How to "start over"?

**dbronco7sc** · 02-04-2010, 10:31 AM

I preface by stating (what you already may know by my prior posts) that I "blindly support" whoever is a Cyclone. I can live with the worst but always hope for the best when it comes to our teams. I don't expect everyone to agree with me or treat being a fan the same way I do.

All I know... is that now, more than ever... there are people calling for a coaching change in men's basketball. Though I don't agree with it, I can see that it's not necessarily a vocal minority anymore... but a significant number of people who take issue with our coach.

My question... is how do we start over and not be in the same scenario we are in now? When I think "new coach" I think... more turnover... we lose a lot of the incoming recruits that we've got... we lose some of our underclassmen potentially... we start from scratch like Mac did. I fear one of Mac's mistakes may have been trying to salvage and getting "what he could" from the Juco ranks and trying to put together decent results too soon.

Maybe (though unfair to the likes of Rahshon Clark) he would have done better taking advantage of the mass exodus and trying to assemble a dream team the following year with the promise of starting a bunch of elite freshmen that commit together? I dunno... probably wouldn't work... but who knows.

Anyway... to the questions:

1. How do we change coaches without starting from scratch?

2. If we do start from scratch... given how our fans have been in waiting for too long for results as is... would our fans have enough patience left to wait "another 4 years" for results?

3. Any other thoughts on how to handle a coaching change?

**ThatllDoCy** · 02-04-2010, 10:38 AM

It would need to be someone that would ignite the fanbase, and excite the players. Maybe an Alum, a similar move to Tubby at MN, or Tim Floyd. If not one of these, I don't believe it would be worth it.

**MNCyGuy** · 02-04-2010, 10:40 AM

I thought about this last night. My theory is that with ISU's budget our best bet would would be to bring in an up-and-comer X's and O's assistant from a bigger program as the head coach and then strongly encourage him to fill his assitant positions with AAU guys with strong recruiting ties to our key recruiting areas (Chicago, Milwaukee, Des Moines?). K-State style I guess.

**chadly82** · 02-04-2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by ThatllDoCy

It would need to be someone that would ignite the fanbase, and excite the players. Maybe an Alum, a similar move to Tubby at MN, or Tim Floyd. If not one of these, I don't believe it would be worth it.

Like a hornacek, Hoiberg, grayer type guy.....obviously coaching exp is a plus but those were just examples. Look what CPR has done already because he has so much passion for our beloved university

**DRCHIRO** · 02-04-2010, 10:41 AM

Good points

1. Right now, I don't know if we can afford to hire a new coach

2. It looks like we are going to be "starting over" next year regardless of who the coach is with the probable depatures of CB and MG.

3. Even if they did decide to let Coach Mac go, they are going to be limited on who they can lure because we won't be able to pay a lot of money.

4. In the future, I hope Pollard is a little more stingy when giving contract extensions. If they earn it, pay up. Pollard seemed to jump the gun and give Coach Mac an extension on the team we had this year and the high expectations rather than letting things pan out and see what Mac could do with a highly talented squad.

**CycloneErik** · 02-04-2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by ThatllDoCy

It would need to be someone that would ignite the fanbase, and excite the players. Maybe an Alum, a similar move to Tubby at MN, or Tim Floyd. If not one of these, I don't believe it would be worth it.

I think you're right here. It has to be somebody that makes a splash just on name value alone. I'm not convinced that there are a lot of guys out there.

That said, I still think Mac can get this done. It took 5 for Lebo at Auburn, 5 for Drew at Baylor. Sometimes, it takes that extra year.

**bawbie** · 02-04-2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by dbronco7sc

1. How do we change coaches without starting from scratch?

2. If we do start from scratch... given how our fans have been in waiting for too long for results as is... would our fans have enough patience left to wait "another 4 years" for results?

3. Any other thoughts on how to handle a coaching change?

1. The only way is to hire an assistant, which is probably not an option.

2. Obviously, no.

3. Only do it if you are absolutely sure you will get a better coach, not because some fans on a message board are upset and frustrated. Do it quick and behind the scenes. Never let it out that you didn't get your number 1 guy.

**ISUonthemove** · 02-04-2010, 10:42 AM

I'd be happy just starting to teach them to play defense.

**cyclonepower** · 02-04-2010, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

I think you're right here. It has to be somebody that makes a splash just on name value alone. I'm not convinced that there are a lot of guys out there.

That said, I still think Mac can get this done. It took 5 for Lebo at Auburn, 5 for Drew at Baylor. Sometimes, it takes that extra year.

Lebo hasnt done a thing at Auburn...he would have been another swing and a miss

**bawbie** · 02-04-2010, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by DRCHIRO

4. In the future, I hope Pollard is a little more stingy when giving contract extensions. If they earn it, pay up. Pollard seemed to jump the gun and give Coach Mac an extension on the team we had this year and the high expectations rather than letting things pan out and see what Mac could do with a highly talented squad.

False, again.

Pollard didn't "jump the gun" and give McDermott an extension "on the team we had this year". The extension was automatic in McDermott's contract based on the loss of scholarships under the previous coach.

**cyclone13** · 02-04-2010, 10:44 AM

Coaching and recruiting will be the key. Unfortunately there is no magic formula in hiring coach and sometimes we have to deal with what we can afford, especially considering that we don't have unlimited resources.
If you read my post "Candidates to Replace LE in 2003" you'll see that the candidate pool and a lot of people expected a better pool. You will also see that among the candidates including WM, 1 was fired, 1 resigned because of recruiting scandal and 2 are still HCs altough I don't consider Lebo to be a success story.

**MNCyGuy** · 02-04-2010, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by chadly82

Like a hornacek, Hoiberg, grayer type guy.....obviously coaching exp is a plus but those were just examples. Look what CPR has done already because he has so much passion for our beloved university

CPR also came in with over a decade of experience working his way up the ranks through some high-profile programs. Gotta keep that in mind.

**VeloClone** · 02-04-2010, 10:44 AM

Please close this thread. Only meltdown threads allowed today!

No one is happy. Props for starting some intelligent discussion.

+1 to OP

**CycloneErik** · 02-04-2010, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by cyclonepower

Lebo hasnt done a thing at Auburn...he would have been another swing and a miss

I think Lebo would have been a failure. He made postseason play (NIT) after a few years. I'm not advocating Lebo here.

**DRCHIRO** · 02-04-2010, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

False, again.

Pollard didn't "jump the gun" and give McDermott an extension "on the team we had this year". The extension was automatic in McDermott's contract based on the loss of scholarships under the previous coach.

Didn't know that, my bad.