Kenny Johnson to Louisville

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,386]

Wouldnt be shocked if he moved. Young coaches want to move around and make new connections, learn new things, etc

Sadly the move would make good sense for him. Guess we'll find out soon.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

Glass should crush this now. Call KJ into his office, tell him you'll beat any offer and bid him a good day.


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[mdn82 25,510]

Glass should crush this now. Call KJ into his office, tell him you'll beat any offer and bid him a good day.


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He wouldn't be able to do that.  Unless we have coaches quitting Crean cannot make him top assistant.  He is our recruiting director and a fine one at that.  Don't get me wrong, if he went to Maryland it is to recruit.  It is sort of like what the Cubs had to do with Theo Epstein to get him away from Boston, but he is still the GM even if his title and pay don't show it.  Assistants don't typically last forever unless you are the right hand man.  KJ will probably be no different.  

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

[quote name="mdn82" post="60067" timestamp="1397656581"]He wouldn't be able to do that. Unless we have coaches quitting Crean cannot make him top assistant. He is our recruiting director and a fine one at that. Don't get me wrong, if he went to Maryland it is to recruit. It is sort of like what the Cubs had to do with Theo Epstein to get him away from Boston, but he is still the GM even if his title and pay don't show it. Assistants don't typically last forever unless you are the right hand man. KJ will probably be no different. [/quote] I meant money. I see your point though.


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[hoosierpap 14,300]

I don't know much about the hot commodity bit that Goodman alluded to but I can tell you Buzz Williams has been poking around since his move weeks ago. No clue about Maryland other than it makes sense. 

[WindyCitySource 600]

I RT'ed some numbers from Chronic Hoosier this morning regarding the assistant salaries last season at IU. Kenny is lowest paid but not by much... there isn't much disparity (relatively speaking) between him and McClain/Buckley. I think if Glass gave Kenny a raise, he'd have to give the other two guys a raise too. Not that it would be horrible... a raise might keep the other two happier while they wait for head coaching gigs to open up for them. 

 

The question is whether or not keeping KJ is worth giving raises to all three. If he's got the money in the budget then I'd say go for it, otherwise let him walk and replace him.

 

KJ is a great recruiter and the proof is out there for everyone to see. But he is far from irreplaceable. 

[Myrmidon76 614]

Let him go. Dude screwed with team chemistry way too much. I know you guys would feel the loss of the DMV, but I imagine the move would put more of a load on Crean to close deals than anybody else. Johnson didn't recruit one starter that helped us win the Big Ten outright...not one. The team that WAS recruited by him didn't even make the NIT. I like the kids, but there are/were too many chemistry issues. Let him go...we will be just fine. I still don't get how we can miss on so many recruiting targets and our Director of Recruiting hasn't remotely been brought to task. Those misses are just as much on him as they are Crean....its his only job!! Whatever edge he gaves us is gone. Let him go.

[mdn82 25,510]

I RT'ed some numbers from Chronic Hoosier this morning regarding the assistant salaries last season at IU. Kenny is lowest paid but not by much... there isn't much disparity (relatively speaking) between him and McClain/Buckley. I think if Glass gave Kenny a raise, he'd have to give the other two guys a raise too. Not that it would be horrible... a raise might keep the other two happier while they wait for head coaching gigs to open up for them. 

 

The question is whether or not keeping KJ is worth giving raises to all three. If he's got the money in the budget then I'd say go for it, otherwise let him walk and replace him.

 

KJ is a great recruiter and the proof is out there for everyone to see. But he is far from irreplaceable. 

 

You know I thought of adding this, but don't mean for this to turn into a Crean bashing tool.  I thought about the money Crean makes.  I thought about the money his assistants make.  JBJ is coming to IU because of the work Kenny put in after he came on board.  Many people forget that.  He did not instantly decommit because of the knee injury and KJ.  Kenny kept working JBJ.  When it became apparent Calipari was in on this Crean jumped in more too.  I think for continuity of the players Kenny mostly recruited (successfully) it would be nice of Crean to give up a couple of hundred thousand to his assistants or match IU.  It would look good on him and make his assistants happier.  Dude would still make over $3 million per year.  I know that will never happen, but we are talking well below 10% of his contract.  It is a lot, but in the overall scheme it would pay dividends imo.  

[RoadToZion 373]

Let him go. Dude screwed with team chemistry way too much. I know you guys would feel the loss of the DMV, but I imagine the move would put more of a load on Crean to close deals than anybody else. Johnson didn't recruit one starter that helped us win the Big Ten outright...not one. The team that WAS recruited by him didn't even make the NIT. I like the kids, but there are/were too many chemistry issues. Let him go...we will be just fine. I still don't get how we can miss on so many recruiting targets and our Director of Recruiting hasn't remotely been brought to task. Those misses are just as much on him as they are Crean....its his only job!! Whatever edge he gaves us is gone. Let him go.

Haha you really don't believe that do you? You really think Kenny messed up "chemistry" issues with the team and thats why we didn't even make the NIT?

 

You're REALLY stretching there. 

 

Kenny is a huge asset to our team, period. It would really hurt to lose him. 

[Banksyrules 4,802]

Kenny is a great assistant.  The kids love that guy.  If he leaves,  to me that marks the beginning of the end of the Coach Crean era. I don't think Coach Crean will be able recruit another assistant to Johnson's level because many will view him as a sitting duck. Just MHO. 

[CampHoosier 3,697]

I never thought losing an assistant we had for 2 seasons would have such bleak indications. Yeeeesh people

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Let him go. Dude screwed with team chemistry way too much. I know you guys would feel the loss of the DMV, but I imagine the move would put more of a load on Crean to close deals than anybody else. Johnson didn't recruit one starter that helped us win the Big Ten outright...not one. The team that WAS recruited by him didn't even make the NIT. I like the kids, but there are/were too many chemistry issues. Let him go...we will be just fine. I still don't get how we can miss on so many recruiting targets and our Director of Recruiting hasn't remotely been brought to task. Those misses are just as much on him as they are Crean....its his only job!! Whatever edge he gaves us is gone. Let him go.

Well, that's one take on things.

[Banksyrules 4,802]

I never thought losing an assistant we had for 2 seasons would have such bleak indications. Yeeeesh people

He's a very good assistant.  Good coaches have great assistants and are very hard to come by.  Everyone saw what happened when Crean got that assistant from Duke (I forget the name)and messed us up with certain recruits (Irving, though now I'm getting the vibe that he's a big cry baby).  

The high school Coaches and players love Coach Johnson and he cuts through a lot of bull so we can have access to talk to theses kids.  Very hard to find people like that.   

[Myrmidon76 614]

Haha you really don't believe that do you? You really think Kenny messed up "chemistry" issues with the team and thats why we didn't even make the NIT?

You're REALLY stretching there.

Kenny is a huge asset to our team, period. It would really hurt to lose him.

Yup. I do believe it. No, I am not crazy. Johnson is a recruiter first and foremost. Unfortunately, he believes himself to be an even better coach. THATS reaching. 

[schoosier 3,480]

Kenny is a great assistant.  The kids love that guy.  If he leaves,  to me that marks the beginning of the end of the Coach Crean era. I don't think Coach Crean will be able recruit another assistant to Johnson's level because many will view him as a sitting duck. Just MHO.

Its already the beginning of the end. Why do you think we are having recruiting problems and can't give them away? These recruits are a lot smarter than many on here think.

[mdn82 25,510]

[quote name="Myrmidon76" post="60114" timestamp="1397671683"]Yup. I do believe it. No, I am not crazy. Johnson is a recruiter first and foremost. Unfortunately, he believes himself to be an even better coach. THATS reaching. [/quote]Did you ever at one point in your life felt like you were learning something to grow? Or did everyone around you label you 2 years on the job? If you had a better opportunity would you grow or would you listen to people say you should only be in one area cause you will be no good in that other area? Serious question.


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[WindyCitySource 600]

Based on some info from other sites, KJ might very well be on his way out. And not to the school many are suggesting. 

[JaybobHoosier 11,843]

Is it football season yet?

We are just in some different times. Does it suck, yes, but everything will be fine. At the end of the day, we all bleed Crimson and Cream, and that's all that matters. Go IU!

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[WindyCitySource 600]

Is it football season yet?

We are just in some different times. Does it suck, yes, but everything will be fine. At the end of the day, we all bleed Crimson and Cream, and that's all that matters. Go IU!

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Right... I reiterate my original thoughts. KJ is a good recruiter. That's his value. He is nice to have, but not at all irreplaceable. Plus giving him a raise means giving the other two assistants raises, which means it's likely not worth it unless they are due raises as it is. 

[Myrmidon76 614]

Did you ever at one point in your life felt like you were learning something to grow? Or did everyone around you label you 2 years on the job? If you had a better opportunity would you grow or would you listen to people say you should only be in one area cause you will be no good in that other area? Serious question.


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I get where you are going and I understand why you ask. I don't mind people to better themselves in any way. As a matter of fact, if you aren't looking at ways to improve yourself then I have a hard time understanding why. You bring up a very valid point. However, have you ever been in a position trying to improve yourself but you oversell your actual skill? I try to make myself better every moment of every day, but I don't try to say I am capable of flying to the moon when I outright can't. Can he become a good coach? Absolutely! Coming into Indiana from Towson was a HUGE jump for him and I honestly think he let the culture influence him to a point where he "had" to sell himself being not only a good recruiter but a good coach as well. Good coaches don't shout down the head coach. Good coaches don't overstep their role. Good coaches don't make it a point to be the first to chew a kid out BEFORE the head coach has said his piece to him. Good coaches teach first, then yell. Johnson is not a good coach. Watch any game...any game at all this past season and watch how Johnson conducts himself. I mean at points through the season, I wasn't sure exactly who the head coach might have been. At some times, Johnson was half way onto the floor yelling at the kids. As an assistant coach/recruiter, I have no idea how these things are considered good habits. I mean, if there are multiple messages coming from the staff throughout the whole game, you have mass confusion. Mass confusion leads to defensive breakdowns and turnovers...any of that sound familiar this year? Johnson can become a good coach. Its all up to him. To this point, I am not impressed with him as a coach. Learn, then teach. 2 years doesn't make anybody an expert in anything. Just don't conduct yourself as if you were. Good question...and I removed any personal slight (intentional or otherwise) from it. I doubt I change many minds, but its my opinion...take it or leave it. I do honestly hope that Johnson makes a total fool out of me and becomes exactly what this program needs to rebound, but I don't think that will happen.

 

I will leave the topic of Kenny Johnson. You guys know how I feel about it. I know how you feel about it. Lets agree to disagree about him and move on. I do mean it when I say I hope you guys are right and I am a fool.