...this would be my plan:
Prior to taking the job, I'd have a list put together of the coaches I'd reach out to in the event of needing to replace the incumbent coach. That list is as follows:
- Chris Beard, Texas Tech head coach
- Gregg Marshall, Wichita State head coach
- Bruce Pearl, Auburn head coach
- Dane Fife, Michigan State assistant coach
I'd begin discretely reaching out to the agents of the coaches on that list to gauge potential interest in the IU job. I'd wait until IU's inevitable first-round exit from the Big Ten Tournament to fire Archie simply because the optics of firing him mid-season wouldn't be ideal. I wouldn't want the situation to become a dumpster fire/clown show.
Meanwhile, the open job would hopefully be a bit overshadowed by the NCAA Tournament, allowing for work to be done quietly behind the scenes. In any interview with any potential coaching candidate, the topic of program culture would be, far and away, the single most important piece of the conversation. Hustle, heart, passion, want-to and desire would need to be core elements of the new culture. Anything less will not suffice.
I would make it clear that recruiting the state of Indiana is important to the fans, but it's not necessary to sign an Indiana high school prospect if he's not a good culture fit (i.e. no shoe guys).
Lastly, I'd reiterate the importance of balanced recruiting along with effective player development. Those are the key principles of building and sustaining a consistently successful program.
Prior to taking the job, I'd have a list put together of the coaches I'd reach out to in the event of needing to replace the incumbent coach. That list is as follows:
- Chris Beard, Texas Tech head coach
- Gregg Marshall, Wichita State head coach
- Bruce Pearl, Auburn head coach
- Dane Fife, Michigan State assistant coach
I'd begin discretely reaching out to the agents of the coaches on that list to gauge potential interest in the IU job. I'd wait until IU's inevitable first-round exit from the Big Ten Tournament to fire Archie simply because the optics of firing him mid-season wouldn't be ideal. I wouldn't want the situation to become a dumpster fire/clown show.
Meanwhile, the open job would hopefully be a bit overshadowed by the NCAA Tournament, allowing for work to be done quietly behind the scenes. In any interview with any potential coaching candidate, the topic of program culture would be, far and away, the single most important piece of the conversation. Hustle, heart, passion, want-to and desire would need to be core elements of the new culture. Anything less will not suffice.
I would make it clear that recruiting the state of Indiana is important to the fans, but it's not necessary to sign an Indiana high school prospect if he's not a good culture fit (i.e. no shoe guys).
Lastly, I'd reiterate the importance of balanced recruiting along with effective player development. Those are the key principles of building and sustaining a consistently successful program.