Buzz on Coaching Changes

[foreverwarriors]

Not sure why this didn't come through the MJS feed, but Hunt has been putting out quite a few blogs today. One of them touched on the coaching carousel (bolding is mine):

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/200300541.html

As one of the highly regarded young coaches in the country, Buzz Williams' name is naturally going to arise with any major job opening.

But from what I know, he would not consider Minnesota. That would not even be a lateral move.

UCLA is one of the big-time jobs - up there with Kansas, Indiana and Kentucky - but I don't see that, either.

I see him staying at Marquette. He's top 10 in salary nationally. Marquette spends more on basketball than any school in the country other than Duke. He's got a top recruiting class coming in. He's what you'd call a good fit.

Anyway, he was asked Wednesday about the coaching carousel.

"I'm compassionionate toward guys who lose their jobs," Williams said. "What's changed in our business is the money. So guys get paid a lot of money and expectatons are somewhat out of whack, There's a lot of anxiousness involved. I think too much of it centers around money, but I'm on the positive end of that as of today.

"Guys normally get jobs in April and it's extremely hard to have a good recruiting class in November. So guys that are fired early, that's two recrulting classes washed out. You would hope to build equity with your institution, with your administration, with your alumni.

"Sometimes that happens, sometimes that doesn't."

[Tugg Speedman]

Can someone interpret?  My Buzz-to-English book does not have pages for this.

[foreverwarriors]

I personally think this part - Guys normally get jobs in April and it's extremely hard to have a good recruiting class in November. - is extremely telling with the class we have coming in next year.

[NavinRJohnson]

Can someone interpret?  My Buzz-to-English book does not have pages for this.

I was just thinking the same. He's like the guy in your meetings who talks a lot, but when he's done you have no idea what he really said, and leaves you wondering which one of you is the idiot (I typically conclude its the other guy).

[JD]

I was just thinking the same. He's like the guy in your meetings who talks a lot, but when he's done you have no idea what he really said, and leaves you wondering which one of you is the idiot (I typically conclude its the other guy).

+1000

Truer words have never been spoken.  Post of the year for me about Buzz.

[4everwarriors]

Translation= don't f*ck with me and I'm happy.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Translation= don't f*ck with me and I'm happy.

I hate this all. This whole effing continued saga of "will he won't he". But...I'm a sucker. And...

+1,000,000 for that 4everwarriors. That's about as close - to me - Buzz saying "stop bothering me, I'm well paid, I have a great program" without him literally saying it.

[The Process]

Translation= don't f*ck with me and I'm happy.

That's how I'm seeing this.  This is as close to a "go bother someone else.  I'm not going anywhere" as you'll see from Buzz, IMO.

EDIT:  I see Niv beat me to this by 40 seconds.  I suck.

[BrewCity83]

Mike Hunt yesterday:  Buzz would take the UCLA job if offered
Mike Hunt today:  re: UCLA, "I don't see that either"

What a nimrod

[NavinRJohnson]

Mike Hunt yesterday:  Buzz would take the UCLA job if offered
Mike Hunt today:  re: UCLA, "I don't see that either"

What a nimrod

No joke. The guy just epitomizes laziness.

[Pakuni]

Mike Hunt yesterday:  Buzz would take the UCLA job if offered
Mike Hunt today:  re: UCLA, "I don't see that either"

What a nimrod

Maybe something has happened in the last 24 hours to change his opinion.
You know what I mean?

[wardle2wade]

Translation= don't f*ck with me and I'm happy.

Well put.  That's how I read it.

[Henry Sugar]

Can someone interpret?  My Buzz-to-English book does not have pages for this.

I'll do my best

====
I empathize with other coaches that lose their jobs. People get paid a lot more these days as coaches, and then the expectations are raised too high. That creates concern with living up to those expectations, mostly about justifying the big contract. However, I'm already doing well in terms of overall money.

If you switch to a new job in April, you have a difficult time getting a good recruiting class by November. If a coach is fired even earlier than that, you can lose on two recruiting classes. You hope that the new institution is patient and you can build the relationships, especially with a big contract.

It's hard to say exactly how patient a new school would be.

[mr.MUskie]

Mike Hunt yesterday:  Buzz would take the UCLA job if offered
Mike Hunt today:  re: UCLA, "I don't see that either"

What a nimrod

That's one way to be right.

[BrewCity83]

Maybe something has happened in the last 24 hours to change his opinion.
You know what I mean?

If that's the case, I would expect the journalist to point out to his readers why his opinion would have changed.

[Pakuni]

If that's the case, I would expect the journalist to point out to his readers why his opinion would have changed.

Not everything said between reporter and source is on the record. In fact, depending on the individual reporter-source relationship, more often is said off the record than on it.

[Aughnanure]

I'll do my best

====
I empathize with other coaches that lose their jobs. People get paid a lot more these days as coaches, and then the expectations are raised too high. That creates concern with living up to those expectations, mostly about justifying the big contract. However, I'm already doing well in terms of overall money.

If you switch to a new job in April, you have a difficult time getting a good recruiting class by November. If a coach is fired even earlier than that, you can lose on two recruiting classes. You hope that the new institution is patient and you can build the relationships, especially with a big contract.

It's hard to say exactly how patient a new school would be.

That's pretty good, and really accurate imo.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

The hardest thing to get in this business is momentum and the hardest thing to keep in this business is momentum -- maybe a reference to recruiting based on the color above?

[Groin_pull]

I'll say it again...I think Buzz would be an awful fit at UCLA. The pressure in Westwood is absolutely unreal. UCLA has never demonstrated a willingness to spend big bucks (for example, the team flying Southwest). And it's a culture that would not react positively when Buzz begins talking about God and faith. Plus, LA just feels so empty and soulless...not Buzz's kind of place.

Can't see it happening.

[RJax55]

And it's a culture that would not react positively when Buzz begins talking about God and faith.

Yeah, I wonder what the reaction would be that every practice opens and closes with a prayer. At MU, it is part of the institution, at UCLA, not so much.

[tower912]

"I am doing well here.   To leave and go somewhere else would take at least two years of building contacts before I could do anything worthwhile.   Not worth the time.    They are firing coaches who have success and I feel bad for them.   Why the F would I want to put myself in an impossible situation just for a few shekels?"

[martyconlonontherun]

The comments kind of rub me the wrong way. If Buzz wanted job security  (or any coaches for this matter), just sign a 10 year, $1 mil per year deal with no buyout. Boom. Job Security.

The reason why these jobs are so cut-throat is they expect to be paid a ton and try to drive up the market by entertaining other offers. Buzz wouldn't have Sweet 16 expectations placed on him if he wasn't one of the highest paid coaches in the nation that hasn't won anything.

[MUFC9295]

Buzz is too busy building equity at MU to be bothered with other opportunities big or small.  I love his idea of building equity.  I think it really shows how fortunate he feels to have this chance to succeed.

[AZWarrior]

I'll do my best

====
I empathize with other coaches that lose their jobs. People get paid a lot more these days as coaches, and then the expectations are raised too high. That creates concern with living up to those expectations, mostly about justifying the big contract. However, I'm already doing well in terms of overall money.

If you switch to a new job in April, you have a difficult time getting a good recruiting class by November. If a coach is fired even earlier than that, you can lose on two recruiting classes. You hope that the new institution is patient and you can build the relationships, especially with a big contract.

It's hard to say exactly how patient a new school would be.

Very nice post.  Appreciate you taking the time and I'm glad your interpretation mirrors mine.   

[Pakuni]

The comments kind of rub me the wrong way. If Buzz wanted job security  (or any coaches for this matter), just sign a 10 year, $1 mil per year deal with no buyout. Boom. Job Security.

The reason why these jobs are so cut-throat is they expect to be paid a ton and try to drive up the market by entertaining other offers. Buzz wouldn't have Sweet 16 expectations placed on him if he wasn't one of the highest paid coaches in the nation that hasn't won anything.

I think when addressing expectations, Buzz was speaking less of himself than of Howland and Tubby.