2015 Coaching Changes Tracker

[jmckend1]

All true. But we're not on the basketball radar right now no matter what we think. Im hearing we are living with the cheap, lackluster image in the coaching ranks that Merten et al left us with.

But MState is already having dialogue with Howland and its being reported. Tho Edwards is playing this one close....my gut says Howland wasn't even on Edward's radar, or there might have been something leaked out there.

With that...were totally going with a coach from a lower school, and by certain reports we are moving slowly...probably will get a rising assistant...

Huh. Word on the street in my hood is that talks are serious with Anthony Grant. Not sure I like it, but it would be a coach that beat coach L regularly.

 

[CLP]

Yahoo reporting that Bradley is interested in Brian Wardle, Greg Paulus and Dane Fife

 

[gmutom]

Huh. Word on the street in my hood is that talks are serious with Anthony Grant. Not sure I like it, but it would be a coach that beat coach L regularly.

If Grant could get us a PG like Maynor and a big man like Sanders, I could be on board with that hire.

 

[GSII]

If Grant could get us a PG like Maynor and a big man like Sanders, I could be on board with that hire.

just wouldnt feel right.

 

[wijg]

Is it just me or does Grant's resume seem to be an awful lot like Hewitt with a cursory analysis? Success in a lower conference. Moved up to the big leagues and it did not work out now he is going to try a lower conference out again. Only, Grant does not even have the runner up in the championship game on his resume.

I have to admit I have done zero research on this, so, what do you think lead to his success at vcu that did not work out so well at Alabama?

 

[gmutom]

just wouldnt feel right.

Oh, I agree. I'm just saying I want somebody who can recruit, and that's one thing Grant did well at vcu.

 

[psyclone]

If Grant could get us a PG like Maynor and a big man like Sanders, I could be on board with that hire.

Anthony Grant on TBS right now as a panelist previewing Sweet 16 matchups. No hints about if he's getting back into coaching, whether he likes wearing green and gold, etc., not that the focus of the show was on his job status. They did manage to mention that he was a Dayton graduate, which I hadn't realized.

 

[Cool Disco Dan]

Is it just me or does Grant's resume seem to be an awful lot like Hewitt with a cursory analysis? Success in a lower conference. Moved up to the big leagues and it did not work out now he is going to try a lower conference out again. Only, Grant does not even have the runner up in the championship game on his resume.

I have to admit I have done zero research on this, so, what do you think lead to his success at vcu that did not work out so well at Alabama?

You are exactly right. From a resume standpoint, they are similar. Grant had Maynor for his 3 years at vcu -- who he inherited from Capel; how often does an NBA PG fall into your lap? When you have a PG who can pretty much get into the lane whenever he wants to - which Maynor certainly could on a night-in, night-out basis in the CAA - you are at a huge advantage.

Another thing to think about with Grant is that the SEC has been down the past few years -- as a conference, they've ranked 9th, 7th and 6th...There was an opening for him to move Bama up to being a consistent Tourney team, behind UF and UK, and they never made the leap.

 

[GMUgemini]

Can someone please tell Edwards that we CANNOT hire Grant? I mean, I don't even care if he would be the best man for the job -- can't do it.

 

[gmujim92]

Grant is much more of a disciplinarian than Hewitt, but beyond that, the "retread" similarities are striking. Kudos to our very perceptive posters for pointing that out.

If we were going to hire a coach with vcu ties, we should've gone after Rhoades.

We can do better, and I believe Edwards will.

 

[GMU_Polevaulter]

After Hewitt, I can understand concerns around Grant - I do get that it's similar but I don't think he is close to Hewitt.

He was more than Maynor - the vcu final four team under Smart - they were AG's recruits and even after the year Maynor left - vcu still owned a very good CAA
under Grant.

He did take a bottom SEC team - and get them to the NCCA's in 2012 and a couple of NIT's along the way. I think he had one losing season at Ala (last year - correct me if I'm wrong) and this year's team is without two starters lost to injury.

I'm not saying he is our guy - just saying I don't think he is another Hewitt. He would have to answer why he has not been as successful at Ala but would be at GMU.

We are now the A10 bottom feeder and need a good coach and someone who can rebuild a program - at least he did that at Ala. - even this year they were middle of the pack SEC and NIT bound (missing 2 starters).

Not saying he is our guy - just saying he is not Hewitt and when I have watched his teams play they play like they have a coach.

 

[Walter]

I agree that Grant is better than Hewitt. With Grant we can expect to compete for NIT bids every other year.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I would not be happy with Grant. Not enough on the resume or proof of success.


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[JimP]

After Hewitt, I can understand concerns around Grant - I do get that it's similar but I don't think he is close to Hewitt.

He was more than Maynor - the vcu final four team under Smart - they were AG's recruits and even after the year Maynor left - vcu still owned a very good CAA
under Grant.

He did take a bottom SEC team - and get them to the NCCA's in 2012 and a couple of NIT's along the way. I think he had one losing season at Ala (last year - correct me if I'm wrong) and this year's team is without two starters lost to injury.

I'm not saying he is our guy - just saying I don't think he is another Hewitt. He would have to answer why he has not been as successful at Ala but would be at GMU.

We are now the A10 bottom feeder and need a good coach and someone who can rebuild a program - at least he did that at Ala. - even this year they were middle of the pack SEC and NIT bound (missing 2 starters).

Not saying he is our guy - just saying he is not Hewitt and when I have watched his teams play they play like they have a coach.

I am undecided about Grant. Yeah - he's gotta vcu connection, but that shouldn't preclude Mason taking a look at him.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I am undecided about Grant. Yeah - he's gotta vcu connection, but that shouln't preclude Mason taking a look at him.

I have no problem with the vcu connection at all. If we were talking about Shaka my response would be different


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[Cool Disco Dan]

After Hewitt, I can understand concerns around Grant - I do get that it's similar but I don't think he is close to Hewitt.

He was more than Maynor - the vcu final four team under Smart - they were AG's recruits and even after the year Maynor left - vcu still owned a very good CAA under Grant.

The year after Maynor left, Grant was gone. Shaka's first season was 09-10 and vcu finished fifth in the CAA and went to the CBI.

The past five years, the SEC has been Kentucky, Florida and a pile of dog s. The next best programs have been Georgia and Vandy. He couldn't get Bama to the same level as those two?? That's not impressive.

The other part of this is that I think, mentally, a recently fired coach probably needs to take some time off before jumping into a new job, especially when it's in a less prestigious conference for less pay. I'm for young and hungry.

 

[Washingtonian]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...ed-to-finalize-deal-to-make-ben-howland-coach

Mississippi State and former UCLA head coach Ben Howland are putting the finishing touches on a deal that would make the 57-year old the Bulldogs' next head basketball coach, multiple sources told CBSSports.com.

The deal is expected to be officially completed by Monday barring any last-minute snags. Terms have yet to be disclosed.

One source called the deal "imminent."

Howland has been out of coaching the past two seasons, but led the Bruins to the Pac-12 regular-season title during his last season in Westwood in 2013. He took the Bruins to three consecutive Final Fours from 2006-08 and has taken three different schools to the NCAA Tournament during his coaching career. Howland coached at Pitt and Northern Arizona before taking the UCLA post in 2003.

Mississippi State's decision to hire Howland would have a similar impact in the SEC to Auburn's hiring of Bruce Pearl a year ago. Like Pearl, Howland is a proven winner who immediately gives the Bulldogs' program credibility after failing to make the NCAA Tournament since 2009.

Howland was selective in his decision to return to coaching over the past two seasons and passed on several offers to return, but Mississippi State gives him an opportunity to return to a power conference in a league that is relatively wide open on annual basis except for Kentucky.

The Bulldogs fired Rick Ray on Saturday after three seasons in which Ray went 37-60 overall and 13-41 in SEC play.

Gary Parrish reported interest between the two sides on Sunday.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

This whole "Alabama was a bottom feeder" before Grant got there is nonsense. Gottfried was .500 in conference over his 10 years there including 2 first place finishes. They weren't good his final 2 years, but they're weren't Mississippi State, either....I'd pass on Grant.

 

[gmutom]

I am undecided about Grant. Yeah - he's gotta vcu connection, but that shouln't preclude Mason taking a look at him.

Grant's not even in the top five on my wish list, but he's not as bad as some people here want to act like he is. The SEC is also not as down as some suggest, with five teams getting in the NCAAT this year (and Arkansas getting in as a five seed). That's pretty damn good when you consider that Florida was not one of them.

I agree Grant is overrated in terms of Xs and Os, but his one NCAAT and three NIT appearances at a football-first program are not horrible. In fact, if he was at Miami with that track record, he'd still be employed.

All that said, I don't want a former vcu coach manning our sidelines. It would feel dirty. And like Jim pointed out, we can do better.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Eager to start a booster group as 99 suggests entitled Friends of Anthony Grant.

You will have to be quite prestigious to enter our group. To become a FAG you will have to be quite the flamboyant GMU fan.