I tend to agree. Especially a guy like Pearl, doesn't need the money, in a great situation where he is, has nothing he needs to prove to anyone, retirement isn't too far off, isn't going to want to go on a rescue mission.
Sign me up for Ben McCollum…
- Thread starter Warison
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Thanks Debbie downer. But I'm going to stay positive and hope Dolson gets it right.
I'm a realist. There's nothing that suggests IU is going to poach a Tier A coach from another program. Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, North Carolina, and Villanova have all been open in the last 5 years; two assistants promoted + a coach from Fordham, BYU, and College of Charleston were hired. All those programs are currently better than Indiana this century. It's just not going to happen. The best IU could hope for is someone like Will Wade or Dusty May, good coaches but from from a sure thing. Just the reality of the situation.Thanks Debbie downer. But I'm going to stay positive and hope Dolson gets it right.
The basis for hiring him would be "is he a great coach and could he succeed at IU". He wasn't charged, so that one incident shouldn't be a disqualification. As I said, hire an investigator. If he's an alcoholic and abuser, he'll have records of problems: lawsuits, police reports, restraining orders, DUI's. If you see that, I'd agree: stay away. If you don't, and he convinces you he's made changes to address the issues from that night (stopped drinking, stopped seeing the lady, went to counseling, etc...) it shouldn't be an issue, imo. People I know and respect, disagree, but I think that holier than thou attitude has been part of IU's problem.
I agree with your assessments, but you still make the call in case any circumstances have changed. Roy turned down UNC and then his relationship with the Kansas AD soured and he took the UNC job 2-3 years later. The one difference I see is the conference. Competing for titles (and getting 1 seeds) in the SEC and ACC imo is just harder than the B10 currently. I think coming to IU gives you a better chance to be a dominant program year in year out, ala Kansas, than those schools in the ACC/SEC where you're competing with UNC, Duke, UK, AR, UT, TN, UF, etc... We have MSU and PU, but I think IU gives you a platform and resources to jump to the front of the line, and that would be harder in those other conferences.
It's not a holier than thou attitude. Do you have children? Do you want someone who has hit, strangled, and beaten their significant other coaching your kid? And before you tell me again that he was never charged....I, unfortunately, know more than one person who has assaulted their spouse and was never charged or even investigated, one being my own father. Doesn't mean they weren't abusers simply because a court of law doesn't recognize it.
I'm out on Chris Beard unfortunately. Believe IU feels the same way, and hope they do as well.
I do have kids, and like I said, for me I can forgive a lot if it was one time event in a heated moment. From what's been said, I beleive she was also "physical" which may or may not explain some of the injuries/marks she had. In a heated argument, people do lots of things, and I wasn't there so that's why I defer to what the authorities did. If there aren't other incidents (and there would be if he is an abuser... he's divorced, I'd imagine talking to his ex would reveal all you need to know in a few minutes, unless she's signed a NDA). My family history it sounds like is similar to yours, maybe worse, but I can say the same things you did, and more. Matters to me if it was a 1 time event and he was remorseful to the point of making changes or not. If it was, and he has, I believe in giving a second chance.
I’m not anti Beard, but the notion that there would be bread crumbs for a serial abuser and addict is far from what the reality is…addiction often occurs right beneath the noses of those closest with the individual without a shred of evidence, and the statistics for the amount of unreported abuse is staggering. Again, not anti-Beard, but let’s at least be honest about the pretense of our motivations. We want Beard because he’s a good coach and are willing to look past his indiscretions because we want to win championships and not have our coach for a game canonized a saint.
Disagree if he's an alcoholic, AND an abuser. Think no trail of tell-tale signs would be extremely unlikely. I'm talking about hiring an investigator who actually interviews people and doesn't just look at criminal records, which yes, could be scant. You talk to past loves, spouses, friends and family and co-workers you'll know at greater than 99% accuracy if there's a pattern/past there.
Domestic abuse is rarely, if ever, a one time occurring event, especially if it goes unprosecuted and there's plenty of statistics and studies that back that up.
But for me, once is plenty enough. I believe in second chances as in he doesn't deserve to rot in a jail cell forever, but coaching Indiana basketball should be a privilege and that privilege should exclude someone like Chris Beard in my opinion. And that's too bad because I think he would do extremely well here.
The absence of other public incidents doesn’t necessarily mean nothing happened, just as the divorce itself doesn’t confirm that it did. Many victims of domestic issues don’t always go to the press or authorities, sometimes out of personal reasons, fear, or a desire to move on. At the same time, we also can’t assume that a divorce automatically means there was abuse. The reality is, without firsthand accounts or legal findings, we just don’t know. Speculation in either direction doesn’t change that.
Like I said, I have friends I respect who feel the same as you, but I just believe differently. And, I still don't think you know for certain he abused his GF/fiance. If what I understand is true and she was a college vball player, possibly drunk and was also being physical, stomping on his glasses, defending her daughter who is also yelling, pushing/shoving/hitting etc... she could easily have marks and bruises without what I would call him abusing her, but defending himself. It's also not uncommon for folks to mark themselves if they know the police are coming. Too much uncertainty there, so my position is I'm just looking past that to what the authorities did and if he has a past, and made changes in his life and showed remorse. But, I understand you and our Admin may look at it differently.
OK, this is devolving into exactly what I didn't want and won't continue. I said hire an investigator who will talk to lots of past friends, acquaintances, coworkers, etc... including his ex. At any rate, this is my last post on his past. I've said investigate and talk to him and if that all is a zero and satisfactory, I'd not exclude him from consideration and I hope IU wouldn't. I accept that you and others, including IU admins, may feel differently.
Well said. I get other people's points too. But hiring him would be an immediate image hit to IU with almost every article mentioning it. If he had any slip ups/relapses here, that would be very damaging to IU, and there would be a good chance the people who hired him get fired. Let's just go for a guy with a clean background check and keep it simple, there are other coaches who can work out here.
The fact that we have a handful of what I would say are our more "reasonable" posters here, arguing about Beard and his DV issues...is enough for me to say its not worth it. There will be other good candidates to choose from. His resume isn't THAT good that he should be THE choice.
If it were Beard vs. Woodson, Archie, Mike Davis... yeah, maybe then he's "worth" the risk. But that's not going to be the choice. If he were considered, he'll be considered with other really good coaches too, I'm sure.
I appreciate that we see this differently, and I respect that you’re considering multiple angles. I’m not claiming certainty about every detail of what happened that night, but I do think it’s important to acknowledge that uncertainty cuts both ways. Just as we can’t say with 100% certainty that he abused her, we also can’t assume she fabricated or exaggerated her injuries.
What we do know is that the police arrested him based on the evidence at the scene, and the charges weren’t dropped because he was cleared—they were dropped after she chose not to cooperate. That’s not the same as exoneration.
I totally get the idea of looking at the bigger picture—his track record, remorse, and any personal growth—but I also think it’s fair for people to consider the incident itself as part of that bigger picture. Reasonable people can land in different places on this, and I respect that.
Exactly. We've already gambled on that once with Sampson and it completely blew up in our face. Just not worth it.
In my opinion, Pam and the BOT won't live with the optics. If I'm wrong and they felt like after a careful vetting that he should get a shot, cool, I hope he's wildly successful if it went down that way. There are stories that Beard is pretty Kevin Wilson like. Are they accurate? I don't know.
So, would I support him? Sure, if again, after careful vetting he was deemed worth the risk. I just don't believe it will go down that way.
I believe I was the one who originally started the comments concerning giving Beard an interview. Just want what’s best for IU basketball, especially after following since the early 70’s and going to IU from ‘85-‘89. It was incredible for many years.
But I believe a lot of you are right in saying IU administrators probably won’t talk to Beard because of just what is happening on this forum now.
If Ben McCollum doesn’t really have an ultimate desire to coach at Iowa (which I’ve read he might because he grew up in Iowa), then I’m sure Dolson and Whitten will do everything in their power to get him. He reminds me of Cignetti. Has won everywhere, kids play hard for him, and he is a very good guy. Hope Dolson can get him to WANT to be at Indiana.
GO HOOSIERS!!
Cronin and Bennett are proven, IMO. I don't get the lack of excitement over them.
They probably didn't know anymore details than anyone else and spun it as they didn't want to have the negativity surrounding the school while the situation played out. Not sure of the timeline but believe they moved on from him a few weeks before it was dropped.
UT fires head basketball coach Chris Beard after domestic violence arrest
Beard was hired by UT in 2021. The university paid $4 million to buy out his contract at Texas Tech University. He was one of UT’s highest-paid employees.
www.texastribune.org
That said, being from Texas he may not want the job and to stay in the South or the West but who knows. Texas hired Sark for football and he was an alcoholic at USC who turned it around with some help Saban. Terry is not doing well at Texas excpet with the team he took over from Beard in the year he was fired. They may also be looking this spring for new coach though read no hot seat rumors on him. Beard lost a lot of money and after some reclamation time at Ole Miss. might Texas bring him back on a cheaper deal? Probably not but they didn't really let the process play out. If not Texas, Sampson is pushing 70 at Houston.
I be fine with IU hiring him but if prevents his hiring then fine too. He'd be my 2nd choice behind Stevens and by a lot. Until stevens signs on to to remain in Boston past 2025, I think he is a possibility if he wants to coach again. Does his daughter play soccer? Put her on the IU soccer team when she heads off to college. His son is on ND basketball and already back in the state. With the xfer portal, maybe can xfer to IU. to play for dad.
Cronin has a LONG track record of coaching solid teams, that really don't end seasons with actual accomplishments.Cronin and Bennett are proven, IMO. I don't get the lack of excitement over them.
They probably didn't know anymore details than anyone else and spun it as they didn't want to have the negativity surrounding the school while the situation played out. Not sure of the timeline but believe they moved on from him a few weeks before it was dropped.
UT fires head basketball coach Chris Beard after domestic violence arrest
Beard was hired by UT in 2021. The university paid $4 million to buy out his contract at Texas Tech University. He was one of UT’s highest-paid employees.
That said, being from Texas he may not want the job and to stay in the South or the West but who knows. Texas hired Sark for football and he was an alcoholic at USC who turned it around with some help Saban. Terry is not doing well at Texas excpet with the team he took over from Beard in the year he was fired. They may also be looking this spring for new coach though read no hot seat rumors on him. Beard lost a lot of money and after some reclamation time at Ole Miss. might Texas bring him back on a cheaper deal? Probably not but they didn't really let the process play out. If not Texas, Sampson is pushing 70 at Houston.
I be fine with IU hiring him but if prevents his hiring then fine too. He'd be my 2nd choice behind Stevens and by a lot. Until stevens signs on to to remain in Boston past 2025, I think he is a possibility if he wants to coach again. Does his daughter play soccer? Put her on the IU soccer team when she heads off to college. His son is on ND basketball and already back in the state. With the xfer portal, maybe can xfer to IU. to play for dad.
Bennett...don't like his style of play. And don't like that he bailed on college bball coaching basically as soon as the new dynamics of NIL/Portal took over. Makes me STRONGLY question that he'd be able to FULLY maximize the job at IU, in today's college bball world.
yeah, Bennett just left UVA because of the new college climate, so no idea why his name has even come up, and oh yeah, he's already passed on IU and made it clear he wouldn't consider coaching here because of how his sister was treated (?thats the story I remember hearing). Like I said, I get it if you don't want them to consider Beard, but a lot of those names were not realistic imo. You start pulling out those names (Barnes, Oats, Pearl, Stevens, Barnes, Altman, etc...) and Beard starts rising to the top of "possible realistic" candidates. I don't even think Cronin is, unless there's something he doesn't like about UCLA.
Will Wade was a cheater no thanks. Dusty May I would be good with that. But until the search is over I swing for the fences nothing to lose.
Do we all forget things yes Chris Beard did something wrong we can all agree but what about this stuff..
1979 — Knight is charged and later tried and convicted in absentia for hitting a policeman before practice at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, although extradition efforts are later dropped.
1988 During an interview with NBC's Connie Chung in 1988, Knight was asked how, as a successful coach, he dealt with stress. His response: "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."
1993 — Is suspended for one game after a sideline tirade in a 101-82 victory over Notre Dame in which he screams at his player son, Pat, and kicks at him. When fans behind the Indiana bench boo, Knight turns and responds with an obscenity.
1994 — Head-butts Sherron Wilkerson while screaming at him on the bench but says it was unintentional
March 2000 — Is investigated by university after former player Neil Reed says Knight choked him at a practice in 1997. A videotape of the practice appears to support Reed. Reports surface of other confrontations. In one, Knight throws a vase at a university secretary.
In another, Knight's son Tim suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken nose during a scuffle with his father during a hunting trip. In another, Knight attacked and knocked out an Indiana sports information director in the 70s.
1979 — Knight is charged and later tried and convicted in absentia for hitting a policeman before practice at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, although extradition efforts are later dropped.
1988 During an interview with NBC's Connie Chung in 1988, Knight was asked how, as a successful coach, he dealt with stress. His response: "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."
1993 — Is suspended for one game after a sideline tirade in a 101-82 victory over Notre Dame in which he screams at his player son, Pat, and kicks at him. When fans behind the Indiana bench boo, Knight turns and responds with an obscenity.
1994 — Head-butts Sherron Wilkerson while screaming at him on the bench but says it was unintentional
March 2000 — Is investigated by university after former player Neil Reed says Knight choked him at a practice in 1997. A videotape of the practice appears to support Reed. Reports surface of other confrontations. In one, Knight throws a vase at a university secretary.
In another, Knight's son Tim suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken nose during a scuffle with his father during a hunting trip. In another, Knight attacked and knocked out an Indiana sports information director in the 70s.
We have had a coach before with not a great past. But when it comes to basketball he is one of the best ever.
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