Tom Crean Out At Indiana

[Kitaman]

UMass for Crean?

 

[Jaker]

Crean will end up in the American some where, the graveyard of college coaching.

 

[HungryHuskies]

"Quite frankly, I do it for the kids and it was a job I couldn't pass up" - Jim Calhoun

 

[krinklecut]

I've talked to a few Indiana fans who have lusted over Brad Stevens, hoping he would tire quickly of the NBA.
I'm sure Indiana has checked on his interest and I've sure he's told them he's got none at least yet

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Maybe UConn can fire Ollie and hire Popovich.

 

[Dove]

Cue Alford to Indiana rumors in about 30 seconds.

20 minutes

 

[Matrim55]

Crean will end up in the American some where, the graveyard of college coaching.

He'd be a pretty great addition to the league to be fair.

Also, the NBA name I've seen IU folks tossing about isn't Stevens, it's Billy Donovan. Would be a great hire but my impression is he left Florida because he was tired of trying to recruit against Squid, and that's obviously not going to change if he's at IU.

EDIT: This is all predicated on the so-far-unsupportable-notion that he's tired of coaching Russell Westbrook for some reason.

 

[Walker11]

He told Katz just a couple of days ago that if he was not playing for Crean, he would love to play for Bohiem. We will see what happens.

I didn't hear that quote so thanks for that. But a kid who is a borderline first round pick isn't going to sit out a year. Especially for a coach who may or may not be retired. And in addition, IU is most likely going to sign a stud coach to replace Crean who will have have a great resume to sway Bryant to return, if he doesn't go pro.

 

[Jaker]

I didn't hear that quote so thanks for that. But a kid who is a borderline first round pick isn't going to sit out a year. Especially for a coach who may or may not be retired. And in addition, IU is most likely going to sign a stud coach to replace Crean who will have have a great resume to sway Bryant to return, if he doesn't go pro.

Yeah, you are probably correct, plus he would have to sit a year and no way Boehiem lasts 2 more seasons at Cuse.

 

[beakumhawks]

I'm guessing that if they called Gregg Marshall at Wichita State he would listen.

 

[Jaker]

With Durant gone from OKC, they could probably get Billy D.

 

[Walker11]

I'm guessing that if they called Gregg Marshall at Wichita State he would listen.

This seems like a home run fire for both teams. Mack and Archie are very good candidates but not quite as impressive as Greg IMO.

 

[Chin Diesel]

"Quite frankly, I do it for the kids and it was a job I couldn't pass up" - Jim Calhoun

I was hoping to chime in with a smart ass prediction about someone mentioning Calhoun or Bob Knight.

This board never disappoints.

 

[Devland]

I'm guessing that if they called Gregg Marshall at Wichita State he would listen.

Indiana talking about a salary of $4-5 million a year. Almost any coach in NCAA would listen to that. Every single coach at every school says they are happy where they are and they plan to stay there for years. They have to say that for recruiting purposes. There are a lot of "happy" coaches who would quickly become happier if that kind of money was flashed at them.

 

[StoweD210]

Tom Crean?.....that's the guy that looks like Tom Arnold, right?

I always thought he was closer to Max Weinberg.

Weinberg:

Crean:

 

[mauconnfan]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Maybe UConn can fire Ollie and hire Popovich.

What's so dumb about the IU people hoping Stevens would grow tired of the NBA? I realize he's been really good with the C's but who knows with his Indiana ties this could have been a dream job. They have the cash there too if he was interested in returning.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Tubby Smith Kelvin Sampson Tom Crean. Yup he's coming to (the) America(n)

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Yes the coach of the second best team in the eastern conference is leaving for the 9th best team in the Big10 conference.

 

[huskyrob1]

Why not hire Bob Knight.

Not in a million years. The teachers union would revolt. Besides, he'd probably go into cardiac arrest the next time he throws a chair. What's possible and maybe even more fantastic is IU reaches out to JC, Pete Gillen, Tim Welsh, or Fran Frischilla. Maybe Rick Barnes too but not sure what his present contract is.

 

[Pudge]

Tubby Smith Kelvin Sampson Tom Crean. Yup he's coming to (the) America(n)

Regardless

All this means this is a tougher conference. Smith and Sampson are solid. Dunleavy Dawkins SMU all are advances. So a Crean and whomever ... UConn fans should laid that.

Evidence that our Conference schools spend money. This is a reason we will be better than the CAA, A 10 & MWC. Plus you don't have to schlepp to Olean, NY.

 

[auror]

Yes the coach of the second best team in the eastern conference is leaving for the 9th best team in the Big10 conference.

They'll probably pay about the same. Stevens was making 3.6 on last deal before it got extended (terms unknown) and Crean was making 3 without nearly the pedigree.

But yes, it's probably ludicrous to speculate about, even if I wouldn't be surprised if it was on a shortlist of his dream jobs (they won 2 titles in his formative years growing up 1.5hr from the campus in Indiana). He's not going anywhere until he gets bored or struggles.

 

[don356]

It will be Archie Miller or Chris Mack, both are underpaid and would take it. The pro guys are blog fodder and Alford already has a better gig. By the way, Alford thanks IU in advance for the raise.

 

[Matrim55]

It will be Archie Miller or Chris Mack, both are underpaid and would take it. The pro guys are blog fodder and Alford already has a better gig. By the way, Alford thanks IU in advance for the raise.

If UCLA doesn't make it to the Final 4 this year Alford will be on the hot seat, and will return next season with a worse team, a lower buy-out and a bunch of angry alums who are ready for him to leave. UCLA is a better job in a vacuum – I agree with you there – but it's probably not a better job for Alford in 2017 or 2018.

Archie Miller is a really good coach who gets the most out of his talent but a big part of the job at Indiana is recruiting, and even by Dayton's standards Miller's not particularly impressive there. The highest-ranked class he's ever gotten is 78th and most of his good pulls are from the DMV and Carolinas. He doesn't do much in the midwest.

I think they'll try to get Stevens or Donovan first, and when that doesn't work they'll kick the tires on Hoiberg. They'll make a run at Marshall, who is probably the best still-coaching-college candidate. If he says no I think Tony Bennett would be next in line. If he says no, then we get to this group:

• Chris Holtman (Butler)
• Chris Mack (Xavier)
• Archie Miller (Dayton)
• Chris Collins (Northwestern)
• Will Wade (VCU)
• Kevin Keatts (UNCW)

Mack is the best recruiter, and most proven of that group, but he's never gotten over the hump. Holtman is, I think, an excellent coach and he recruits Indiana VERY well, which matters a lot to the Hoosiers faithful (as it should). Collins has done the impossible in leading Northwestern to the tournament, winning in the Big 10, etc – it's stunning, really. He also recruits the hell out of Chicago and northern Illinois, which is just as important as Indiana from a practical standpoint, if not an emotional one.

Miller I mentioned above. Wade is, I think, an excellent up-and-comer but is less of a sure thing than the other guys on the list. Keatts, like Wade, has done really good work but his track record as a head coach is only a few years long.

I'd probably aim for Holtman, to be honest. He's legit.

EDIT: And fwiw if I was Georgetown I'd go hard for Keatts. And personally as a child of the '80s, when Georgetown, Indiana and UNC were the three biggest names in college hoops, I'd love to see both the Hoosiers and Hoyas get back to being top 15 teams every year. I hope they both make good hires because they're fun to hate.

 

[don356]

Nah, Alford has a lot more rope than you think. He's gotten them back into recruiting the top kids and that is what it's all about. They've got another great class of 2 or 3 5 star and a like number of 4's along with Ball's kids. They would not blow that up. Trust me.

Mack has a good recruiting class, and i suspect he would get some of those kids to follow him, one being Scruggs the guard from Indiana.

 

[Matrim55]

Nah, Alford has a lot more rope than you think. He's gotten them back into recruiting the top kids and that is what it's all about. They've got another great class of 2 or 3 5 star and a like number of 4's along with Ball's kids. They would not blow that up. Trust me.

No. I trust the folks I know amongst the alumni and in the athletic department there. If UCLA underachieves in this tourney, Alford's on the hot seat next year.

 

[Walker11]

No. I trust the folks I know amongst the alumni and in the athletic department there. If UCLA underachieves in this tourney, Alford's on the hot seat next year.

Hasn't Alford been landing studs consistently throughout his tenure at UCLA? And he has only seen things click with a transcendent talent in Ball, right.

I know the UCLA Internet fans on Reddit wouldn't lose any sleep if Alford leaves. And Zona fans are praying Alford stays.

 

[Matrim55]

Hasn't Alford been landing studs consistently throughout his tenure at UCLA? And he has only seen things click with a transcendent talent in Ball, right.

I know the UCLA Internet fans on Reddit wouldn't lose any sleep if Alford leaves. And Zona fans are praying Alford stays.

Yup. And FWIW his buyout currently is $10 million, but 13.5 months from now it's down to $2.5 million, which UCLA's boosters can find in their couch cushions.

He needs to get to the final four this year.

 

[intlzncster]

EDIT: And fwiw if I was Georgetown I'd go hard for Keatts. And personally as a child of the '80s, when Georgetown, Indiana and UNC were the three biggest names in college hoops, I'd love to see both the Hoosiers and Hoyas get back to being top 15 teams every year. I hope they both make good hires because they're fun to hate.

Only if we do too. Otherwise, I hope everyone else burns up in a dumpster fire.

 

[intlzncster]

Hasn't Alford been landing studs consistently throughout his tenure at UCLA? And he has only seen things click with a transcendent talent in Ball, right.

I know the UCLA Internet fans on Reddit wouldn't lose any sleep if Alford leaves. And Zona fans are praying Alford stays.

There's recruiting, then there's getting it done when it counts. If you win the recruiting award every year, but don't get to the FF, you're a bum by UCLA standards.

They haven't had a ton of good years in the past 20, but it's still a FF or bust school.

 

[intlzncster]

Yup. And FWIW his buyout currently is $10 million, but 13.5 months from now it's down to $2.5 million, which UCLA's boosters can find in their couch cushions.

He needs to get to the final four this year.

So basically he has to choose between maybe 1 year left at UCLA, and a potential 5 year rope at Indiana, at a significant salary level.

Given what you say, if I'm him, unless I kill this tourney, I probably jump.

 

[Matrim55]

So basically he has to choose between maybe 1 year left at UCLA, and a potential 5 year rope at Indiana, at a significant salary level.

Given what you say, if I'm him, unless I kill this tourney, I probably jump.

That's the exact calculation I'd make.

FWIW, in Howland's third, fourth and fifth years he went runners-up, Final 4, Final 4. Alford has now gone losing record (missed tourney) in his third year, and we're currently in his fourth. If he underachieves this March and then doesn't make it to the Final 4 in his fifth year, there'll be no 6th.