2016 Coaching carousel thread

[Groin_pull]

A little surprised UNLV is struggling so much to find a new coach. Close to the West Coast (for recruiting)...brand new arena a block or so from The Strip (if they choose to play there)...and it would be a damn fun place to live.

[GGGG]

Who else was Pitt going to get? What established, big name coach would go to Pittsburgh?

Who said they needed an established, big name coach?

[Groin_pull]

Who said they needed an established, big name coach?

They did.

[GGGG]

They did.

When?

[Jay Bee]

Guards are expected to make fts. Faisal could not.

This no matta.

[Litehouse]

A little surprised UNLV is struggling so much to find a new coach. Close to the West Coast (for recruiting)...brand new arena a block or so from The Strip (if they choose to play there)...and it would be a damn fun place to live.

Why would UNLV play in the new arena when they have Thomas & Mack?

[Groin_pull]

Why would UNLV play in the new arena when they have Thomas & Mack?

T & M is a dump. Why wouldn't they upgrade to the newest, shiniest toy on (actually about a block away from) The Strip? Not saying they will, but not sure why they wouldn't consider it.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Pittsburgh (Millers, Mack, Willard) and UNLV (Cronin) both made mistakes in announcing/leaking the big-name candidates they were pursuing.  If a school doesn't get that big name, especially after both programs dismissed/moved on from prior successful coaches, then it looks very bad and negatively upon that athletic program and the new coach that is eventually hired (like in Stallings' case). 

Schools need to finish the deal when they locate their number one target.

[warriorchick]

T & M is a dump. Why wouldn't they upgrade to the newest, shiniest toy on (actually about a block away from) The Strip? Not saying they will, but not sure why they wouldn't consider it.

Won't happen.  How many college basketball programs who have a 20,000 seat arena right on campus play somewhere else?

[Litehouse]

T & M is a dump. Why wouldn't they upgrade to the newest, shiniest toy on (actually about a block away from) The Strip? Not saying they will, but not sure why they wouldn't consider it.

Because T&M is on campus and they own it.  It's been over 10 years since I've been there, but I didnt think it was a dump.  It's probably in the top 10-15% of college facilities, and it's currently getting a $72Million renovation.  The new Vegas Arena will be competing against T&M for events now, so I'd be shocked if UNLV would play games there.

[jsglow]

Because T&M is on campus and they own it.  It's been over 10 years since I've been there, but I didnt think it was a dump.  It's probably in the top 10-15% of college facilities, and it's currently getting a $72Million renovation.  The new Vegas Arena will be competing against T&M for events now, so I'd be shocked if UNLV would play games there.

+1.  Not happening.

[WarriorPride68]

Like VegasWarrior alluded to...

UNLV has hired Chris Beard as HC

[the eagle]

Like VegasWarrior alluded to...

UNLV has hired Chris Beard as HC

Very quick route to the high level.  I am very interested to see how he pans out over the next few years. I hope fans don't start to lose their hat two years in while he is still trying to acquire his own players and implement his own style. In game coaching is only half the battle - gotta know how to get players too.

[VegasWarrior77]

UNLV will play Duke in mid-December at the new "T-Mobile Arena" (naming rights winner).  That will be the first college basketball game played there.  As far as I know, that's the only time they will play there in the near future.  The Killers (LV-natives),Wayne Newton ("Mr. Las Vegas") and Shamir (LV-native) open the arena 4/6/16.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unlv-rebels/basketball/unlv-duke-set-play-first-basketball-game-new-mgm-arena

Hopefully we will have a NHL hockey team playing there in a couple years.  The $375 million arena was built to NHL/NBA specifications and didn't use any public money to fund it (Yeah!).

http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2016/mar/27/t-mobile-arena-makes-a-titanic-first-impression/

[GGGG]

Chris Beard has been a head coach for four years - only one of those years at the D1 level.  Albiet he was on the staff of both Bob and Pat Knight's Texas Tech teams.

These are the kind of hires that always puzzle me though.  Does he get hired at UNLV if they don't win the Sun Belt tournament?  Does he get hired if they don't upset Purdue?

It seems like there are always a couple hires like this, where some mid-major team gets hot and a school takes a flyer on them for seemingly no other reason.  Stan Heath and John Groce are recent examples.  Andy Enfield is a counter-example I guess.

[VegasWarrior77]

Hiring college basketball coaches can be like the NBA draft.  They get chosen based on perceived "potential" to succeed.

[JWags85]

Chris Beard has been a head coach for four years - only one of those years at the D1 level.  Albiet he was on the staff of both Bob and Pat Knight's Texas Tech teams.

These are the kind of hires that always puzzle me though.  Does he get hired at UNLV if they don't win the Sun Belt tournament?  Does he get hired if they don't upset Purdue?

It seems like there are always a couple hires like this, where some mid-major team gets hot and a school takes a flyer on them for seemingly no other reason.  Stan Heath and John Groce are recent examples.  Andy Enfield is a counter-example I guess.

But if you look at Beard, he's been all over.  He was a HC at the JC level for 2-3 years with success before joining Knight, then had a successful year in the ABA before his 4 years at lower levels.  So I get your point, but I also think he's a dude who has shown he can win everywhere, so probably a great X and Os guy which can help you navigate some rough waters early while you get your players.

Heath was a disaster cause he went from assistant to a senior laden Kent St team that had already upset IU in the tourney the year before and then he jumped immediately to Arkansas and was a mess.  Beard seems more like a guy like Buzz, albeit with more HC experience.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Chris Beard has been a head coach for four years - only one of those years at the D1 level.  Albiet he was on the staff of both Bob and Pat Knight's Texas Tech teams.

These are the kind of hires that always puzzle me though.  Does he get hired at UNLV if they don't win the Sun Belt tournament?  Does he get hired if they don't upset Purdue?

It seems like there are always a couple hires like this, where some mid-major team gets hot and a school takes a flyer on them for seemingly no other reason.  Stan Heath and John Groce are recent examples.  Andy Enfield is a counter-example I guess.

Agree to an extent but UALR didn't just win the Sun Belt. They went 30-5 on the season. That's pretty impressive.

I thought the same thing about USC hiring Andy Enfield. So far its worked pretty well for them. Well see if Beard can have the same success.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Saint Louis interviewed Boise State's Leon Rice today for their vacancy.  It'll be very interesting to see what kind of hire they can get, as it will surely be a barometer of whether they see themselves as a possible Big East expansion candidate down the road.

[GGGG]

Saint Louis interviewed Boise State's Leon Rice today for their vacancy.  It'll be very interesting to see what kind of hire they can get, as it will surely be a barometer of whether they see themselves as a possible Big East expansion candidate down the road.

I expect Bryce Drew will be there as soon as Valpo's season ends.  My guess is Rice is a fallback in case Drew gets tempted to go elsewhere.

[JWags85]

Saint Louis interviewed Boise State's Leon Rice today for their vacancy.  It'll be very interesting to see what kind of hire they can get, as it will surely be a barometer of whether they see themselves as a possible Big East expansion candidate down the road.

I would think Rice would keep his upward trajectory at Boise and wait for either UW or Wash St to open up.

[GGGG]

I would think Rice would keep his upward trajectory at Boise and wait for either UW or Wash St to open up.

He turned down Washington State when they had their most recent opening.

[keefe]

Gotta have cats who can get it in da hole. Just sayin', hey?

I think Rick Sr used up all of his eligibility playing for UMass...

[Pakuni]

@GoodmanESPN
Santa Clara has hired Herb Sendek, sources told ESPN.

[shoothoops]

SLU has a great opportunity. Newer nice facilities, a heavily involved basketball booster, no school President obstacle of the previous 25 years.  Top 20 market that supports them well when successful/competitive.  It's a big hire for them.