Search For The Next Head Coach

[skip-zip]

1 hour ago, LZIp said:

Saying that sports results at Akron have never attracted a single student or benefactor is unsubstantiated and flat out wrong.

 

I'm sure we can debate HOW MUCH athletic success influences prospective students.  That would be a better debate.  But it would indeed be wrong to conclude that they don't influence anyone.  

[zippy5]

@balsy You'd probably do better to not be so condescending. Though I feel like you've heard that before.

[gozips19]

2 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Pretty sure we are.  I read it on one of the posted articles.  But didn't Larry say he was taking the lead & the search firm was more or less to do background checks?  Idk, it's been a whirlwind the last few days.

EA update on that if it wasn't posted already.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2017/03/akron_ad_larry_williams_says_t.html#incart_river_mobileshort_index

[clarkwgriswold]

42 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

Senderoff kicked our butts in the MAC finals and had his team play great basketball against UCLA in the NCAA tournament.  They were only down 5 points late in the second half.  I also admire the guy on that senior night he started his bench and non scholarship senior players and also got them into the NCAA game the last minute.  Our non scholarship player never saw the court after the MAC season started.   

Agreed, but up until the last month of the season the consensus was that he was consistently mediocre, was the worst KSU coach in years, and that they'd can him if they could afford to do so.  His mediocrity and long tenure is just what you get if you hire a coach who's neither stellar nor awful enough to get canned.

 

I'm really with you on the Senior Night thing.

[skip-zip]

11 minutes ago, gozips19 said:

EA update on that if it wasn't posted already.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2017/03/akron_ad_larry_williams_says_t.html#incart_river_mobileshort_index

 

Gosh, I had forgotten about Cornell Mann a long time ago.  I do remember seeing him play here, but I had no idea that he has been a longtime assistant in D-1 college basketball, at several schools.  Interesting fact is that his profile says that he's been in the NCAA tournament at every school where he's coached.  

 

If nothing else, his perfect average of making it to the NCAA tournament might be some much-needed good luck around here 

[mes102]

We're now the last Ohio DI school with a men's basketball opening.

Edited March 30, 2017 by mes102

[Dr Z]

6 minutes ago, mes102 said:

We're now the last Ohio DI school with a men's basketball opening.

I don't think that is such a big deal. I want to hire the correct coach, I think that is more important.

 

This is from yesterday's PD article by EA.... Akron AD Larry Williams, "I do want to move forward as fast as possible." With that in mind, Williams said he will be off to the Final Four in Arizona to do more of the search and possible interviews. "We'll get a lot of activity done there,'' he said.

 

I think that is a good idea. 

[skip-zip]

7 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Agreed, but up until the last month of the season the consensus was that he was consistently mediocre, was the worst KSU coach in years, and that they'd can him if they could afford to do so.  His mediocrity and long tenure is just what you get if you hire a coach who's neither stellar nor awful enough to get canned

 

I'm with you.  It's a mistake to characterize someone's coaching status based on how the team performed in a few games, when the other 100+ games of their tenure told a different story.  Even blind squirrels sometimes find a nut.  And sometimes even a bad coach's team records a timely series of wins.  Remember, that team was also a point away from being eliminated in regulation in the first round of the MAC tournament, and got beaten by double-digits at home a few days before that on their Senior Night.  Just saying.    

[mes102]

2 minutes ago, Dr Z said:

I don't think that is such a big deal. I want to hire the correct coach, I think that is more important.

 

This is from yesterday's PD article by EA.... Akron AD Larry Williams, "I do want to move forward as fast as possible." With that in mind, Williams said he will be off to the Final Four in Arizona to do more of the search and possible interviews. "We'll get a lot of activity done there,'' he said.

 

I think that is a good idea. 

I agree with you on it's important to get the correct coach rather than doing it quick. My point was that if anyone wants to coach in this region of the country as a head coach, we're the only one in the state now, and possibly of the adjacent states as well. My comments were meant to be as a positive, not a negative. This opening is only three days young. It'd be foolish to hire someone this quickly.

I think going to Arizona is a brilliant idea. You can have as many interviews as you want in a day compared to having to wait for them to get into town to have maybe two or three in a day. It will be a very productive weekend for us in Arizona, that's for sure.

[mes102]

Nick McDevitt, finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award

http://uncabulldogs.com/news/2017/3/30/mens-basketball-mcdevitt-chosen-as-finalist-for-skip-prosser-man-of-the-year-award.aspx

"One example of McDevitt's involvement in the community is that he recently showed off his Subway Sandwich Artistry skills at the Subway restaurant on 740 Merrimon Ave., Merrimon Square, Asheville, NC 28804. The special appearance by McDevitt at Subway was part of an effort to help raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer through the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign. Bulldog fans, normal Subway lunch lovers and even some of McDevitt's own players came out to support the tremendous cause during McDevitt's appearance from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Sporting a blue UNC Asheville Adidas polo, a Subway hat and his own personal Subway nameplate, McDevitt by the conclusion of his time at Subway even had people ringing the bell at the end of the line to denote he had made a perfect sandwich."

"Just the third coach in Big South Conference history to win 15 or more games in each of his first four seasons as a head coach in the conference, McDevitt guided the Bulldogs to their second-most wins in program history in a season this year with 23. This year's Bulldog team reached 20 wins faster than any other team in program history in 27 games. McDevitt's program has now collected back-to-back 20-win seasons and made two straight postseason appearances with the Bulldogs playing in the 2016 NCAA Tournament and the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Tournament."

Edited March 30, 2017 by mes102

[lance99]

13 hours ago, mes102 said:

Nick McDevitt is still my top choice. Matt Figger was another of my top choices, but he just got hired as head coach at Austin Peay.  Baker Dunlevy was my top choice, but he got hired by Quinnipiac before ours opened, so it never was a possibility anyway.

 

If not McDevitt, my next choice would be Lamont Paris. Travis Steele at Xavier too. I want to try and state away from major power assistant coaches like Jerrance Howard at Kansas. Hard to tell if a move from a penthouse to townhouse would go well(P5 to mid-major analogy if anyone doesn't get it).

 

I would be open to a Power Conference Assistant Coach. However would Akron pony up the $$$ for that on a Flight Risk to a bigger School down the road? Or would said person(whomever that might be) take a haircut in pay just to have the chance?

Edited March 30, 2017 by lance99

[blueandgold]

I'm just curious as to what everyone else thinks. I kind of liked the old Charlie Coles way of scheduling OOC opponents for Miami. They got beaten up and bruised playing those high level P5 teams and also sacrificed total wins for the season, however they were really prepared for tournament play whether it be MAC Tourney or NCAA Tourney. What would you think of hiring a coach with that type of philosophy?

[mes102]

18 minutes ago, blueandgold said:

I'm just curious as to what everyone else thinks. I kind of liked the old Charlie Coles way of scheduling OOC opponents for Miami. They got beaten up and bruised playing those high level P5 teams and also sacrificed total wins for the season, however they were really prepared for tournament play whether it be MAC Tourney or NCAA Tourney. What would you think of hiring a coach with that type of philosophy?

That's why McDevitt is my top choice. If you skip to 27:00 in this clip (http://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H1tJ6XnG), this guy is not afraid to bulk up on OOC opponents like Charlie Coles did at Miami. Interview was 29 days ago.

Edited March 30, 2017 by mes102

[zippy5]

I don't want to go Charlie Coles heavy, but heavier than what we've gotten. Charlie Coles had them run the gauntlet before MAC play.

[mes102]

UNC-Asheville's schedule the past four years(the years McDevitt's been the head coach there) along with some notable games:

2013-2014: http://uncabulldogs.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=126
@ Kentucky, @ Duke

2014-2015: http://uncabulldogs.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=129
@ Wake Forest, @ South Carolina,

2015-2016: http://uncabulldogs.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=132
@ Tennessee, @ Texas A&M, vs Drexel, vs Middle Tennessee, @ Georgetown

2016-2017: http://uncabulldogs.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=134
@ VCU, @ Georgia, @ Kansas, @ Ohio State, vs Siena, vs UNC-Greensboro

Edited March 30, 2017 by mes102

[kreed5120]

39 minutes ago, blueandgold said:

I'm just curious as to what everyone else thinks. I kind of liked the old Charlie Coles way of scheduling OOC opponents for Miami. They got beaten up and bruised playing those high level P5 teams and also sacrificed total wins for the season, however they were really prepared for tournament play whether it be MAC Tourney or NCAA Tourney. What would you think of hiring a coach with that type of philosophy?

 

I feel it's all relative to where you are at as a program. If a new coach is coming in taking over a team like Miami (Oh), who struggled to beat bad teams and doesn't have a good roster, I see no value in having them play an OOC schedule that they are destined to go 3-10 playing. Having early success can get fans excited and build players confidence. It might also trick some recruits into thinking you are better than you really are. As the program progresses and you get better players, I feel you should look to make the schedule stronger so your players are constantly challenged. You need to find the balance between not being too easy and not being too impossible.

 

 In Akron's case they didn't ramp up their scheduling enough as it wasn't as good as it should have been.

Edited March 30, 2017 by kreed5120

[lance99]

6 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

I don't want to go Charlie Coles heavy, but heavier than what we've gotten. Charlie Coles had them run the gauntlet before MAC play.

I am all for having a stronger OOC,  I want no part of that.  I have spoken with several Miami fans I know about that and they even said that they were whoring out the Basketball team to make payroll. That is one road to go down that I wish on no team anywhere..... 

[mes102]

Let me rephrase my post. I don't think McDevitt would go to the extreme that Charlie Coles did, but if you see the schedules I posted above, I think that was a good balance. He's closer to scheduling OOC opponents like Coles than Dambrot, which I think is good for our program.

Edited March 30, 2017 by mes102

[blueandgold]

3 minutes ago, mes102 said:

Let me rephrase my post. I don't think McDevitt would go to the extreme that Charlie Coles did, but if you see the schedules I posted above, I think that was a good balance. He's closer to scheduling OOC opponents like Coles than Dambrot, which I think is good for our program.

I looked over their schedule the past 4 years and I liked it. Those are the types of OOC teams I want to see on our upcoming schedules.

[akronzips71]

10 hours ago, Z.I.P. said:

Three of the four are in the Hall of Fame.  Whatever happened to Billy Turner?  St Louis Hawks?

 

Short career as a sub.

 

Most people here are too young to remember that Earl the Pearl beat us in the MidEast Regionals in 1967.

[Oldschool]

3 hours ago, mes102 said:

Nick McDevitt, finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award

http://uncabulldogs.com/news/2017/3/30/mens-basketball-mcdevitt-chosen-as-finalist-for-skip-prosser-man-of-the-year-award.aspx

"One example of McDevitt's involvement in the community is that he recently showed off his Subway Sandwich Artistry skills at the Subway restaurant on 740 Merrimon Ave., Merrimon Square, Asheville, NC 28804. The special appearance by McDevitt at Subway was part of an effort to help raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer through the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign. Bulldog fans, normal Subway lunch lovers and even some of McDevitt's own players came out to support the tremendous cause during McDevitt's appearance from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Sporting a blue UNC Asheville Adidas polo, a Subway hat and his own personal Subway nameplate, McDevitt by the conclusion of his time at Subway even had people ringing the bell at the end of the line to denote he had made a perfect sandwich."

"Just the third coach in Big South Conference history to win 15 or more games in each of his first four seasons as a head coach in the conference, McDevitt guided the Bulldogs to their second-most wins in program history in a season this year with 23. This year's Bulldog team reached 20 wins faster than any other team in program history in 27 games. McDevitt's program has now collected back-to-back 20-win seasons and made two straight postseason appearances with the Bulldogs playing in the 2016 NCAA Tournament and the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Tournament."

 

UNC Asheville played UT Martin in the 1st round of the CIT this year. UNC Asheville was the overall #1 seed for the tourney. UT Martin was up 25 at halftime!!!!! UT Martin had far superior talent and Anthony Stewart can really coach. I'll take Stewart over McDevitt, plus Stewart is from Akron.

[mes102]

Difference is Stewart has only been at UT-Martin for four years and Wyoming for 4-5 years. Everywhere else was just 2 or 3 years. I much rather have a guy that did more with less at UNC-Asheville while being there for 20 years and being consistent for the past four years as a head coach, compared to someone that has only been at UT-Martin for two years as an assistant and two years as a head coach.

McDevitt is someone I can see to take Akron to the next level. That won't happen in just two years, which seems to be the track record of Stewart to bolt somewhere else(like it would be here since he's only been a head coach at UT-Martin for two yrs). I don't get that "Caleb Porter" instinct with Stewart as I do with McDevitt.

Even though Stewart is from Ohio and McDevitt is not, I just talked to someone very close to the UNC-Asheville program that says McDevitt does have former players and coaching connections in Ohio. So it won't be like McDevitt would have a big disadvantage like many may think he might if he comes to Ohio.

EDIT: It was 48-29 at halftime, so not sure how that's a 25 point difference(last time I checked, 48-29=19). Plus, I looked at that box score, McDevitt and UNC-Asheville cut it down to 9 before UT-Martin hit free throws down the stretch, So the fact that UT-Martin almost let that game be that close down the stretch, tells me that McDevitt made the in-game adjustments to get his team back into the game, 71-80, with two minutes to go. It was also 50-58 with 11 minutes left in 2nd half. That's a 21-10 run to start the 2nd half. Sound like halftime adjustments to me. That also tells me that Stewart didn't make good counter in-game adjustments. I don't think I need to say this, but I don't think I'm the only one that wants a coach that can make solid in-game adjustments, not someone that can't counter in-game adjustments. We just had that.

Edited March 30, 2017 by mes102

[Oldschool]

42 minutes ago, mes102 said:

Difference is Stewart has only been at UT-Martin for four years and Wyoming for 4-5 years. Everywhere else was just 2 or 3 years. I much rather have a guy that did more with less at UNC-Asheville while being there for 20 years and being consistent for the past four years as a head coach, compared to someone that has only been at UT-Martin for two years as an assistant and two years as a head coach.

McDevitt is someone I can see to take Akron to the next level. That won't happen in just two years, which seems to be the track record of Stewart to bolt somewhere else(like it would be here since he's only been a head coach at UT-Martin for two yrs). I don't get that "Caleb Porter" instinct with Stewart as I do with McDevitt.

Even though Stewart is from Ohio and McDevitt is not, I just talked to someone very close to the UNC-Asheville program that says McDevitt does have former players and coaching connections in Ohio. So it won't be like McDevitt would have a big disadvantage like many may think he might if he comes to Ohio.

EDIT: It was 48-29 at halftime, so not sure how that's a 25 point difference(last time I checked, 48-29=19). Plus, I looked at that box score, McDevitt and UNC-Asheville cut it down to 9 before UT-Martin hit free throws down the stretch, So the fact that UT-Martin almost let that game be that close down the stretch, tells me that McDevitt made the in-game adjustments to get his team back into the game, 71-80, with two minutes to go. It was also 50-58 with 11 minutes left in 2nd half. That's a 21-10 run to start the 2nd half. Sound like halftime adjustments to me. That also tells me that Stewart didn't make good counter in-game adjustments. I don't think I need to say this, but I don't think I'm the only one that wants a coach that can make solid in-game adjustments, not someone that can't counter in-game adjustments. We just had that.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/collegeinsider/status/793132851860533248

 

Read this MES102. Very impressive dude. Not that Mc Devitt isn't. Tell me what you think.

 

You make some good points MES102. I do like the fact that he's local and won a Ohio State Championship at Hoban High School. I'm also holding out that if he were to get the job he would be able to persuade his son to be a  Zip. His son is a High Major recruit committed to play in the SEC. Saw some clips on him. WOW????

 

Also read on the after game article that 2 starters didn't play for UT Martin against Asheville. They accounted for 25 points a game and 17 rebounds between the 2 of them. So Stewart did make an adjustment.

 

[ZippyRulz]

So none of these guys were hired by Dayton:

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/news/dayton-coach-job-archie-miller-replacements-greg-paulus-dane-fife-james-whitford/1gtihgdgszy7c1585zxmvw2gzx

 

[ZachTheZip]

D not expect any news, or anything but unconfirmed rumors until after the Final Four is concluded. Most NCAA administrators, presidents, and the like tend to meet up during this event, kind of like pro sports owner's meetings.