The ASU coaching search and potential candidates to discuss

[asu66]

I'm beginning to think we're no longer looking for "the right person" for the job. We're looking for someone willing to take the job.

That's exactly where we are. Check my comments above about Buzz Peterson's experience at UNC-W. The APR got him in the end! He didn't create the problem--he just couldn't solve it quickly enough to keep TPTB happy.

Capel should have been fired after his second year when it was clear that the APR was trending down; and fast. CC wouldn't pull the trigger. Now, we have a deep hole to climb out of--and no ladder. Not a lot of coaches are seeking that sort of challenge for what we'll be willing to pay.

[Gonzo]

Yup. InCapelble left the program in ashes in every way possible. NO ONE with any repute would take this dumpster fire. Not for the money we can pay them.

We're going to have to get lucky with a relatively unknown new coach. Or maybe we should just resign ourselves to having ****ty basketball for the next decade.

I hope we've learned our lesson: Playing for UNC does not a head coach make. It was the worst hire we could have possibly made.

[ASUPATCH]

I know one guy that would love to come back and coach his alma mater. Unfortunately I don't think CC will make the call.

[wataugan03]

I know one guy that would love to come back and coach his alma mater. Unfortunately I don't think CC will make the call.

To those who claim to know that MM would come back: Did you get your information before or after news of our APR struggles came out? That's the kind of thing that could change his mind in a hurry; especially if he has any indication that he might be next in line at Murray State.

[ASUPATCH]

I know one guy that would love to come back and coach his alma mater. Unfortunately I don't think CC will make the call.

To those who claim to know that MM would come back: Did you get your information before or after news of our APR struggles came out? That's the kind of thing that could change his mind in a hurry; especially if he has any indication that he might be next in line at Murray State.

As of three days ago. I don't think there is a shot in hell he would turn it down APR and all.

[JCline0429]

I'm beginning to think we're no longer looking for "the right person" for the job. We're looking for someone willing to take the job.

That's exactly where we are. Check my comments above about Buzz Peterson's experience at UNC-W. The APR got him in the end! He didn't create the problem--he just couldn't solve it quickly enough to keep TPTB happy.

Capel should have been fired after his second year when it was clear that the APR was trending down; and fast. CC wouldn't pull the trigger. Now, we have a deep hole to climb out of--and no ladder. Not a lot of coaches are seeking that sort of challenge for what we'll be willing to pay.

With our basketball budget it would have been difficult to buy out Capel's last two years regardless of how sukky a job he did. We are just going to have to suck it up and do what it takes to repair the program now. We can do it with enough wise decisions.

[JCline0429]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is possible we could get wise and lucky and recruit one truly great big man or a stellar guard and have something to build a new program around. Good players like to sign with a program that has a true star already on board.

[Maddog1956]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is possible we could get wise and lucky and recruit one truly great big man or a stellar guard and have something to build a new program around. Good players like to sign with a program that has a true star already on board.

About the only way if you hire a coach with a big son. We really need a Brady Bunch situation. Two or more blended family of sons all college age.

[EastHallApp]

I'm beginning to think we're no longer looking for "the right person" for the job. We're looking for someone willing to take the job.

That's exactly where we are. Check my comments above about Buzz Peterson's experience at UNC-W. The APR got him in the end! He didn't create the problem--he just couldn't solve it quickly enough to keep TPTB happy.

Capel should have been fired after his second year when it was clear that the APR was trending down; and fast. CC wouldn't pull the trigger. Now, we have a deep hole to climb out of--and no ladder. Not a lot of coaches are seeking that sort of challenge for what we'll be willing to pay.

Could point to the appeal of bringing in a coach who has a system that can squeeze a few extra wins out of lesser athletes.

Baucom and Young run basically polar opposite systems, but both meet that description.

[EastHallApp]

Jim Fox
Davidson Assoc. HC
Previously: High school assistant coach in NY; AAU HC
Age: 41 (?)
Career record: n/a
http://www.davidsonwildcats.com/coaches ... ath=mbball

Pros:
- Experienced assistant at a successful program (13 years total, including last two as associate HC).
- Familiar with NC and (presumably) App State.
- Experience recruiting for academically challenging school could help clean up APR mess.
- Experience recruiting nationally could open up areas outside App’s normal footprint.
- Official bio says he’s been involved with “all facets of Davidson’s program: recruiting, scheduling, scouting, game preparation and on-court teaching.”
- Credited by HC Bob McKillop as a strong defensive strategist.

Cons:
- No head coaching experience.
- Not much name recognition.
- Would be making a step up not only in responsibility, but in level of competition (SoCon -> Sun Belt). Rare for a first-time HC to take a job in a stronger league than the one where he’s been an assistant.

[wataugan03]

I'm beginning to think we're no longer looking for "the right person" for the job. We're looking for someone willing to take the job.

That's exactly where we are. Check my comments above about Buzz Peterson's experience at UNC-W. The APR got him in the end! He didn't create the problem--he just couldn't solve it quickly enough to keep TPTB happy.

Capel should have been fired after his second year when it was clear that the APR was trending down; and fast. CC wouldn't pull the trigger. Now, we have a deep hole to climb out of--and no ladder. Not a lot of coaches are seeking that sort of challenge for what we'll be willing to pay.

With our basketball budget it would have been difficult to buy out Capel's last two years regardless of how sukky a job he did. We are just going to have to suck it up and do what it takes to repair the program now. We can do it with enough wise decisions.

I don't know. Two years of Capel's buyout be about the same as a single year of Buzz's salary. And we were apparently ready to pay Buzz for 4 more years.

[hapapp]

My guess is people will be underwhelmed at whomever takes the job. I don't mean that as a slam against the next coach but rather the expectations that some had when this search began. It was amazing some of the names that floated about. We have little to no drawing power as a basketball school. It will likely be an assistant that many are unfamiliar with but that doesn't mean the new guy won't be successful. Our job as fans is to give whomever the hire is a lot of support because as we all know, he is going to need it. This will likely be one of the toughest jobs in the country for the next several years.

[asu24]

Do you reckon the new chancellor will have any connections in the Athletic Director world?

[Maddog1956]

Do you reckon the new chancellor will have any connections in the Athletic Director world?

I don't know about that, but I wonder if that's the reason for the wait to hire. I doubt it but just wonder.

[EastHallApp]

My guess is people will be underwhelmed at whomever takes the job. I don't mean that as a slam against the next coach but rather the expectations that some had when this search began. It was amazing some of the names that floated about. We have little to no drawing power as a basketball school. It will likely be an assistant that many are unfamiliar with but that doesn't mean the new guy won't be successful. Our job as fans is to give whomever the hire is a lot of support because as we all know, he is going to need it. This will likely be one of the toughest jobs in the country for the next several years.

Good post, and you may be right. Personally, while I have had some issues with how this search has played out publicly, I'm withholding judgment on the end result. Unless you thought we were landing Bruce Pearl, I don't see a huge dropoff from the initial "top candidates" and some of the ones being discussed now.

I thought Rhoades would have been a great hire, but he was still a high-mid-major (I might have just made up a term) assistant with no D1 HC experience. Not that different than some of the current rumored prospects.

I won't rehash the Lutz debate since it's moot now, but suffice to say he had his pros and cons like everyone else.

Whoever we sign is going to have some question marks and (one hopes) some strengths. Any coach who is a sure thing, quite frankly, isn't going to be in the market for a job at App, or any other Sun Belt program.

[Rekdiver]

1st with the APR issues if I were CC I'd know that I'm not going to get a great signature coach....so I include MM and Baucom in the mix...give the coach a 5 year contract that is cancelable by the coach after 3 years and it includes raises based upon attainment of academic and increased winning.. Then I find out where the academic tutors were in all of this and fire them for spending more time in Chapel Hill. Oh well that didnt work out for them either.

[asu1978]

Let's look at the positives 1) We do have a great academic reputation. 2) very nice facilities. 3)Scholarships that should bring in talent.People,we are NOT D2.I can't help but think we should be able to bring in somebody who will be starting with a relatively clean slate,with new assistants.Maybe we can find another (Jerry Moore) type situation-Someone hungry to start again with experience.Let's think positive.

[firemoose]

Found these tweets interesting. If true why that date? And what about Flomo and Graham? Wouldn't expect Worrell to be released without talking to someone, since that's what the Dept. said earlier. Could it be that a decision has already been made and is just being kept quite? Around here nothing would surprise me.

Cary Clark ‏@ccbama
6-8, 210 F Rasheed Worrell of Sipsey Valley on late signing radar for #Bama.

CrimsonHoops ‏@BamaBasketball1
@take_flight247 Rasheed Worrell is expected to be released April 11 from Appalachian State

[hapapp]

HoopDirt reporting that Darrin Horn may wind up as an assistant at BC with new coach Jim Christian who left Ohio. Also suggests he may pursue Ohio job.

[Appsolutley]

I am beginning to believe that McMahon may end up with the job. It's going to take somebody who loves the black and gold and is willing to work like hell to get us past the mess we are in, both APR and otherwise. Of course, for that to happen, Cobb is going to have to reach out to him. Wonder if Cobb has too much ego to do that, since doing so would imply that he should have done it four years ago. Of course, he can always say that Matt has four more years of experience now, notwithstanding the fact that he has no experience as a head coach.