Name the next head coach (a GMUJim tribute album)

[GMUgemini]

I agree. I think you mitigate some of the risk if you can get a guy that has had solid regular season success, and not just flavor of the month because he made a tourney run.

L is a perfect example and not bec he went to the FF4. Solid and unspectacular at BG. But he came to a better location...got us winning at home, competitive in conference, a few appearances post season and we were all happy. 2006+ was just gravy.

So look a the Cherrys, the guy from Albany, the guy from Wofford.....guys already head coaches, solid in season resumes and don't have to "learn" to be a head coach.

The road to the post season is far easier in the A-10 than the old CAA. So all we need is someone who can just get us back to winning in conference and being solid.

Scott Cherry's OOC success isn't too hot and he has 0 top 100 wins this season. These things matter.

 

[JimP]

First step, get a guy that at least makes us competitive in the A-10. Look what a guy like Schmidt has done at St. Bonaventure - a school GMU oughta have 1000 advantages over. Guy has never had a year there in which his teams did not at least meet expectations. Hasn't had a horrid year - let alone the two horrid years in a row that Hewitt has had.

As far as Cherry - I still like him. No matter who GMU brings in, there will be some negative in his resume. If Mason brings in another guy with a million red flags like Hewitt then I'll be concerned.

 

[GSII]

getting paid alot of money to a) prepare a game plan b) adjust said gameplan during the game c) teach gameplan to student athletes d) motivate....is hard work so find a hard worker that pays attention to detail.

 

[Herndon]

What would you guys think about Matt Matheny? McKillop protege, has taken Elon from bottom of the barrel in the socon, to top of the socon, and now into the CAA.

 

[A.-Siegfried]

What would you guys think about Matt Matheny? McKillop protege, has taken Elon from bottom of the barrel in the socon, to top of the socon, and now into the CAA.

He did replace old Mason coach Ernie Nestor there.

His overall body of work is just ok compared to others.

 

[Patriotsince81]

TOC has reportedly recommended Jim Boeheim to Brad Edwards.

 

[Five Two]

I've not read through all 26 pages of this thread, so my apologies if these have been mentioned:

Rumblings in the Midwest are that Tom Crean could be out at Indiana if they don't make it to the tournament.

Tony Shaver from W&M would not be a flashy hire, but he has managed to build W&M into a respectable program with serious academic restrictions. Watched him for two days in Baltimore this weekend and can tell those kids are well coached. It doesn't hurt that he has the POY.....
What I loved- they were down by about 6 with 2 minutes to go. the wheels seemed to be falling off the wagon. He remained calm the entire time and his players didn't panic either. While they were taking a free throw, he asked his best defensive player (who was at midcourt), what defense he wanted to run. The player answered and Tony gave him the go-ahead.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

Shaver or Coen, I'd take either or. Both have built solid programs from the ground up. I love Shaver's offensive schemes. Those patented backdoor cuts are what make college basketball. Sign me up for Shaver. 4 CAA Title game appearances in past 8 years.

 

[gmutom]

I'm with Five Two on being a big Tony Shaver fan. Guy is a really smart coach and and even smarter recruiter, especially given the strict academic requirements he is held to.

As much as I like Marquise Moore and Isaiah Jackson, there's no doubt in my mind that Thornton, Prewitt and Tarpay could start over our current backcourt right now. Thornton had 37 points yesterday, Prewitt (only a sophomore) had a career-high 33 points, and Tarpay added a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.

If the Tribe had a legitimate big man, they could win a game in the NCAAT. Of course, they need to beat Northeastern tonight for that to happen.

 

[99 Patriot]

This Saul Hewitt seems like a pretty positive guy. I'd consider giving him a chance to coach the team on a school-friendly contract.

 

[wijg]

This Saul Hewitt seems like a pretty positive guy. I'd consider giving him a chance to coach the team on a school-friendly contract.

The benefit of this hire would be that those of us with "Fire Hewitt" shirts won't have to buy a new one if things don't work out.

 

[Cool Disco Dan]

Scott Cherry's OOC success isn't too hot and he has 0 top 100 wins this season. These things matter.

1-3 vs the Top 100. Beat W&M, who is currently at 88; 3 losses -- @Clemson by 3, @Ohio State and @Richmond. I can't see expecting a Big South coach to win road games against ACC, Big 10 and A-10 teams. The Big South is a lowly-ranked conference -- 25th-30th over the last 3 years, which is well below a conf like the CAA -- and that might be the best case against Cherry. But, he did reasonably well this season OOC - HP beat 2 of the CAA co-regular season champions (W&M and @JMU) and won @W&M last year.

 

[GMUgemini]

1-3 vs the Top 100. Beat W&M, who is currently at 88; 3 losses -- @Clemson by 3, @Ohio State and @Richmond. I can't see expecting a Big South coach to win road games against ACC, Big 10 and A-10 teams. The Big South is a lowly-ranked conference -- 25th-30th over the last 3 years, which is well below a conf like the CAA -- and that might be the best case against Cherry. But, he did reasonably well this season OOC - HP beat 2 of the CAA co-regular season champions (W&M and @JMU) and won @W&M last year.

Let me just say, I'm not totally against Scott Cherry, just raising some concerns based on people's overly enthusiastic endorsement of him.

I also like Tony Shaver, and my concern about him is based on the fact that he wasn't that successful at W&M when vcu, GMU and ODU were in the conference. I think he's a good coach, but I wonder how he'd fare when he had to play a vcu, Dayton, Richmond, GW, St. Joe's, UMass, or a Davidson every week.

So far I think these are the candidates we'd like to see at least brought in for an interview:

Scott Cherry -- High Point head coach
Will Brown -- Albany head coach
Tony Shaver -- W&M head coach
Bill Coen -- Northeastern head coach
Steve Prohm -- Murray State head coach
Jason Williford -- UVA assistant coach
LaVall Jordan -- Michigan assistant coach

 

[Herndon]

Do we think we e could get Shaver?

 

[Walter]

Jay Larranaga is at the top of my list until he says he isn't interested.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I think Jeff Boals has moved into the lead for me. Not only has he had time to learn under Thad Motta, but plenty of time in the mid-major ranks so knows what is required to recruit at non-BCS schools.

 

[KAOriginal]

I think Jeff Boals has moved into the lead for me. Not only has he had time to learn under Thad Motta, but plenty of time in the mid-major ranks so knows what is required to recruit at non-BCS schools.

Winner

 

[A.-Siegfried]

I like Coen, but if you are going to question some other guys on their lack of success in conference tournament play...then look at Coen at NE. He didn't make a CAA final until 2013 and it took a monster collapse by Mason for that to even happen.

He's a decent coach, but I'm not sure I'd have him in my top 5 at this point.

 

[gmujim92]

Do we think we e could get Shaver?

Yes. His salary is quite low (even by CAA standards) and I'm sure he'd jump at the opportunity to coach in the A-10. Also goes without saying that his recruiting pool would get much wider and deeper.

 

[A.-Siegfried]

Yes. His salary is quite low (even by CAA standards) and I'm sure he'd jump at the opportunity to coach in the A-10. Also goes without saying that his recruiting pool would get much wider and deeper.

Only question on Shaver...and I hate to do this because I think he does a pretty good job at WM...is that he will be 62 next season. He might coach another 15 years...or he might decide in the next 5 he is done....