Next Gopher Head Coach

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GopherNuts said:
In looking for some in depth interviews with potential candidates, I came across The Basketball Podcast with Chris Oliver that went about 45 minutes to an hour long with Gates, Dutcher and Muss. This does a deep dive on their coaching philosophy and I think you get a feel for their personality as well.

Dennis Gates: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...10-ways-to-learn/id1398261897?i=1000496340691

Brian Dutcher: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...nsive-excellence/id1398261897?i=1000472227280

Eric Musselman: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...fe-long-learning/id1398261897?i=1000445204704

I'm very impressed with Gates and I think if you're going to go young, it's with someone that has a real passion for teaching and the difference they can make in a position like this. For what they may lack in experience, they can make up for it through being innovative in their approach much like I think Fleck is. His wife Jocelyn, also won Nike's Administrator of the Year award last year for the work she's done at Boston College. This is a family that's going places, I imagine the BC job is his if he wants it but he should have plenty suitors in the next few weeks. Glad we have an interview with him as some on here have suggested.
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Excellent share!!! Thank you
 

Gophs24 said:
that BC job for Gates is an interesting one....seems to me like that would be some real conflict of interest with his wife working there already. Seems like there could be some awfully sour grapes if things dont work out as planned.....at least something to keep an eye on.
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WriterGoph said:
I was wondering about that conflict of interest aspect as well, especially since she works in the athletic department.
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That's been mentioned in the past, and there's no way that's not a factor in however things go down.
 


JoshuaT81 said:
My only concern with Gates is his HC experience. Has had only 2 years. He has had only 1 good season as HC. It SEEMS like hiring pitino all over again. I stress the word seems because I know not the same styles but they both did not have the experience.
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he could recruit better than Pitino,I know thats not saying much.
 

It will be the excuse for NOT considering others. ‘We had this decision made along time ago’
 



JoshuaT81 said:
My only concern with Gates is his HC experience. Has had only 2 years. He has had only 1 good season as HC. It SEEMS like hiring pitino all over again. I stress the word seems because I know not the same styles but they both did not have the experience.
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100% understand with your point, its valid about HC exp, but I mean you can really make that argument about any hire for anything. Well Monson was a flop here, better not hire Mark Few, doubt he could make it is the easiest example. Happens all the time in sports, can't take Joel Embiid one, hes just like Greg Oden, big guy who has an injury history he will never last. Embiid is now in the lead for MVP. Thats why I am going to be pretty ok with any new hire. We arent hiring a Jay Wright, Tony Bennett, Coach K type so no matter who we get you could probably poke holes in him some way shape or form. There is as much chance that we hire Gates and he is a Pitino level fail as there is that he is the bball version of Fleck and in 2 years we wonder how we got so lucky. Thats Coyle's job to spot the frauds from the real deal.
 

leib0039 said:
100% understand with your point, its valid about HC exp, but I mean you can really make that argument about any hire for anything. Well Monson was a flop here, better not hire Mark Few, doubt he could make it is the easiest example. Happens all the time in sports, can't take Joel Embiid one, hes just like Greg Oden, big guy who has an injury history he will never last. Embiid is now in the lead for MVP. Thats why I am going to be pretty ok with any new hire. We arent hiring a Jay Wright, Tony Bennett, Coach K type so no matter who we get you could probably poke holes in him some way shape or form. There is as much chance that we hire Gates and he is a Pitino level fail as there is that he is the bball version of Fleck and in 2 years we wonder how we got so lucky. Thats Coyle's job to spot the frauds from the real deal.
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I agree with your point. I would think, without doing any research, the percentage is leaning on more a person turning out like pitino than mark few when you make these type of hires. I think for me it is the comfort I know I am going to get trying to get a guy that is more seasoned. But if you interview the person and your gut feeling is I love this guy pull the trigger and live by it. On a side note I would welcome a coach like Gates that is less seasoned, it just makes me a little nervous when you have 2 seasons as a coach and only 1 of those was great. All I do know is it's time for a change and I can't wait to see who it will be.
 

GopherNuts said:
In looking for some in depth interviews with potential candidates, I came across The Basketball Podcast with Chris Oliver that went about 45 minutes to an hour long with Gates, Dutcher and Muss. This does a deep dive on their coaching philosophy and I think you get a feel for their personality as well.

Dennis Gates: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...10-ways-to-learn/id1398261897?i=1000496340691

Brian Dutcher: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...nsive-excellence/id1398261897?i=1000472227280

Eric Musselman: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...fe-long-learning/id1398261897?i=1000445204704

I'm very impressed with Gates and I think if you're going to go young, it's with someone that has a real passion for teaching and the difference they can make in a position like this. For what they may lack in experience, they can make up for it through being innovative in their approach much like I think Fleck is. His wife Jocelyn, also won Nike's Administrator of the Year award last year for the work she's done at Boston College. This is a family that's going places, I imagine the BC job is his if he wants it but he should have plenty suitors in the next few weeks. Glad we have an interview with him as some on here have suggested.
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Great post, thank you. I just downloaded those and I am listening now. I'm coming around on Gates after initially being lukewarm.

The wild thing is at age 41, he is still 3 years older than Richard Pitino! He got his start in 2003 as an assistant at Marquette, a year before Pitino started at College of Charleston in 2004 and his first assistant gig in 2005.
 



JoshuaT81 said:
I agree with your point. I would think, without doing any research, the percentage is leaning on more a person turning out like pitino than mark few when you make these type of hires. I think for me it is the comfort I know I am going to get trying to get a guy that is more seasoned. But if you interview the person and your gut feeling is I love this guy pull the trigger and live by it. On a side note I would welcome a coach like Gates that is less seasoned, it just makes me a little nervous when you have 2 seasons as a coach and only 1 of those was great. All I do know is it's time for a change and I can't wait to see who it will be.
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If you are going to call Gates resume a lack of experience, you'll never hire a minority coach.
He's got a stronger education than Pitino, and twice as much HC experience and twice as many years as an assistant.

There is nothing similar from an experience standpoint. You can't penalize minorities because they didn't get selected for a HC job 8 years sooner.
 

Face The Facts said:
If you are going to call Gates resume a lack of experience, you'll never hire a minority coach.
He's got a stronger education than Pitino, and twice as much HC experience and twice as many years as an assistant.

There is nothing similar from an experience standpoint. You can't penalize minorities because they didn't get selected for a HC job 8 years sooner.
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We aren’t hiring a Pitino. We would be hiring Gates over a Dutcher or Craig Smith. I get it’s not his fault for not getting a shot earlier, but his resume simply isn’t as good as those two on paper. He can still win the job in the interview process still and he should have to. Smith grinded his way from being an NAIA coach in North Dakota and has won conference titles in two tough jobs. I get the argument of saying Gates is a better candidate over a Niko Medved, but its not fair to say he’s done more than Smith or Dutch.
 

After deliberating for a couple weeks I have come to rank my choices as follows:

1) Musselman
Who knows if he is a realistic option but there is enough chatter to make me believe this isn't some pie in the sky scenario.

I like that he has built multiple programs into top 10 teams, is energetic, and seemingly connects with today's youth. He also has an NBA pedigree which I don't place an importance on but if you do he checks that box too. I don't know if there is a negative on his resume.

2) Dutcher
Good coach, good recruiter, WANTS to be here. He is evidently extremely loyal having stayed with Fisher for 25+ years. The only question I have is whether he can win with his own players and not Fisher's collection... but then again he recruited most of these guys so is that really an issue?

3) Gates, Smith, Medved
This is the beginning of the second tier for me. Gates probably excites me the most but I can only base this off the videos that have circulated this site. Smith doesn't do much for me but he is probably not a horrible hire. Medved is about the same but I think would garner less excitement about the program.

4) Mitchell, Saunders
I'm not enthused about either of these options but I would prefer Mitchell over Saunders as I feel he's a better game coach based only on their times with the Wolves. Mitchell has some experience recruiting but who knows how much of an influence he actually had on last year's Memphis class, which has underachieved.

I don't consider any of the other names thrown about to be realistic but would obviously take Beilein or Matta in heartbeat.

In conclusion, I'd be pumped if it was Musselman or Dutcher, optimistic and intrigued if it was Gates, Smith, or Medved, and disappointed if it was Mitchell or Saunders.

If there was someone not on this list I'd probably check on Travis Steele's interest if for not other reason than Xavier seems to know what they are doing when hiring head coaches so they must see something in him that are better than his results so far (which are still better than Pitino).
 

Face The Facts said:
If you are going to call Gates resume a lack of experience, you'll never hire a minority coach.
He's got a stronger education than Pitino, and twice as much HC experience and twice as many years as an assistant.

There is nothing similar from an experience standpoint. You can't penalize minorities because they didn't get selected for a HC job 8 years sooner.
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I don't think you meant it this way but you really flipped what I was saying. I would absolutely hire a person with not much HC experience if they completely nailed it on the interview process. It is a dream come true when you can get that up and comer on your side and they succeed. I am just saying it's a little nerve racking seeing if it will work out. Like I believe I know what I am getting when I hire a person like dutcher who has had 4 seasons with 20 plus wins every season at a decent conference. Less experienced is kind of a wild card but I would do it. I was not thinking anything on the race aspect, but I do get where you went there.
 



JoshuaT81 said:
I don't think you meant it this way but you really flipped what I was saying. I would absolutely hire a person with not much HC experience if they completely nailed it on the interview process. It is a dream come true when you can get that up and comer on your side and they succeed. I am just saying it's a little nerve racking seeing if it will work out. Like I believe I know what I am getting when I hire a person like dutcher who has had 4 seasons with 20 plus wins every season at a decent conference. Less experienced is kind of a wild card but I would do it. I was not thinking anything on the race aspect, but I do get where you went there.
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I guess you forgot about Clem Haskins and Tubby Smith being hired with their experience.
 

manderson1984 said:
We aren’t hiring a Pitino. We would be hiring Gates over a Dutcher or Craig Smith. I get it’s not his fault for not getting a shot earlier, but his resume simply isn’t as good as those two on paper. He can still win the job in the interview process still and he should have to. Smith grinded his way from being an NAIA coach in North Dakota and has won conference titles in two tough jobs. I get the argument of saying Gates is a better candidate over a Niko Medved, but its not fair to say he’s done more than Smith or Dutch.
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Agreed. It makes some sense for NC or Penn State to choose gates over Smith or Medved. It makes less sense for MN to do so.
 


Gates could be very good. However, the best indication of future success, is having been successful in the past. That‘s Musselman and Dutcher. Both are coaching ranked teams.
 



Being that the Gophers were put on notice somewhat as to not having a black head coach. I wouldn't doubt if they go this route. There are good black coaches as mentioned in previous posts.
 

Fighting Illini Fan said:
I would consider the guy from Notre Dame. He's got to be on the hot seat and on the lookout for a possible hc job somewhere else.
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I've thought of him in past years. But they've been downtown for about four years now and he's 62. Hard to make a case for him over Beilien or Dutcher if youre going the over 60 route.
 

PhiloVance said:
he did it at Aimes he can do it at Lincoln.
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ISU is a significantly better job than Nebraska for a variety of reasons. The only thing Nebraska has that’s better is B1G money and a newer (not necessarily better) arena. Iowa State could be considered a equal/better job than MN still at this point. Fred’s got some horses coming, but he will (seems to be currently trying to) have to change his style to find some headway in the B1G. I think they will not be in the cellar next year, but is he getting in the top 6? I don’t think.
 

manderson1984 said:
ISU is a significantly better job than Nebraska for a variety of reasons. The only thing Nebraska has that’s better is B1G money and a newer (not necessarily better) arena. Iowa State could be considered a equal/better job than MN still at this point. Fred’s got some horses coming, but he will (seems to be currently trying to) have to change his style to find some headway in the B1G. I think they will not be in the cellar next year, but is he getting in the top 6? I don’t think.
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It would be interesting to know if any B1G team has had success recently, without at least one go-to big man, and for reasons similar to Gophers, a decent backup option. McCaffery I felt from the moment he was hired was ready to pull his hair out, and then came Garza to complement a bunch of respectable shooters. Illinois magic with the addition of their big man. Michigan no doubt Howard has stepped in and done a great job, and he was smart w/ his staff. But Dickinson has been huge. Michigan State maybe closest to having repeatable success without a super big man, but Izzo also makes sure he's got plenty of 6'7"-6'8" muscle who can shoot. Huskers have one coming in next year, to complement these slashers they have. That's been their demise, including last night, where they were destroyed in the 2nd half. Gophers getting Robbins was great, just no others to complement him. Once he went down, that was it.
 

Are we overlooking the obvious candidate. the god father Rick Pitino...make a call
 


Pretty much everyone agrees Gates looks like a good up and comer. Whether or not he even wants the job is a different question. The U will definitely try to get as many black coaches to interview as possible. Mussleman or Dutcher will probably get extensions to stay. I like Smith or Medved for bargain hires. Porter Moser or Devries I'm guessing would cost us more. I get a good vibe from Smith. Seems to be able to coach up average players, is an enthusiastic motivator. I know very little about Medved other than he used be an assistant here. But I think Smith is the guy we should take a chance on if we cant get Mussleman or Dutcher.
 

manderson1984 said:
ISU is a significantly better job than Nebraska for a variety of reasons. The only thing Nebraska has that’s better is B1G money and a newer (not necessarily better) arena. Iowa State could be considered a equal/better job than MN still at this point. Fred’s got some horses coming, but he will (seems to be currently trying to) have to change his style to find some headway in the B1G. I think they will not be in the cellar next year, but is he getting in the top 6? I don’t think.
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Aimes became a destination after Hoiberg.
 

TurfGopher said:
Pretty much everyone agrees Gates looks like a good up and comer. Whether or not he even wants the job is a different question. The U will definitely try to get as many black coaches to interview as possible. Mussleman or Dutcher will probably get extensions to stay. I like Smith or Medved for bargain hires. Porter Moser or Devries I'm guessing would cost us more. I get a good vibe from Smith. Seems to be able to coach up average players, is an enthusiastic motivator. I know very little about Medved other than he used be an assistant here. But I think Smith is the guy we should take a chance on if we cant get Mussleman or Dutcher.
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Smith and Medved both make more than Mosher and Devries currently. Mosher did turn down St. Johns a couple years ago for 2 mill a year (he currently makes 400k) so money may not buy him anyways.
 

PhiloVance said:
Aimes became a destination after Hoiberg.
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ISU was really good in the 90's early 2000's as well. It's program has always kept up with facilities and they pay coaches decent, plus are supported well with boosters. It wasn't just Hoiberg that made that program good.
 


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