Doogie Interviews Keegan Cook on the Start of Spring Practice

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Keegan gets an A++ in coach speak, if he tires of coaching he can seamlessly move on to PR.
 

Thanks for posting this. At one point, he addressed potential portal incoming transfers. He seems to indicate there won't be any one season transfers (such as Kylie Murr last year). It sounds like they are being very careful in who they will offer.
 

I think a team needs a diversity of age classes on the team so you don't end up losing a lot to graduation. I don't think in today's market that you can only depend on bringing in freshmen. I would never say NEVER to bringing in a one season player the caliber of Kylie Muir--an average player probably not. I think in today's market that bringing in some transfers with two years of eligibility makes sense. They have proven that they can play at the D1 level whereas there is uncertainty with freshman, even highly touted ones. Texas has won back-to-back national championships on the backs of transfer players. Times have changed with the portal system.
 

Times have changed, but they will also keep changing.

You will win a lot of matches if your entire team is senior All Americans. But that is a finite resource that comes at a cost. Nebraska is already starting to see the blowback of hitting the portal over developing top recruits, who are leaving the program.

Minnesota isn't going to beat Texas or Nebraska (or Penn State it seems) at the portal game. The best angle for this program might be to be known as keeping promises and developing young talent. The risk is that they bolt to Nebraska for their last year(s).

Selfishly, I want to watch players for several years and I want to watch them develop. I enjoy that over just racking up wins and it's better for the overall development of the players as people. Few positive lessons are learned by ditching your teammates and coaches to go win a title.
 



NateDawgUM said:
Nebraska is already starting to see the blowback of hitting the portal over developing top recruits, who are leaving the program.
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What’s the blowback?

They can just reload every year with a new crop of portal all-stars.
 

NateDawgUM said:
Times have changed, but they will also keep changing.

You will win a lot of matches if your entire team is senior All Americans. But that is a finite resource that comes at a cost. Nebraska is already starting to see the blowback of hitting the portal over developing top recruits, who are leaving the program.

Minnesota isn't going to beat Texas or Nebraska (or Penn State it seems) at the portal game. The best angle for this program might be to be known as keeping promises and developing young talent. The risk is that they bolt to Nebraska for their last year(s).

Selfishly, I want to watch players for several years and I want to watch them develop. I enjoy that over just racking up wins and it's better for the overall development of the players as people. Few positive lessons are learned by ditching your teammates and coaches to go win a title.
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I'm excited to see Hanson this year and what she can offer; the potential is there. I like the idea of development, but if anything this team does need back court help - which everyone knows.
 

MplsGopher said:
What’s the blowback?

They can just reload every year with a new crop of portal all-stars.
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They can't have their cake and eat it too, if they grab portal all-stars they will lose star recruits
 



DietCokeFan said:
I'm excited to see Hanson this year and what she can offer; the potential is there. I like the idea of development, but if anything this team does need back court help - which everyone knows.
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I think people forget that Hanson was a top 50 recruit. She's definitely been productive when she's had the chance to rotate through the front row.
 

We all know this program has taken huge hits since HM announced his retirement. One could also look at the flip side of this video and say, "we ae looking abroad and in the Spring to continue our recruitment process because we were not able to come to an agreement with those players we have had recent discussions with." KCook didn't actually say that but we did not sign those that recently visited for reason(s) unknown.

It's no secret we need positions filled for the upcoming fall and our options are narrowing. Filling vacant coaching positions was a very positive start. Both additions appear to be proven developers of players. This program needs a fresh new look and start. It would be nice if we could improve upon last season starting this fall.
 

NateDawgUM said:
They can't have their cake and eat it too, if they grab portal all-stars they will lose star recruits
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If they grab the Portal All-Stars, they don't need star recruits.

Instead of signing 4 freshmen, sign one 5-star, and fill the rest of the class with transfers.
 

Ski U Mah Gopher said:
If they grab the Portal All-Stars, they don't need star recruits.

Instead of signing 4 freshmen, sign one 5-star, and fill the rest of the class with transfers.
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I don't know why you're both arguing with me, all I'm saying is that they're now seeing that your choices are one or the other, but not both. I'm not saying it's folly.
 



NateDawgUM said:
I don't know why you're both arguing with me, all I'm saying is that they're now seeing that your choices are one or the other, but not both. I'm not saying it's folly.
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OK, but you did say "blowback" and seemed to imply negativity associated with that decision.

I don't think there is any negativity to it, for a very select few programs (Texas, Neb, maybe Wisc). They can legitimately stop recruiting true freshman, unless there really is some 18 year old that would be one of the top 10-20 players in college volleyball.

They can just land the top portal transfers every year, build a new all-star team every year.
 

MplsGopher said:
OK, but you did say "blowback" and seemed to imply negativity associated with that decision.

I don't think there is any negativity to it, for a very select few programs (Texas, Neb, maybe Wisc). They can legitimately stop recruiting true freshman, unless there really is some 18 year old that would be one of the top 10-20 players in college volleyball.

They can just land the top portal transfers every year, build a new all-star team every year.
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There is quite a lot of negativity in Lincoln around the departure of Jurevicius. Of course they have Beason and there will be other opps in the portal when it's time to replace Beason.

But it's still the point that now, early on in portal mania, we are starting to see star recruits bolt after they've been replaced by portal stars. And that goes back to my point that Minnesota can position itself as a "4-year program" which was all I was getting at.
 

NateDawgUM said:
Minnesota can position itself as a "4-year program" which was all I was getting at.
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I like it on paper.

Problem is if we have a stud in year two, she can just leave to Wisc, Texas, Neb …
 


Well again, that’s easy to say.

I don’t think any coach at a major program ever plans to say “ah crap, I guess we done got oussevs a datgum hole tah plug!”


In the current environment … I truly wonder what happens if Texas or Neb offers Samedy six figures in NIL? Does she stay a Gopher? Probably not, and can’t say I blame her either.

At least my hope is with MN born and bred athletes, they might have some loyalty to the home state and the U. As opposed to being carpetbaggers.
 

MplsGopher said:
Well again, that’s easy to say.

I don’t think any coach at a major program ever plans to say “ah crap, I guess we done got oussevs a datgum hole tah plug!”


In the current environment … I truly wonder what happens if Texas or Neb offers Samedy six figures in NIL? Does she stay a Gopher? Probably not, and can’t say I blame her either.

At least my hope is with MN born and bred athletes, they might have some loyalty to the home state and the U. As opposed to being carpetbaggers.
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I think a lot of coaches have no clue what they're doing and no plan on how to do it.
 

Speaking to the flip side of the coin....I agree with MplsGopher that you would probably have a better chance keeping your recruits faithful for 4 years, if you stayed recruiting Minnesota players. However, we all know that every Minnesota volleyball player is not a top recruit.

I remember Hugh saying one time that we need to recruit players both in Minnesota and out of state. So I ask this question....would an all Minnesota roster give you a consistent winning program, a sought after Big Championship, a birth in post season play and/or the ultimate goal of a natty, which is usually a player/coach/fan's dream?

I too love it when player's can be devloped within this program. Hugh's unexpected retirement has changed this program and we have now lost Top Recruits to the portal. I personally am really hoping this present coaching staff will remain for years and get us back to a top 10 program in their recruiting/development of players.
 
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It works until you hit a dry spell with in-state talent. But I would think they could always be competitive.

There is also an inherent danger in hitching your wagon to transfers. And that’s when the horses don’t get along. I’d also argue that players constantly on the lookout for greener pastures can’t always be counted on. I’m actually surprised that it hasn’t backfired on Texas and Wisconsin. Yet.
 

Texas only needs the transfers to come in for one year, to make that year's all-star squad.

Get a new batch next year.
 

MplsGopher said:
Texas only needs the transfers to come in for one year, to make that year's all-star squad.

Get a new batch next year.
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Yuck. So glad MN is not following this strategy, even if it would give them a better chance at a natty. Like Ruffda, I am wondering when/if this will backfire on those programs and their culture.
 

Fans are interpreting KC's interview that this coaching staff is probably trying not to seek more 1 year Grad/5th year players. They feel they are more or less trying to land longer term players.

The talk on VT is about two MB's in the portal....Isabella Mathis from LMU and Kali Engemen from Excelsior, MN, who played at Georgia Tech. Apparently, both are following KK.

I will admit I know nothing about either of these players. But I looked up their stats and not either player has played that much.....actually, Engemen you could more or less say hasn't at all, with only 10 sets total playing time. Mathis has decent stats but nothing outstanding. Then again maybe she has outstanding "hops" which can make up for her height listed at 6'. She would probably be very similar to Minatee in her build and talent.

Sure, both or either of these players could be filling a backup need for MB for the upcoming 2024 season, but IMO it appears both will need lots of development. Maybe this is the direction KCook has finally decided upon moving forward. The Swenson Twins, Z, Minatee, Schnichels and the recruiting class of 2025 will be learning to play and develop together.

By the way, has anybody heard if Eric and Kylie will be coaching next season and where?
 
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