Jeff Capel...future Duke coach?

[freedevil]

I think Dawkins would and should be the logical choice. He was K's first big time recruit, he knows the ins and outs of the University (having been a student) and in terms of attracting recruits, he's played in the NBA. That's a bigger deal than people might think.

As far as Capel's concerned, unless South Carolina was willing to pay him a lot more money, I have no idea why he would even consider going there and I'm glad he stayed at OU. He's in a better conference and a much better program. OU went to the Final Four under Kelvin Sampson earlier this decade and they make the tournament most every year. Again, I think Capel made the right choice.

I agree with everything here 100%. We were disagreeing earlier, so I thought I just had to point this out to all of you other posters - who I'm sure cared.

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

My money is on Wojo being K's successor.

Best regards,
Jeffrey

Hi,

Do I still stand alone, with my fearless forecast, given Johnny's departure?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

[Carlos]

I don't know about alone, but I don't agree with you. Frankly, Dawkins' departure is more of an indication that he would be the successor than it would be someone else. Anyone who becomes the Duke HC after K would need to have some experience running a program.

[Surfsideron]

I believe that Dawkins taking the Stanford job is a signal that Coach K will be stepping down within 5 years. He probably encouraged Dawkins to take the Stanford job because the two schools are similar in academic standards, the type of players they recruit and the schedules they play.

It is good preparation for Dawkins to return. I think he will install Duke type defense and offensive schemes at Stanford and be ready to return in 2012.

Just my opinion.

[Jeffrey]

Anyone who becomes the Duke HC after K would need to have some experience running a program.

Hi Carlos,

Doesn't that view contradict, the previous opinion of many, that Dawkins was already the heir apparent?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

[Charles Wicker]

a different type show than K. I also don't know if he could be a "Duke" coach as other posters posit. It takes a certain "type" to coach here, and quite frankly, I'm not even sure that Cape would want to step into those shoes. This discussion is highly premature, but a more pertinent question is; is Duke ready for an African American Head Basketball Coach, not under the apprenticeship of K?

[Jarhead]

I believe that Dawkins taking the Stanford job is a signal that Coach K will be stepping down within 5 years. He probably encouraged Dawkins to take the Stanford job because the two schools are similar in academic standards, the type of players they recruit and the schedules they play.

It is good preparation for Dawkins to return. I think he will install Duke type defense and offensive schemes at Stanford and be ready to return in 2012.

Just my opinion.

Looking ahead, I see no reason to assume that anyone is a lock for K's job. If Dawkins is still coaching at Stanford when K retires, he will have been considered a success there. That's 10 years down the road. He'll be in his fifties, and looking forward to his own retirement. Capel may have been at OK for 12 years if he is successful there, and he'll be in his forties. Would he really be interested in a move, even to Duke? That would depend on the degree of his success. I think that there are too many potential candidates for us to be saying any one is a lock. The guy we would want may be still playing in the NBA, or at Duke, or somewhere else. Let's see who we get as AD, but even that choice will give us no clue on K's replacement, only a hint of how he/she thinks about recruiting coaches.

[Stray Gator]

Hi Carlos,

Doesn't that view contradict, the previous opinion of many, that Dawkins was already the heir apparent?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

I'm not Carlos and I don't mean to speak for him. But to address your question, I think it's widely accepted, and Coach K has hinted, that Johnny Dawkins is K's personal choice to take over as Duke's head coach when K retires. While generally supporting that plan, some Duke fans have expressed the view that even though JD is a fine choice, he might be better prepared and better qualified to succeed K if he could acquire some head coaching experience first. Thus, although I think K and most Duke supporters would have been satisfied to see JD succeed K even if JD had remained as the Associate Head Coach at Duke until K's retirement, the opening at Stanford provides a fortuitous opportunity for JD to get the head coaching experience at a program that is comparable in many respects. In short, there's no contradiction or inconsistency as I see it.

[JasonEvans]

This discussion is highly premature, but a more pertinent question is; is Duke ready for an African American Head Basketball Coach, not under the apprenticeship of K?

Have you seen or heard anything that would give you the impression that Duke is not? Do you see some latent racism in the organization or athletic department or on campus that would lead you to think that Duke would have problems with an African-American running the program?

--Jason "what a silly question to ask" Evans

[Indoor66]

The last heir apparent we had at Duke was Vic Bubas' successor, Bucky Waters. Bucky left the Duke staff and became head coach at West VA. When Vic retired Bucky came back to Duke. Much as I love Bucky as a friend, he did not do well coaching at Duke, to say the least.

Personally I do not care for the concept of anointed ones. When K retires (I hope after 8 or 10 years) it would be prudent to have a quality search committee look at available talent, to include appropriate individuals with Duke ties, and recommend the best to the AD and Administration. IMO we should not narrow our thinking to individuals far in advance of the decision.

[duke74]

I'm not Carlos and I don't mean to speak for him. But to address your question, I think it's widely accepted, and Coach K has hinted, that Johnny Dawkins is K's personal choice to take over as Duke's head coach when K retires. While generally supporting that plan, some Duke fans have expressed the view that even though JD is a fine choice, he might be better prepared and better qualified to succeed K if he could acquire some head coaching experience first. Thus, although I think K and most Duke supporters would have been satisfied to see JD succeed K even if JD had remained as the Associate Head Coach at Duke until K's retirement, the opening at Stanford provides a fortuitous opportunity for JD to get the head coaching experience at a program that is comparable in many respects. In short, there's no contradiction or inconsistency as I see it.

Good response. I do wonder, however, what Stanford must be thinking if this is the logic - that they are the "minor leagues" for JD coaching experience, awaiting his "call-up" to Duke? (emphasis added above)

I know we're years away, but Stanford MUST have been considering this when deciding on JD.

[sagegrouse]

aThis discussion is highly premature, but a more pertinent question is; is Duke ready for an African American Head Basketball Coach, not under the apprenticeship of K?

Perhaps I am misunderstanding what you are saying, but this can be read as being offensive to Duke University, the DBR, and the participants in the Forum. "Pertinent" to whom? The KK whatever?

sagegrouse

[Jeffrey]

I'm not Carlos and I don't mean to speak for him...

In short, there's no contradiction or inconsistency as I see it.

Hi SG,

I hope Carlos responds, because I disagree with your conclusion and would love to hear his perspective.

How could JD have already been the heir apparent, if

Anyone who becomes the Duke HC after K would need to have some experience running a program.

?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

[Charles Wicker]

not meaning to be offensive, just thought it was interesting considering the topic concerning Cape as next HC. The initial thought, was that Johnny and Jeff are two different coaches. Granted, JD has never been a HC, but he has been under K's apprenticeship longer, which would indicate more of the K philosophy. Cape on the other hand, has more of an ecclectic coaching background, being that he's coached at three schools, played for coach K, grew up in NC, and undoubtedly learned alot from his father who's coached at just about every level of basketball there is. DI and DII.

Honestly, not trying to stir anything, just curious.

[duke74]

Hi SG,

I hope Carlos responds, because I disagree with your conclusion and would love to hear his perspective.

How could JD have already been the heir apparent, if

?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

...unless the assumption all along was that JD would get the requisite experience and then return. That's the reconciliation in my eyes, FWIW.

[SupaDave]

I mean - has Duke ever had a Phillipino head coach in any sport? LOL! It doesn't matter! Just ask Mississippi State...

[Jeffrey]

...unless the assumption all along was that JD would get the requisite experience and then return. That's the reconciliation in my eyes, FWIW.

Hi,

If that was the case, then why was DBR surprised?

Also, why would DBR's response be, "It doesn’t make sense to us, but then again, it’s not our career: ESPN says Johnny Dawkins has accepted the Stanford job."?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

[duke74]

Hi,

If that was the case, then why was DBR surprised?

Also, why would DBR's response be, "It doesn’t make sense to us, but then again, it’s not our career: ESPN says Johnny Dawkins has accepted the Stanford job."?

Best regards,
Jeffrey

Jeffrey,

I can't answer for DBR, nor was I trying to explain their position/argument. I was just taking a step back and trying to reconcile positions.

Perhaps, while this logic may make sense, DBR was still surprised that JD "left the nest"? Like when your son/daughter moves out. Totally expected but still traumatic?

Cheers

[BD80]

How could JD have already been the heir apparent, if

Originally Posted by Carlos
Anyone who becomes the Duke HC after K would need to have some experience running a program.

Best regards,
Jeffrey

Isn't it just SO obvious?

Coach K sent his boy Joe Alleva to LSU to hire Johnson away from Stanford so that Johnny could get the Stanford job, a job Coach K believes is an appropriate training ground for his successor.

Does this mean you haven't heard about Coach K's dealings with Sprint to get Jeff the Oklahoma job?

[Hot Route]

People close to the program generally agree that Dawkins is the guy K think should take over when he is done. However, while K will have a strong say in the matter, he will not make the final decision about who succeeds him.

Additionally, such a decision is likely something like a decade away, perhaps more. Speculation at this time is sorta silly.

--Jason "then again, silly speculation has never stopped us in the past" Evans

Jason, I don't necessarily believe that we are a decade away from K's retiring. I have a feeling we may be less than 5 years away. He will be turning (or may already be) 62. I don't know if he wants to coach until he's 70 or older.