General Coach Candidate News

[str8baller 7,242]

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 10,605]

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 2,198]

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

[Hoosierfanyuh 5,133]

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 7,242]

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.

[LamarCheeks 21,899]

2 hours ago, AKHoosier said:

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. 

I live in Virginia -- not necessarily saying I have any more insight to Bennett than anybody else, but I have followed the program for the past few years. I get a sense he's just done with college basketball. I think he tolerates recruiting but loves to coach -- and just doesn't want to deal with NIL and the transfer portal.

I think even if you gave him unlimited NIL funding, he wouldn't be interested. He has said he thinks players should be compensated, but I think he doesn't care for the system as-is, where it's like pro free agency -- who spends the most gets the most. And I'm pretty sure he detests the transfer portal as-is -- where players can come and go as they please, sometimes going to 4 schools in 4 years. 

I think Bennett is like Jay Wright -- he doesn't want to have to mess with all that crap. 

[Woodsonshump 377]

2 hours 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. 

Just as Indiana can't get past itself, so many here can't get past the top name on that list especially. The ship that never was has sailed. Must be an IU thing to love to just keep stirring the same stagnant water. Whatever it is, I'm way past over it. Time to get a fresh vision for what this program could/should be. 

[go iu bb 8,920]

40 minutes ago, AZ Hoosier said:

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... r

I know there were stories/rumors of Pearl having interest, but I am not convinced that he was 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?

Two retired coaches (Brad Stevens, Jay Wright and Tony Bennet) do not interest me at all. Neither 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 nice record.
• 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.

I like a lot of your list except for Shrewsberry. He seems incredibly overrated on this board. He gets credit for having potential but never stays anywhere long enough to see if he'll ever actually reach that potential. He's in year 2 at ND and lost to Elon by 7 points. He's only 4-3 so far this year and has won less than 40% of his games there and less than 50% overall.

It's 100% clear he's not a fast fix and quite unclear if he'd be a fix at all.

I would be very disappointed if IU followed Woodson with Shrewsberry.

[BA47591 769]

I'm a huge fan of Schertz offense and the effort his teams play with, but there will be a huge effort made to land Pearl. 

[Hovadipo 61,254]

I said it last year when Schertz was a hot name…I’m not worried about the ball, but I do wonder how he’d handle everything else at a place like IU. He was responding to message board comments in press conferences at Indiana State. There’s probably 25 ISU fans that care enough to post on their board, no exaggeration. 

He’s kind of an odd dude so idk if it’s thin skin or he just likes to mess with people, but I’d be taking a long look at stuff like that if I was doing the hiring. 

[Muskie plays the four 713]

1 hour ago, Hovadipo said:

I said it last year when Schertz was a hot name…I’m not worried about the ball, but I do wonder how he’d handle everything else at a place like IU. He was responding to message board comments in press conferences at Indiana State. There’s probably 25 ISU fans that care enough to post on their board, no exaggeration. 

He’s kind of an odd dude so idk if it’s thin skin or he just likes to mess with people, but I’d be taking a long look at stuff like that if I was doing the hiring. 

Those 25 are loyal true fans for sure.

[bird4par 372]

1 hour ago, Hovadipo said:

I said it last year when Schertz was a hot name…I’m not worried about the ball, but I do wonder how he’d handle everything else at a place like IU. He was responding to message board comments in press conferences at Indiana State. There’s probably 25 ISU fans that care enough to post on their board, no exaggeration. 

He’s kind of an odd dude so idk if it’s thin skin or he just likes to mess with people, but I’d be taking a long look at stuff like that if I was doing the hiring. 

Archie like?

[Hovadipo 61,254]

6 minutes ago, bird4par said:

Archie like?

No, not at all. He’s very personable and is always joking around. Just has a strange sense of humor sometimes and it produces some odd quotes in pressers. 

[OliviaPope40 7,436]

6 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. 

I meant after yesterday but before yesterday works too.

[8bucks 7,446]

6 hours ago, Hoosierfanyuh said:

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

What is his buyout

[JSHoosier 22,182]

1 minute ago, 8bucks said:

What is his buyout

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2024/04/03/contract-details-dusty-may-new-michigan-wolverines-mens-basketball-coach/73193964007/

May’s buyout, should he leave for another job, starts at $5 million and decreases each of the next four years, from $4 million to $2 million to $1 million to $500,000. If he’s fired without cause, the university will owe him 70% of his remaining base salary.

[8bucks 7,446]

1 hour ago, JSHoosier said:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2024/04/03/contract-details-dusty-may-new-michigan-wolverines-mens-basketball-coach/73193964007/

May’s buyout, should he leave for another job, starts at $5 million and decreases each of the next four years, from $4 million to $2 million to $1 million to $500,000. If he’s fired without cause, the university will owe him 70% of his remaining base salary.

Very low. 

[JF87 2,141]

Reviving this thread.  A name to consider might be Mark Byington at Vanderbilt.  Prior to this year he was at James Madison, and we had some good results with another James Madison coach.  Another coach to consider would be Grant McCasland at Texas Tech.  The man has won everywhere he's been.  

[yogisballin 2,428]

10 hours ago, JF87 said:

Reviving this thread.  A name to consider might be Mark Byington at Vanderbilt.  Prior to this year he was at James Madison, and we had some good results with another James Madison coach.  Another coach to consider would be Grant McCasland at Texas Tech.  The man has won everywhere he's been.  

I haven’t seen enough from Byington in regards to big time tournament games. McCasland is interesting. I want to go young, just not sure who I’d want it to be

[Uspshoosier 53,451]

The next head coach is probably going to have Midwest ties.  Usually when a program hires a coach they have ties to that region.   Someone like McCasland with Midwest ties and from Texas is most likely to stay in Texas.   A lot of good coaches out there with Midwest ties so IU should be able to get a good candidate.  IU plays in the B1G which is a cash cow so maybe you can get a coach that doesn’t have those ties however i don’t see it