After listening to the two Leonard interviews I feel much better about the process applied to the decision to release Bryan, unfortunate as it is for all involved.
Likewise, I feel much more comfortable with how Leonard plans to look for the next head coach, his requirements for consideration of the next head coach, and his expectations for the new head coach.
If Leonard is not a BS artist - and I have no reason to believe he is based on his candid straightforward views expressed in these interviews - then he should be picking up his phone and dialing McCollum's number ASAP. Especially since MSU just fired Ford.
Second thought about the interviews. Leonard mentioned they are deep-pocketed people in the SIU community who were not happy with the recent results. I hope now that he has taken steps to address one of their issues he has them all committed to ponying-up big bucks to build out a practice facility and all the other physical amenities we supposedly need (wrt Reis' comments) and at minimum continue to pay our next HC ~$500K (or more...) and commensurate salaries for a top-tier assistants staff. And these donations and contributions should be of the six-digit minimum nature and more like 7-digit figures individually and collectively. (Easy for me to type...)
Go Dawgs!
https://twitter.com/low_madness/status/1766837161549004862?s=46&t=7s0hTttieSER8wqRSA0LoA
Corey Gipson is an interesting choice. He’s done okay at Austin Peay.
I'm skeptical of Gipson but open to the idea: didn't he simply just take 3 fairly solid MVC-level players with him to lower levels (NW State and AP) and find success?
I think my slight issue with Gipson is he took players with him from Missouri State to NW State and those same players to Austin Peay. We don’t know how good he is once that well dries up.
Well, Gipson did beat us a few months ago when we blew a second-half lead. I guess that if we can't beat him, we can always "join" him.
Seriously, I'm not enthused about McCollum possibly winding up at Missouri State. I've always considered that program the MVC's sleeping giant, and he looks like he could have what it takes to turn it around.
- If you could pry him away from Toledo which would mean opening up a lot of donors wallets I would take Kowalczyk because he checks all the boxes Leonard mentioned as the others don't quite measure up
I need to read up more on them, but at first glance, Spradlin, Calhoun, and McCollum all look like great candidates to me. Quite a bit better than some of the other names I’ve seen thrown out.
I was curious about salaries.
Looks like Spradlin received a contract extension from Morehead State after last season that puts him around 260K.
Calhoun received an extension in 2002 that put him at 300K.
And McCollum is reported to be making around 275K at Northwest Missouri.
SIU could give each of them a healthy bump in salary.
I'm not sold on Spradlin or Calhoun; they seem like they could be very good coaches for SIU but McCollum's track record and personality seem to me it would more likely translate to the success that Leonard expects and the deep pockets want at SIU, more so than the other two guys.
And even less impressed by the Gipson name being raised on here too.
Go Dawgs!
3 openings in the MVC now
Any chance Bruce Weber has any interest?
3 openings in the MVC now
Lord forgive me for posting this, but ... Bryan to UIC?
3 openings in the MVC now
Lord forgive me for posting this, but ... Bryan to UIC?
I was wondering the same thing.
Reis is on X saying the same.
Bruce is 67 and will turn 68 right before the season starts. He might be interested but will schools be interested.
3 openings in the MVC now
Lord forgive me for posting this, but ... Bryan to UIC?
I was wondering the same thing.
Nightmare scenario if he takes that job…
3 openings in the MVC now
Lord forgive me for posting this, but ... Bryan to UIC?
I was wondering the same thing.
Nightmare scenario if he takes that job…
How is this a nightmare scenario? Mullins isn't John Wooden. The only bad thing is Mullins might actually be able to take advantage of his father running one of the best AAU programs in the state, something he couldn't do at SIU.
Bruce is 67 and will turn 68 right before the season starts. He might be interested but will schools be interested.
Handful of successful coaches 65 or older. Patino just got hired at 71. How would those deep pocketed donors feel about that hire? 5 year solution getting us back to the promise land, with replacement learning under him?
