Who Replaces Miller at XU?

[Hilltopper]

Who will replace Sean Miller at XU? I hope KD doesn't end up on somebodys list!http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2009040.../904070357/1065

Chris MackAge: 39Currently: Xavier assistant coachReasoning: Mack was Miller's top assistant for five seasons and is a former Xavier player and graduate. He's also a strong link of continuation whose hiring would make for an easy transition. Several players have spoken out in support of Mack, and he would be most equipped to retain recruiting commitments and current players, many of whom he was instrumental in recruiting. Miller said if Mack doesn't get the Xavier job, then Mack would join his staff in Arizona.Fran McCafferyAge: 49Currently: Head coach at SienaReasoning: McCaffery has taken three different teams to the NCAA Tournament, including Siena, which he led to a first-round upset of Ohio State this season. He is known for graduating his players, which is a key component at Xavier.Brad BrownellAge: 40Currently: Head coach at Wright StateReasoning: Brownell has taken both Wright State and UNC-Wilmington to the NCAA Tournament, and has won 20 or more games in five of seven seasons as a head coach. He's never had a losing season and has finished worse than third place in his conference only once. Three times, he's won a conference championship.Brad StevensAge: 32Currently: Head coach at ButlerReasoning: He would be the youngest option certainly, but Stevens has proven himself to be an effective head coach, leading Butler to the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons in Indianapolis. He has Midwest recruiting connections and would fit the profile of Xavier's most recent hires - Thad Matta and Sean Miller - who were young up-and-coming coaches whose success at Xavier benefited their career but also the XU program.John GroceAge: 37Currently: Head coach at Ohio UniversityReasoning: Groce was the recruiting architect under Thad Matta at Ohio State and a key assistant to Matta at Xavier. Now at OU, he's establishing himself as a head coach, which may be a prerequisite for most candidates other than Mack.Ken McDonaldAge: 39Currently: Head coach at Western KentuckyReasoning: McDonald has been an assistant coach at Clemson, Georgia and Texas where he secured high-profile recruiting classes. After leaving Texas to take over at WKU a year ago, he led the Hilltoppers to a 25-9 season and a first-round NCAA Tournament victory.Louis OrrAge: 50Currently: Head coach at Bowling GreenReasoning: Orr has Xavier roots as a former XU assistant from 1991-94 and even deeper Cincinnati roots as a Withrow High School graduate. He was forced out of Seton Hall in 2006, but led Bowling Green to a Divisional title this season in the Mid-American Conference.Jim ChristianAge: 44Currently: Head coach at Texas ChristianReasoning: Christian successfully led Can't State to six straight 20-win seasons from 2003-2008 before taking over at TCU this season. Bobinski noticed the job Christian did at Can't State with admiration. Christian, who has nationwide recruiting contacts, is reportedly well-compensated at TCU but would be in a better position to win at Xavier.

Bobinski Looks For A Fit

[ZachTheZip]

The favorites should be Chris Mack and Brad Stevens.The MAC coaches listed are both in their first seasons and didn't really do anything at all worthy of moving up to a team like Xavier.Jim Christian doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would be a good fit for what Xavier is all about. I would be shocked if they hired him after looking at his style of exclusively recruiting JUCOs and convicts.

[Blue & Gold]

I thought it was hilarious under the reasoning for Christian's name being considered: "who has nationwide recruiting contacts..."Lol. Yeah, he's got contacts at every halfway house in America.

[doublezip]

Anyone concerned about KD's name popping up with Bobinski's Akron background?

[ZachTheZip]

Anyone concerned about KD's name popping up with Bobinski's Akron background?

Not really. I've also heard Bob Huggins' name being thrown around for the job. Either of those two leaving is very unlikely.

[WinZip]

I've also heard Bob Huggins quite a few times but I think most are set on the fact he wants to retire in West Virginia. Chris Mack is strong possibility.

[Zips Win!]

Gary Waters would be an ideal fit..

[GJGood]

The favorites should be Chris Mack and Brad Stevens.The MAC coaches listed are both in their first seasons and didn't really do anything at all worthy of moving up to a team like Xavier.Jim Christian doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would be a good fit for what Xavier is all about. I would be shocked if they hired him after looking at his style of exclusively recruiting JUCOs and convicts.

Orr with his BCS coaching background, leading of BG to the #1 seed in the MAC and Cincy ties actually could get in the mix I believe. I'm just not sure how much interest he would have in leaving BG right now. Although, if he were likely to go anywhere, wouldn't it be to "go home"?

[xu9697]

As some know, I am an X grad. Personally, I hope it is Chris Mack or Pat Kelsey (current assistant at WF, Prosser disciple, XU grad, 32 years old, big-time fan of Cincy and all it is about).Kelsey would be my #1 choice, Mack a close 2nd. Both are highly rated assistants. I don't like any of the other names. It is time for X, like Akron, to go with one of their own.Go Musketeers & Zips!!!NOTE: If X can't land Payne and lose the kid from Columbus (name slips my mind), I certainly hope they land at UA!!! I would be even happier with a split= 1 to XU and 1 to UA.

[skip-zip]

1) For those who don't know the background, Huggins is at his alma mater, and I'd be totally surprised if ANY job would ever persuade him to leave there.2) I'm glad someone corrected the comment about Louis Orr not doing much of anything. Looks like someone didn't notice that he won the regular season MAC title this year.3) Why isn't Hip on the list 4) I'm not aware of any connection with Bobinski and Keith. I don't think their time at the U of A crossed paths at all. 5) I'm not going to be naive and say that Keith won't leave Akron. There's too many schools out there that could make him a very, very rich man. And he's going to start to get looks with his success here. I just don't think this job would be enough.

[Roo]

I am shocked that Gary Waters is not getting a look. He was great at Can't State and he has turned a sad program at CSU around in two years. That is an amazing accomplishment from where that school was. He should be listed over any of the MAC coaches or JC at TCU...

[vmd9]

1) For those who don't know the background, Huggins is at his alma mater, and I'd be totally surprised if ANY job would ever persuade him to leave there.2) I'm glad someone corrected the comment about Louis Orr not doing much of anything. Looks like someone didn't notice that he won the regular season MAC title this year.3) Why isn't Hip on the list 4) I'm not aware of any connection with Bobinski and Keith. I don't think their time at the U of A crossed paths at all. 5) I'm not going to be naive and say that Keith won't leave Akron. There's too many schools out there that could make him a very, very rich man. And he's going to start to get looks with his success here. I just don't think this job would be enough.

I see no reason Huggins would leave his alma mater WV of the BigEast, to drop down and coach in the A10. It would be like Coach K leaving to coach at Can't lol

[Z.I.P.]

I have to disagree with the comments about Gary Waters being a good fit at Chavier, er, uh Xavier. I say this having seen Gary in his first year in K-ent, and seeing the amazing job he did with a program with a tradition that never reached mediocrity before him. I also saw what happened to this fine man in Rutgers, and fear that he would be caught in another case of over-expectations, and under-patience. Hopefully Waters can use this to drill a very large raise out of CSU. Frankly, I'd love to see him back in the MAC in the future.

[Blue & Gold]

I have to disagree with the comments about Gary Waters being a good fit at Chavier, er, uh Xavier. I say this having seen Gary in his first year in K-ent, and seeing the amazing job he did with a program with a tradition that never reached mediocrity before him. I also saw what happened to this fine man in Rutgers, and fear that he would be caught in another case of over-expectations, and under-patience. Hopefully Waters can use this to drill a very large raise out of CSU. Frankly, I'd love to see him back in the MAC in the future.

I'd love to see him grow a pair and schedule us. CSU-Akron is a fantastic, natural rivalry that CSU has let die.

[tpsjugglerdude]

I have to disagree with the comments about Gary Waters being a good fit at Chavier, er, uh Xavier. I say this having seen Gary in his first year in K-ent, and seeing the amazing job he did with a program with a tradition that never reached mediocrity before him. I also saw what happened to this fine man in Rutgers, and fear that he would be caught in another case of over-expectations, and under-patience. Hopefully Waters can use this to drill a very large raise out of CSU. Frankly, I'd love to see him back in the MAC in the future.

I'd love to see him grow a pair and schedule us. CSU-Akron is a fantastic, natural rivalry that CSU has let die.

I agree why is it that Can't can get them to play a home and home and we can't?

[Zips Win!]

I have to disagree with the comments about Gary Waters being a good fit at Chavier, er, uh Xavier. I say this having seen Gary in his first year in K-ent, and seeing the amazing job he did with a program with a tradition that never reached mediocrity before him. I also saw what happened to this fine man in Rutgers, and fear that he would be caught in another case of over-expectations, and under-patience. Hopefully Waters can use this to drill a very large raise out of CSU. Frankly, I'd love to see him back in the MAC in the future.

Waters at Rutgers in the Big East is quite different than Waters at XU in the Atlantic 10. You can make exactly zero fair comparisons between the two. I believe he would excel at XU.That said, I don't want him back in the MAC and he (Waters) is afraid to play the Zips. Now, I know he has Elton convinced that it is Keith who won't play, but that is bull. GW told me in person one year ago that his program wasn't ready to play the Zips. Now that he has a win in the NCAA tournament and we made the tournament, let's hope he will change his mind. It will probably now come down to who would get the first home game in a series and since we both want it, I would be surprised if a contract is signed in the near future.

[Blue & Gold]

If giving them the first home game is what it takes I would hope we'd simply condescend and give the first home game to them. <br /><br />But I'd also be surprised if Waters agrees to play us next year because if Waters was ever going to schedule us, you'd think this past season would have been the perfect time for them. They were returning their two best players (both seniors) Bullock & Jackson AND we were supposed to be in a rebuilding year. If Waters was afraid to play us last year (but he wasn't afraid of the 'Cuse?) there's not much of a chance he'll want to touch us next year.

[GoZips]

Cleveland State currently owes Akron a game at Akron on an uncompleted contract.Akron is not going to put that game aside and start a new contract. You can take that to the bank.Coughing up an owed game is tantamount to STOOPID.

[xu9697]

Does anyone actually have documentation, link, etc. about this "Waters refuses to play Akron" stuff?

[BirdZip]

Does anyone actually have documentation, link, etc. about this "Waters refuses to play Akron" stuff?

GW told me in person one year ago that his program wasn't ready to play the Zips.

That conversation was not documented as it occurred on the front steps of the Q, but it was witnessed by at least three other adults, all of whom are posters on this board, myself being among them. So, while not officially documented, I can vouch for Zips Win! that GW said it.

[xu9697]

Does anyone actually have documentation, link, etc. about this "Waters refuses to play Akron" stuff?

GW told me in person one year ago that his program wasn't ready to play the Zips.

That conversation was not documented as it occurred on the front steps of the Q, but it was witnessed by at least three other adults, all of whom are posters on this board, myself being among them. So, while not officially documented, I can vouch for Zips Win! that GW said it.

So it is not a bad blood thing..it is a fear thing. Well the AD & Waters need to sit down with Dambrot and Rhoades and get this done. It makes too much sense for it not to happen.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I read on a web site that some guy's dad thinks Dambrot will get the Xavier job, so it must be true.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Does anyone actually have documentation, link, etc. about this "Waters refuses to play Akron" stuff?

It came out of Waters' mouth. I heard it.The quote (now three years old) - "Keith's done a great job at Akron. We aren't at that level yet...we have MAYBE 3 D-1 players on our roster right now."Assuming that was the real reason, then I'd expect he would revist the decision. The programs are on the same competitive plane now.