A note on ISU's assistant coach search

[vmbplayer]

We already have TJ and Robinson to be the recruiters on the staff. We need a top notch assistant that can support GMac and the staff in developing the best possible players. IMO last year wasn't an issue of talent- it was an issue of guys not being intense enough.

If Nurse can coach the x's & o's in practice and relate to players- IMO that is a home run. It can't hurt with his European & NBDL experience.

^I agree with this entirely. Our problem has not been getting talent in. Our problem has been managing that talent on a chemistry kind of level, and to some extent getting them to buy into the system.

GMac needs another Ben Jacobsen style assistant on staff. I think Nurse could very well provide just that. For crap sake we had 3 guys leave this team this year that look to play ball at a pro level (if you call Euro league pro). Plus if we hadn't lost WJ (again team chemistry/coach player relations) we have 4 guys that were still playing basketball this year that will play pro.

[BurgundyClone]

We can coach up the BIGS already -this would be perfect to coach up the guards!

[Steve]

We already have TJ and Robinson to be the recruiters on the staff. We need a top notch assistant that can support GMac and the staff in developing the best possible players. IMO last year wasn't an issue of talent- it was an issue of guys not being intense enough.

If Nurse can coach the x's & o's in practice and relate to players- IMO that is a home run. It can't hurt with his European & NBDL experience.

Totally agree. If he's a solid x and o guy, he's the right hire. We already have 2 assistants with recruiting ties. We need to replace the x and o guy.

[acody]

Maybe Nurse can take over as the de facto head coach and straighten this mess out. At least coaching in the D-league, he knows what potential pro talent looks like.

[RossHallHero]

It sounds like this is very likely to happen, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why this is a good move for Nurse.

I would put the odds of Mac coming back after next season at about slim and none.

Why would you quit what seems to be a very good job w/a bright future and attach your wagon to someone like Mac who is very likely going to be unemployed next year?

It's very odd.

[jsb]

It sounds like this is very likely to happen, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why this is a good move for Nurse.

I would put the odds of Mac coming back after next season at about slim and none.

Why would you quit what seems to be a very good job w/a bright future and attach your wagon to someone like Mac who is very likely going to be unemployed next year?

It's very odd.

I don't know that the odds of keeping Mac are slim to none next year. If things fall completely apart sure, but if you give him this year you might as well give him 2 years.

We don't know what Nurse's goals are. Maybe he has wanted to break into the NBA as an assistant, but it hasn't worked out. Maybe the NBADL doesn't pay their coaches well---I think the players make in the mid 30's. I am guessing that a top assistant post at a college would pay pretty well---probably around 100,000.

[hurdleisu24]

Don't you think with his experience he might get an associate head coach position at ISU?

[Tornado man]

It sounds like this is very likely to happen, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why this is a good move for Nurse.

I would put the odds of Mac coming back after next season at about slim and none.

Why would you quit what seems to be a very good job w/a bright future and attach your wagon to someone like Mac who is very likely going to be unemployed next year?

It's very odd.

I think "odd" is the right word. As you pointed out, if you sign on with Gmac at the present time, you have a very uncertain future less than a year from now.

[Wesley]

Head coach in waiting?

Ames?

[CloneIce]

Sorry to use this comparison, but if true, I am hoping this hire ends as a similiar situation to when Steve Alford hired Craig Neal as a top assistant. He has been much more successful after hiring a top "right-hand man" assistant. Don't know if he has the recruiting connections Neal does or not, but he sounds like a good coach and his players like him.

[cykadelic2]

I think "odd" is the right word. As you pointed out, if you sign on with Gmac at the present time, you have a very uncertain future less than a year from now.

Maybe he thinks he will be considered as the replacement HC if GMac doesn't last past next season. He is certainly qualified from a pure coaching perspective, he obviously doesn't have much recruiting experience at the college level but with the right staff, he could manage that.

[TheHelgo]

Can't get a confirmation or denial...If I had to guess, done deal, just waiting for the d league season to be over.

is this as much of a done deal as Wilkins was?

[Clonefan32]

I have a friend that is a cheerleader/dancer for the Energy and she, without me mentioning it, told me that Nurse is going to Iowa State. I know that is a strange source to hear it from, but a) she brought it up out of nowhere and b) she has absolutley no reason to lie to me about such a thing.

[kg-cyclone]

is this as much of a done deal as Wilkins was?

Still fairly confident on both...Can't guarantee anything at this point.

[Wesley]

Several ISU greats were asked for input...I won't use any names, but they all approved the offer.

Curtis?