Poll: Will Geno's coaching the US National team help or hurt recruiting?

[UCONNfan1]

So will Geno's US National commitments hurt, help, or have no effect on recruiting? This is actually a poll, so if the moderators merge it with another thread, the poll function will be lost.

 

[Icebear]

I think there is a better possibility of controlling negative factors this time because he and staff have more experiential data.

 

[UcMiami]

I think people are over-estimating the amount of time Geno personally spends on recruiting and the amount he spends on his USA basketball commitments. I do think there may be times when a recruiting prospect says, 'gee, my family and I would like to make an unofficial visit on the 20th of ___' and Geno might have to say ... 'Oh, I am really sorry but I am not going to be in CT that weekend ... I'll be in Turkey coaching the national team to a WC gold medal. Could you maybe put the visit off a week till I am back and I can personally show you the gold medal?' Somehow, I don't see that as a major negative in the recruiting wars.
I think the bigger hit is to the time he gets with his wife, children, and grand children, on his golf game, on his beach days, on his evenings sampling his wine cellar, etc. And it might cut into his outside business ventures, but I suspect he lets others run most of that.
And Ice - definitely agree that experience over the last 4 years will make the next 3 run smoother.

 

[Vowelguy]

I also think folks are overestimating the positive impact.

He's won 8 national titles, been an Olympic coach, had the longest winning streak in WCBB history, multiple undefeated seasons, and the highest winning percentage.

After all that, his SECOND selection as Olympic coach is what's going to impress a recruit?

 

[Lurker]

As a Lurker, I try not to comment much, but...

I think if you read the player reactions to Geno's appointment on the USA Basketball site, particularly Angel's, and think about a HS impact player who aspires to be an olympian and professional Bball player reading those remarks, and her thinking about what Geno and UConn can do for her game and "fit" into that stratosphere, then I think Geno's continued involvement for 2016 will impress a recruit in terms of what Geno can do for her development and career

 

[boontonbomber]

i think that the recruiting will be hurt about as much as team usa would be hurt if somebody besides geno was coaching, which is not at all. he's the best person for the job, but the best person is really not needed. i think it's too bad that some other deserving coach, such as mcgraw, was not chosen.

 

[doggydaddy]

As a Lurker, I try not to comment much, but...

I think if you read the player reactions to Geno's appointment on the USA Basketball site, particularly Angel's, and think about a HS impact player who aspires to be an olympian and professional Bball player reading those remarks, and her thinking about what Geno and UConn can do for her game and "fit" into that stratosphere, then I think Geno's continued involvement for 2016 will impress a recruit in terms of what Geno can do for her development and career

Clever name.

 

[UcMiami]

i think that the recruiting will be hurt about as much as team usa would be hurt if somebody besides geno was coaching, which is not at all. he's the best person for the job, but the best person is really not needed. i think it's too bad that some other deserving coach, such as mcgraw, was not chosen.

Reports are that Muffet didn't want to be considered and interestingly she has only once been involved with USA basketball - 1993 as an assistant for the Olympic Fest. Kim has also never been involved in a coaching capacity. And while the team and Geno made it look easy, and as was stressed repeatedly in the news conference, it is not an easy proposition to put together a team with maybe 4 weeks of total time together (often with key players missing some of the time) into a cohesive whole good enough to defeat all comers. There is a big advantage to having a consistent coach and system from year to year so that the core players just need a refresher rather than to learn a whole new system and coaching style.
Your statement is sort of like saying ... Parker (or any other one of the national team members) shouldn't be picked for the National team any more, she's been to two Olympics, she should give up her position and let a less qualified player get a chance.

 

[Waquoit]

I also think folks are overestimating the positive impact.

He's won 8 national titles, been an Olympic coach, had the longest winning streak in WCBB history, multiple undefeated seasons, and the highest winning percentage.

After all that, his SECOND selection as Olympic coach is what's going to impress a recruit?

Geno is at the absolute zenith of his career, right now, today. This 2nd selection confirms it. His international name recognition has never been higher. He is the undisputed best coach in the game in the world. It's common knowledge that the Committee pursued him. Pro players think he's the best. This 2nd selection puts all this in the national media for everyone in the game to see.

 

[UcMiami]

Vowel - I also think it expands the national appeal and blunts some of the negative comments/opinions people may have of him - if a recruit's favorite player is Angel who says he and his the system have taught her so much and they are the best in the world, maybe they look at Geno more closely as well as Louisville and Jeff, if Parker says great things about the Olympic experience and Geno, same thing. Geno doesn't need any help in CT or New England, but any added positives that he gets in Texas or California or Florida definitely helps some perceptions people have of him as a jerk. It probably doesn't hurt his standing with HS and AAU coaches either.
Does he need any of this - no, his reputation and record are sky high already, but it also doesn't hurt and in some ways may help

 

[Icebear]

While I expect that the former suit against Geno is presently dying a silent death Geno's second round as Olympic coach speaks tons about who they believe. One might have been compelled to stay with the horse you were riding mid stream due to the suit but there is no reason to climb back on that horse once you got to shore.

 

[UcMiami]

One other issue that is not discussed much in terms of selecting a coach is that the International game is not the same as the US version - a number of different rules, but also different officiating including subtle shifts in emphasis. While all the players have experience with the transitions between the two, coaches that have not been 'blooded' in the USA system do not. This is why the standard process for becoming a USA national coach includes stints as an assistant and as a HC for lower level teams. It makes sense and is a reason why those without USA coaching experience would have a lower likelihood of being chosen regardless of how well they operate in their regular coaching duties. While I think in this current search they probably never got serious about anyone else and wouldn't before Geno turned the offer down, future searches will focus on those coaches that have the USA experience. So before putting forward your favorite option, check the USA coaching roles and see if they have ever been involved at any level. I also think whoever gets selected as assistants this time around may include the next HC.

 

[semper]

I think it's just GREAT, for UConn, for WCBB, and for the World.

 

[svetbird]

I think it is going to help a bit but if you are an American girl playing ball and don’t know how great and well respected Geno is by now you are not paying attention. That being said the more exposer he gets the better for us. He may just get the next Svet with more international Exposer. I mean if your team is being beat up by 30 you may just say screw this I’m switching to that guys team, he knows what he is doing

 

[Icebear]

I am not sure we want Geno to be an exposer. Magicians hate exposers. Police arrest exposers. Being an international exposer might cause an international incident.

 

[svetbird]

I am not sure we want Geno to be an exposer. Magicians hate exposers. Police arrest exposers. Being an international exposer might cause an international incident.

-Some of the female athletes may like that though...

 

[boontonbomber]

Reports are that Muffet didn't want to be considered and interestingly she has only once been involved with USA basketball - 1993 as an assistant for the Olympic Fest. Kim has also never been involved in a coaching capacity. And while the team and Geno made it look easy, and as was stressed repeatedly in the news conference, it is not an easy proposition to put together a team with maybe 4 weeks of total time together (often with key players missing some of the time) into a cohesive whole good enough to defeat all comers. There is a big advantage to having a consistent coach and system from year to year so that the core players just need a refresher rather than to learn a whole new system and coaching style.
Your statement is sort of like saying ... Parker (or any other one of the national team members) shouldn't be picked for the National team any more, she's been to two Olympics, she should give up her position and let a less qualified player get a chance.

take geno away, they still win. take players like parker away, maybe not.

 

[EricLA]

I said help big time, even tho I'm not sure how much better UCONN's recruiting can get. I think we land a solid but not top class in 2014, and think 2015 is going to be a big time class.

I think we win the NC the next 2 years and add to that Geno as the face of womens basketball for Team USA, and it's going to be all UCONN all the time.

 

[winitall]

The only thing that may hurt recruiting is conference realignment.

 

[doggydaddy]

The only thing that may hurt recruiting is conference realignment.

I just have to believe that conference realignment is way down the list. Not in order but probably more important than CR.

1. Coach
2. Returning players
3. History of program
4. Recent success
5. Facilities
6. OOC schedule
7. Development of players
8. Television exposure

I'd guess all of these are more important than CR.

 

[Kibitzer]

I just have to believe that conference realignment is way down the list. Not in order but probably more important than CR.

1. Coach
2. Returning players
3. History of program
4. Recent success
5. Facilities
6. OOC schedule
7. Development of players
8. Television exposure

I'd guess all of these are more important than CR.

Am I being naive to think that Academics in some form (e.g., quality, major, etc.) should appear somewhere on this list? For example, although we generally concede some advantage to Duke and Stanford in this area I believe that an important part of Geno's pitch is to stress the quality of an education at UConn.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Parental/Home Propinquity is a huge factor for many, as I see it. IOW, closeness to what you are familiar with.

 

[Tonyc]

First of all if Im on a committee for team USA I want the best coach. Geno is it. No questions. I want to put my country in the best position to win. If I don't get the best coach and team USA loses then everybody blames the committee for not getting the best coach.

Why do all the top athletes get so many offers to play in college and in the pros where they get crazy money? Because its all about winning and what comes with winning? Winning attracts the best, fills the seats, brings better players to your program but winning NCs and setting records and breaking records makes kids dream of playing for you. See no other coach can match what Geno has done and is doing. You think its easy coaching kids who are top 10 in the recruiting polls? No there are egos. What it takes is discipline and a tuff coach to break them down and build them up to be great. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.

Geno has done what most other coaches cant imagine doing. Like win streaks, NCs, which attracts top players. I put a post up a few days ago mentioning some top players playing for the Belles and how the talk right now is to keep them together through hs and how those kids and their parents want to and want them to play for UConn. Why? because UConn is the very best. This tells me the process starts even before 12 yrs old. Now we all know that can change but right now the dream is UConn and the competition is there to be a UConn Husky.

Bottom line is Team USA had some close calls this past season and pulled the games out. Why because they had a coach who knew what strings to pull. That's the difference. For the past few years UConn has been at a level that few have ever seen. Last season even with our freshman going through growing pains and even with all the injuries and short roster they won the NC. Some say UConn got lucky that Baylor got beat. Well UConn beat Baylor twice over the past 4 seasons and if Baylor was really that good why did they only win 1 NC??? Next question do you think with that team or with Griner and Simms Geno would've won only 1 NC? Case and point.

 

[UcMiami]

take geno away, they still win. take players like parker away, maybe not.

Umm ... it is only 7 years and three competitions ago that USA Women won bronze after losing to Russia in the WC in Brazil. A team that did include Parker. Now I agree that loss was all the players fault because they were a dreadful team that included Bird, DT, Augustus, and Catch as well as Parker and really if it was chosen from the best USA players you really don't need a coach, just someone to submit the line-up card. (Sarcasm) Not saying that a different coach might have made a difference, but I can't say I am a Donovan fan, though she did lead them to Gold two years later in the Olympics. Part of her problem, and the problem that would face a new coach at this point is that she had very little training time with the team. Next year's WC team gets three days this fall with any players in the semi finals or finals of the WNBA probably missing out, followed by maybe a week next spring, followed by maybe 2 weeks next fall with one or two friendlies before the WC. That is not a lot of time to bring a team together and have them play as a team.
And since 2006 the world has not stopped developing talent and the number of women playing serious BB and the number of nations with actual BB 'institutions' to train players for the national teams year around has increased. Geno and the team made the WC and the Olympics look pretty easy the same way Geno and the Uconn team made the NCAAs look pretty easy last year - but do not kid yourself on either score. The margin of error was very slim.
By the way - anyone hear what is planned for the WNBA season next year as the WC will conflict with the playoffs?

 

[doggydaddy]

Am I being naive to think that Academics in some form (e.g., quality, major, etc.) should appear somewhere on this list? For example, although we generally concede some advantage to Duke and Stanford in this area I believe that an important part of Geno's pitch is to stress the quality of an education at UConn.

Of course it should. I was just thinking basketball reasons. For some, that is #1.