick one (early next week), I don’t think anyone transfers yet. To many kids in the portal already. Look at the football kids

As much as I would want the players to stick around, I feel like they've all been cheated and the process has been dishonest. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of them go regardless of who comes in, unless it is a home run hire.

[gronk4heisman]

If the decision is a quick one (early next week), I don’t think anyone transfers yet. To many kids in the portal already. Look at the football kids

The guys we don't want to lose would have no problem finding a home even if there were 5000 people in the portal.

[84Cat]

[Beachcat97]

Yeah. Musselman makes no sense. Timing is wrong.

[TheCatInTheHat]

Same with Drew in Waco, and Few in Spokane. Not very desirable places, at least for me. Spokane is probably a nice city, but in the middle of nowhere and winter seems like half the year.

Due to odd travel arrangements, I drove through Spokane once. I stopped for gas, and being a sports fan, took a little side trip to look at the Gonzaga campus. My impression was not good. I assume the surrounding countryside is fairly nice, with some rolling hills and woods. But my recollection of Spokane was pretty flat, with not that many trees, and kind of economically depressed. Just lots of low-end strip malls. Their convention center/arena seems to be the social center, and their campus seemed to mostly consist of converted old houses. So the Zags are everything there, and I'm sure they've got an "us against the world" mentality. But there's nothing else for hundreds of miles in any direction. And that was in the nicest time of the year without dealing with the endless winter. It's all about the cult of Few. Beats me how he's done it, but I wouldn't bet a nickel that whoever succeeds him can maintain what he's done there.

[zonagrad]

Was listening to Jody Oehler this morning and he had Goodman on. Goodman saying he thinks it would be someone like Damon or Lloyd. After he got off Oehler gave his remarks and was spot on. Oehler wasn't sold on any of the guys Goodman recommended. At this point, I'd let Murphy just grind out next year and then have more options for a long term shot at a coach. Are we really going to get a long term coach that is a good fit for us by rushing to get a hire right now? Our core group is probably going to transfer, but if they let Murphy just keep the interim job for next year I think we have a better pool of candidates to choose from.

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Musselman, Lloyd, and Stoudamire. Right now, those are the options and the only options. And if Robbins didn't have some type of acknowledgement from any of those three before he fired Miller, well then, he's a bigger idiot than anyone thought.

I don't think Arizona will be in Tim Floyd, Jim Boylen territory. Stoudamire would take the job in a heartbeat. But my guess is that he's a third or fourth option.

[gronk4heisman]

Was listening to Jody Oehler this morning and he had Goodman on. Goodman saying he thinks it would be someone like Damon or Lloyd. After he got off Oehler gave his remarks and was spot on. Oehler wasn't sold on any of the guys Goodman recommended. At this point, I'd let Murphy just grind out next year and then have more options for a long term shot at a coach. Are we really going to get a long term coach that is a good fit for us by rushing to get a hire right now? Our core group is probably going to transfer, but if they let Murphy just keep the interim job for next year I think we have a better pool of candidates to choose from.

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Musselman, Lloyd, and Stoudamire. Right now, those are the options and the only options. And if Robbins didn't have some type of acknowledgement from any of those three before he fired Miller, well then, he's a bigger idiot than anyone thought.

I don't think Arizona will be in Tim Floyd, Jim Boylen territory. Stoudamire would take the job in a heartbeat. But my guess is that he's a third or fourth option.

Stoudamire is not Tim Floyd, Jim Boylen territory?

[Merkin]

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Unless something changed, you need to keep the position open for 2 weeks under state law.

Job opened today https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

I saw someone selling their season tickets on FB, but not the rights to them, which cost an additional $10K.

[UAEebs86]

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Unless something changed, you need to keep the position open for 2 weeks under state law.

Job opened https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

[ekat]

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Unless something changed, you need to keep the position open for 2 weeks under state law.

Job opened today https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

I saw someone selling their season tickets on FB, but not the rights to them, which cost an additional $10K.

It’s an open till filled posting, so the 10 day requirement doesn’t apply. The university has weird rules around that, and around head coaching jobs.

[Beachcat97]

So the Carter gif means they've already got a verbal agreement with someone, I'm guessing.

[84Cat]

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Unless something changed, you need to keep the position open for 2 weeks under state law.

Job opened https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

So what's every ones thought on the 2nd tweet. The search is over and we got our guy?

[A1RZONA]

Uh, nope. If you don't make a hire within a week -- your whole roster collapses. Nobody is coming to Tucson to play for interim coach Jack Murphy for a season. And nobody is renewing their season tickets for that product on the hallowed floor of McKale.

Unless something changed, you need to keep the position open for 2 weeks under state law.

Job opened https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

So what's every ones thought on the 2nd tweet. The search is over and we got our guy?

Thats how I read it

[BeardownZonaZona]

Yup. That's how I took it

[Postmaster]

I can’t seen him hiring an AZ GUY.
Doesn’t fit the ego trip. Just like football.
Also can’t see anyone from Miller’s staff being kept around. But I feel like there was a shown to the staff, since nobody has commented.

[TheCat]

I took it as Turnkey's search process is asking Robbins who he wants then saying that is who they recommend and presenting a bill for $200K.

[TheCat]

I did reach out to both the JET and Murphy before Sean was fired and neither has answered.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Look, this won't happen in a million years, but easily the best coach with Arizona ties who would take a step up here is Joe Pasternack.

Arizona ties either means guys like Kerr who would never do it or guys who don't deserve it, and Pasternack is the only exception.

This also will never happen in a million years.

[ekat]

I say we go all in on the USC/ASsU model of hiring the dads of recruits as Assistant coaches, and just elevate them to Head coach and staff. Rotate every time a new recruit catches your eye.

[Bruins01]

Look, this won't happen in a million years, but easily the best coach with Arizona ties who would take a step up here is Joe Pasternack.

Arizona ties either means guys like Kerr who would never do it or guys who don't deserve it, and Pasternack is the only exception.

This also will never happen in a million years.

I was confused already this week about why Joe Pasternack doesn't seem to be in consideration. Is he caught up in the scandal too?

[CatsbyAZ]

I like Mark Pope.

We can afford him and he has a solid track record.

I'm alright with hiring Mark Pope.

Will also play the waiting game with Murphy as temporary HC through next season.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Look, this won't happen in a million years, but easily the best coach with Arizona ties who would take a step up here is Joe Pasternack.

Arizona ties either means guys like Kerr who would never do it or guys who don't deserve it, and Pasternack is the only exception.

This also will never happen in a million years.

I was confused already this week about why Joe Pasternack doesn't seem to be in consideration. Is he caught up in the scandal too?

He's named in the FBI reports, not in the NCAA NOA. So he's safe to hire, but the ties to Miller and being in the FBI reports make for zero chance.

[Beachcat97]

Anyone have any strong feelings one way or the other on Mark Pope? Just trying to look beyond the group we're already aware of. How about Greg McDermott?

[gronk4heisman]

Anyone have any strong feelings one way or the other on Mark Pope? Just trying to look beyond the group we're already aware of. How about Greg McDermott?

Both would be way ahead of the alumns we are interviewing.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Anyone have any strong feelings one way or the other on Mark Pope? Just trying to look beyond the group we're already aware of. How about Greg McDermott?

Pope has done well in a limited history. McDermott is a solid coach whose biggest problem is FBI link and the race issue this last year.

[ekat]

Anyone have any strong feelings one way or the other on Mark Pope? Just trying to look beyond the group we're already aware of. How about Greg McDermott?

McDermott’s got his own NOA to deal with at Creighton. Plus the whole plantation comments have turned people off.

[azgreg]

Job's posted.

https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

[Frybry02]

Job's posted.

https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careers ... ?c=arizona

I need a couple letters of recommendation. Anyone interested in supplying me with one?

[Chicat]

I’m going to apply since I have just as much head coaching experience as Booby Bobbins’ favored son.

[azgreg]

They usually don't post the opening until they get their guy right?

[azgreg]

[Merkin]

All courtesy interviews I hope.