MBB: 2019 Coaching Carousel

[JasonEvans]

Jason McIntyre says UCLA might fire Alford TODAY!!

https://twitter.com/jasonrmcintyre/s...59313502941184

I mean, I know Alford is on a hot seat. Actually, I say he is on a warm seat, as in he is keeping it warm for the next coach.

[burnspbesq]

Jason McIntyre says UCLA might fire Alford TODAY!!

https://twitter.com/jasonrmcintyre/s...59313502941184

I mean, I know Alford is on a hot seat. Actually, I say he is on a warm seat, as in he is keeping it warm for the next coach.

Guerrero makes Joe Alleva look good by comparison. Hard to imagine who he might come up with on an interim basis, although Jose Mourinho is available.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

Guerrero makes Joe Alleva look good by comparison. Hard to imagine who he might come up with on an interim basis, although Jose Mourinho is available.

Maybe they can tempt Andy Enfield to move across town from USC (just kidding).

I remember when UCLA hired Alford...same off season USC hired Enfield from Dunk City. Lot of UCLA folks thought they were hiring "to the past" and USC was hiring "into the future." Neither coach has worked out very well. And that surprises me with Enfield...I thought Dunk City would really work great at USC.

[du_bb1]

I hear Larry Brown is available...

[jimsumner]

I hear Larry Brown is available...

He is. He just got fired for the 83rd time.

[lotusland]

The front page article mentioned Cal as a candidate for UCLA but I couldn’t help thinking he’d be a better fit with the Lakers who seemingly need a player first guy with a strong personality to manage egos with Lebron, Lonzo and LaVar than an X and O guy. Also I’m sure Greg Marshall would listen but it doesn’t seem like a great fit to me. Marshall is more of a big fish/small pond guy from what I know. What about Hurley?

[TKG]

ESPN reporting Alford has been fired.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas...l-start-season

[HereBeforeCoachK]

The front page article mentioned Cal as a candidate for UCLA but I couldn’t help thinking he’d be a better fit with the Lakers who seemingly need a player first guy with a strong personality to manage egos with Lebron, Lonzo and LaVar than an X and O guy. Also I’m sure Greg Marshall would listen but it doesn’t seem like a great fit to me. Marshall is more of a big fish/small pond guy from what I know. What about Hurley?

Interesting: I'm not sure I see Marshall as a good fit for LA...though the man can flat out coach clearly...and Cal seems a bit bored at UK now, so who knows. There is speculation around Musselman at Nevada, and that seems like a good hire for UCLA IMO.

And, adding to the pressure, while Andy Enfield hasn't done very well at USC, he has a recruiting class rated #1 by some services coming in. UCLA is not happy when Southern Cal is better than them in hoops...

[subzero02]

The front page article mentioned Cal as a candidate for UCLA but I couldn’t help thinking he’d be a better fit with the Lakers who seemingly need a player first guy with a strong personality to manage egos with Lebron, Lonzo and LaVar than an X and O guy. Also I’m sure Greg Marshall would listen but it doesn’t seem like a great fit to me. Marshall is more of a big fish/small pond guy from what I know. What about Hurley?

I think Wojo will be a strong consideration... maybe Bruce Pearl too.

[JasonEvans]

UCLA is a big big big time job. Anybody who is a hot name is going to get mentioned and is a possibility. I agree with others that Calipari may be ready for a change of scenery.

ESPN is touting Fred Hoiberg, who is free now after being fired by the Bulls. His style of offensive basketball and his connections to the NBA would make him an effective recruiter, and he could step in right away. If UCLA waits until the end of the year, I think Kevin Keats could be in the conversation. There is a lot of buzz about what he has done in a short time at NC State. Musselman at Nevada has to be a strong contender.

ESPN also talking about Jamie Dixon at TCU and Tony Bennett... but why would Bennett leave a Hall of Fame in the making career at Virginia for what could be an uncertain future at UCLA?

-Jason "if the search lasts until the end of the season, a lot of guys are going to get big raises after UCLA 'expresses interest' in them" Evans

[lotusland]

UCLA is a big big big time job. Anybody who is a hot name is going to get mentioned and is a possibility. I agree with others that Calipari may be ready for a change of scenery.

ESPN is touting Fred Hoiberg, who is free now after being fired by the Bulls. His style of offensive basketball and his connections to the NBA would make him an effective recruiter, and he could step in right away. If UCLA waits until the end of the year, I think Kevin Keats could be in the conversation. There is a lot of buzz about what he has done in a short time at NC State. Musselman at Nevada has to be a strong contender.

ESPN also talking about Jamie Dixon at TCU and Tony Bennett... but why would Bennett leave a Hall of Fame in the making career at Virginia for what could be an uncertain future at UCLA?

-Jason "if the search lasts until the end of the season, a lot of guys are going to get big raises after UCLA 'expresses interest' in them" Evans

Is it a big time job? They are a crappy team in a crappy conference in a pro market and they haven’t attracted a big time coach in a long time. There just doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm around the program. Marquette, DePaul and San Francisco were blue bloods in the day but, at some point, you take a step down. I guess they can open the bank but, otherwise, the job doesn’t seem that great to me.

[JasonEvans]

Is it a big time job? They are a crappy team in a crappy conference in a pro market and they haven’t attracted a big time coach in a long time. There just doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm around the program. Marquette, DePaul and San Francisco were blue bloods in the day but, at some point, you take a step down. I guess they can open the bank but, otherwise, the job doesn’t seem that great to me.

1) They may be a crappy team but they have incredible talent and seem to consistently get McDonald's All-Americans. A good coach would see a ton of potential there.
2) They have a lot of money and would be able to off a raise, probably a significant one, to any coach they went after.
3) They are in the 2nd largest media market in the country and the center of the entertainment industry. If you win at UCLA, you can do some big things in the endorsement/entertainment world.
4) Their tradition is up there with the biggest programs of all time.
5) The gorgeous campus and SoCal location are an easy sell to recruits as well as to a coach's family if you are asking them to move.

-Jason "when UCLA hires their next coach, I think you will see what a big time job it is... they will get someone significant" Evans

[UrinalCake]

I remember when UCLA hired Alford...same off season USC hired Enfield from Dunk City. Lot of UCLA folks thought they were hiring "to the past" and USC was hiring "into the future." Neither coach has worked out very well.

Meanwhile the guy that UCLA fired - Ben Howland - has Mississippi State in the top 25. I kinda feel like teams fire their coaches without consideration for who they can get to replace him and whether that would actually be an upgrade.

[lotusland]

1) They may be a crappy team but they have incredible talent and seem to consistently get McDonald's All-Americans. A good coach would see a ton of potential there.
2) They have a lot of money and would be able to off a raise, probably a significant one, to any coach they went after.
3) They are in the 2nd largest media market in the country and the center of the entertainment industry. If you win at UCLA, you can do some big things in the endorsement/entertainment world.
4) Their tradition is up there with the biggest programs of all time.
5) The gorgeous campus and SoCal location are an easy sell to recruits as well as to a coach's family if you are asking them to move.

-Jason "when UCLA hires their next coach, I think you will see what a big time job it is... they will get someone significant" Evans

But all those things have been true forever. Why is this time different? And who would be “significant “? Was Alford significant? I think Cal is significant and Marshall is significant. An Unemployed NBA coach, a retread or an up and comers wouldn’t surprise or impress me and, imo, they’d be just as likely to be back in the same place in 3-years as back to a championship contender.

[UrinalCake]

^ also, to counter Jason’s points:

1.) The arena is apart from the main campus and student support isn’t always great
2.) you’re competing with a miillion other sports teams and entertainment options
3.) fan expectations are completely out of whack
4.) cost of living is exhorbitant
5.) LA traffic - enough said

[SoCalDukeFan]

Maybe they can tempt Andy Enfield to move across town from USC (just kidding).

I remember when UCLA hired Alford...same off season USC hired Enfield from Dunk City. Lot of UCLA folks thought they were hiring "to the past" and USC was hiring "into the future." Neither coach has worked out very well. And that surprises me with Enfield...I thought Dunk City would really work great at USC.

I think Enfield is still a work in progress at USC. USC is a football school. The support for basketball from fans is just not there. Many many people i n LA are USC football fans but have no connection to the school. They are not USC basketball fans. Neither are many students and alumni.

The Pac 12 has become a second rate conference in football and men's basketball. Still trying to figure out why but the results speak for themselves. Big problem is a bad and way over paid commissioner, bad TV situation, and less money going back to the schools than the other Power 5 conferences. More concerned about equality for Oregon State and Washington State then superiority for the top teams. But Oregon certainly has money, as does UCLA so things may improve.

UCLA was able to hire Chip Kelly for football so I think they can hire a bball coach who is in demand. They were pretty good with Ben Howland but the fans did not like his style, so I don't see Jamie Dixon.

I hope they hire Bill Walton so I don't have to listen to him on TV telecasts.

SoCal

[OldPhiKap]

I don’t see Bennett at UCLA. He has a really good gig now, and his style of play ain’t exactly “Show Time.” Don’t think it would fly out there.

Cal may feign interest to up his contract, but I doubt much else.

Nevada is this year’s flavor, I’m guessing that is where UCLA poaches.

[lotusland]

Quinn Snyder has LA hair and seems like Utah is in a mediocre holding pattern. Sometimes it’s better to leave before you’re escorted out.

[BD80]

1) They may be a crappy team but they have incredible talent and seem to consistently get McDonald's All-Americans. A good coach would see a ton of potential there.
2) They have a lot of money and would be able to off a raise, probably a significant one, to any coach they went after.
3) They are in the 2nd largest media market in the country and the center of the entertainment industry. If you win at UCLA, you can do some big things in the endorsement/entertainment world.
4) Their tradition is up there with the biggest programs of all time.
5) The gorgeous campus and SoCal location are an easy sell to recruits as well as to a coach's family if you are asking them to move.

-Jason "when UCLA hires their next coach, I think you will see what a big time job it is... they will get someone significant" Evans

It is a position for a coach with ambition.

Do they have private funds available from a booster club like a USC or Kentucky?

For a coach like Calipari, the UCLA job could be a stepping stone to the Lakers coaching job.

I love thinking about the reaction of the Big Blue nation if cal were to leave for another college job, the implication being that a different college coaching gig is better than the UK coaching position. Priceless.

[Devil2]

^ also, to counter Jason’s points:

1.) The arena is apart from the main campus and student support isn’t always great
2.) you’re competing with a miillion other sports teams and entertainment options
3.) fan expectations are completely out of whack
4.) cost of living is exhorbitant
5.) LA traffic - enough said

Pauley Pavillion is right on the main campus. It is closer to the dorms than the dorms are to the classroom buildings