Coach Search Options after Autry

[Orangezoo]

SGA.

*Shiver* . That one still stings.

 

[phil77]

FWIW I don’t even know if Hodgson is a good choice. His resume is OK.

Honestly I’m pretty concerned it seems like it’s him or bust.

He was always my floor choice, and Hopkins is below that, so I am concerned. I have been pretty consistent with saying there are better coaches on the market (compared to BH) that we aren't even talking to or have already been turned down by so that is concerning.

We need a break from JB so bad it's not funny and BH is basically the opposite of everything we have done for the past decade.

 

[Scooch]

Until we started losing again. And then the fans that are left would exit stage left.

This would be a monumentally bad hire. It would be like a Red redux.

I honestly can't even believe he is in consideration.

I agree. This fanbase will abandon any hire if we’re in February of their first season and not in tourney contention.

I’m simply saying that I expect Hopkins to get a warm welcome from most of the fanbase if he were to be hired. I doubt most of the fanbase really knows what occurred at UW. It’s not a very savvy fanbase.

 

[tptcuse]

He was always my floor choice, and Hopkins is below that, so I am concerned. I have been pretty consistent with saying there are better coaches on the market (compared to BH) that we aren't even talking to or have already been turned down so that is concerning.

We need a break from JB so bad it's not fun and BH is basically the opposite of everything we have done for the past decade.

We would have big NIL for a year, maybe even two years tops from former players, etc. Then the bottom would fall out and everyone will wonder what happened.

 

[RF2044]

Most casual fans would turn on Hop pretty quickly he failed to “play meaningful games in March”.

If not sooner.


He’s a decade removed from his east coast recruiting connections.

And was a flop as a HC.

What, exactly, is he selling to croots to get them to play for him?

Agreed.

After 2023, when JB stepped down, there was some fanbase "goodwill" and a general sense of patience as the transition was in place. Many recognized that it might take Red a year or two to get his system in place and get his players in place.

We're now staring a 6 year postseason drought in the face. If we move to Hopkins, there is no doubt in my mind that the fanbase would rally behind him -- but this time without the same level of patience.

ESPECIALLY because our last in-house hire was such a spectacular flop. I think the fanbase would be more jaded this time around, and unwilling to afford the same patience as with Red.

 

[Scooch]

We would have big NIL for a year, maybe even two years tops from former players, etc. Then the bottom would fall out and everyone will wonder what happened.

Our former players seem to throw nickels around like they’re manhole covers when it comes to the program, save for one.

Our NIL is always going to be subpar. The folks who said it was fine back in the summer reversed course and now say it was too light. We’re never going to be well funded.

 

[phil77]

We would have big NIL for a year, maybe even two years tops from former players, etc. Then the bottom would fall out and everyone will wonder what happened.

Yup, I agree, and my argument to the money thing is -- Throwing money at a bad coach didn't work this year with Red, why do the powers that be think it is magically going to work now with a coach that has already proven he can't get it done at this level?

 

[Irishsecra1]

I fully expect that we will go get a Mid-Major head coach who is currently experiencing success who is not associated with Syracuse.

I just hope if we do go the alum route, as some suggest, that GMAC gets serious consideration.
Yes, he is at Siena and the MAAC is a mid major conference.
But lets not look down at what he has accomplished - took over a team that won 4 games 2 years ago and currently has them with 19 wins and second in their conference. And he completely changed their culture - kids are tough, hard nosed and fight till the end.
And he values the intangibles, like leadership.

Again, I would be shocked if he gets the call.
But I would take him over Hopkins.
Gerry has proved he understands the xs and oxs and can build a team from scratch.
Hop can recruit but like Autry, I dont think he understands the xs and os either.

 

[dasher]

We would have big NIL for a year, maybe even two years tops from former players, etc. Then the bottom would fall out and everyone will wonder what happened.

Would the Nil dry up if we won? That was the basis of my question about the Saudi Prince. If it was Hopkins and the money enabled us to get really great players and we won, would that springboard a lot more Nil money and allow us to continue to be good?

 

[Scooch]

Yup, I agree, and my argument to the money thing is -- Throwing money at a bad coach didn't work this year with Red, why do the powers that be think it is magically going to work now with a coach that has already proven he can't get it done at this level?

You see, if Hop hires a staff that’s good at creating an offense, creating a defense, and recruiting the east coast, then it’ll be fine!

I wish people could hear themselves when they say things like that.

Apparently Hop would just have dinners with donors. And wear the hell out of a nice track suit on the sidelines.

 

[LAorange44]

Let’s see if Hodgson and GMAC win their conference tourney.

 

[MikeSU02]

I agree. This fanbase will abandon any hire if we’re in February of their first season and not in tourney contention.

I’m simply saying that I expect Hopkins to get a warm welcome from most of the fanbase if he were to be hired. I doubt most of the fanbase really knows what occurred at UW. It’s not a very savvy fanbase.

Sorry, yes, agreed. I mean, I would give him my support obviously because I'm irrational, but it is just so bad.

 

[RF2044]

Our former players seem to throw nickels around like they’re manhole covers when it comes to the program, save for one.

Our NIL is always going to be subpar. The folks who said it was fine back in the summer reversed course and now say it was too light. We’re never going to be well funded.

That's EXACTLY why I think we shouldn't expect our school, with a relatively small alumni base, to try to lean into the strategy of trying to match pace with SEC teams that spend like wildfire. It's a losing strategy, that wouldn't be sustainable long-term.

We need a coach who has strong systems, who can recruit system fits, and then SUPPLEMENT via the portal.

That's our path -- not trying to keep up with the Joneses -- for the reasons you state.

 

[gilardino]

This is wild to me after your post the other day. Time for me to work on being more Zen.

things change, money talks, I still thinks it's BH, but Hop has a shot.

 

[Cuseloyal]

Wish we could just simulate to mid march

 

[Scooch]

Sorry, yes, agreed. I mean, I would give him my support obviously because I'm irrational, but it is just so bad.

Oh, it’s a terrible choice. Like, unfathomably bad.

I’d watch the games, because I have nothing better to do most game nights. But I’d just be waiting for the inevitable failure and next hire.

 

[Scooch]

That's EXACTLY why I think we shouldn't expect our school, with a relatively small alumni base, to try to lean into the strategy of trying to match pace with SEC teams that spend like wildfire.

We need a coach who has strong systems, who can recruit system fits, and then SUPPLEMENT via the portal.

That's our path -- not trying to keep up with the Joneses -- for the reasons you state.

Agreed. Although it’ll be funny to read all the accounts of the money pouring in this spring and summer and that we’re flush with cash to sign a great roster. Then when we’re 12-14 in February to read the same people saying that it wasn’t enough, we can’t compete, etc.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

We don’t have a lot and could probably use 1 more guy for that but, betsey, kingz and when Donnie and George take good open shots can hit from deep.

They can, but they don't do so with any frequency to consider them legitimate threats game after game. I can hit a drive over 300 yards (I did it once), but am far more likely to hit it 240 or duck hook it OB.

 

[MikeSU02]

Agreed. Although it’ll be funny to read all the accounts of the money pouring in this spring and summer and that we’re flush with cash to sign a great roster. Then when we’re 12-14 in February to read the same people saying that it wasn’t enough, we can’t compete, etc.

Oh... Just like this year... just like you said would happen.

All of a sudden we are playing with guys from the local rec league with the way people cope.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

I care about them not making the wrong decision. Could be the AD, BoT, some special committee, Kermit the Frog, Steve Urkel, Thor, Johnny Bananas, and/or Josie and The Pussycats.

Interesting lineup. I wonder what Freud would say.

 

[LAorange44]

Agreed. Although it’ll be funny to read all the accounts of the money pouring in this spring and summer and that we’re flush with cash to sign a great roster. Then when we’re 12-14 in February to read the same people saying that it wasn’t enough, we can’t compete, etc.

Cycle of hope with each coaching change and recruiting / transfer portal class.

 

[phil77]

Let’s see if Hodgson and GMAC win their conference tourney.

The decision will be done before that. Per people on the board GMac has already said he doesn't want the job so no need to keep dropping his name. Hodgson winning the conference tournament in his first season in a program will not be a make-or-break on him getting the job.

 

[AZOrange]

FWIW I don’t even know if Hodgson is a good choice. His resume is OK.

Honestly I’m pretty concerned it seems like it’s him or bust.

There are others…

 

[Sdot]

Don’t know if this was sent yet

 

[RF2044]

Agreed. Although it’ll be funny to read all the accounts of the money pouring in this spring and summer and that we’re flush with cash to sign a great roster. Then when we’re 12-14 in February to read the same people saying that it wasn’t enough, we can’t compete, etc.

This is the cycle of rationalization and excuses that people made to defend Red's performance.

Three years ago, it was that he inherited a team, and didn't have his players in place -- guys who would get with the program and defend the way he wanted them to.

Last year, we had a new team with a bunch of transfers, but when they flopped it was that we didn't have enough NIL $$$ to get the guys we really needed.

This year, many were excited about the players we brought in, and slowly came to realize that the issue is the coaching, not the players.

Viscious cycle.