Brett Nelson named head coach at Holy Cross

[dgies9156]

First, I wish Brett well -- just not too well! LOL

Second, I'd like to see us do a Jerry Wainwright, bench coach type of guy. I think that would genuinely bring Wojo back to earth while he polishes his "style" of play. It was the one element that was missing in early Buzz and it's rather missing now.

Another option -- is Bo Ellis interested? Did a great job with the big men years ago and he's a link to the glory years.

[warriorchick]

Brett will at least have a similar fight song at Holy Cross. A certain MU supporter points it out in the footnotes.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Lz6-elbsY

.

When I worked in Boston, one of my fellow CPA's was a Holy Cross grad and a former member of their pep band.

Apparently HC has a licensing arrangement with Marquette in which they pay us $1.00 per year for the right to use that song.  While he was there (mid-70's), the pep band went out of their was to pay the dollar in a creative way - Giant golf-tournament check, pennies in an unusual container, etc.

I don't know if that still happens.

[The Sultan]

First, I wish Brett well -- just not too well! LOL

Second, I'd like to see us do a Jerry Wainwright, bench coach type of guy. I think that would genuinely bring Wojo back to earth while he polishes his "style" of play. It was the one element that was missing in early Buzz and it's rather missing now.

Another option -- is Bo Ellis interested? Did a great job with the big men years ago and he's a link to the glory years.

Bo Ellis?  He's 65 years old.

Cmon. Hire a good recruiter and all is fine.

[MU82]

The only thing I know about Holy Cross is that they almost gave me a heart attack in Indy in 2003.

Thank goodness for Travis Diener, because D-Wade mostly sucked in that game, and Jackson and Merritt were totally M.I.A.

[Herman Cain]

Bo Ellis?  He's 65 years old.

Cmon. Hire a good recruiter and all is fine.

Ideally, I think if we can get Brett Nelson 2.0 it would be great.

1. A guy with a big time playing Pedigree
2. A solid track record of assistant  coach jobs with recruiting contacts
3. An ability to help develop talent once on campus
4. A potential head coach

[M S]

Ideally, I think if we can get Brett Nelson 2.0 it would be great.

1. A guy with a big time playing Pedigree
2. A solid track record of assistant  coach jobs with recruiting contacts
3. An ability to help develop talent once on campus
4. A potential head coach

#1 is not at all necessary.

[Herman Cain]

#1 is not at all necessary.

I was presenting points 1 through 4 as a package representative of Brett Nelson 2.0. Yes , the playing pedigree in a vacuum does not mean a lot.  However, as part of the rest of the items it made an attractive overall package. 

[WarriorDad]

First, I wish Brett well -- just not too well! LOL

Second, I'd like to see us do a Jerry Wainwright, bench coach type of guy. I think that would genuinely bring Wojo back to earth while he polishes his "style" of play. It was the one element that was missing in early Buzz and it's rather missing now.

Another option -- is Bo Ellis interested? Did a great job with the big men years ago and he's a link to the glory years.

No disrespect to Bo, who is an all timer at Marquette.  The rumors when Deane was coaching is Bo wasn't quite as skilled or determined as a coach.  Does the NCAA allow a consultant type that can work limited hours without having to take up a full coaching position?

[MU82]

a consultant type that can work limited hours

That was basically Deane when he was the head coach!

[Shooter Flatch]

Thoughts on Todd Townsend?  Former player, recruiting ties in Illinois and Wisconsin. Currently at Valpo with stops at NIU, Drake, and Milwaukee.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Thoughts on Todd Townsend?  Former player, recruiting ties in Illinois and Wisconsin. Currently at Valpo with stops at NIU, Drake, and Milwaukee.

I would love to get an ex-player...I think someone mentioned Jon Harris, which would be interesting as well. 

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Harris or Townsend, I can live with.

Thinking outside the box:

What about bringing Scott Merritt over from the Women's team?

[Herman Cain]

Harris or Townsend, I can live with.

Thinking outside the box:

What about bringing Scott Merritt over from the Women's team?

Harris, Townsend , Merritt all would be excellent.

[Shooter Flatch]

I like the Merritt idea. I'm guessing they probably wouldn't poach the women's team at this late date though.

[asdfasdf]

Andre LaFleur maybe? Lots of big east experience, youngish, available.

[MU82]

Wojo has brought in several outstanding assistants. I completely trust his judgment on Nelson's replacement.

[Herman Cain]

Andre LaFleur maybe? Lots of big east experience, youngish, available.

Would be an excellent choice too.

[muguru]

I like the Merritt idea. I'm guessing they probably wouldn't poach the women's team at this late date though.

I get the affection for bringing in alums as assistant Coaches, but the problem with Harris, Townsend and Merritt especially is NONE of them have recruited the kind of talent MU needs to be successful. I will say it again,this spot HAS to be a grand slam recruiter. One of the best in the country. Find that guy...if he's already employed, offer him enough $$ that he can't/won't say no.

[TedBaxter]

I get the affection for bringing in alums as assistant Coaches, but the problem with Harris, Townsend and Merritt especially is NONE of them have recruited the kind of talent MU needs to be successful. I will say it again,this spot HAS to be a grand slam recruiter. One of the best in the country. Find that guy...if he's already employed, offer him enough $$ that he can't/won't say no.

Do you realize how hard that will be with only about 4 days before staffs go out for the evaluation period?

[muguru]

Do you realize how hard that will be with only about 4 days before staffs go out for the evaluation period?

You don't want him to be officially hired then though...he can recruit for MU anyway.

[Herman Cain]

I get the affection for bringing in alums as assistant Coaches, but the problem with Harris, Townsend and Merritt especially is NONE of them have recruited the kind of talent MU needs to be successful. I will say it again,this spot HAS to be a grand slam recruiter. One of the best in the country. Find that guy...if he's already employed, offer him enough $$ that he can't/won't say no.

At the end of the day recruiting is the responsibility of the Head Coach. The assistants recruiting efforts are to a big degree bound by the quality of the program they are at. For example, a guy who is recruiting at the Ohio Valley level really needs to show that he can recruit guys who will be All League in that conference even though once in a blue moon a Ja Morant will show up.   

The skills we are looking for in an assistant is someone who is a proven hard worker and has built a network of contacts in the AAU and High School scene developed over a meaningful period of time. These contacts help the assistant separate the wheat from the chaff.  After all the Head Coach time is valuable and has many competing demands for attention . 

The other big part of the assistant job is skills development , a schools that don't regularly get 5 star kids this component of the job cannot be underestimated.

Finally the assistant should have the stature of personality that is trending toward eventually being a head coach.

[MU82]

I get the affection for bringing in alums as assistant Coaches, but the problem with Harris, Townsend and Merritt especially is NONE of them have recruited the kind of talent MU needs to be successful. I will say it again,this spot HAS to be a grand slam recruiter. One of the best in the country. Find that guy...if he's already employed, offer him enough $$ that he can't/won't say no.

I like the idea of hiring a recruiter, too, but IIRC, you were advocating not long ago for Wojo to hire a seasoned X-and-O guy the next time he had an opening. Which is it?

[Shooter Flatch]

I get the affection for bringing in alums as assistant Coaches, but the problem with Harris, Townsend and Merritt especially is NONE of them have recruited the kind of talent MU needs to be successful. I will say it again,this spot HAS to be a grand slam recruiter. One of the best in the country. Find that guy...if he's already employed, offer him enough $$ that he can't/won't say no.

I'm not as worried about having recruited at the same level of talent. I think a big part of recruiting is the relationships developed at the AAU and HS levels. Not all talent is high D1 and if these guys have good relationships with the coaches and programs based on their lower tier talent, that will quickly translate up to the level of their new job. BTW- Harris was involved with some top recruiting classes at Tennessee and California.

[muguru]

I like the idea of hiring a recruiter, too, but IIRC, you were advocating not long ago for Wojo to hire a seasoned X-and-O guy the next time he had an opening. Which is it?

I said one or the other...IF the right X's and O's guy is available(and I'm talking someone that is well known for it and is GREAT at it), that's who I would prefer, if not, go with the grand slam recruiter. That being said an X's and O's guy can also be a great recruiter, right??

[The Sultan]

You don't want him to be officially hired then though...he can recruit for MU anyway.

This is an off cycle hire. It will be hard to get an experience, high level recruiter at this point regardless of the money.