OSU's McGuff Hires Mark Mitchell as Asst Coach

[UConnCat]

Mitchell has been a very successful boys HS and AAU coach in Cincinnati.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/053113aaa.html

Oh, and he's the father of Kelsey Mitchell, considered to be one of the top players in the 2014 class.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Similar to what happened when Georgia hired Kara Braxton's mom. Guess its no different then when Baylor/Texas etc. hire AAU coaches in an effort to make inroads to recruiting players from their AAU teams.

 

[wallman]

Also similar to when Cal hired Kevin Morrison.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Good for both of them.

As long as everyone is happy and it keeps Mitchell out of Tennessee. Im sure the "Summitt" is handling this news nicely

I think McGuff will do great things at OSU.

 

[UConnCat]

This has happened on the men's side too. Danny Manning's father was hired as an assistant at Kansas and Mario Chalmer's father was hired as a DBO at Kansas. I think there is a rule that prohibits hiring parents in non-coaching positions, so no more DBO positions for mom or dad.

Query whether a school has ever hired a parent and brought in 2 of his/her kids as recruits in the same year? Kelsey has a twin sister (Chelsea) and reportedly they want to play at the same school. Do we think McGuff is willing to offer a scholly to Chelsea too? (sarcasm alert) This will be the ultimate family plan.

 

[Stray Cat]

Mitchell has been a very successful boys HS and AAU coach in Cincinnati.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/053113aaa.html

Oh, and he's the father of Kelsey Mitchell, considered to be one of the top players in the 2014 class.

Coquese Washington tried doing the same thing at Penn St. offering Skylar Diggins' step-father (Mo Scott) an assistant coaching position. When that failed, she offered one of Skylar's best friend's Emily Phillips a full-ride scholly, although she had no business playing at that level. After sitting on the bench and not seeing Skylar at Penn St., she transferred out.

There is no doubt in my mind that McGuff were make tOSU a playa will do anything to make that happen as soon as possible. Don't be surprised if you see some transfers headed Columbus in the near future or studettes who couldn't cut it academically at schools with a semblance of academic integrity.

 

[Vowelguy]

Coquese Washington tried doing the same thing at Penn St. offering Skylar Diggins' step-father (Mo Scott) an assistant coaching position. When that failed, she offered one of Skylar's best friend's Emily Phillips a full-ride scholly, although she had no business playing at that level. After sitting on the bench and not seeing Skylar at Penn St., she transferred out.

Walz gave a scholarship to a friend of Mercedes Russell. When Russell chose TN, the Lou fan board was not pleased.
The player rescinded her LOI and, I believe, will be at a D-II school now.

 

[Icebear]

I know nothing of such an offer to Skylar's step dad, however, I was sorry to see Phillips transfer out because she had some very promising minutes while she was at PSU.

 

[UConnCat]

Im sure the "Summitt" is handling this news nicely

I'm sure they are. Now, if instead of hiring Mr Mitchell as an assistant coach OSU eventually allowed him to sign a licensing agreement so he could try to sell some handmade fanny packs bearing the Buckeye logo, then we know years of outrage on the Summitt would ensue.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Head Coach Hires - Link

 

[Outside Shot]

I was told by some folks that usually know that Louisville was also trying to hire Mitchell's dad. I guess it is all fair until someone makes it otherwise.

 

[UConnCat]

I was told by some folks that usually know that Louisville was also trying to hire Mitchell's dad. I guess it is all fair until someone makes it otherwise.

This does not surprise me. One of Louisville's asst coaches became the new head coach at Belmont so Walz has an opening on his staff.

 

[HGN]

It's not just Kelsey Mitchell that OSU Coach McGuff could be after by hiring Mitchell's dad. It could be the Ohio -Connection OSU is after. Remember , Kathryn Westbeld (6'2 ; HG#31)) and UConn target , and Mikayla Waterman (6'2 PF ; HG #30) play on Kelsey's AAU team. All are reported to be very , very close friends. And all are from the State of Ohio. They have even said they would like to play WCBB together. So , if Kelsey Mitchell follows her dad to Ohio State , there's a chance Westbeld and/or Waterman may follow.

So McGuff may be trying to play a game of dominoes. And from where I am sitting he's off to a good start.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Similar to what happened when Georgia hired Kara Braxton's mom. Guess its no different then when Baylor/Texas etc. hire AAU coaches in an effort to make inroads to recruiting players from their AAU teams.

Tasha Humphrey's mother was hired, not Kara Braxton's

 

[CBus13]

I'm very excited for this news! However I hope it doesn't backfire like it did for Louisville and Mercedes' friend.

Also, don't staff and faculty typically get benefits for working for the university such as paid tuition for immediate family (daughters and sons?) So would that help with Chelsea Mitchell getting a spot on the team....wouldn't necessarily cost a scholarship?

 

[Wbbfan1]

Thanks Cam, I was doing it from memory and it obviously failed me.

Tasha Humphrey's mother was hired, not Kara Braxton's

 

[John Glass]

Great move by The Ohio State, I do not know if Mitchell can coach, but he has proven he can recruit. I doubt the third assistant coach does much coaching anyways.

Kelsey Mitchell has a younger sister that intends to play with her in college..... she is a year or two younger (?)

 

[UConnCat]

Great move by The Ohio State, I do not know if Mitchell can coach, but he has proven he can recruit. I doubt the third assistant coach does much coaching anyways.

Kelsey Mitchell has a younger sister that intends to play with her in college..... she is a year or two younger (?)

In what way has Mitchell proven he can recruit? He's been a successful boys high school coach and I think has coached AAU girls for a few years. What experience has he had recruiting at the collegiate level?

Kelsey has a twin sister, Chelsea, and it's been reported they want to play for the same college team which now will be Ohio State.

 

[John Glass]

In what way has Mitchell proven he can recruit? He's been a successful boys high school coach and I think has coached AAU girls for a few years. What experience has he had recruiting at the collegiate level?

Kelsey has a twin sister, Chelsea, and it's been reported they want to play for the same college team which now will be Ohio State.

there is plenty of recruiting in AAU, didn't Mitchell recruit a team with several D1 players ?

 

[UConnCat]

there is plenty of recruiting in AAU, didn't Mitchell recruit a team with several D1 players ?

I don't know. You're the one saying he's a proven recruiter. He's probably more a proven coach, albeit at the high school level, than he is a proven recruiter. I'll bet Joy Cheek and the other asst coach will play a bigger role in OSU's recruiting than Mitchell. Whatever his coaching acumen, the reality is that he was hired by McGuff because of his daughter. There's no reason to pretend otherwise.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Put me on record as having no problem at all with such hires.

 

[John Glass]

I don't know. You're the one saying he's a proven recruiter. He's probably more a proven coach, albeit at the high school level, than he is a proven recruiter. I'll bet Joy Cheek and the other asst coach will play a bigger role in OSU's recruiting than Mitchell. Whatever his coaching acumen, the reality is that he was hired by McGuff because of his daughter. There's no reason to pretend otherwise.

I can see a package deal with 3 or more AAU teammates

 

[UConnCat]

I'm not sure hiring Mitchell increases the likelihood of a package deal. The Ohio players have said their not opposed to playing for the same college team but that will not be the deciding factor. It's not clear how hiring another recruit's father will affect recruits and their parents. Some may like it; some may not.

If nothing else McGuff has shown he knows how to take advantage of opportunities. I'm pretty sure he would have hired former purdue asst Katrina Merriweather at Xavier a few years back had she not been show-caused by the NCAA. Didn't matter though; he was still able to bring in her father's former AAU players (Harris, Philips and Jernigan) to Xavier after the Purdue mess. McGuff, Walz and Matthew Mitchell should make for some interesting recruiting battles in the future.

 

[UConnCat]

I was told by some folks that usually know that Louisville was also trying to hire Mitchell's dad. I guess it is all fair until someone makes it otherwise.

To be clear, employing a parent (or AAU coach or HS coach) in exchange for a recruit's commitment does violate NCAA rules. It's been happening for years in collegiate athletics because it's impossible to prove intent. The quid and quo are there, but no proof of the pro. On the men's side the NCAA has tried to clean some of this up by prohibiting hiring persons associated with recruits in to non-coaching positions for a period of time before and after the recruit's enrollment.

 

[John Glass]

meanwhile the NCAA is busy enforcing the "extra benefits" rules, and punishing a student-athlete for getting free water, to wash their car