If the New Coach Brings In a Former Player - Who?

[GOO]

All is quiet on the coach search front. I guess that is good. No leaks or at least people are not talking. The way it should be, even if scoop (me included) may not be able to handle it.

If the new coach by brings in a former player, who?

Wade. Does he  really want to move and work 70+ hours a week?  Great player, would he be a good coach? 

Novak. Obviously can work with the emphasis on the 3 ball and his legendary shooting workouts.

Diener.  My choice if he still wants to be a coach, which he may not.

McNeal.

Chapman.

Tony Miller.

Who? 

Also if Matta were to get the job, who does he bring in as an experienced associate head coach?  Baldwin?  And I have no info that Matta is interested or healthy enough to get back into coaching.  Just a thought as he'd need to limit some of his recruiting travel, I'd guess.

[MU82]

First, obviously, it depends on who wants to put in the work. I'm guessing most on your list, or any list we could come up with, wouldn't want to do it. Other than your family, you have to give up just about everything else in your life to be a great assistant basketball coach ... and many even give up their families.

Now, on to the question at hand. If he'd be willing to do it, Chapman would be my choice. He has shown an interest in coaching, he has gotten a taste of it, he's young enough to relate to kids, he was part of one of the school's all-time great teams, he was Wade's teammate, etc.

[Galway Eagle]

Deiner or Chapman. Please don't go this route but Chapman has coaching experience and Deiner sort of does even though it's minimal

[MU82]

Deiner or Chapman. Please don't go this route but Chapman has coaching experience and Deiner sort of does even though it's minimal

Why not "go this route" for an assistant?

If a guy like Chapman really is committed to being a great assistant and to learning the craft of being a college coach, I would have absolutely no problem with it.

Diener ... he has stated on multiple occasions that he'd rather sit around and drink beer. I have no problem with that, either - I'd like to join him for a few rounds - but that's not an ideal modus operandi for a great assistant coach.

[Skip Intro]

I don't see D Wade ever coaching, at any level.  He rightfully enjoys his life with his wife and kids, and seems to have enough business interests outside of basketball to keep him busy (winery, clothing, etc.). 

[IrwinFletcher]

All is quiet on the coach search front. I guess that is good. No leaks or at least people are not talking. The way it should be, even if scoop (me included) may not be able to handle it.

If the new coach by brings in a former player, who?

Wade. Does he  really want to move and work 70+ hours a week?  Great player, would he be a good coach? 

Novak. Obviously can work with the emphasis on the 3 ball and his legendary shooting workouts.

Diener.  My choice if he still wants to be a coach, which he may not.

McNeal.

Chapman.

Tony Miller.

Who? 

Also if Matta were to get the job, who does he bring in as an experienced associate head coach?  Baldwin?  And I have no info that Matta is interested or healthy enough to get back into coaching.  Just a thought as he'd need to limit some of his recruiting travel, I'd guess.

Wade has expressed zero interest in coaching, wouldn't come to be an assistant and has major business interests to attend to.

Diener tried the coaching thing and hated recruiting.  Hated it.

Chapman is opening a huge sports complex (of which Diener is an investor) and is on his way to being a major player in WI AAU circles.

Novak hasn't coached at all.  Is he willing to start at the bottom and do away with his TV gig?

Miller has been out of the coaching game I believe and has no roots to the midwest other than his 4 years here.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Maybe Scott Merritt? Not sure what his role is with the women's team.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

How about Scott Merritt if he wants to get into the men's game?  He has been an assistant on the women's side for five or six years.

If it is Gates, Merritt would have been a senior when he was here as GA.

[tower912]

Lazar.   Because based on his time at MU, he...
Can coach bigs
Can coach shooting
Can coach defense
Has played in the league

Understands the spirit of Marquette.

Seriously, if there was mutual interest, bring him on board.

[ATL MU Warrior]

How about Scott Merritt if he wants to get into the men's game?  He has been an assistant on the women's side for five or six years.

If it is Gates, Merritt would have been a senior when he was here as GA.

Beat you by 20 seconds 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Beat you by 20 seconds 

Dammit!

He would have to return to Marquette too.  He is on the Illinois staff now.

[Galway Eagle]

Why not "go this route" for an assistant?

If a guy like Chapman really is committed to being a great assistant and to learning the craft of being a college coach, I would have absolutely no problem with it.

Diener ... he has stated on multiple occasions that he'd rather sit around and drink beer. I have no problem with that, either - I'd like to join him for a few rounds - but that's not an ideal modus operandi for a great assistant coach.

I'm fine with that to. I'd just prefer we don't go this route at all and if we did those are the only 2 I'd say ok with. Wade and Novak are greats but no coaching experience and time after time we've seen that greats can't always coach

Edit: oh so I misunderstood the question. I thought it was if the new coach was a former player. For assistants I'd pluck a person who's already shown the proclivity toward that profession. Not just a big name for the heck of it.

[swoopem]

Jerel's Twitter profile says he's the best coach/GM that hasn't been discovered yet. Also, I'm pretty sure he's tight with Gates so if Gates gets the job maybe Jerel try's to get on the staff

[JWags85]

Miller has been out of the coaching game I believe and has no roots to the midwest other than his 4 years here.

Cleveland isn't the Midwest?

[Silent Verbal]

Diener ... he has stated on multiple occasions that he'd rather sit around and drink beer.

Old man Travis Diener hitting that game winning corner three in last year's TBT was maybe the best thing ever.  If he actually has stated his relaxation activity of choice is sitting around and drinking beer, I'd, uh, believe it after seeing him in that tournament.

[brewcity77]

As mentioned, Merritt would be my first thought, though Jon Harris is also a thought.

As far as others, I would say Diener is a no. From what I hear he has no interest whatsoever in D1 coaching. Chapman I would doubt. His hands are full with AAU and TBT. Maybe in a few years. Guys that would've had the opportunity but haven't shown any inclination, like Novak or Wade, seem unlikely or they'd probably have their hands in coaching at some level already.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Old man Travis Diener hitting that game winning corner three in last year's TBT was maybe the best thing ever.  If he actually has stated his relaxation activity of choice is sitting around and drinking beer, I'd, uh, believe it after seeing him in that tournament.

In other words, not much has changed since his college days.

[Uncle Rico]

Sam Hauser will have a bunch of free time

[Galway Eagle]

Sam Hauser will have a bunch of free time

Zing

[Dr. Blackheart]

Sam Hauser will have a bunch of free time

He can be in charge of the recruiting letters.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

He can be in charge of the recruiting letters.

Does he understand mail merge?  I thought he was more of a one-off guy.

[MUDPT]

Todd Townsend also has D1 assistant experience and I think still lives in the area.

[MU82]

As mentioned, Merritt would be my first thought, though Jon Harris is also a thought.

As far as others, I would say Diener is a no. From what I hear he has no interest whatsoever in D1 coaching. Chapman I would doubt. His hands are full with AAU and TBT. Maybe in a few years. Guys that would've had the opportunity but haven't shown any inclination, like Novak or Wade, seem unlikely or they'd probably have their hands in coaching at some level already.

As I said, I'd only bring in a guy who'd be all-in, so it goes without saying that if Chapman is more committed to AAU, TBT and his business interests, I wouldn't want him. But if he'd be all-in, I think he'd be a fine choice.

And yes, Merritt for sure.

I'm fine with that to. I'd just prefer we don't go this route at all and if we did those are the only 2 I'd say ok with. Wade and Novak are greats but no coaching experience and time after time we've seen that greats can't always coach

Edit: oh so I misunderstood the question. I thought it was if the new coach was a former player. For assistants I'd pluck a person who's already shown the proclivity toward that profession. Not just a big name for the heck of it.

Agree about the big name for the sake of it. Not sure most would call Joe Chapman a "big name," though.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Jerel's Twitter profile says he's the best coach/GM that hasn't been discovered yet. Also, I'm pretty sure he's tight with Gates so if Gates gets the job maybe Jerel try's to get on the staff

That would be a great pairing, I'd love to see it. 'Rel is in all-timer, loves the game & the university, and is still seems to be active in the Chicago scene.

[burger]

Wade is the air apparent on TNT when I think when Kenny Smith leaves or is the backup when one of the three are out.....

Travis is "basketball done" for now and has a poor taste in his mouth from being a WOJO assistant.....my opinion......Will not comment on that for obvious reasons.....

Novak would be a possibility......

I particularly like Travis's fire.....But I think it would have to be where he sees a clear path to head coach and that he actually would be "learning something".....