DePaul...... meh.

[Galway Eagle]

Hiring a high school coach to be the head coach of a P6 program doesn't seem like a good idea.

If Depaul hired Simeon's coach this past go round they'd already be top third of the big east. It's hard for people outside of Chicago to really understand just how good of a program that is.

[brewcity77]

If Depaul hired Simeon's coach this past go round they'd already be top third of the big east. It's hard for people outside of Chicago to really understand just how good of a program that is.

Color me skeptical. I don't think any high school coach, and frankly I'm not sure any coach period would have DePaul in year three after that trash fire Purnell left behind on par with Jay Wright, Chris Mack, and Kevin Willard, and also ahead of Wojo, Cooley, and McDermott.

If he was that good, he'd have a college job by now.

[Galway Eagle]

Color me skeptical. I don't think any high school coach, and frankly I'm not sure any coach period would have DePaul in year three after that trash fire Purnell left behind on par with Jay Wright, Chris Mack, and Kevin Willard, and also ahead of Wojo, Cooley, and McDermott.

If he was that good, he'd have a college job by now.

Unless they're scared to move from Chicago and have a huge ego that makes him believe he could go straight to a big time job. That narrows it to 1 job in Chicago, arguable for two with NW

[Dr. Blackheart]

East St. Louis

[GGGG]

If Depaul hired Simeon's coach this past go round they'd already be top third of the big east. It's hard for people outside of Chicago to really understand just how good of a program that is.

Very doubtful.  Making too many assumptions that he'd be able to attract local talent and be able to coach it up.

[Lennys Tap]

Color me skeptical. I don't think any high school coach, and frankly I'm not sure any coach period would have DePaul in year three after that trash fire Purnell left behind on par with Jay Wright, Chris Mack, and Kevin Willard, and also ahead of Wojo, Cooley, and McDermott.

If he was that good, he'd have a college job by now.

+1

Two words - Jerry Faust. And he was a HS legend - way bigger than whoever the guy at Simeon is. Why would the best HS players in Chicago stay to plat for an unproven coach at a dumpster fire program instead of going to play for Self, K or Cal?

[Galway Eagle]

+1

Two words - Jerry Faust. And he was a HS legend - way bigger than whoever the guy at Simeon is. Why would the best HS players in Chicago stay to plat for an unproven coach at a dumpster fire program instead of going to play for Self, K or Cal?

Football is little bit different.

6 state titles, players such as Jabari Parker and Derrick Rose came through his program (plus god knows how many other top 100 players)

Record of 357-59 in one of the hardest HS leagues in the country. Not to mention he'd also have the inside track to non Simeon Chicago players from say Young, Currie and Morgan Park amongst others. Hed have Depaul on the map again in no time.

[GGGG]

Football is little bit different.

6 state titles, players such as Jabari Parker and Derrick Rose came through his program (plus god knows how many other top 100 players)

Record of 357-59 in one of the hardest HS leagues in the country. Not to mention he'd also have the inside track to non Simeon Chicago players from say Young, Currie and Morgan Park amongst others. Hed have Depaul on the map again in no time

You are way over estimating the ability of a high school coach to step up a level.

[brewcity77]

6 state titles, players such as Jabari Parker and Derrick Rose came through his program (plus god knows how many other top 100 players)

Record of 357-59 in one of the hardest HS leagues in the country. Not to mention he'd also have the inside track to non Simeon Chicago players from say Young, Currie and Morgan Park amongst others. Hed have Depaul on the map again in no time.

I don't buy it for a second. DePaul already tried going this route by hiring Shane Heirman. Suddenly there was going to be a flood of LaLumiere talent headed to Chicago. Obviously Brian Bowen was a whole crazy situation, but he didn't end up there. Tyger Campbell did for about 5 minutes before his decommit. Have any other LaLu talents sniffed around DePaul because of Heirman?

Why would Simeon's top players automatically follow him. Would the next Derrick Rose have gone there instead of playing for Cal who has been recruiting at the highest levels for decades? Would the next Jabari Parker have stayed local instead of going to K and Duke, the biggest program of any of these kids lifetimes?

If Smith was serious about college coaching, he would go after an assistant role. I'm sorry, but you aren't going from high school to a Division 1 head coaching job in a top-3 league in the country. It's not happening and it shouldn't happen. If he wants to prove he can recruit and coach, then try to be the next Isaac Chew, Stan Johnson, Kurtis Townsend, or whatever other recruiting specialist you can imagine.

Smith has been at Simeon what, 13-14 years now? He's in his late 40s. If he really wanted to make that move, it would've happened by now, and if he thinks he's stepping into a job as big as the DePaul HC gig then he is quite simply a delusional moron who has no business in college coaching. The collegiate unemployment lines are littered with great high school coaches. If you want to prove you won't be one of them, then step up and prove you have the chops. Thus far, Smith has done nothing to convince anyone he could or would even try to do that.

[The Lens]

My favorite 'Scoop meme has become Bagpipe's "You don't understand Chicago"

Today's installment:  "HS coaching prowess"

[Galway Eagle]

My favorite 'Scoop meme has become Bagpipe's "You don't understand Chicago"

Today's installment:  "HS coaching prowess"

I hope it makes scoop takes some day

[MU82]

In the last several decades, has there been a HS coach who has made the jump straight to a major D1 program? If so, has he succeeded? (Success measured by multiple NCAA bids.)

On a kinda-related note ...

I am convinced that the coach of the girls HS team for which I am an assistant would be a HUGE success as a women's college coach. He is young, energetic, organized, runs incredible practices, has outstanding people skills, and is a very good game coach. In a very short time, he has built one of the best programs in all of NC; I am honored to be just a very small part of it.

I actually discussed this with him a few weeks back. His response was that he loves coaching HS ball, his wife is a teacher at the school, he just had a new baby, and he has absolutely no interest in recruiting and the pressure (and BS) that goes with it.

I wonder how many other potentially fine college coaches in all sports, but specifically basketball, have a similar viewpoint.

[mikekinsellaMVP]

In the last several decades, has there been a HS coach who has made the jump straight to a major D1 program? If so, has he succeeded? (Success measured by multiple NCAA bids.)

John Thompson, if you're willing to go back forty years.

[milwaukee ex-pat]

Have any other LaLu talents sniffed around DePaul because of Heirman?

Marin Maric and Jalen Coleman Lands transferred in from NIU and Illinois since Heirman hire.  Both were LaLumiere I believe.

[brewcity77]

Have any other LaLu talents sniffed around DePaul because of Heirman?

Marin Maric and Jalen Coleman Lands transferred in from NIU and Illinois since Heirman hire.  Both were LaLumiere I believe.

Nice calls. That is the route Smith would have to go if he wants to break into D1. These days, you don't just walk from a HS into the upper echelon of D1 ranks. And I know, DePaul has been a trash program, but it's still in a top-3 league in the country and in a top-3 media market. Whatever failings they may have because of JLP and her ilk, that's still a fairly big job in the grand D1 scheme of things.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

John Thompson, if you're willing to go back forty years.

Wasn't Lute Olson a high school coach in Minnesota?

[Herman Cain]

Dick Versace was a successful high school coach in Chicago. He coached Gordon Tech. He then went to D1 as an assistant at SLU and Michigan State . He eventually became Head Coach at Bradley when they were a top 10 team with Hersey Hawkins. and then on to the NBA as a Head coach ., President and GM .

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140114/north-center/ex-nba-coach-gm-dick-versace-returns-roots-at-gordon-tech

[GooooMarquette]

Of the three guys mentioned (Thompson, Olson and Versace), only Thompson went from HS head coach to D1 head coach.

Olson transitioned by coaching at Long Beach City College for four seasons.  As Herman said above, Versace was an assistant first.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Have any other LaLu talents sniffed around DePaul because of Heirman?

Marin Maric and Jalen Coleman Lands transferred in from NIU and Illinois since Heirman hire.  Both were LaLumiere I believe.

Wasn't aware of Coleman Lands.  Looks like that kid can shoot it a bit.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I don't know what the dirt is.  The crappy deal has been discussed in length on this board.

They paid for half of the $164 million construction cost and still have to pay rent to use it.  They turned down an offer to play in the United Center for free.

LOL I didn't know it was THAT bad. Hilarious!

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I actually think Smith from Simeon isn't even that good of a coach. With all the players he's had over the years you would think Simeon shouldn't not have lost a game in the state of Illinois. There are much better pure coaches around the state than Robert Smith.

[GGGG]

Of the three guys mentioned (Thompson, Olson and Versace), only Thompson went from HS head coach to D1 head coach.

Olson transitioned by coaching at Long Beach City College for four seasons.  As Herman said above, Versace was an assistant first.

Bob Wade at Maryland was a complete disaster post Lefty.  He went right from high school to the head coach job.

[Lennys Tap]

On a kinda-related note ...

I am convinced that the coach of the girls HS team for which I am an assistant would be a HUGE success as a women's college coach. He is young, energetic, organized, runs incredible practices, has outstanding people skills, and is a very good game coach. In a very short time, he has built one of the best programs in all of NC; I am honored to be just a very small part of it.

I actually discussed this with him a few weeks back. His response was that he loves coaching HS ball, his wife is a teacher at the school, he just had a new baby, and he has absolutely no interest in recruiting and the pressure (and BS) that goes with it.

I wonder how many other potentially fine college coaches in all sports, but specifically basketball, have a similar viewpoint.

With all due respect (and I mean that), HUGE success at one level of athletics (playing or coaching) doesn't necessarily follow as one moves up the competitive ladder. Grade school to high school, high school to college, college to the NBA or WNBA...all are major leaps and only a handful succeed. There are occasionally instances of coaches who choose staying where they are on the ladder rather than moving up but the vast majority of the time the choice is made for them. Peter principle and all. Along the same lines, how many journalists choose to stay in Topeka despite interest from the NYT or WSJ?

[MU82]

With all due respect (and I mean that), HUGE success at one level of athletics (playing or coaching) doesn't necessarily follow as one moves up the competitive ladder. Grade school to high school, high school to college, college to the NBA or WNBA...all are major leaps and only a handful succeed. There are occasionally instances of coaches who choose staying where they are on the ladder rather than moving up but the vast majority of the time the choice is made for them. Peter principle and all. Along the same lines, how many journalists choose to stay in Topeka despite interest from the NYT or WSJ?

Can't argue with any of that, Lenny. Still ...

Y'all know me pretty well and know that I am not big into hyperbole. If I didn't think my guy could cut it, I wouldn't have said that. It's like with Sam - I don't go runnin' around Scoop saying this guy will be a pro or that guy will be a pro; indeed, I'm more likely to be skeptical. But I think Sam will play in the NBA, so I said it.

Realistically, no matter how good our HS program is, my coach probably would have to start at either a very low level (D3 or juco) as a college head coach or would have to be a D2/D1 assistant - or both. I do think he has what it takes to eventually be a huge success at the D1 level. He simply might not want to have to "pay his dues" - work several years as more of a college grunt just to get the chance.

I hope he gives himself a chance. I really think he is a great coach. I told my wife just last week, "This is a great learning experience for me, and one of the truly humbling things I've learned is that I'll never be as good a head coach as Jeff is."

A guy named John Gagliardi is the winningest college football coach ever. He coached at tiny St. John's near St. Cloud, MN. He had opportunities to go to D1 but he simply liked where he was. Now, the money for D1 football coaches wasn't what it is now, so maybe he'd have to take the job now for financial reasons if nothing else.

As for the hypothetical you asked about newspaper hacks ... I actually do know a few who wouldn't go to New York even if they thought it would have advanced their careers because they were family guys who wanted nothing to do with NY - period. Those people weren't offered by the NYT or WSJ, though.

All in all, I understand your point.

[4everwarriors]

I'm kinda surprised Tom Kleinschmidt hasn't been asked or thrown his hat into the ring.

He's a great coach that's done a tremendous job at York and DePaul Prep (Gordon Tech). Plus he's DePaul royalty.

Or his nose pickin's, aina?