Article:A look at how Raleigh was hired

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

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#1
The Times Free Press today offers a glimpse at Mike Hamilton's process leading up to what is clearly his most controversial hire.

full story....UT Changes Gears

It was a decision made in Atlanta rush hour traffic, if not a little before that.
Western Carolina coach Todd Raleigh interviewed for the Tennessee baseball position at 1 p.m. Monday. Around 6 p.m., UT athletics director Mike Hamilton phoned from I-75 to invite Raleigh and his wife to dinner Tuesday night at his home.
"I knew at that point that he was the guy," Hamilton said.
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Raleigh became the winner of a secretive, multi-faceted coaching search that appeared for weeks to be headed in a different direction.
Hamilton wouldn't put on a number on Raleigh's fellow interviewees, but they were known to include Michigan coach Rich Maloney, Troy coach Bobby Pierce and former UT assistant Bill Mosiello. The list of those contacted by Hamilton's hired search firm, Parker Executive Search of Atlanta, was actually much longer.
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Raleigh received first contact from the search firm June 7, three days after his Catamounts were eliminated from the NCAA tournament. About a week passed before Raleigh was asked to interview in Atlanta.
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Chief among Hamilton's sources were those with ties to Clemson, his alma mater.
Clemson coach Jack Leggett recommended Raleigh, a former player of his at Western Carolina. So did Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, a former Clemson assistant under Leggett.
"Coach Leggett is, I think, one of the best coaches in baseball," Hamilton said. "I talked to him on more than one occasion, not just about Todd but about other candidates as well. ... When I went into the interview process, I didn't know (Raleigh) was going to be the guy.
"But clearly, after that day-and-a-half, two days, he stood out."
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The end was quick and surprising to those outside the process....
Hamilton insisted Thursday the job was offered only to Raleigh, adding of rumors to the contrary, "If anybody said that, they're completely wrong."
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So why? What prompted Hamilton to select Raleigh so quickly?
"It's a gut feel. I don't know how to describe it more than that," Hamilton said. "Just the passion and the work ethic and those things clearly come through."
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"It's a gut feel. I don't know how to describe it more than that," Hamilton said.

I know the saying is 'go with your gut', but damn....



Enjoy the weekend VolNation...
Go Vols!!
 
#2
#2
It's interesting to note that in the Bruce Pearl hire, Hamilton consulted Ernie Grunfeld. In this hire, Hamilton clearly put his trust in the Clemson coach, Leggett. In a potential football coaching hire, who would be Hamilton's go to guy?...
 
#3
#3
Probably Clemson's football coach Tommy Bowden. UT will probably end up with Terry Bowden as coach. Go Tigers.
 
#5
#5
If UT ends up with Bowden, I'm going to stage a hunger strike on the top of the scoreboard in Neyland. My brother is a Clemson alum and he can't stand Tommy. He was gone until he beat Daddy two years ago. The Clemson fans are not impressed.
 
#6
#6
orange+white=heaven said:
It's interesting to note that in the Bruce Pearl hire, Hamilton consulted Ernie Grunfeld. In this hire, Hamilton clearly put his trust in the Clemson coach, Leggett. In a potential football coaching hire, who would be Hamilton's go to guy?...
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good question........and i honestly don't have a clue as to a possible answer.
Maybe some former players or asst. coaches???
 
#7
#7
jakez4ut said:
good question........and i honestly don't have a clue as to a possible answer.
Maybe some former players or asst. coaches???
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One would hope he would contact Peyton Manning, and hire a great assistant from the NFL. After the baseball hire, I don't know.

Lot of ex-tennesseans coaching these days, Mack Brown, Steve Spurrier, etc.
 
#10
#10
oklavol said:
One would hope he would contact Peyton Manning, and hire a great assistant from the NFL. After the baseball hire, I don't know..
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I think Peyton would be consulted for sure. I also think Peyton's loyalty to Cut makes his recommendation self evident.

I did not previously know that Hamilton had such strong ACC ties. This concerns me a bit, as far as a football search goes.

Of course, Volunteer football falls in a level of national desirability that is head and shoulders above these other hires...
 
#11
#11
orange+white=heaven said:
I think Peyton would be consulted for sure. I also think Peyton's loyalty to Cut makes his recommendation self evident.

I did not previously know that Hamilton had such strong ACC ties. This concerns me a bit, as far as a football search goes.

Of course, Volunteer football falls in a level of national desirability that is head and shoulders above these other hires...
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He should have contacted a couple of ex-vol baseball players like Todd Helton and Phil Garner. That should have been a given. Apparently he feels more comfortable contacting the Clemson baseball Coach. Not a good sign IMO.
 
#13
#13
oklavol said:
He should have contacted a couple of ex-vol baseball players like Todd Helton and Phil Garner. That should have been a given. Apparently he feels more comfortable contacting the Clemson baseball Coach. Not a good sign IMO.
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The article above says that he did talk to Todd...
To narrow the list, Hamilton had consulted former UT players like Todd Helton, Chris Burke and Luke Hochevar, as well as national scouts and coaches...
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However it is clear who's opinion he valued most. I agree about the precedent...
 
#18
#18
getyopopcornready said:
yea i heard he keeps his players in check and is a good play caller... but i would just like for the next head coach to be aggressive but smart, and is great at playcalling
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Two national titles at Grand Valley State, turned Central Michigan around, great recruiter, hard nosed coach, great with QBs, runs an open offense, this guy is the best young coach out there.

Look him up, you'll be impressed.
 
#21
#21
oklavol said:
He should have contacted a couple of ex-vol baseball players like Todd Helton and Phil Garner. That should have been a given. Apparently he feels more comfortable contacting the Clemson baseball Coach. Not a good sign IMO.
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Why not?

I personally like this hire. The people that don't only wanted one thing- a big name. The people that don't have admitted that they don't follow college baseball, so why criticize it? Oh that's right, because it wasn't Phil Garner or Bobby Cox.
 
#22
#22
UTLCA said:
Why not?

I personally like this hire. The people that don't only wanted one thing- a big name. The people that don't have admitted that they don't follow college baseball, so why criticize it? Oh that's right, because it wasn't Phil Garner or Bobby Cox.
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I don't see how I can dislike someone I know so little about. I think I am one of those that expected the choice to come from among the known field. I'm just really really surprised by the choice is the biggest thing for me. Raleigh has support from people who live and breathe the game at the highest level. I welcome Todd to the fold. I also know that everyone hopes he does a super job.

For the time being though, yes, my feelings are that it was an....underwhelming I guess... choice.
 
#23
#23
orange+white=heaven said:
I don't see how I can dislike someone I know so little about. I think I am one of those that expected the choice to come from among the known field. I'm just really really surprised by the choice is the biggest thing for me. Raleigh has support from people who live and breathe the game at the highest level. I welcome Todd to the fold. I also know that everyone hopes he does a super job.

For the time being though, yes, my feelings are that it was an....underwhelming I guess... choice.
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I wasnt exactly doing cartwheels when Pearl was hired. I wanted a much bigger name and a bigger splash on the national scene. look how that turned out. Im gonna trust Mike on this one, he's earned it.
 
#24
#24
I'm just glad they did not get a big name since that may have indicated a potential diversion of AD resources from football. Got to keep that powder dry so UTK can afford a new hfc with some gravitasse.
 
#25
#25
I say let the guy get a year under his belt and let's see if he has serious potential
Wouldn't it be great to baseball be the next sport at UT to reach the heights of basketball and football
a dominant three major sport school is hard to find
 
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