OT: 2021 Coaching Carousel

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Now this is interesting...Thad Matta is going to be basketball czar at IU under Woodson.

Thad Matta was supposed to be the head coach until he failed his physical.  Matta's recruiting ability in Indiana and Midwest is top notch - Oden/Mike Conley/etc.  I'm seeing a two prong approach here.  Woodson on X's and O's - Matta as lead recruiter. 

[tower912]

So Indiana passed on Beilein, missed on Matta and Moser, and settled on a 63-year-old who is 50 games below .500, was fired from both his head coaching jobs, and has never recruited before?

Yeah...we won the Coaching Carousel. 

Unless Texas gets Beard.

[brewcity77]

Thad Matta was supposed to be the head coach until he failed his physical.  Matta's recruiting ability in Indiana and Midwest is top notch - Oden/Mike Conley/etc.  I'm seeing a two prong approach here.  Woodson on X's and O's - Matta as lead recruiter.

The physical never happened, that was a false report. But they were turned down by him.

[wadesworld]

How many associate athletic directors are flying all over the country chasing 16 year olds to come play basketball at their school?

[tower912]

What does Creighton do with Doug now?

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

How many associate athletic directors are flying all over the country chasing 16 year olds to come play basketball at their school?

It makes sense when your head coach has no recruiting experience and your Assistant AD is one of the best recruiters in NCAA.  It will be interesting to see if it works.  Sports Illustrated says Matta will be "assisting Woodson's staff". 

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

What does Creighton do with Doug now?

They're not doing anything as long as Creighton is relevant. 

[Nukem2]

It makes sense when your head coach has no recruiting experience and your Assistant AD is one of the best recruiters in NCAA.  It will be interesting to see if it works.  Sports Illustrated says Matta will be "assisting Woodson's staff".

Matta can’t recruit from that position.  He would have to be one of the three assistants. 

[cheebs09]

What does Creighton do with Doug now?

Probably retire his number if they haven’t already.

I think Greg might have coached his last game with Creighton.

[tower912]

Jeez, I hate it when I post before double checking.   Such a numbskull.

[Pakuni]

I don't think Woodson is the best hire IU could have made, but I don't think it's the disaster some believe. He legit can coach. His NBA record is a lot better than it seems  ... I mean, look at some of the rosters he was given ... and he's spent a lot of time working under some good coaches (Doc, Thibs, D'Antoni).
Recruiting will be the challenge, but to some degree, IU still recruits itself. It's still the flagship school in a talent-rich state and if he can land some connected assistants, he'll do OK.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Matta can’t recruit from that position.  He would have to be one of the three assistants.

Could be a scout/talent advisor though.

[GooooMarquette]

I don't think Woodson is the best hire IU could have made, but I don't think it's the disaster some believe. He legit can coach. His NBA record is a lot better than it seems  ... I mean, look at some of the rosters he was given ... and he's spent a lot of time working under some good coaches (Doc, Thibs, D'Antoni).
Recruiting will be the challenge, but to some degree, IU still recruits itself. It's still the flagship school in a talent-rich state and if he can land some connected assistants, he'll do OK.

I don’t disagree that he has decent NBA experience, but coaching college kids is  completely different than coaching pros. And starting that learning curve at 63? I’m almost 5 years younger than that, and if someone asked me to switch from healthcare law to environmental law, I would probably just retire.

Not saying it will be a complete disaster, but I seriously doubt it will be anywhere near what IU fans expect.

[GB Warrior]

So Thad Matta is Tom Coughlin in this situation. I feel just fine about where we landed.

[brewcity77]

Jeez, I hate it when I post before double checking.   Such a numbskull.

Can't tell you how many times I've made that mistake.

Personally, I think he's gone. That might be a spot for Moser, though Darien DeVries might be a leader in the clubhouse. That said, considering what led to Creighton's situation, might they consider Terrence Rencher or Dennis Gates?

[GooooMarquette]

So Thad Matta is Tom Coughlin in this situation. I feel just fine about where we landed.

Yep. Maybe Woodson/Matta will do OK, but I would still take Shaka any day of the week.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

I don’t disagree that he has decent NBA experience, but coaching college kids is  completely different than coaching pros. And starting that learning curve at 63? I’m almost 5 years younger than that, and if someone asked me to switch from healthcare law to environmental law, I would probably just retire.

Not saying it will be a complete disaster, but I seriously doubt it will be anywhere near what IU fans expect.

I would argue it's much easier to coach a college kid rather than a kid who makes around 10 million/year. 

[cheebs09]

I would argue it's much easier to coach a college kid rather than a kid who makes around 10 million/year.

I’d counter that Woodson might have to teach things he’s never had to before.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

I’d counter that Woodson might have to teach things he’s never had to before.

Like what?

[🏀]

Like what?

[GooooMarquette]

Hypothetical better move for IU: hiring Woodson, or rehiring Crean?

[JWags85]

So Thad Matta is Tom Coughlin in this situation. I feel just fine about where we landed.

Yes. People are WAY over selling this Marta role without realizing what it means. If Marquette had Beilein in Mike Broeker’s role, would it have helped Wojo a bit? Sure.  Would it have completely closed the gap and made him a better game coach and recruited a more perfect roster? No

Also, you don’t pay $10MM to get ride of Archie Miller to get a mediocre NBA coach and a good coach as an admin

[DegenerateDish]

I don’t think Woodson is necessarily going to be bad, but in the context of the search IU did, it’s uninspiring and shows options 1-? weren’t coming. If Woodson was going to be their choice from the get go, this hire would have been done days ago.

Matta’s presence though makes this a better situation. I’m curious how it’ll all work.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I would argue it's much easier to coach a college kid rather than a kid who makes around 10 million/year. 

I don’t think it is easier or harder but just very different.

[GooooMarquette]

I don’t think it is easier or harder but just very different.

This.

There are a few coaches who have a succeeded at both, but there have also been plenty who were great at one and awful at the other.