Kokomo Tribune
- Thread starter morpie10
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I disagree. I think Glass was going to hand him the job on a silver platter until he found out so many fans hated the guy.
Why do you think Steve didn't give his "100% not interested" until the last second?
Haven't you heard DD because he says that over 90% of the fans wanted Alford.
He believes IU’s AD did not live up to search promises
BY TERRY HUTCHENS
CNHI SPORTS INDIANA
BLOOMINGTON — Ted Kitchel has never been one to mince words when it comes to hiring new Indiana basketball coaches.
The Lewis Cass product, who starred on the 1981 Indiana national championship team, was the guy who became famous for his thoughts on the day of Kelvin Sampson’s hiring in 2006.
“It’s an absolute disgrace,’’ Kitchel said at the time. “I wouldn’t hire that guy to coach my fifth-grade girls team. That guy is absolutely what we don’t want at IU.’’
Eleven years later, Kitchel is unhappy again. This time, he’s not anti-Archie Miller as much as he is disappointed in the way the coaching search played out, specifically in terms of whether former IU players were given serious consideration in the process.
Kitchel doesn’t believe anyone was. He said several former players were given “obligatory interviews” to discuss the future and the direction of the program, but no one was actually interviewed for the position.
“I haven’t heard from a single ex -player who is happy about the way this was handled,’’ Kitchel said. “The athletic director told us that an Indiana guy would have a shot and that he would interview anyone who was interested. And that was a lie. He talked to Randy Wittman for 15 minutes, and the same was true with Mike Woodson. He didn’t talk with Steve Alford. I don’t think Dane Fife was given more than an obligatory interview either.’’
Kitchel was quick to point out that his feelings had nothing to do with Miller, who Indiana announced Saturday it had hired as the coach to replace Tom Crean, who was fired by the university March 16. Miller will be introduced as the Indiana coach at a press conference at the university at 3 p.m. today.
“I’m sure that Archie Miller is a fine guy,’’ Kitchel said. “He’s had good success, and he’s coached under guys that I like a lot like Thad Matta. He has coached at good places. This has nothing to do with Miller or anything like that. It’s just that the AD said that an IU guy would have an opportunity, and I don’t believe that happened.
“I know that Steve Alford would have jumped at the chance. If Steve Alford goes into the house of the kid in New Albany [Romeo Langford] and talked to him, I think he would have packed a little more powerful punch than Archie Miller is going to have. I think recruiting the state of Indiana is really important, and I think Steve or Dane Fife would have been great. Dane Fife has had great success recruiting the state of Indiana at Michigan State. But Fred seems to know a heck of a lot more about it than any of us. That’s what he gets paid for to be the A.D. and so I guess we’ll let him do his job.’’
Kitchel said he has heard that a big reason Alford wasn’t seriously considered was because of the incident with one of his former players at
See KITCHEL | B2
CASS KING: Indiana forward Ted Kitchel prepares to fire one of his 18 free throws that he hit in a row to set a Big Ten record in a 78-61 victory over Illinois on Jan. 12, 1981. Kitchel made 11 of 13 field goal attempts for a career- and game-high 40 points.
File photo | The Associated Press
KITCHEL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
Iowa. Pierre Pierce was the Iowa player accused of sexually assaulting a student at the university in 2002. He and the victim ultimately agreed to a deal that allowed Pierce to plead to a lesser charge and give a public apology. Alford had stood behind his player, but many believed he had gone too far in his support. And matters got uglier three years later when Pierce was charged with assault on a woman he had previously been dating.
Kitchel said if that was the reason Alford wasn’t given consideration at Indiana then he wonders if Glass is the right person to lead the IU athletic department.
“That happened what 15 years ago? And Alford has been hired two times since then?’’ Kitchel said. “So other schools have looked at that and there has never been a problem. Is there any more of a liberal school in the country than UCLA? Do you think they didn’t look at that? I mean if Fred Glass is afraid of women coming out to protest because Steve Alford is your head coach … I mean are you kidding me? If that’s the case, I don’t think I want that guy leading my athletic program if he’s afraid of things like that. Maybe it’s time we look for a new athletic director.’’
Attempts to reach Glass for a response to Kitchel’s comments were unsuccessful.
Steve Risley was a teammate of Kitchel’s on IU’s 1981 national championship team and now resides in Los Angeles. He said Sunday he was one of the former players Glass reached out to seeking input on the direction of the program.
When told many former players weren’t happy with the process, Risley said he wasn’t sure why that would be.
“Fred Glass was very forthright with me with what he was trying to accomplish and what he was trying to find,” Risley said. “I don’t know if the players that are complaining didn’t get called by Glass or not.”
Risley thought Miller was a good choice.
“From what I’ve heard and what I’ve read about so far, I think he’s what people are looking for,” Risley said. “He’s a defensive-minded coach who plays very tough, physical basketball. Dayton plays that way, and they play like we used to play when I played at IU.
“I think if people get beyond that we needed to have Alford or Fife or Woodson or Wittman, and they start looking at [Miller] as our coach, I think they’re going to see a lot of things that they like. I did. I mean I was pulling for a lot of our IU guys, too. But I thought they all pretty much disqualified themselves in one way or another. And not in a negative way but rather Archie just gave [IU] a more qualified candidate for what they were looking for. I think it’s a good fit.”
Wow! Get over it, Kitchel. Not ONE of the former players you mention can match the coaching acumen of Miller and Glass didn't owe any of them a solid interview. Funny how RMK has been such an ass about returning to IU but his former players want to have a say in who gets hired. Whatever!
Does everyone not see why the formers players are upset? Think about this, if, and I know this is a big if, but if CAM is successful he could be the coach at IU for the next 25-30 years. All of the former players that are now coaches may never get a chance.
Guys....Aflord was never a serious candidate and tried to save face. He thought as soon as he was out the NCAA, he was going to get the job.
Miller was offered the job earlier in the week.
Miller wasn't offered the job a couple hours in between Alford saying that and when he took it. There was a ton of negotiation that went on.
And he thought that based on conversations his people had with Glass' people for over a month. Glass wouldn't have dragged that out and told him point blank, "You're not it" a month ago instead of stringing him along.
He also wouldn't have called so many people across the state to get their opinion of him and he certainly wouldn't have made that "love letter" statement. He's dumb.....but not that dumb.
Give me 10 AJ Guytons or Antwan Randle-Els. They are true ambassadors to IU. While I respect Kent,Ted, Steve for what they gave to IU, it doesn't mean they get to dictate to the administration whom to hire. That is why there is an AD. Unless one of them wants to apply for that job in the future. I also agree if Lewis,Fife and a few others got more seasoning at a mid-major college,it might hold some sway with IU IN FUTURE.Also correct, Wittman,Smart and Woodson have zero college coaching on any resume. I hold great esteem for these 5 but that doesn't make them a great fit at IU just because they played there. Michael Jordan would not make a great coach at UNC . I won't even mention Dan Dakich.Been there with that.
This thread is stupid.He believes IU’s AD did not live up to search promises
BY TERRY HUTCHENS
CNHI SPORTS INDIANA
BLOOMINGTON — Ted Kitchel has never been one to mince words when it comes to hiring new Indiana basketball coaches.
The Lewis Cass product, who starred on the 1981 Indiana national championship team, was the guy who became famous for his thoughts on the day of Kelvin Sampson’s hiring in 2006.
“It’s an absolute disgrace,’’ Kitchel said at the time. “I wouldn’t hire that guy to coach my fifth-grade girls team. That guy is absolutely what we don’t want at IU.’’
Eleven years later, Kitchel is unhappy again. This time, he’s not anti-Archie Miller as much as he is disappointed in the way the coaching search played out, specifically in terms of whether former IU players were given serious consideration in the process.
Kitchel doesn’t believe anyone was. He said several former players were given “obligatory interviews” to discuss the future and the direction of the program, but no one was actually interviewed for the position.
“I haven’t heard from a single ex -player who is happy about the way this was handled,’’ Kitchel said. “The athletic director told us that an Indiana guy would have a shot and that he would interview anyone who was interested. And that was a lie. He talked to Randy Wittman for 15 minutes, and the same was true with Mike Woodson. He didn’t talk with Steve Alford. I don’t think Dane Fife was given more than an obligatory interview either.’’
Kitchel was quick to point out that his feelings had nothing to do with Miller, who Indiana announced Saturday it had hired as the coach to replace Tom Crean, who was fired by the university March 16. Miller will be introduced as the Indiana coach at a press conference at the university at 3 p.m. today.
“I’m sure that Archie Miller is a fine guy,’’ Kitchel said. “He’s had good success, and he’s coached under guys that I like a lot like Thad Matta. He has coached at good places. This has nothing to do with Miller or anything like that. It’s just that the AD said that an IU guy would have an opportunity, and I don’t believe that happened.
“I know that Steve Alford would have jumped at the chance. If Steve Alford goes into the house of the kid in New Albany [Romeo Langford] and talked to him, I think he would have packed a little more powerful punch than Archie Miller is going to have. I think recruiting the state of Indiana is really important, and I think Steve or Dane Fife would have been great. Dane Fife has had great success recruiting the state of Indiana at Michigan State. But Fred seems to know a heck of a lot more about it than any of us. That’s what he gets paid for to be the A.D. and so I guess we’ll let him do his job.’’
Kitchel said he has heard that a big reason Alford wasn’t seriously considered was because of the incident with one of his former players at
See KITCHEL | B2
CASS KING: Indiana forward Ted Kitchel prepares to fire one of his 18 free throws that he hit in a row to set a Big Ten record in a 78-61 victory over Illinois on Jan. 12, 1981. Kitchel made 11 of 13 field goal attempts for a career- and game-high 40 points.
File photo | The Associated Press
KITCHEL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
Iowa. Pierre Pierce was the Iowa player accused of sexually assaulting a student at the university in 2002. He and the victim ultimately agreed to a deal that allowed Pierce to plead to a lesser charge and give a public apology. Alford had stood behind his player, but many believed he had gone too far in his support. And matters got uglier three years later when Pierce was charged with assault on a woman he had previously been dating.
Kitchel said if that was the reason Alford wasn’t given consideration at Indiana then he wonders if Glass is the right person to lead the IU athletic department.
“That happened what 15 years ago? And Alford has been hired two times since then?’’ Kitchel said. “So other schools have looked at that and there has never been a problem. Is there any more of a liberal school in the country than UCLA? Do you think they didn’t look at that? I mean if Fred Glass is afraid of women coming out to protest because Steve Alford is your head coach … I mean are you kidding me? If that’s the case, I don’t think I want that guy leading my athletic program if he’s afraid of things like that. Maybe it’s time we look for a new athletic director.’’
Attempts to reach Glass for a response to Kitchel’s comments were unsuccessful.
Steve Risley was a teammate of Kitchel’s on IU’s 1981 national championship team and now resides in Los Angeles. He said Sunday he was one of the former players Glass reached out to seeking input on the direction of the program.
When told many former players weren’t happy with the process, Risley said he wasn’t sure why that would be.
“Fred Glass was very forthright with me with what he was trying to accomplish and what he was trying to find,” Risley said. “I don’t know if the players that are complaining didn’t get called by Glass or not.”
Risley thought Miller was a good choice.
“From what I’ve heard and what I’ve read about so far, I think he’s what people are looking for,” Risley said. “He’s a defensive-minded coach who plays very tough, physical basketball. Dayton plays that way, and they play like we used to play when I played at IU.
“I think if people get beyond that we needed to have Alford or Fife or Woodson or Wittman, and they start looking at [Miller] as our coach, I think they’re going to see a lot of things that they like. I did. I mean I was pulling for a lot of our IU guys, too. But I thought they all pretty much disqualified themselves in one way or another. And not in a negative way but rather Archie just gave [IU] a more qualified candidate for what they were looking for. I think it’s a good fit.”
I see all these posts blasting Kitchell for acting like "an old man" when he criticized Glass but the posters apparently don't realize that Glass and Kitchell are the same age! So, I guess they're saying, well, I can't really tell what they're trying to say.
Glass, by the way, has two IU degrees so unlike Greenspan, he definitely is an IU guy.
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