OT: 2021 Coaching Carousel

[NickelDimer]

A friend of mine who lives in Ohio just posted this on Facebook:

"I am completely and utterly DONE with the Chris Holtmann era. It's the exact same thing every game, every season, and when it ends up biting them he always pretends it's completely inexplicable and something that just can't be fixed. Every single time one of his teams gets put in a high-pressure situation it crumbles. Every. single. time. If only there was someone who is getting paid millions of dollars to correct that potentially fatal flaw!"

Hard to blame him for feeling that way. That was an absolute embarrassment of a showing. I’d be willing to bet Oral Roberts has actually played better this year and still pulled out the massive upset. And that last possession that ends in a desperation step back 3 falls on Holtmann. That was a Wojo-esque final possession. I’d be upset too.

[tower912]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/boston-celtics-coach-brad-stevens-not-interested-indiana-job-archie-miller-mpretty boy-224739680.html

This seems relatively definitive about Brad's return to college.    He is a Celtic until they fire him. 

[MU82]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/boston-celtics-coach-brad-stevens-not-interested-indiana-job-archie-miller-mpretty boy-224739680.html

This seems relatively definitive about Brad's return to college.    He is a Celtic until they fire him.

Unless I had used up my NBA chips -- like Cal, Pitino or Kruger -- I would never go back to college if I were a coach.

An NBA coach works long, hard hours, all coaches do. An NBA coach loses sleep trying to figure out how to improve, all coaches do. But NBA coaches can still have lives because they don't have to spend every moment they are away from their teams recruiting teenagers.

Stevens isn't close to having cashed in his NBA chips. If the Celtics dump him, he will have his choice of at least a half-dozen NBA jobs, many of which might be very good. Kind of like after Rivers got dumped by the Clippers.

[DegenerateDish]

Kevin Kruger (Lon’s son) your new Runnin Rebs head coach.

[JWags85]

Kevin Kruger (Lon’s son) your new Runnin Rebs head coach.

Yuck. Pitino rumors, Jason Kidd rumors, pretty decent interest last time it was open...and they get a young assistant whose biggest accomplishment is his name?

[VegasWarrior77]

Kevin Kruger (Lon’s son) your new Runnin Rebs head coach.

The last time UNLV won a tourney game Kevin was their PG.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

The last time UNLV won a tourney game Kevin was their PG.

Was that the upset over 2 seed Wisconsin?

[mumi27]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1374089198303649800

Minnesota expected to hire Xavier assistant coach Ben Johnson as its next head coach

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1374089198303649800

Minnesota expected to hire Xavier assistant coach Ben Johnson as its next head coach

And people here really though the Minnesota job was better than Marquette 

[Tha Hound]

And people here really though the Minnesota job was better than Marquette 

My first thought exactly. We were meant to be "competing" with them hahaha.

[rocky_warrior]

And people here really though the Minnesota job was better than Marquette 

He's the kind of assistant you'd look for.  Several assistant stops (Texas-Pan American -> Northern Iowa  -> Nebraska -> Minnesota -> Xavier).  Could be a great hire.

[RJax55]

And people here really though the Minnesota job was better than Marquette 

Johnson is a former Gopher captain and assistant coach. He's from Minneapolis. A lot of ties there.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I don't know.  You have a successful sitting coach in Brian Dutcher who would love to come to Minnesota.   That's pretty hard to pass up versus promoting a 40 year old career assistant.

[GooooMarquette]

MN fans are pretty universally appalled by the hire:

https://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/threads/gophers-hiring-ben-johnson.100900/

The most positive post in the thread came from a Utah State fan expressing relief that they didn't hire Smith.

[Pakuni]

I don't know.  You have a successful sitting coach in Brian Dutcher who would love to come to Minnesota.   That's pretty hard to pass up versus promoting a 40 year old career assistant.

Yeah, curious choice when you had a couple of Minnesota guys with solid mid-major resumes who both could have been had. Maybe they weren't as interested as many had assumed.

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah, curious choice when you had a couple of Minnesota guys with solid mid-major resumes who both could have been had. Maybe they weren't as interested as many had assumed.

He probably had a good power point presentation

[cheebs09]

If we wanted to see what Scoop would look like if we hired Wardle, Gopher Hole would be a preview.

[rocky_warrior]

If we wanted to see what Scoop would look like if we hired Wardle, Gopher Hole would be a preview.

At least wardle is a HC. But buckle up, our fate might not be much different! (and that's not necessarily bad)

[shoothoops]

Utah is interviewing Alex Jensen. Craig Smith and Johnnie Bryant also in the mix. All three are very good coaches. Bryant would probably win the popular vote. (Goodman)

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Utah is interviewing Alex Jensen. Craig Smith and Johnnie Bryant also in the mix. All three are very good coaches. Bryant would probably win the popular vote. (Goodman)

2 NBA assistants that played at Utah and Craig Smith. Interesting list.

[shoothoops]

2 NBA assistants that played at Utah and Craig Smith. Interesting list.

Jensen is a former SLU assistant under Majerus. While he did well, he seemed less interested in the college game, recruiting, etc...at the time, by his own admission. He and Bryant are excellent player development coaches. All three would have potential to do well there.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Jensen is a former SLU assistant under Majerus. While he did well, he seemed less interested in the college game, recruiting, etc...at the time, by his own admission. He and Bryant are excellent player development coaches. All three would have potential to do well there.

They went NBA coaching last hire. Working at the start but then Larry K couldn't recruit.

[Billy Hoyle]

I don't know.  You have a successful sitting coach in Brian Dutcher who would love to come to Minnesota.   That's pretty hard to pass up versus promoting a 40 year old career assistant.

he meets the local media's requirement though.

You also had Ryan Saunders lobbying for the job and ingratiating himself with donors.

Swing and a miss, Gophs.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Jensen is a former SLU assistant under Majerus. While he did well, he seemed less interested in the college game, recruiting, etc...at the time, by his own admission. He and Bryant are excellent player development coaches. All three would have potential to do well there.

Interesting... perhaps hiring some young/hungry road warrior assistants willing to pound the pavement while the HC is the closer who focuses on player development wouldn't be the worst model

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

he meets the local media's requirement though.

You also had Ryan Saunders lobbying for the job and ingratiating himself with donors.

Swing and a miss, Gophs.

What are you talking about?