Next Gopher Head Coach

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Holy Man said:
We're assuming one of them will say yes. I can see all of them turning it down for various reasons. Sorry to pop that bubble. I hope it's not true.
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It is doubtful that all of Dutcher, Moser, Smith, Gates, and Medved would turn this job down.

If someone other than one of those guys get the job, then it will because Coyle has a surprise candidate to spring on us, not because they all turned the position down and he's left with nothing.
 


Reading between the lines....

This is what I assume is taking place.

1. Musselman - KFAN and Reusse have been dropping hints that he's interested, he gettable, Barreiro said he thinks if the U offered $3 million a year, he'd take the job. There is plenty of noise from people Musselman has talked with before that these are active leaks from Musselman filtering their way through Minnesota.

But insiders at the U who post on this board basically say. NO CHANCE. I presume this isn't just a financial issue, although it's a big part of it. It's something else.

2. Gates.
I think Gates is the person who gets the job. I assume he turned down BC because he's a better hire than who they hired. It seems that the news we've secured an interview with Gates says more than we've gotten an interview with Gates. I think he knows he has a very strong chance at this point to win the job, thus rolled the dice on passing from the BC opportunity. I can't believe that he didn't out-interview the candidate who got the BC job.

3. Dutcher.
There are whispers there. Seems like a backup choice right now. National media with mixed signals saying "Nah, he's good where he's at". What Dutcher has said publicly contradicts that big time however. This seems to me to be playing the role of the "Secret Big Name" hire.

4. Craig Smith
Seems like option 3 or 4. If Dutcher really can't pull up stakes, and if Gates bombs his interview, Craig Smith is that next option and would get the job.

5. Going back to Musselman
I don't think it's just a money thing. I think this is a Coyle thing where either there is a personality conflict, power struggle, or questions around ethics. It's something deeper than money which is why he won't be hired. Money is a problem that would solve itself if Musselman got hired, but it's not going to happen.

So at this point, I think we all watch Cleveland St play Houston. Perhaps they pull and upset, and Coyle will look even better bringing Gates on board. He has tremendous leadership traits. I'll be rooting for Cleveland St to make a run. (And the other three as well).
 
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manderson1984 said:
He's grown on me a lot. His podcast with Chris Oliver was dynamite.
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Talk is cheap. Pitino talks/talked a great game.

Horizon League = one bid = we hired Pitino from a one bid league.

Will be very disappointed if it's Gates. Big Ten is not where a one bid league guy should get to have his first P5 job.
 
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Face The Facts said:
Reading between the lines....

This is what I assume is taking place.

1. Musselman - KFAN and Reusse have been dropping hints that he's interested, he gettable, Barreiro said he thinks if the U offered $3 million a year, he'd take the job. There is plenty of noise from people Musselman has talked with before that these are active leaks from Musselman filtering their way through Minnesota.

But insiders at the U who post on this board and staff for 247 basically say. NO CHANCE. I presume this isn't just a financial issue, although it's a big part of it. It's something else.

2. Gates.
I think Gates is the person who gets the job. I assume he turned down BC because he's a better hire than who they hired. It seems that the news we've secured an interview with Gates says more than we've gotten an interview with Gates. I think he knows he has a very strong chance at this point to win the job, thus rolled the dice on passing from the BC opportunity. I can't believe that he didn't out-interview the candidate who got the BC job.

3. Dutcher.
There are whispers there. Seems like a backup choice right now. National media with mixed signals saying "Nah, he's good where he's at". What Dutcher has said publicly contradicts that big time however. This seems to me to be playing the role of the "Secret Big Name" hire.

4. Craig Smith
Seems like option 3 or 4. If Dutcher really can't pull up stakes, and if Gates bombs his interview, Craig Smith is that next option and would get the job.

5. Going back to Musselman
I don't think it's just a money thing. I think this is a Coyle thing where either there is a personality conflict, power struggle, or questions around ethics. It's something deeper than money which is why he won't be hired. Money is a problem that would solve itself if Musselman got hired, but it's not going to happen.

So at this point, I think we all watch Cleveland St play Houston. Perhaps they pull and upset, and Coyle will look even better bringing Gates on board. He has tremendous leadership traits. I'll be rooting for Cleveland St to make a run. (And the other three as well).
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Good breakdown
 


Face The Facts said:
Reading between the lines....

This is what I assume is taking place.

1. Musselman - KFAN and Reusse have been dropping hints that he's interested, he gettable, Barreiro said he thinks if the U offered $3 million a year, he'd take the job. There is plenty of noise from people Musselman has talked with before that these are active leaks from Musselman filtering their way through Minnesota.

But insiders at the U who post on this board and staff for 247 basically say. NO CHANCE. I presume this isn't just a financial issue, although it's a big part of it. It's something else.

2. Gates.
I think Gates is the person who gets the job. I assume he turned down BC because he's a better hire than who they hired. It seems that the news we've secured an interview with Gates says more than we've gotten an interview with Gates. I think he knows he has a very strong chance at this point to win the job, thus rolled the dice on passing from the BC opportunity. I can't believe that he didn't out-interview the candidate who got the BC job.

3. Dutcher.
There are whispers there. Seems like a backup choice right now. National media with mixed signals saying "Nah, he's good where he's at". What Dutcher has said publicly contradicts that big time however. This seems to me to be playing the role of the "Secret Big Name" hire.

4. Craig Smith
Seems like option 3 or 4. If Dutcher really can't pull up stakes, and if Gates bombs his interview, Craig Smith is that next option and would get the job.

5. Going back to Musselman
I don't think it's just a money thing. I think this is a Coyle thing where either there is a personality conflict, power struggle, or questions around ethics. It's something deeper than money which is why he won't be hired. Money is a problem that would solve itself if Musselman got hired, but it's not going to happen.

So at this point, I think we all watch Cleveland St play Houston. Perhaps they pull and upset, and Coyle will look even better bringing Gates on board. He has tremendous leadership traits. I'll be rooting for Cleveland St to make a run. (And the other three as well).
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Gates is not my #1 choice, but would support him.

Ethics questions with Musselman? Are you insinuating that Muss is dirty or that Coyle feels bad for some weird reason.
 


i was really hoping dutcher or mitchell. Looks like oats and beard are being connected with indiana. Beard is annoying so dont want him anyway. Need to find a way to divert Oats's plane to MSP int. airport.
 

Face The Facts said:
Reading between the lines....

This is what I assume is taking place.

1. Musselman - KFAN and Reusse have been dropping hints that he's interested, he gettable, Barreiro said he thinks if the U offered $3 million a year, he'd take the job. There is plenty of noise from people Musselman has talked with before that these are active leaks from Musselman filtering their way through Minnesota.

But insiders at the U who post on this board and staff for 247 basically say. NO CHANCE. I presume this isn't just a financial issue, although it's a big part of it. It's something else.

2. Gates.
I think Gates is the person who gets the job. I assume he turned down BC because he's a better hire than who they hired. It seems that the news we've secured an interview with Gates says more than we've gotten an interview with Gates. I think he knows he has a very strong chance at this point to win the job, thus rolled the dice on passing from the BC opportunity. I can't believe that he didn't out-interview the candidate who got the BC job.

3. Dutcher.
There are whispers there. Seems like a backup choice right now. National media with mixed signals saying "Nah, he's good where he's at". What Dutcher has said publicly contradicts that big time however. This seems to me to be playing the role of the "Secret Big Name" hire.

4. Craig Smith
Seems like option 3 or 4. If Dutcher really can't pull up stakes, and if Gates bombs his interview, Craig Smith is that next option and would get the job.

5. Going back to Musselman
I don't think it's just a money thing. I think this is a Coyle thing where either there is a personality conflict, power struggle, or questions around ethics. It's something deeper than money which is why he won't be hired. Money is a problem that would solve itself if Musselman got hired, but it's not going to happen.

So at this point, I think we all watch Cleveland St play Houston. Perhaps they pull and upset, and Coyle will look even better bringing Gates on board. He has tremendous leadership traits. I'll be rooting for Cleveland St to make a run. (And the other three as well).
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So much fun to break it all down. I still think I'd go Dutcher over Gates but I'm with ya with Musselman at 1 no doubt.

Gates is scary. Big 10 has the best coaches in the country top to bottom and that's a big jump. I'm worried it's more of an exciting hire than the best hire. It's not that he can't do it though.

Smith fading more away from those top 3. Only in my opinion haha.
 



MplsGopher said:
Talk is cheap. Pitino talks/talked a great game.

Horizon League = one bid = we hired Pitino from a one bid league.

Will be very disappointed if it's Gates. Big Ten is not where a one bid league guy should get to have his first P5 job.
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I get your point and I think Gates is a reach, but he's a riser. Listen to the podcast. He talks about learning styles and is very calculated. I think Pitino failed on a lack of plan and execution of any plan. I don't see him in the same boat. They also had different careers and Gates is older. I've also said what Pitino learned here will allow him to be relatively successful on his next stop.
 

We have to pull for all these guys in the dance...helps in recruiting to say i made it to the round of X at whatever college...think of what we could do at Minnesota
 

For those who say we have no shot at Musselman, why is that?

With his Dad's history in Minnesota and him being here for his childhood, I could see how he could want the job. I could understand him not taking the job with the success at Arkansas but why is it an absolutely not?
 




skiumah1 said:
For those who say we have no shot at Musselman, why is that?

With his Dad's history in Minnesota and him being here for his childhood, I could see how he could want the job. I could understand him not taking the job with the success at Arkansas but why is it an absolutely not?
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Besides money, rumor is his wife doesn't want to live anywhere cold. Happy wife, happy life.
 

Full Speed Ahead said:
Ryan James has a free article on the coaching search:

Minnesota Gophers Basketball Coaching Search Hot Board 1.0​

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The more I read on the possible candidates, the less enthused I am with Gates on paper. He may be the next great, but his resume isn’t all that impressive compared to the other competitors, and he has no connection here. He’s certainly more qualified than Pitino was, but it would feel like a Pitino 2.0 hire to me.

If Dutcher or Smith wants the job, I have no clue why you’d go with Gates unless it’s a Star-Tribune-pressured hire. But even then, there are several black candidates with better resumes, IMO.
 

DelawareGopher said:
The more I read on the possible candidates, the less enthused I am with Gates on paper. He may be the next great, but his resume isn’t all that impressive compared to the other competitors, and he has no connection here. He’s certainly more qualified than Pitino was, but it would feel like a Pitino 2.0 hire to me.

If Dutcher or Smith wants the job, I have no clue why you’d go with Gates unless it’s a Star-Tribune-pressured hire. But even then, there are several black candidates with better resumes, IMO.
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Agreed. If he had another 2 years with similar success I'm good. He used the JUCO route to build a team, which is fine, but I don't want a big ten teams where every starter is a JUCO transfer
 

manderson1984 said:
I get your point and I think Gates is a reach, but he's a riser. Listen to the podcast. He talks about learning styles and is very calculated. I think Pitino failed on a lack of plan and execution of any plan. I don't see him in the same boat. They also had different careers and Gates is older. I've also said what Pitino learned here will allow him to be relatively successful on his next stop.
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True and good points, thanks
 

I think a Musselman hire would be the only home run hire... it would create a lot of buzz and excitement, to be sure.

I don't know a lot about Gates, but I think that if he's hired and has a bit of success... he'd bolt for the next stop on a rising career trajectory. That just could be my Minnesota negativity regarding coaches coming out of me, so take that with a grain of salt.

Sam Mitchell is an NBA'er... I think Ryan Saunders would lean that way, given a choice.

I don't care what Doug Gottleib says, Brian Dutcher didn't include that sweetheart buyout only for Minnesota for nothing... It's a job he's coveted, for sure. I think he's the safest hire, and would stabilize the program and get it headed in the right direction.

Smith or Medved... I wouldn't complain about either being hired.

Moser is pretty heavily linked with DePaul, or so I've heard... The one school he doesn't have many links to is Minnesota... for whatever that's worth.
 


Full Speed Ahead said:
Ryan James has a free article on the coaching search:

Minnesota Gophers Basketball Coaching Search Hot Board 1.0​

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One of the names that jumped out at me on this list was Howard Eisley, just because I had no idea who he was, and I think this was the first I'd heard of him, and he's apparently "one of the top 6 names we think fans should track closely." He's one of Juwan Howard's assistants at Michigan. Apparently has little connection to Minnesota beyond playing for the Timberwolves for a year. I also notice Musselman is not on this list.


More than 3-5 days. Possibly an implication we're pursuing candidates who might be going to the Sweet Sixteen or later? Michigan will likely do that, if we're indeed interested in Eisley. Or Musselman or Dutcher? I'd assume Smith and Gates aren't getting that far. And actually Smith could play Musselman in the round of 32.
 

Reckless Speculation: In a radical turn of events Kevin Garnett has become the head basketball coach of the Minnesota Gophers. He was inspired by Flip Saunders and his love for all things Gophers. Kevin stated "the MN community deserves to have at least one "Male" winning basketball team in the state." In an amazing turn of events Ryan Saunders and Sam Mitchell will come on as assistant coaches, along with Sprewell as recruiting coordinator (he understands in order to play, you need to be able to pay for food).

Some wonder if this is Kevin's way of sticking it to Glen or if the reason he backed away from ownership was because of Coyle's offer to coach the team.

Either way the coaching chops on the staffs, the passion and experience of Kevin are bound to attract recruits. There are already rumors of a few 5* recruits looking to come to town to help Kevin out in his first year. Plus, there is speculation of having a MN Gopher vs. Timberwolves exhibition start as early as next season for "town title."
 
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DelawareGopher said:
The more I read on the possible candidates, the less enthused I am with Gates on paper. He may be the next great, but his resume isn’t all that impressive compared to the other competitors, and he has no connection here. He’s certainly more qualified than Pitino was, but it would feel like a Pitino 2.0 hire to me.

If Dutcher or Smith wants the job, I have no clue why you’d go with Gates unless it’s a Star-Tribune-pressured hire. But even then, there are several black candidates with better resumes, IMO.
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Who are the other black coaches who are actually candidates with better resumes? Just curious.

If you say Anthony Grant or Sam Mitchell, just don't even bother. Grant is a retread who couldn't do well at Alabama and Mitchell has nothing about him that says he is going to succeed as a college HC or recruiter.
 

SanDiegoGopherFan said:
Agreed. If he had another 2 years with similar success I'm good. He used the JUCO route to build a team, which is fine, but I don't want a big ten teams where every starter is a JUCO transfer
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So because he used jucos short-term at Cleveland State to build up a bad roster, that's how he would recruit at Minnesota? Your logic is off and the NBA guys he recruited at Florida State say hello.
 

Cayman said:
One of the names that jumped out at me on this list was Howard Eisley, just because I had no idea who he was, and I think this was the first I'd heard of him, and he's apparently "one of the top 6 names we think fans should track closely." He's one of Juwan Howard's assistants at Michigan. Apparently has little connection to Minnesota beyond playing for the Timberwolves for a year. I also notice Musselman is not on this list.


More than 3-5 days. Possibly an implication we're pursuing candidates who might be going to the Sweet Sixteen or later? Michigan will likely do that, if we're indeed interested in Eisley. Or Musselman or Dutcher? I'd assume Smith and Gates aren't getting that far. And actually Smith could play Musselman in the round of 32.
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I mean the tournament doesn't really start until Friday anyways. I think it just means they are going to actually interview people and that they haven't dialed in on one candidate like all the other hires from Coyle.
 

WriterGoph said:
Who are the other black coaches who are actually candidates with better resumes? Just curious.

If you say Anthony Grant or Sam Mitchell, just don't even bother. Grant is a retread who couldn't do well at Alabama and Mitchell has nothing about him that says he is going to succeed as a college HC or recruiter.
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Grant seems like a better option to me. He’s done really well at Dayton, and I don’t fault him for not doing well at Bama—no one has done well there in recent years until Nate Oats started working miracles.

Gates has one good coaching year, in a weird Covid year no less. But, that’s why I said “on paper.” Perhaps the guy has PJ-like charisma and comes with glowing recommendations. If we hire him, I hope our biggest worry will be whether he’ll bolt for a blue blood.
 

DelawareGopher said:
The more I read on the possible candidates, the less enthused I am with Gates on paper. He may be the next great, but his resume isn’t all that impressive compared to the other competitors, and he has no connection here. He’s certainly more qualified than Pitino was, but it would feel like a Pitino 2.0 hire to me.

If Dutcher or Smith wants the job, I have no clue why you’d go with Gates unless it’s a Star-Tribune-pressured hire. But even then, there are several black candidates with better resumes, IMO.
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Furthermore, anyone who thinks the Star Tribune is actually going to pressure a Big Ten AD into hiring an unqualified candidate just because he is black is the same type of person who is worried about minorities taking their jobs because they are "getting too educated." GTFO.

Coyle has a list of candidates he has targeted. He had it well before that article. He will pick who he feels is the best fit. If it's Gates, it's not because the Star Tribune wrote a freaking article. For your theory to be even half-true, Gates would have to not also be being mentioned for numerous other P6 jobs. If it's his time to get a gig, he is going to get one this cycle - 2 or 4 or 8 years of HC experience. If we want to grab someone Coyle likes, he can't say, "nah, let's let him season for two more years."

You get your guy when you get the chance to get him. Just like he did with PJ.
 

Might have competition for a few guys. Iowa State just canned their HC, too.
 

WriterGoph said:
Furthermore, anyone who thinks the Star Tribune is actually going to pressure a Big Ten AD into hiring an unqualified candidate just because he is black is the same type of person who is worried about minorities taking their jobs because they are "getting too educated." GTFO.

Coyle has a list of candidates he has targeted. He had it well before that article. He will pick who he feels is the best fit. If it's Gates, it's not because the Star Tribune wrote a freaking article. For your theory to be even half-true, Gates would have to not also be being mentioned for numerous other P6 jobs. If it's his time to get a gig, he is going to get one this cycle - 2 or 4 or 8 years of HC experience. If we want to grab someone Coyle likes, he can't say, "nah, let's let him season for two more years."

You get your guy when you get the chance to get him. Just like he did with PJ.
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“Star Tribune” hire doesn’t literally mean he’ll feel forced into hiring a black candidate because of that one article. That article is just representative of the incredible pressure in academia and the corporate world to hire minorities right now.

I know from personal experience. I recently interviewed for a corporate job through some networking connections. The hiring partner explicitly told me that they plan to hire me, but can’t until they make public efforts to find a minority candidate instead. So here I sit in limbo waiting for that process to play out. Don’t tell me this stuff isn’t real. You have your head in the sand if you don’t think powerful people at/associated with the U are pushing for a minority hire.
 

DelawareGopher said:
“Star Tribune” hire doesn’t literally mean he’ll feel forced into hiring a black candidate because of that one article. That article is just representative of the incredible pressure in academia and the corporate world to hire minorities right now.

I know from personal experience. I recently interviewed for a corporate job through some networking connections. The hiring partner explicitly told me that they plan to hire me, but can’t until they make public efforts to find a minority candidate instead. So here I sit in limbo waiting for that process to play out. Don’t tell me this stuff isn’t real. You have your head in the sand if you don’t think powerful people at/associated with the U are pushing for a minority hire.
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I disagree that Coyle is making the 2nd biggest hire of his career on skin color. They may make a point to consider/interview more minority candidates but it doesn't benefit the regents or Joan Gabel to have the basketball program continue to not bring in the revenue it should for the next 5 years by hiring someone who is qualified for the job. If Gates gets the job, he deserves it.
 


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