Does the legacy of the "mayor" change after this?

[Clonefan32]

I'm pretty torn on this one. On one hand, he's left this program in an infinitely better position than he found it. For that, it's hard to have too hard of feelings. Also, the money is undeniable. Five million dollars a year is crazy, and I just don't buy the "money isn't the issue" argument. That's alot of damn money.

On the other hand, anyone who paid any attention to the program saw next year as being the pinnacle. We had a good team with Kane and Ejim. We lost some pieces but had a good team last year. But we've known all along next year was going to be special. It sucks to see him build this and leave it right when we are on the verge of something big. You also hate to see this for guys like Naz and Georges and Matt and Monte. They were committed to him, but didn't get the same treatment.

I get there are reasons upon reasons for him to leave. But for some reason I wanted to believe he was above this, and that Iowa State and his guys meant a little more to him than this. I guess not, but oh well. Moving to an aging, perpetually injured roster with touchy management seems like a bad career move. I'm afraid he will find the goodwill he has in Ames isn't quite reciprocated in Chicago.

 

[madguy30]

If Fred couldn't handle that how is he going to handle the Chicago media and fans where they don't worship the ground he walks on?

One thing's for sure: There was a strong feeling last year that the ISU locker room wasn't great, and one player was a clog in the system. If Fred struggled to manage that situation (if that was the case), it's a wonder what he'd do with the players that reportedly had the gaul to rip Coach T in his exit interview out of Chicago.

Right now Fred would be the most unproven coach in the league, and he may have quite an uphill battle to start with.

 

[cyclonez7]

What if Fred gets fired after 3-5 years? Any chance we would bring him back if our program is in shambles?

 

[carvers4math]

What if Fred gets fired after 3-5 years? Any chance we would bring him back if our program is in shambles?

The Orlando Magic probably need another coach by then.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

I could take 5 million for just one year, be grossly ineffective at job, get fired, and live the rest of my life with a smile on my face.

 

[carvers4math]

I could take 5 million for just one year, be grossly ineffective at job, get fired, and live the rest of my life with a smile on my face.

These guys holding teams up for more money boggle my mind. How much money can someone spend?

 

[iheartcy]

Yes. Do I think Fred is an amazing coach and a nice guy... Yes! Do I think this hurts his ISU legacy, absolutely! He sold us on being an Iowa State man and to leave before potentially the best season we've ever had, the first real year with all his players before reaching a tourney milestone or big 12 season championship. Fred will always be known as the coach that almost got the cyclones there but didn't. Another ISU heartbreak story.

 

[32Cyclone Fan]

it is more of a what could have been than ruining anything he has done. He will have a good legacy here, but he had a chance to be our Izzo, Bo Ryan, or coach K. He could have been the only one to surpass Johnny's legacy. That won't happen now.

It's pretty hard to believe but in 5 years Fred is only one conference road win (14-30) away from tying J O's 14 year conference road win record of (15-83). I was especially shocked since Fred was a star in three of those four years. Well maybe two actually. Fred's maybe had his best year as a Cyclone his junior year but the Cyclone's had a tough time winning any conference games after Lauren Meyer was in that accident. Meyer didn't play any of the conference season and he was the only true big man on the roster.

 

[32Cyclone Fan]

I think this does affect everything. How could someone be so emotional about what Orr meant to him and this university and a little over a year later chose to chase his ego. In the end I will admit that it could very well be that he just wants to try out the highest level for a couple of years before he goes into the front office of an NBA team or possibly become an AD, knowing full well coaching wasnt his cup of tea long term.

Can't find the quote right now but Fred has said when he is no longer coaching he will go into banking which is along the lines of his ISU degree. I think I actually read it at CF because someone commented it would be a full time job for him to just count his money.

I really don't think he will stay working in any form of basketball when he quits coaching.

 

[MaccloNe]

Yes. Do I think Fred is an amazing coach and a nice guy... Yes! Do I think this hurts his ISU legacy, absolutely! He sold us on being an Iowa State man and to leave before potentially the best season we've ever had, the first real year with all his players before reaching a tourney milestone or big 12 season championship. Fred will always be known as the coach that almost got the cyclones there but didn't. Another ISU heartbreak story.

Isn't looking he was the nice guy, more like a fake. We will see how amazing he is withth that mess in Chicago.

 

[dualthreat]

I'm gonna say Fred's decision to leave has almost nothing to do with money.

He wants an NBA gig and doesn't like it here nearly as much as we hoped.

 

[32Cyclone Fan]

I would 100% bet that that is a way he justified it to himself.

That was the logic used to force Orr out for Fred's senior year.

Johnny Orr was forced out? I hadn't heard that. My recollection is that Fred was devastated when Johnny announced his retirement because he said when he committed to Iowa State that JO promised him he would be the coach through his four year career. As it turned out I think Floyd with a different style helped Fred be a more rounded player.

 

[KneeGusto]

Everything you want that is enjoyable and receive, you want more of. You want it to never end.

The last 5 years not only did not suck, they were really good. I will hold precious the memories and have hope for the future.

To borrow Fennelly's axiom, don't be sad that it is over - be glad that it happened.

Legacy intact.

 

[Cycsk]

Yes, this will significantly change his legacy. He had an opportunity to create an unprecedented legacy by leading Iowa State to a Final Four and/or make us a perennial power.

The Hilton ball boy to Ames High to Iowa State star to NBA to Iowa State coach legacy is great, but it could have been astronomically great if Hoiberg led us to be a perennial power.

I'm sure there is much more to the story and this makes good sense for Hoiberg (such as something like only having 3 more years to coach and he flipped a coin to decide between ISU/NBA), but I have to admit that I was really looking forward to the national attention we would receive for the foreseeable future if Hoiberg stayed and took his legacy to astronomical levels.

 

[egunzy]

Johnny Orr was forced out? I hadn't heard that. My recollection is that Fred was devastated when Johnny announced his retirement because he said when he committed to Iowa State that JO promised him he would be the coach through his four year career. As it turned out I think Floyd with a different style helped Fred be a more rounded player.

Johnny was most definitely forced out. Without question. Other schools were starting to use his age against him among other things. But, Johnny being Johnny, he never called attention to it. He held his head high and gave a passionate speech and even fell on the sword regarding the recruiting. But yes, he was forced out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPh7SvwfB8

 

[egunzy]

Everything you want that is enjoyable and receive, you want more of. You want it to never end.

The last 5 years not only did not suck, they were really good. I will hold precious the memories and have hope for the future.

To borrow Fennelly's axiom, don't be sad that it is over - be glad that it happened.

Legacy intact.

I think the fact that there is a 17 page thread on an ISU message board proves that Hoiberg's legacy has been damaged by the past few weeks. Not saying that it can't be repaired as time passes but to suggest these events will not impact his legacy is a longshot at best and more likely foolish.

 

[cytown]

Short term, yes. I've never seen this much agony around Ames. I think a lot of people feel like Fred "owed" it to ISU and the fanbase to stay here. Most of it is b/c the fans convinced themselves that ISU Basketball was on the verge of multiple national titles, becoming this monster Duke like program. The stupid signs in the yards, the "but but his family" matra's, etc.... I think most of the bitterness is the realization the ISU becoming a Duke or Kansas program dreams, as unlikely as they were to begin with, are now in question. I'm sure that is depressing for those folks that take ISU basketball a little too seriously. Fred will be a phenomenal coach for the Bulls, I have no doubt about that. He is a great coach and a great man.

Long term, no. I think it will play out similar to Favre and the Packers. It took 7+ years for the fans to come back around and warm up to him again. But time heals everything, and Fred has been a godsend for ISU. Both as a player and a coach. Once people drop the entitlement perspective and can step back and appreciate everything hes done for ISU, he will be welcomed with open arms.

 

[erikbj]

His legacy will be ok if JP doesn't screw it up with the next hire. If the next coach can build on what Fred has done, he will be viewed as the guy who came back and rebuilt the program. If it falls back to the mcdoormat years it will be a blip on the radar like when Floyd was here.

 

[AlumfromAmes]

Short term, yes. I've never seen this much agony around Ames. I think a lot of people feel like Fred "owed" it to ISU and the fanbase to stay here. Most of it is b/c the fans convinced themselves that ISU Basketball was on the verge of multiple national titles, becoming this monster Duke like program. The stupid signs in the yards, the "but but his family" matra's, etc.... I think most of the bitterness is the realization the ISU becoming a Duke or Kansas program dreams, as unlikely as they were to begin with, are now in question. I'm sure that is depressing for those folks that take ISU basketball a little too seriously. Fred will be a phenomenal coach for the Bulls, I have no doubt about that. He is a great coach and a great man.

Long term, no. I think it will play out similar to Favre and the Packers. It took 7+ years for the fans to come back around and warm up to him again. But time heals everything, and Fred has been a godsend for ISU. Both as a player and a coach. Once people drop the entitlement perspective and can step back and appreciate everything hes done for ISU, he will be welcomed with open arms.

It's not entitlement. It's expecting more from somebody that was held in very high regard. We're constantly told that he is a great person. That does not seem to be the case when there is mounting evidence that he has been planning to leave for quite some time, while making public statements to the contrary.

For myself, it's not that I now despise him, it's simply that his legacy changes. He is not the great person that we thought he was. He's not on the same level as Johnny Orr. He's more like Tim Floyd or Larry Eustachy. I still consider them both to be great coaches, but they are not legends. Fred's image will, without doubt, take a longterm hit. He just simply will not be the legend that we all thought he would be. Most of that is because of the deception involved in the way he is leaving.

He was on track to end his career with a statue in the building or having the court named after him. Those things are now out of reach. People can still appreciate what he did, but it will always come with an asterisk.

 

[Thomasrickj]

I keep going back and forth on this situation. JP needs to hit it out of the park with this next hire or Fred's image will not look as great to ISU fans. For the Packers analogy, that is not even close to the same situation. Aaron Rodgers was the QB in waiting so fans didn't seem to mind too much after Favre left because Rodgers continued the success. That's also why now they're still fans of Favre. So if a coach comes in and doesn't run this program into the ground, expect the fanbase to be happy again with Hoiberg after a few years. But if a McDoormat hire is made, you can bet a lot of the fanbase will blame Fred.

I have very mixed emotions on this situation. Fred resurrected our awful program and had this fanbase hungry to always win and you can't thank him enough for doing that. However, if this program goes back down the gutter, it'll feel even worse than if we were just that bad pre-Hoiball days since we were used to being awful.