from Bob Wolfley in jsonline
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers is pleased with the guy Marquette selected to replace Buzz Williams.
"As a Marquette alum, I can't tell you how happy I am that we are bringing Wojo into our family," Rivers told the Journal Sentinel through a spokesman for the Clippers. "Wojo has been preparing for this job for over 15 years by working under one of the best coaches of our era in Coach K. Marquette has had a long, successful history of hiring coaches who worked for legendary coaches – from Rick Majerus and Al McGuire to Tom Crean with Tom Izzo. Wojo falls right in line with our history."
Rivers played at Marquette from 1980-'83. He played for four teams in the NBA and is coaching his third team in that league. Rivers is a member of MU's board of trustees.
Other former Marquette players told me their reactions to the hire.
Jim Boylan was the point guard on Marquette's 1977 championship team and is an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Bill Cords and the committee that selected him did a great job," Boylan said. "Wojo has a great reputation around the country with a high profile program as a player and many years as a coach. He's familiar with competing at a high level. That's what Marquette basketball is about, fielding a great team and competing at the elite level. That's where we want to be and there's where we have been and we want to continue to do that."
Boylan said he mentioned to Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving that Wojciechowski had been hired by MU. Irving played for one season at Duke before joining the NBA.
"Kyrie had some really nice things to say about him," Boylan said. "That was good to hear. Now obviously the proof is in the pudding. You have to go out there and make things happen. But Marquette has the assets and facilities to continue to be a big-time program. That's what I want as an alum and former player. I want to see the program continue at the level it's been at the last 10 years or so. It's a great hire."
George Thompson played for Marquette from 1966-'69 and was the analyst for years on MU radio broadcasts.
"He's been around success," Thompson said. "Marquette probably needs right now a young guy with a lot of energy, good connections - which he probably has from being with Mike - and a fresh way of looking at things."
Jim McIlvaine played for Marquette from 1990-'94. He the current game analyst on MU radio broadcasts.
"I'm excited," McIlvaine said. "I actually authored a blog item right after coach Williams left for Virginia Tech. Everybody calls me like the radio guy knows something and I really don't know anything, don't particularly care to. Because I'm sure Bill Cords and the other folks in the search process had a bunch of people calling them and trying to give them advice and information. That definitely is not my place.
"I trusted the process going into the search and I trusted the outcome was going to be a positive one and it has been," McIlvaine said. "It was with coach Williams and before that coach Crean. We have had a pretty good run for a long time with coming in with new coaches."
Marc Marotta was incensed after learning Williams had bolted for Virginia Tech. He called it "one of the most idiotic moves I've ever seen anyone make."
Marotta played for Marquette from 1981-'84 and is the chairman of the BMO Harris Bradley Center board of directors.
"I'm really excited about the hire," Marotta said. "He brings the full package. He can recruit. He can coach. He will represent the university very well. We are very fortunate to have Wojo. And certainly it works both ways. He's obviously recognized the great brand that Marquette has. And he will represent that brand well both on the court and off."
Joe Moran, MU class of 1980, is author of two books about Marquette basketball, "You Can Call Me Al" and "Goin' Uptown."
"Marquette has had success in the past hiring coaches without a lot of head coaching experience - Kevin O'Neill, Buzz Williams - or no head coaching experience - Tom Crean," Moran said. "Steve Wojciechowski fits that mold."
Yes, but did Mac respect the process?
Mike Broeker @mikebroeker
Travis Diener checking in from Italy this morning on news of @steve_wojo hire - "Great news! Great Hire!" #mubb #family #wearemarquette
Mike Broeker @mikebroeker
@DwyaneWade says "I think it's great hire." Got same via text from '03 FF teammates @stevenovak16, Rob Jackson & MVP Jared Sichting. #mubb
I wonder if they all got an email from the university telling to say the same exact thing?
Excited, good hire, blah blah. But I guess what do we really expect them to say?
Lets see what they say 2 to 3 years from now, coaching is minor, recruiting is major. Most of us could coach talent on this board. Buzz proved last year he could not utilize his players
the right way, and maybe lost a few games he should have not have, Buzz was stubborn. I do not think he even listened to his other coaches, otherwise Mayo and Burton would have started
most of the year, and Dawson should have gotten major minutes. It sure sounds that the players are happy he left.
Quote from: BCHoopster on April 02, 2014, 10:39:29 AM
Lets see what they say 2 to 3 years from now, coaching is minor, recruiting is major. Most of us could coach talent on this board. Buzz proved last year he could not utilize his players
the right way, and maybe lost a few games he should have not have, Buzz was stubborn. I do not think he even listened to his other coaches, otherwise Mayo and Burton would have started
most of the year, and Dawson should have gotten major minutes. It sure sounds that the players are happy he left.
If true, there would never be a mid-major in the Sweet 16. Wonder why all the teams with 4 & 5 star guys let UW get to the Final Four.
Recruiting is big, of course. But, retaining most of your players can be big and another way of building success.
He may bring some more positive energy to the team and actually keep some players around longer. I'd love to see a team that has the studs, but also some guys that can play and stick around for 4 years.
Quote from: BCHoopster on April 02, 2014, 10:39:29 AM
Most of us could coach talent on this board.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger_effect