An interesting job just opened up....Houston Cougars

[ChicosBailBonds]

As several of you know, the AD there is one of my best friends and a former Marquette employee.  Tom Penders resigned today from Houston.  An interesting job.  They have a ton of history but are mired in CUSA.  This is one school that if the conference merry go round goes right, could end up considerably better then where they are.

We're talking about a school that went to 3 straight Final Fours, has been number one in football, etc.

I mention all this because of Buzz's pull down in Texas, and especially in the Houston area.   It will be very interesting to see who Mack Rhoades goes after.  Mack hired Billy Gillespie at UTEP when he was there.  He then hired Doc Sadler who took this year's UTEP team to the NCAAs. 

For those of you who think I'm a Buzz hater...I sent a note to Mack this morning telling him not even to think about Buzz and bringing him back to Texas.   

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Why wouldn't they just hire Gillespie?

[KipsBayEagle]

A.  If Buzz Williams were to leave Marquette to go to Houston, this would be the biblical equivalent of Soddom and Gamora
B.  Why did Penders resign?

[Pakuni]

The notion that Buzz would be interested in this - or any job - for the simple fact it's in Texas is silly.
I understand it's the guy's home state, but he's not going to take over a lesser program for less money for that reason alone.
Also, the fact of the matter is Buzz has only lived in Texas two years in the last decade. Might suggest he's adjusted to life outside his home state.

[4everwarriors]

I doubt Buzz moves to C-USA and Houston unless he hates our weather and The Quon. Yes, Houston has a rich basketball tradition as does Loyola of Chicago, but that was eons ago.

[Wade for President]

Chicos....there's absolutely nothing "interesting" about the Houston job openning.  Nothing.

[Tugg Speedman]

I doubt Buzz moves to C-USA and Houston unless he hates our weather and The Quon. Yes, Houston has a rich basketball tradition as does Loyola of Chicago, but that was eons ago.

Buzz was an assistant at Colorado state.  I know he likes to say that Milwaukee gets more snow than he thought god could create, but he must have seen way more snow in Fort Collins.

[Tugg Speedman]

Chicos ...

At the end of the day, coaches move for one reason ... money.  Tradition and facilities mean they can win and therefore get more money.  It's all about money.

If it was only about tradition and facilities than Calipari would not need $32 million/8 years.  He would accept less, not more to take the Kentucky job.

MU was paying Crean north of $2 million/year. So MU has the capacity to pay big bucks, because it has before.  If Buzz keeps doing what he doing, he can get to the big payday without leaving.

If Houston is ready to open its bank account for a guy like Buzz, then we might have a worry.  Do you think they can offer the next head coach "Crean Money?"  If so, how will this sit with the football coach?

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

I mention all this because of Buzz's pull down in Texas, and especially in the Houston area.   It will be very interesting to see who Mack Rhoades goes after.  Mack hired Billy Gillespie at UTEP when he was there.  He then hired Doc Sadler who took this year's UTEP team to the NCAAs. 

Actually Doc is at Nebraska now, where he's struggling mightily there in year 3.  Tony Barbee took UTEP to the tourney this year.

[nyg]

A.  If Buzz Williams were to leave Marquette to go to Houston, this would be the biblical equivalent of Soddom and Gamora
B.  Why did Penders resign?

Yes, why did Penders resign?  He just got Houston in the tournament, makes no sense.

[Ready2Fly]

Chicos....there's absolutely nothing "interesting" about the Houston job openning.  Nothing.

The interseting part for Chicos is that he can name drop that he knows the Houston AD.  There is no other reason this thread exists aside from that fact.  It's pretty sad, really.

[T-Bone]

Yes, why did Penders resign?  He just got Houston in the tournament, makes no sense.

He has a history of health issues.  He also left his last two positions amid scandal.  Texas with an student's grades being released (really not that big a deal, but still an NCAA violation).  And George Washington there was Atilia Cosby. 

Why exactly in this case?  Who knows.  Let it play out.

Gillispie is rumored to be a candidate.

[Henry Sugar]

The interseting part for Chicos is that he can name drop that he knows the Houston AD.  There is no other reason this thread exists aside from that fact.  It's pretty sad, really.

I found it interesting.  

Buzz's traditional recruiting area is Houston.  He has a lot of relationships there and there is a bunch of talent.  

The AD at Houston obviously pays a little bit more attention to Marquette than the standard AD might, based on his previous employment at Marquette and his relationships.  

Houston is a school that has a lot of history and might be willing to make a strategic bet on returning to glory.  Especially given conference shuffling.

Having said that, no way.  It's a crap job.

[4everwarriors]

Gillispie's the cat that makes sense.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

By the way, I'm starting to really like Buzz, but if he went to the administration holding up another job offer I'd have no problem with them telling him to take a freaking hike.

They went so far out on a limb when they hired this guy it's not even funny. Talking about other jobs seems like nonsense to me.

One more thing...if he decided to leave...I'd still like him more than our previous coach. By a lot.

[StillAWarrior]

There's no way in hell Buzz is going there (and Chicos didn't imply that he would), but it is an interesting job -- if they'll commit resources to the program.  It's a program with some history and is in a great location for recruiting.  Just because Chicos wondered whether the AD would "go after" Buzz doesn't mean that Chicos thinks Buzz would take -- or even consider -- the job.  Some people need to quit reflexively attacking every Chicos post.

[Wade for President]

The interseting part for Chicos is that he can name drop that he knows the Houston AD.  There is no other reason this thread exists aside from that fact.  It's pretty sad, really.

+1

[ChicosBailBonds]

Why wouldn't they just hire Gillespie?

I was kidding him this morning on that very idea, but obviously Billy has some baggage now so who knows.  Mack has been very good at hiring coaches at UTEP and when he was AD at Akron....I'm sure he'll go for a Texas guy, but who knows.  That's his call...he does seem to go after coaches that have strong local or regional ties.



And yes,  Stillawarrior.....you are correct, I'm not implying Buzz will go to Houston.  Sorry if some of you took it that way.  I brought up the Houston job because of the Marquette connection and because that is one school that if they can get their act together, could make some noise down the road.

There are a lot of schools in that description right now. St. John's, DePaul, Houston....major cities....major talent for high school hoops...strong strong tradition in hoops.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The interseting part for Chicos is that he can name drop that he knows the Houston AD.  There is no other reason this thread exists aside from that fact.  It's pretty sad, really.

No, actually your interpretation is sad. A lot of people here remember Mack quite well from their interactions with him at the Blue and Gold fund....perhaps you never met him (have you ever donated to MU athletics?)

Sorry you're so jaded in life and every post I make throws you over the edge. How's Dodds board?  I heard he's a name dropper and that probably just makes your skin crawl.....

[T-Bone]

Gillispie's the cat that makes sense.

Agreed.  He needs someone to accept him the way Eustachy was at Southern Miss.  He'll be able to recover and has a great base there to lead off on.  Especially if Penders is leaving a mess behind.  

Regardless, it sounds like it would be the right opportunity for him.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Only a Texan would prefer Houston to Milwaukee. No snow but Houston weather is the pits in the summer.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Only a Texan would prefer Houston to Milwaukee. No snow but Houston weather is the pits in the summer.

Agreed.  But Milwaukee weather is the pits during the Winter. 

As a former resident of Houston, you couldn't pay me enough to move back there.  Terrible, but different strokes for different folks.

[MUBurrow]

By the way, I'm starting to really like Buzz, but if he went to the administration holding up another job offer I'd have no problem with them telling him to take a freaking hike.

They went so far out on a limb when they hired this guy it's not even funny. Talking about other jobs seems like nonsense to me.

Couldn't disagree more. I actually care about program success, not just some prideful oath of loyalty. This is a business. If MU for some reason refuses to show Buzz the money I wouldn't hold it against Buzz to look elsewhere.  He doesn't owe MU anything just because "they went out on a limb to hire this guy." MU hired who they thought would be best for MU. Once that became Buzz, the relationship started anew. He doesn't have a debt because of MU's risk promoting him instead of bringing someone else in.  That risk is the administration's cross to bear.

Now, if MU did pay Buzz as well as it reasonably could and he still went into the office with other offers, thats another story.  The school can only do so much, and to try to push them over that ledge is unreasonable.  I'm not sure what Buzz's salary is this year, but my guess is that he should be given a token raise as a show of MU's commitment and willingness, and a tan tommy sized raise if all goes well for another 2-3 years.

[Canadian Dimes]

Not sure what is sadder, Chicos's continual name dropping or the fact that he thinks Doc Sadler coaches UTEP

[KipsBayEagle]

Not sure what is sadder, Chicos's continual name dropping or the fact that he thinks Doc Sadler coaches UTEP

Does Doc Sadler own a Ford DeLorean?