Marquette process vs. Arizona process

[radome]

I am almost afraid of starting this thread because of where it may lead but ...
There has been plenty of discussion about MU's hiring process last year on this board.  Watching Arizona getting "used" by coaches that may only be working a better contract at their current school makes me feel better about our process.  If the members in the know are correct, then MU did some background work with phone calls before deciding.  Flying these guys to Arizona sure looks like no one wants the job.  I think that is more damaging than a few phone calls and then hire the next on the list.  And then there is the whole loss of recruits while it gets sorted out but that is for another time.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

I think people tend to make a bigger deal out of the impact of coaches turning down schools in the long run. Yes in the short run it does look bad for a school like Arizona not to be able to steal whatever coach they please. But in the long run the important thing is to get the right coach and the right fit, not the first big name who will jump at the job (e.g Billy Gillespie). Recruits still know about Arizona, they still have a huge fan base and they are still a basketball first school. Not to mention the beautiful co-eds which would make recruiting a breeze in my mind.

[Nukem2]

True, but the more names that are run through the media, the harder it is to get the guy with the proper "fit".  Keeping a low profile in the process is probably the best for most schools.

[CAINMUTINY]

Amen to that brother!! and while I agree a "good fit" is necessary for long term survival, it is clear that a public refusal by a multitude of coaches cannot bode well for their selection process.  I think the situation with KO and the current ties to Lute Olsen have to had impacted this process. 

On a side note I couldn't be happier with Buzz.....if you watched the end of season presser you would realize the guy is really coming into his own.

[Big Papi]

I am not sure if MU's hiring process was good or not, but as the Arizona and Memphis hiring process continues to swing and miss badly, I am starting to think more and more that Cottingham probably knew what he was doing.  Some might not have liked who he hired or that it was so quick but it is looking like he had a reasonable list of coaches who would be a good fit for what he wanted at MU and he went out and got it done quickly.  

What I can't believe is that Arizona had practically all year to find a good coach who would be a good fit for the program and they still can't hire anyone.  

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I am starting to think more and more that Cottingham probably knew what he was doing.  

Cottingham had nothing to do with it. Buzz was interviewed by our biggest booster and was endorsed by that booster's pal Crean.

There was no process.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I am almost afraid of starting this thread because of where it may lead but ...
There has been plenty of discussion about MU's hiring process last year on this board.  Watching Arizona getting "used" by coaches that may only be working a better contract at their current school makes me feel better about our process.  If the members in the know are correct, then MU did some background work with phone calls before deciding.  Flying these guys to Arizona sure looks like no one wants the job.  I think that is more damaging than a few phone calls and then hire the next on the list.  And then there is the whole loss of recruits while it gets sorted out but that is for another time.

Getting "used"?  No one will remember that if they land a big time coach.  That's just blather for internet goofballs.  UA has their own set of issues right now because they haven't recruited anyone in 3 years and they're replacing a legend (does Lute Olson count as a legend?)  Memphis is in their own unique situation....crap conference, major coach just leaves (who wants to follow that?).  UA

If they land the right guy, then they did the right thing.   The reverse is hiring someone quickly and then having to do the whole thing all over again in a few years.

Say Josh Pastner gets the UA job.  He might, but UA knows he's their backup and will be their backup for weeks if they wish.  He isn't going anywhere.  In the meantime, they are showing their alums and fanbase they are willing to take a shot with some major coaches.  If they get Pastner, then at least they show the attempt was made over the long haul to get someone with some fire power.

Memphis....I have no idea what they will do. Floyd seemed the obvious choice but when he pulled out, they have problems.  And since that's the situation they are in, better off taking their time to hire someone.

Don't be surprised if someone like Leonard Hamilton takes the Memphis job

[4everwarriors]

Cottingham had nothing to do with it. Buzz was interviewed by our biggest booster and was endorsed by that booster's pal Crean.

There was no process.

Absolutely 100% fact.

[Nukem2]

Getting "used"?  No one will remember that if they land a big time coach.  That's just blather for internet goofballs.  UA has their own set of issues right now because they haven't recruited anyone in 3 years.  Memphis is in their own unique situation....crap conference, major coach just leaves (who wants to follow that?). 

If they land the right guy, then they did the right thing.   The reverse is hiring someone quickly and then having to do the whole thing all over again in a few years.

Is Jim Boylen a big name coach?  If hired, he'll get a lot of play as being part of the Izzo coaching tree.  I would say he is a fit for where he is at Utah.  AZ may be a stretch.   Good luck.  Most coaching hires, other than the Self's and Ray Williams and Pitiinos and Caliparis, are gambles. Look at UVA and GA bringing guys from across the country.  Good coaches, but will they fit their new far away homes?  

[Nukem2]

Absolutely 100% fact.

And, can either of you back that up 100% here?  I doubt it.  Stuff of rumor mills.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

Cottingham had nothing to do with it. Buzz was interviewed by our biggest booster and was endorsed by that booster's pal Crean.

There was no process.

Which basically follows with your long-term narrative on this board that Cottingham is a complete pud and the entire Marquette administration is a bunch of incompetent dolts. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Which basically follows with your long-term narrative on this board that Cottingham is a complete pud and the entire Marquette administration is a bunch of incompetent dolts. 

Don't forget that Tom Crean is evil.

[4everwarriors]

And, can either of you back that up 100% here?  I doubt it.  Stuff of rumor mills.

In the end Strong pushed for Crean's endorsed ass't coach. End of story.

[radome]

In the end Strong pushed for Crean's endorsed ass't coach. End of story.

Sometimes I may be a bit naive.  I hope that this isn't *the* reason, just part of the story.  Even for our greatest booster, that is a lot of power. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

And, can either of you back that up 100% here?  I doubt it.  Stuff of rumor mills.

Is the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel a rumor mill?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Is the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel a rumor mill?

C'mon. How do you know Strong wasn't just rubber stamping Cottingham's suggested hire? You don't, and neither do I.

It's ok to admit that nobody outside of the MU administration really knows how the process went.

You or I don't know everything. Let's not pretend like we do.

[Nukem2]

Is the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel a rumor mill?

And......, you have a link to that....????   

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Which is why our biggest booster was flying out to washington to try to convince T.Bennett to come to MU after he had already turned down Toby.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

And......, you have a link to that....????  

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/29460309.html

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, PRN was partially right, as the JS article does refer to this:

It is the measure of Strong's influence with the program that Strong was the only booster who had a private interview with Williams only days before Williams' hiring was announced.

On the other hand, though, I wouldn't say either that this article is a tacit admission that Dick Strong basically made the decision instead of Cottingham and Fr. Wild in the end. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

On the other hand, though, I wouldn't say either that this article is a tacit admission that Dick Strong basically made the decision instead of Cottingham and Fr. Wild in the end. 

Bingo.

We don't know what went on. Might have been a "rubber stamp", might have been a courtesy to Mr. Strong, might have been a lot of things.

Saying Strong was the primary decision maker is awfully presumptuous.

[Nukem2]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/29460309.html

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, PRN was partially right, as the JS article does refer to this:

It is the measure of Strong's influence with the program that Strong was the only booster who had a private interview with Williams only days before Williams' hiring was announced.

On the other hand, though, I wouldn't say either that this article is a tacit admission that Dick Strong basically made the decision instead of Cottingham and Fr. Wild in the end. 

Sounds more like an accomodation to a guy who paid a lot of TC's salary.  Nothing in this comment to infer that he was the guy who made the decision. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

You guys are hilarious.

Do you think Marquette would hire a guy completely unqualified to coach gym at Brown Deer Junior High unless they were given no choice? After a season of odd behavior and head shaking sound bytes, you honestly believe Buzz Williams "blew them away" during the interview process? Seriously!? Milwaukee County wouldn't hire him as dog catcher!

Get your heads out of your ass*s!

[ZiggysFryBoy]

You guys are hilarious.

Do you think Marquette would hire a guy completely unqualified to coach gym at Brown Deer Junior High unless they were given no choice? After a season of odd behavior and head shaking sound bytes, you honestly believe Buzz Williams "blew them away" during the interview process? Seriously!? Milwaukee County wouldn't hire him as dog catcher!

Get your heads out of your ass*s!

Bring back Mike Deane!  He drank beers with me at Turners!   

[Nukem2]

You guys are hilarious.

Do you think Marquette would hire a guy completely unqualified to coach gym at Brown Deer Junior High unless they were given no choice? After a season of odd behavior and head shaking sound bytes, you honestly believe Buzz Williams "blew them away" during the interview process? Seriously!? Milwaukee County wouldn't hire him as dog catcher!

Get your heads out of your ass*s!

And, Dick Strong is qualified to assess a basketball HC candidate better than everyone else...?  In any event, it appears that a good decision was made in a relatively short period.  Get your head out of your arse.  Again, where is your proof.  You are guessing and blowing in the wind again.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

You guys are hilarious.

Do you think Marquette would hire a guy completely unqualified to coach gym at Brown Deer Junior High unless they were given no choice? After a season of odd behavior and head shaking sound bytes, you honestly believe Buzz Williams "blew them away" during the interview process? Seriously!? Milwaukee County wouldn't hire him as dog catcher!

Get your heads out of your ass*s!

He's still better than Crean. Right?