Would Matta submit to a physical examination? If not, would seem to be a big risk.
Realistic Updated Coaching Candidates, and AJ's SD Interview
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Would Matta submit to a physical examination? If not, would seem to be a big risk.
We are Indiana. We don't offer coaches "to the moon contracts".
When are people going to realize that we are cheap and always have been.
It's not "telling" at all. Everyone already knew that's what Cuban would say. If you didn't, you haven't been watching.
I wouldn't necessarily agree that IU is "cheap", at least when it comes to basketball. On the other hand, there's only 3-4 coaches that deserve "to the moon contracts" anyway and none of them are available. Throwing $6-8 million a year for an initial contract doesn't guarantee anything.
Polls of BT basketball coaches in Oct 2019, and a rivals article in Aug 2020 both listed Indiana as the best coaching job in the BT.
We aren't offering "to the moon" contacts to anyone is the point. We aren't offering close to 8 million. Hell, we aren't offering close to 6.
People need to get that out of their minds.
And it shouldn't take $6 to 8 million dollars to hire a coach to Indiana anyway. Who in college basketball has ever received that kind of contract up front? I understand paying "to the moon" money to keep an established coach after winning for X amount of years, but nobody gets that kind of money up front without proving anything.
.533 WP in conference....says Colorado is his destination job.....native of Colorado and coached there. Next.
I'd still call Stevens and offer him the same contract that Cal has with UK. He might seriously consider it given that his seat is warm in Boston. And yes, it would be a gamble for IU because if it didn't work out we'd be stuck with him. I'd chance it.
It's not going to take 10 years at $86million to get Brad Stevens to come coach at Indiana nor is Indiana EVER going to offer that kind of money. I don't care if it was the offpsring of Bob Knight and Jesus Christ himself. Brad Stevens has never struck me as a coach whose motivation is that of money. If Brad Stevens truly were available and wanted the Indiana job, it wouldn't cost more than $4-5mil/yr to get him here. If Brad Stevens wanted to coach at Indiana, he would take the job and wouldn't handcuff the athletics departments budget in the process. Nobody needs $8mil/yr to coach at Indiana. The only reason why Cal has the contract is to earn a boat ton of money in case and NBA franchise comes calling.
Nate Oats' buyout is $12,577,500 through 2021-22, so you have to assume he's off the table.
In my opinion, the two most realistic candidates for the job are Thad Matta and Dane Fife. According to an article about the coaching carousel on ESPN+, Matta showed a level of interest in the Penn State job when it became available, but ultimately passed. To me, that shows a job like IU is one he would most certainly take. However, as others have said, I would need assurances that his health is not an issue.
Despite his only head coaching experience being at IPFW, Fife is a "safe" option for Scott Dolson given Fife's obvious IU connections and that it's no secret he would be the successor to Tom Izzo if Izzo were to retire tomorrow.
I wouldn't be thrilled with either hire, but anyone seems to be an upgrade over Archie Miller at this point.
In my opinion, the two most realistic candidates for the job are Thad Matta and Dane Fife. According to an article about the coaching carousel on ESPN+, Matta showed a level of interest in the Penn State job when it became available, but ultimately passed. To me, that shows a job like IU is one he would most certainly take. However, as others have said, I would need assurances that his health is not an issue.
Despite his only head coaching experience being at IPFW, Fife is a "safe" option for Scott Dolson given Fife's obvious IU connections and that it's no secret he would be the successor to Tom Izzo if Izzo were to retire tomorrow.
I wouldn't be thrilled with either hire, but anyone seems to be an upgrade over Archie Miller at this point.
Good info....didn't know about Matta & PSU.....IF (big if) he's medically ok, why wouldn't you be thrilled with Matta? Or is it just a case where you're saying we can't ever be sure of his condition?
First of all, I don't think there will be an opening to fill so this discussion is likely academic. But with regards to Matta, I can't help but think his best days are behind him. I know he's not that old but with his past health issues...which definitely impacted his coaching...I think he'd be a huge risk. I don't think we'd be getting prime time Thad Matta.
Dane Fife? No thanks. Seems like a blindfolded swing and a prayer. Another guy with an insufficient resume whose only attractive quality is that they played for IU.
There is no quality candidate out there at the moment, which is half the reason Archie will most likely return.
Dane Fife? No thanks. Seems like a blindfolded swing and a prayer. Another guy with an insufficient resume whose only attractive quality is that they played for IU.
There is no quality candidate out there at the moment, which is half the reason Archie will most likely return.
Assuming he’s physically healthy, and mentally ready to get back to the coaching grind...Thad Matta would be an incredible hire. He won at every stop, and won early. Which implies he’s good at getting players and “people” around his programs to buy in quickly.
At OSU he won with different types of rosters. He went to the final game with a dominant big and NBA level point guard. A few years later he went to a final four with a bunch of versatile wings.
He won immediately at Butler. He won immediately at Xavier. At both Butler and Xavier he won at least 1 NCAA game each of those 4 years. Taking Xavier to an elite 8. Two final fours at OSU.
Seems all these traits would lend itself to attracting transfers too? Which, if a move is made this off-season, I think would be important for the new coach. The transfer market will be bigger with the no sitting out rule this year. I’d think Matta would have a compelling pitch for high caliber transfers.
If he’s not healthy, or you don’t get the sense that he’s got the fire any more...
I don’t see any realistic home run hires.
But I didn’t even remember that IU played last night. THAT’S how checked out this team and program have left me. So, at this point, any change will be welcomed and exciting.
At OSU he won with different types of rosters. He went to the final game with a dominant big and NBA level point guard. A few years later he went to a final four with a bunch of versatile wings.
He won immediately at Butler. He won immediately at Xavier. At both Butler and Xavier he won at least 1 NCAA game each of those 4 years. Taking Xavier to an elite 8. Two final fours at OSU.
Seems all these traits would lend itself to attracting transfers too? Which, if a move is made this off-season, I think would be important for the new coach. The transfer market will be bigger with the no sitting out rule this year. I’d think Matta would have a compelling pitch for high caliber transfers.
If he’s not healthy, or you don’t get the sense that he’s got the fire any more...
I don’t see any realistic home run hires.
But I didn’t even remember that IU played last night. THAT’S how checked out this team and program have left me. So, at this point, any change will be welcomed and exciting.
DF wouldn't be my #1 choice either....but 10(?) years of coaching under Izzo in the BT is attractive. And, if he is in fact Izzo's choice to take over at MSU, that's means something. I assume Izzo wouldn't want the program dumping. Also, he's a link to the Knight era, and was influenced by him. If the choice is more Miller or Fife, give me Fife.
Fife isn’t the safe option. He is a complete unknown. And you can do plenty worse than Archie. Fife would be a disaster and put the program back in this same situation in 3-4 years.
(A) You don't know that Fife is the choice to replace Izzo, that's just conjecture, and (B) Crean also was an Izzo assistant.
I would be skeptical about Matta due to his health issues causing a few lackluster seasons near the end of his tenure at Ohio State. I don't mean to knock a guy for having a run of bad health (a bad back in Matta's case), but it's a legitimate concern for an administration making a massively significant coaching hire and paying millions of dollars to do so.
I'd be skeptical about Fife simply due to a lack of head coaching experience at a Power Five level program. His years at IPFW really don't move the needle for me in any way.
You are so full of it. If this team was winning like it was back then it would still be considered blue blood. We aren’t winning and that’s why.
Having a rich history and fine pedigree doesn't automatically make it an attractive destination for a coach today. People keep saying they want a proven coach from a P5 school. Well why would such a coach leave a successful situation to come to IU?
Answer. They wouldn't.
Let me suggest a guy without any baggage that I know of (unlike several of the other suggestions I've read on here) who:
1. Has a career .655 winning percentage,
2. At only 43, already has one trip to the Final Four to his credit
3. Is flexible and adaptive -- known for successfully implementing two different playing styles at different teams
4. Currently is coaching a Top 25 team
5. Kicked IU's ass earlier this year
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:
Shaka Smart - Wikipedia
What do you think?
At this point, just for the contract and the budget. But those aren’t insignificant things. I also have to believe the ROI for the kinda of guy you break the bank for is way better.
Name 1 Izzo assistant that’s been a home run head coach. His prized guy is Tom Crean.Being an assistant under izzo means nothing.
Other than K, who was a GA, the same could be said of Knight. Coaching trees are often overblown in terms of their impact to the game.
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