Question about Coaching search....

cgwarrior33 · 05-17-2006, 10:41 AM

I know there are several people not happy with the way the coaching search happened. I was just wondering who else we were considering or names that came up. I know that it had to be done quickly so we could still recruit if need be and other such stuff. Anyone have any info on who was interested besides McD, the UWM guy??? I know Lavin still isn't in coaching and Majerus has health issues. Was there a big name guy we could have gotten??

CyLyte · 05-17-2006, 11:15 AM

Here's how I believe it went down. Pollard fired Morgan on an expidited basis because of the D1 scheduling thing. I think he had a short list of candidates but the number one guy was Rob Jeter of UW-M. Pollard was called by GMac (or an intermediary) about the position. Pollard went to Milwaukee to interview Jeter but met with GMac in Iowa City(of all places) to interview him on the way. That interview must have been impressive because by the next day or so Jeter was second to GMac and we had a new coach. I think Mark Turgeon and possibly Altman were on the list but I don't think the interest was mutual and those avenues were never pursued. An interesting tidbit on GMac, I have it from some reliable sources that GMac was offered a contract by KSU and was in serious negotiations with Ole Miss, Arizona State, Missouri, and some behind the scenes stuff with Iowa.

isucy86 · 05-17-2006, 12:36 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>
That interview must have been impressive because by the next day or so Jeter was second to GMac and we had a new coach.[/b][/quote]

Jeter had a 900k buyout. It is speculation, but without that buyout I think Jeter would have been ISU's coach. Pollard has brought in a few Wisky athletic department folks since coming to Ames and I think Jeter would have been another.

cgwarrior33 · 05-17-2006, 02:07 PM

yea more than likely. but i don't think Jeter would have been good for us. he had a team of Pearl's guys and they were all seniors. it will be interesting to see how he does in the near future.

melkor · 05-17-2006, 02:15 PM

I agree. I wasn't sold on Jeter either.

cgwarrior33 · 05-17-2006, 03:28 PM

I think Jeter would have been a tough sell to Alumni, Donors, Fans, and more importantly the players. Atleast McD had experience at that level. Personally, I think it would have been fun to go after Steve Lavin, Vermont's old coach..can't remember the name at the moment, or a Johnny Dawkins or Wojo from Duke. Bring in a high profile name.

Rondjones54 · 05-17-2006, 03:42 PM

I think GMac had been offered by K State before accepting ISU. Personally I think his hiring is going to turn out to be one of the greatest at ISU. The biggest question over the next 10 years will be ISU's ability to keep him because I think his stock is going to continue to rise. Let's hope his Iowa roots will make it hard to pry him away.

CyLyte · 05-17-2006, 04:07 PM

Pollard is on record as saying the buy was not an issue and it is McDermotts intent to retire as ISU's basketball coach. He isn't going anywhere.

PsychedClone · 05-17-2006, 09:34 PM

I'm an alum of UW-Milwaukee where Jeter coaches. McDermott was a much better choice!!!

clone33 · 05-17-2006, 09:41 PM

I think that McD ws far and away the best fit for ISU, i didnt know much about Jeter, but know that i know a little more about him i think he would have had a tough couple of years (much tougher than what some people say GMAC will go thru) but hes a young coach with national ties and he would have been ok after a couple years. It just depends on how long the boosters and rest of the fans would have given him.

Wesley · 05-18-2006, 06:05 PM

I know why McD wanted Ames. Have you been to Manhattan? That is the real prairie.

ferdnand1 · 05-18-2006, 06:55 PM

I hope G MAc can get it going. Collier and the K-State coach were even more highly regarded than GMac, but fell flat on their faces.

I think Gmac and his Iowa roots will prevail :D

Oldgeezer · 05-18-2006, 08:01 PM

There was no real search. Pollard is a baskeball first AD. After watching Morgan in action for six months he knew the basketball program at ISU was going down the tubes quickly. He had a list of replacements in mind, GMac was at the top of that list. He also knew GMac was a hot comodity with the Indiana/Alford thing. It is a known fact GMac had been offered by KState. What is not known is whether GMac would have left UNI for any job outside of Iowa. He hinted that he would not. In spite of Iowa's recent season , do not doubt for one moment that there are 100,000 fans and friends of the U of Iowa that would trade bball coaches with ISU in a heartbeat.

PsychedClone · 05-18-2006, 08:20 PM

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There was no real search. Pollard is a baskeball first AD. After watching Morgan in action for six months he knew the basketball program at ISU was going down the tubes quickly. He had a list of replacements in mind, GMac was at the top of that list. He also knew GMac was a hot comodity with the Indiana/Alford thing. It is a known fact GMac had been offered by KState. What is not known is whether GMac would have left UNI for any job outside of Iowa. He hinted that he would not. In spite of Iowa's recent season , do not doubt for one moment that there are 100,000 fans and friends of the U of Iowa that would trade bball coaches with ISU in a heartbeat.
[/b][/quote]

Gmac was definitely going to take the K-State job. I was nearly a done deal.

cykadelic · 05-18-2006, 09:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>
I think Jeter would have been a tough sell to Alumni, Donors, Fans, and more importantly the players. Atleast McD had experience at that level. Personally, I think it would have been fun to go after Steve Lavin, Vermont's old coach..can't remember the name at the moment, or a Johnny Dawkins or Wojo from Duke. Bring in a high profile name.
[/b][/quote]

I do agree with you regarding Jeter. With only 1 season of head coaching experience, that would have been a tough sell despite his success this past season.

"Fun" to go after Lavin? Idiotic would be a better term. Why hire a guy who was essentially fired in his previous job? Good grief, we did the same thing when Morgan was hired and you wanted to repeat that again with Lavin?

GMac was the perfect hire for ISU.