When you have a school adminstrator who fancies themselves to be a basketball expert…well, what could possibly go wrong?
If history is a guide, look no further than the Allen Van Winkle hire.
Yep. Leave it to SIU administration to eff this up, no matter how it ends.
Things could always be better, no doubt. But they could also be worse. And why do we have an Athletic Director again?
March on triumphantly!
When you have a school adminstrator who fancies themselves to be a basketball expert…well, what could possibly go wrong?
If history is a guide, look no further than the Allen Van Winkle hire.
I always heard it was the school president, Albert Somit (he of the handlebar mustache) who chose Van Winkle. Regardless of who chose him (and in any case it wasn't Sayers, the AD), it was a horrible miss. And it was the same deal with Gottfried. His interview blew away the administration, including the president (once again, Sayers' involvement was minimal). But, as is the case all too often, a great job interview translated into poor performance.
Part of my reasoning for another year would be to let Jerrance cook.
Maybe the administration knows something we don’t?
What if Jerrance sticks around for the guy they pick as his associate head coach? Jerrance always felt like a hire coming from up top rather than from Mullins to begin with.
Jerrance Howard had lots of connections to Bryan Mullins and his family. They knew each other well prior to his being hired. Howard was hardly forced on Mullins if that is what you are inferring. Mullins was probably directly involved.Part of my reasoning for another year would be to let Jerrance cook.
Maybe the administration knows something we don’t?
What if Jerrance sticks around for the guy they pick as his associate head coach? Jerrance always felt like a hire coming from up top rather than from Mullins to begin with.
It was a vice president who had been president of the community college where Van Winkle had coached. He knew zilch about basketball. Also failed to note that Van Winkle was on staff at SW Louisiana when they were hit with NCAA sanctions for cheating. Then to West Texas State…also hit with NCAA sanctions. And his tenure at SIU ended with, you guessed it, NCAA sanctions. Perhaps the only school ever to cheat and still not win.
- When you have a school adminstrator who fancies themselves to be a basketball expert…well, what could possibly go wrong?
If history is a guide, look no further than the Allen Van Winkle hire.
To me this is the big issue and a red flag for a leader. As the Chancellor, you hire an AD to do the job of running athletics and you let him do his damn job. If you are getting this involved and overruling your guys, you either hired the wrong guy to begin with (b/c you don't trust him to make the right decision...and Lane was the one who hired him) or you are a bad leader/micromanager who doesn't let his employees do the job they were hired to do. Either answer sucks and if I were the AD, I'd be looking to go elsewhere.
The following comments are based on my assumption as to who the possible new HC is. SIU is "my school", however, I am also an alumnus of Virginia Tech and I follow their program some. If I my presumption is correct, this guy has been primarily a defensive coach. A bit concerning but could be alright if his attitude is not that defense is first and all other aspects of the game are afterthoughts. Of course, if he would hire a good, experienced offensive minded assistant...and listen to him...it could work out. He does, for sure, have a good rep as a recruiter. That, in it self, would be a step up.Jerrance Howard had lots of connections to Bryan Mullins and his family. They knew each other well prior to his being hired. Howard was hardly forced on Mullins if that is what you are inferring. Mullins was probably directly involved.Part of my reasoning for another year would be to let Jerrance cook.
Maybe the administration knows something we don’t?
What if Jerrance sticks around for the guy they pick as his associate head coach? Jerrance always felt like a hire coming from up top rather than from Mullins to begin with.
First, I am hoping this is all a mistake and Coach Mullins and staff will be back with an extension.
If that is not the case, my first question would be in replacing Coach Mullins is what are we looking for? If it is a top-notch recruiter with experience in winning programs, do we not have that already with Jerrance Howard? The programs Howard has worked in and the coaches he has worked with are far better than the A&M coach we are supposedly interested in.
As a lifelong St. Louis Blues fan, I have seen many coaches come and go. Sadly, four of those coaches won a combined 17 Stanley Cups after they were fired by the Blues. I hope I don’t have to see that type of scenario with Bryan Mullins, although I will root for him wherever he goes except if he is playing SIU.
Allen VanWinkle was hired by Bruce Swinburne. He was the VP over athletics at the time and he then tried to keep him when he was under fire. Van Winkle misrepresented that he had an offer from a FLA D 1 school and was trying to leverage SIU. It wasn't true. In the end Stafford Stephenson took the fall for Van Winkle. There were other casualties in that mess including Lew Hatrzog and George Iubelt, through no fault of their own. Ultimately Van Winkle lost his job.
I certainly have no idea which direction the university will go. I must say there have been many valid points mentioned regarding the pros and cons of Coach Mullins. Similar to when Coach Lowery was let go, I am once again torn, and feeling those same emotions 12 years later. It needed to take place, and should have a few years before it actually transpired. I truly understand all of our frustration with this program. 16 years since any kind of post - season is both sad, and frustrating. For perspective, many basketball tradition rich programs such as DePaul, Georgetown, UMass, Stanford, etc. have witnessed droughts as well. I am sure there are plenty more examples that others can name. It happens to the fortunate, as well as less fortunate. I like Bryan and all of what he stands for. His players have been outstanding students, and citizens. The culture built has been note worthy. SIU and Jerry Kill rolled the dice on a 32 year old kid, with zero head coaching experience. The lack of experience, knowledge, and willing to adjust and or modify, have been areas of concern.
If an extension is offered, there must be stipulations addressed in new contract that will be improved upon. i e Recruitment, offense, in game adjustments etc. Perhaps the hiring of an assistant coach with prior head coaching to sit on the bench would improve outcomes?
Lastly, some folks are saying that Mr. Howard will stay on and be promoted when and if this new coach arrives. If this is true, perhaps the current staff did not hire coach Howard, and the scenario playing out was pre-determined? Setting a person up for failure, and then looking to move on to something better is quite poor and cold blooded. No inside information, but this certainly could be true.
Business world can be cutthroat. College athletics is a close second.
Allen VanWinkle was hired by Bruce Swinburne. He was the VP over athletics at the time and he then tried to keep him when he was under fire. Van Winkle misrepresented that he had an offer from a FLA D 1 school and was trying to leverage SIU. It wasn't true. In the end Stafford Stephenson took the fall for Van Winkle. There were other casualties in that mess including Lew Hatrzog and George Iubelt, through no fault of their own. Ultimately Van Winkle lost his job.
Quite sure one of the reasons Van Winkle was hired was that he was the coach of a nationally ranked JC team in Michigan with lots of talent. The idea was that the talent would come with him.... similar to Nolan Richardson who came to Tulsa from a JC National Championship team and immediately won the NIT.
I heard from a former staff member (not asst coach) that Kyle was still interested in coming back. Take that info as you wish though. Any one heard any rumors about that?
I heard from a former staff member (not asst coach) that Kyle was still interested in coming back. Take that info as you wish though. Any one heard any rumors about that?
May be out of a job - Mizzou is awful this year - 0 - 17 in the SEC.
Allen VanWinkle was hired by Bruce Swinburne. He was the VP over athletics at the time and he then tried to keep him when he was under fire. Van Winkle misrepresented that he had an offer from a FLA D 1 school and was trying to leverage SIU. It wasn't true. In the end Stafford Stephenson took the fall for Van Winkle. There were other casualties in that mess including Lew Hatrzog and George Iubelt, through no fault of their own. Ultimately Van Winkle lost his job.
Quite sure one of the reasons Van Winkle was hired was that he was the coach of a nationally ranked JC team in Michigan with lots of talent. The idea was that the talent would come with him.... similar to Nolan Richardson who came to Tulsa from a JC National Championship team and immediately won the NIT.
That was the JC where Swinburne had been. And yes, Van Winkle told people on the committee those top players were part of his package he would be bringing to SIU. Turned out not to be true.
