How to "start over"?

[dbronco7sc]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Cychl82]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[cyclonepower]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Please close this thread. Only meltdown threads allowed today!

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

+1 to OP

 

[CycloneErik]

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]

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.

 

[CycloneErik]

Didn't know that, my bad.

It's part of how we recruited the man into our situation at the time.

 

[MNCyGuy]

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.

That does kind of put that extension in perspective.

 

[Spam]

I don't think we need to go into this with a particular "profile" in mind. After firing WM, we got too caught up in trying to find the mirror "opposite". Perhaps many were so thrilled when we found McD was because we succeeded in finding exactly what we were looking for - "discipline", "integrity" and Iowan.
I'd want to be careful this time in not building a specific profile. Alums aren't necessarily better than non-alumns. Engergizers are not necessarily better than non-energizers.
Go get someone who can win. Even if it's someone in the Huggy Bear category, we'll find a way to defend him if he wins here.

 

[DaddyMac]

Does a Jeff Hornacek or Fred Hoiberg (two guys with zero coaching experience btw) really "excite" high school players?

Outside of Iowa, how many kids do you think even know who Freddie is? Maybe even Hornacek? Jeff has been out of pro ball for a decade or so, hasn't he? High schoolers know him? And therefore would they care? Not like we're talking about bringing on some bball legend.

I'm really not on board with this. Great for the fans. Not sure it does zip for recruiting.

We tried the mid-major hot prospect. Just for reference - so did Iowa on several occassions. Not the best results.

For my money - we need to try and poach a top assistant out of a Big 10/Big East school. D1 - major conference experience and recruiting ties.

 

[PGreen ISU '92]

GMac will be the coach next year. Is it possible to improve without a new coach? Absolutely.