I believe we need an elite coach...

Who is everyone's top choice


  • Total voters
    72
Willard was hired late and did a good job keeping four of their best players although they were coming off a losing season. He added to that four transfers one of whom is excellent and the other three are serviceable. He is working with a team that has similar talent to last year but is producing at a much higher level. My point is that he has done a good job as a coach but without retaining the core of the team he might have been looking at a long season. He has a strong recruiting class coming in.

He wasn't hired late he was hired right after NCAA's when most hires happen.

All that proves is there is more than one way to skin a cat. Who knows what would've happened if more players transferred out maybe he replaces them with even better players and they are much better than a bubble team.

See K-St. He replaced 11 out of 13 players and all of the staff and how has that worked out?

All I am saying is there is no magic formula. Get the coach. If Pitino retains EVERYONE and he thinks that is the best path, great. If he replaces everyone and 3/4 of the roster is overturned so be it.
 
All of this back and forth-the real issue to me regarding wanting certain players and recruits to stay and maybe some assistant coaches is that's fine as long as you don't make it so much of a concern that it prevents you from making the coaching change. Think you guys are actually in basic agreement I'm sure if Pitino came in he would love to retain Soriano, Storr and Gardner.
Pitino would love to retain Soriano, Storr, and Gardner, but he could not retain me. I don't know enough about basketball to ever call for someone to lose a basketball job based on on-court actions. On the other hand, my tolerance for a boss who has sex with the wife of a subordinate is zero, perhaps even less than that if the subordinate and his wife are having marital difficulties. I see lots of stuff on the court that I don't fully understand and apparent mismatches of players and playing styles and I want that to improve (it would be nice if our best defense and offense seemed to involve the same players) but I don't know enough about basketball to solve that sort of problem. I don't even know if any of the people calling for firing of our current coach and hiring of a new coach or a specific new coach know enough about basketball to advocate their positions with any credibility. I do know that I have an intense dislike for mob-like behavior, including on-line bullying, and some recent threads have had that feel.

And just to keep to my own standard for full disclosure, the only time I stopped being a Celtics fan was when Pitino was their coach and seemed to de-emphasize defense to the point that it was hard to remember that these were the Celtics.
 
He wasn't hired late he was hired right after NCAA's when most hires happen.

All that proves is there is more than one way to skin a cat. Who knows what would've happened if more players transferred out maybe he replaces them with even better players and they are much better than a bubble team.

See K-St. He replaced 11 out of 13 players and all of the staff and how has that worked out?

All I am saying is there is no magic formula. Get the coach. If Pitino retains EVERYONE and he thinks that is the best path, great. If he replaces everyone and 3/4 of the roster is overturned so be it.
Pitino said over the weekend he'd never bring in more than one or two freshmen a year. He'd go the transfer portal route.
 
Current players and signed recruits and staff are the LAST thing you worry about when you have a coaching change.

Get the right coach and he will figure it out wrt staff and players/recruits.

If you lose a recruit or players transfer or he does not retain any staff members so be it, if you hire the right coach that is the most important thing.

Like just for giggles lets say they hire Pitino. Are you seriously worried about the staff he would be able to put together or whether a player or recruit leaves. You don't trust him to know what he is doing?

Some of you speculating on keeping player X or recruit Y or Assistant Coach P before you even have a coaching change let alone know who the hire is going to be is bizarre.

Pitino would love to retain Soriano, Storr, and Gardner, but he could not retain me. I don't know enough about basketball to ever call for someone to lose a basketball job based on on-court actions. On the other hand, my tolerance for a boss who has sex with the wife of a subordinate is zero, perhaps even less than that if the subordinate and his wife are having marital difficulties. I see lots of stuff on the court that I don't fully understand and apparent mismatches of players and playing styles and I want that to improve (it would be nice if our best defense and offense seemed to involve the same players) but I don't know enough about basketball to solve that sort of problem. I don't even know if any of the people calling for firing of our current coach and hiring of a new coach or a specific new coach know enough about basketball to advocate their positions with any credibility. I do know that I have an intense dislike for mob-like behavior, including on-line bullying, and some recent threads have had that feel.

And just to keep to my own standard for full disclosure, the only time I stopped being a Celtics fan was when Pitino was their coach and seemed to de-emphasize defense to the point that it was hard to remember that these were the Celtics.
Excellent post on all accounts.
 
Fuschia wrote:
"On the other hand, my tolerance for a boss who has sex with the wife of a subordinate is zero, perhaps even less than that if the subordinate and his wife are having marital difficulties."

Pitino had a ONE night stand 20 years ago.
The then younger Pitino was intoxicated and seduced by a woman who pursued him that night and he succumbed to temptation. It's all part of court transcripts if you are interested as the woman was sentenced to 7 years in prison for extorting Pitino.

As for your statement above, let's set your mind at ease.
The woman was not married to Pitino's subordinate at the time. The subordinate married the woman after the affair.
You see, she was a very good seductress. The assistant divorced the woman before she was sent to prison and apologized to Pitino for all the harm she caused him and stated on record that he thought she was "nuts".

My bigger concern 20 years ago was the endless bags of cash Pitino was given to secure recruits. The assistants all fell on the sword in that regard and he was never accused or charged with any offenses.

Pitino obviously was no Saint back then but neither were Bobby Knight, Jerry Tarkanian, Lefty Driesell, Jim Calhoun
and a few other college basketball coaches who are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

There was a time you couldn't pay college players and you couldn't tamper with other teams players. Now, getting recruits 5 and 6 figure NIL money is considered a skill and players get phones calls as soon as the season is over to transfer to a more lucrative NIL agreement.

Rick Pitino having sex with a hot blonde temptress 20 years ago was the least of the issues Iona looked at when they hired him. They wanted to know if he had changed, felt remorse and if he had a stable family life.
Check...Check......and Check.

I'm not sure Pitino is the answer to our moribund program but at 70 he is not the coach of 20 years ago either but he seems to be at peace with himself.
 
Fuschia wrote:
"On the other hand, my tolerance for a boss who has sex with the wife of a subordinate is zero, perhaps even less than that if the subordinate and his wife are having marital difficulties."

Pitino had a ONE night stand 20 years ago.
The then younger Pitino was intoxicated and seduced by a woman who pursued him that night and he succumbed to temptation. It's all part of court transcripts if you are interested as the woman was sentenced to 7 years in prison for extorting Pitino.

As for your statement above, let's set your mind at ease.
The woman was not married to Pitino's subordinate at the time. The subordinate married the woman after the affair.
You see, she was a very good seductress. The assistant divorced the woman before she was sent to prison and apologized to Pitino for all the harm she caused him and stated on record that he thought she was "nuts".

My bigger concern 20 years ago was the endless bags of cash Pitino was given to secure recruits. The assistants all fell on the sword in that regard and he was never accused or charged with any offenses.

Pitino obviously was no Saint back then but neither were Bobby Knight, Jerry Tarkanian, Lefty Driesell, Jim Calhoun
and a few other college basketball coaches who are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

There was a time you couldn't pay college players and you couldn't tamper with other teams players. Now, getting recruits 5 and 6 figure NIL money is considered a skill and players get phones calls as soon as the season is over to transfer to a more lucrative NIL agreement.

Rick Pitino having sex with a hot blonde temptress 20 years ago was the least of the issues Iona looked at when they hired him. They wanted to know if he had changed, felt remorse and if he had a stable family life.
Check...Check......and Check.

I'm not sure Pitino is the answer to our moribund program but at 70 he is not the coach of 20 years ago either but he seems to be at peace with himself.
I've been trying to have sex with a hot blonde temptress my whole life...Until I got married...I only want my wife...Really...No, serious.
 
It's not an easy choice... on the one hand, we're hiring a basketball coach and not an Archbishop. On the other hand, I have no use for a complete shyster either. Pitino has plenty of baggage, and he's made some mistakes - and some big ones. Has he admitted culpability and atoned for those? It seems as though he has. His wife is still with him, and he has eaten his humble pie and done significant professional penance (coaching in Greece, and for a mid-major).

The thing that turned things around for me is when the NCAA cleared him without reservations. It seems crazy to me, but they did. If that's the case, then what's the hesitation? He's one of the best college coaches of all time (probably top 10), and he may be open to coaching St. John's. Who else even close is even a remote possibility? - and forget Billy Donovan and Calipari. Both are pipe dreams.

If Bruce Pearl and Kelvin Sampson can get big-time jobs after multiple run-ins with the NCAA, and if Sean Miller can land on his feet with Xavier, we would be crazy not to hire Pitino - even with the expectation of only a 3-5 year run to set the program on the right course.
 
It's not an easy choice... on the one hand, we're hiring a basketball coach and not an Archbishop. On the other hand, I have no use for a complete shyster either. Pitino has plenty of baggage, and he's made some mistakes - and some big ones. Has he admitted culpability and atoned for those? It seems as though he has. His wife is still with him, and he has eaten his humble pie and done significant professional penance (coaching in Greece, and for a mid-major).

The thing that turned things around for me is when the NCAA cleared him without reservations. It seems crazy to me, but they did. If that's the case, then what's the hesitation? He's one of the best college coaches of all time (probably top 10), and he may be open to coaching St. John's. Who else even close is even a remote possibility? - and forget Billy Donovan and Calipari. Both are pipe dreams.

If Bruce Pearl and Kelvin Sampson can get big-time jobs after multiple run-ins with the NCAA, and if Sean Miller can land on his feet with Xavier, we would be crazy not to hire Pitino - even with the expectation of only a 3-5 year run to set the program on the right course.
Georgetown will probably pick up Pitino first. I just have this feeling.
 
How about this for a staff, break the bank:

Bring Pitino in, pair him up with a Mark Turgeon type (as a coach in waiting), steal Brandin Knight from Rutgers and then fill out staff with Masiello and put Shoes at DOBO.
 
How about this for a staff, break the bank:

Bring Pitino in, pair him up with a Mark Turgeon type (as a coach in waiting), steal Brandin Knight from Rutgers and then fill out staff with Masiello and put Shoes at DOBO.
BTW-I don't have any inside info I am just spitballing and hoping a big booster opens his wallet...LOL
 
How about this for a staff, break the bank:

Bring Pitino in, pair him up with a Mark Turgeon type (as a coach in waiting), steal Brandin Knight from Rutgers and then fill out staff with Masiello and put Shoes at DOBO.
Forgot Turgeon was out there and even if that is who team brought in sans Pitino, I wouldn't object. Just looked at his career record and he's had mostly successful seasons. Lack of postseason success is what fans of his teams have largely complained about. Better than lack of postseason in my book.
 
Forgot Turgeon was out there and even if that is who team brought in sans Pitino, I wouldn't object. Just looked at his career record and he's had mostly successful seasons. Lack of postseason success is what fans of his teams have largely complained about. Better than lack of postseason in my book.
Yeah Mark is a pretty good coach.
 
Turgeon quotes from December doesn’t sound like a guy ready for this challenge:

"Whether I coach again we'll see, but it's not where I'm thinking I absolutely have to do it. It's something that if the right thing comes along and at the right time, and it's the best thing for my family, we'll do it. Otherwise, I'm content with my career. I had a good career, I had a lot of fun doing it," said Turgeon, 57.

Turgeon, who's still being paid by Maryland and made about $30 million during his time there, doesn't need to work again. He said the door is almost closed on his coaching career.

"It's mostly closed ... It's 98 percent closed but you don't ever want to say it's 100 percent closed.''
 
Turgeon quotes from December doesn’t sound like a guy ready for this challenge:

"Whether I coach again we'll see, but it's not where I'm thinking I absolutely have to do it. It's something that if the right thing comes along and at the right time, and it's the best thing for my family, we'll do it. Otherwise, I'm content with my career. I had a good career, I had a lot of fun doing it," said Turgeon, 57.

Turgeon, who's still being paid by Maryland and made about $30 million during his time there, doesn't need to work again. He said the door is almost closed on his coaching career.

"It's mostly closed ... It's 98 percent closed but you don't ever want to say it's 100 percent closed.''

He sounds perfect! Let’s close that final 2% for him!
 
So many posters have called for Pitino to be hired as the next coach.
How has he done since taking over at Iona?
MACC tournament champ and Regular Season champ his first 2 years. This season, so far, third place in the MACC, 1/2 game out of first.
I'm beginning to rethink my opposition to the 70-year old coach. I'd like to be among the living when the program becomes successful.
 
He sounds perfect! Let’s close that final 2% for him!
Be clear I was spitballing.

But Turgeon's comments actually make my point from an earlier thread. Be selective when you get a second chance. He's 58 so he has time. Don't necessarily jump at first job unless you honestly think it fits.
 
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