The ASU coaching search and potential candidates to discuss

[Maddog1956]

I really, REALLY hope Cobb takes his time with this and interview a good pool of candidates. There's no need to rush this hire. If someone jumps and takes the job at WF or VT, then that's their prerogative and so be it.

We aren't going to be competing with ACC teams for coaching hires. Substitute UNCW and FAU for those names and you've got a point.

I'm not a big fan of Cobb's comment about wanting someone with Sun Belt experience or familiarity. Seems like a pretty arbitrary criterion. How is he "trying to grasp what Sun Belt basketball means"? It means we're moving to a moderately tougher league. It's not like they play their games on the moon.

Just a guess, but those type comments usually mean someone is already in mind. Could just mean that he needs someone to show him how to get to the other schools but it sounds like someone is ready.

Are there any choices among current Sunbelt coaches or ex-sunbelt coaches?

[Kgfish]

Reading between the lines of the Journal Article:

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/ba ... b2370.html

Charlie Cobb is looking for a coach that is still coaching and one of the "tournaments" (interesting he seemed to say tournaments and not post-season play which is the more common term which would make me think he is referring to a Championship tournament like D1 or D2 championship) and "knows" Sun Belt basketball.

Most of the perceived front runners are still playing in one of the "tournaments" but Bobby Lutz (this interview was done while NC State was still in) would seem to have to most experience with Sun Belt basketball. He played in the Sun Belt in college (all be it from like 1976 to 1980) and he recently flirted with the Troy job. (His Sun Belt connection is still a bit of a stretch)

Bringing in the importance of knowing the Sun Belt now, which he did not bring up in Capel's press conference, seems to be Cobb directing us towards Lutz.

Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week.

[Kgfish]

"Houston was great at running a clean program and graduating good men, but his wins went 11,10,19,9,18,14,25,18,13. Fancher's problem wasn't that he couldn't produce a winner. It was that he couldn't do it consecutively and with a consistent upward trend.

Or with the next to the worst budget in the SoCon.

And with the nicest, newest facility in the SoCon. We can make a 100 excuses why he was/wasn't successful, but the fact remains that when we fired him, it was just time. For the record, I really like Fancher.

Are you talking about that nicest, newest facility in the SoCon Houston wasn't allowed to have a key to the arena and many times (esp on weekends when they visited) unable to show recruits that beautiful arena unless someone on the HCC staff was around to let them in? It doesn't matter how nice the facility is if you do not have access to it and a budget that limits how much and how far you can go recruiting. You can label it an excuse if you want, but I'd call it a reason. And make no mistake about it, the timing of Houston's release was done with a purpose. He was returning a team capable of winning 20+ games and those wanting him gone couldn't take a chance on that happening.

"

All excuses, reasons, explainations aside, do you think that Fancher should have been re-signed to another contract?

I started the Houston talk and I would say no. BUT he had earned the right to coach out his contract. If he had the year like Buzz did and won against Wofford, then he could have got a 1-2 ext, but both the Coach and the Program could have parted on good terms and neither would have been hurt by it.

What did he have left on his contract?

1 year.

[thegreengopher]

McMahon and the Murray State Racers have played and thoroughly beaten Arkansas State a few times. Also he knows Georgia Southern pretty well. Not sure why this is important to CC bc any coach put in place would familiarize himself with conference opponents quickly.

[HeffnerIV]

"Houston was great at running a clean program and graduating good men, but his wins went 11,10,19,9,18,14,25,18,13. Fancher's problem wasn't that he couldn't produce a winner. It was that he couldn't do it consecutively and with a consistent upward trend.

Or with the next to the worst budget in the SoCon.

And with the nicest, newest facility in the SoCon. We can make a 100 excuses why he was/wasn't successful, but the fact remains that when we fired him, it was just time. For the record, I really like Fancher.[/quote]

Are you talking about that nicest, newest facility in the SoCon Houston wasn't allowed to have a key to the arena and many times (esp on weekends when they visited) unable to show recruits that beautiful arena unless someone on the HCC staff was around to let them in? It doesn't matter how nice the facility is if you do not have access to it and a budget that limits how much and how far you can go recruiting. You can label it an excuse if you want, but I'd call it a reason. And make no mistake about it, the timing of Houston's release was done with a purpose. He was returning a team capable of winning 20+ games and those wanting him gone couldn't take a chance on that happening.[/quote]"

All excuses, reasons, explainations aside, do you think that Fancher should have been re-signed to another contract?[/quote]

I think he should have been allowed to finish out his contract then make the decision. Had he won 20 games Houston would have averaged 19 wins over his last 3 seasons. My issue is the HOW and WHY he was terminated. All done to appease a couple of big mouth blow hards with big checkbooks.[/quote]

All valid points. I wasn't a 'big time' donor at the time and I thought it was just time too. I don't think I'm alone.

[EastHallApp]

Here are the names I would like get at least a good phone interview (in order from what I like the most to what I like the least):

Duggar Baucom – Head Coach VMI. He had over achieved at VMI and his teams are super fun to watch

I'm right there with you on this one, Spong. VMI's been putting up gaudy offensive numbers under Baucom for his 9 year run there and they've consistently knocked on the Big Dance's door during that time. They are without a doubt the most fun team in the nation the watch (saw them beat the hell out of a good Wright State team in Lexington over the holidays where they must've hit 20 3's).

Having a little brother who's a VMI cadet-athlete, I can attest to how difficult it is to win there. Seriously. Look at the records of every single other team they field there. Unbelievably bad. The fact that they have 20 (21?) wins this year is a miracle of sorts to me. Life at that school is absolutely miserable and I get depressed just thinking of visiting my bro.

If I admitted how many fall Saturdays I've squandered away on VMI's Post WATCHING THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM GET CURBSTOMPED over the last 3 years, I'd blush.

All that said, if Duggar Baucom can get kids to buy in to a 15-hour day, the Ratline (where freshmen are harassed by the Corps for 7 months), the sub-par facilities, the infectious losing culture surrounding his culture in the rest of the athletic department, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE NOT GIVE HIM A SERIOUS LOOK?

VMI has led the country in scoring most of the last decade, has had the CPOY, 2x CDPOY, he's put numerous kids into pro leagues in Europe, everywhere else, and had a kid named Reggie Williams who was in the NBA for like 7 years. They won the Military Classic tournament this year finished 11-5 in a pretty scrappy Big South. Lost a nail biter to Coastal at their place in the conference tournament.

Went up to Canisius the other night and scored 113 points in the CIT tournament. Hosting a game this weekend - first ever home postseason game in school history. I'll be there with my family. VMI has a very loyal, tiny fan base who has a clue of how special Baucom is but overall the resources just aren't there to tout his program. They have a pretty good baseball coach also but other than those two VMI sports could be the worst in the country as a whole.

I'd like us to lead the country in scoring while rebuilding!!! This guy would look at our resources as a goldmine compared to what he's working with at VMI, I bet. Have no clue how they've gotten such good players over the years because I will say that VMI does it the right way.

If anything, the professors go out of their way to remind cadet-athletes that they're not getting any preferential treatment because they happen to play a sport. Not sure about the basketball guys, but he can't even get his summer school paid for (on scholarship) and can't stay around Post to train, etc. Team doesn't have a full-time weight trainer. I could go on and on. Played baseball at App. and we'd be like UCLA or Kansas to this guy compared to whatever he's getting there. 175-200K, whatever.

What was Capel making??

When is the APR penalty going to kick in?

Thanks for your insight. I threw Baucom's name out there a while back, and I agree he would be a good candidate, for all the reasons you describe.

However, It does seem like the writing may be on the wall re: Lutz, for better or worse.

[Appsolutley]

"Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week."

I agree, kgfish. Familiarity with the Sun Belt seems like a very peripheral consideration to me...just justification for a lazy hire.

He better be careful on this one. If he hires Lutz, and it doesn't work, he might find himself out at the golf course cleaning out golf carts, like...well, you know.

[Kgfish]

"Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week."

I agree, kgfish. Familiarity with the Sun Belt seems like a very peripheral consideration to me...just justification for a lazy hire.

He better be careful on this one. If he hires Lutz, and it doesn't work, he might find himself out at the golf course cleaning out golf carts, like...well, you know.

[WataugaMan]

"Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week."

I agree, kgfish. Familiarity with the Sun Belt seems like a very peripheral consideration to me...just justification for a lazy hire.

He better be careful on this one. If he hires Lutz, and it doesn't work, he might find himself out at the golf course cleaning out golf carts, like...well, you know.

Double

[PhillyApp1]

"Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week."

I agree, kgfish. Familiarity with the Sun Belt seems like a very peripheral consideration to me...just justification for a lazy hire.

He better be careful on this one. If he hires Lutz, and it doesn't work, he might find himself out at the golf course cleaning out golf carts, like...well, you know.

Double

Triple

[WataugaMan]

"Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week."

I agree, kgfish. Familiarity with the Sun Belt seems like a very peripheral consideration to me...just justification for a lazy hire.

He better be careful on this one. If he hires Lutz, and it doesn't work, he might find himself out at the golf course cleaning out golf carts, like...well, you know.

Double

Triple

Grand Slam Homerun

[Nugget49]

Reading between the lines of the Journal Article:

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/ba ... b2370.html

Charlie Cobb is looking for a coach that is still coaching and one of the "tournaments" (interesting he seemed to say tournaments and not post-season play which is the more common term which would make me think he is referring to a Championship tournament like D1 or D2 championship) and "knows" Sun Belt basketball.

Most of the perceived front runners are still playing in one of the "tournaments" but Bobby Lutz (this interview was done while NC State was still in) would seem to have to most experience with Sun Belt basketball. He played in the Sun Belt in college (all be it from like 1976 to 1980) and he recently flirted with the Troy job. (His Sun Belt connection is still a bit of a stretch)

Bringing in the importance of knowing the Sun Belt now, which he did not bring up in Capel's press conference, seems to be Cobb directing us towards Lutz.

Bobby didn't play on the team in Charlotte, but we were in the Sun Belt when he was a student. He tried to walk-on but was not selected. Lutz is a heck of an athlete and was a national champion softball player with the legendary Howard's Furniture team. Lutz is a scratch golfer and one of the most competitive people I know.

I think Lutz would be an excellent choice for App, but I am not sure App is a good choice for Lutz. No offense intended, but there are several hurdles that he must reconcile. Lutz probably has about 10 years left in his career, and if he comes to App he will probably face APR scholarship restrictions right off the bat, and not have the players currently on the team he needs to win. If it takes him 4-5 years to turn things around does he get a shot at a bigger program at that point, or finish out at App? I think coming to App would pretty much be a lifetime gig for him. Is that what he wants? Maybe. He is a small town NC boy at heart.

Money. App does not pay their HCs what he makes at NCSU. I think it will take $300k to get him. Will App step it up? With the increased costs of moving to the Sun Belt can you? Exit fees, entrance fees, travel costs, and now all of your SoCon coaches are going to be comparing their salaries to their new Sun Belt counterparts. Is basketball where Cobb will choose to put all his chips?

Assistant coaches. If you spend $300k on the head coach, what is left for hiring assistants and recruiting budgets? You need better players, and we are in an area with a good bit of talent but a lot of teams competing for them. Recruiting will be everything over the next 3 years and App cannot succeed with a staff of rookies with no connections.

I can wish you guys good luck because I do not think App has any impact on Charlotte's basketball success (or lack thereof). If you get Lutz you will sell a few extra tickets at one game because I will come up to cheer him on. If you go in another direction I hope it works out too. App should have a better program than you did this year.

[BUTCH1991]

Can we hire Bob Hoffman?

[newtoasu]

Everyone needs to just calm down. CC has made a decision but can't talk till the tournament is over or at least till K is out. Oh crap I let it out. CC is going to kill me. Now Duke is going to fight to keep him and we will have to give him even more money.

While they are now out thanks to....Mercer (?), the future SoCon team replacing App.

Don't you know the Dukies are just dying over a loss to Mercer. The only thing that makes me a little sad about the loss is the Tar Holes are now happy.

[AppinVA]

"Cobb has seemingly been giving away hints about Lutz from day one. Why is experience and familiarity with SunBelt basketball important? Do they have different rules or something? Every time this guy opens his mouth he says something that makes you want to scratch your head and go . Guess that's why he didn't speak at the WS Yosef meeting last week."

I agree, kgfish. Familiarity with the Sun Belt seems like a very peripheral consideration to me...just justification for a lazy hire.

He better be careful on this one. If he hires Lutz, and it doesn't work, he might find himself out at the golf course cleaning out golf carts, like...well, you know.

Double

Triple

Grand Slam Homerun

Curtain call.

[97APP]

Everyone needs to just calm down. CC has made a decision but can't talk till the tournament is over or at least till K is out. Oh crap I let it out. CC is going to kill me. Now Duke is going to fight to keep him and we will have to give him even more money.

While they are now out thanks to....Mercer (?), the future SoCon team replacing App.

Don't you know the Dukies are just dying over a loss to Mercer. The only thing that makes me a little sad about the loss is the Tar Holes are now happy.

They still have to play Providence later today so that happiness may be short lived.

[Kgfish]

Can we hire Bob Hoffman?

Should have made the deal before today. His price just went up.

[Appsolutley]

Everyone needs to just calm down. CC has made a decision but can't talk till the tournament is over or at least till K is out. Oh crap I let it out. CC is going to kill me. Now Duke is going to fight to keep him and we will have to give him even more money.

While they are now out thanks to....Mercer (?), the future SoCon team replacing App.

Don't you know the Dukies are just dying over a loss to Mercer. The only thing that makes me a little sad about the loss is the Tar Holes are now happy.

Coach K was heard singing as he left the arena: "Oh, mercer, mercer me...things ain't like they used to be."

--with apologies to Marvin Gaye

[spong]

Duggar Baucom was an assistant coach at Northwestern State which is in the heart of the Sun Belt Conference. He also was an assistant at Western which means he is familiar with Mountaineer culture.

This might be a stretch but I would hope this would help him appeal to Charlie Cobb. Duggar Baucom is my favorite candidate. He has done a very good job in a very difficult situation at VMI. We could get him at a price that won't break the bank. We should have enough revenue leftover to build a good coaching staff around him and have a recruiting budget. He knows how to build a program and his style of play would get students fans from down the mountain in the HCC to see.

[asu66]

Duggar Baucom was an assistant coach at Northwestern State which is in the heart of the Sun Belt Conference. He also was an assistant at Western which means he is familiar with Mountaineer culture.

This might be a stretch but I would hope this would help him appeal to Charlie Cobb. Duggar Baucom is my favorite candidate. He has done a very good job in a very difficult situation at VMI. We could get him at a price that won't break the bank. We should have enough revenue leftover to build a good coaching staff around him and have a recruiting budget. He knows how to build a program and his style of play would get students fans from down the mountain in the HCC to see.

He applied twice before as I understand it from one of his friends. The first time was when Cobb finally begged Buzz enough times to get him to return. The second time, obviously, was when the now infamous Capel experiment was tried. I'm told he's never received the courtesy of a phone call or letter from anyone in the athletic department. Maybe the third time will get him a look.