Al on the Coach Carousel

[HoopsMalone]

I was not born when Al was coaching Marquette, though I love reading about him and I wish I could have been there.

However, I am curious if Al's name got thrown around for coaching jobs.  Particularly when he first got to Marquette.

He has some similarities to Buzz.  Al seemed like a devout Catholic and that was important to him, just like Buzz's Christianity is important to him.  Private school has obvious things that both would like.  The other big similarity is that neither grew up in the midwest.

Any good Al stories regarding his name being mentioned for other jobs?

[muwarrior69]

I started at MU in the fall of '65, Al's first recruiting class. The only job offer of any signicance I can remember was in '69 or '70 when he was offered the job to coach the Bucks. MU would not release him from his contract and I am not sure, but Al really did not contest it. In any event (hindsight always being 20/20) it was the best thing to happen to Al.

[bma725]

I started at MU in the fall of '65, Al's first recruiting class. The only job offer of any signicance I can remember was in '69 or '70 when he was offered the job to coach the Bucks. MU would not release him from his contract and I am not sure, but Al really did not contest it. In any event (hindsight always being 20/20) it was the best thing to happen to Al.

He didn't contest it, but he wasn't exactly happy about it at the time.  His quote back then was, "The priests at Marquette take a vow of poverty and they expect you to abide by it."  Eventually he softened.

[4everwarriors]

Credit Buck Raynor for holding a man to his contract.

[HouWarrior]

Around '70, I cant remember any coaches leveraging offers, or even much $ in job competition. Crum leaving UCLA for Louisville job was about the biggest one.
I have a recall question, too. In 77-78 wasnt Al in last year of his MU contract, making good $ with his Medalist deal on the side, and he surprised school (who wasnt signalling him he'd get a big boost or whatever he wanted for $) by just retiring--to pursue ther interests.
I remember thinking after losing the last 3 home games that wouldnt help w/ any contract negot.
Many brain cells have died since-- so I could be way off--help?

[goodgreatgrand]

No similarities.

Al was a much better dancer than Buzz....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTvVo8uOCk0

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I recall something about Al saying he could never coach in the NBA because he would insist on making $1 more than the highest paid player on the team.

[4everwarriors]

Around '70, I cant remember any coaches leveraging offers, or even much $ in job competition. Crum leaving UCLA for Louisville job was about the biggest one.
I have a recall question, too. In 77-78 wasnt Al in last year of his MU contract, making good $ with his Medalist deal on the side, and he surprised school (who wasnt signalling him he'd get a big boost or whatever he wanted for $) by just retiring--to pursue ther interests.
I remember thinking after losing the last 3 home games that wouldnt help w/ any contract negot.
Many brain cells have died since-- so I could be way off--help?

It was the 76/77 season. Al called a team dinner meeting at The Clock Steakhouse on 5th St. Told them this would be his last season. He felt a man was destined for 3 careers in his lifetime and therefore time to move on.

[cap82]

It was reported in one of the books on Al, that ND asked if he would be interested in their head coaching job. He stated, the only college team he would be coaching is Marquette. He then suggested they talk to Digger Phelps.

[HouWarrior]

1979 m jour art on mcguire, incl job offer historyand quotes you mention:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&ved=0CAkQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnewspapers%3Fnid%3D1499%26dat%3D19790326%26id%3DImIaAAAAIBAJ%26sjid%3DoykEAAAAIBAJ%26pg%3D5226%2C3949115&ei=mL-vS_6eL8T38AbS0OHcCw&usg=AFQjCNFGo7bl337qKsI4zvizP0bpTaPAYQ&sig2=cU2K7pTsdW_7xhxDW18IDA

[HouWarrior]

this one confirms al walked mu for his medalist job in 77:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2007%2F04%2F01%2Fsports%2Fncaabasketball%2F01mcguire.html&ei=CcKvS9SNEsK78gbQ5oGlDw&usg=AFQjCNFCUB8VJHa5Logh4bAKj-jVrAHcTg&sig2=bHv7DpnOmD_Ciu1FAanQAg

[Warriors4ever]

Al had announced his retirement well before we lost those last three home games.  He didn't just up and do it at the end of the year.

[HouWarrior]

Al had announced his retirement well before we lost those last three home games.  He didn't just up and do it at the end of the year.

I thought the team knew then, but I as a fan/student  attending didnt remember knowing--but I also drank after the games-lol

http://www.lostlettermen.com/2010/01/butch-lee-podcastdespite-al-mcguires-surprise-announcement-1977-marquette-pushed-toward-a-title/

[Daniel]

I thought Al told the team in Deceomber that this was going to be his last year.  Becuase he later regretted tellign the team early on because he thought a lot of the losses were his fault because of that.  At the time, we were the losingist team to win the Championship.

[sailwi]

Al told the team during finals week in December of 76, the next game out they lost to Louisville at the Arena when Darrell Griffith hot 2 free throws with with no time left on the clock.  The urban legend was AL met the team at the Voom Voom room to tell them of his retirement.  The VV room was a strip club on Wisconsin Ave near the old Marc Plaza today the Hilton.

[wyzgy]

one must remember that not until what...the mid to late 80's were the coaches starting to strike their big numbers contracts and whatever that meant.  note: tom crean, roy williams, bill self, et.al.  big al probably made only 150-200k max during for his coaching job.  most coaches had side jobs during their off seasons like other pro sports to supplement their incomes.  back then, the nit and ncaa were doing head butts to become the big cheese.  remember back in '74, al told the ncaa to suck a big one because they gave him a bad seed out west or something and then went to the nit and won it all.  hence-he who laughs last...

[GGGG]

No similarities.

Al was a much better dancer than Buzz....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTvVo8uOCk0

That video to me always captures why McGuire was such a special guy. 

[mug644]

remember back in '74, al told the ncaa to suck a big one because they gave him a bad seed out west or something and then went to the nit and won it all.  hence-he who laughs last...

Isn't that what UNC and Roy Williams are doing this year?!

[Warriors4ever]

Wrong year.  In 1974 we lost to NCState in the NCAA championship game, played in Greensboro.  It snowed in Greensboro that weekend, and we thought we were meant to win.

[Daniel]

Wrong year.  In 1974 we lost to NCState in the NCAA championship game, played in Greensboro.  It snowed in Greensboro that weekend, and we thought we were meant to win.

Right - MU won the NIT in 1970 if I recall.

[cap82]

In the book, You Can Call Me Al, on page 223, Al recounts how Notre Dame, in the summer of 1970, inquired if Al would be interested in coaching ND.

Al's response, "No, I'll never coach at another college in my life other than Marquette University." He then reccommended Digger Phelps.

[HoopsMalone]

In the book, You Can Call Me Al, on page 223, Al recounts how Notre Dame, in the summer of 1970, inquired if Al would be interested in coaching ND.

Al's response, "No, I'll never coach at another college in my life other than Marquette University." He then reccommended Digger Phelps.

I don't know what is more reassuring.  Al's direct response above or the more humble "I'll be at Marquette for as long as they will have me."

[Canadian Dimes]

Agreed,

Back in the day coaches were not celebrities.  In fact, Al may have become one of the first celebrities becuase his personality transcended all demographics.  Al also had a huge stage in the sense that when Mu was playing on National televison all the time MU it was one of only a few games on during the weekend, given there were only 3 channels.  back in the 70's Mu as an independent scheduled all the heavy weights and were on National TV about 10 times a year. 

Additonally, as was previously stated coaches were not making tons of money as they are now and in fact supplemented therir incomes with camps and speaking engagements.  They still do but back then it was a bigger piece of the whole pie.

Lastly, there was no internet back then.  There may have been some contact and such by the intermediaries but it was not so widely covered no was it a 365 day a year media circus as it is now.  Back then if you won you becuame a house hold name, now certain coaches try to do that in opposite order...hint hint.     

[Dawson Rental]

one must remember that not until what...the mid to late 80's were the coaches starting to strike their big numbers contracts and whatever that meant.  note: tom crean, roy williams, bill self, et.al.  big al probably made only 150-200k max during for his coaching job.  most coaches had side jobs during their off seasons like other pro sports to supplement their incomes.  back then, the nit and ncaa were doing head butts to become the big cheese.  remember back in '74, al told the ncaa to suck a big one because they gave him a bad seed out west or something and then went to the nit and won it all.  hence-he who laughs last...

As someone else has pointed out it, Al took the NIT bid over the NCAA bid in 1970.  That was the end of any NIT NCAA competition because the NCAA then passed a new rule that teams either could not turn down an NCAA bid or if they did, they couldn't go to the NIT.