Hutch interview with Ted Kitchel

[ccgeneral]

Ted Kitchel has never been one to mince words when it comes to hiring new Indiana basketball coaches.

Kitchel, who starred on the 1981 Indiana national championship team, was the guy who became famous for his thoughts on the day of Kelvin Sampson’s hiring in 2006.

“It’s an absolute disgrace,’’ Kitchel said at the time. “I wouldn’t hire that guy to coach my fifth-grade girls team. That guy is absolutely what we don’t want at IU.’’

Eleven years later, Kitchel is unhappy again. This time, he’s not anti-Archie Miller as much as he is disappointed in the way the coaching search played out, specifically in terms of whether former IU players were given serious consideration in the process.

Kitchel doesn’t believe anyone was. He said several former players were given “obligatory interviews” to discuss the future and the direction of the program, but no one was actually interviewed for the position.

“I haven’t heard from a single ex-player who is happy about the way this was handled,’’ Kitchel said. “The athletic director told us that an Indiana guy would have a shot and that he would interview anyone who was interested. And that was a lie. He talked to Randy Wittman for 15 minutes, and the same was true with Mike Woodson. He didn’t talk with Steve Alford. I don’t think Dane Fife was given more than an obligatory interview either.’’

Kitchel was quick to point out that his feelings had nothing to do with Miller, who Indiana announced Saturday it had hired as the coach to replace Tom Crean, who was fired by the university March 16. Miller will be introduced as the Indiana coach at a press conference at the university on Monday at 3 p.m.

“I’m sure that Archie Miller is a fine guy,’’ Kitchel said. “He’s had good success, and he’s coached under guys that I like a lot like Thad Matta. He has coached at good places. This has nothing to do with Miller or anything like that. It’s just that the AD said that an IU guy would have an opportunity, and I don’t believe that happened.

“I know that Steve Alford would have jumped at the chance. If Steve Alford goes into the house of the kid in New Albany (Romeo Langford) and talked to him, I think he would have packed a little more powerful punch than Archie Miller is going to have. I think recruiting the state of Indiana is really important, and I think Steve or Dane Fife would have been great. Dane Fife has had great success recruiting the state of Indiana at Michigan State. But Fred seems to know a heck of a lot more about it than any of us. That’s what he gets paid for to be the A.D. and so I guess we’ll let him do his job.’’

Kitchel said he has heard that a big reason Alford wasn’t seriously considered was because of the incident with one of his former players at Iowa. Pierre Pierce was the Iowa player accused of sexually assaulting a student at the university in 2002. He and the victim ultimately agreed to a deal that allowed Pierce to plead to a lesser charge and give a public apology. Alford had stood behind his player, but many believed he had gone too far in his support. And matters got uglier three years later when Pierce was charged with assault on a woman he had previously been dating.

Kitchel said if that was the reason Alford wasn’t given consideration at Indiana then he wonders if Glass is the right person to lead the IU athletic department.

“That happened what 15 years ago? And Alford has been hired two times since then?,’’ Kitchel said. “So other schools have looked at that and there has never been a problem. Is there any more of a liberal school in the country than UCLA? Do you think they didn’t look at that? I mean if Fred Glass is afraid of women coming out to protest because Steve Alford is your head coach … I mean are you kidding me? If that’s the case, I don’t think I want that guy leading my athletic program if he’s afraid of things like that. Maybe it’s time we look for a new athletic director.’’

Attempts to reach Glass for a response to Kitchel’s comments were unsuccessful.

Steve Risley was a teammate of Kitchel's on IU's 1981 national championship team and now resides in Los Angeles. He said Sunday he was one of the former players Glass reached out to seeking input on the direction of the program.

When told many former players weren't happy with the process, Risley said he wasn't sure why that would be.

"Fred Glass was very forthright with me with what he was trying to accomplish and what he was trying to find," Risley said. "I don't know if the players that are complaining didn't get called by Glass or not."

Risley thought Miller was a good choice.

"From what I've heard and what I've read about so far, I think he's what people are looking for," Risley said. "He's a defensive-minded coach who plays very tough, physical basketball. Dayton plays that way, and they play like we used to play when I played at IU.

"I think if people get beyond that we needed to have Alford or Fife or Woodson or Wittman, and they start looking at (Miller) as our coach, I think they're going to see a lot of things that they like. I did. I mean I was pulling for a lot of our IU guys, too. But I thought they all pretty much disqualified themselves in one way or another. And not in a negative way but rather Archie just gave (IU) a more qualified candidate for what they were looking for. I think it's a good fit."

http://www.heraldbulletin.com/sports/former-iu-star-kitchel-believes-ad-glass-did-not-live/article_a0673f50-1286-11e7-a7c7-4f68d5d2b06e.html

[iubb]

And that is the reason why you shouldn't rely on former players for opinions..... I bet a bunch of former players are pissed that SA was not picked 

[Aaron]

Kitchel has always been Mr. Salty and he sounds like the NC St. fans on their board who are mad Archie turned them down for us. It would of been one thing if Glass made a terrible hire or brought in a shady character but that is not what happened.

In my opinion Alford was the worst candidate possible so the fact that Kitchel wanted him discredits what he said immediately. As long as Archie wins big (which I think he will) I have no interest in what an old bitter former player said.

[NCHoosier]

Thanks for the share. Kitchel sounds like an upset kid on the playground who's about to take his ball and go home. Dismissing what happened at Iowa because it was 15 years ago seems to be quite ignorant. Time doesn't make something right or wrong. If it's wrong, it's wrong. I feel he's in he minority with his feelings.


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[Dalton26]

Loved Steve Risley's thoughts.


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[Hoosier116]

IMO this is why you had to interview the former players. Because I think they need to be heard...but also couldn't hire one. There is a ton of delusion amongst the group believing only they kno what is good for the program. It's kinda goofy.

[Crimson and Cream]

Kitchel sounds like just as big of a scumbag prick as Alford. Why on earth would anyone care about his worthless opinion anyways? He sounds about as salty as a sack of McDonalds fries. I am thrilled Glass didn't think like this clown and make a desperation hire of an ex-Hoosier just to appease some of these older IU fans who mistakenly think the only way we'll ever have success is to hire someone who's played here. Hearing these old scrooges constantly whining and complaining just makes me even happier we hired Miller. 

[hoosierbannerd]

That was disappointing to read and as Gump once said, "That's all I got to say about that."

[mdn82]

Gee I wonder if Ted got a call for his opinion.


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[Alford Bailey]

Glass shouldnt have said what he did in the presser about giving alums an interview. NONE we qualified. Archie is a good hire but Glass was very misleading with what he said.

[cthomas]

I am always grateful for what our former did while here. I don't think, however, that they should be determining the direction of the program. If a highly qualified coaching former player existed, then great, hire him. But none of them are close to Coach Miller.

[IU Hoosier41]

We all should probably get off Ted's lawn now too.


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[Aaron]

16 minutes ago, Alford Bailey said:

Glass shouldnt have said what he did in the presser about giving alums an interview. NONE we qualified. Archie is a good hire but Glass was very misleading with what he said.

Glass clearly did interview some players as Risley confirmed in the article. There is no way he could of interviewed everyone of them given the amount of former players that there are. He would literally of been working into next year before we hired a coach.

Kitchel just sounds mad he was not chosen as one of the players interviewed.

[Crimson and Cream]

5 minutes ago, Aaron said:

Glass clearly did interview some players as Risley confirmed in the article. There is no way he could of interviewed everyone of them given the amount of former players that there are. He would literally of been working into next year before we hired a coach.

Kitchel just sounds mad he was not chosen as one of the players interviewed.

I bet Dakich feels the same way. I can only imagine he actually believed he stood a chance here in his delusional mind.

[Alford Bailey]

3 minutes ago, Crimson and Cream said:

I bet Dakich feels the same way. I can only imagine he actually believed he stood a chance here in his delusional mind.

He did so well the last time......

[Crimson and Cream]

2 minutes ago, Alford Bailey said:

He did so well the last time......

I'm sure he did....if you asked him

[Aaron]

Jake Query you win twitter post of the night. I could not agree more.

[Magnanimous]

Well if IU actually had a former player who could be the savior we "finally bring home" I'm sure it would've happened. Unfortunately, we don't have someone who won nine conference titles and made four Final Fours like Roy Williams did at Kansas. Maybe after Will Sheehey leads Arizona State to three consecutive championships in 30 years we'll give him a call when Archie hangs it up. 

[Old Friend]

1 hour ago, Crimson and Cream said:

I bet Dakich feels the same way. I can only imagine he actually believed he stood a chance here in his delusional mind.

Wondering where you come up with this stuff?  (I guess you did say your imagination)  This has not been Dakich's mantra at all.  Never.  He has never once mentioned he would like to be consulted or have anything to do with the hiring process.  He does believe Indiana is a unique place and should have someone in the seat who understands; but Dakich and Kitchell are very different people with very different perspectives.  Dakich is as real as real gets.   There's a lot of vitriol toward him, and I just don't get it.  I doubt there's anyone on this board who cares about IU as much as he does.   He can be boorish and a blowhard; but that's what he's paid to do.  He has - by far - the highest rated sports show in Indy for a reason.  I am interested in his take on things, now that a decision has been made.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

7 hours ago, iubb said:

And that is the reason why you shouldn't rely on former players for opinions..... I bet a bunch of former players are pissed that SA was not picked 

And I'd wager an equal number or more are happy he wasn't.  Just from all the comments on our board and others I've looked at, Alford would NEVER have united our fanbase.