Magnanimous

It’s only going to be a point of contention if this happens while IU has to cut sports. I don’t think we’re in the position (at least haven’t heard anything relative to other programs that have) and having only 24 sports helps avoid that.

Maybe “done” was excessive but he’s not the golden boy anymore and the honeymoon rebuild for him is over. If he doesn’t start winning he’s out sooner than later.

(2:20) (0:30) Stevens also said that "But I also realize that I’m the coach of the Celtics and it’s been an amazing opportunity, an amazing challenge every day for the last eight years and I’m extremely grateful for that.” That sounds more like a farewell than anything I've heard. The Celtics are a game over .500. They're going to be lucky to finish in the top 4 in the East, they're not winning the East and they're definitely not winning the title. Barring a miracle run in the playoffs, their fanbase is done with him. He may not have a choice in leaving after this year.

I'll repeat this again, Brad Stevens will be leaving Boston sooner rather than later regardless of whether he takes the IU job. The fanbase is tired of him, and they're not winning with that roster. I agree with others that it's a matter of whether or not he wants to return to college or join the ranks of "good enough" NBA coaches and bounce around franchises for the next 25 years a la Don Nelson and George Karl. So if he does want to come back to college, why not IU? Filling K's shoes may be more difficult than succeeding Saban when he leaves Bama. UNC and UK will be no picnics either, and if his family is tired of Boston fans acting like idiots, well you know where I'm going with this for UK. Kansas is the only other premiere name where I see him as a nice fit with for all parties, where the pressure is on and the resources are there, but there is no legend's shadow and the fanbase may be a bit more patient without the immediately unrealistic expectations. But that job isn't open, Self is likely still going to be there for a while, and despite their more recent success Kansas really offers nothing that IU doesn't already. I'll also say this...given how quickly this has shaped up with private donors paying an extra $7m to fire Archie a year earlier, the fortuitous timing of Boston plateauing, and the national narrative of IU really wanting Stevens and our AD not f'ing around on this, at this point it better be Stevens. We know who the other candidates are, and if we've reached a point where getting John Beilein, Thad Matta, Rick Pitino, Nate Oats, Eric Musselman, Chris Beard or Scott Drew would be considered a massive disappointment, then bless whoever this next coach is. Dolson would be setting up this hire and the fanbase for a very tenuous relationship from the get-go. Getting Stevens used to be wishful thinking, but everything about it is starting to make too much sense for it not to be in the works.

It’s probably mentioned elsewhere in this behemoth of a thread, but he’s getting trashed on Twitter after tonight’s loss. Get #CelticsLossWatch trending in Hoosier Nation.

The problem with Bieleins age is that if he really is only here for 5-6 years, that’s only a few recruiting classes he would even see reach their senior year. Recruiting could drop off after a few years if that’s the case.

And Jordan Hulls.

And right after he hung up 50 guys who sound like Bill Burr call in and say the Celtics should move on from him after not winning anything in eight seasons there. Didn’t actually happen, but Boston fans are not begging him to stay at this point.

Brad Stevens will be out at Boston within three years.

Agreed. When you’re willing to spend, the program can be whatever you want it to be.

Pitino, but it would also be vacated.

Here’s what I know. Our administration seems to be all in on making this hire as successful as possible, our boosters were convinced at whatever our prospects are that it’s worth shelling out $10m, and we’re not Nebraska football.

This press conference doesn’t have the feel of a coaching announcement, just about the dismissal. Edit: Dolson said they’re starting the search now. I’m sure it’s started already, but no one is being hired today.

+10,000

It also was an edit to a previous version that said he wants to coach IU.

If no one is hired by May, would that be a safe assumption that Stevens is it?

It’s over in that he needs to win soon, and the Celtics aren’t winning the East, let alone the entire thing.

The Boston Celtics have been fools gold his entire tenure there, and they’re not winning anything with Tatum and Brown as their top two options. Sans their 2008 team, that franchise hasn’t bought into the concept of winning with superstars, which is ironic because the only time they won in the last 30 years was when they went that route. Brad is out of Boston within the next few years anyway. NBA coaches just don’t last that long if they’re not winning. Hell, Frank Vogel was probably going to be fired in LA if he didn’t win in his first season. He was seen as a placeholder for Jason Kidd. Brad got some extra time given how Ainge was building the Celtics and he’s been to three conference finals with them, but the honeymoon is over for him and they’re not getting any better.

He must have a pretty good idea of who we’re getting already. He needed to sell the boosters on ponying up that kind of cash now to make is happen.

Can’t see Pitino taking a call while his son is still in the conference.

Not sure, but firing Archie with a $10m buyout during Covid budgeting is an encouraging sign they’re not screwing around this time. Oats and Musselman should be the floor of who is considered.

Best of luck to Archie and his family at their next destination. Shame it didn’t work out but the writing was on the wall. Should be an interesting few weeks.

Random name for the sake of discussion. Ben McCollum at Northwest Missouri State is the best D-2 coach in the country and he’s only 39. He’s 231-30 the last eight seasons with eight conference championships and two national titles.

He should want to leave. I’d want to leave. I think he will leave. I’m not going to leave.