Pitino to be in Minn at 4pm, Three Staff Members at U, Recruiting Road Map in Place

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Pitino to be in Minnesota at 4pm, Three Staff Members at U, Recruiting Road Map in Place
Three Members of Gophers Staff Already in Minnesota
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/246026?referrer_id=331171

New Gophers coach Richard Pitino is expected to arrive in Minnesota around 4pm on Wednesday, with a partial staff already in place and a recruiting road map already sketched out. The Minnesota Golden Gopher staff is already hitting the ground running which is critical as the April open period features evaluation events held the 19-21 and 26-28.

Pitino will have three familiar faces on his staff as Mike Balado, Kimani Young and Josh Adel are following him from Florida International.

Mike Balado spent the past season as an assistant coach at FIU after spending three seasons at High Point. He previously served as an assistant at Miami for one season and Florida Atlantic for three years. Balado served two seasons at Miami Dade College.

Kimani Young spent the past season at FIU after serving as athletic director for the New Heights AAU program. He had previously served as the St. John’s Red Storm staff as the head team manager/video coordinator. Young played at UTEP and scored more than 1,000 points in his college career.

Josh Adel served as FIU’s video coordinator after spending five years at Florida, including a stint as the team manager.

Pitino is likely to add two more names to his staff soon. Gopher coaches are expected to attend the EYBL events in California and Virginia, the adidas VIP in Dallas, Spring Classic in Bloomington, Mile High Classic in Denver, Bigfoot Hoops Kingwood Tournament in Houston, NY2LA Sports Spring Extravaganza in Minnetonka, Pittsburgh Hoop Fest, Bigfoot Hoops Las Vegas Grand Opening and the Under Armour Jayhawk Invitational among others.

Gopher fans can expect the new coaching staff to follow juniors Tyus Jones and Reid Travis of Howard Pulley, Rashad Vaughn, who will play for Wisconsin Playground Elite, sophomore Alex Illikainen of the Cyclones, and sophomores Henry Ellenson and Jarvis Johnson of Minnesota D1 along with other top prospects.

The new coaching staff has made it clear that keeping the top local talent to stay home is a big priority, which is crucial with the strong 2014 and 2015 classes of top Minnesota talent.
 

I assume Adel will be video coordinator at Minnesota (his job at FIU), which leaves one assistant and a director of basketball operations job open. Still hoping for the last assistant to be a midwestern guy.. we will see.

Between Baldo and Young, we have a new pipeline to Florida and the East Coast. They are all Minnesota coaches now, so over time they will develop their own "Minnesota Pipeline".. I am hoping for a final assistant to provide key X's and O's as well as some midwest ties. Either way, they seem like they are ready to work.. love it.
 

Think he turns right back around when seeing the snow?
 




Pitino to be in Minnesota at 4pm, Three Staff Members at U, Recruiting Road Map in Place
Three Members of Gophers Staff Already in Minnesota
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/246026?referrer_id=331171

New Gophers coach Richard Pitino is expected to arrive in Minnesota around 4pm on Wednesday, with a partial staff already in place and a recruiting road map already sketched out. The Minnesota Golden Gopher staff is already hitting the ground running which is critical as the April open period features evaluation events held the 19-21 and 26-28.

Pitino will have three familiar faces on his staff as Mike Balado, Kimani Young and Josh Adel are following him from Florida International.

Mike Balado spent the past season as an assistant coach at FIU after spending three seasons at High Point. He previously served as an assistant at Miami for one season and Florida Atlantic for three years. Balado served two seasons at Miami Dade College.

Kimani Young spent the past season at FIU after serving as athletic director for the New Heights AAU program. He had previously served as the St. John’s Red Storm staff as the head team manager/video coordinator. Young played at UTEP and scored more than 1,000 points in his college career.

Josh Adel served as FIU’s video coordinator after spending five years at Florida, including a stint as the team manager.

Pitino is likely to add two more names to his staff soon. Gopher coaches are expected to attend the EYBL events in California and Virginia, the adidas VIP in Dallas, Spring Classic in Bloomington, Mile High Classic in Denver, Bigfoot Hoops Kingwood Tournament in Houston, NY2LA Sports Spring Extravaganza in Minnetonka, Pittsburgh Hoop Fest, Bigfoot Hoops Las Vegas Grand Opening and the Under Armour Jayhawk Invitational among others.

Gopher fans can expect the new coaching staff to follow juniors Tyus Jones and Reid Travis of Howard Pulley, Rashad Vaughn, who will play for Wisconsin Playground Elite, sophomore Alex Illikainen of the Cyclones, and sophomores Henry Ellenson and Jarvis Johnson of Minnesota D1 along with other top prospects.

The new coaching staff has made it clear that keeping the top local talent to stay home is a big priority, which is crucial with the strong 2014 and 2015 classes of top Minnesota talent.

Good job Mr.Monter and thanks.

It's also good to hear the news and good to see that Pitino is the energetic "let's get going" guy that he seemed to be. Hope the news that he hired some guys at FIU who had local ties down there and that he's looking at local talent up here doesn't piss-off to many of the "hard core" around here.

Because, of course, it's only Minnesotans who see value in some kind of local connection. :rolleyes:

Yes we'll have to wait and see how his teams do, but more and more Mr.Pitino looks like a good hire.
 

Think he turns right back around when seeing the snow?

Dam, I slept right through summer. Hate when that happens. Oh well, closer to the start of the B1G season! Yea
 

Any Gopherholers going to the airport to give him a proper welcome?
 

Great work, thanks Chris and thanks to the GH Staff. You guys are doing outstanding work and I know a ton of people appreciate it.
 





What took him so long. The guy was hired last week.

Sarcasm?

He was at the final four for his dad and to interview asst coaching candidates. Not to mention he had to move his family from Miami to Minneapolis.
 

I would like to see at least one assistant with a little more D-1 experience, preferrably in the midwest, just to balance out the staff. I think we all expect that recruits will respond to a young, energetic staff, but you're also trying to sell the parents, too - and some parents might respond better to a (slightly) older coach. Between Rich, his Dad and Donovan, they should have some good ideas or prospects. Or - maybe here is where the Villa 7 connection comes into play?
 






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