Rick Byrd and Greg Kampe

#26
#26
thegeneralneyland said:
Byrd has stated multiple times that he has no interest in leaving Belmont.
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He has said that multiple times in the past. But it has never been in regards to the UT job. He is a UT grad, student assistant with the basketball team, and his dad has a deep sports past in Knoxville. Its probably the only job he would consider leaving for. Still dont know if he would want to recruit at that level though.
 
#27
#27
Yankee_Vol said:
TThe only drawback to S. Smart is that he's doing it with players he didn't recruit.
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Very true. It's hard to say how much of his, what is it, 53-20 record is actually his? He needs at least another 3-4 years at VCU to show his recruiting and development skills. That's a good point Yankee. That made me less of a fan with him. Coaches with longevity, you can look at a program and see so many things about them.
 
#28
#28
Yankee_Vol said:
TThe only drawback to S. Smart is that he's doing it with players he didn't recruit.
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If people knew more about Smart, they would not dismiss him because of your fair point-- doing it with players that he did not recruit.

I would not hire Smart based on the tourney run. I would base it on what he could do for the program based on his own qualities. I prefer a younger coach who might be a homerun over these 2 older coaches who would be hitting the lottery financially for themselves at this point in their careers.
 
#29
#29
TNHopeful505 said:
Marquette is wishy washy to me. They got absolutely thrashed in conference tournament, but obviously is doing well right now. Their performance and preparation and focus for UNC will say a lot to me about Buzz's coaching ability.

One big thing I'm looking for is a coach who can prepare to win-or at least hang tough- in the big games. And there's no better stage to see that on than right now.
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Yeah i got the same feeling about them up until their performance here in the tournament. It will be interesting to see how they fare against UNC. If they do get the win, I will be interested to see what takes place with Buzz.
 
#30
#30
easleychuck said:
If people knew more about Smart, they would not dismiss him because of your fair point-- doing it with players that he did not recruit.

I would not hire Smart based on the tourney run. I would base it on what he could do for the program based on his own qualities. I prefer a younger coach who might be a homerun over these 2 older coaches who would be hitting the lottery financially for themselves at this point in their careers.
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I will be honest, and say that I don't know much about Shaka. I think his prep against Florida State, and in later rounds will show a lot. I just want a more proven coach. I don't want to do someone the privilege of giving them a power conference job like Tennessee after only two years of proving themself at a school like VCU with another coach's recruits.

He may be a homerun hire, and if we hire him, I will not complain. I believe the admin's knowledge is better than mine (though not by much in the case of Hammy, jk). He may be great.
 
#31
#31
I believe all of Byrd's comments about not leaving Belmont were made prior to the Pearl debaucle. I like what I have seen and heard from him on radio and TV here in the Nashville area. He is on quite a bit and he very rarely misses a chance to talk about the Vols. I believe he would come in a heartbeat, but not knowing how he would stack up in recruiting against the rest of the SEC causes concern. But he has gotten some real talent before at Belmont, and they are fun to watch.
 
#32
#32
Byrd would be a "safe" Xs & Os hire and runs a clean program but the type player he would need to recruit at the SEC level to be competitive is different than the players he recruits to Belmont. Don't know how comfortable he is getting his hands dirty in the travel / AAU circuit either.

Smart is young players coach & has great charisma but he has also has out schemed some of his opponents in the tourney. A gamble for sure but he does have SEC ties working under Grant & Donovan. Donovan thinks very highly of him. I believe he recruited for them as well.
 
#33
#33
People keep talking about a guy like Rick Byrd as a safe choice, and I think that's grossly wrong-headed.

I get what they mean: he's not flashy, he's not exciting, he's not the flavor of the month, but he's been doing basketball a long time and has a proven record of winning games, and he won't break any rules or embarrass the university.

But is that really "safe" for Tennessee right now?

What happens if you hire someone like Rick Byrd? He has no NBA connections or experience whatsoever, so Tobias and Scotty leave. He has no record of being a great recruiter, so probably one or both of Jones and Ware leave.

That leaves you with hardly any depth or talent next year, so we wouldn't win many games. In addition, the hire would have no flash or spice, wouldn't get ESPN or recruits talking, and would be boring.

So we have absolutely nothing left on the roster, and we've hired an aging coach with no recruiting connections, recruiting experience, or recruiting ability.

How, exactly, does he get talent to Tennessee, with a crap roster and a losing season, and no buzz about the program?

Now, maybe these guesses are wrong, granted. Perhaps he would have the charisma to keep Scotty and Jones and Ware. Perhaps he CAN recruit to a Tennessee.

But IMO it's not a safe choice at all, it's a HUGE risk.

"Safe choice," to me, is someone more like Anthony Grant. Yeah, we're not sure he's all that, hasn't done it long enough yet. But what's pretty certain is that the man can recruit. So even if he fails as a coach, chances are we'd end up with more talent along the way, and the program doesn't dive into utter obscurity.

I think you either swing for the fences (the risk), or else take a proven recruiter whose coaching ability is maybe uncertain (the safe choice). We can afford losing seasons with good recruiting. We CAN'T afford to miss on the coaching part, and still not have recruits.

JMO.
 
#34
#34
Byrd is a good guy and fantastic coach but I don't think he's right for UT's HC.
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#35
#35
Byrd would be a desperation hire. I think hiring him would have terrible consequences.
 
#36
#36
Rick Byrd would be an extremely underwhelming choice.

He may have coached before, but on a small stage against much weaker teams for the most part. It is one thing to build a small program at a small christian-affiliated school, but it is another to continue on and add onto a program firmly entrenched in a much bigger conference, with more talent, and on a bigger stage.

That stated, that hire would be a compete disaster pick.
 
#37
#37
VolClass75 said:
I believe all of Byrd's comments about not leaving Belmont were made prior to the Pearl debaucle. I like what I have seen and heard from him on radio and TV here in the Nashville area. He is on quite a bit and he very rarely misses a chance to talk about the Vols. I believe he would come in a heartbeat, but not knowing how he would stack up in recruiting against the rest of the SEC causes concern. But he has gotten some real talent before at Belmont, and they are fun to watch.
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What real talent? Boomer Herndon-UT reject?

I don;t know what you guys are smoking, but you guys need to get out in the world and away from your cozy la-z-boy chairs. This would a horrible hire. We are talking about the real world SEC on the national big stage. This is not whatever tiddlywink conference that christian-charm school Belmont plays in.

We might as well hire a successful high school coach, using your analogies. Some of you folks and your thinking really make me wonder about you.
 
#38
#38
I think Byrd would teach our players sound fundamentals and a bring a more disciplined approach to the game compared to the chaotic (at times) play that we have become accustomed to. That being said though, I don't think he is the answer we are looking for.
 
#39
#39
I like Byrd a lot! i don't even question his recruiting, because he is going to recruit to his system. What I do question is his ability to sale the program, but I think any coach we get, is going to have a hard time living up to Pearl's reputation for selling the program. Byrd's a damn fine X's and O's guy and we coukld do A LOT WORSE!

I don't see us getting Smart. I think GT is going to make a huge play to get him and if not GT, then NCSt. Both are ACC schools and I'm not sure we can compete with that.

I my realistic list is Frank, Marshall, Mooney, Grant and Byrd in that order. Grant worries me though. I think he's shopping for more money from Alabama.
 
#40
#40
to be coaching for 30 years and only make it to the tourney 3 times ... I don't believe that's what the Tennessee fan base will be looking forward to.
 
#42
#42
Tux said:
Rick Byrd would be an extremely underwhelming choice.

He may have coached before, but on a small stage against much weaker teams for the most part. It is one thing to build a small program at a small christian-affiliated school, but it is another to continue on and add onto a program firmly entrenched in a much bigger conference, with more talent, and on a bigger stage.

That stated, that hire would be a compete disaster pick.
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winning your conference year after year at whatever level is impressive. Byrd is a great coach, if you think other wise then you don't know basketball. however i agree i don't believe he would be a good fit for TN
 
#43
#43
orangepeopleeater said:
to be coaching for 30 years and only make it to the tourney 3 times ... I don't believe that's what the Tennessee fan base will be looking forward to.
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Belmont was NAIA for around 20 of those years, maybe a couple more.

I agree with the OP. Recruiting would be a big question mark.
 
#44
#44
orangepeopleeater said:
to be coaching for 30 years and only make it to the tourney 3 times ... I don't believe that's what the Tennessee fan base will be looking forward to.
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He's actually been four times, in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011.

In any case, that's a red herring. For most of Byrd's career at Belmont, the program was either in the NAIA or serving out its "probationary" period after elevating to D-1 in 1997. If you're in the NAIA, you can't go to the NCAA Tournament (although Belmont did make the NAIA Tournament in each of its last nine years in the NAIA).

Since completing the probationary period and subsequently joining the A-Sun in 2002, Byrd has been to four NCAA Tournaments and one NIT in 10 years.

His record of reaching the NCAA Tournament is actually a point in his favor, not against. I do agree that he's a big risk. You might hire him and find out he can't recruit a lick. Or he might be Dick Bennett, and able to win anywhere.
 
#46
#46
Do you think a team full of white boys can compete in the SEC? Lets be honest with each other here.
 
#47
#47
I love Byrd and believe he would win games at UT with his coaching ability and system but there is no way to know whether he could recruit at the SEC level. And all of this crap about only having white players is silly...his teams have diversity. Granted, he does seem to have more white kids than most but it's probably because a lot of talented white kids go under the radar in recruiting because their athleticism is lacking.
 
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