Next Gopher Head Coach

I'll give ya that... but if we're gonna sit down and make lists, who wants to look up how many have failed? That's gonna take some doing. You're absolutely right, though... provided that Coyle makes the right choice. Does anyone really, really want him to gamble on that? I, for one, want someone who's got experience... I don't want to roll the dice on some first time coach.
Everyone of these guys is a gamble. Look at Tim Miles and his resume before he went to Nebraska. i'm sure everyone thought he was going to be a way safe pick and now no one wants to hire him...
 

People have been saying this regarding Musselman and the idea that he'd come to Minnesota... and that's OK. This is a place to discuss such silliness. We're all just waiting for an announcement.

What nobody has brought up, however... Is whether or not Musselman is a big enough egomaniac to think that he can finish what his father was unable to accomplish? He certainly does show signs of those characteristics. 🤣
I tend to think that would be the reason he would consider taking the job. His old man's connection.
 

Four were assistants at that school and three weren't. Two who were (Smith and Boeheim) were in their early 30's when promoted. If Ben Johnson has the support of the local basketball community....for me that would huge. We've spent the last 8 years with a coach who it seemed hardly recruited Minnesota when we had the best talent in the history of the state.
And neither Dean Smith or Boheim would get those jobs today. I'm all for getting Ben back on the staff, but if he wants to coach in the B1G, he should get a job in a lower conference first.

The fact that he's tried to do that and been passed over doesn't help. He's not good enough for Montana, but we should hire him? Pass.
 

Everyone of these guys is a gamble. Look at Tim Miles and his resume before he went to Nebraska. i'm sure everyone thought he was going to be a way safe pick and now no one wants to hire him...
The difference to an AD is that if you make an unconventional hire you are going to get more criticism if it doesn’t work, especially in football or men’s basketball. Obviously any hire that doesn’t work will result in criticism, but it’s magnified if you are going out on a limb. For example, PJ and Motzko were pretty conventional. Good resumes at lower tier programs that they had punching above their weight class — giving them a shot at a B1G program was logical. Hiring someone like that (in this case, say Craig Smith) won’t result in the same blowback if it doesn’t work out as hiring someone with a less qualified resume (like a Ben Johnson) if that doesn’t work.

Plus IMO the fan base will have less patience with an unconventional hire. If Craig Smith wins 35% of his B1G games in his first two years it’s easy for people to rationalize it and say “well, he knows what it takes to win his conference and get teams to the NCAA tournament, so I’m still all in”. Whereas if a coach has never accomplished those things it’s easy to look at a 35% B1G win % after two years and say “nope, this was a mistake and there is no reason to believe this guy can get it done because he’s never done it before”. And then you are losing fans and $$.

I’m not saying any of that is right or wrong, but I’m saying that’s reality.
 

And neither Dean Smith or Boheim would get those jobs today. I'm all for getting Ben back on the staff, but if he wants to coach in the B1G, he should get a job in a lower conference first.

The fact that he's tried to do that and been passed over doesn't help. He's not good enough for Montana, but we should hire him? Pass.
I'll agree with that. I just thought it was strange that both Wolfson and JG mentioned Ben Johnson today when it seems that they know something that they aren't sharing. For me....the most frustrating part of Pitino was the lack of any connection to the local basketball scene. If Minnesota is going to become a top program, they have to get WAY MORE of those top kids in the state. If we don't...I don't care how good of a coach Craig Smith is....we are going to be in the bottom 6 in the conference year after year. That's why I prefer Niko Medved.
 


I'll agree with that. I just thought it was strange that both Wolfson and JG mentioned Ben Johnson today when it seems that they know something that they aren't sharing. For me....the most frustrating part of Pitino was the lack of any connection to the local basketball scene. If Minnesota is going to become a top program, they have to get WAY MORE of those top kids in the state. If we don't...I don't care how good of a coach Craig Smith is....we are going to be in the bottom 6 in the conference year after year. That's why I prefer Niko Medved.
If you could guarantee Thorson come with Niko, I might prefer him. But I think it's at least 50/50 he would take over at Colorado State. If Smith is the guy, I hope the go steal Ben back from Xavier.
 

The difference to an AD is that if you make an unconventional hire you are going to get more criticism if it doesn’t work, especially in football or men’s basketball. Obviously any hire that doesn’t work will result in criticism, but it’s magnified if you are going out on a limb. For example, PJ and Motzko were pretty conventional. Good resumes at lower tier programs that they had punching above their weight class — giving them a shot at a B1G program was logical. Hiring someone like that (in this case, say Craig Smith) won’t result in the same blowback if it doesn’t work out as hiring someone with a less qualified resume (like a Ben Johnson) if that doesn’t work.

Plus IMO the fan base will have less patience with an unconventional hire. If Craig Smith wins 35% of his B1G games in his first two years it’s easy for people to rationalize it and say “well, he knows what it takes to win his conference and get teams to the NCAA tournament, so I’m still all in”. Whereas if a coach has never accomplished those things it’s easy to look at a 35% B1G win % after two years and say “nope, this was a mistake and there is no reason to believe this guy can get it done because he’s never done it before”. And then you are losing fans and $$.

I’m not saying any of that is right or wrong, but I’m saying that’s reality.

I understand that....but if Craig Smith wins 35% of his conference games....he is going to have the same problem that Pitino had at Minnesota. He won't be recruiting Minnesota very well. That's my concern with Smith. I could be totally wrong and he might be able to recruit Minnesota better than any of the other candidates. But I fear he is Tim Miles 2.0.
 

I may have talked my way into Smith over Dutcher though.

I like Smith being OUR guy.

This is where I'm at. I'm down with Smith. What is he known for (beyond winning)? Immediate turnarounds. It's said he's got a bit of a PJ Fleck-ish personality what with his high energy and intense nature, and I am totally good with that, as it's gonna take a lot of energy and forceful spirit in order to turn this thing around.

I've seen doubts expressed RE: his recruiting chops, and I have no idea how valid those questions might be, but it seems he recruits players that buy into his vision, his system, and his culture, because they win. In other words he builds highly cohesive teams as opposed to simply trying to collect the highest possible recruiting rankings out there, and I will take a coach like that every day of the week. I don't need 5 stars. Just give me winners that buy fully into the overarching concept while embracing their own indispensable roles on the team, because they've all got one.

I'm good with Smith.
 
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If you could guarantee Thorson come with Niko, I might prefer him. But I think it's at least 50/50 he would take over at Colorado State. If Smith is the guy, I hope the go steal Ben back from Xavier.
Just spitballing here, but what if Smith could bring in Tim Miles as his top assistant instead of Thorson then? Those 2 are tight and Miles doesn’t appear to be getting a head gig anywhere.
 



I understand that....but if Craig Smith wins 35% of his conference games....he is going to have the same problem that Pitino had at Minnesota. He won't be recruiting Minnesota very well. That's my concern with Smith. I could be totally wrong and he might be able to recruit Minnesota better than any of the other candidates. But I fear he is Tim Miles 2.0.
Craig Smith and Richard are completely different. Also how do you know that Tim Miles might not of recruited MN better? I guarantee if Ben or Niko only win 35% of their conference games they won’t get MN kids either. I think we are overvaluing the local connections right now.
 

Just spitballing here, but what if Smith could bring in Tim Miles as his top assistant instead of Thorson then? Those 2 are tight and Miles doesn’t appear to be getting a head gig anywhere.
If Miles will take an assistant gig. He can live off Husker $ and do podcasts if he chooses.
 

Fair enough and you are probably right. I have reason to believe Muss would come but I am not sure if the U has it in them to do it.
I'm intrigued. Some sort of insider connection on Mussleman?
 

I understand that....but if Craig Smith wins 35% of his conference games....he is going to have the same problem that Pitino had at Minnesota. He won't be recruiting Minnesota very well. That's my concern with Smith. I could be totally wrong and he might be able to recruit Minnesota better than any of the other candidates. But I fear he is Tim Miles 2.0.
If any coach wins 35% of their conference games in the first two years they will have that problem. Based on Smith’s past it’s very unlikely for that to be the case. Any coach is a risk, but Smith is probably the lowest risk of the realistic choices.
 



Everyone of these guys is a gamble.
I'll fully admit, when Tubby was announced, I thought that was a home run. Turns out, it wasn't... it's definitely a crap-shoot. I just don't want the Gophers to gamble on this particular hire...
 

Just spitballing here, but what if Smith could bring in Tim Miles as his top assistant instead of Thorson then? Those 2 are tight and Miles doesn’t appear to be getting a head gig anywhere.
The whole idea of hiring any coach to get their assistant just seems crazy to me. 1) Coaches want to pick their own staff. And for good reason. 2) if an assistant is really good then the chances of them leaving for a head coaching job are pretty high. So the assistant leaves after a year or two and then we are stuck with the head coach that we only picked because of an assistant that is no longer on their staff?
 

That is one reason I've been a little cold on Medved. Does he maintain the appeal without Thorson? Probably does to an extent but some of the shine is taken off when you remove Dave from the equation. The support Medved has had definitely makes me want to give him a harder look though, hoping he gets an interview.
Niko , Thorson are great but I don’t think I’ve seen Ali Farokhmanesh mentioned as a plus from a staff perspective.... Ali is a big time up n coming coach , too notch on player development spectrum

 


If you could guarantee Thorson come with Niko, I might prefer him. But I think it's at least 50/50 he would take over at Colorado State. If Smith is the guy, I hope the go steal Ben back from Xavier.

Craig Smith and Richard are completely different. Also how do you know that Tim Miles might not of recruited MN better? I guarantee if Ben or Niko only win 35% of their conference games they won’t get MN kids either. I think we are overvaluing the local connections right now.
Would you hire Tim Miles if you were Coyle right now?
 




I'll fully admit, when Tubby was announced, I thought that was a home run. Turns out, it wasn't... it's definitely a crap-shoot. I just don't want the Gophers to gamble on this particular hire...
I remember being shocked when I heard the hire was Tubby. It didn't work out the way we all hoped but it was a really exciting hire at the time.
 



He did instantly elevate the program. He pretty much made the team he inherited from Monson better right away.
If the 2009 team hadn't gotten blown up and had made a Sweet 16 or better run, it might have put him on a path to have a shot at Reid Travis etc. and maybe even Tyus. We'll never know.
 


He wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of my list, but I’d hire him over some of the names mentioned here.
Only if Musselman, Shaka, Belein, Smith, Medved, Dutcher, Moser and Gates all said no.
To me I'm scared that's what Craig Smith will be....not that there is anything wrong with Tim Miles....but it seems like a hire that puts us at best in the 8th, 9th or 10th best program in the B1G. The relationship between the Gophers and the basketball community seems fractured right now....and I feel we need someone to help heal it.
 


If the 2009 team hadn't gotten blown up and had made a Sweet 16 or better run, it might have put him on a path to have a shot at Reid Travis etc. and maybe even Tyus. We'll never know.
Oh the day when Reusse said that he had inside info of Reid was coming to the u. He got played and then acted like he was joking. Never listened to him again
 

See comments about Wes being the next UNC coach. Maybe we will steal one from them...
Probably a great coach. No known Midwest connections makes me very nervous about that possible hire. Bolting back to Carolina at first chance doesn’t inspire confidence. Roy is at the end of the line.
 




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