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

cyclone1975

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Yes. But to be fair his reputation and apparent legacy prior to this was the flawless ISU golden boy of mythic proportions. This is the first thing to show that he really wasn't the ultimate, selfless cyclone. So he loses those unrealistic expectations, but that is about it.

I am willing to believe that he honestly thought ISU was his dream job forever. But then after a few years of being a college coach, he realized he didn't like it as much as he thought he would. By all accounts college basketball recruiting is a very slimy business. Maybe he didn't like that aspect of being a coach. In a lot of ways, the NBA is more of a pure X and O's gig, and it seems pretty obvious that is his favorite part of the job.
 
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imnclone

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At the end of Hoiberg's era as coach you have to look at the results. He was able to put together teams that were very good at home and fun to watch. His record away from Hilton wasn't so good. Another quality coach should be able to match his record.

Mostly what Hoiberg was able to do, was to uniquely sell "hope" for the future (in spite of his NBA dreams, people kept buying). Turns out, that "hope" was like the old swampland in Florida real estate scam. It was never real.
 

skelly

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Iowa State's poster boy leaves after five years, back-to-back Big 12 tournament championships, a Sweet Sixteen and a first-round out. Leaves after promising to coach his son here (see introductory press conference). Leaves after promising to raise a national championship banner. Leaves after two years into a 10-year contract (I know, contracts mean nothing in coaching). There are definite contradictions in his statements about Iowa State being a destination/dream job/special place and his actions (interviewing with the Orlando Magic?).

Not even Mr. Iowa State, a former ball boy, wanted to stay in Ames. Why is ISU a stepping stone to even Fred Hoiberg? Possibly unrealistic expectations on my part and a lot of the fan base.

I get that he has ties to the Wolves and Bulls, but interviewing with the Magic? It's not like he needed more leverage. He already has a job. Gar Forman is "obsessed" with him. Hoiberg must have had a now-or-never feeling about coaching in the NBA.
 
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AlumfromAmes

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Actually what I don't like is if Otz is appointed the head coaching position without much if any competition. I could care less about Freds rush to the NBA. He is only human.

Exactly! He's not a legend. He's not "The Mayor". He's only human.
 

chuckd4735

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Not at all to me... And the tarnishing of this guys reputation based off rumors and reports by some of you is downright embarrassing for this fan base. This is no surprise, we all have known Fred would be in the NBA at some point and would not be finishing his career here. Sure, he said he would love to finish his career here, but anyone with half a brain knew that was not going to happen. Fred is leaving this program in pretty damn good shape, and he is setting the next coach up better then any I can recall in college basketball. Sure we missed out on a few recruits and lost a player because of this, but that was going to happen no matter when Fred left. If Fred returns next year, and then heads to the NBA with a down year coming and 5-7 scholarships that need to be filled by a new coaching staff, that would be detrimental to the program. Instead, he is leaving us with a stacked team, and 2 open schlorships. The guy is making sure the program is in a MUCH better spot then when he got it, he has taken us to 4 straight NCAA tournies, he got us 2 straight Big 12 tourney wins, and has put this program into the national spotlight more then it ever has been.

The fact that some of you want to tarnish this guy is pathetic. Fred did nothing but increase his legacy these past five years, and what he has done here has earned him a coaching job in the NBA. Some of you need to get over it and be happy for the guy. If this is his dream, then good for him for going from nothing to this in 5 years.
 

coolerifyoudid

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My response to the OP is the same response to the question, "Would you rather have had a different coach the past five years?"

I know it's not going to happen, but how many people would scamper to delete their posts if Fred happened to stay?
 

Judoka

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Not at all to me... And the tarnishing of this guys reputation based off rumors and reports by some of you is downright embarrassing for this fan base. This is no surprise, we all have known Fred would be in the NBA at some point and would not be finishing his career here. Sure, he said he would love to finish his career here, but anyone with half a brain knew that was not going to happen. Fred is leaving this program in pretty damn good shape, and he is setting the next coach up better then any I can recall in college basketball. Sure we missed out on a few recruits and lost a player because of this, but that was going to happen no matter when Fred left. If Fred returns next year, and then heads to the NBA with a down year coming and 5-7 scholarships that need to be filled by a new coaching staff, that would be detrimental to the program. Instead, he is leaving us with a stacked team, and 2 open schlorships. The guy is making sure the program is in a MUCH better spot then when he got it, he has taken us to 4 straight NCAA tournies, he got us 2 straight Big 12 tourney wins, and has put this program into the national spotlight more then it ever has been.

The fact that some of you want to tarnish this guy is pathetic. Fred did nothing but increase his legacy these past five years, and what he has done here has earned him a coaching job in the NBA. Some of you need to get over it and be happy for the guy. If this is his dream, then good for him for going from nothing to this in 5 years.

People keep posting this but I simply do not agree. We have an awesome senior class and exactly nothing behind them except Morris, who probably will go pro after this year. The new coach will have to start from scratch in their recruiting and Hoiberg did not stay around long enough to raise the profile of Iowa State Basketball outside of his own influence. ISU is not a more attractive job or more attractive to recruits (without Hoiberg) than it was before he got here. He's not leaving the program in any better shape than it has been for the past 30 years. We have a championship caliber team next year. We do not have a championship caliber long term program in place.
 

Judoka

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My response to the OP is the same response to the question, "Would you rather have had a different coach the past five years?"

I know it's not going to happen, but how many people would scamper to delete their posts if Fred happened to stay?

If Hoiberg comes out, says "I almost left but decided I couldn't do that" or something to that effect, and signs a new contract with a huge NBA buyout then the past few weeks would be a blip and he'd be quickly forgiven.

If his offers with NBA teams all fall through for this season and he goes back to coaching ISU without addressing the matter and without a reworked contract... then this'll just be worse as it stretches out for a whole year until he bolts next spring, with another year of recruiting sabotaged.
 

chuckd4735

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People keep posting this but I simply do not agree. We have an awesome senior class and exactly nothing behind them except Morris, who probably will go pro after this year. The new coach will have to start from scratch in their recruiting and Hoiberg did not stay around long enough to raise the profile of Iowa State Basketball outside of his own influence. ISU is not a more attractive job or more attractive to recruits (without Hoiberg) than it was before he got here. He's not leaving the program in any better shape than it has been for the past 30 years. We have a championship caliber team next year. We do not have a championship caliber long term program in place.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...-basketball-fred-hoiberg-recruiting/28157513/
 

HornacekFan1414

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As far as Fred's legacy diminishing, the guy in this thread who said "if he stays, there will be a statue of him outside Hilton at some point, if he goes, that ain't happening" hit it on the head....end thread
 

CyCy

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Still the greatest BB coach we have ever had in my opinion. The program is light years better off than when he took over.

If Fred leaves, I can only hope that his replacement is so successful that the NBA wants to hire him in 5 years.
 

cyclonedave25

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I'm now changing Fred's nickname from "The Mayor", to "The City Council Member."

You're nicer than me.
In my book, Fred went from The Mayor to School Board Trustee.

Just kidding guys, relax.
Nothing changes, except for what he "could have" been here.
 

Judoka

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Still the greatest BB coach we have ever had in my opinion. The program is light years better off than when he took over.

If Fred leaves, I can only hope that his replacement is so successful that the NBA wants to hire him in 5 years.

How so? What about the institution of ISU Basketball is "light years better off than when he took over"? What, programmatically, is better now than five years ago that will still be the case when Hoiberg departs? Soukup is the only long term thing that isn't going to dissipate with his departure, and that is something that likely would have been built regardless of the coach.

How is our outlook for say, five years in the future, any different than it would have been if we'd had a coach over the past five years who had average success for Iowa State (i.e. a couple NCAA appearances and finishing in the top half of the conference most years). It isn't. Hoiberg is bailing before he is around long enough to raise the long term profile of the program. He certainly didn't hurt ISU basketball and I'm not implying that is the case. I'm just rejecting the claim that what he's done has made a significant difference on ISU basketball as an institution vs. success being enjoyed only because of his presence. Look at just about any mid major that has a couple years of success before the coach who is behind it moves on. That's basically what we're getting. The foundations of ISU basketball are the same. Whoever the new coach is will enjoy the same benefits, and suffer the same drawbacks, as every other coach ISU has had since Orr.
 
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Cydkar

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It definitely changes his legacy. He goes from being a coach K to a Tim Floyd. That's hyperbole but once he's gone he won't be on ISU fans' minds any more. That's just how it works. A few will follow his career obsessively but most don't really care if it isn't impacting ISU. He can win or lose every game and it doesn't mean squat.

He's not even gone and opinions have shifted. Just wait until he's out of sight and out of mind.
 

Jeffwork

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I'm not sure about other fanatics but I grew up watching Fred and following his career. I had his jersey and wore it all the time. Twitter is buzzing tonight and seems like there could be fall out to his legacy with the way this whole offseason has played out. I'm interested on how this will play out to the fans and how this affects the "mayor" status. I guess time heals all wounds but the initial reaction has been about what is expected.

It absolutely changes my opinion of him. Oh what could of been.
 

ruxCYtable

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When/If he leaves I can get over him going to the NBA. What will be hard to get over is him interviewing for many NBA jobs and what he has said in the past about being in Ames and the coach of ISU.

Very disappointing to hear he explored the Orlando job... Like others said, I can understand the allure of Chciago or Minnesota given his past, but exploring the Magic position makes all of the "ISU dream job" speech he gave last year seem really hollow.....I said he was leaving after Matt A left and TJ came back, but I thought only for Chciago.....

Not his legacy but it changes the perception of him. Jumping to the Bulls or Wolves is understandable. Being wowed by a great opportunity like Billy Donovan and the Thunder is too. But the Magic? And him telling people in April that he's gone if he gets an offer? Yes, it changes the perception of him.

In the end, this was just "a job" - and not one that he wanted that badly.
I've been pretty understanding up till now but finding out he's been looking into multiple jobs tells me he's been LOOKING to leave as opposed to just fielding opportunities. Changes things for me and I've gone from understanding to ****** off.