Candi Whitaker out at Tex Tech

[Vowelguy]

When's the last time, if ever, a WCBB coach got fired mid-season?
When was it a P5 coach?

 

[Vowelguy]

Texas Tech fires Candi Whitaker

 

[Puppy Love]

That's a double whammy with Melanie Balcomb having just resigned for personal reasons.

 

[Plebe]

WHOA.

I mean, they were having a truly awful season and the writing was on the wall. But a midseason firing — announced on New Years Day, no less — suggests there are "issues" beyond just basketball performance.

 

[Vowelguy]

That's a double whammy with Melanie Balcomb having just resigned for personal reasons.

Unless they are related.

 

[Plebe]

When's the last time, if ever, a WCBB coach got fired mid-season?
When was it a P5 coach?

I'm guessing Kevin Cook at Winthrop? Technically, though, he was only "suspended" on January 25, 2017, and then fired in March.
What happened to Winthrop women’s basketball and former coach Kevin Cook?

As for a P5 coach, does it count as "midseason" if it was between the conference and NCAA tournaments? Pokey Chatman is the one who comes to mind.

 

[Vowelguy]

I'm guessing Kevin Cook at Winthrop? Technically, though, he was only "suspended" on January 25, 2017, and then fired in March.
What happened to Winthrop women’s basketball and former coach Kevin Cook?

As for a P5 coach, does it count as "midseason" if it was between the conference and NCAA tournaments? Pokey Chatman is the one who comes to mind.

Chatman, of course, for non-performance reasons and seems like Cook as well.

So either a new era for WCBB - ADs demanding on-court results OR that there's more to the story.

 

[eebmg]

Any high level player's who may use this in a transfer move?

 

[Plebe]

Chatman, of course, for non-performance reasons and seems like Cook as well.

So either a new era for WCBB - ADs demanding on-court results OR that there's more to the story.

The AD in the press conference seemed to insist that it was just lack of competitiveness. He specifically mentioned the season-opening loss to Texas State and then referred generally to "subsequent losses" that "have not been good." (There may be other reasons, of course, but he made no hint in that direction.)

To review, Texas Tech went 6-5 before Christmas, including a 17-point loss to Texas State, a 34-point loss to Texas A&M, an 8-point loss to LSU, a 4-point loss to Houston, and a 34-point loss to New Mexico.

After Christmas, they lost by 41 points at home to Oklahoma State and by 48 points on the road to Baylor. The AD said he arrived at his decision last night (after the Baylor game) to make a "change in leadership."

This was her press conference after their home loss to OSU. She looks kind of beleaguered:

 

[JordyG]

That's a double whammy with Melanie Balcomb having just resigned for personal reasons.

Personal reasons meaning she saw the writing on the wall.

 

[southie]

They should have fired her after last season. Bad season on top of previous bad seasons. Several more transfers. Asst. Coach with best recruiting connections resigned, and his daughter decommitted. Not much of a recruiting class for 2017, and then she might not have even signed anyone in November for 2018 class..

But, I think she had one season remaining on her contract; AD probably got cheap and didn't want to buy out her contract and hire and have to pay a new head coach, as well.

So, personally, I think he forced Balcomb on her as an assistant coach, with the mindset that Balcomb could step in to a bigger role, if necessary. But, something may have happened last month that caused Balcomb to move on (not sure those personal reasons tell the whole story).

I do feel for the kids and coaching staff the remain; they are in way over their heads. But, the administration needed to have made the tough decisions after last season. Writing was on the wall for what was coming on the court in 2017-18.

 

[Plebe]

They should have fired after last season. Bad season on top of previous bad seasons. Several more transfers. Asst. Coach with best recruiting connections resigned, and his daughter decommitted. Not much of a recruiting class for 2017, and then she might not have even signed anyone in November for 2018 class..

But, I think she had one season remaining on her contract; AD probably got cheap and didn't want to buy out her contract and hire and have to pay a new head coach, as well.

So, personally, I think he forced Balcomb on her as an assistant coach, with the mindset that Balcomb could step in to a bigger role, if necessary. But, something may have happened last month that caused Balcomb to move on (not sure those personal reasons tell the whole story).

I do feel for the kids and coaching staff the remain; they are in way over their heads. But, the administration needed to have made the tough decisions after last season. Writing was on the wall for what was coming on the court in 2017-18.

Texas Tech has been something of a Transfer Central in the past couple years, both incoming and outgoing.

A perusal of their current roster indicates no fewer than six players who have transferred in from power 5 schools. A few of these have been high-profile transfers, such as Recee Caldwell from UCLA and McKenzie Calvert from Kansas.

 

[Shmermerer]

The interesting thing is that they have lots of talents on their roster. A few top 20 and several top 100 recruits. They should be competitive with the roster they have. Caldwell, Calvert, and DeGrate are all pretty elite prospects. Just need good coaching.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Who's gonna step in? Sheryl Swoopes and all her unexamined baggage from Loyola?

Something must have precipitated this...

 

[Plebe]

Who's gonna step in? Sheryl Swoopes and all her unexamined baggage from Loyola?

Something must have precipitated this...

Assistant coach Shimmy Gray-Miller has been elevated to interim HC. (She was most recently an assistant to Amanda Butler at Florida.)

 

[Vowelguy]

Assistant coach Shimmy Gray-Miller has been elevated to interim HC. (She was most recently an assistant to Amanda Butler at Florida.)

Shimmy Gray-Miller, a woman who coached at St. Louis (A10) and got fired after poor results

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Shimmy Gray-Miller, a woman who coached at St. Louis (A10) and got fired after poor results

Well she did fill in for Amanda Butler at Florida and go into TBA and beat the lady vols so I say give her a try

Poor shooting highlights Tennessee’s loss to Florida

 

[donalddoowop]

Shimmy Gray-Miller, a woman who coached at St. Louis (A10) and got fired after poor results

Shimmy Gray-Miller, a woman who coached at St. Louis (A10) and got fired after poor results

She was really bad here. She left the program in a bad way.

 

[southie]

I doubt Shimmy wants all the headaches and stress; but, I guess she could have said no.

 

[Plebe]

Well she did fill in for Amanda Butler at Florida and go into TBA and beat the lady vols so I say give her a try

Poor shooting highlights Tennessee’s loss to Florida

There you go. She's 1-0 as a power 5 acting head coach and her one win was a monumental upset at mighty Rocky Top.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

They should have fired her after last season. Bad season on top of previous bad seasons. Several more transfers. Asst. Coach with best recruiting connections resigned, and his daughter decommitted. Not much of a recruiting class for 2017, and then she might not have even signed anyone in November for 2018 class..

But, I think she had one season remaining on her contract; AD probably got cheap and didn't want to buy out her contract and hire and have to pay a new head coach, as well.

So, personally, I think he forced Balcomb on her as an assistant coach, with the mindset that Balcomb could step in to a bigger role, if necessary. But, something may have happened last month that caused Balcomb to move on (not sure those personal reasons tell the whole story).

I do feel for the kids and coaching staff the remain; they are in way over their heads. But, the administration needed to have made the tough decisions after last season. Writing was on the wall for what was coming on the court in 2017-18.

While I don't know that "personal reasons" ever tell the whole story, I read the article(s) at the time and she was specific that it was a "family health emergency". I don't think she would have been that specific if there wasn't truth there.

Otherwise, I pretty much agree.

 

[easttexastrash]

The interesting thing is that they have lots of talents on their roster. A few top 20 and several top 100 recruits. They should be competitive with the roster they have. Caldwell, Calvert, and DeGrate are all pretty elite prospects. Just need good coaching.

Did you see DeGrate play during the Baylor game? That girl is SERIOUSLY out of shape.

 

[easttexastrash]

Who's gonna step in? Sheryl Swoopes and all her unexamined baggage from Loyola?

Something must have precipitated this...

Swoopes may perform better and deal with the players much better with the guidance of Marsha Sharp.

 

[Shmermerer]

Did you see DeGrate play during the Baylor game? That girl is SERIOUSLY out of shape.

Being seriously out of shape doesn’t mean you’re not talented. The right coach can help change that work ethic.

 

[Plebe]

Interesting press conference from interim coach Gray-Miller ahead of TTU's game vs. Kansas: