General Coach Candidate News

[FightFor6 1,248]

No offense to anyone here, but if you agree Cronin would be a good to great hire, why would anyone care about buy-out cost? It's not our/your money anyway.

[Stuhoo 89,543]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:38 PM, Hovadipo said:

If you guys think Woody is unlikeable hahaha holy crap wait til Mick gets on the mic after a bad loss. That’ll be a no from me dog. 

It’s so true.

He’s on those players’ ***** like no one else. It’d be incredibly entertaining, we’d have a team that played with a Houston level of angry, and we would … win.

[Hoosierfan2017 24,890]

Cronin/Williams are, imo, the level of coach we’ll likely end up with. Underwhelming but still quality coaches who could have success here. Not home runs, but not the “swing at a hit pitch” that Mike Woodson was. 

[HoosierHoopster 8,318]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:35 PM, Stuhoo said:

Finally, I find it interesting that @JerryYeagley23 (who I VERY MUCH appreciate) has consistently stated that Dolson “has his guy,” but has yet to clearly state just who that guy is.

The idea that a search committee and all the cost and legwork involved would be just “optics” is ridiculous to me. He almost certainly has his first choice ID’d and I would bet on his having started the back channel talks, but highly doubt anything is a done deal, that’s a big process with lots of moving parts including ongoing negotiations with the existing team(s) that want to keep the coach in question. 

[HoosierHoopster 8,318]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:46 PM, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Cronin/Williams are, imo, the level of coach we’ll likely end up with. Underwhelming but still quality coaches who could have success here. Not home runs, but not the “swing at a hit pitch” that Mike Woodson was. 

Re the swing reference and Woodson, I’m picturing the Bad News Bears

[Stuhoo 89,543]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:37 PM, OliviaPope40 said:

Did Leal sign to sell the next house?

That’s a picture of a US Customs law enforcement affidavit.

[Trish 14,477]

I wouldn’t take Mick, we’re talking about a guy who is miserable 95% of the time he’s presented in the public eye. He think he‘s the star of the show wherever he goes. 
 

I dont see Dolson considering him at all. 

[MrBBall 982]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:38 PM, Hovadipo said:

If you guys think Woody is unlikeable hahaha holy crap wait til Mick gets on the mic after a bad loss. That’ll be a no from me dog. 

Completely feel the same way. Dude is an ******* and wears out his welcome wherever he goes. You can find his success and, frankly, better resumes of coaches who want to come here. This isn’t 2021. NIL means something that it didn’t then. 

[Hovadipo 61,443]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:48 PM, Stuhoo said:

That’s a picture of a US Customs law enforcement affidavit.

Is Olivia calling Scott Drew to Indiana????

[VFury 624]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:46 PM, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Cronin/Williams are, imo, the level of coach we’ll likely end up with. Underwhelming but still quality coaches who could have success here. Not home runs, but not the “swing at a hit pitch” that Mike Woodson was. 

If I had to pick, it would have to be Buzz. He has more consistent success and shown he can get the most mediocre programs up and running at a consistent high level. Plus the crazy antics of Cronin would drive us crazy and make us beg for the days where Crean looked sane.

[HoosierHoopster 8,318]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:49 PM, Trish said:

I wouldn’t take Mick, we’re talking about a guy who is miserable 95% of the time he’s presented in the public eye. He think he‘s the star of the show wherever he goes. 
 

I dont see Dolson considering him at all. 

I’m so snakebit and bludgeoned and clinging to my love of IU bball at this point I’d take Eeyore coaching us if it meant being a legit winning program again, lol

[Stuhoo 89,543]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:37 PM, VFury said:

I still don't think he's that good. That final 4 run was a miracle run as an 11 seed. Otherwise it's been low ceiling with early upsets galore. Plus, we would get tired of him with his antics. Couple all of that with a buyout in the same range as Nate Oats and TJ Oztelberger, that would be a terrible hire in my opinion.

Ummm… the nine seasons Cronin has had with more than 25 wins haven’t been flukes. Neither have the three 30+ win seasons.

He has about the same win % as Oats, and a significantly better win % than Otz. And I LOVE Otz as a choice for IU.

[iu eyedoc 4,466]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:35 PM, Stuhoo said:

Finally, I find it interesting that @JerryYeagley23 (who I VERY MUCH appreciate) has consistently stated that Dolson “has his guy,” but has yet to clearly state just who that guy is.

If that is true, I don't see "his guy" being anyone other than Stevens or May. Beard, Cronin, Drew, TJ Otz, Pearl would all be great/good get guys, but not "his guy."  And to have "his guy" would imply a lot of communication and near finalization. That seems highly unlikely to have already happened with May, unless Dolson is a ninja AD.

So that leaves Stevens. Will it happen? I am in the fool me once shame on you, fool me twice,you got my gullible azz, damn you're cruel camp.

So in short

Welcome Coach Stevens

[Kentuckysucks 4,332]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:57 PM, iu eyedoc said:

If that is true, I don't see "his guy" being anyone other than Stevens or May. Beard, Cronin, Drew, TJ Otz, Pearl would all be great/good get guys, but not "his guy."  And to have "his guy" would imply a lot of communication and near finalization. That seems highly unlikely to have already happened with May, unless Dolson is a ninja AD.

So that leaves Stevens. Will it happen? I am in the fool me once that's on you, fool me twice,you got my gullible azz, damn your cruel.

So in short

Welcome Coach Stevens

It seems like every hire we have made has come out of left field.  I don’t think there was a single person 4 years ago that thought Woody was even an option.  I expect a lot of smokescreens.  But a Cronin or Buzz like hire is probably accurate.

[Asha’man 1,134]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:53 PM, Stuhoo said:

Ummm… the nine seasons Cronin has had with more than 25 wins haven’t been flukes. Neither have the three 30+ win seasons.

He has about the same win % as Oats, and a significantly better win % than Otz. And I LOVE Otz as a choice for IU.

Nate Oats has a style of play that’s fun and entertaining. I’d take him over any of the slow it down, put me to sleep styles. If we are spending $100ish on Stevens (which I don’t believe) then Oats buyout isn’t an issue. And frankly every coach in the country is on the table with the money being rumored. No reason to settle for anything but a national championship level coach. Cronin? Meh. 

Edited February 9 by Asha’man

[Stuhoo 89,543]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:57 PM, iu eyedoc said:

If that is true, I don't see "his guy" being anyone other than Stevens or May. Beard, Cronin, Drew, TJ Otz, Pearl would all be great/good get guys, but not "his guy."  And to have "his guy" would imply a lot of communication and near finalization. That seems highly unlikely to have already happened with May, unless Dolson is a ninja AD.

So that leaves Stevens. Will it happen? I am in the fool me once that's on you, fool me twice,you got my gullible azz, damn your cruel.

So in short

Welcome Coach Stevens

I’m kinda surprised y’all haven’t caught yeagley’s careful choice of words and the distinction.

When Dusty May chose his words carefully yesterday? Everyone jumped on the distinction.

ap2345 has been clear he thinks it’s Stevens or May, but Yeagley has said no such thing to my knowledge.

Now he may jump in and 100% clear this up, but until then “Dolson’s guy” is a mystery to me.

[VFury 624]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:53 PM, Stuhoo said:

Ummm… the nine seasons Cronin has had with more than 25 wins haven’t been flukes. Neither have the three 30+ win seasons.

He has about the same win % as Oats, and a significantly better win % than Otz. And I LOVE Otz as a choice for IU.

All those wins at UC and they weren't upset to see him go. Nobody at UCLA seems to be in a hurry to make him stay. It's the same with Crean where Marquette people weren't upset to see him go despite all his success there. We would get tired of him and drive him out. I'm just not OK with Cronin as head coach, period.

[Demo 23,576]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:53 PM, Stuhoo said:

Ummm… the nine seasons Cronin has had with more than 25 wins haven’t been flukes. Neither have the three 30+ win seasons.

He has about the same win % as Oats, and a significantly better win % than Otz. And I LOVE Otz as a choice for IU.

Cronin is maybe the best example of a really good coach who would be a very poor fit. Not saying he would fail, just don’t think the pieces fit and that guy would be miserable here. They really need to be conscious of fit, and I’m sure they are. 

[jimsorgi 1,134]

  On 2/9/2025 at 2:37 PM, VFury said:

I still don't think he's that good. That final 4 run was a miracle run as an 11 seed. Otherwise it's been low ceiling with early upsets galore. Plus, we would get tired of him with his antics. Couple all of that with a buyout in the same range as Nate Oats and TJ Oztelberger, that would be a terrible hire in my opinion.

Yeah, agreed. Everyone would tire of Cronin's "it's always someone else's fault" antics very quickly as well. He's a solid coach who doesn't handle pressure or adversity well and is past his peak at UCLA already. 

[Unexpectedflash 1,730]

Ugh Cronin is Archie ball with better success. I’d be perfectly satisfied with buzz though. He’s got a shot at a title this year