Izzo: Dwayne Stephens has been involved in a coaching search

Donate To GopherHole
BleedGopher

BleedGopher

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
61,972
Reaction score
18,166
Points
113
per this tweet from Detroit Free Press reporter:

@joerexrode: On assistant coaches, Izzo says Dwayne Stephens has been involved in a job, won't say which one. Nothing said on Fife/Ball State possibility

Go Gophers!!
 

http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061212aaa.html

June 12, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo has announced that Dwayne Stephens has been promoted to associate head coach. A four-year letterwinner at MSU from 1989-93, Stephens will begin his 10th season on the Spartan bench this fall, having joined the staff as an assistant prior to the 2003-04 season.

"Dwayne Stephens has certainly earned this promotion," Izzo said. "Over the last nine years, he's continued to improve as a coach and expanded his responsibilities, while patiently waiting his turn. His efforts have played a major role in our success over the last decade, as he's worked to develop many of our big men, and continued to establish our identity as a team committed to rebounding. In addition, he's played a major role in our ever-improving recruiting, and has developed a greater understanding of all the different facets of being a head coach. He's helped us reach Final Fours and win championships. Of course, his championship experience dates back to him making the game-winning shot against Purdue to win the 1990 Big Ten Championship in the first year of Breslin.

"When a decorated player like Draymond Green credits much of his development to Coach Stephens, that's the ultimate compliment a coach can receive. The list of players that he's helped develop is quite impressive and spans back to his time at Marquette where he helped mentor Dwyane Wade. There is no doubt in my mind that he has positioned himself to be the next MSU assistant coach to run his own program."

"I want to thank Coach Izzo for this great opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career," Stephens said. "Having played at Michigan State while Coach Izzo was associate head coach to Coach Heathcote, I'm well aware of the significance of this position. I've watched closely as other assistants have grown in this position, and I'm committed to doing the same. The fact that this opportunity comes at my alma mater only serves to make it more special. As a staff and team, we've experienced tremendous success over the last nine years. Working alongside Coach Izzo, as well as Coach Garland and Coach Fife, I'm excited about the future in store for this great program."
 

BleedGopher said:
per this tweet from Detroit Free Press reporter:

@joerexrode: On assistant coaches, Izzo says Dwayne Stephens has been involved in a job, won't say which one. Nothing said on Fife/Ball State possibility

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

I would support a Stephens hire.
 


The only other decent job still available Stephens might leave MSU for would be New Mexico. ... am I missing any openings? But he's a Big 10 guy so being in the mix at Minnesota makes sense.
 



Stephens worries me a little only because so many coaches have done well next to Izzo. I wonder how much control Izzo has over all of the facets and therefore how much Stephens is actually relied upon. He does have impressive credentials.

For the camp that is worried about the Big 3, he is pretty tight with Tyus and Vaughn (I believe), I think he's Tyus's main recruiter.
 


Bob_Loblaw said:
Stephens worries me a little only because so many coaches have done well next to Izzo. I wonder how much control Izzo has over all of the facets and therefore how much Stephens is actually relied upon. He does have impressive credentials.

For the camp that is worried about the Big 3, he is pretty tight with Tyus and Vaughn (I believe), I think he's Tyus's main recruiter.
Click to expand...

I think he's tight with Tyus and Travis. Not sure how much Michigan State is in on Vaughn.

Go Gophers!!
 



Bob_Loblaw said:
Stephens worries me a little only because so many coaches have done well next to Izzo. I wonder how much control Izzo has over all of the facets and therefore how much Stephens is actually relied upon. He does have impressive credentials.

For the camp that is worried about the Big 3, he is pretty tight with Tyus and Vaughn (I believe), I think he's Tyus's main recruiter.
Click to expand...
I think it would be Travis not Vaughn he has recruited. I'm not sure Vaughn has been recruited hard by state. Bottomline is he ready to be a head coach. I like the resume of Kentucky assistant Antigua more. But there is the oily Calipari factor.
 

He was on Crean's staff at Marquette too. If we're taking a risk might as well get a guy who's been on the staff of two of the more successful coaches in the conference.
 


Blackhammer said:
I think it would be Travis not Vaughn he has recruited. I'm not sure Vaughn has been recruited hard by state. Bottomline is he ready to be a head coach. I like the resume of Kentucky assistant Antigua more. But there is the oily Calipari factor.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I put him right there with Antigua. He has done it longer and you're right about the Calipari stuff. I kind of like Antigua because in the TINY bit I know of both of him, Antigua is a pretty dynamic personality type and I'd be excited to see the initial media backlash comparing him to Brew.

But I'd be happy with Stephens.
 



I have a buddy who is as big of a Memphis Tigers fan as we are Gopher fans. I asked him about Antigua since he was with Cal at Memphis. His reply:

"Do not, I repeat DO NOT, hire a Cal assistant. Pastner is the only one that's been half way decent and he was only with Cal 9 months, and he's more of a Lute guy. Cal's guys flop cause all they do is recruit (and probably run money) and Cal's the closer anyway. Do yourself a favor and Google Tony Barbee, Chuck Martin, Bruiser Flint, Steve Roccaforte, Derek Kellog. Cal's coaching tree is like a Christmas tree in March. Seriously, Cal runs his programs like a dictator and his assistants can't translate his success. Antigua was a Jamie Dixon guy, so he could be different I suppose."

Go Gophers!!
 

I could get on board this hire. If he locked up any of the big 3, it would be a home run. Even without them he seems like he could be a solid coach. Good pedigree and knows the Big Ten.
 

Count me as someone that would support a Dewaye Stephens hire.

Might not win the press conference but he would win the recruiting war, which is even more important in basketball.
Our gain would be Michigan States loss.
Tyus Jones and Reid Travis are the must gets of the Big 3, and Stephens being there main recruiter at MSU helps us. Those that are warry,the flipside can also be that how much of Izzos current success is do to his staffs input
and there ability to recruit players. Michigan State is almost always in the top 10 for recruiting, and Stephens has played a roll in that It would probably be tough to get him to leave Izzo, but he may want a shot at his own show and to step
out of Izzos shadow.
Associate head coach so he knows the inter workings of game scheduling, adminstration of camps, running practice all of the stuff a head coach does so he has a little experience.
 

Interesting:

RandBall ‏@RandBall 4m
Another interesting note on Michigan State assistant Dwayne Stephens: He has been to the Villa 7 conference 4 times. #gophers
Click to expand...
 

MadtownGopher said:
I could get on board this hire. If he locked up any of the big 3, it would be a home run. Even without them he seems like he could be a solid coach. Good pedigree and knows the Big Ten.
Click to expand...

I think it would almost be too perfect of a situation for Travis if Stephens is the hire. Hard to imagine him going elsewhere unless it's purely academic reasons. Although how worried might he be about taking his broher's playing time if he goes to Harvard?
 

GophersOnTheRise said:
I think it would almost be too perfect of a situation for Travis if Stephens is the hire. Hard to imagine him going elsewhere unless it's purely academic reasons. Although how worried might he be about taking his broher's playing time if he goes to Harvard?
Click to expand...

If academics is the biggest issue then I think Stanford is probably our biggest competition for Reid.
 

BleedGopher said:
I have a buddy who is as big of a Memphis Tigers fan as we are Gopher fans. I asked him about Antigua since he was with Cal at Memphis. His reply:

"Do not, I repeat DO NOT, hire a Cal assistant. Pastner is the only one that's been half way decent and he was only with Cal 9 months, and he's more of a Lute guy. Cal's guys flop cause all they do is recruit (and probably run money) and Cal's the closer anyway. Do yourself a favor and Google Tony Barbee, Chuck Martin, Bruiser Flint, Steve Roccaforte, Derek Kellog. Cal's coaching tree is like a Christmas tree in March. Seriously, Cal runs his programs like a dictator and his assistants can't translate his success. Antigua was a Jamie Dixon guy, so he could be different I suppose."

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...


Good call Bleed!
 

On another thread, Teague has informed the Dunkers of a big announcement coming Thursday. (FWIW from Doogie)

Today, a stunning endorsement from Izzo about Stephens.

Now I am studying various other big kahunas' comments.

GO GOPHERS!!!
 

It's a Pig Man! said:
If academics is the biggest issue then I think Stanford is probably our biggest competition for Reid.
Click to expand...

I agree. Hopefully basketball plays into his decision as much as academics. It's not like he would get a poor education here anyway.
 


I know during Teague's press conference, somebody (not Sid) brought up that there currently no African American coaches in the BIG in football or basketball. Teague addressed this and said it was something they were aware of and were taking in to consideration. I'm sure I'm whiffing on someone, but outside of Stephens and Grant, have any other African American candidates even been mentioned?
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
I know during Teague's press conference, somebody (not Sid) brought up that there currently no African American coaches in the BIG in football or basketball. Teague addressed this and said it was something they were aware of and were taking in to consideration. I'm sure I'm whiffing on someone, but outside of Stephens and Grant, have any other African American candidates even been mentioned?
Click to expand...

Shaka
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
I know during Teague's press conference, somebody (not Sid) brought up that there currently no African American coaches in the BIG in football or basketball. Teague addressed this and said it was something they were aware of and were taking in to consideration. I'm sure I'm whiffing on someone, but outside of Stephens and Grant, have any other African American candidates even been mentioned?
Click to expand...

Shaka Smart is half black

Edit: Gopher07 beat me to it.
 


Breakin' The Plane said:
I know during Teague's press conference, somebody (not Sid) brought up that there currently no African American coaches in the BIG in football or basketball. Teague addressed this and said it was something they were aware of and were taking in to consideration. I'm sure I'm whiffing on someone, but outside of Stephens and Grant, have any other African American candidates even been mentioned?
Click to expand...

Purdue's football coach Darrell Hazell is African-American.
 



You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom