General Coach Candidate News

[ap2345 10,223]

28 minutes ago, IU Prof said:

One thought that has probably already been posted, but just occurred to me...

Let's say Dolson is of the mind to use smokescreens for a search like this. And let's say he landed a big fish (Few, Drew, Pearl, etc.) early on. Brad would be the ultimate smokescreen, in order to keep the true hire protected until after the season...

Coming from Brad's side of things. That's not it but it would be a great situation. 

[Stuhoo 85,462]

3 minutes ago, TadQueasy said:

And you know all of this how Mr. Jackal? 

Jackal posted. 

He/she can answer for themselves if they want to. But take the information as given and be grateful it was shared.

This board is awesome.

[AH1971 2,052]

Just now, theriverpilot said:

Culture is a big factor that everyone is listing (including me) for this next hire.  Drew would be a much better culture fit in my opinion.

Why?

He's a staunch, conservative 20+ year Texas transplant with deep religious views. Not that there is anything wrong with that but that is polar opposite to the values of Indiana University. 

[JPCIVOP 212]

20 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

Coming here to flex for Cronin should get you institutionalized. 

I actually don't think anyone has flexed for Cronin; folks have been universally lukewarm on him. I've seen people pointing out that Cronin and Drew are closer than people think, and advocating caution around Drew.

Scott Drew has a great résumé at a hard place to win. During the years between 2010 and 2017 he had two Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights. He gets all the credit in the world for that. That accomplishment does not end the conversation around him. 

I regret as much as anyone else that 2017 is eight years ago. From 2018 to present Drew has made it out of the second round of the Tournament once. I’d like to assume he would’ve made it further in 2020, but his 2022 team was just as good and they bowed out in the round of 32. There is legitimate question about how consistently good his teams are on defense, and how far one can expect defensively challenged teams to go in March. As good as he’s been at Baylor, he’s only had three championship level defenses his entire career. Mick Cronin has led 10 such defenses, and is on track for another this year. I tend to favor a defensive-oriented coach. Cronin's not at good on offense, but his offenses are consistently better than Drew's defenses.

And then there’s the new NIL reality. Baylor doesn’t have resources like Big Ten schools, that’s true. In my mind, that’s the biggest factor that might make IU appealing to him; because we do have those resources. I hope that’s been the problem for Drew, and not that he’s going to have some difficulty adjusting to the new landscape.

All to say; I think both would likely do well. I am not sure who would do a better job. But there's a strong case to be made for both.

[OKHOOSIER 4,920]

10 minutes ago, the_jackal said:

this post will be met with skepticism, which is understandable. but it won't be Stevens. 100% confident on that. Dolson's current list is 3, he doesn't have his "man", but any of those 3 would be really strong hires. has plans D and E as well, names we've all heard but hope it doesn't get to them. Nothing announced until late march at the earliest. deep talks with 1 candidate in particular, a name i think would be just about universally liked, but nothing signed and won't be until his team is done

- Jackal

Welcome!
 

Not to heckle you on a first post, but just point of order for next time, make sure to throw out a name for us to argue over next time when making predictions. 

[ap2345 10,223]

1 hour ago, Rico said:

Says who?

It's one of the worst kept secrets out there in coaching circles tbh 

[BBTB 64]

Interesting that I watch Mind Your Banners and a little of Indiana Sports Beat Radio and both of them said the exact same thing ,which was Dolson does not have his guy  .  Just curious if this is true or just something that they have to say to keep the talk down ?

[Chris007 54,460]

1 minute ago, IUHoosierJoe said:

Funny how that always happens, isn’t it?

I will say at least I'm not scared to name names. If you're going to say something vague at least name someone. 

Hey everyone I can tell you it's not going to be this person but I think it could be one of these 5 guys

[AH1971 2,052]

1 minute ago, JPCIVOP said:

I actually don't think anyone has flexed for Cronin; folks have been universally lukewarm on him. I've seen people pointing out that Cronin and Drew are closer than people think, and advocating caution around Drew.

Scott Drew has a great résumé at a hard place to win. During the years between 2010 and 2017 he had two Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights. He gets all the credit in the world for that. That accomplishment does not end the conversation around him. 

I regret as much as anyone else that 2017 is eight years ago. From 2018 to present Drew has made it out of the second round of the Tournament once. I’d like to assume he would’ve made it further in 2020, but his 2022 team was just as good and they bowed out in the round of 32. There is legitimate question about how consistently good his teams are on defense, and how far one can expect defensively challenged teams to go in March. As good as he’s been at Baylor, he’s only had three championship level defenses his entire career. Mick Cronin has led 10 such defenses, and is on track for another this year. I tend to favor a defensive-oriented coach. Cronin's not at good on offense, but his offenses are consistently better than Drew's defenses.

And then there’s the new NIL reality. Baylor doesn’t have resources like Big Ten schools, that’s true. In my mind, that’s the biggest factor that might make IU appealing to him; because we do have those resources. I hope that’s been the problem for Drew, and not that he’s going to have some difficulty adjusting to the new landscape.

All to say; I think both would likely do well. I am not sure who would do a better job. But there's a strong case to be made for both.

Bingo

[Class of '66 Old Fart 87,683]

12 minutes ago, the_jackal said:

this post will be met with skepticism, which is understandable. but it won't be Stevens. 100% confident on that. Dolson's current list is 3, he doesn't have his "man", but any of those 3 would be really strong hires. has plans D and E as well, names we've all heard but hope it doesn't get to them. Nothing announced until late march at the earliest. deep talks with 1 candidate in particular, a name i think would be just about universally liked, but nothing signed and won't be until his team is done

- Jackal

We welcome you to our humble abode.  Come on in and have a seat.  The party's just getting started.

[ap2345 10,223]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

Apologies up front -- here comes a little snark even though you are a great poster!

• Last I checked the Iowa job is not open.
• I'm guessing he probably prefers Duke over either job.
• Dusty May was thought to prefer Louisville until Michigan explained their job to him. 
• Dolson's job is to sell the value of the IU job to whoever he feels is the best candidate. That sell can be with money, achievement potential, resources, anything and everything.
• If Dolson can't sell our job over a job like Iowa's? That's a candidate that isn't appropriate for IU anyway,  because that's a candidate that doesn't want the limelight.

I get what you're saying. However in coaching circles it's known that he personally views Iowa as a dream job situation. 

[HoosierPapi4 189]

14 minutes ago, the_jackal said:

this post will be met with skepticism, which is understandable. but it won't be Stevens. 100% confident on that. Dolson's current list is 3, he doesn't have his "man", but any of those 3 would be really strong hires. has plans D and E as well, names we've all heard but hope it doesn't get to them. Nothing announced until late march at the earliest. deep talks with 1 candidate in particular, a name i think would be just about universally liked, but nothing signed and won't be until his team is done

- Jackal

Can we get a follow up here?

[JPCIVOP 212]

17 minutes ago, the_jackal said:

this post will be met with skepticism, which is understandable. but it won't be Stevens. 100% confident on that. Dolson's current list is 3, he doesn't have his "man", but any of those 3 would be really strong hires. has plans D and E as well, names we've all heard but hope it doesn't get to them. Nothing announced until late march at the earliest. deep talks with 1 candidate in particular, a name i think would be just about universally liked, but nothing signed and won't be until his team is done

- Jackal

So if you were throw out, say, 10 names, maybe 5 could be ones being actually considered in this scenario?

[Chris007 54,460]

5 minutes ago, OKHOOSIER said:

Welcome!
 

Not to heckle you on a first post, but just point of order for next time, make sure to throw out a name for us to argue over next time when making predictions. 

Can you be anymore vague

[IUBtown 100]

I'm just ready for the time when new pages are added faster than I can read.  Whether it be someone we all hoped for or Mick Cronin I'm ready for it.  

Edited 4 hours ago by IUBtown

[12345Brad 385]

I think I missed it yesterday, but do the Indiana high schools / AAU programs have issues with Drew?   I recall people saying things like that in the past.  Was it just his cheating at Baylor back in the day?  
 

On the flip side, NIL certainly alleviates that. 

[LamarCheeks 20,844]

3 hours ago, 94Bulldog said:

Yep, and I get it, I’d initially be underwhelmed too with all the names being floated and not having P5 experience.  But he’s a Cig type hire and a hell of a coach.  If UK and UL had to go down the list, why do we think we won’t have to?  

I live about 15 minutes from Norfolk State. And yes, Jones is a good coach. Not sure I'd potentially call him a Cig-type hire: He's done all his coaching at the low-major level -- which is why his conference winning % is so much higher than his overall % (.596 to .754).

Cig had many years as a P5 assistant before taking a DII head job, then working his way up. 

Jones supposedly had interest in the past from the likes of Temple, Buffalo, Georgia Southern and reportedly even -- I don't think very seriously, however -- St. John's. I wonder sometimes if he saw what happened to his predecessor -- Anthony Evans. He orchestrated that great 15 vs. 2 upset of Mizzou way back when, then took a gig at Florida International, where he never had a winning record in five seasons. He's now at UMass in some capacity, but has never been a head coach again. 

I sometimes wonder if Jones is just happy where he is. He's from Queens, but maybe Norfolk is where he's decided to hang his hat for good. He's making a comfortable living (nearly $500K a year), and has turned NSU into probably the MEAC's top basketball program (league is a tad watered-down these days after defections). So he has a good chance to get to the NCAAs each year. And I think he's considered a good influence on young Black men (NSU is an HBCU), which is another aspect I think he enjoys about his current gig. 

[IUHoosierJoe 1,780]

5 minutes ago, ap2345 said:

I get what you're saying. However in coaching circles it's known that he personally views Iowa as a dream job situation. 

He also publicly calls the whole state of Iowa “God’s country.”

[IUHoosierJoe 1,780]

7 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

I will say at least I'm not scared to name names. If you're going to say something vague at least name someone. 

Hey everyone I can tell you it's not going to be this person but I think it could be one of these 5 guys

I’d rather know the name of the person sending them here.

[AH1971 2,052]

1 minute ago, IUHoosierJoe said:

He also publicly calls the whole state of Iowa “God’s country.”

Blasphemy