Coach Search Options after Autry | Page 276 | Syracusefan.com

Coach Search Options after Autry

I don’t think there are many people here who are actually pushing for Hop. Do I love Hop the guy, of course… Do I think this is the right time for him, no way. I think a lot of people here think that because a few of us post information that we are in support of such information. All we are doing is sharing what’s going on. BH would be my pick
 
The reason I get so heated about Mike Hopkins, and this has nothing to do with Hodgson, is simple there are zero basketball reasons to consider him a viable candidate.

His tenure at Washington Huskies showed nothing that suggests he’s capable of succeeding as a head coach at this level. He didn’t just struggle, he flamed out. If Washington had been a bad situation and Hopkins was a good coach, the logical next step would have been to take a lower-level job, especially on the East Coast, and prove that point. He didn’t do that.

Instead, what the tape shows is a coach who could still recruit decent enough but was behind the times strategically. His offenses were stagnant, his defenses were outdated, and his teams consistently looked unprepared for modern college basketball. Frankly, what Washington looked like over his last five years is exactly what we just watched this season with Syracuse. Talk is cheap. Tape matters.

On top of that:
-He hasn’t coached in college for the last two years
-He hasn’t been immersed in East Coast college basketball for nearly a decade
-There’s no evidence of schematic growth on either end of the floor

If he didn’t play here and wasn’t once an assistant here, his name wouldn’t even come up because by every objective basketball standard, he’s not a qualified candidate.

That’s not emotional. That’s evaluation.
No offense but 90% of the board including me agrees with you, it's just repetition of what we all know on the basketball court.

My concern continues to be what we don't know on the money.

Do we know what assistants BH wants and how much more they will cost? I expect Hop is making big promises about all his assistants coming back that will be alums and prob not expensive either.

When the board gets 2 names and one will costs double what the other costs what will they do? People act like it's a nobrainer.

I sit here being concerned because I cannot remember the last time this school took the path of a more expensive coach when a coach they knew was available for much less.
 
It’s hilarious how people are now trying to make it seem like getting BH is going to be a long shot.

I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but I know with 1000% certainty that this is the job at the top of his list, and the others don’t come close. He and his camp have done their homework and know which jobs have the possibility of opening, and he’s made it clear which one he covets. If you choose not to believe me, that’s fine.

Secondly, he knows that he’s going to have an opportunity to get a power conference job this offseason. The idea that now we have to worry about him signing an extension with South Florida really made me laugh. He’s not agreeing to that, and in fact, he purposely had the buyout set low in his contract so when this opportunity arose, it wouldn’t be an issue for teams to come get him.

It’s as simple as this: offer him a competitive salary and make sure you are providing adequate NIL (it doesn’t have to be some insane number), and we will have our new coach.
Thanks for sharing this. Im a little astounded by some of the posters asserting that we can’t compete with some of the schools on the market and that Hodgson might go elsewhere. As you’ll see in my post above, some of the other open jobs at SEC and Big12 schools have other options they will likely be courting, other schools like Ohio State may not open at all (Oregon is also unlikely), and other schools have financial and other limitations. It’s not like Kentucky, UNC or even Villanova is looking for a coach this year. We are possibly the top or one of the top jobs on the market, as I showed in what Matt Norlander posted. It’s bizarre. We have a top 5 candidate on the market who actually wants to be here. I can’t believe we might actually screw this up and go with a failed retread that will get us roasted by other coaches and the national media (at least behind the scenes and on the recruiting trail), especially when they find out we hired Hop over Hodgson. Look, maybe Hop will work out and will come in with a fresh vision and a compelling blueprint about everything he learned and will change from his previous tenure, but I think that’s wishful thinking. I love the guy and all he did for Syracuse. But the risk is too high to hire him based on the evidence of his failed vision and schemes at Washington.
 
I don’t think there are many people here who are actually pushing for Hop. Do I love Hop the guy, of course… Do I think this is the right time for him, no way. I think a lot of people here think that because a few of us post information that we are in support of such information. All we are doing is sharing what’s going on. BH would be my pick

I think it is even more basic than shooting the messenger.

After the University screwed the hire up so badly last time, blowing smoke about the reasons why Red was "the best" choice, many aren't receptive to another internal candidate being floated this time around -- ESPECIALLY given how similar the holes in MH's profile are to Red's.

We are in a precarious spot. We never should have made a continuity hire before, given how far the program had slipped, and the fact that a similar approach might [emphasis on "might"] be taken again has the fanbase justifyably nervous.
 
I don’t think there are many people here who are actually pushing for Hop. Do I love Hop the guy, of course… Do I think this is the right time for him, no way. I think a lot of people here think that because a few of us post information that we are in support of such information. All we are doing is sharing what’s going on. BH would be my pick

I am worried because he shouldn't even be in the pool of candidates if there is a real search.

I hate saying that because he was such a key assistant during our successful years and was a player that you never want to say that.

It's that if he's considered a legitimate finalist or semi-finalist in the pool of candidates after what is supposed to be a legitimate search, those are contradictory statements. That's the issue.

I don't care if people on a message board support Hop. Anyone can feel anything. I'm much more concerned with the actual process and where we are landing. Also, I am sure there are a number of qualified candidates that have not floated externally in the media, so I don't want to assume the worst of the search itself, but Hop being anything but a cursory cup of coffee it makes it feel like it's not a valid search.

With that said, always appreciate the info you and others provide on here.
 
No offense but 90% of the board including me agrees with you, it's just repetition of what we all know on the basketball court.

My concern continues to be what we don't know on the money.

Do we know what assistants BH wants and how much more they will cost? I expect Hop is making big promises about all his assistants coming back that will be alums and prob not expensive either.

When the board gets 2 names and one will costs double what the other costs what will they do? People act like it's a nobrainer.

I sit here being concerned because I cannot remember the last time this school took the path of a more expensive coach when a coach they knew was available for much less.

That's fine -- but we have to look beyond just the initial salary as the only "cost."

For example, what is Red "costing" the University / athetic department, given waning attendance and concession sales at home games? We might have saved some money in terms of initial salary, but offsest it with the fanbase voting with their wallets becaue the product on the court is subpar.

If they look at a better qualified coach, but opt for a cheaper alternative just to save some short-term dollars, it is going to blow up quicker than it did for Red if that coach struggles. The goodwill / patience won't be there for Hopkins the way it was for Red.

So should salary be an evaluative criteria? Yes, but within limits. And certainly not the only factor tipping the scales between Candidate A versus Candidate B.
 
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Are you really that oblivious? I don't support Hopkins for the job. I am thinking of calling my friends on the BOT to tell them my opinion on both Hopkins and Lyke. I present the argument for Hopkins because most (you) can't understand how someone could be on the other side. Period. You are the perfect example of why I do this. I was against Hopkins before he took the Washington job. Maybe you weren't here then. JFC. Plus, I have defended the BOT as being wrong if they chose either Hopkins or Lyke. But not choosing simply because they like one person over the other.
Dash, I understand you’re trying to present what the BOT might say if they hire Hop. But to me at least it’s a pretty disingenuous argument. Everyone on this board knows it would be all about the $. I know it, you know it, the national media know it, even Melo knows it or he wouldn’t be putting such an all-out push to raise cash solely for Hop. Without that, no one thinks Hop would be a serious candidate.
 
I don’t think there are many people here who are actually pushing for Hop. Do I love Hop the guy, of course… Do I think this is the right time for him, no way. I think a lot of people here think that because a few of us post information that we are in support of such information. All we are doing is sharing what’s going on. BH would be my pick
Agreed, I don't recall a single person in this thread pushing Hop. A few have sought to play "devil's advocate " so to speak just to highlight what might make the committee listen (Melo and $30m) but pretty sure that is it.
 
Agreed, I don't recall a single person in this thread pushing Hop. A few have sought to play "devil's advocate " so to speak just to highlight what might make the committee listen (Melo and $30m) but pretty sure that is it.

The frustration lies in the process 3 years ago, the insiders on the board were not pushing Red either. They were dropping similar nuggets as they are dropping now about Hopkins. Internal favoritism and concerns about money, etc. This is a replay of exactly what happened 3 years ago, and I think many of us who wanted a national search 3 years ago are having flashbacks to the exact same thing happening.
 
I think BH has got a ton of praise on this board. And I wasn't doing any coding for Hopkins. I was stating what that side would say about his job at Washington. There has been plenty of what you would call coding for BH. It does seem that the bh side can't even listen to the Hopkins argument without getting upset. While I don't favor for Hopkins in this battle, I find the BH side hilarious with their defensive argument for him.
Sounds like elephants bs donkeys, hardly any rational thinking let alone dialogue.
 
You know what I would like to know and see. What each team gets in NIL and what place they are in their league. I bet few schools over reach too much from their NIL. I don't think BH will either. I don't doubt that he will come close to maxing out his NIL. But we need a lot of NIl if we want to be the school that we want to be. BH's first call should be to Melo. even before he calls his fiancé to tell her that he got the job.

This is a rare case where we disagree on something, Dasher. Because I think that this is a new paradigm for recruiting that bucks how we've done things in the past. Because I don't expect that BH would go out [if hired] and try to land a bunch of top transfers / recruits right out of the gate in year one. He's going to go get guys who are system fits first, to establish the footprint, just like he did at his previous two stops.

I don't believe we are going to need tons of NIL expenditure at first, because this will be a multi-phased roster reconstruction. BH will recruit system fits, using data from his stints at Arkansas State and USF to "sell" transfers on the type of system he will run. He's not going to come out of the gates trying to go after big time recruits, either via the portal or HS recruits.

Instead, he's going to bring in guys who will help him get his systems on both sides of the ball in place. And my expectation is that just as was the case in his two last stops, we'll see a quick turnaround in terms of our ability to play competitively against better teams.

And although he has no ties to this program, I would expect this process to emulate what we saw at Houston over the years. A bunch of three-star recruits with some four-stars mixed in, who play "better" than that rating because they are well coached and the system is sound.

And after the footprint is in place, and success gets elevated, THEN like Houston we might go after higher rated guys. For YEARS, Houston didn't have guys like Flemings / Cirac, who were highly rated recruits -- they got busy with a bunch of lesser-rated recruits who FIT THEIR SYSTEM. The funny thing is, some UH insiders were "worried" that guys like Cirac might not "fit" the hard-nosed intensity of the players they are used to in their program.

Please note, I'm not talking about bargain basement guys, or reaches like Howard Washington. BH will get quality players, they just might not be as highly rated out of the gate as what Syracuse fans are used to from the past.

But if the program gets established, the multi-phased approach will work -- both in terms of chasing higher rated players, and in terms of what will be required in terms of shelling out $$$ to land them.
 
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Yeah, and I think that we will get it right. Let's face it, if not for the 30 million there would have been no discussion right from the jump. Melo or no Melo. However, once again, I think the first call BH has to make is to Melo. I want that money for NIL. Whatever number it really is.
Is it a real possibility that if Hopkins is not the choice that Kiyan goes elsewhere and the Melo money goes with him?
 
I heard it was probably premature for him. He needs some more seasoning and didn’t want to bail on Army so quickly.
Makes sense. I actually crossed paths with him when we were students but never knew him well. Whenever I think of the term "athletic director" I think of Crouthamel, and seeing his name listed as a candidate was an odd feeling. Am I old...
 
The frustration lies in the process 3 years ago, the insiders on the board were not pushing Red either. They were dropping similar nuggets as they are dropping now about Hopkins. Internal favoritism and concerns about money, etc. This is a replay of exactly what happened 3 years ago, and I think many of us who wanted a national search 3 years ago are having flashbacks to the exact same thing happening.

Speaking only for myself, that's my concern -- perfectly summarized.

This hire will be the test of what the University / AD wants this program to be. One that again is a top 25 caliber men's college basketball program that casts it's eyes toward the future of what it is required to succeed in the modern sports environment, or one that rationalizes doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result, while clinging to the past.
 
This is a rare case where we disagree on something, Dasher. Because I think that this is a new paradigm for recruiting that bucks how we've done things in the past.

I don't believe we are going to need tons of NIL expenditure at first, because this will be a multi-phased roster reconstruction. BH will recruit system fits, using data from his stints at Arkansas State and USF to "sell" transfers on the type of system he will run. He's not going to come out of the gates trying to go after big time recruits, either via the portal or HS recruits.

Instead, he's going to bring in guys who will help him get his systems on both sides of the ball in place. And my expectation is that just as was the case in his two last stops, we'll see a quick turnaround in terms of our ability to play competitively against better teams.

And although he has no ties to this program, I would expect this process to emulate what we saw at Houston over the years. A bunch of three-star recruits with some four-stars mixed in, who play "better" than that rating because they are well coached and the system is sound.

And after the footprint is in place, and success gets elevated, THEN like Houston we might go after higher rated guys. For YEARS, Houston didn't have guys like Flemings / Cirac, who were highly rated recruits -- they got busy with a bunch of lesser-rated recruits who FIT THEIR SYSTEM.

Please note, I'm not talking about bargain basement guys, or reaches like Howard Washington. BH will get quality players, they just might not be as highly rated out of the gate as what Syracuse fans are used to from the past.

But if the program gets established, the multi-phased approach will work -- both in terms of chasing higher rated players, and in terms of what will be required in terms of shelling out $$$ to land them.
The better your coach is, the less NIL matters. If I was Buffalo and Melo offered that deal I think you take it because that kind of NIL money is program changing at the Lower level. But we’re Syracuse - once that momentum comes with a hire like BH, the NIL will fly in, especially if he wins right away
 
The better your coach is, the less NIL matters. If I was Buffalo and Melo offered that deal I think you take it because that kind of NIL money is program changing at the Lower level. But we’re Syracuse - once that momentum comes with a hire like BH, the NIL will fly in, especially if he wins right away

Agreed -- IF you hire the right coach, which is what many of us have been saying all along.

Obligatory qualifier -- no HC is a sure thing, but I think Hodgson is pretty close. He would bring an exciting style of play that would reverse the inept defense we've seen declining for a long time, and a much more effective offense.

Hire a competent coach, the results will improve, and so will attendance / NIL dollars.
 
Kind of feel like what's being drowned out here is the position of:

Of course it should not be Hopkins or any other "family tree" hire, but let's also consider that Hodgson is no sure thing, both in terms of getting him and of him succeeding here.

I would hope that is the position the AD (current and to-be) is taking
 
I can’t believe we might actually screw this up
Scary thing is this happens all the time if you look around. Not related but I had this exact conversation re: state fair leadership recently. No need to get into details other than to say, some people just don't get it.
 

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