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Hire Beard

Every time there is a huge debate over Beard it illustrates why he won't get the job -- IU doesn't want this big argument around their flagship bball program.

It's okay, there are plenty of good coaches out there.
If he is good enough for Ole Miss he is good enough for IU. Pitino was available four years ago but the powers that be would rather morally posture and lose than win big.
 
I don't get in to the "better" comparisons... I've posted a handful of lists on guys that I think would be successful at Indiana.

Beard, obviously, has proven he's capable of making deep NCAA runs...which is very important. But he's also jumped around a lot, hasn't really shown much that he can maintain a high level program for long stretches...why is it a given that he'd stay at IU? Maybe he'd jump at the Kentucky job in a few years if it opened up, or Kansas as you mentioned? His history shows he's pretty open to jumping ship. Doesn't look like a guy that has turned down many offers before. We can't bash the IU job, saying we aren't gonna attract anyone better, and then just assume a guy that's had 6-7 head coaching jobs in 13 years would stay at IU for 8-10 years. Might as well hire Jim Crutchfield, and hope he has the energy, at age 69, to coach for 4-5 more years, if you're willing to overlook Beard's history, and take that risk on.

Long winded way of providing examples on why he isn't an obviously perfect fit...and none of that mentions his DV issue.

I'd take McCollum over Beard. And I'm much less sure I like McCollum's style than I was even a few weeks ago.
Every job he left was for a better one.
 
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Are you an actual IU grad? Or just a random fan? No way actual IU alumni want that dude representing our university.
…and yet, you said that this team is “close.”
I’m not sure you are in any condition right now mentally to be commenting on what makes a good coaching candidate or their character. Woody got you all messed up in the head.
 
I just see a pretty strong correlation between non-IU grads and those most interested in taking on a coach with issues. Maybe he's an alum and doesn't fit that description like you do, but I don't believe that's the case.

I don't know why you're not proud of your Lincoln Trail CC education. Shout it from the rooftops bro.
We get it.. You're far superior to everyone here who didnt attend Indiana University.
 
Knight? Checkered past? You just answered why they won’t again. Sampson cost was great.
Indiana is not Holly Cross they have let alot of shit happen.

 


Coach Cigs not so clean past...
Ha, a few disgruntled players complaining. Not even close to relevant.
 
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Nor have I but do you have proof? Duke lacrosse had lives ruined by false allegations. You believe all women period? This dangerous if you have sons. I know I guy who kids life was ruined by a false accusation.
My son came very close to this happening to him. Had it not been for a sane cop that saw through the bullshit, it would have not ended well. He secretly videoed the events for evidence, but the courts are not a guy’s friend when it comes to this stuff.
 
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My son came very close to this happening to him. Had it not been for a sane cop that saw through the bullshit, it would have not ended well. He secretly videoed the events for evidence, but the courts are not a guy’s friend when it comes to this stuff.


i've been in domestic abuse court over the years. don't confuse things: these aren't America's best.

don't go throwing all men a life jacket when it's THEM who are responsible for their own actions.

i hope you told your boy to smarten up.
 
i've been in domestic abuse court over the years. don't confuse things: these aren't America's best.

don't go throwing all men a life jacket when it's THEM who are responsible for their own actions.

i hope you told your boy to smarten up.
Don’t espouse such ignorance. Funny how the experts on here know so much about the personal lives of people they’ve never even met. It’s quite enlightening.
 
I get shooting your shot but maybe only 2-3 of those names you'd have more than a 50-50 shot of landing.

Brad Stevens 0%
Bruce Pearl 0%
Nate Oats 0%
Shaka Smart 10%
Buzz Williams 25%
Dusty May 45%
Ben McCollum - Drake 75%
Darian DeVries - West Virginia 60%
Grant McCasland - Texas Tech 10%
Chris Jans - Mississippi State 75%----was previously fired from Bowling Green for drunken, lewd behavior with female students
Mark Byington - Vandy-----50%
Jarrod Calhoun- Utah State----80%
5-6 years ago, I’d say absolutely Pearl would take the job without hesitation. Now? I doubt he’s interested in starting over/rebuilding a program at his age.
 
Don’t espouse such ignorance. Funny how the experts on here know so much about the personal lives of people they’ve never even met. It’s quite enlightening.


well, you sorta had that "it was all on her" vibe going...and I can't abide that.

2 to tango.

Live and learn. But learn.
 
well, you sorta had that "it was all on her" vibe going...and I can't abide that.

2 to tango.

Live and learn. But learn.
There you go again, hinging on vibes. If you pay attention, these things kind of lean on those pesky little facts.
 
IU is not one of the most prestigious jobs in the country. That’s why we are having such difficulty finding a championship winning coach. We have not been in the conversation for 30 years. RMK was not a saint. But he won titles. I wonder if the people so “concerned” with Beard are among those who worshipped coach Knight?
We are...its astonishing that we still are, despite what much of what you said being true, but NIL, fan support, TV coverage...we're still a..."top 10 level program" in many ways. Just aren't doing it on the court, which is obviously the most important way.
 
You need to name them. You're telling me you have a list of guys with a Final Four and a National Coach of the Year honor plus experience winning in 2 power conferences?

Let's hear them if you are sure. May? Pitino? Billy Donovan? Brian Dutcher? Who is on your list.
I've sent many versions of 7-10 guys that I think would be just as good of choices as Beard. Some very unrealistic, some I would think might leave their current teams today, to come to Bloomington.

If your criteria are the sole ones being used, obviously, Beards probably the best candidate, of guys we'd have a legit shot at getting. But there are dozens of other factors at play, I would think, and would hope...that make lots of others good choices too. Basically every high major coaching hire that's happened since NIL and Portal both became such huge factors, have gone to guys that haven't proven themselves at the high major level, but have proven to be very good college basketball coaches.

I've eliminated Beard from my own personal wish lists, because I don't think IU should take on the smoke and the risks. So, I've probably let that creep in to judging his basketball coaching record as well. He's a very good coach. And outside the DV, probably an ideal candidate for IU. I honestly don't love his style of play. But on the basketball court, at IU, I'm sure his teams would kill it. Just like Sampson did, and would have continue to. Just don't think its wise to head down that path, like it wasn't with Sampson.

If, for some reason, Beard does end up being hired. I'll cheer for him and for IU. I'll trust that our decision makers vetted the entire thing out, and felt comfortable with the hire. But practically...it ain't happening. To the point where I put the odds LESS than Stevens being hired.
 
I've sent many versions of 7-10 guys that I think would be just as good of choices as Beard. Some very unrealistic, some I would think might leave their current teams today, to come to Bloomington.

If your criteria are the sole ones being used, obviously, Beards probably the best candidate, of guys we'd have a legit shot at getting. But there are dozens of other factors at play, I would think, and would hope...that make lots of others good choices too. Basically every high major coaching hire that's happened since NIL and Portal both became such huge factors, have gone to guys that haven't proven themselves at the high major level, but have proven to be very good college basketball coaches.

I've eliminated Beard from my own personal wish lists, because I don't think IU should take on the smoke and the risks. So, I've probably let that creep in to judging his basketball coaching record as well. He's a very good coach. And outside the DV, probably an ideal candidate for IU. I honestly don't love his style of play. But on the basketball court, at IU, I'm sure his teams would kill it. Just like Sampson did, and would have continue to. Just don't think its wise to head down that path, like it wasn't with Sampson.

If, for some reason, Beard does end up being hired. I'll cheer for him and for IU. I'll trust that our decision makers vetted the entire thing out, and felt comfortable with the hire. But practically...it ain't happening. To the point where I put the odds LESS than Stevens being hired.
The distinguishing issue for me is: have they done it at the P5 level. You like some guys that would be taking a big step up, and I'm all for interviewing them too, as I think that's probably our best path to a home run hire, but I also see a lot of guys I think who are really good coaches struggle when they move up. I also agree with you: make the calls to even unlikely "home run" guys like Pearl and Oats (and Stevens even though I think turning us down twice makes him the most unlikely of unlikely guys). I'm just saying when you weed out the names on your list that are very unlikely, Beard is really in the top tier of guys who have proven P5 experience. Mostly in my mind comes down to he and Smart. I think the buyout on Oats and Otzelberger make them extremely unlikely. But, yes, you can list them as names if you want to try and prove your point that there are tons of great candidates out there. In reality, there aren't. Tons of guys who are better than our current coach, but not tons of guys who are likely to return IU to competing for B10 and national titles.
 
The distinguishing issue for me is: have they done it at the P5 level. You like some guys that would be taking a big step up, and I'm all for interviewing them too, as I think that's probably our best path to a home run hire, but I also see a lot of guys I think who are really good coaches struggle when they move up. I also agree with you: make the calls to even unlikely "home run" guys like Pearl and Oats (and Stevens even though I think turning us down twice makes him the most unlikely of unlikely guys). I'm just saying when you weed out the names on your list that are very unlikely, Beard is really in the top tier of guys who have proven P5 experience. Mostly in my mind comes down to he and Smart. I think the buyout on Oats and Otzelberger make them extremely unlikely. But, yes, you can list them as names if you want to try and prove your point that there are tons of great candidates out there. In reality, there aren't. Tons of guys who are better than our current coach, but not tons of guys who are likely to return IU to competing for B10 and national titles.
We've seen that its probably not realistic to get someone like that...

I'm not smart enough to figure out why that is...but we've seen it with multiple other "big name" schools in recent years. I've listed all these same proven guys in my "lists"...but I hope, LIKE HELL, Dolson isn't banking on getting someone like Shaka Smart, or Buzz Williams, or one of the current established SEC dudes... I'm just not sure why IU would be able to lure someone like that, when Kentucky, Louisville, Villanova, etc.. haven't been able to recently. Go after Smart, Williams...whoever fits the more proven P4 guy list that isn't someone like Scheyer or Self. But DO NOT, DO NOT, neglect a handful of promising candidates that are more realistic. I'm choosing to focus on THOSE guys, because the odds are telling me that's the type of coach we'll be getting.

But this isn't some sort of deflating or desperate situation. Times have changed...coaches don't have to slowly develop kids...a school like IU, as we saw with Woodson...who is an awful coach, who runs an unappealing style, and isn't charismatic in really any way...was able to get Ballo, Rice, Tucker, etc... Bates, Reneau, JHS... Keep TJD... He's been able to get, or keep elite talent, in pretty much every recruiting cycle. He's an awful talent evaluator, in terms of how they fit with his teams. And then we can see he's awful using the talent he gets. But he's still getting the talent. Because he's the head coach at Indiana University, and we have nearly the most of what everyone cares about...NIL money.

Its obviously not a guarantee...but man, give IU's resources to one of the many guys I've mentioned that's proven it all the way up to the P4 level... and there's decent odds that they'd be able to continue their successes. What all of them have proven is they're capable of building programs that are successful against their peers. Not sure why that abruptly stop at IU.

Its just as likely that their success will continue on and translate, as it is they wouldn't be able to handle the unique dynamics high major ball. And if, for some reason, we get a guy that isn't comfortable recruiting elite NBA capable players, or then isn't comfortable coaching them when they get here... There's still the chance that he'd still be successful at IU, by virtue of being a great basketball coach.

This is why I'm keeping the McCollum name alive in my lists. I think his "floor" at IU would be a Wisconsin like program. And if he adapts, at all, and is able to attract NBA level players to run his system...he's the guy that has the potential, above any one else on the list, to make Indiana a dominant program. And I say that acknowledging that I don't like his offensive style and pace of play.
 
5-6 years ago, I’d say absolutely Pearl would take the job without hesitation. Now? I doubt he’s interested in starting over/rebuilding a program at his age.
Especially when he's on the top where he is. Why leave your #1 ranked program for a rebuild?
 
I've sent many versions of 7-10 guys that I think would be just as good of choices as Beard. Some very unrealistic, some I would think might leave their current teams today, to come to Bloomington.

If your criteria are the sole ones being used, obviously, Beards probably the best candidate, of guys we'd have a legit shot at getting. But there are dozens of other factors at play, I would think, and would hope...that make lots of others good choices too. Basically every high major coaching hire that's happened since NIL and Portal both became such huge factors, have gone to guys that haven't proven themselves at the high major level, but have proven to be very good college basketball coaches.

I've eliminated Beard from my own personal wish lists, because I don't think IU should take on the smoke and the risks. So, I've probably let that creep in to judging his basketball coaching record as well. He's a very good coach. And outside the DV, probably an ideal candidate for IU. I honestly don't love his style of play. But on the basketball court, at IU, I'm sure his teams would kill it. Just like Sampson did, and would have continue to. Just don't think its wise to head down that path, like it wasn't with Sampson.

If, for some reason, Beard does end up being hired. I'll cheer for him and for IU. I'll trust that our decision makers vetted the entire thing out, and felt comfortable with the hire. But practically...it ain't happening. To the point where I put the odds LESS than Stevens being hired.
Very well said.
 
Tons of guys who are better than our current coach, but not tons of guys who are likely to return IU to competing for B10 and national titles.
This is what it comes down to. Do we just accept an "improvement" or are we trying to leap back to the top in one jump?
 
This is what it comes down to. Do we just accept an "improvement" or are we trying to leap back to the top in one jump?
We might not have a choice. If UK, UL, Nova's recent searches are any sort of indicator, we're going to need to be open to hiring someone more unproven. I'd MUCH...MUCH...MUCH rather hire someone that's been excellent at lower levels, than hire someone that's been inconsistent, or merely "decent" at the P4 level...just for the sake of having that P4 experience.
 
Don’t espouse such ignorance. Funny how the experts on here know so much about the personal lives of people they’ve never even met. It’s quite enlightening.
You don’t need to know someone to the know the kind of person who makes excuses for beating up women.
 
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Because I know my "lists" are such a fun target for many of you...and I like doing them...here's an updated one. And I can't stress enough that these are in no particular order. But also, this is influenced by some of our more reasonable posters on this board.

-Stevens...until the end of time, any time IU searches for a coach, he should be contacted, just in case.
-Pearl...obviously a very good coach. He'd win a lot of games at IU. How much longer is he gonna coach? He dicked us around last time for a better contract. Not sure I'd even go after him this time because of that. But he'd dominate at IU.
-Oats... Highly unlikely, difficult buyout dynamics, but guaranteed big time success. Gotta ask him.
-Otz...Similar as above, but I would say a little less certain that he'd have huge success at IU. But still pretty sure. Gotta ask him.
-Beard...not on my own personal list, I wouldn't pursue him personally, but if you're able and willing to vet him, and find something out that's different from others, or that others have missed... he'd definitely win at IU.
-Golden...if Beard is on the table, why not Golden? I like his style of play better than Beard's. He'd be very successful at IU.
-Williams...His teams are always "good". I think he'd be able to use IU's resources, and produce some great teams. And I think personality wise, he'd be able to handle IU. But not as sold on him as I am some others. But massive upgrade to what we've had recently at IU.
-Smart...of the established P4 coaches, not named Beard, he might be one that'd more consider it?? I think he'd be very good at IU. And I suspect he'd stick for quite a long time too.
-May...I'm still getting Crean vibes from him. But he has shown he can make an NCAA run, and he's shown he can use the portal to build good teams. Both pretty high on what IU criteria should include. I don't really care about the RMK ties, but I guess that's cool if he gets hired.
-McCollum...when you start weeding out the proven P4 guys, this guy shoots up to the top of my list pretty quickly. Despite his teams working shot clocks longer than I'd like...pretty much everything else I'm in love with. And I think of ANYONE on this list, his ceiling could be the highest at IU. That ceiling would require some unknowns, namely how he and his program would jive with P4 level players. But if they did...man... Added bonus, he has 2 players on his Drake team that could come with him and probably start, and 1 of them would be an All B10 level player.
-Wade...IndyResident opened my eyes to him. His LSU wire tap issues obviously a concern. But if we're researching and interviewing Beard, Wade's stuff is fair game too, especially now that we're in NIL era. Coaching wise, he wins, he's had NBA talent, and I think he style of play would be really fun to follow, and could be great for IU.
-DeVries...has the benefit of showing his program can translate up to P4, and he can beat elite teams. It'll be interesting to see what WVU does the rest of the year with his son out for the year. I'm not as sold on him as I am of McCollum or Wade. But he'd be good at IU, I'm sure.
-Byington, Calhoun, McMillan, Schertz maybe...all coaches that have had some successes, that run an appealing overall program and style, that I think would have a good chance of success at IU.

If our next coach comes from this list...the odds, are incredibly high, in my opinion, that Indiana will get back to being a really good, if not great, program again very soon.
 
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