Coaching Carousel 2025

[gmutom]

This was a trick question. Right now, vcu is a better program and job than both of them. The biggest question is whether the school can win a bidding war with Villanova and UVa and — most importantly — if Odom wants to live in the hood for several more years.

 

[Patriot8]

I have the exact opposite take. Villanova is in the Big East and since they don't have football in the conference, the Big East is slated to become the premier basketball conference under revenue share. Villanova does have an FBS team (they have FCS in CAA), so they, presumably, will not dump nearly as much into their football. UVA has FBS football and will have to dump a ton of resources in that to keep it relevant. If they didn't why would they even be in consideration for the SEC?

On the Jay Wright, before and after, while true, I don't see that as relevant given the sea change with revenue share. It will be more about resources (revenue share and NIL) and I think Villanova is much better positioned than UVA with that in mind.

Pre-Post Bennett at UVA looks pretty different too.

Short of some insane increase in resources for UVA, I'd take Nova as well.

 

[Dawgs99]

UVA just received 2 major gifts from an anonymous donor for what people in the know are saying is around 100 million over 10 years to fix their football roster. This frees up regular donor funding for men's basketball. While I agree they caught lightning in a bottle with Bennett, the resources are there to put together competitive teams going forward, especially if and when they move to the SEC. This years roster was put together by Tony and was really pretty poor. Bennett did not embrace the new landscape and the program would have continued to decline going forward. Full disclosure, I've been a UVA fan for 30 years so perhaps my bias is showing up.

 

[gmubrian]

Basketball is king at UVA, its the thing the donor base cares the most about.

UVA just received 2 major gifts from an anonymous donor for what people in the know are saying is around 100 million over 10 years to fix their football roster.

These two statements, at face value, would seem to contradict one another. Is there something that hasn't been said that suggests the donors like basketball more? If the second statement had been about a huge donation to basketball, I would be more inclined to your side of the debate. Is there an even larger donation to their basketball program?

 

[Bsutterl]

I would argue Villanova is a significantly better job than both. Jay Wright is obviously the modern day representative of their standard but before him was Rollie Massimino and Jack Kraft. Philly has a lot of pride in their basketball history and less education restrictions than UVA. I'd take Villanova any day of the week and 2x on Sundays over UVA.

 

[GMU79]

Loved watching Rollie on the sidelines sweating his rotund little self silly! Such a colorful character.

 

[Dawgs99]

These two statements, at face value, would seem to contradict one another. Is there something that hasn't been said that suggests the donors like basketball more? If the second statement had been about a huge donation to basketball, I would be more inclined to your side of the debate. Is there an even larger donation to their basketball program?

Yea I guess it does look this way......to be more clear, that huge donation to football was the first of its kind to my knowledge in school history. The basketball program on the other hand doesn't need a transformational gift because the donor base has always fully backed the basketball program. Look no further than the JPJ Arena, its one of the finest on campus basketball arenas in the country. As much as I admire and respect Tony Bennett, he was not the right guy to lead the program in this new model.

 

[GMUYoda]

Sources: VCU's Odom emerges as top UVA target

vcu coach Ryan Odom has emerged as the target for the Virginia job, and a deal is expected to come together in the upcoming days, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

"vcu looms as perhaps the best basketball job outside the power conferences, as it projects to have, by far, the most money for NIL and revenue share in the Atlantic 10."

Yuck, even though it's true

 

[GMUgemini]

Sources: VCU's Odom emerges as top UVA target

vcu coach Ryan Odom has emerged as the target for the Virginia job, and a deal is expected to come together in the upcoming days, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

"vcu looms as perhaps the best basketball job outside the power conferences, as it projects to have, by far, the most money for NIL and revenue share in the Atlantic 10."

Yuck, even though it's true

Are they including Gonzaga and Memphis as part of the power conferences? I know Memphis has FBS football, but that FedEx money is huge.

 

[Pablo]

Ryan Odom Hired as New Virginia Basketball Head Coach

Virginia men's basketball has found its new head coach. vcu's Ryan Odom has been hired as the next head coach of the UVA men's basketball program. Insert eith

www.si.com

 

[GMU79]

Ryan Odom Hired as New Virginia Basketball Head Coach

Virginia men's basketball has found its new head coach. vcu's Ryan Odom has been hired as the next head coach of the UVA men's basketball program. Insert eith

www.si.com

What goes around comes around.

 

[jruby]

UVA got a great coach. How many former vcu coaches can be in the ACC? 3 out of 18? Just get Rhodes to leave PSU for one HA. Maybe shaka can take one too.

 

[Falco]

Sources: VCU's Odom emerges as top UVA target

vcu coach Ryan Odom has emerged as the target for the Virginia job, and a deal is expected to come together in the upcoming days, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

"vcu looms as perhaps the best basketball job outside the power conferences, as it projects to have, by far, the most money for NIL and revenue share in the Atlantic 10."

Yuck, even though it's true

I think it’s a better job than P4- moderate expectations with nearly similar NIL money and a more engaged fanbase.

 

[bravesfan]

Officially official:

Ryan Odom Named Dean and Markel Families Men’s Head Basketball Coach

Virginia athletics director Carla Williams announced today (March 22) the hiring of Ryan Odom as the University of Virginia’s Dean and Markel Families Men’s Head Basketball Coach.

virginiasports.com

 

[NewPatriot]

Is anyone here concerned about the possibility that Maryland poaches Skinn if Willard goes to Nova?

If that happens, my guess is Mason goes after Duane Simpkins.

 

[Falco]

Is anyone here concerned about the possibility that Maryland poaches Skinn if Willard goes to Nova?

If that happens, my guess is Mason goes after Duane Simpkins.

Definitely nervous about that. But I could also see UMD going after Simpkins—he’s an alum and has had similar success to Skinn.

I also wonder if Simpkins would come to Mason. He knows our challenges better than anyone and could probably just wait for a bigger opportunity.

 

[Patriot8]

Is anyone here concerned about the possibility that Maryland poaches Skinn if Willard goes to Nova?

If that happens, my guess is Mason goes after Duane Simpkins.

I’m not concerned.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Is anyone here concerned about the possibility that Maryland poaches Skinn if Willard goes to Nova?

If that happens, my guess is Mason goes after Duane Simpkins.

I don't think Willard airs all of the dirty laundry if he doesn't want to stay. That was a shot across the bow at football and the new AD. An "I'm the captain now" sort of statement.

 

[jessej]

I would argue Villanova is a significantly better job than both. Jay Wright is obviously the modern day representative of their standard but before him was Rollie Massimino and Jack Kraft. Philly has a lot of pride in their basketball history and less education restrictions than UVA. I'd take Villanova any day of the week and 2x on Sundays over UVA.

showing my age
i attended the Jack Kraft basketball camp as a 13 year old

 

[GMU79]

Is anyone here concerned about the possibility that Maryland poaches Skinn if Willard goes to Nova?

If that happens, my guess is Mason goes after Duane Simpkins.

No. I don't believe Tony would leave at this point. In the future? Sure, if it means career advancement. And I think we would all be happy to see him succeed at a P4 (or 5) whichever one it is.