Coaching Rumors/ Openings Thread

#30
#30
Some coaches are just not made to be head coaches...there have been a few over the years.
Stellar assistant coaches and recruiters, just can't connect the dots to be a Head Guy.

FWIW - I think if English is let go, Barnes would welcome him back.
This is why going the young/unproven route is such a huge risk. KE was talked about as a future HC his entire time at UT. Some said possible Barnes replacement one day. There just isn't a reliable correlation between a great assistant becoming a good HC. Of course, the job dynamics play a huge part also. I just hope that whenever RB hangs up the whistle, DW doesn't default to a brand new HC. This job has been built into something great and RB's legacy needs to be preserved. The massive risk DW took for the Lady Vol program so far looks very shaky.
 
#31
#31
If Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope don't make significant post-season runs in the next two years, both Louisville and Kentucky could be open again. The natives are restless.
 
#32
#32
This is why going the young/unproven route is such a huge risk. KE was talked about as a future HC his entire time at UT. Some said possible Barnes replacement one day. There just isn't a reliable correlation between a great assistant becoming a good HC. Of course, the job dynamics play a huge part also. I just hope that whenever RB hangs up the whistle, DW doesn't default to a brand new HC. This job has been built into something great and RB's legacy needs to be preserved. The massive risk DW took for the Lady Vol program so far looks very shaky.
CKC's failings have shaken my confidence in ADDW's ability to find a replacement for RB once he hangs it up.... we give him a lot of credit for "hiring Nate Oats" at Buffalo before he got big, but what if that was an anomaly?
 
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#34
#34
CKC's failings have shaken my confidence in ADDW's ability to find a replacement for RB once he hangs it up.... we give him a lot of credit for "hiring Nate Oats" at Buffalo before he got big, but what if that was an anomaly?

I’m waiting for Kim to have at least one more year. She deserves the chance to have her own recruits as upper class(wo)men.
 
#36
#36
I think that's fair, I'm just worried that when Rick eventually retires ADDW will try to get cute and "experiment" with another up-and-coming coach

You almost have to take the up and comer with potential.

The other options will depend on what other schools with openings that UT would be competing with. Kevin O’Neill and Bruce Pearl were the hot coaches that took mid majors to the Sweet 16.
 
#38
#38
And one of those didn’t pan out and the other one got a show cause. No matter who they hire there will likely be a large degree of risk.

KO was a good coach that could have had a great deal of success at UT with a supportive AD.

Mears was a small college coach that won a natty. Devoe was a Bobby Knight disciple (when Knight was the most successful coach in the country). Houston was the best recruiter in the country. Buzz was Michael Jordan’s roommate. Jerry Green was about the 6th option when KO decided to grind his axe with Dickey and burned UT in the process. Donnie had the NCAA run as well. Cuonzo checked the boxes and had mid-major success.

It’s a crap shoot. The next coach will be youngish, well spoken, stylish, liked by players, and hopefully a tireless recruiter that knows the Xs and Os better than the other SEC coaches.
 
#39
#39
CKC's failings have shaken my confidence in ADDW's ability to find a replacement for RB once he hangs it up.... we give him a lot of credit for "hiring Nate Oats" at Buffalo before he got big, but what if that was an anomaly?
Usually the great unknown hires are anomalies. I want DW to show that he can go sell this job to a proven coach with high level success. Not necessarily steal a coach from a blue blood, but someone that is considered the proverbial "home run" hire.
 
#41
#41
CKC's failings have shaken my confidence in ADDW's ability to find a replacement for RB once he hangs it up.... we give him a lot of credit for "hiring Nate Oats" at Buffalo before he got big, but what if that was an anomaly?
He also hired Lane Leipold at Buffalo, who has had some success at a tough place to win (Kansas)....but the Caldwell hiring is worrisome....
 
#42
#42
KO was a relentless recruiter, you have a differing opinion from me concerning his coaching. He was vulgar and volatile along with being a terrible culture fit in Knoxville. IIRC, he didn’t last long anywhere he went.
He was also the worse offensive coach I've ever seen....Recruiting was all he could do....
 
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#43
#43
KO was a relentless recruiter, you have a differing opinion from me concerning his coaching. He was vulgar and volatile along with being a terrible culture fit in Knoxville. IIRC, he didn’t last long anywhere he went.

He was a lot like DeVoe by focusing on defense and in court discipline. But he was a bad person.

His defensive focus might have been because he didn’t have the players yet. He left Isiah Victor, Tony Harris, Wharton, CJ Bkack, and Charles Hathaway to set up Uncle Jerry to hold it together over his 4 years.
 
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#44
#44
If Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope don't make significant post-season runs in the next two years, both Louisville and Kentucky could be open again. The natives are restless.

Thought I saw a stat the other day that said Kelsey is now like 1-11 in Quad 1 games.
 
#45
#45
Thought I saw a stat the other day that said Kelsey is now like 1-11 in Quad 1 games.
Sounds about right. They are 0-for their last 15 on the road vs. top 25 opponents. The natives are restless.

Kelsey is a great hype guy and plays an exciting tempo, but defense is suspect and he makes zero in-game adjustments. Last night vs UNC as a prime example. Up 3 at the break and midway through the 2nd half they’re down 15. Live and die by the 3.
 
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#46
#46
I think it’s relevant here since at least 2 former assistants are on hot seats. English and Forbes. Plus we’ll be looking to replace Barnes sooner rather than later so keeping an eye on the up and comers makes sense.
We'll only be "looking" to replace Barnes when he decides it's time to go
 
#48
#48
With the current track record of coaching management by Danny White, I hope he’s gone before Barnes retires. HE ran off TV, botched baseball hire until intervention, Caldwell is bad and Heupel was 5th? Choice and was at same school before….
 
#49
#49
And one of those didn’t pan out and the other one got a show cause. No matter who they hire there will likely be a large degree of risk.
I wouldn't call Marquette a mid-major. Even at the time they had a national title and multiple Final Fours on their historical resume. They were a #6 seed as an at-large.

Bruce, on the other hand, took a #12 seed from a one-bid league to the second weekend and had won a national title in DII. He had the much better pedigree.
 
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#50
#50
Would love Schertz here to take over when Rick retires! He does have Tennessee ties!
Schertz would be great. He was actually targeted by Louisville after Dusty May told them no and went to Michigan, but he had already signed a term sheet with SLU with a hefty buyout, so both he and UL were stuck. I think he'd take the UT job in a heartbeat.
 

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