Was WoJo looked at by other programs over the years? Some have indicated that he was Coach K's heir apparent (among about 50 others in the coaching tree). Those of you that follow other programs, why us? Why now?
Wojo said he was contacted in previous years but this time it was a perfect fit. He hasn't named who any of the other schools were AFAIK.
http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/04/01/steve-wojciechowski-duke-coach-k-marquette-head-coach/?eref=sircrc
That's ultimately why Wojciechowski chose arguably the best landing spot of any Coach K acolyte. There is no longer a leadership vacuum, with a new school president a week into the job. There is the familiarity of working within the confines of a small, private school architecture. But mostly, there is the dedicated investment in being very good at basketball, underlined by the school's healthy spending of money in order to achieve that end.
According to U.S. Department of Education figures, Marquette's basketball expenses in 2012-13 totaled $10,726,622. By comparison, Duke spent more than $15 million. But of Marquette's current Big East peers – noting that Creighton, Xavier and Butler had yet to join the league officially – no school spent more on basketball than the Golden Eagles. Only Georgetown, at $9,612,945, came within $3 million. While spending isn't everything, both the gap and the relative proximity to Wojciechowski's former employer is telling.
Krzyzewski disciples have yet to measure up to their mentor, and it hasn't been close. Wojciechowski might have put himself in the best position to succeed.
"Marquette's a basketball school," Wojciechowski said. "Obviously there's amazing things going on all over the university – in the classroom, in research, in a lot of different ways. But the fact that basketball is big in the culture of the university and is woven into fabric of who the university is played a huge role. I'm coming from a place like that. It's important to them. People are passionate. They want to see teams that win and win the right way. There's not a lot of those schools out there. When you look at Marquette, you can say that. To me, that was incredibly attractive."
Not many other Krzyzewski assistants have afforded themselves the infrastructure Wojciechowski now enjoys. Mike Brey had a five-year stopover at Delaware before heading to a football school in Notre Dame. He rebuilt the Irish into a steady winner, but the program hasn't reached a Sweet 16 since 2003. Tommy Amaker left for Seton Hall, making one NCAA tournament in four years before bolting for Michigan. Johnny Dawkins took over a Stanford program that had a legacy of success with Mike Montgomery but was sliding into a backseat position as football emerged as dominant — and it took Dawkins six seasons even to make the NCAA tournament. Chris Collins will lead Northwestern to its first NCAA bid at some point, but the Chicago-area native took the job last spring in spite of the resources. Perhaps only Quin Snyder's leap to Missouri matches Wojciechowski's move in terms of choosing a school set up for success in basketball, or at least fervent about achieving it.
Wojciechowski also selected a destination primed to win in the near term. Marquette has the nation's No. 20 recruiting haul, according to Rivals.com, with three commitments from top 100 players in the Class of 2014. This after ex-coach Buzz Williams brought in four four-star freshmen in 2013, with the best of them, point guard Duane Wilson, redshirting last season due to injury. The Golden Eagles will lose size with Chris Otule and Davante Gardner graduating, but Indiana transfer Luke Fischer will be eligible after the first semester next season. Wojciechowski will have to avoid talent attrition; otherwise, the son of a longshoreman, who still keeps his father's hard hat in his house, has zero building or rebuilding to do.
I heard this morning that Wojo was in the running for the Dayton job three years ago but withdrew his name. Probably heard he wasn't going to get it. Why now makes sense considering that Coach K is probably 5-8 years away from retiring. Gives him a chance to get some experience and put his name for the Duke at the right time.
Are there numbers more worthless than the US Department of Education's?
Quote from: Shack on April 02, 2014, 03:45:22 PM
I heard this morning that Wojo was in the running for the Dayton job three years ago but withdrew his name.
You heard correctly.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/03/1100863/wojo-not-headed-to-dayton.html
Quote from: Shack on April 02, 2014, 03:45:22 PM
I heard this morning that Wojo was in the running for the Dayton job three years ago but withdrew his name. Probably heard he wasn't going to get it. Why now makes sense considering that Coach K is probably 5-8 years away from retiring. Gives him a chance to get some experience and put his name for the Duke at the right time.
Did Coach K tell him ABD?
Seems to me Wojo waited for the right opportunity and learned as much as he could while being on standby, immersing himself in many opportunities to prepare for the right job. In terms of an assistant, I don't think you can find a more impressive resume' than what he has between USA basketball, recruiting future NBA players, and learning from one of the best (maybe the best) college coaches of all time. Many college assistants want to jump the gun and immerse themselves in their own program asap. I think Wojo saw how former Duke assistants fared on their own, and most likely, learned from the mistakes they made. He's married to an intelligent wife (as is Shaka Smart) which says a lot about a man. To me, he seems calculated, prepared, has a plan, and has the tenacity to execute it. He's not impulsive and is quite patient. Cool, calm, collect. Beware Big East..... The Wojo has come out of his womb and is ready to feed.....