Coaching Vacancies

[swok34]

I think I'll just put this all in the same, since I'm sure we will see some of the same candidate's names crop up in many places:

So who comes after Jody?
A potential list of candidates for Texas coaching job.
http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/03/13/13next.html

A question for you :BU: fans:

What job do you think Kim would take? Any? I don't know if I agree with the LSU thing for Kim because she is LaTech Alum through and through, regardless of the differences they may have had upon her leaving. Back in the day when Kim went to La Tech, La Tech was the place to be, not LSU.

Even though, Kim's family has always lived closer to Baton Rouge than Ruston, I just don't know if I believe she's a target for LSU or if she would be interested if LSU came calling her name. :confused:

I was talking to a Texas alum that lives here in Oklahoma City and she made the comment to me that Kim's not going anywhere. There is a lot of money that would keep KM in Waco, with one of the major alums being the owner of one of the Houston pro teams.

[TTU79]

I don't know which coach will go where; however, I'm willing to bet the salary ante just went way up with both Florida and Texas in the mix. LSU and Michigan better start looking for some extra dollars.:p

[BearLady]

What job do you think Kim would take? Any?

Well, I'm going to sidestep answering that specific question and just share some general comments. I'm sure that neither Texas nor LSU nor Florida nor any other school is going to be seeking my input on their next head coach. I'm also pretty sure that neither is Kim, concerning her future next year, wherever it is and whatever it looks like.

IF Kim were thinking about maybe leaving Baylor at some time, then I'd have to say that there are some attractive openings available. Maybe. Yeah, she probably likes the thought of being at high profile positions, but I'm not so sure she might consider it so great to be living in the big cities. She's just from tiny Tickfaw, after all.

Her kids are also at the age where they are very involved in school and other activities and apparently very happy in the Waco area. So I don't know if she might feel the timing is right for a move just now.

I'm sure that Louisiana still holds a very special place in her heart but not so sure that she would jump at the chance to go to LSU merely because it's an opportunity to return to her native Louisiana roots. I may well be surprised in that regard. MV wrote earlier that LSU may have well gone after Kim when Sue Gunter stepped down, except that it would have been difficult to turn their back on Pokey then, considering what she had done with the team. My personal sense is that if Kim really were interested in returning to LA, it probably would have been stronger at that time -- even though things never came about -- than now.

Who knows? There's bound to be a surprise or 2 in store as filling all of the vacancies shakes out.

[DblT81]

Tom Collen? I just don't see a man coaching the Longhorns.

No assistant coaches mentioned?

Perhaps Kamie Ethridge could be the HC and Deb Patterson the assistant HC? How would Longhorns feel about that? That tandum can coach basketball.

Just throwing this out for discussion.

Are there no other former players/assistant coaches from UT that are qualified than Fortner? I really can't think of any.

From the AAS list of candidates, who besides Joanne Boyle is a product of a great program as a player or assistant coach?

Aren't most of those on the AAS list self made or am I missing their pedigree's of coming from the historical powers like Tennessee, La Tech, Virginia - OK Dawn Staley- ... who else?

[brolewis]

Are there no other former players/assistant coaches from UT that are qualified than Fortner? I really can't think of any.There has been talk about Karen Aston. I'm not sure if she is qualified or is even interested, but her name has certainly come up in at least a couple of conversations. I imagine that she has the desire to become a head coach, which I think became evident when she moved to Baylor. However, I don't know that her move into becoming a head coach would be at Texas.

[spooky]

I have no clue whether Kim is interested in moving on or not. I could make you a long list of reasons why she would stay, and another list of potential reasons she would leave, but alot of those would involve speculation about her personal life/family, and she's made it plainly clear that she doesn't appreciate that at all. I have made such guesses before, but out of respect for her wishes I won't now.

Suffice it to say that if she has any interest in leaving, now would be the time. The high-profile school that seems willing to pay huge bucks to establish a prominent program is there if she wants, her home-state powerhouse is available, and one of the all-time best programs that's just down the road is looking as well. I don't know if she's on the radar at any of those schools, or #1 on all their lists. If all three are really interested, she's got some great leverage for negotiations. She's also got some leverage to sweeten her deal here if she wishes.

Baylor has consistently gone out of their way to keep Kim happy, and she's generally been a very loyal person. I hope that's the case now and she will choose to be here for a very long time.

[swok34]

Well, look where Karen Aston is from:

Hometown: Benton, Ark.
High school: Bryant High School (Benton, Ark.)
College: Arkansas-Little Rock ’87

Benton is near Little Rock.

[Bball Girl]

I've heard that Karen Aston is on the short list for Arkansas...now whose short list that is remains to be seen, but her name is certainly being discussed in internetland.

[JohnHenry]

Well, I can't speak for LSU, but I think as far as the Texas job goes, Baylor fans can relax.

I'll post my thoughts on the Big News after some more reflection time.

[40ishHorn]

Perhaps Kamie Ethridge could be the HC and Deb Patterson the assistant HC? How would Longhorns feel about that? That tandum can coach basketball.


No offense to anybody, but please, no. Not interested in "the tandum" whatsoever for UT. Not a good fit.

I don't think Kim Mulkey is a good fit either. I hope she stays at BU, but I would also LOVE to see her coaching in the SEC. She'll be a success either way.

ALL great coaches, just not a good fit at UT, IMHO.

Hopefully, the NCAA tourney will play out and then we'll see what happens. One thing is for sure....UT will have a GREAT new coach.

As sad as it is to see Coach Conradt retire, I look forward to the excitment that a new coach will bring to the program. Right now, I'm in mourning for the Legend.

[Bball Girl]

Ryan's Hyatt's take on this.. (warning...as much I appreciate Ryan, I often don't agree with him)...and he has a warning for Big 12 Fans and/or Texas Tech fans at the end - it's hard to tell who "your favorite" team means.


http://williamsandhyattblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/12/conradt-hooks-em-is-mulkey-next/

With so many high-profile coaching jobs open, look for the next few weeks to be filled with intrigue, suspense and backroom dealings. And that’s just for the media. AD’s are scrambling right now to put their school in the forefront for the best hire. It’s a sellers market right now and if you fancy yourself a hot commodity in the coaching ranks, you’d better get your agent on the phone right now, your current employer be damned. I can see where there will be several schools upset with their now current head coach when they become someone else’s head coach in the next few weeks and it becomes apparent that the dealings had been going on way before the season came to a close.

As for the top candidates for the LSU and Texas jobs, look no further than
Waco. Kim Mulkey suddenly holds the cards for two jobs and can play them off against each other if she so chooses. It would be hard for Mulkey to leave Waco; Baylor has ponied up in a major way with great additions to the Farrell
Center over the last few years and has given her almost anything she wants in terms of latitude in running her program. BUT, the siren song on a major state university may be too much to pass up. In fact, I’ll be surprised now if Mulkey is on the bench next year for the Bears.


As for Nell Fortner, she can coach. Period. Has the time at
Auburn taking the shine off of her rising star? Not if you know anything about basketball it hasn’t. She’d be a good fit in Baton Rouge and will be a name
Austin looks at as well.

What about Gail? Yep, the coach I think will win the national title this year may be walking away from Duke. It’s no secret that Goestenkors doesn’t get the support in many ways from Duke that a program like she has built there would get other places. Maybe, she gets the big prize and then rides off into the sunset. What a story that would make.



Hang on folks, it’s going to be a bumpy ride and your favorite team may well be involved. Know this though, the Big 12 is going to have big changes when it’s all said and done.

[Row6Seat10]

Will the Longhorn administration allow Coach Conradt to have a say in who her successor will be? I would think she could hand pick who ever she wanted.

[horntooter]

In her press conference (which is very touching and impressive, BTW, and you can find it on texassports.com), Coach Conradt was asked if she would be part of the selection committee, or if she wanted to be part of the selection committee, and her response was, "Absolutely not."

[swok34]

I don't blame Jody and I think it is a wise decision on her part, as well.

[JohnHenry]

Plonsky will form a committee, Jody will not take part - as she said. This is as it should be. Jody's influence and legacy run deep enough and strong enough that she doesn't need to actively inject herself into the process. We'll have a thorough vetting process and the right person will be hired.

And the Dallas Morning News needs to put down the crack pipe and shut the hell up. Every Texas mouthpiece running around beating the gong for KM is either delusional, ignorant of the coaching depth in WCBB, or oblivious to the way UT does business (likely all three). We're not hiring Mulkey. She's not the only one who can be successful here. The alumni and season ticket holders won't stand for it and the administration has concurring standards.

[DblT81]

Good for Coach Conradt that she is stepping away from the process.

I will have some sympathy for the person eventually hired by Texas. There will be a group of fans who will blame the replacement for Coach Conradt's departure. Or at least have some animosity toward the new coach because of the way they dress or the way they hold a fork at lunch or some such action that isn't like the predecessor. That seems to have happened to some extent around Boulder and I know it is happening around Lubbock.

I'll be happy if Mulkey stays right where she is. She was loyal to La Tech for many years. Of course, she had deeper roots with La Tech than she does with Baylor.

[dem]

One thing is obvious: Texas is going to hire a big, BIG-time coach. An absolute, top-of-the-line blue chipper. They have the money and other resources, and the determination, to swing a deal like that. That said, Texas fans should prepare for the possibility that whoever does get brought in might not, at the moment, be at the top of their own personal wish list, or even on top of their own personal "I-really-like-that-coach" list. (Ryan sort of hints at that, I think, and it's somewhat similar to the Texas Tech situation from last year.) But for sure, whoever comes in will sure-as-heck be a capable coach.

[JohnHenry]

Dblt -

Assuming Plonsky and the committee do their job well (and I have no reason to believe they won't), I don't think fan acceptance should really be a problem. I think in Tech's case there were some 'camps' involved that made things dicey for the search and for Curry once she got there. Here in Austin, there's no pot-banging going on for Clarissa that i'm aware of, as everyone loves her but understands she lacks the coaching experience to lead the program at this juncture.

The only real debate seems to be about the idea of offering Mulkey the job, but the mere fact that it's such a divisive issue tells me that's not gonna happen. There are far too many good coaches out there who could be successful at Texas who don't carry the polarizing baggage that KM does, and UT doesn't have any history of rolling the PR dice on someone like her.

I think Frese, Balcomb, and Fortner are definite possibilties, and I think all would be acceptable to the program's supporters in general. There are probably some others flying under the radar like Thorne at Ariz. State and Boyle at Cal, or MaChelle Joseph at Georgia Tech, or Collen at Louisville that are being considered. I don't think we pursue Gastenkors due to her repuatation for negative recruiting and running players off (justified or not); prolly too high-strung for Texas anyway.

[ChipperF1]

#1) Cheryl Burnett -- 2-time Final Four coach. Her's ego's big enough for Texas...and her hair is big enough for Texas. ;)

#2) Rick Insell -- Talks big ("Final Four or Bust") backs up big, too.

#3) Chipper -- I'd be the biggest outsider to shake up Texas since Cintra. ;)

[ladyhorns1fan]

And the Dallas Morning News needs to put down the crack pipe and shut the hell up. Every Texas mouthpiece running around beating the gong for KM is either delusional, ignorant of the coaching depth in WCBB, or oblivious to the way UT does business (likely all three). We're not hiring Mulkey. She's not the only one who can be successful here. The alumni and season ticket holders won't stand for it and the administration has concurring standards.

Amen, John Henry!

[JohnHenry]

Chipper - -

I like Insell, and he's definitely going places (prolly Florida if they don't snap up KM), but I'm reasonably sure the Texas job is going to a woman.

Burnett looks to be a has-been, or at least the shine has worn off her resume. Michigan didn't work out AT ALL, and they are one of the few schools with the budget and profile to match an athletics dept. like Texas. Now that doesn't mean they made the necessary commitment - I don't know what the issues were there - but Burnett's teams never took off and arguably that program has regressed since she got there, which is saying something. Not sure what to think of Cheryl now...

And your name was removed from the list almost immediately, as Plonsky deduced that Cornhusker faithful cannot be entrusted with Longhorn money...

[DblT81]

Good stuff, John Henry. I think you hit on something regarding the polarizing figure that Mulkey might be. When you consider who is at the helm of football and men's basketball at UT: Mac Brown and Rick Barnes are such smooth, sweet guys, they'd be oozing out of a fried pie if they were food. And they are the best recruiters in the universe. Coaching? eh...

So if The University looks for the same type of coach to lead women's basketball, Kim Mulkey won't be on the list.

(Not to diss KM, Baylor fans. I think she is a good basketball coach, just maybe not the temprament that John Henry believes UT is looking for)

[JohnHenry]

Mack and Rick are excellent coaches. Barnes has consistently overachieved both in recruiting and on the court. Football is another matter but let's not go there.

But yes Dblt, your point is well-taken. While I am personally not fond of KM, I have plenty of respect for her coaching ability. I think this university just has a certain standard for professional conduct and behavior and I don't think KM's track record makes them confident that she would meet it. Besides, I doubt she wants to come here anyway - I don't think she likes us much ;)

[ChipperF1]

"Cornhusker faithful cannot be entrusted with Longhorn money...

A former Husker did pretty well with the Aggies womens basketball program. ;)

"Burnett looks to be a has-been, or at least the shine has worn off her resume. Michigan didn't work out AT ALL

From people I know who are close to Michigan, that had a lot more to do with Michigan than with Burnett.

In any case, I think Texas will open up the checkbook and get a great hire. The nation's 2nd best overall athletic program will certainly get the best of the bunch.

[74Bear]

You UT guys blow me away. Kim doesn't fit? Too brash? Sounds more like somebody that knows your not goning to get her anyway. Kinda like the 'ol recruiting story..."we didn't offer". I'm not trying to start an argument, I just find your excuses humorous. That's fine by me, I hope we keep her. I like the NCAA's annually, and a NC ain't bad for just a few short years.

[DblT81]

The nation's 2nd best overall athletic program ...

:p :cool:

[JohnHenry]

I hope you keep her too, 74. ;)

[sybarite]

If Sherri were to step down at OU, and I found that we could get Mulkey, I would drive to Waco to pick her up, help her move her belongings, and annoint her as an original member of the Crimson and Cream. Get serious. Texas would jump at the chance to get a talented coach like Mulkey under these circumstances. To do otherwise would be rather unintelligent.

I strongly suspect that Sherri won't be stepping down, just as I suspect that Kim won't be leaving Baylor for another Big Twelve job. She just might take an offer to return home to Louisiana if the price is right. She might move to Florida if they do offer $1.5 million.

I can be angry with her for coaching against OU and still respect the fact that she is a sensational coach. I also suspect that she has outstanding character, except when seen through the eyes of a rival.

[JohnHenry]

I too respect her as a coach, sybarite.

Get serious. Texas would jump at the chance to get a talented coach like Mulkey under these circumstances. To do otherwise would be rather unintelligent.
No, they wouldn't 'jump' at the chance. Texas doesn't 'jump' at any chance unless that 'chance' has been thoroughly vetted and all aspects of their coaching and conduct have been reviewed and determined to be what the University of Texas wants in a head coach.

Talent is a dime a dozen. There are plenty of coaches who can win here, and who would certainly 'jump' at the 'chance'. That's not an issue. Nobody is debating Mulkey's ability to win. I don't think Mulkey is the best candidate for the Texas job and I have a hunch that Plonsky and her committee will also feel that way when all is said and done.

I'm sure someone will tag me as arrogant for that (and it won't be the first time), but them's the facts. UT tends to be extremely thorough in our coaching searches and because of the attractiveness of working here - resources, facilities, Austin, Big 12 fan support and competitiveness, UT's commitment to excellence, etc. - we can afford to be picky. You can argue against that assertion, but I think most unbiased observers will tell you that even with LSU, Florida, Arkansas, UCLA, and Michigan up for grabs, in terms of total package this is probably the most desirable job of them all. We can look a little further than our neighbor's yard.

[sybarite]

If I were a coach right now, I would jump at the Florida job before any other. I would have a great recruiting base that others have been raiding, plenty of money, and there would be no Kim Mulkey, Gary Blair, Sherri Coale, Curry, McConnell-Miller, etc. I would rather take a chance on beating Tennessee and Georgia than on winning the Big Twelve.

Texas fans sometimes remind me of OU fans who actually believe that Darrell Royal would leave to come back to OU, that Calipari or Tubby Smith would be quite willing to leave Memphis or Kentucky, ans we might even get the Florida coach who just won a national title because we are, after all, OU---the be-all, end-all of all things athletic.

They had to give away 160 acres of free land to get people to come to Oklahoma. Well, they had to give away over 5,000 to get people to come to Texas. I think southern Great Plains means that there is nothing that lives there.

[Bball Girl]

UT tends to be extremely thorough in our coaching searches and because of the attractiveness of working here - resources, facilities, Austin, Big 12 fan support and competitiveness, UT's commitment to excellence, etc. - we can afford to be picky.

Y'all have to keep in mind this is
THE UNIVERSITY

as I was reminded by a new neighbor from Calif. (I didn't notice the 'Horns thingy on her car) who strolled across the street one day and asked "who is the Texas Tech girl" (my mom & I share a house). After my answer she said "I went to THE UNIVERSITY" - after figuring out what she was talking about I responded: "oh, I'm sorry" :D
She tried the same deal on Mom - who responded "of what?" :D
Only 2 years out of Texas...how quickly one forgets.

Seriously - Texas was one of THE women's basketball programs before there was a Tenn or a UConn or ?. I do agree with JohnHenry that for women's basketball, UT is the job this year They have a strong fan base that is hungry for the return to the bigtime and they have the money and they have the talent and they have the expectations. Florida is a rebuilding job - a lucrative one, but still a rebuild.

Kim needs to stay at Baylor - it seems suited to her and there's much potential for her there. I think it would be very hard to move between Big 12 schools for many reasons.

[DblT81]

THE UNIVERSITY

as I was reminded by a new neighbor from Calif. ...she said "I went to THE UNIVERSITY" - after figuring out what she was talking about I responded: "oh, I'm sorry" :D
She tried the same deal on Mom - who responded "of what?" :D


OK, I laughed.

[horntooter]

I think southern Great Plains means that there is nothing that lives there.

Syb - There's big stretches of the southern Great Plains where I totally agree. But Austin is actually in the hill country, not the great plains, and there's plenty of folks who think it's a pretty cool place to live. Live music capital of the world, and all that. Way up there in restaurants and bookstores per capita. Lots of water and greenery, but a bit humid.

[sybarite]

I usually stop in Austin for gas, on my way to San Antonio or my favorite, Corpus Christi. Stayed overnight once for a conference. Prefer San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

[horntooter]

To each his own. I like both those cities, too. But don't think a head coaching position in their universities would garner too much interest. ;)

[sybarite]

If I were a competent coach instead of a message board banality, I would work for room and board at A&M Corpus Christi. Of course, we might never win a game, but we would have the most laid back game in the country. What? Me score?

But, I do think that Texas fans overrate the appeal of Texas. I would rather build a legend than follow one.

[swok34]

I think of the major jobs open right now: Texas is the "biggie". Am I biased? probably.

But you are talking of a job that hasn't been open in 31 years.

And you know what they say:
Everything is bigger in Texas.

LSU: That's going to a very, very interesting hire. Hello Rene Portland :eek: :blech: I hope they don't go so far the opposite way.

Florida: ok, it would be my first pick. Is it close to a beach? That would be a factor :D But, I still think Florida is primarily football.

Arkansas: where? I don't think they are going to ante up the dough that these other schools are.

I've known people who left Louisiana for Austin (for the music scene).

[YCN]

I too respect her as a coach, sybarite.


No, they wouldn't 'jump' at the chance. Texas doesn't 'jump' at any chance unless that 'chance' has been thoroughly vetted and all aspects of their coaching and conduct have been reviewed and determined to be what the University of Texas wants in a head coach.

Talent is a dime a dozen. There are plenty of coaches who can win here, and who would certainly 'jump' at the 'chance'. That's not an issue. Nobody is debating Mulkey's ability to win. I don't think Mulkey is the best candidate for the Texas job and I have a hunch that Plonsky and her committee will also feel that way when all is said and done.

I'm sure someone will tag me as arrogant for that (and it won't be the first time), but them's the facts. UT tends to be extremely thorough in our coaching searches and because of the attractiveness of working here - resources, facilities, Austin, Big 12 fan support and competitiveness, UT's commitment to excellence, etc. - we can afford to be picky. You can argue against that assertion, but I think most unbiased observers will tell you that even with LSU, Florida, Arkansas, UCLA, and Michigan up for grabs, in terms of total package this is probably the most desirable job of them all. We can look a little further than our neighbor's yard.
If I were Texas I'd open up the process to anyone who wanted to submit an application. Oklahoma hired a high school coach, and it seemed to work out pretty well for them. Eight straight NCAA tournament bids and 4th in the nation in attendance this year. That may be just the beginning.

[wwi_flying_ace_17]

I don't get why Florida is considered such a great job. I know the athletic department has money, but would a coach who has already won national titles at Maryland or Baylor want to start all over like that? I know money talks, but still...

As for Texas, some coaches have thick enough skin to follow a legend, but I wouldn't want to. I don't care how great the facilities are or the fan support is. I wouldn't have wanted to follow Marsha at Tech nor Jody at Texas. Heck, can you imagine the poor schmo who has to follow Geno or Pat Summitt?

[sybarite]

When the Florida job first opened, the number $1.5 million was thrown out there. If you were making $500,000, would you take a five-year $1.5 million per year contract?

Meanwhile, Florida has access to talent, and no real history of winning. They seem to be committed to building winning sports programs in everything. There really isn't another basketball power in the state, and the nearby states, like Georgia, have even more talent.

I think you could become a rich hero in Florida. In Texas, you will be accepted after you have won 900 games.

[JohnHenry]

Following a legend...

Well, it would be tougher at Tennessee or UConn, I think, because those guys have something of a cult following on their own, like Knight did at Indiana.

Here, I think we have a fanbase (season ticket-holders, the die hard still left) that maintains a lot of respect for Jody but are excited about the prospect for change nonetheless. Back-to-back non-tourney seasons can do that to you, y'know? There seems to be a consensus here that Jody made the right decision at the right time. We all grumbled about '06, but based on her recent body of work ('02-'05), she had more than earned the right to have another crack at it this season...and it didn't come together. She realized that for the first time during her tenure she was going to miss the tournament two years in a row, and thus thought it time to give someone else a try. We've accepted of her departure, though we would have liked things to have ended on a better note than they did.

For the right coach it won't matter. This is where Mack Brown shows the way: he immediately went about invoking tradition, winning over the alumni and generating fan excitement all at the same time when he arrived, then he started winning games. In '98 we were 28 years out from our last NC and Mack kept enough people happy for 8 more before we finally got another one.

I don't think it'll take that long to get our basketball team back to the top, since everything else is already here. I think Brenda Frese has the goods and the saavy to do it, and I hope we offer her.

[dem]

I think Brenda Frese has the goods and the saavy to do it, and I hope we offer her.

I just can't see this happening. Brenda must know that--no matter what deal is offered--she can't pull the same disappearing act for a THIRD time, so soon, without incurring an absolute hurricane of abuse. It just wouldn't be worth it for her career, I would think. She already knows she can win national championships at Maryland, and I'm sure Maryland will be smart enough to pony up whatever cash is necessary to keep her happy.

That's my theory, anyway.

[Dale8R]

Yes, don't forget that Maryland was her "dream" job. Oh, wait, so was Minnesota, wasn't it?

[Gator]

No! Not possible? Do I hear people downplaying coaching at UF? Shees!

As for tradition - we have Steve Spurrier! Kim would fit right in! (NO - that isn't a dig -just another way of saying that UF loves bigger than life coaches)

:cool:

Actually, I can't understand why any established coach would want to start from scratch unless there was something wrong with their current situation.

Gainesville has a lot of possibility for growing a fan base. As the football schools in the B12 know, being a football school does not prevent having a great WBB fan base. Gainesville has the same type of advantages an OKC has: fairly large metro area with no distracting winter athletic competition within a reasonable drive. And UF has another factor which is interesting: the law, business, and medical schools have built a large, influential, wealthy alumnae base. It probably isn't obvious to visitors, but Florida also has a large very very influential ag community which has very close ties to the UT ag college.

[tx4OU]

I think of the major jobs open right now: Texas is the "biggie". Am I biased? probably.

But you are talking of a job that hasn't been open in 31 years.

And you know what they say:
Everything is bigger in Texas.

LSU: That's going to a very, very interesting hire. Hello Rene Portland :eek: :blech: I hope they don't go so far the opposite way.

Florida: ok, it would be my first pick. Is it close to a beach? That would be a factor :D But, I still think Florida is primarily football.

Arkansas: where? I don't think they are going to ante up the dough that these other schools are.

I've known people who left Louisiana for Austin (for the music scene).

Texas is the biggie swok. And I too think Brenda would be the perfect personality to follow the legend, John Henry. But I hope whoever it is will not alienate JC from the program (not that they could), but instead celebrates her into the new fold along with all the history and tradition. We Sooners know from experience what can happen when you don't do that. Can you say Howard Smellsofburbon?

I wouldn't be surprised if LSU went with a male coach or just made Bob Starkey the permanent head coach with his school tenure.

Unfortunately swok, Gainesville is not city along one of the coastlines. However, it's not far esp. if you're from a land-locked state. Florida is one of the three most fertile recruiting hotbed states no matter what the sport is. The right coach should be able to make some noise pretty quick, esp. with the support from the administration. I've always been surprised FSU, Miami and UF haven't been better in WCB.

Arkansas? I love their fight song. I just hope they hire someone who won't mess up our recent pipeline of talent from the Land of Opportunity.

Oh and as far as Austin goes, I'd live there in a heartbeat. However, I'm sure my insurance company would get tired of claims to replace my truck's back window.

[Gator]

I wouldn't be surprised if LSU went with a male coach or just made Bob Starkey the permanent head coach with his school tenure.I understand he can't be a candidate - doesn't have a college degree. Although why that matters is a complete mystery to me! In the business world, you can NOT demand a degree. You can demand a specific set of degrees OR equivalent experience. He sure meets the experience test.

[Bball Girl]

Each of these jobs has great potential for the right person.

Arkansas can "find" deep pockets when they need them - think Wal-Mart, Tyson, and JB Hunt (all headquartered in NW Arkansas). I don't know whether or not they're prepared to pony up some bigtime money for a WBB coach. I thought Gary Blair was starting to build a big following there. I think this would be a great job. I'd like to see them hire the coach at Arkanasas State.

[YCN]

http://www.heraldsun.com/sports/18-829483.cfmThe American-Statesman reported that Conradt made $540,500 last season. Texas women's athletics director Chris Plonsky also told the paper that she a couple candidates in mind but realizes she could have to wait until after the NCAA Tournament is finished.

"The type of individual we'll be looking for is probably [coaching] in the tournament and probably will be playing very deep into it," Plonsky said.



http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/03/13/13golden2.htmlGoestenkors, Mulkey, Frese and Balcomb.

That sounds like a ritzy law firm, but it's actually a short list of coaches who make the most sense to replace Conradt.

Duke's Gail Goestenkors and Baylor's Kim Mulkey make the most sense while Maryland's Brenda Frese and Vanderbilt's Melanie Balcomb are younger coaches who should interview.

When asked what timetable will be used to hire a successor, UT women's athletics director Chris Plonsky said, "Whatever it takes to get the right person."
Would Gail leave Duke for Texas? I wonder how deep their pockets are?

[ChipperF1]

All I can say to the Texas faithful is.

Be careful of the change you wish for, you might just get Bill Callahan.

[swok34]

I understand he can't be a candidate - doesn't have a college degree. Although why that matters is a complete mystery to me! In the business world, you can NOT demand a degree. You can demand a specific set of degrees OR equivalent experience. He sure meets the experience test.

??He said he was moving on, wasn't interested. I didn't know he didn't have a degree though. He has been as assistant on the men's team at LSU prior to moving over to assistant to the women.......

must know someone over there, ya think?

[labcoatguy]

Arkansas? I love their fight song.

I love it too! Arkansas's fight song was the basis for my high school's fight song. Don't hear that one too often.

[DblT81]

I believe that there is a growing regional bias in college sports. Media etc. pay more attention to the eastern teams, particularly ESPN.

As mentioned in another topic. Look at where the McD's and WBCA High School All Americans come from and where they are going to college to play. Heavy eastern influence. Politics? Media bias? Reality?

Flyover country and the western US get less and less attention on a national basis. Would Goestenkors or Frese consider that as a negative factor in coming to Texas?

[ChipperF1]

" Look at where the McD's and WBCA High School All Americans come from and where they are going to college to play. Heavy eastern influence. Politics? Media bias? Reality?

Actually its part of the setup of how those teams are decided. Each state is given a number of nominations in relation to its population. A state like California or Texas gets more. Smaller states get fewer.

As far as where kids are selecting for schools, it's their choice.

I don't necessarily see the regional bias issue. The best talent pool in girls high school basketball in my opinion is Estado de Mexico Notre (also known by its anglo name "Texas")

[DblT81]

As far as where kids are selecting for schools, it's their choice.



But the HS AA honors are based on where a kid is going to school. Going to play for Geno Auriemma, oh, they must be one of the best high school players in America.

Going to play for Gail Goestenkors? Oh, they must be one of the best high school players in America, but wait, Goestenkors is now at Texas. Oops, nevermind.

Going to play for Connie Yori? Oh, they must be a kid from the rural heartland.

The above is obviously an extreme, but Chipper you can't believe that everything is so straight up and non-political that there is zero influence similar to the example above.

College choice is a major influence in deciding who gets to be an all star and who doesn't. There are too many good players from HS to limit it.

Maybe that glow as a golden coach would follow any big time coach to Austin.

[ChipperF1]

"But the HS AA honors are based on where a kid is going to school.

But can you really quantify who these "All-Americans" are? There are people who try with varied degrees of success, but ultimately how good a player is or not comes down to how well they prepare to play and how well they play.

"but Chipper you can't believe that everything is so straight up and non-political that there is zero influence similar to the example above.

I agree that the process you speak up Dbl is rather political and subjective, however I don't see it as such a big deal because once the All-Americans are picked and McD's has their all-star game and the kids sign the NLIs and go to campus, the green flag drops and the BS stops.

Call me crazy, naive or out of touch, but I've never bought into the ideal that there are only 24, or 100 high school players in this country who can make-or-break a Division I program as some of the recruiting "gurus", speculators, and sneakers pimps would have you believe.

The prep All-American teams have their place, but their place is put too high at times to me. All those high schools "All-Americans" are just that, in high school.

If your team gets one of these or doesn't, ultimately success will come down to what you do after you get them.

[DblT81]

But it is a self perpetuating cycle. The eastern coaches get the publicity, kids hear about them and want to go to school there, Geno locks in on a good one, that one is named HS AA because she is going to school and play for Geno, Connecticut gets mentioned for that, next year's good player hears about it and wants to go to school there, Geno locks in on that good one, she is named HS AA because she is going to school and play for Geno and so on and so on and so on.

Every once in a while a team west of the Miss. breaks through, like Baylor, but on a consistent basis, the eastern US has an advantage. If I was a golden coach there, I'd think twice about leaving that extra PR benefit behind.

[ChipperF1]

"The eastern coaches get the publicity, kids hear about them and want to go to school there, Geno locks in on a good one, that one is named HS AA because she is going to school and play for Geno, Connecticut gets mentioned for that, next year's good player hears about it and wants to go to school there, Geno locks in on that good one, she is named HS AA because she is going to school and play for Geno and so on and so on and so on.

I think five championships in 12 seasons would have something to do with that, too.

But Geno didn't just wake up one morning and get all these kids, and in the last 3 years, UConn gotten some good talent, but so have a lot of other people.

The crop of high school talent is what it is. They are all unproven at the college level, so why get worried about who got who now. I'm more into who develops who once they get on campus.

[Roger B. Rowland]

Tom Collen? I just don't see a man coaching the Longhorns.


Not likely at all. Tom Collen is in a multiyear contract at Louisville with a new $900,000 home, courtesy of his settlement with Vanderbilt. And, back in the NCAA tournament as a number 6 seed in the Greensboro region.

[YCN]

Not likely at all. Tom Collen is in a multiyear contract at Louisville with a new $900,000 home, courtesy of his settlement with Vanderbilt. And, back in the NCAA tournament as a number 6 seed in the Greensboro region.Good for Tom! He was severely slandered by Vandy based upon their own faulty information, and he struggled to find a job for a while. I bet Louisville can't believe how lucky they were to get him. The man CAN coach.

[Marquette Fan]

Good for Tom! He was severely slandered by Vandy based upon their own faulty information, and he struggled to find a job for a while. I bet Louisville can't believe how lucky they were to get him. The man CAN coach.

It wasn't Vandy's faulty information. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is the one who said that Collen only had one degree from there initially when Collen said he had two. It turned out in the end that Miami Univ. provided the incorrect info and he did have the 2 degrees.

[wwi_flying_ace_17]

I'm too lazy to google it, but if I remember right, it was right after Notre Dame had hired the football coach who lied on his resume. I think Vandy freaked out when Miami said Collen only had one degree. Collen got left out in the cold because of it.

[YCN]

It wasn't Vandy's faulty information. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is the one who said that Collen only had one degree from there initially when Collen said he had two. It turned out in the end that Miami Univ. provided the incorrect info and he did have the 2 degrees.
I think that Vandy failed on "due dilligence" reasons. They could have contacted Collen's previous employer, who had verified his credentials prior to his hire there. There's no doubt that Miami shared culpability, but you'd better have all your ducks in a row when you tell the world that you aren't retaining a highly-respected college coach because he falsified his applicant credentials.

Tom Collen suffered significant professional harm because of their knee-jerk reaction. He deserved a healthy settlement for the personal indignity and degradement that he had to endure.

[CUBuff]

It's been awhile...but I think Collen had successfully completely the required hours/courses for the second degree, but he failed to file the proper graduation process paperwork for the University to recognize and grant him his second degree. That was the mess with the second degree. Good ole graduation packets...I remember them fondly.

[DblT81]

Collen might be quite comfy in his new house in Kentucky, and I'd bet he'll get to stay there, at least with respect to the Longhorn coaching job.

[Scamp]

Is it a sign? Baylor's using a photo of Kim in her gator-'rasslin' jacket. Does this point to Florida? :confused: Please, let the games begin! http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/031407aad.html

[DblT81]

Is it a sign? Baylor's using a photo of Kim in her gator-'rasslin' jacket. Does this point to Florida? :confused: Please, let the games begin!

Ha ha! I agree, I'm ready for some games.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/bay/sports/w-baskbl/auto_action/988638.jpeg

[swok34]

I heard that Texas has their new coach, but the announcement is under wraps until after the tourney--or until this coach's team is out of the tourney. I suspect that the Florida situation is the same. So it will probably be a week or two before we hear. Then we will have to wear earplugs to block out the anguished screams of the fans of the schools where these coaches are now...

I copied this from another board. That last statement is ominious of what Ryan said in his blog.

[JohnHenry]

What board, swok?

I doubt that it's true. The position has to be left open for at least 2 weeks, I believe, and I seriously doubt they've interviewed ANYONE yet.

[Michael]

What board, swok?

I doubt that it's true. The position has to be left open for at least 2 weeks, I believe, and I seriously doubt they've interviewed ANYONE yet.

Agreed, for this to be true UTx would have had to asked and gotten permission from the current schools AD and conducted an interview all between the selection and the first weekend of games. I don't know of any competent AD that would allow his HC to do that at this time of year unless he is trying to get rid of them for some other reason. Just doesn't pass the smell test.

Michael

[swok34]

Rebkell, JohnHenry.......and I have no idea about the validity. I know we are not supposed to cross post, but I found the comment interesting:
http://boards.rebkell.net/viewtopic.php?t=25447

I would be inclined to believe the Texas fans here at Hoopscoop than over there.

[Bball Girl]

What board, swok?

I doubt that it's true. The position has to be left open for at least 2 weeks, I believe, and I seriously doubt they've interviewed ANYONE yet.

Yes, JH - the position has to be technically "posted" for 2 weeks at a Texas university - but it doesn't mean they can dicker and offer the job and do the negotiation during that 2 week period. Bob Knight was a DONE deal at Tech long before that 2 week period was up. Course they waited until the 2 weeks were up to make the official annoucement - but I think that happened like the day after the 2 weeks were up.

[dem]

Yes, JH - the position has to be technically "posted" for 2 weeks at a Texas university - but it doesn't mean they can dicker and offer the job and do the negotiation during that 2 week period.

Academic job postings are often pure sham, even though legally mandated. Often, the candidate has been chosen and made informal agreements long before the posting. And consider: JC must have been considering announcing her retirement for some time. It's possible, but unlikely, that she kept these considerations secret from the Texas administration. And if she did NOT keep them secret, it's HIGHLY unlikely that Texas wouldn't at least have had preliminary informal discussions with some high-level candidates. Perhaps they even have an informal--but firm--agreement with somebody. None of that violates rules or laws.

[Dale8R]

So, what about Van Chancellor for one of the open jobs? It sounds like he is considering getting back into coaching.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4634460.html

. . . but he doesn't expect to get a call from Texas.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA031707.06C.BKWhorns.coach.359f8cc.html

"For that to happen," Chancellor said, "Texas would have to have some interest in me, and they're going somewhere else."

Chancellor didn't offer his opinion on who UT would bring in to fill the coaching vacancy.

I added the emphasis in Chancellor's quote. Also, at 63, his age would be against him for any team looking for someone for the long haul

[swok34]

I think he's perfect for LSU, come to think of it.

[Waylontheman]

A ton of business cards will be passed out and elbows rubbed at the Women's Final Four. Then coaches will be hired within the next couple of weeks. My thoughts on current openings and rumours.......

ASU's coach her name as been mentioned on here and would have to think any of the Big 3(Florida is not a basketball school but never will you hear me put Arkansas in the Top 3 of anything.....) are more desirable. Like her wear you down game plan and seems to know how to win. She needs to be at the top of these lists IMO.

MTSU coach is one that is odd. He came from Shelbyville, Tenn high school after being longtime coach there. Now I am sure he is a Tennessee native, but is a big time recruiter because of his high profile high school ties(that and making like a million D1 recruits over the years helps too.....) but he can also coach. He isn't ancient and if I am one of these schools I throw some money his way.

GG at Duke-Now I despise this woman with every beat of my heart but she is SUCH A GREAT RECRUITER it hides the fact she is a bad Xs and Os coach....plus playing in the ACC helps(ya 3 in the FF and you have nothing on the bottom) Not to mention Lin Dunn being a lesbian and her mega recruits leaving Purdue when the AD thought that her preferance wasn't right(its WBB.........deal with it.) Dunn's recruits headed to her former Assistants high profile school(high profile I have no clue other than being a racist MBB school-o wait where did the ESPN president/owner graduate from?). And ever since they beat Holdsclaw we have been hearing about them. Ok back from my rant.....a couple of years ago she was rumoured to be leaving Duke for USC but that didn't happen. So Texas, Florida and LSU could pay probably 3 times what she makes at Duke and would be more willing than Duke to do so I think......does she bolt for the beaches of Florida? Or beautiful Austin? Or the Swamp...I mean the sticky humidity of LSU? Would make sense after she somehow chokes the title away this year....

Brenda-People please cut her slack. Minnesota is not as easy to recruit to and not as talent rich as Maryland. When someone comes in and offers you alot more money at your job(not to mention I think working for a woman would be a huge selling point....) do you take it? I do if the person trying to lure me away does a good job selling it and thats what Maryland's AD did. I don't think Frese is leaving but who knows.

Kim-Did someone actually call LSU THE basketball school in Kim's home state? THE? I don't care how much La Tech is down-they are the basketball school in that state. She ISN'T leaving for the 1000th time......she is at Baylor for a reason and she is paid well I am sure. The Baylor AD is INCREDIBLE(he walked into FIRE and he has really did a great job turning things around!) and he probably hears her name and knows how to up the ante.

D2 coaches and Assistants? Doubt it but in reality you have to look at everything. Washburn's coach comes to mind because he is great and has a great run there. I know he will be D1 soon but not sure if at this level. I always heard Aston was the successor to Jody but if that was the case I don't see how she leaves that close to retirement......... would think she say the writing.

Its going to be a great offseason though!!!!

[Scamp]

... These schools aren’t just sitting back waiting for the NCAA Tournament to end before they make their move. Trust me. The candidates know who they are right now and the AD’s know who is on their very, very short-list. Now, it’s time to see who has the best poker-face amongst the group and which Coach and AD can keep the leaks to a minimum. Won’t happen though.

http://williamsandhyattblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/odds-on-favorites-for-ut-womens-job-plus-day-two-tournament-thoughts/Ryan Hyatt's blog has his thoughts about the Texas coaching vacancy. And the tournaments. There are two? Men play basketball? :confused:

[Bball Girl]

Academic job postings are often pure sham, even though legally mandated. Often, the candidate has been chosen and made informal agreements long before the posting. And consider: JC must have been considering announcing her retirement for some time. It's possible, but unlikely, that she kept these considerations secret from the Texas administration. And if she did NOT keep them secret, it's HIGHLY unlikely that Texas wouldn't at least have had preliminary informal discussions with some high-level candidates. Perhaps they even have an informal--but firm--agreement with somebody. None of that violates rules or laws.

Except of course if you're hiring a part-time clerical assistant who makes $6 an hour....then you must follow all rules. But if you're hiring a coach that makes $500,000 a year - the rules must only be followed in "principle" not in practice.

[Gator]

Except of course if you're hiring a part-time clerical assistant who makes $6 an hour....then you must follow all rules. But if you're hiring a coach that makes $500,000 a year - the rules must only be followed in "principle" not in practice.Sorry to disabuse you of the notion of the clerk being all that different than the coach. I worked in Human Resources too long not to know that when a manager had identified a person they wanted for the job, they "followed the rules" by putting out a job ad and even interviewing a few of the top candidates. Amazingly enough, the person who got the job was the one for whom the ad had been written in the first place. Happens every day. Multiple times a day. The only environment in which it doesn't happen is where there is a system in place by which some "formula" determines who gets the job. May the BB deities (and common sense) save us from formulas.

[Bball Girl]

And I hate to disappoint you...but having hired those same clerical assistants in a University - I wasn't even sent the resumes/applications until the 2 weeks were up and I had to chart every phone call and contact with the applicants. Meanwhile, a football coach was flying in potential assistants before the 2 weeks were up and his official annoucement was made. And I was in a position of hiring people at Texas Tech when Bob Knight was hired. While they didn't make me chart the calls...and I certainly could have "called" and unofficially interviewed someone...I didn't even see those applications until the 2 week waiting period was over.

[stever]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/SPORTS05/703170350/-1/ENT06

Louisiana State needs a women's basketball coach. So does Florida. Does Callie Sanders dread coming to work one morning to discover that Bill Fennelly woke up with a hankering to share a zip code with Urban Meyer?

"I always worry," Sanders said as we watched Iowa State practice at Williams Arena on Friday morning, ahead of today's NCAA Tournament opener against Washington. "I worry about that every year. Because I think Bill is one of the greatest coaches in America. I think anybody would be crazy not to want to hire him."

[Scamp]

After Washington's loss to Iowa State, there may well be a coaching job open here in Seattle. Anybody love grey skies?

[Guns Up!]

You'll love this one!

http://www.star-telegram.com/288/story/39916.html

[Gator]

And I hate to disappoint you...We had the same type of system but if I had a candidate I wanted, I made sure that the person was 1) available and 2) wanted to apply for a potential opening before I ever submitted the ad. All of the managers I knew in 25 years did the same type of thing. You don't have to talk to any candidate or break any rules if you have developed a good enough grapevine. Working the system is something that is done at EVERY level - grin.

[BearLady]

If Mulkey leaves, Mittie should be on the Lady Bears' list, along with...

Not a chance. Newy has always been full of a lot of air.

[DblT81]

You'e love this one!

http://www.star-telegram.com/288/story/39916.html

Jeff Mittie. rofl

Newy Scruggs needs to get out of Cowtown every once in a while.

[JohnHenry]

Not nearly as funny as the idea of Marsha Sharp going to Baylor...or [snicker] SMU......

put down the pipe, Newy. And step back away from the keyboard.

Who gave this guy a job as a sports reporter? Or told him it was OK for him to write about WCBB?

Somehow whenever a high-profile WCBB coaching job opens or a controversy erupts, dozens of sportswriters who know next to nothing about the sport suddenly feel a compulsion to weigh in with their utterly uninformed opinions...

[ladyhorns1fan]

Somehow whenever a high-profile WCBB coaching job opens or a controversy erupts, dozens of sportswriters who know next to nothing about the sport suddenly feel a compulsion to weigh in with their utterly uninformed opinions...

Same thing on Hornfans!

[Bball Girl]

Ok...so I had to post the whole thing it was such a snort - Jeff Mittie to Baylor - Marsha Sharp to Baylor or Texas or SMU? ROFLOL !!!!! cough, gasp -
I think Newy has been doing a bit too much swimming in the Trinity River Tide.


The tide of women's college basketball teams is about to change in Texas.

Tide No. 1 -- Jody Conradt resigns: After her Lady Longhorns missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, Conradt decided to step down. Despite a national title and 900 wins, Conradt knows results are the name of the game.

So who's next? There is only one call Texas women's athletics director Chris Plonsky can make.

Tide No. 2 -- Everybody loves Kim: Baylor's Kim Mulkey led the Lady Bears to the NCAA Tournament title two years ago and is rumored to be on the short list for jobs at LSU, Florida and Texas.

I asked the Queen of Hoops, Nancy Lieberman of ESPN, to talk about the positives for Mulkey if she decides to leave.

Reasons to go to Texas: "Texas has history, tradition, almost like following John Wooden. She wouldn't feel the pressure, and she'll be a great recruiter for Texas."

Reasons to go to LSU: "It's her home state. She was disappointed she didn't get it the last time. They are an established SEC program."

Reasons to go to Florida: "One of the top five programs in the nation. They have a great AD, resources, and they want to win. She'd bring instant credibility."

I can see her staying at Baylor if it reworks her contract and gives her some things she might want.


Tide No. 3 -- Jeff Mittie: TCU has made the NCAA Tournament seven years in a row -- the longest streak in Texas (yes...by the skin of his teeth this year)

A 2004 DUI charge will hurt him, but any AD who takes the time to get to know him will see he is a quality man.

If Mulkey leaves, Mittie should be on the Lady Bears' list, along with...

Tide No. 4 -- Marsha isn't done: Lieberman says, "Marsha Sharp told me a year ago she wasn't done coaching." Sharp left Texas Tech as a Hall of Famer and her team won the NCAA title in 1993.

Baylor would be wise to keep her on speed dial. I don't know if Plonsky would bring her to Texas.

SMU makes a commitment: Rhonda Rompola hasn't sniffed the NCAAs in seven years. If SMU AD Steve Orsini is ready to move, this is the year, unless the school can't dig up enough cash to pay off Rompola to bring in a quality name, such as Sharp.

And let me give you a dark horse name: Brenda Frese. The Maryland coach's team won the NCAA championship last year and has proven it can slay giants North Carolina and Duke. (Does he think that Brenda Frese will *gasp* go so SMU if all of this transpires ;)
Donna Capps is my sentimental favorite. If she can get UTA to the Dance two out of three years, I really think she could keep TCU winning if Mittie leaves -- or do good things at SMU if it makes a change.

[walkaway]

MTSU coach is one that is odd. He came from Shelbyville, Tenn high school after being longtime coach there. Now I am sure he is a Tennessee native, but is a big time recruiter because of his high profile high school ties(that and making like a million D1 recruits over the years helps too.....) but he can also coach. He isn't ancient and if I am one of these schools I throw some money his way.

MTSU just had to replace a HC recently (Stephany Smith, who took the Lady Raiders to the NC2A in 04-05, left there for a higher-profile post, didn't she?) Chrissy Givens was a major player in the Lady Raiders' prominence (okay, not a "franchise player" but an extensive contributor to her team's success). Seems early for a coach to split.

[40ishHorn]

In a very weak defense of Newy, he got his info from SWSNBN. He should know better. :p

He gets an A for effort for making a foray into WCBB though.

[Scamp]

Mulkey: Internet reports of new BU pact 'gossip'

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kim Mulkey said Internet reports that she’s already signed a 10-year, $10 million deal to stay at Baylor are “nothing more than gossip.”

“It just amazes me all the stuff that people put out there,” said Mulkey, who’s been rumored to be a possible candidate for coaching openings at Texas, LSU and Florida. “I hope I live to see the day that somebody sues and wins big money, and maybe then there will be major control over things where people can’t just hide behind a screen name and write whatever they want to write. There is no accountability, and it’s not healthy.”

Mulkey, who signed a five-year extension during the 2005 national championship run, said she will make sure it’s announced when she’s contacted by another school or signs a new contract at Baylor.

“When and if anything is ever done along those lines, have you ever known me not to tell you?” Mulkey said. “Have you ever known me not to set up a press conference and say this is the way the cow eats cabbage? And I will.”

Although her name has been mentioned with several job openings, Mulkey said it’s not a distraction to the team.

“We make jokes about the media writing all that crap,” she said. “I know the personality of my team. None of that is a distraction. Not one iota. They don’t go to the assistant coaches worried about all that. We just laugh and cut up and actually make jokes about it. I have that kind of relationship with my kids.”

http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/content/sports/college/2007/03/18/3182007wactourneynotebook.html"...this is the way the cow eats cabbage..." A great phrase for St. Patrick's Day! Did the Lady Bears eat corned beef and cabbage?

[swok34]

“Have you ever known me not to set up a press conference and say this is the way the cow eats cabbage? And I will.”

That's too funny. I haven't read the "rumor" she is alluding to.

And there really is a reason that Hoopscoop aspires to be a better place than most fling it all message boards.

[Scamp]

And another coach bites the dust...June Daugherty, University of Washington Huskies coach, is gone after eleven seasons (191-139). http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003624793_webuwom18.html

[DblT81]

That's too funny. I haven't read the "rumor" she is alluding to.

And there really is a reason that Hoopscoop aspires to be a better place than most fling it all message boards.

The first place I read that rumor was at Hoopgurlz a couple of days ago. It was posted by a Connecticut fan without a link. So I asked him about his source. He said he had a highly reliable source. When the above article came out this morning in the Waco paper, the originator apologized and said his info must be wrong. He had thought it was right because his "info came straight from the mouth of another Big 12 coach." I love the fact that Mulkey came out with comments about it in the paper. I wonder if she will send any emails to the other Big 12 coaches. :D

[DblT81]

And another coach bites the dust...June Daugherty, University of Washington Huskies coach, is gone after eleven seasons (191-139). http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003624793_webuwom18.html

What a big year for major openings at BCS conference schools.

Did I hear it again this morning or yesterday where somebody (SWMNBN???) at ESPN once again said that Florida is one of the top 5 jobs in the nation?

Maybe she meant the Top 5 that are currently looking for a new head coach...

[Cyclones Rule]

I was not shocked by the news out of Wash. But it was surpirising to hear after watching the broadcast where they said Daugherty had signed the 8 best recruiting class in the nation.

[LadyBuff]

Iowa State, did you cost the Washington coach her job? You take a team to the NCAA tournament, sign a top recruiting class in the nation and you get fied?

[Bball Girl]

"We just need to have a positive buzz in our community about our team. And it just wasn't there," athletic director Todd Turner said, after he announced he would not renew the contracts of Daugherty or any of her assistants, including her husband, Mike, following her 11th season at UW. Cameo Hicks, an All-Pac-10 guard who just finished her senior season, called the firing "a little bit shocking." Hicks said there was "the buzz throughout the whole season" that Daugherty might be fired. "We never paid attention to it. We were focused on winning games," Hicks said. "When you've been with a coach for four years, it was a little bit shocking to me."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_BKW_Washington_Daugherty.html?source=mypi

Sounds like Turner created some negative buzz all season. I always liked Daugherty.

He also said the Huskies should be producing more for what Washington is paying into the women's program. He noted "hundreds of thousands of dollars" spent to improve practice gyms, meeting rooms and training rooms for both the men's and women's teams and an increase in coaches' salaries.

Men's coach Lorenzo Romar got a raise of about $200,000 per year - to close to $1 million annually - in a new, eight-year deal he signed after leading the Huskies men to their third consecutive NCAA tournament in 2006.

This season, the men faltered with youth, injuries and inconsistency. They didn't even make the consolation NIT tournament, let alone another NCAA.

"The circumstances are different. The leagues have different qualities of play," Turner said. "I think Lorenzo's success the prior four years speaks for itself. :confused:

"June's team this season had six seniors. We talked after last season that this would be an ultimate season for them. She expected great things.

"June has also had 11 years as a body of work."

So..."different qualities of play" ....so it's ok to miss the NIT.

It sounds like he would have fired June regardless unless she won the NC.

[Scamp]

Washington says it wants more buzz in its women's basketball program. So it stung coach June Daugherty and her entire staff.

The Huskies fired them all on Sunday, one day after Washington lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

"We just need to have a positive buzz in our community about our team. And it just wasn't there," athletic director Todd Turner said, after he announced he would not renew the contracts of Daugherty or any of her assistants, including her husband, Mike, following her 11th season at UW.

... Turner cited several factors that he said showed Washington lacked his required "buzz."

First, he noted attendance at remodeled Hec Edmundson Pavilion decreased from almost 5,000 per game to just above 2,500 in five seasons.

... Turner also didn't like seeing top recruits from what he called a "fertile" home state leave. The latest was Regina Rogers. The star center from state runner-up Chief Sealth of Seattle has committed to UCLA.

... a committee that will now begin what Turner called a "national" search for a replacement. Turner would not name candidates. But if he's looking for buzz, former LSU Final Four coach Pokey Chatman would provide that. ...

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/03/19/100spo_c1dau001.cfmWhen it comes to "buzz," June Daugherty suffered by comparison to the Mulkey-like style of her predecessor, Chris Gobrecht. ;)

[dem]

From everything I have seen and heard about June Daugherty, she is an absolutely classy person. In contrast, the former UW coach to whom she has been negatively compared by some newspaper columnists is one of the most repulsive personalities I have ever seen connected with women's basketball and who, in my opinion, isn't fit to coach youth league.

Here is some probably relevant information: Washington Athletic Director Todd Turner was hired in June 2004. His most important hire was the new football coach who has since managed 1-7 and 3-6 conference records, both good for 9th place in the Pac-10. AD Turner was also responsible for an 8-year contract extension given to the men's basketball coach, who this season presided over a shockingly disappointing failure to even qualify for the NIT after having expectations of a possible Final Four run. The single most successful coach at UW, Volleyball genius Jim McLaughlin, had nearly completed his spectacular revival program when Turner appeared. Turner was, however, fortunate to arrive just in time to share McLaughlin's national championship success of 2005. Turner's other major accomplishments to date include hiring a new men's swim coach and a new women's gymnastics coach. (I will say that the gymnastics team had an improved season this year.)

So, bottom line, this is probably as much about the new AD trying to find ways to justify his existence as it is anything else. His statements related to building a "national caliber" women's basketball program strike me as uninformed and semi-delusional. Keep in mind that any potential new coach would have to come here knowing that an Elite-8 appearance followed closely by a three-out-of-five-year run in the NCAA's, along with consistent upper-division finishes in a power conference, would be good enough only to get your ass fired. Very attractive position given the great lack of other quality coaching vacancies available at the moment, wouldn't you say?

[Gator]

Boy, am I going to be unpopular. Were I the AD at Washington, I would have fired Daugherty.

It seems to me there are two very different types of D1 WBB programs.

The first, and most numerous, are the schools which want a good coach.

The second, and growing more numerous, are the schools which want a good coach who is also a CEO with measurable objectives outside of the traditional coaching area. Washington wants to be in this category. Nothing Daugherty has done so far indicates she is the right fit.

You can’t produce CEO results without being a good coach because putting an superior product on the floor is the basis of achieving everything else. By the “product” criteria, Daugherty might have cut it. But it is clear that her continued employment had other criteria and in those areas she wasn’t producing.

You can criticize the trend and those schools who are opting to go for the whole enchilada. But, if you have a coaching job at one of those schools, you had better produce in every area of your responsibility.

I think the number of schools in the second category is self limiting. If you are a school which isn’t almost always at the top of their conference, or for the major conference, almost always dancing, to be able to achieve the other objectives is problematic, at best.

If I as an AD want a CEO coach, I want significant movement towards 3 basic and overlapping objectives:

Building Brand loyalty: increasing donor financial support, increasing attendance, and becoming an intrigal part of the total sports package of the school. (I don’t think is it by chance that Stoops and the whole football team shows up at a WBB game or that CP3 is introduced during a football game.)

Financial independence: increasing donor financial support, increasing attendance, Nike and/or other company contracts with excellent budgeting and tracking.

Marketing/PR: increasing media coverage, increasing web site hits, and other evidence of increasing community and national awareness.

That is not to say that the CEO Coach has to embody all of the necessary talents it takes, but at a minimum they must have the ability to manage those who have talents which compliment them to get a complete package of results.

A successful CEO must manage up, across, and down. A dedicated and productive staff is critical. Managing the folks who do not report to the coach but who are important to the program’s success is harder but necessary. This usually includes the marketing, ticket, academic support, etc. staffs. Not least is managing up. The university president, AD and women’s sports AD are critical elements of a coach’s success. Without the enthusiastic support of the ADs and at least an understanding of the program’s impact on the university from the president, a coach has important avenues toward success at best bumpy, and at worst those avenues are not only unpaved but can be no more than a faint track through the wilderness. The skinny on SWMS (before it renamed itself) was that the WBB coach was not routinely invited to events for donors and other networking opportunities. The coach needs help, not road blocks.

Of course, managing up requires aggressive and supportive AD. Kansas had slipped, badly. They got a new, supportive, AD. Guess what. They hired a good coach who who also has a good track record in the whole package of CEO skills.

No coach who thinks the jobs stops when a good product is on the floor or who hasn’t got the skills to go further, is going to be successful as a CEO.

[mred]

Another job opening: UNI's Tony DiCecco is expected to announce his retirement today.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070319/SPORTS02070102/70319014/1003/SPORTS

Edit: It's official: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070319/SPORTS02050102/70319017/1003/SPORTS&lead=1

[Scamp]

Frese Not Afraid Of A Little Heat
http://www.courant.com/sports/columnists/hc-jeffcol0319.artmar19,0,4810904.column?coll=hc-utility-sports

Interesting column about Brenda Frese by Jeff Jacobs.

[dem]

Washington wants to be in this category. Nothing Daugherty has done so far indicates she is the right fit.




What is your evidence for this? The allegations made by the AD? The fact is that Washington is and has been consistently near the top of the Pac-10 in attendance and fan enthusiasm. And the publicity focus of the Athletic Department--judging by things such as their web site and other indications I've seen--has been overwhelmingly on the men's programs, despite the fact that this year in particular the women's program has clearly been more successful.

It is fine to say that your institution "wants" certain desirable things, such as those you have described. Anybody can say those things. The question is what you are really doing, as an administration, to achieve them. I've spent time at both Iowa State and at Washington, and I guarantee you that the institutional commitment for the women's basketball program at Iowa State and other Big 12 programs is on a different scale entirely. Within that environment, the coach is limited in what they can do.

A few more things to keep in mind. An institution has to be compared to its peer group; here, that's the Pac-10, minus Stanford. (Stanford is in another category entirely, practically a unique case.) Within that group, Washington has been arguably the most consistently successful over the past six years, with the argument being provided by Arizona State. That success includes fan support.

Every indication I've seen is that the AD is simply blowing smoke, trying to make a show of striving for "excellence" by initiating a high-profile coaching change. It doesn't represent any real insight or commitment into what it would really take to improve. He's just fishing, and instead trying to make it appear to be "searching for a vision."

[MsProudSooner]

Regarding Frese, what rules did she supposedly break?

[mred]

Regarding Frese, what rules did she supposedly break?

There have been vague accusations of recruiting violations, but I'm not sure anyone's accused her of anything specific.

[swok34]

There have been vague accusations of recruiting violations, but I'm not sure anyone's accused her of anything specific.

and even with those, Clay Kallam had to apologize for publishing erroneous information.

[swok34]

Well, I voted NO over at ESPN in a poll whether June Daughtery should be fired or not.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=womenbb&pollId=43769

[Scamp]

If I Take A New Job, I’ll Tell You, Mulkey Says From Monday's press conference, "country girl" Kim, cow, and cabbage on tape. ;) http://www.kwtx.com/breakingnews/6580342.html

[swok34]

When and if I ever take another job, you’ll get it straight out of my mouth, “ she said, adding that until then it’s not worth further discussion

All the Kim naysayers, I say this to: IF she ever leaves the Big XII, who else in our league tells it just like it is and doesn't garble it with coachspeak?

[swok34]

http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2007/03/20/News/Would.Coach.G.Leave.Duke-2782112.shtml

Goestenkors' salary is not public information, but she was not listed among the top five paid employees on Duke's most recent Internal Revenue Service 990 tax filing. The lowest among those five earned $532,584 in the fiscal year that ended in 2005.

Director of Athletics Joe Alleva declined to discuss the specifics of Goestenkors' compensation but said she is "very well compensated in the world of women's basketball."

Compared to the top tier of coaches in the women's game, however, Goestenkors' salary does not stack up. Tennessee's Pat Summitt is the highest-paid coach in women's college basketball at an average of $1.125 million guaranteed over six seasons, and Geno Auriemma's contract with Connecticut guarantees him $988,000 per year.

"They've both won a lot of national championships and are part of programs that make money for their institutions. They bring in profit for their athletic departments, and that's not the case for our women's program," Alleva said. "I'm sure some of these other institutions will offer significantly large packages to encourage her to go.

What a &%^%^^ Alleva is.

[sybarite]

If you saw how few fans followed Duke to Greensboro, which must be all of forty miles from Durham, it makes sense. Neither Duke nor the fans are committed to women's basketball.

When A&M fans were lamenting their lack of attendance and comparing it to the ACC, I think A&M was ranked about #31 with North Carolina, #30, and they were the only ACC school in the top thirty. The ACC has much better teams than fans.

[Scamp]

UW starts search for coach
Advisory committee to create profile of ideal candidate

The process of selecting a new women's basketball coach at the University of Washington began Tuesday night when an advisory committee chaired by Marie Tuite, senior associate athletic director, met for the first time in response to the dismissal Sunday of June Daugherty, the Huskies coach for the past 11 years.

The committee is charged with providing Todd Turner a profile of the ideal candidate and, ultimately, to approve the person the athletic director selects.

In addition to Tuite, the committee includes associate athletic directors Jeff Compton and Scott Barnes; dean of undergraduate for academic affairs Ed Taylor; men's coach Lorenzo Romar; Cameo Hicks, who just completed her Huskies career and is president of the Washington Student-Athlete Advisory Board; Rhonda Smith, a Huskies player from 1992 to 1995; Kit Rainey of the FastBreak Club women's team support group; and Don Bernard of the Tyee Club board.

Turner also will seek advice from a group of former players who are scheduled to meet Thursday night.

The group includes Jamie Redd (1996-99), Elise Woodward (1994-97), Tara Davis (1991-94), Shannon Kelly (1992-96), Sarah Duncan (1998-01), Andrea Lalum (2001-04), Jill (Pimley) Marlow (1998-01), Kayla Burt (2002-06), Ingrid Russell (1987-88) and Lisa Oriard (1985-88). ...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/cbasketball/308317_uwom21.htmlIt's known here as the "Seattle solution" to problems: name a committee. Even better, name a committee and an advisory group, too! :rolleyes:

[dem]

It's known here as the "Seattle solution" to problems: name a committee. Even better, name a committee and an advisory group, too! :rolleyes:

Yeah, and in academic circles it's also known as "covering your ass." (Find a way to distribute some of the blame in case things don't work out so well.) A favorite of administrators everywhere.

[TTU79]

Yes, and as we all know, a camel is a horse designed by a committee.:p

[Scamp]

Coach P ducks that question to the end
by Michael Rosenberg

EAST LANSING -- She coached to the end. Joanne P. McCallie called time-out in the final minute, apparently to set up two six-point plays, because that is what Michigan State needed. This is what great coaches do. They coach to the end -- of games, of seasons, and of careers at a school.

Does McCallie expect to be back at MSU?

"I'm not going to answer these questions in this forum," McCallie said. That answer really ticked me off, and here is why: I had, "I'm focused on Michigan State right now" in the Coach P Evasive Answer Pool. Now I'm out five bucks. ...

Florida, LSU and Texas are considered higher-profile jobs; McCallie has SEC experience, having been an assistant at Auburn; and my understanding is that in some parts of Louisiana, it is perfectly legal to bite another person, as long as you prove you were drunk. ...

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070321/COL22/703210429/1048/SPORTS&imw=YI assume we all know the significance of the "bite" reference. ;)

[dem]

Go 2 Guy: When integrity simply won't cut it


If you missed it Sunday, June Daugherty got Neuheiseled by the Huskies after leading her hoopsters to a sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years as coach.

She wasn't gambling on March Madness pools or lying about anything or committing recruiting violations -- Daugherty and her lead assistant, husband Mike, were just busy being successful and graduating players.


"I like that they are coaches who get the idea that this is a game," said Roosevelt High girls basketball coach Bill Resler. "Yeah, winning is more fun, but if you don't win, if the kids get a valuable education, learned a bunch of life lessons and the value of hard work, what more do you want? I believe the Daughertys did that."

...Turner's a funny fellow. He said he wants a "positive buzz" around the program. But to hear this from him?...

"As an AD, she just recruited six or seven studs, I think I'd want to give her a run with them," Resler said.

She got run out of town instead, a winning coach, a coach who wasn't good enough but certainly cared enough, and still does.

On the day she was fired, Daugherty called [local recruit Mackenzie] Argens to reassure her that everything would be all right, that the next coach might even be a better coach than she is.

"You can always call me," Daugherty told her.

"What was her concern the day she got the ax?" Resler asked. "The well-being of her recruits."



...if you want a really big buzz, Todd, hire Pokey Chatman.



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/cbasketball/308500_moore22.html



Bill Resler was featured in the film "The Heart of the Game," and was [ISU PG] Lindsey Wilson's high-school coach.

By the way, if you have not seen The Heart of the Game, I strongly recommend you get a hold of the DVD:

http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Game-Ludacris/dp/B000LXGXX4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4420754-6559205?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1174596735&sr=8-1

[Scamp]

UConn assistants will be hot commodities
By Jim Fuller, Special to The Press
03/20/2007

HARTFORD - ... Tonya Cardoza and Jamelle Elliott, who have served as assistants on the staff of University of Connecticut Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma for the last 13 and 10 years, respectively, have some unfinished business to conduct this season - namely helping the UConn women's basketball team return to the Final Four for the first time since 2004.

However, next month don't be surprised if their phones start ringing. With the retirement of Northern Iowa coach Tony DiCecco on Monday, there are currently 18 Division I head coaching openings. It is only natural to assume that Cardoza and Elliott will attract some attention from programs who would love to add winners like the two highly regarded UConn assistants. ...

http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18100396&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=464194&rfi=6There's at least one more D-I head coach job open as of today. I need a bracket to keep track! :confused:

[40ishHorn]

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/032307dnspoutwomen.84abf6f.html


Sources: UT targets Duke coach


10:40 PM CDT on Thursday, March 22, 2007

By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
chipbrown@dallasnews.com

Duke women's basketball coach Gail Goestenkors, who has taken the Blue Devils to the NCAA national title game twice and has the No. 1-ranked team this season, is the leading candidate to replace Hall of Fame Texas coach Jody Conradt, according to two sources close to the Longhorns' basketball program.

Texas women's athletic director Chris Plonsky on Thursday declined to discuss her search for Conradt's successor, saying only, "We are engaged in a search for the best possible candidate."

Goestenkors, whose team plays Rutgers in the Sweet 16 in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, was busy with team responsibilities and wasn't immediately available to comment, according to Duke women's basketball spokesman Lindy Brown.

Texas officials haven't yet spoken with Goestenkors and won't until Duke's season is over, the sources said. Goestenkors was named coach of the year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

According to the sources, Goestenkors has the blessing of Conradt, who stepped down following 31 seasons at Texas and 900 wins after the Longhorns failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

Goestenkors has taken Duke to 13 straight NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Final Four four times (1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006) in the last eight years and the national title game twice, both losses.

In addition to Goestenkors' record of success (396-98, .802) at Duke, the Texas sources said she would be a good fit in Austin because she already has strong recruiting ties in the Lone Star State.

Prying Goestenkors from Duke may not be easy.

She has one of the top recruiting classes in the country already signed for next season and has taken the Duke women from obscurity to national prominence over the past 15 years.

But Goestenkors wasn't even among the five highest-paid coaches at Duke, a private school, according to tax records filed for the fiscal year of 2005.

According to Internal Revenue Service 990 forms filed by Duke coaches that year, Goestenkors earned less than $532,000. Conradt earned $540,500 this season, and Plonsky indicated when Conradt retired that money won't be an issue in hiring Conradt's successor.

Staff writer Brian Davis contributed to this report.


GAIL GOESTENKORS

Pos.: Duke women’s head coach

Record: 396-98 (.802) in 15 seasons at Duke

Alma mater: Saginaw Valley State (1985)

Hometown: Waterford, Mich.

Coaching highlights: Two national championship games (1999, 2006), four Final Fours (1999, 2002, 2003, 2006). … Record 65-game winning streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference, including 15-0 mark this season. … ACC record six straight ACC championships. … Seven straight 30-win seasons.

[Waylontheman]

Figured that was Texas lead............after GG chokes this tourney away I am sure her response to taking the Texas job as " sometimes you need a breath of fresh air, and everyone needs a change. Texas is such an outstanding university......"

Write a fat check for her because I personally think from the quote someone posted from the Duke AD they don't care..........oddly I'd prolly like Coach G if she was in the Big 12...I love to get big recruits!

Only problem is whoever gets that Duke team is prolly going to roll..........someone might want to call Carolyn Peck........she tends to do really good with loaded teams she inherits!

Watch whoever Louisville targets as well-always been said their AD has a real eye for coaches.......a mid-major coach or a D2 coach(Washburn......) could be the target!

[YCN]

Coach G was the obvious target for Texas, she's had more consecutive 30 win seasons than any other coach ever, yet for an average game they can't even sell half the seats in their arena. There's no support for women's basketball at Duke, or in most of the ACC. Maryland had very nice attendance this year, but now that the bloom is off, how long will that last, especially if Frese takes one of those tantalizing offers out there?

Texas will love Gail because she's classy, cares about every aspect of her players' lives, and wins wins wins. It's great for them, and it will be great for the conference as well. My odds on GG staying at Duke are less than 20%. Even the athletic director doesn't much seem to care if she leaves.

[dem]

Even the athletic director doesn't much seem to care if she leaves.

It seems that the Duke AD might as well hang up a sign that says "We don't really care all that much about women's basketball here. And most of our fans don't, either." Really putting out the welcome mat for prospective applicants for the (soon-to-be-vacant) head coaching job.

[Scamp]

Marciniak aims to be UW women's basketball coach

Michelle Marciniak is 33, has been in coaching for four years, and has never been a head coach at any level.

All of which would seem to make her a longshot to become the next women's basketball coach at Washington.

But should she have a chance to speak with UW athletic director Todd Turner at the Final Four this weekend in Cleveland, Marciniak — who just completed her fourth year as an assistant at South Carolina — is prepared to go after the job with the same fervor she displayed as a popular member of the Storm from 2000 to 2002.

"It would be a dream job of mine," said Marciniak, who earned her place in Storm lore with scrappy play typified by the time she got in a tussle with Latasha Byears of the Los Angeles Sparks — who outweighed her by 50 pounds — during a nationally televised game in 2002.

"I was feisty as a player," Marciniak said. "And I'm the same way now."

During her seasons with the Storm, Marciniak said she fell in love with Seattle and became enamored with the potential of UW women's basketball. ...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003642597_uwom30.htmlUW's AD has said the program needs "buzz." Former Lady Vol Marciniak would provide plenty of that, I'm sure.