Sun-Times: Shaka Smart turns down Illinois coaching offer

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I'm glad that we don't have to play against Shaka Smart.

I read something quick on ESPN and maybe I read it incorrectly, but it sounded like Illinois wanted to bring on some HS coach from Simeon in Chicago as an assistant. I'm not sure if that played a part in Smart's decision.
 


He already has a situation that is as good or better than the majority of BCS conference schools. VCU is a good (and big) school, they pay him well, they have nice facilities, they are able to get good players (Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders, for example), they have a passionate fanbase, they play in a good but not brutal conference (meaning at-large bids are possible), and they have built a recent tradition of being a good basketball school. If I'm a guy like Smart or Brad Stevens, I hold on to my current job until an elite school offers me. I thought Illinois would be a good fit for him (especially considering that he's a Wisconsin native), but apparently he's holding out for something better.
 

dpodoll68 said:
He already has a situation that is as good or better than the majority of BCS conference schools. VCU is a good (and big) school, they pay him well, they have nice facilities, they are able to get good players (Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders, for example), they have a passionate fanbase, they play in a good but not brutal conference (meaning at-large bids are possible), and they have built a recent tradition of being a good basketball school. If I'm a guy like Smart or Brad Stevens, I hold on to my current job until an elite school offers me. I thought Illinois would be a good fit for him (especially considering that he's a Wisconsin native), but apparently he's holding out for something better.
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Tubby wins a couple NCs and he comes to Minnesota when Tubby retires? A guy can dream, right?
 

per Seth Davis:

"Now that Shaka is out of the mix, Illinois can chase shadows and toss money. Or it can hire Chris Collins--who actually wants the job badly."

Go Gophers!!
 

Three huge red flags against Collins:

1. Zero head coaching experience at any level

2. If someone wants a particular job that badly, it's usually a good sign that they're not at all qualified for it and would be in way over their heads. This is especially true if the job isn't a destination-type job.

3. He has coached as an assistant at Duke for over a decade and hasn't been given any high-level coaching offers.

It also makes you wonder how much of Collins' employment status is due to who his dad is.

I've also heard rumors that Illinois wants a black coach because they think it will help them recruit Chicago better.
 



dpodoll68 said:
He already has a situation that is as good or better than the majority of BCS conference schools. VCU is a good (and big) school, they pay him well, they have nice facilities, they are able to get good players (Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders, for example), they have a passionate fanbase, they play in a good but not brutal conference (meaning at-large bids are possible), and they have built a recent tradition of being a good basketball school. If I'm a guy like Smart or Brad Stevens, I hold on to my current job until an elite school offers me. I thought Illinois would be a good fit for him (especially considering that he's a Wisconsin native), but apparently he's holding out for something better.
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He has a great situation at VCU and he knows that even with the recruiting advantages at Illinois, winning in the B1G is very hard. Why would he leave the nice situation he is in now?
 

How long will Bo be coaching? He's 64, getting up there for sure. Not saying Shaka (Madison-area native) would hold out or pass up elite-level jobs waiting, but if it came down to it I'm guessing he'd listen to that offer very intently if he was going to listen to any B1G school.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Three huge red flags against Collins:

1. Zero head coaching experience at any level

2. If someone wants a particular job that badly, it's usually a good sign that they're not at all qualified for it and would be in way over their heads. This is especially true if the job isn't a destination-type job.

3. He has coached as an assistant at Duke for over a decade and hasn't been given any high-level coaching offers.

It also makes you wonder how much of Collins' employment status is due to who his dad is.

I've also heard rumors that Illinois wants a black coach because they think it will help them recruit Chicago better.
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4. Coach K assistants don't have the greatest track record. Brey is the best of the lot and he's a one and done NCAA tourney coach.
 

I'm sure Illinois isn't done pursuing Shaka. Monson said we offered him 9 times before he took the job.
 



Bob_Loblaw said:
I'm glad that we don't have to play against Shaka Smart.

I read something quick on ESPN and maybe I read it incorrectly, but it sounded like Illinois wanted to bring on some HS coach from Simeon in Chicago as an assistant. I'm not sure if that played a part in Smart's decision.
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Bringing in Robert Smith is what the sports talk callers say. Those people need to jump in front of the L. Here's the article: http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/7715262/illinois-contacts-prep-coach-opening

Illinois and their fans are focused on one player and one player only: Jabari Parker. The guy is absolutely absurd and is seen as the Messiah of Illini basketball, much like Jereme Richmond 2 years ago, except Jabari is actually a good kid. Although I support the dear Illini, this will absolutely be a train wreck of a process...

My state's arrogance is well known and extends, especially, to U of I and their fans. Illini fans are just sick of the Top, top recruits in the state (Rose, Scheyer, Pullen, Shannon Brown, etc. etc.) skipping the state. Champaign is a dump in the middle of nowhere, that's part of the reason why.
 

Why would you take a middle third job in the toughest top to bottom conference in the country when jobs like uconn, UCLA, duke, Kentucky (cause you never know how long cal will be there), maybe north Carolina (if Roy retires), might all come available in the next 4-10 years for various reasons. Worst case scenario for smart is that his stock drops and he's the lifetime coach at VCU.

Worst case scenario at Illinois is that he's a perennial bubble who is gone in five years who has to start back over at a smaller school again.
 

Shaka Smart is set for as long as he wants. He is waiting for Tubby to retire here, and then.....BOOM, HE'S OURS!!!
 

Every coach wants different things. Some like the challenge of coaching at a mid-major or taking over a bottom or middle of the road program in a big conference. Others shoot for the top (Kentucky, UNC, Kansas, etc.) and that's the only place they want to be. It's hard to really know what Smart wants.

Interesting about Jabari Parker, rivals lists Washington as "High" on the interest level even though he has offers from Duke, UNC, Michigan St., Ohio St., and others.
 

Buttcheeks McGaffigan said:
4. Coach K assistants don't have the greatest track record. Brey is the best of the lot and he's a one and done NCAA tourney coach.
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This is true but the jury is still out on Dawkins. Brey though is a Morgan Wooten guy through and through. I'm actually more willing to give Morgan credit for Brey's "success" than K.
 

The Truth said:
This is true but the jury is still out on Dawkins. Brey though is a Morgan Wooten guy through and through. I'm actually more willing to give Morgan credit for Brey's "success" than K.
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Fair enough on Dawkins. Personally, I'm not getting my hopes up Dawkins can turn Stanford into a Top 25 program.
 

Gopher07 said:
How long will Bo be coaching? He's 64, getting up there for sure. Not saying Shaka (Madison-area native) would hold out or pass up elite-level jobs waiting, but if it came down to it I'm guessing he'd listen to that offer very intently if he was going to listen to any B1G school.
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Why would you want the BADger job if you didn't want the job in Illinois where all the talent you need is in your back yard?
 


Dr.Don said:
Shaka Smart is set for as long as he wants. He is waiting for Tubby to retire here, and then.....BOOM, HE'S OURS!!!
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Funny that you should say this. It's not well known, but coach Smart has long been interested in historic and preservation architecture and has often said how much he enjoys visiting and playing in older, venerable arenas. He once said " give me a drafty, musty, aged edifice with raised court, ghosts in the corridors and troughs in the Men's Rooms and I will make it rock!". Hey, it could happen.
 

GoodasGold said:
He once said " give me a drafty, musty, aged edifice with raised court, ghosts in the corridors and troughs in the Men's Rooms and I will make it rock!".
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Source?
 


Just had to verify with Sir M that the Barn has trough urinals - shouldn't premium pricing buy a better bathroom experience?
 

Moonlight said:
Just had to verify with Sir M that the Barn has trough urinals - shouldn't premium pricing buy a better bathroom experience?
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Install FlowMax dispensers and we're go to go!
 

GoodasGold said:
Install FlowMax dispensers and we're go to go!
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Lol - given many of the honorees of season ticket holders of the game, I think this is true.
In fact, I think some footage of the men's rooms at the Barn would make for good advertising for the pharmaceutical!
 

Moonlight said:
Lol - given many of the honorees of season ticket holders of the game, I think this is true.
In fact, I think some footage of the men's rooms at the Barn would make for good advertising for the pharmaceutical!
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Last arena in the Twin Cites where ya piss in a troth.
 


GoodasGold said:
Funny that you should say this. It's not well known, but coach Smart has long been interested in historic and preservation architecture and has often said how much he enjoys visiting and playing in older, venerable arenas. He once said " give me a drafty, musty, aged edifice with raised court, ghosts in the corridors and troughs in the Men's Rooms and I will make it rock!". Hey, it could happen.
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I hope the committee remembers this one when 'post of the year' nominees are chosen.
 

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