[Rosiak's Blog] More buzz about Buzz

[ToddRosiakSays]

More buzz about Buzz

Written by: Don Walker


While the decision to hire Buzz Williams was an Athletic Department decision, there were at least three influential backers of the program who played a role.

Those three are Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, a former star for Marquette; former Marquette star and former Milwaukee Brewers president Ulice Payne Jr.; and John Bergstrom, a prominent auto dealer in the state. All three had a role in advising Athletic Director Steve Cottingham.

The three worked by consulting with other people around the country, talking to head coaches, officials in the Big East Conference, and other prominent alumni.

What they concluded was that, in order to succeed in the highly competitive Big East, recruiting outweighed coaching. With that in mind, that led many to recommend Williams, who, though lacking in head coaching experience, knew how to recruit.

An athletic department source said Mike Tranghese, the commissioner of the Big East Conference, made it clear to Cottingham and others that it was important for Marquette to continue to be competitive in the Big East. To that end, the same source said the the Big East provided contact numbers and other information to Marquette in order to allow them to reach potential candidates.



http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2008/04/09/more-buzz-about-buzz.aspx

[Norm]

Then why not make a harder push for Anthony Grant, who helped recruit all the studs to Florida with Billy Donovan? Must have flat out told MU he was not interested.

[Pakuni]

Then why not make a harder push for Anthony Grant, who helped recruit all the studs to Florida with Billy Donovan? Must have flat out told MU he was not interested.

Not just picking on you, cause others have made similar remarks in regards to Miller and Bennett, but what's this business about "making a harder push"? Marquette asked to speak with these guys about the job, reportedly several times in at least the case of Bennett. They were told thanks, but no thanks. What more do you expect the administration to do? Beg? Send flowers? Send someone to hang around outside their homes?
We're a university, not a creepy stalker.

[CharleTheJesuit]

"What they concluded was that, in order to succeed in the highly competitive Big East, recruiting outweighed coaching."

Bingo!

I would say that is pretty good advice.

Doc is pretty well informed about college recruiting these days, with Jeremiah having just been through the process. 

[NYWarrior]

Doc is pretty well informed about college recruiting these days, with Jeremiah having just been through the process. 

His daughter, Callie, was a nationally-ranked volleyball player in high school, and is now at UF.  His younger son, Austin, will be better than Jeremiah