Basketball Coaching Candidates

[81 Alumnus]

s

Rick Pitino—Final 4 & Multiple Titles
Gregg Marshall—14 NCAA Tournament appearances & a Final Four.

One is unemployed and the other is coaching at a much smaller program. Both could be had.

As for K State, it was mentioned in this thread they may be the worst team in the Big 12. I highlight them bc there isn’t much of a difference between the worst team in the Big 12 and Boynton’s OK State team….but I’ll be holding receipts on seasons end on this thread. Just come back and own it if OK State isn’t very good by March.

Rick Pitino and Gregg Marshall??? As Eddie Fogler said to David Newton, "are you on drugs?"

We wouldn't even talk to Hugh Freeze and that is in a sport we are passionate about. Hire a coach who's fired from his last job for a massive cheating scandal, hiring hookers to turn tricks for recruits and paying a woman other than his wife to have an abortion? In a sport we don't really give a rat's ass about? You've literally taken leave of your senses. And, if we did, he wouldn't touch our job in a million years. A million years. He's 69 years old, back home and happy. Now, despite his protestations, I can't type with a straight face that he wouldn't give a long thought to Louisville or Kentucky. But that ain't happening.

As for Marshall, of course he'd take our job. He would've of always taken our job. And I've been advocating for hiring him since Dave Odom was our coach. We wouldn't even speak to him before the scandal at Wichita St. Not even give him the time of day. Now, IF the scandal hadn't happened and IF Eddie Floyd was dead, maybe we would finally wise up. But it happened and against all odds, Eddie still has a pulse. NO WAY IN THE WORLD

Now as to your K-State fetish. Yes, they are 20 spaces behind any other BIg XII in the NET. But there are 5 SEC teams, 7 ACC teams and 5 Big Ten teams lower than them. Many by over 50 spots. Several good teams are gonna lose to K-State before the season is over. Do you realize that a loss to them in Manhattan would be a Quad 1 loss? A Quad 1 loss! You do know that teams brag about Quad 1 losses to lobby to get into the tourney, don't you?

 

[ansoncock]

Rick Pitino—Final 4 & Multiple Titles
Gregg Marshall—14 NCAA Tournament appearances & a Final Four.

One is unemployed and the other is coaching at a much smaller program. Both could be had.

As for K State, it was mentioned in this thread they may be the worst team in the Big 12. I highlight them bc there isn’t much of a difference between the worst team in the Big 12 and Boynton’s OK State team….but I’ll be holding receipts on seasons end on this thread. Just come back and own it if OK State isn’t very good by March.

Your post is very interesting. Pitino, however is 69 years old.

Gregg Marshall is accused of making war whoop sounds and telling a native American player to get back on his pony. I kid you not! Marshall has deep SC roots and could turn around the program in a couple of years. What is the downside to Gregg Marshall that I am not seeing?

 

[Neanderthal]

Bobby’s wife gets undeserved blame for his return to Tech. He could have easily blamed the quality of the program for his about face but never did publicly. He took all the criticism with more grace than I’ve seen anyone deal with a backlash like he felt. The slate is clean with Bobby in my book.

Bobby is a stand up guy and a man of grace. Penny could learn from him. Thanks for the post.

 

[81 Alumnus]

Your post is very interesting. Pitino, however is 69 years old.

Gregg Marshall is accused of making war whoop sounds and telling a native American player to get back on his pony. I kid you not! Marshall has deep SC roots and could turn around the program in a couple of years. What is the downside to Gregg Marshall that I am not seeing?

Marshall could have stayed out of trouble and won a couple of national titles and we still wouldn't have hired him.

We could have hired him two years before we finally ditched GDO and Hyman made his "Warchest of Credibility" comment and today we'd be looking at a nearly 20 year run that Gamecocks would talk about with similar reverence to the McGuire years.

But we didn't and we're not gonna. And the people responsible are still in charge

 

[ansoncock]

Marshall could have stayed out of trouble and won a couple of national titles and we still wouldn't have hired him.

We could have hired him two years before we finally ditched GDO and Hyman made his "Warchest of Credibility" comment and today we'd be looking at a nearly 20 year run that Gamecocks would talk about with similar reverence to the McGuire years.

But we didn't and we're not gonna. And the people responsible are still in charge

So, apparently the people in charge prefer bland mediocrity to meteoric rises, falls and incident management? I wish they would become a bit more impatient and pick someone who could demonstrate program improvement in a three year time frame. At this point in my life I don't have another 10 years of program building in me. My prescription for hopium is almost out and cannot be refilled.

I can assure you based on a quick survey of records of good coaches, there are those available who can turn around a program in a short time. Most do have baggage, however.

 

[butchrobbins]

Heard Cremona wife nixes the deal. She apparently loved Atlanta

When a man has to chose between a job and his family.....there really is no choice.

 

[Gamecockben1979]

s

Rick Pitino and Gregg Marshall??? As Eddie Fogler said to David Newton, "are you on drugs?"

We wouldn't even talk to Hugh Freeze and that is in a sport we are passionate about. Hire a coach who's fired from his last job for a massive cheating scandal, hiring hookers to turn tricks for recruits and paying a woman other than his wife to have an abortion? In a sport we don't really give a rat's ass about? You've literally taken leave of your senses. And, if we did, he wouldn't touch our job in a million years. A million years. He's 69 years old, back home and happy. Now, despite his protestations, I can't type with a straight face that he wouldn't give a long thought to Louisville or Kentucky. But that ain't happening.

As for Marshall, of course he'd take our job. He would've of always taken our job. And I've been advocating for hiring him since Dave Odom was our coach. We wouldn't even speak to him before the scandal at Wichita St. Not even give him the time of day. Now, IF the scandal hadn't happened and IF Eddie Floyd was dead, maybe we would finally wise up. But it happened and against all odds, Eddie still has a pulse. NO WAY IN THE WORLD

Now as to your K-State fetish. Yes, they are 20 spaces behind any other BIg XII in the NET. But there are 5 SEC teams, 7 ACC teams and 5 Big Ten teams lower than them. Many by over 50 spots. Several good teams are gonna lose to K-State before the season is over. Do you realize that a loss to them in Manhattan would be a Quad 1 loss? A Quad 1 loss! You do know that teams brag about Quad 1 losses to lobby to get into the tourney, don't you?

The only person on drugs would be the AD that doesn’t pick up the phone and call Pitino or Marshall. This isn’t about hiring a choir boy, it’s about hiring a coach to lead a dormant basketball program back to prominence.

Of course Pitino is going to say he’s happy in New York at Iona, but do you really think he wouldn’t jump at a chance to coach big time college basketball one last time. A chance to beat Kentucky or Louisville.

I don’t have to sell you on Marshall, which is good. Yeah in the past we have blown Marshall off, but neither party can really afford to hold a grudge at this point.

Floyd is one guy on a board. If one guy has the whole group by the pubes maybe they all need to be replaced.

I never said K State was Georgia, but again they have been labeled as the worst team in the Big 12. They play OK State soon. You seem to already be getting defensive that this game may not go the Pokes way. The Big 12 is a good conference but it’s not any better than this one. The SEC will more than hold its own in the Big 12 Challenge. Heck, Frank Martin beat the crap out of Oklahoma State last time they came to Columbia.

 

[Legendary Cock]

The only person on drugs would be the AD that doesn’t pick up the phone and call Pitino or Marshall. This isn’t about hiring a choir boy, it’s about hiring a coach to lead a dormant basketball program back to prominence.

Of course Pitino is going to say he’s happy in New York at Iona, but do you really think he wouldn’t jump at a chance to coach big time college basketball one last time. A chance to beat Kentucky or Louisville.

I don’t have to sell you on Marshall, which is good. Yeah in the past we have blown Marshall off, but neither party can really afford to hold a grudge at this point.

Floyd is one guy on a board. If one guy has the whole group by the pubes maybe they all need to be replaced.

I never said K State was Georgia, but again they have been labeled as the worst team in the Big 12. They play OK State soon. You seem to already be getting defensive that this game may not go the Pokes way. The Big 12 is a good conference but it’s not any better than this one. The SEC will more than hold its own in the Big 12 Challenge. Heck, Frank Martin beat the crap out of Oklahoma State last time they came to Columbia.

I'm not jumping in the middle of y'all's debate other than to say Marshall is the first call I would make. (And I'm hoping against hope that at least feelers have already been sent out.) As you said, it's time to set aside petty differences and do what's best for both parties. Like I said in another post, if we're really concerned about Marshall's behavior, put in a moral terpitude clause or something in the contract that allows for firing for cause -- IF he were to have any "incidents."

I would be good with Pitino, but his age concerns me. I don't want him coming in already having to fight rumors of his imminent retirement at every turn. Not to mention there's a good possibility of that actually happening fairly soon.

I'm also OK with Boynton. But he shouldn't be the first call.

 

[81 Alumnus]

When a man has to chose between a job and his family.....there really is no choice.

And that is exactly what Coach McGuire told him

 

[atl-cock]

Adams at Texas Tech came from the lower ranks. Again, Matt McMahon would deserve an interview if he desires it. His team at Murray and Belmont have dominated the OVC. I hope we get a guy that has been “clean.” Cheaters only distract from the program even when they are winning.
A proper interview will separate some. Find out who has a plan long-term, who can lay out a plan of coaching and strategies of recruiting that will work here.

Talking about is it a good job. Cremins didn’t think so, I guess. But that was a while back. Times change. I never heard why Coach Cremins reneged. Anybody have any insight on that?

Cremins thought it was a good job. Mrs. Cremins did not.

 

[atl-cock]

It's not all about record and the Big 12 is a way tougher conference than the SEC. We have a program with low local interest and forces telling our local recruits not to come here. A coach with just a good record and a couple recent wins in the tournament is not going to change that. We have tried that multiple times and where has it got us? He is 10-7 trying to motivate a roster that just got its' season ruined by being locked out of the post-season. They have rebounded in the last week to get a road win against #1 Baylor and a home win against TCU. I would keep my eye on it and see how the season plays before I just shut the man out.

I'm sure it depends to a significant degree on how a coach develops relationships with local coaches.

 

[81 Alumnus]

Cremins thought it was a good job. Mrs. Cremins did not.

It was a lot more complicated than that and had nothing to do with anyone involved in the decision thinking Cremins could win or not win at USC

 

[BattleshipTexas]

It might be too early to hire the UTEP coach but 7 to 10 years from now he will be considered an elite coach.

 

[Gamecockben1979]

I'm not jumping in the middle of y'all's debate other than to say Marshall is the first call I would make. (And I'm hoping against hope that at least feelers have already been sent out.) As you said, it's time to set aside petty differences and do what's best for both parties. Like I said in another post, if we're really concerned about Marshall's behavior, put in a moral terpitude clause or something in the contract that allows for firing for cause -- IF he were to have any "incidents."

I would be good with Pitino, but his age concerns me. I don't want him coming in already having to fight rumors of his imminent retirement at every turn. Not to mention there's a good possibility of that actually happening fairly soon.

I'm also OK with Boynton. But he shouldn't be the first call.

You’re good. A message board isn’t limited to two opinions. And you’re right that Gregg Marshall should be on the very small list of candidates we reach out to.

 

[Gamecockben1979]

Your post is very interesting. Pitino, however is 69 years old.

Gregg Marshall is accused of making war whoop sounds and telling a native American player to get back on his pony. I kid you not! Marshall has deep SC roots and could turn around the program in a couple of years. What is the downside to Gregg Marshall that I am not seeing?

I’ll acknowledge Pitino is getting up there, but this guy is a lifer. He probably has 5-7 years left and that would be more than enough time for him to turn the program around and leave it in good hands for a successor. Jim Boeheim is 77, Leonard Hamilton is 73, Coach K is 74. Granted these guys have been at their places a while, but it’s amazing how many basketball coaches are in the AARP crowd.

 

[gamecock stock]

Your post is very interesting. Pitino, however is 69 years old.

Gregg Marshall is accused of making war whoop sounds and telling a native American player to get back on his pony. I kid you not! Marshall has deep SC roots and could turn around the program in a couple of years. What is the downside to Gregg Marshall that I am not seeing?

I'd love to see us hire Gregg Marshall. He is a WINNER. He has taken mid-major teams to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, including finishing in the Final 4 one time, Sweet 16 one time and the Round of 32 four times. He has won 72% of his games, including 76% of his conference games. The great Mike Krzyzewski has won 76% of his games, including 70% of his conference games. And if we hired Marshall this year, he would be 2 years younger than the great Steve Spurrier, the greatest football coach we have ever had, when we hired him. Like I said, I'd love to see us hire Gregg Marshall. But, we won't.

 

[Bleedgarnet33]

Do you guys really think Marshall can recruit after his actions? Every program will bring up the incidents with minority players(of which most are in Div 1 hoops) and use it against him. If you think Frank doesn't recruit well, see what Marshall fresh off this drama looks like at a major conference school. He will have to go to a non power 5 and prove himself all over again. He hasn't sniffed a job since his exit.

 

[atl-cock]

It was a lot more complicated than that and had nothing to do with anyone involved in the decision thinking Cremins could win or not win at USC

Perhaps it was more complicated. But that's outside the scope of this specific Q&A: why did Cremins accept the offer then rescind a few days later.

 

[SC 95]

Serious list in no order:
1. Gregg Marshall-he’s out there and motivated to coach.
2. BJ McKie-his resume is hanging in the rafters. Been quietly grinding as an assistant.
3. Pat Kelsey—energy and enthusiasm which is much needed. Knows the state well.
4. Bob Richey—he’s done a solid job at Furman but I’m not sure it would excite the fan base.
5. Tommy Amacker-Duke connection. Could easily land him from Harvard. I think he’s done a solid job there. Runs a good clean program but may not want to leave job stability.
6. Rick Pitino—You have got to call. Love him or hate him he can coach his ass off. Gives us instant national credibility. Maybe could reinstate the NYC to USC pipeline.
7. Ritchie McKay-doing a great job at Liberty. Learned under Tony Bennett.
8. Mike Young—see if he wants to come home. Might be a lateral move, but it resets the clock and even if it didn’t work he would be about ready to retire at that point anyway.

Ritchie McKay and Brad Soucie are a package. If they leave Liberty, and I doubt they will, it will be for another Christian school.

 

[rogue cock]

I'm not jumping in the middle of y'all's debate other than to say Marshall is the first call I would make. (And I'm hoping against hope that at least feelers have already been sent out.) As you said, it's time to set aside petty differences and do what's best for both parties. Like I said in another post, if we're really concerned about Marshall's behavior, put in a moral terpitude clause or something in the contract that allows for firing for cause -- IF he were to have any "incidents."

I would be good with Pitino, but his age concerns me. I don't want him coming in already having to fight rumors of his imminent retirement at every turn. Not to mention there's a good possibility of that actually happening fairly soon.

I'm also OK with Boynton. But he shouldn't be the first call.

Completely agree.

 

[rogue cock]

Do you guys really think Marshall can recruit after his actions? Every program will bring up the incidents with minority players(of which most are in Div 1 hoops) and use it against him. If you think Frank doesn't recruit well, see what Marshall fresh off this drama looks like at a major conference school. He will have to go to a non power 5 and prove himself all over again. He hasn't sniffed a job since his exit.

Yeah, I actually believe he can. Most allegations could not be proven...and he catagorically denied them. The one regarding the comment that was criticized was against a NA player....not against an AA player. There have been no other allegations of improper comments.

And his successor Isaacs hasn't even pretended to keep up with Marshalls success at WSU. Not doing well at all this year especially.....0-4 in the AAC. Ouch.

 

[adcoop]

Do you guys really think Marshall can recruit after his actions? Every program will bring up the incidents with minority players(of which most are in Div 1 hoops) and use it against him. If you think Frank doesn't recruit well, see what Marshall fresh off this drama looks like at a major conference school. He will have to go to a non power 5 and prove himself all over again. He hasn't sniffed a job since his exit.

This is a valid point that gets conveniently overlooked when it comes to a coaching hire. I still think Marshall can be a good coach for us. However, he would have some fence mending to do immediately and he could get off to a rough start if given another chance. The accusation of striking a black player is out there. The accusation of mocking a Native-American player is out there. It would be naive to think that a minority parent involved in a decision where his/her child is going to school wouldn't be concerned with that..

 

[pepsicock]

Serious list in no order:
1. Gregg Marshall-he’s out there and motivated to coach.
2. BJ McKie-his resume is hanging in the rafters. Been quietly grinding as an assistant.
3. Pat Kelsey—energy and enthusiasm which is much needed. Knows the state well.
4. Bob Richey—he’s done a solid job at Furman but I’m not sure it would excite the fan base.
5. Tommy Amacker-Duke connection. Could easily land him from Harvard. I think he’s done a solid job there. Runs a good clean program but may not want to leave job stability.
6. Rick Pitino—You have got to call. Love him or hate him he can coach his ass off. Gives us instant national credibility. Maybe could reinstate the NYC to USC pipeline.
7. Ritchie McKay-doing a great job at Liberty. Learned under Tony Bennett.
8. Mike Young—see if he wants to come home. Might be a lateral move, but it resets the clock and even if it didn’t work he would be about ready to retire at that point anyway.

The same Gregg Marshall that was fired for hitting players and coaches at WS?

 

[adcoop]

Yeah, I actually believe he can. Most allegations could not be proven...and he catagorically denied them. The one regarding the comment that was criticized was against a NA player....not against an AA player. There have been no other allegations of improper comments.

And his successor Isaacs hasn't even pretended to keep up with Marshalls success at WSU. Not doing well at all this year especially.....0-4 in the AAC. Ouch.

Do you think most black parents are going to look at it that way though? This is not a court of law. This is the court of public opinion, and whether you agree with it or not, our relationship with the local black community is complicated at best. Inserting Marshall into all of this now would be very difficult. He would not only have some fence mending to do, but he would need to start winning rather quickly. Otherwise, he would be looked at as a typical USC hire that flames out in 4-5 years.

 

[Neanderthal]

I think Marshall can get the job done and not cause any trouble. Knew him well when he was at Winthrop and Charleston and even at the Abbey years ago. He was always amicable, level-headed, down home type of guy. Good friend to high school coaches and genuinely interested in talking the game. On a personal level, he was endearing. Haven’t seen him in 15 years. He’s from Greenwood but left in his youth. Loves our state. He has high expectations of his players and won’t tolerate any slackers. I don’t know what happened there at Wichita with a player or two, but many have overcome worse. It ain’t like he did something like Pitino did. And he has always got along with the press/media to my knowledge.

 

[adcoop]

I think Marshall can get the job done and not cause any trouble. Knew him well when he was at Winthrop and Charleston and even at the Abbey years ago. He was always amicable, level-headed, down home type of guy. Good friend to high school coaches and genuinely interested in talking the game. On a personal level, he was endearing. Haven’t seen him in 15 years. He’s from Greenwood but left in his youth. Loves our state. He has high expectations of his players and won’t tolerate any slackers. I don’t know what happened there at Wichita with a player or two, but many have overcome worse. It ain’t like he did something like Pitino did. And he has always got along with the press/media to my knowledge.

I heard it went beyond players. Supposedly punched a student over a parking spot or something. He may have survived there if he could have kept it on the practice court. I think a lot of it may have been due to the pressures of keeping it going at Wichita State. I would have been all in the Marshall Camp 10 years, even 5 years ago. However, I think we missed our moment there. He is an older coach now with some pretty troubling baggage. Personally, I think we should go younger with a coach that has history of recruiting and talent retention.

 

[CarolinaBro]

Honestly, I think this is low-key a pretty good job, much like Kentucky football is a sneaky good job. This isn't a pressure cooker environment where the coach is gonna be expected to crank out championships immediately; as a football school, this fan base is easy to please. As long as there are literally ANY signs of progress and forward momentum, folks are happy to show up at CLA (see: the women's team, which was packing out games even before we started making deep NCAAT runs and got a natty). We're also in a conference that historically is not strong in hoops and tends to only have a handful of teams a year that are competing on a national level, so there's room for upward movement as well. If you're a dormant or off-on program, it's much easier to stumble into a special season in the SEC than other leagues.

The downside, though, is that much like our football program, we are surrounded by historic powers who can pluck any and all the talent from SC that they want, and the local high schools are all too happy to keep funneling their recruits to those bluebloods. I can't say I know how you'd go about fixing that, but no question it's the biggest hurdle facing Gamecock basketball.

 

[rogue cock]

Do you think most black parents are going to look at it that way though? This is not a court of law. This is the court of public opinion, and whether you agree with it or not, our relationship with the local black community is complicated at best. Inserting Marshall into all of this now would be very difficult. He would not only have some fence mending to do, but he would need to start winning rather quickly. Otherwise, he would be looked at as a typical USC hire that flames out in 4-5 years.

No way to know one way or the other. He's coached a long time without any incident before that one.

 

[rogue cock]

I think Marshall can get the job done and not cause any trouble. Knew him well when he was at Winthrop and Charleston and even at the Abbey years ago. He was always amicable, level-headed, down home type of guy. Good friend to high school coaches and genuinely interested in talking the game. On a personal level, he was endearing. Haven’t seen him in 15 years. He’s from Greenwood but left in his youth. Loves our state. He has high expectations of his players and won’t tolerate any slackers. I don’t know what happened there at Wichita with a player or two, but many have overcome worse. It ain’t like he did something like Pitino did. And he has always got along with the press/media to my knowledge.

Completely agree.

 

[dirtydomincker1]

Steven Pearl, Bruce’s son and lead assistant. Auburn is now #1. He knows ha to “recruit”.

 

[pepsicock]

Steven Pearl, Bruce’s son and lead assistant. Auburn is now #1. He knows ha to “recruit”.

and cheat like a bitch

 

[Legendary Cock]

and cheat like a bitch

And it's working like a charm.

 

[adcoop]

Completely agree.

Urban Meyer situation waiting to happen with Gregg Marshall right now to me. Should avoid. I can see the headlines the first time Marshall gets into it with one of his Black players. USC (or South Carolina, most people in the National Media will not recognize us as USC) knew and they pulled the trigger anyway.

 

[adcoop]

No way to know one way or the other. He's coached a long time without any incident before that one.

Three pretty troubling incidents have been reported and 7 players transferred or de-committed that same year. If there was only one incident, why did multiple people leave. Seems like a festering situation that got too big to keep under wraps. With our own issues with players leaving under Frank Martin and our witnessing of at least verbally abusive behavior why on earth would we even go anywhere near that direction in a new coach.

 

[dirtydomincker1]

and cheat like a bitch

And Wll Wade is still coaching, Bruce Pearl has been caught twice, and still coaching, John Calipari? Still winnning. Sean Miller is waiting to be hired. UNC, if they haven’t gone to class in 18 years, you think they aren’t being paid? The NCAA is nothing but gums, no teeth anywhere to be found.

 

[rogue cock]

Three pretty troubling incidents have been reported and 7 players transferred or de-committed that same year. If there was only one incident, why did multiple people leave. Seems like a festering situation that got too big to keep under wraps. With our own issues with players leaving under Frank Martin and our witnessing of at least verbally abusive behavior why on earth would we even go anywhere near that direction in a new coach.

Don't know....but if there was proof of the incidents, the school wouldn't have to pay his $7+M buyout. Maybe the players left because they weren't getting playing time or because he resigned. To the best of my knowledge none have indicated a reason for them leaving.

Not saying that SC should hire him without vetting these issues.....or hire any coach without vetting them. There are quite a few successful coaches who aren't angels or saints on the court, playing for Knight or Coach K isn't a bed of roses either. But the fact is that all three are good successful coaches.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Don't know....but if there was proof of the incidents, the school wouldn't have to pay his $7+M buyout. Maybe the players left because they weren't getting playing time or because he resigned. To the best of my knowledge none have indicated a reason for them leaving.

Not saying that SC should hire him without vetting these issues.....or hire any coach without vetting them. There are quite a few successful coaches who aren't angels or saints on the court, playing for Knight or Coach K isn't a bed of roses either. But the fact is that all three are good successful coaches.

This is my thought as well. If he hit a student for a parking space - he would have been gone that day. With zero buyout. Unfortunately the “media” that covers sports are allowed to write any rumor from any “unnamed source” they want. And they do it with impunity.

I also look at it this way - when is the safest time to fly? Right after a plane crash! When is the best time to hire a coach accused of abuse? Right after he had to resign from another school for abuse allegations!

 

[gamecock stock]

If Martin is to be gone, I certainly would at least check out Marshall. His record is too good not to. Mens basketball, except for that one run to the Final Four, has been consistently stuck in mediocrity for decades. It's time for a change. It's time to get serious about winning big in Mens basketball.