Voted for the new guys, Ben's eventual dismissal, and the search commitee's selection.
I hope the new guys turn out better than anyone outside of a few Gopher fans project and this can be a middle of the pack Big Ten team and play in the NCAA tournament. Failing that, I will be excited to end what will have unquestionably been a disasterours tenure and very curious to see where the University of Minnesota goes next. Bleed had a very interesting note on another section of the board that Coyle used a search firm for both Women's Volleyball, and Women's Basketball after having never used one at Minnesota before. It's hard to think that it's a coincidence that the hires made after Ben Johnson suddenly used a search a firm. It's certainly notable that both searches ended with sitting, successful, high major coaches (Washington State, West Virginia) filling those positions. I am not sure that is realistic for basketball, but it would be nice to dream about in February if things are not going well.
I disagree there was a search firm involved in the hiring of the women's basketball coach. I didn't follow the volleyball hire at all...so no opinion there. But, in the case of PJ, Coyle already had info PJ was interested in the job very close to firing Tracy. It happened quickly....one candidate offered.
In the case of Ben Johnson there was a search committee with people mentioned and introduced.
That was a collaborative effort. Other people were contacted to interview. Not sure about a search firm but there was an active search committee participating because of the political climate.
In the case of Dawn P., she said in an interview she got a call from Coyle very soon after the firing of Lindsay. They agreed to speak the next day or day after. Her West Virginia team was still playing games. And in like three or four days it was done. One candidate offered.
The press release mentions a search committee for Coach P. Maybe so, but all they were was a sounding board. If there was a search firm involved they provided names of possible coaches during the winter...or in a very quick phone conversation after the firing but I doubt it. It happened way too quickly in football and women's basketball for a search firm to be involved in the hiring. When they are, there are multiple interviews and it is a long muddy process.
Search firms typical have participation in the interview process. Not so for football and women's basketball.
Coyle is prepared and acts quickly when he hires the coach. Ben is the only hire I'm aware of that was collaborative.
(Didn't see the article and Google search does not turn it up.)