2026 Coaching Hires (the crazy season) | The Boneyard

2026 Coaching Hires (the crazy season)

Apparently, LSU's HC Kim Mulkey doesn't feel Redus and Mitchell were all that valuable to her coaching staff: "Y'all don't understand job responsibilities. Daphne and (Redus were) our recruiters OK? I have one person that does scout and that's (associate head coach Bob Starkey)," Mulkey said. "Bob will do what he normally does and the floor coaching, you'll just move Seimone (Augustus) to fill in for G on passing drills and probably move Joe (Schwartz) down here with Bob." So, Mitchell and Redus were "just" recruiters and Redus helped on passing drills? Mulkey could have just publicly complimented them on their contributions to the program and moved on. Guess I shouldn't be surprised it's more of Mulkey being Mulkey.
 
Mulkey likes Mulkeying...but she was actually quite gracious when Redus announced, even advising and pushing him out the door when he offered to stay.

She seemed quite sincere that it was best for him to get things up and running at Rutgers. Before it was official she also predicted one other staff member would go with him. She noted she was happy that she now has a little 'coaching tree'.

I think this new chatter is just reassuring fans that LSU will be properly prepared, not that Redus added little value.

He has been an amazing recruiter...Kim will have to find one of those.
 
packwrap said:
He has been an amazing recruiter...Kim will have to find one of those.
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History suggests that Mulkey will have no problem finding one. Redus II did not have such a sterling reputation as a recruiter prior to landing in Baton Rouge and has almost no reputation as a player development coach. Unless he has strong recruiting ties to the mid-Atlantic region (he's a Southerner), I don't see this working out well for him or for Rutgers.

It's also worth mentioning that Sytia Messer (former longtime recruiting coordinator for Baylor under Mulkey) has struggled mightily as a head coach (49-69 at UCF in four seasons since taking over for Coach Abe) and may lose her job sooner rather than later.
 
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DRR25 said:
Apparently, LSU's HC Kim Mulkey doesn't feel Redus and Mitchell were all that valuable to her coaching staff: "Y'all don't understand job responsibilities. Daphne and (Redus were) our recruiters OK? I have one person that does scout and that's (associate head coach Bob Starkey)," Mulkey said. "Bob will do what he normally does and the floor coaching, you'll just move Seimone (Augustus) to fill in for G on passing drills and probably move Joe (Schwartz) down here with Bob." So, Mitchell and Redus were "just" recruiters and Redus helped on passing drills? Mulkey could have just publicly complimented them on their contributions to the program and moved on. Guess I shouldn't be surprised it's more of Mulkey being Mulkey.
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While this is appalling to read (though, with Mulkey being involved, it's not too surprising), young coaches have been warned by their more veteran counterparts that some well-established coaches will only view them as "recruiters" and that these younger coaches may need to do their homework before they sign on with these programs. Coach Yo spoke extensively on this a couple of years ago.

Sure, the Final Fours and conference titles are nice and boost up the resume, but are they worth your professional reputation (being pigeonholed into a role based on your ahem attributes)?
 
packwrap said:
Mulkey likes Mulkeying...but she was actually quite gracious when Redus announced, even advising and pushing him out the door when he offered to stay.

She seemed quite sincere that it was best for him to get things up and running at Rutgers. Before it was official she also predicted one other staff member would go with him. She noted she was happy that she now has a little 'coaching tree'.

I think this new chatter is just reassuring fans that LSU will be properly prepared, not that Redus added little value.

He has been an amazing recruiter...Kim will have to find one of those.
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In Rutgers' situation maybe it's better that he focuses on identifying what he needs for this program. He also has a recruiting class to engage and see if they're going to re-open their recruiting. If LSU goes on a lengthy run, he loses a fair bit of time that could be used to build those relationships.
 
WBBTakeover said:
Sure, the Final Fours and conference titles are nice and boost up the resume, but are they worth your professional reputation (being pigeonholed into a role based on your ahem attributes)?
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He certainly was able to use LSU/Mulkey as a stepping stone to a P4 program with tradition. Tough to beat that move as a 1st time head coach.

Question now on recruiting will be can he do it with less funding, and as you point out, in a new region.

We'll see real fast how he does in the portal.

Then if he can coach next year in Big10.
 
packwrap said:
Mulkey likes Mulkeying...but she was actually quite gracious when Redus announced, even advising and pushing him out the door when he offered to stay.

She seemed quite sincere that it was best for him to get things up and running at Rutgers. Before it was official she also predicted one other staff member would go with him. She noted she was happy that she now has a little 'coaching tree'.

I think this new chatter is just reassuring fans that LSU will be properly prepared, not that Redus added little value.

He has been an amazing recruiter...Kim will have to find one of those.
Expand ...
Yeah, I don't know if she was being gracious or hurrying him out the door, but maybe I'm too critical.
 
packwrap said:
He certainly was able to use LSU/Mulkey as a stepping stone to a P4 program with tradition. Tough to beat that move as a 1st time head coach.

Question now on recruiting will be can he do it with less funding, and as you point out, in a new region.

We'll see real fast how he does in the portal.

Then if he can coach next year in Big10.
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I don't think you can judge the first year taking over an unsuccessful program. I would be surprised if he could pry any recruits from LSU, some Rutgers players and recruits (such as they may have been) will depart and the portal is a fickle thing. In today's world, very few coaches are successful resurrecting a program in one year. That is what makes the coach of my rival school up north, Molly Miller, so outstanding.
 
KnightBridgeAZ said:
I don't think you can judge the first year taking over an unsuccessful program. I would be surprised if he could pry any recruits from LSU, some Rutgers players and recruits (such as they may have been) will depart and the portal is a fickle thing. In today's world, very few coaches are successful resurrecting a program in one year. That is what makes the coach of my rival school up north, Molly Miller, so outstanding.
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While neither program was as down as ASU, I'd say Mulkey at LSU and Baranczyk at Oklahoma both pulled off the instant turn around. Coincidentally in the same season 21-22.
 
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nwhoopfan said:
While neither program was as down as ASU, I'd say Mulkey at LSU and Baranczyk at Oklahoma both pulled off the instant turn around. Coincidentally in the same season 21-22.
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Oklahoma wasn't anywhere near that bad, and Braranczyk was well known and successful. Mulkey is Mulkey. And the portal and all that were nowhere near what they have become, not to mention the whole Covid effect.

If Redus can turn around Rutgers better than Becky Burke turned around Arizona, or Mathew Mitchell turned around Houston - or Barnes turned around SMU - I will be speechless. There are clearly coaches who could have a major effect - especially head coaches bringing quality players with them - but that is only the norm at programs that are not disasters like Rutgers, Penn State, Northwestern etc. And teams are more often disasters as players wholesale abandon ship at the coaching change unless you are bringing in a well known P4 head coach, I think. And even then . . .
 
Word is Alabama coach Kristy Curry has called a team meeting this afternoon. I heard a B1G podcaster say last week he heard Northwestern was pursuing her as its next head coach. Nothing about that makes sense to me, so I ignored it. But, I can’t think of any reason to be calling a team meeting at this juncture of the season unless it’s to get ahead of some breaking news. Now, I’m intrigued. She’s a good coach and seems to fit the Bama culture to a T. Never once thought of her as a Northwestern gal, but who knows.
 
That will be a fascinating move if it happens. I think Alabama is a very hard job. And you might just always be fighting to be in the middle of the pack there.
 
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YoDore said:
Word is Alabama coach Kristy Curry has called a team meeting this afternoon. I heard a B1G podcaster say last week he heard Northwestern was pursuing her as its next head coach. Nothing about that makes sense to me, so I ignored it. But, I can’t think of any reason to be calling a team meeting at this juncture of the season unless it’s to get ahead of some breaking news. Now, I’m intrigued. She’s a good coach and seems to fit the Bama culture to a T. Never once thought of her as a Northwestern gal, but who knows.
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Definitely going to be interesting. I mean she does have Big Ten coaching history at Purdue, so she knows the landscape and what Northwestern offers in terms of basketball talent and what you can recruit. Anything can happen if this move happens.
 
Stagnant said:


Maybe Skim isn’t good enough for some people? So here!

Bam!! South Florida poaching SEC coaches! 👏
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I don’t know her personally, but I like her, and she’s a good coach. Her teams are fundamentally sound and play hard. I suspect she just got tired of climbing that SEC mountain. She should do very well at USF. Would love to see her persuade Ace Austin to come along and be her point guard.
 
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Stagnant said:
That will be a fascinating move if it happens. I think Alabama is a very hard job. And you might just always be fighting to be in the middle of the pack there.
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Better than fighting to stay out of the cellar isn't it? I can't imagine that Northwestern would be willing to pay more for a coach than Alabama, regardless of the sport. If this is true, it's absolutely mind boggling to me. I'd heard the rumor a few days ago and dismissed it as too nonsensical.
 
I guess USF is the 'Northwestern of Florida'. Wonder if she will get Geno down there for golf. 😁
 
Very curious if Michelle will join Jose with the Dallas Wings. The Wings have been very quiet about their new staff outside of the HC hire
 
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