Isn't Niele Ivey pretty much penciled in at this point? Or what's the general consensus (if any)
I think that's what most fans would like to see. At the same time, McGraw doesn't appear to be eyeing the exit and any year now Niele could opt to take a head coaching job elsewhere especially now that her son, Jaden, is pretty much grown (now a high school junior).
A fun wrinkle in that scenario is that Jaden has now picked up a scholarship offer from Notre Dame. You could end up with an inversion of the typical scenario where instead of the high school graduate going away for college he stays home and his mom goes away!
Pretty much echo Orangutan's insights. Will add a few extra thoughts:
- Jaden also has offers from Purdue and Butler, as well, so Niele could be spending time criss-crossing the state to see her son play.
- Everything I read indicates MM is pretty juiced to stay on the job. Loves her fellow coaches and staff and her husband Matt, is a great help, too. He accompanies her on many of her recruiting trips so she can concentrate on the task at hand.
- Niele was a finalist for the Vandy job when that popped up. Could see Niele looking at a position like that if it appears once Jaden is in college.
- Niele, is for sure a fan favorite. But I'm not sure that's a done or even understood deal. Beth Morgan Cunninghamm, the ND assistant in charge of wings, had a good track record as head coach at VCU before coming back to ND. And Megan Duffy had a fine first year at Miami of Ohio and has supposedly had an excellent recruiting year, as well. All three - Ivey, Cunningham, Duffy -- were/are McGraw faves as players and coaches. Plus, the longer MM stays, who knows whom else will rise in/join the coaching ranks and possibly be considered.
