The new A&M coach is... and the Arkansas one is...

**jtd9046** · 04-08-2007, 10:07 PM

Looks like another MVC coach coming to the Big XII. Witchita State coach Mark Turgeon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2830344

And the new Arkansas coach is going to be South Alabama's John Pelphrey. We'll see if this one stays put.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2830349

**ISUFan22** · 04-08-2007, 10:10 PM

Interesting hire. Didn't take them long either, tells me the AD had a strong enough feeling that Gillespie wouldn't be back to do a little homework before he received his assignment.

At any rate, let the Big 12 G-Mac and Turgeon comparisons begin!

**jtd9046** · 04-08-2007, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Interesting hire. Didn't take them long either, tells me the AD had a strong enough feeling that Gillespie wouldn't be back to do a little homework before he received his assignment.

At any rate, let the Big 12 G-Mac and Turgeon comparisons begin!

As we've heard Pollard say... a good AD always has a short list ready just in case.

**EggMcClone** · 04-08-2007, 10:16 PM

Good hire for them. I think he'll do a great job there.

**ISUCY11** · 04-08-2007, 10:41 PM

interesting hire for Arkansas...who thought they could get Gillespie not too long ago...

**Cydar** · 04-08-2007, 10:57 PM

While not on the level of Gillispie, John Pelphrey is a good (but not sexy) hire for Arkansas. He's done a pretty good job at South Alabama. Although their leading candidates turned them down or ran back to Omaha after a less than impressive news conference, Pelphrey has a pretty good background. Pelphrey played for both Eddie Sutton & Rick Pitino at Kentucky He spent 1 season at Oklahoma St as an assistant coach and served in the same capacity for Billy Donovan at Marshall & at Florida.

Pelphrey was also part of the Kentucky Team (along with Jamal Mashburn) that lost to Duke in the Elite 8 on a last second shot by Christian Laettner.

**Arkansas** · 04-09-2007, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by jtd9046

Looks like another MVC coach coming to the Big XII. Witchita State coach Mark Turgeon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2830344

And the new Arkansas coach is going to be South Alabama's John Pelphrey. We'll see if this one stays put.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2830349

Yikes...and this is Broyles 'grand slam' coach?? I don't know much about Pelphrey but at first glance its an unimpressive hire. Got to give him credit though, he's taking over a real mess.

**Arkansas** · 04-09-2007, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by Cydar

While not on the level of Gillispie, John Pelphrey is a good (but not sexy) hire for Arkansas. He's done a pretty good job at South Alabama. Although their leading candidates turned them down or ran back to Omaha after a less than impressive news conference, Pelphrey has a pretty good background. Pelphrey played for both Eddie Sutton & Rick Pitino at Kentucky He spent 1 season at Oklahoma St as an assistant coach and served in the same capacity for Billy Donovan at Marshall & at Florida.

Pelphrey was also part of the Kentucky Team (along with Jamal Mashburn) that lost to Duke in the Elite 8 on a last second shot by Christian Laettner.

Thanks for the background...I honestly had no clue about Pelphrey. Sounds like they got a somewhat decent hire in the final hour. We'll see I guess.

**cyclonenum1** · 04-09-2007, 07:25 AM

I am surprised Turgeon's name has not been a little more prominent in some of these searches. The guy was a great point guard for KU and has the makings of a great head coach.

Pelphrey is a decent coach as well but is clearly riding the Donovan "coat tails" on this one.

**cycloneworld** · 04-09-2007, 07:31 AM

It seems like there were a lot of coaching changes this year compared to other years. Maybe it's because several coaches went from good jobs to better jobs leaving the "good" schools to find other guys.

It's all been interesting, that's for sure.