ESPN 1000 (Chicago) On Why No One Wants The Illinois Job

[Tugg Speedman]

On the Waddle and Silvy show (ESPN 1000 Chicago) this morning they discussed why Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens turned down Illinois.  I tuned-in near the end so let me paraphrase and guess about the parts I missed.  Please correct me if you heard all of it.

Essentially recruiting Chicago is a cesspool.  High School Coaches, AAU coaches, street agents and parents/relative "expect something" from local schools that regularly recruit Chicago.  Waddle and Silvy called it "murky to recruit Chicago."  So this is why no one wants Illinois and Depaul before them.  This also explains why no Illinois schools are in the tourney.

Waddle and Silvy further speculated that it is easier to "pick off" a recruit here and there from outside Chicago (see Anthony Davis at Kentucky or Steve Taylor at MU) then to be part of that region and constantly have to "feed" the apparatus that is local schools recruiting Chicago.

Thoughts on this?

[🏀]

Waddle and Silvy have no clue. Really a waste of time listening to them.

Chicago market makes you work.

[TJ]

My thought is that two guys who had previously indicated they wouldn't leave their current position deciding not to leave their current position does not mean that "No One Wants the Illinois Job".

[GGGG]

Myopic thinking by potential candidates.  Illinois doesn't have to solely recruit Chicago to be successful.

[RubyWiscy]

I know nothing, but it makes some sense.  MU has talked for years about how important a recruiting connection to Chicago is yet being it is in our backdoor, the number of players it lands from Chicago is historically small IMO.

[MerrittsMustache]

My thought is that two guys who had previously indicated they wouldn't leave their current position deciding not to leave their current position does not mean that "No One Wants the Illinois Job".

Buzz and Anthony Grant were also rumored but that went no where. There was also the Reggie Theus rumor that I believe was started by Reggie Theus.

[TJ]

Buzz and Anthony Grant were also rumored but that went no where. There was also the Reggie Theus rumor that I believe was started by Reggie Theus.

If you add Buzz, that makes 3 people who have indicated previously that they wouldn't leave their current position deciding not to leave their current position.  Still no big deal.  I don't know much about Anthony Grant or their pursuit of him.  Maybe they finally had their first real "no thanks".

[🏀]

My thought is that two guys who had previously indicated they wouldn't leave their current position deciding not to leave their current position does not mean that "No One Wants the Illinois Job".

They are down to #6 on their list.

[TJ]

They are down to #6 on their list.

But #2 in terms of realistic possibilities.  None of this should have been public so I understand thinking the AD has done a poor job, but in reality they had to ask ask Shaka and Stevens even knowing it was likely they would decline.

[🏀]

But #2 in terms of realistic possibilities.  None of this should have been public so I understand thinking the AD has done a poor job, but in reality they had to ask ask Shaka and Stevens even knowing it was likely they would decline.

#6 is still #6.

AD isn't doing the search, a firm is instead.

[TallTitan34]

When you fire Bruce Weber, you go for Shaka Smart.
When you go for Shaka Smart, you get turned down and end up with egg on your face.
When you end up with egg on your face, you go for Brad Stevens.
When you go for Brad Stevens, you get shot down again and have to settle for choice #6.

Don't settle for choice #6.

[RushmoreAcademy]

I think Waddle and Silvy are off base.  Whoever comes in would have their work cut out for them, for sure, because those that came before them did a terrible job of recruiting Chicago, but a good coach/recruiter could get it done.  It may seem like a little bit of an uphill battle, but I think more of the case is that IL is going for the top couple of coaches and overvaluing it's program.  There are simply better programs that the top couple of coaches would like to step into.
I keep hearing them talk about how it's a top 10-15 program, and that's just not right.  Their best bet is to get a Reggie Theus type of guy, who has had NBA experience coaching, has shown that he can win in college, and knows Chicago.

[TJ]

So the lesson here is to always lowball yourself so you don't look stupid if your most desired but also unlikely candidates choose not to take the job.

[🏀]

So the lesson here is to always lowball yourself so you don't look stupid if your most desired but also unlikely candidates choose not to take the job.

The lesson is you don't let it get out that you asked Shaka and Stevens if you have doubts that they will pass.

[TJ]

I really hope that years from now when MU is looking for their next coach they make sure to limit the search parameters to DIII assistants and high school coaches so that they can be sure to get the #1 guy on their list.

[Wade for President]

When you fire Bruce Weber, you go for Shaka Smart.
When you go for Shaka Smart, you get turned down and end up with egg on your face.
When you end up with egg on your face, you go for Brad Stevens.
When you go for Brad Stevens, you get shot down again and have to settle for choice #6.

Don't settle for choice #6.

Well done Tall T.

[brewcity77]

The truth is Illinois is a stepping-stone job. Everyone who's been there in the past 20 years has used it as a stepping stone to get somewhere else. And neither Smart nor Stevens need a stepping stone. If the jobs came open, they could walk in to UCLA, Indiana, Kansas...pretty much any elite job in the nation would let them write their own check. So why go to another stepping stone? You have to rebuild not only that program, but your reputation. If it doesn't work out in 3-5 years, suddenly that stepping stone was just a step down and when the big boys start calling, your name isn't on the list.

And another truth is that Marquette is a stepping-stone job. It was for the past two successful coaches we had before Buzz. The only way a stepping stone job, those jobs that are in the 10-25 range in the country, becomes a destination job is if you happen to have the right guy at the right time. That's why it's so important that we keep Buzz. Because he's the right guy for Marquette at the right time. Just like Coach K was at Duke, or Izzo at MSU. Get a good coach that considers your stepping stone job to be a destination and you can turn it into something special.

That's what Illinois should really be looking for. Not the next hot coaching candidate, but someone that really wants to be there and is grateful for the opportunity, and will pay it off by busting his ass to make the program the best it can possibly be. Anyone who only has their eyes on the next prize will end up breaking your heart in the end.

[TallTitan34]

Well done Tall T.

Eh, I stole it from a caller on the radio haha.  I'm only passing it along.

[Canadian Dimes]

I know nothing, but it makes some sense.  MU has talked for years about how important a recruiting connection to Chicago is yet being it is in our backdoor, the number of players it lands from Chicago is historically small IMO.

Are u kidding me??? Guys like Ellis, Rivers, wade, mcneil? Etc!!!  Prolly over the years 20% of our recruits have come from chicago, that is a huge number.  Even a bigger number in the sense that a very large % of those kids have been really good!!

[TJ]

The truth is Illinois is a stepping-stone job. Everyone who's been there in the past 20 years has used it as a stepping stone to get somewhere else. And neither Smart nor Stevens need a stepping stone. If the jobs came open, they could walk in to UCLA, Indiana, Kansas...pretty much any elite job in the nation would let them write their own check. So why go to another stepping stone? You have to rebuild not only that program, but your reputation. If it doesn't work out in 3-5 years, suddenly that stepping stone was just a step down and when the big boys start calling, your name isn't on the list.

And another truth is that Marquette is a stepping-stone job. It was for the past two successful coaches we had before Buzz. The only way a stepping stone job, those jobs that are in the 10-25 range in the country, becomes a destination job is if you happen to have the right guy at the right time. That's why it's so important that we keep Buzz. Because he's the right guy for Marquette at the right time. Just like Coach K was at Duke, or Izzo at MSU. Get a good coach that considers your stepping stone job to be a destination and you can turn it into something special.

That's what Illinois should really be looking for. Not the next hot coaching candidate, but someone that really wants to be there and is grateful for the opportunity, and will pay it off by busting his ass to make the program the best it can possibly be. Anyone who only has their eyes on the next prize will end up breaking your heart in the end.

+1

[Tugg Speedman]

The truth is Illinois is a stepping-stone job. Everyone who's been there in the past 20 years has used it as a stepping stone to get somewhere else. And neither Smart nor Stevens need a stepping stone. If the jobs came open, they could walk in to UCLA, Indiana, Kansas...pretty much any elite job in the nation would let them write their own check. So why go to another stepping stone? You have to rebuild not only that program, but your reputation. If it doesn't work out in 3-5 years, suddenly that stepping stone was just a step down and when the big boys start calling, your name isn't on the list.

And another truth is that Marquette is a stepping-stone job. It was for the past two successful coaches we had before Buzz. The only way a stepping stone job, those jobs that are in the 10-25 range in the country, becomes a destination job is if you happen to have the right guy at the right time. That's why it's so important that we keep Buzz. Because he's the right guy for Marquette at the right time. Just like Coach K was at Duke, or Izzo at MSU. Get a good coach that considers your stepping stone job to be a destination and you can turn it into something special.

That's what Illinois should really be looking for. Not the next hot coaching candidate, but someone that really wants to be there and is grateful for the opportunity, and will pay it off by busting his ass to make the program the best it can possibly be. Anyone who only has their eyes on the next prize will end up breaking your heart in the end.

Brew,

How many jobs are not stepping stone jobs?  I think it is less about 10 in the country.


UNC
Duke
UCLA
Kansas (unless compared to UNC)
Indiana
Michigan State
Kentucky
Georgetown
Syracuse
Uconn

Possible not stepping stone jobs

Louisville
Ohio State

[TJ]

Brew,

How many jobs are not stepping stone jobs?  I think it is less about 10 in the country.


UNC
Duke
UCLA
Kansas (unless compared to UNC)
Indiana
Michigan State
Kentucky
Georgetown
Syracuse
Uconn

Possible not stepping stone jobs

Louisville
Ohio State

I think that was his point.

[Tugg Speedman]

I get that ... I was looking for the names

[MerrittsMustache]

The truth is Illinois is a stepping-stone job. Everyone who's been there in the past 20 years has used it as a stepping stone to get somewhere else. And neither Smart nor Stevens need a stepping stone. If the jobs came open, they could walk in to UCLA, Indiana, Kansas...pretty much any elite job in the nation would let them write their own check. So why go to another stepping stone? You have to rebuild not only that program, but your reputation. If it doesn't work out in 3-5 years, suddenly that stepping stone was just a step down and when the big boys start calling, your name isn't on the list.

Illinois coaches in the last 20 years:
- Lou Henson retired after 22 seasons at U of I
- Lon Kruger left for the NBA
- Bill Self left for his "dream job" at Kansas
- Bruce Weber got fired

I wouldn't go so far as to call Illinois a stepping-stone job.

And another truth is that Marquette is a stepping-stone job. It was for the past two successful coaches we had before Buzz. The only way a stepping stone job, those jobs that are in the 10-25 range in the country, becomes a destination job is if you happen to have the right guy at the right time. That's why it's so important that we keep Buzz. Because he's the right guy for Marquette at the right time. Just like Coach K was at Duke, or Izzo at MSU. Get a good coach that considers your stepping stone job to be a destination and you can turn it into something special.

Michigan State has had exactly 2 head coaches since 1976 (Heathcote and Izzo). I wouldn't consider MSU a stepping-stone either.

[LAZER]

I would imagine if Buzz is truly that upset, he would at least listen to Illinois.  And for that reason this whole thing doesn't really worry me.  If Buzz is really that bent out of shape about his relationships at MU and wants to bolt, there are certainly a lot worse places to land than Illinois.