General Coach Candidate News

[8bucks 6,383]

15 minutes ago, Hoosierinbham said:

Give me a young, aggressive coach that plays modern college offense. If you haven't watched Bucky McMillan at Samford,  he puts a great product on the floor. Follow the coach Cig recruiting model, production over potential.

Background on Bucky https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucky_McMillan

if he follows with another strong year he will be a hot candidate. We often hear, let them go to a little higher level before being a serious candidate for us but timing makes that a challenge. 

[Hoosierinbham 175]

21 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

Background on Bucky https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucky_McMillan

if he follows with another strong year he will be a hot candidate. We often hear, let them go to a little higher level before being a serious candidate for us but timing makes that a challenge. 

He was our high school coach at Mountain Brook and turned a stagnant, affluent school into a juggernaut.  He had offers last season, but won't go somewhere that doesn't have competitive NIL.  He's a math savant, and takes advantage of analytics. Plays a 4 out offense, and attacking defense. I'm admittedly biased, but I would LOVE to have him at IU. 

[yogisballin 2,304]

14 hours ago, Josh said:

Let's quit acting like nobodies and start running college basketball again.  Hire Pearl away mid season!

Should have before crean

 

[Stuhoo 79,876]

1 hour ago, Hoosierinbham said:

He was our high school coach at Mountain Brook and turned a stagnant, affluent school into a juggernaut.  He had offers last season, but won't go somewhere that doesn't have competitive NIL.  He's a math savant, and takes advantage of analytics. Plays a 4 out offense, and attacking defense. I'm admittedly biased, but I would LOVE to have him at IU. 

I *heart*  Bucky Ball!

[Hoosierfanyuh 2,153]

Want someone young who is going to be here for the next 20 years 

[trc1969 36]

Ben McCollum (Drake) would be another coach to take a look at as well.

My top 3 would be in no particular order:

Chris Breard

Bucky McMillian

Ben McCollum

[ap2345 7,595]

1. Brad Stevens 

2. Bruce Pearl 

3. Dusty May

i don’t think it gets past that

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,081]

Not sure a single coach out there would make me too excited.  
 

I was Happy with Pearl or May from last season.  
 

May would have been a wait and see.  Pearl I would have expected big things.  
 

I don’t see either happening next year. 
 

of the up and comers I honestly don’t know what would excite me.  
 

I just want to see a fundamental, athletic team that plays its @$$ off every game.  That it.  I haven’t enjoyed Indiana basketball in such a long time.  

[Napleshoosier 10,201]

Let’s get all outside influences (Quinn) out of the picture and let Dolson do his job!

[JSHoosier 19,932]

5 hours ago, ap2345 said:

1. Brad Stevens 

2. Bruce Pearl 

3. Dusty May

i don’t think it gets past that

I'd love Pearl though at his age he's not a long term answer. I don't see Stevens getting back in coaching and I don't see May jumping ship already after just getting to Michigan.

Any if them would be an upgrade from Woodson though.

[LamarCheeks 18,314]

5 hours ago, ap2345 said:

1. Brad Stevens 

2. Bruce Pearl 

3. Dusty May

i don’t think it gets past that

Is this your wish list -- or what you suspect the decision-makers will be thinking? 

Because we've been down the BS road before -- and gotten burned. Just doesn't seem as if we'd try to avoid spending any more time chasing our tail than necessary. 

[Dave from Dayton 3,029]

17 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

Is this your wish list -- or what you suspect the decision-makers will be thinking? 

Because we've been down the BS road before -- and gotten burned. Just doesn't seem as if we'd try to avoid spending any more time chasing our tail than necessary. 

I do not know who would be likely candidates.  But, like they evidently did for the football coach search, I hope and expect that the Athletic Department is going to do some lists with head coaching attributes and requirements:

1.  Basketball IQ;

2.  Positive Energy;

3.  Communication;

4.  Involvement;

5.  Development;

6.  Organization;

7.  Experience;

8.  Observant;

9.  Respectful;

10. Trustworthy.

[AKHoosier 6,759]

We messed up so badly not getting Dusty May. Still, I would put together a hefty package and try to pry him away.

Josh Scherz is very intriguing.

See how serious Tony Bennett is about retirement, and if a $5M/yr NIL budget would make things interesting. 

Just get a winner.

Make a list. Put everyone with a lifetime winning percentage of less than 50% in the left column, and everyone else in another column.

Eliminate the left column. 

[OliviaPope40 6,474]

Did Dolson offer Mark Few afterwards?

[Dave from Dayton 3,029]

52 minutes ago, OliviaPope40 said:

Did Dolson offer Mark Few afterwards?

Interesting question.   I do not know the answer to that.

I remember, hopefully clearly, that fans were saying that inquiries were made.  Mark Few was not interested.

If that was the case, it is likely that our consultants made the 2nd-person contact to Few's contact/representative.

So, likely that Dolson and Few never really talked directly about it.  Not unusual, this my people talked to your people stuff.  That way no one has to say they did or did not talk to the other party.  Usually, the head guy does know the feelers go out...and the results. 

[str8baller 5,133]

1 hour ago, AKHoosier said:

See how serious Tony Bennett is about retirement, and if a $5M/yr NIL budget would make things interesting. 

Bennett and Jay Wright are going to be sitting out there either 1) growing more disgusted with the NIL situation, or 2) possibly intrigued with a top program situation as the landscape stabilizes and maybe even secretly a little happy they sidestepped their way out of second rate NIL situations at schools they otherwise are fond of.  
 

On the sheer possibility that #2 might exist, I’d make a run at one of them if we are “big game hunting.” Offer a turnkey NIL situation with a general manager to handle it all and plenty of money to land the 1 or 2 guys they want every year in recruiting. Longest of shots, but either one would win a bunch of conference titles and at least one national title over the next decade, imo.

 

I’d prefer to chase one of them over any of the big names including Stevens, and they’re probably just as likely…which is to say in the 0-5% range.

[AZ Hoosier 6,657]

2 hours ago, Dave from Dayton said:

Interesting question.   I do not know the answer to that.

I remember, hopefully clearly, that fans were saying that inquiries were made.  Mark Few was not interested.

If that was the case, it is likely that our consultants made the 2nd-person contact to Few's contact/representative.

So, likely that Dolson and Few never really talked directly about it.  Not unusual, this my people talked to your people stuff.  That way no one has to say they did or did not talk to the other party.  Usually, the head guy does know the feelers go out...and the results. 

This is pretty much my recollection, as well. As most of us know, these conversations are not AD to coach, but done through back channels with coaches representatives and/or agents... but regardless of the mechanics, I recall seeing reports that Few was not interested.

I know there were stories/rumors of Pearl having interest, but I am not convinced that he wasn't playing us, or had an alternative agenda... would love someone like Pearl, but he's not getting any younger. However, with that said, he's only 2 years younger than Woodson... their respective energy levels and drive are light years apart, but still, at 64, how much longer will he want to be coaching?

Three retired coaches (Brad Stevens, Jay Wright and Tony Bennet) do not interest me at all. In my view, they are coming back, regardless.

My preference is to go younger.

• Bucky McMillian is an intriguing character. Pretty short sample size, but 83-44 is a not nothing.
• Micah Shrewsberry is someone I would consider, but he struggled pretty badly in his initial season at Notre Dame. Short career, so small sample size. Only in his second year at Notre Dame, but seems to move every 2 years.
• Josh Schertz - lifetime .786 winning percentage... recently hired by St Louis U, so IU would be a promotion, but is he ready/willinbg to move again?
• T. J. Otzelberger is high on my list, but he's coaching at his wife's alma mater, so no idea how strong that hold is.
• Dusty May could be the one that got away. No clue if he's even interested. Hoosier alum with serious coaching chops (looking at you, Mediocre Mike). IU was his dream job prior to taking the Michigan job for the 24-25 season.

[IU Prof 816]

https://x.com/TheFieldOf68/status/1844426344286793762

[Hoosierfanyuh 2,153]

8 hours ago, ap2345 said:

1. Brad Stevens 

2. Bruce Pearl 

3. Dusty May

i don’t think it gets past that

Agree. Dusty may has a very low buyout and that was certainty negotiated.

[str8baller 5,133]

3 minutes ago, IU Prof said:

https://x.com/TheFieldOf68/status/1844426344286793762

There’s like a 15% chance he’s doing that just to screw with IU fans. 
 

With that said, the best thing that could’ve happened in that regard was the Celtics winning the title last year. He has a legacy that includes a championship at the highest level, and arguably GM, or whatever his title is, is just as important as the coach in that league. I believe he’ll comeback just not at IU.