coaching experience

[jdoggivjc]

At this point, at the very least I want to know which coaches were contacting ISU. I honestly want to know who we could have had if we had run a thorough coaching search.

 

[weR138]

So what changed in 48 hours where the temperature of the fan base was that McDermott's replacement had to have at least some experience at the major conference level, had to be a proven coach at the D-I level, and had to have had some success in the NCAA Tournament?

I'll tell you what happened - all objectivity flew out the window as soon as the name "Fred Hoiberg" was mentioned. Now it matters not what our expectations for a replacement coach were 48 hours ago, because "Hoiberg ***** excellence and all things he touches turn to gold" despite the fact he has never proven any of that. In other words, JP's PR stunt (and that's basically what it boils down to) worked flawlessly with the biggest cardinal-shade-wearing, Kool-Aid drinking members of this fan base.

Look, I absolutely hope this works, because if it does, ISU basketball is set for the next quarter century. But what the absolute blind loyalists just do not see is the deck is so stacked against Hoiberg at this point that he would HAVE to be the man for this to work.

Now ask yourself this - what happens if this DOESN'T work? How do you go about firing ISU's second biggest legend?[/QUOTE]

The answer to this question is, very carefully. I would hope that there is an exit strategy. I think that if this doesn't work JP might have ended his career as D1 AD because on it's face (as you say) this must look like a PR stunt to anyone who isn't an ISU fan and many who are.

JP needs for this to work.

EDIT: To be clear, I think the likelyhood of this being a stroke of genius is greater than that of it being a disaster.

 

[jdoggivjc]

The answer to this question is, very carefully. I would hope that there is an exit strategy. I think that if this doesn't work JP might have ended his career as D1 AD because on it's face (as you say) this must look like a PR stunt to anyone who isn't an ISU fan and many who are.

JP needs for this to work.

I agree. In fact, yesterday I joked about this being JP's "Degree All-In Moment"...

 

[BryceC]

At this point, at the very least I want to know which coaches were contacting ISU. I honestly want to know who we could have had if we had run a thorough coaching search.

I wouldn't have had a problem if he was our best option. But when we have guys like Reggie Theus calling about the job, you have to interview them. That guy is a good college coach. Right now Fred Hoiberg is a great former Cyclone player and a mid-level executive for a terrible NBA franchise.

 

[Dryburn]

The man does not have any coaching experience to speak of, but it is not like he does not have any basketball knowledge. You don't play for 10 years in the NBA and not pick up a few things.

Plus, he has tons of contacts that he can call upon for advice or help, not the least of which is one Johnny Orr. I'm sure Orr would take a call from him any time.

I'm not sure it is the best hire in the world, or even that it is the one that I would have made, but I do think that it has tremendous potential. If Hoiberg is successful, one thing is certain......he will never want to leave ISU.....and that will not be a bad thing, will it?

I think he has enough experience as a player that we can be patient with him, if necessary, to grow into the position of being a successful head coach. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Kyle]

I agree with the original poster that coaching experience is a bit overrated. Hoiberg's lack of coaching experience does not mean that he cannot coach. What it means is that we are taking a significant risk on a relatively unknown commodity.

Based on everything I've heard, it appears that Hoiberg is smart. He likely has the brains for coaching. He has also been around various levels of basketball for quite some time as a player and executive. A smart individual who has been around high-level basketball for that long is bound to have learned a great deal about the game. The Xs and Os of basketball are likely to be very easy for such a person.

The biggest question mark is how that knowledge will be put into practice. How successful he will be at developing players and getting them to play as a team. The fact that he doesn't have coaching experience by no means indicates that he cannot do that, but it does mean that we don't have much to go off of right now in trying to determine if he can.

 

[CycloneNorth]

I think coaching college basketball really comes down to recruiting and developing players. Hoiberg is the perfect person to be selling Ames to recruits. If his work ethic transfers over to his players he should be pretty successful.

 

[greatshu]

I don't think its about the coaching. Its about the connection with the players... and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. I never felt like McD was totally connected with players. More they are connected, better team plays that they will make.

 

[greatshu]

McDermott had lots of coaching experience, but couldn't win. Coaching experience doesn't really do any good....if you cant keep the players.

 

[dcxme1183]

Men with experience we hired...

Orr
Fennelly
Rhoads
Floyd
LE
Etc.

Is experience everything? Absolutely not. I agree with you 100% there.

But I firmly believe there needs to be a balance. Some experience should exist to take a top job. The fact that it seems obvious experienced coaches that were interested didn't even get a look is very puzzling.

I hope Fred/JP have a ringer assistant in their back pocket they are ready to announce.

Agreed. If people want to make the argument that people with no experience were able to find success anyway, that's one thing. But when they point to people who had experience and still failed, that's not really a valid argument. Greg had eyesight and failed so that must mean that eyesight is an overrated quality in a coach, right? No, I am certain I want a coach who isn't blind so he can see what is going on. Of course it takes a lot more than just functioning eyes to be a good coach, but that doesn't mean it's not an important attribute.

 

[Rural]

We'll see what Fred does in end of game situations.
Remember, our "great X and O" "thousand play playbook" coach had a team that let a guy sail, untouched, 90 feet, right down broadway for a buzzer-beater, game-winning lay-up.

 

[AlleyAddict]

I just want to see some freaking defense out of this team, you know, the thing McD didn't like to play.

 

[Oldgeezer]

Lets go here then....

Why is Fred deserving and the much beloved, has coaching experience and already on staff TJ not?

Tons of people here wanted TJ retained but not as a HC because of? Lack of experience! But now that we hired The Mayor, the desire for experience has gone out the window.

If U of Iowa had just hired Jess Setles most of you would be laughing your *** off at the idea of hiring a coach with no experience.

 

[BurgundyClone]

WHY are you asking yourself 'what if' this doesn't work? WHY? That's what I can't get over from the few left that are trying to rain on the parade. Let's enjoy some positive energy for ONCE. Let go of your insecurities and ask what IF he succeeds?? Isn't that infinitely more enjoyable? Luckily the downers are being drowned out.

We ALL see his inexperience and are a little worried, but WHY question it right now? What possible good does that bring? Try to check yourself and get on board for the ride, nobody needs to hear the obvious. Get on board or go find a hole in the ground somewhere else to complain to.

So what changed in 48 hours where the temperature of the fan base was that McDermott's replacement had to have at least some experience at the major conference level, had to be a proven coach at the D-I level, and had to have had some success in the NCAA Tournament?

I'll tell you what happened - all objectivity flew out the window as soon as the name "Fred Hoiberg" was mentioned. Now it matters not what our expectations for a replacement coach were 48 hours ago, because "Hoiberg ***** excellence and all things he touches turn to gold" despite the fact he has never proven any of that. In other words, JP's PR stunt (and that's basically what it boils down to) worked flawlessly with the biggest cardinal-shade-wearing, Kool-Aid drinking members of this fan base.

Look, I absolutely hope this works, because if it does, ISU basketball is set for the next quarter century. But what the absolute blind loyalists just do not see is the deck is so stacked against Hoiberg at this point that he would HAVE to be the man for this to work.

Now ask yourself this - what happens if this DOESN'T work? How do you go about firing ISU's second biggest legend?

 

[TaDelt]

You have to take in account that he has learned from some of the best coaches around. You naturally pick things up, its human nature. I would put a lot of money on the assistants he brings in. He is not a fool and will surround himself with the experience that he needs. It will be a learning process, but he will motivate and will teach defense. Offense will come, because thats what all of the players have practiced their whole life.

Let's be proud that we have such a great person as our head coach and support him as he learns from every game.

Not too mention his connections literally all over the world and his desire and love for Iowa State, he will bring in the players that he needs and they will develop.

HILTON MAGIC will be back!

 

[bfross]

Ignore for a moment his name is Fred Hoiberg (aka, The Mayor). Same exact resume, the names and school locations are blank.

So looking at that anonymous resume, you still think this is the right decision as a head coach?

Last time ISU was in the depths of basketball hell, they did something different (well different to ISU anyway), they went out and offered top money to be the head coach at ISU. This time around they went the rout of bringing home the local son. Either way they apparently felt desperate times called for unorthodox measures.

ISU and FH could fail mightily in this, but the thing that ISU has to strive for (and what Pollard has learned early on with Chizik) is stability. It has to have a guy that can stick around with some moderate success. We can't continue the cycle of hiring a new coach every 4 years. More coaches fizzle out than become successful, so even if you get the hire right now, you might get the next one wrong in 4 years. If you get it right with Fred, he probably stays for a long, long time. Stability problem solved. That's what we banked on with Rhoads, what we tried banking on with Cael, what we banked on with McDermott, and what we're banking on with FH. Hiring an outsider, Pollard (being truthful to himself), probably wasn't banking on that with Chizik.

Outsiders (meaning someone with no ties to this state and/or this program) are not going to stay with ISU, especially in this day and age. It is entirely different than it was just a decade ago. We just aren't competitive with other job offers in so many ways. Our only selling point to a lot of coaches is come coach in the Big 12 (for however long that exists) and enhance your resume.

I agree with you that if you are just looking at the resumes on paper, you aren't going to take Hoiberg. But if you just looked at our roster on paper, you aren't taking the Clones over the Huskers in football either. A lot more goes into being successful at this level than just straight college coaching experience.

 

[jdoggivjc]

WHY are you asking yourself 'what if' this doesn't work? WHY? That's what I can't get over from the few left that are trying to rain on the parade. Let's enjoy some positive energy for ONCE. Let go of your insecurities and ask what IF he succeeds?? Isn't that infinitely more enjoyable? Luckily the downers are being drowned out.

We ALL see his inexperience and are a little worried, but WHY question it right now? What possible good does that bring? Try to check yourself and get on board for the ride, nobody needs to hear the obvious. Get on board or go find a hole in the ground somewhere else to complain to.

Could it be because just about my entire experience as a Cyclone fan it's been burn after burn after burn whenever I have put blind trust in just about ANYTHING ISU related?

Sorry - I just don't do the "blind trust" thing anymore. I'll support my coach, but no coach gets my blind loyalty from the get-go anymore - they've got to prove it with success on the court before I do Kool-Aid bongs anymore. Especially when we hire a guy that has zero relevant experience directly related to coaching at any level and is hired solely as a name that will put ***** in the seats next season..

 

[ISUFan22]

If U of Iowa had just hired Jess Setles most of you would be laughing your *** off at the idea of hiring a coach with no experience.

Most were already laughing at the thought of BJ Armstrong becoming the coach.

Last time ISU was in the depths of basketball hell, they did something different (well different to ISU anyway), they went out and offered top money to be the head coach at ISU. This time around they went the rout of bringing home the local son. Either way they apparently felt desperate times called for unorthodox measures.

ISU and FH could fail mightily in this, but the thing that ISU has to strive for (and what Pollard has learned early on with Chizik) is stability. It has to have a guy that can stick around with some moderate success. We can't continue the cycle of hiring a new coach every 4 years. More coaches fizzle out than become successful, so even if you get the hire right now, you might get the next one wrong in 4 years. If you get it right with Fred, he probably stays for a long, long time. Stability problem solved. That's what we banked on with Rhoads, what we tried banking on with Cael, what we banked on with McDermott, and what we're banking on with FH. Hiring an outsider, Pollard (being truthful to himself), probably wasn't banking on that with Chizik.

Outsiders (meaning someone with no ties to this state and/or this program) are not going to stay with ISU, especially in this day and age. It is entirely different than it was just a decade ago. We just aren't competitive with other job offers in so many ways. Our only selling point to a lot of coaches is come coach in the Big 12 (for however long that exists) and enhance your resume.

I agree with you that if you are just looking at the resumes on paper, you aren't going to take Hoiberg. But if you just looked at our roster on paper, you aren't taking the Clones over the Huskers in football either. A lot more goes into being successful at this level than just straight college coaching experience.

Good post, appreciate the well-thought view.

I want to address the bolded line specifically. We can't even get the losing coaches to stick around. This hire should not be about who will stay here 10-20 years no matter what. It should be about who can rebuild this program and win. Could Fred be that guy? Sure. But there is no data to support it. Clearly Fred would be expected to be a guy that will be here for the long haul.

But ISU MBB needs a guy that can and will win. I'm just not sure we got him. Regardless, there is going to be a steep learning curve. Will be interested to see how long already restless fans give JP (yes, this JP, Fred won't and IMO should not be blamed if this doesn't work) for the wins to come.

 

[swammi]

I believe the coaching experience thing is overrated in a lot of ways. Knowledge of the game and being able to motivate players are the most important things (after recruiting). I have a feeling Hoiberg has the ability to teach and motivate, recruiting will be the real test. If he can get the right players, I think ISU will be very competitive in the near future.

Seems that GETTING players is the single most significant skill in successful coaching.

 

[rholtgraves]

At this point, at the very least I want to know which coaches were contacting ISU. I honestly want to know who we could have had if we had run a thorough coaching search.

I have a feeling that the calls we were supposedly getting from coaches with NCAA experience at major conferences weren't really serious calls. Probably just agents trying to get their coach some extra money, because why hire a coach with no experience over people "who have taken 6,7,8 teams to the NCAA" who are coaches from "major schools"?