Assistant Coach Suggestion

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Calhoun is advising Pikiell. He stated that you need a recruiter, an X's and O's guy and a guy that can develop players.

This guy was coached by Calhoun and is a former teammate of Pikiell........ Donyell Marshall, currently an assistant coach at Buffalo.

UB assistant and former NBA standout Donyell Marshall has 'the answer'.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-donyell-marshall-reading-20160211-story.html

 

[PatrickRU92]

Its not a bad idea really.

We need someone with some serious recruiting chops though. Not sure how Marshall is with that but he's young relatively and was a big time blue chipper himself

 

[LFBall]

Craig Carter!!!! This guy did a great job but was held so back by a previous HC you had. He had opened so many doors in NYC, Conn, and other places that many did not even know about. He is respected and adored in NYC and Jersey by many AAU and HS coaches. He would be a great 3rd Assistant.

Since the Coach Pikiell is already a good X and O guy and defense Guy he needs serious recruiting and hard working Assistants. A few that comes to my mind are past UConn assistants. One was at Creighton two seasons ago and now somewhere else.

Whoever he chooses need to be ready, willing and able to get into the trenches to get it done.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Craig Carter was supposed to be the key to landing a big name recruit some years ago that he had a close connection with, but, I think the recruit went to West Virginia.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

What is he doing now?

 

[MCKnight]

Darren Savino, Book Richardson...but really it comes down to do we have the money to pay assistants? Back to support from administration, is it really there? Top associate coaches and shark recruiters make 400-500K ballpark....Kenny Payne at Kentucky is at 700K

 

[B1GNJHoops]

Carter was at Cornell this season, but they just fired the HC.

I'd be on board with Carter.

But I'd understand if Pikiell wants a clean break from previous regimes.

Devin Ebanks was the West Virginia recruit.

 

[RU82]

Ah, yes. Devin Ebanks.

Lost him to Indiana first, then to WVU.

 

[BKIn118]

Marshall interviewed with Jordan back in the day...

 

[LFBall]

Craig had Ebanks and I know this for a fact because I know the Dad and others who were around him. It seems they did not appreciate the approach or lack of approach from um, ah, oh, um other people at RU. They were all in with Craig but he was not the head coach. I have so many other similar stories. This Book Richardson stuff is so funny. Guy was Gauchos head guy at a young age and I often wonder whats his claim to fame. I sure have not seen many NY or NJ area kids minus the kid from Chester Pa. head out to Arizona. I also always look at where coaches sit on a bench to understand importance to program. Craig was never accepted or appreciated with those on board scared of who he was based on his RU, and NYC connections. He was even told not to speak to certain people by paranoid coaches. Trust me he would be perfect for the 3rd Spot! By the way Shayle Keating would also be great but he makes too much money based on a great education from Rutgers College (smile). But I would love to see eeither JR Inman, Anthony Farmer, or the Griffin kid be considered for Asst. Director of BB Operations. Its the least RU can do based on the loyalty they gave attending RU and the way it all turned out!

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Carter was at Cornell this season, but they just fired the HC.

I'd be on board with Carter.

But I'd understand if Pikiell wants a clean break from previous regimes.

Devin Ebanks was the West Virginia recruit.

Yes, Devin Ebanks......that slimy guy Huggins came in and stole him.

Ebanks was another guy in a very long list of near misses on big time recruits going back 25 years.

 

[78CollegeAve]

Craig Carter? Wow, someone would want to bring back CC or anyone else who failed at Rutgers with a previous staff? Bring back whoever recruited FIGG, huh?

I like the Ash model except instead of Mantz upstairs you need the local guy on the bench, at AAU games and in NJ living rooms. New blood instead of retreads, please.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

By the way Shayle Keating would also be great but he makes too much money based on a great education from Rutgers College (smile)

The over won on how many posts until Shayle was mentioned.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Rutgers needs to abandon provincial thinking. We are a Big Ten program. Hire people with real credentials who have climbed the profession with increasing responsibility and success. One basic question when it comes to credentials ... Would any other Big Ten program give the candidate an interview for the same opening on their staff?

 

[NBKnight]

Rutgers needs to abandon provincial thinking. We are a Big Ten program. Hire people with real credentials who have climbed the profession with increasing responsibility and success. One basic question when it comes to credentials ... Would any other Big Ten program give the candidate an interview for the same opening on their staff?

The hiring process is a two way street.

 

[RBNY87]

Craig Carter? Wow, someone would want to bring back CC or anyone else who failed at Rutgers with a previous staff? Bring back whoever recruited FIGG, huh?

I like the Ash model except instead of Mantz upstairs you need the local guy on the bench, at AAU games and in NJ living rooms. New blood instead of retreads, please.

Craig did just fine when he coached under Fran McCaffery. He also was the favorite coach for Tobias Harris. I doubt he will be in mix but he is a good recruiter with ties to both Jersey and NYC. I keep thinking Pickiell is going to bring his long time assistants with him

 

[RUMBA-JK]

There are lots & lots of interesting names - but more than anything, I want to see a well co-ordinated staff that simply gets done what needs to be done.

Much like Ash - a major key word will probably be 'alignment' - and if Pikiell is doing a total make-over (he is) then I'm all for him selecting the guys that he sees as the most talented and that he can live with 24 hours a day - 7 days a week - 52 weeks a year for as long as it takes.

This is all very subjective - but it would seem that the ability to work in a synchronized compatible way is even more important on a basketball team than on football - in a football program you can survive & sometimes do well with a volatile/dramatic coordinator / assistant coach who might have some friction/ differences with the HC - they can stay out of each others way and can find a way to collaborate for the good of the team - Basketball might be a bit tougher - there is just not as much physical & figurative space to be able to keep a distance from friction - so that intangible factor of collaborative compatibility will be essential.
So I'd say to Pikiell - "This is all on you - it is your show, your career - choose wisely ... nobody is mandatory for you to take - and nobody (clean) is forbidden ... just build a winning program"

 

[Mr_Twister]

The hiring process is a two way street.

The premise that we need to recruit locally and hire people with ties to the university and geographic area have not worked for over 25 years. What is that saying about those who repeat history?

 

[B1GNJHoops]

The premise that we need to recruit locally and hire people with ties to the university and geographic area have not worked for over 25 years. What is that saying about those who repeat history?

Who did we hire to recruit locally under Jordan? We were invisible.

Ignoring NJ is a failing strategy. Who cares if they don't commit here. While players from out of state view Rutgers in a better light, it's much easier to develop relationships that pay off down the road with NJ coaches. It's not the be-all, end-all, but I don't like conceding the area either.

 

[seels2662]

The only previous staff person I would consider is Shoes. If not, bring on a brand new set of coaches.

 

[Scarletnut]

I've got a novel idea. I think we should let a coach with 11 years experience as a head coach in the northeast, valuable experience under a HC who won a national championship decide who to hire.....oh yeah, that would be Pikiell.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Who did we hire to recruit locally under Jordan? We were invisible.

Ignoring NJ is a failing strategy. Who cares if they don't commit here. While players from out of state view Rutgers in a better light, it's much easier to develop relationships that pay off down the road with NJ coaches. It's not the be-all, end-all, but I don't like conceding the area either.

Many, many programs are succeeding without using the recruit locally paradigm. Both Miami and USC are two examples. One of these days Rutgers will get smart and drop the recruit NJ/NY nonsense. It hasn't worked for multiple decades. That ship has already sailed. Major programs have eaten our recruiting lunch locally for decades. Let's wise up and use a different tact. There has to be a sea of Big Ten-caliber players from major cities in the Midwest and the eastern seaboard who want to play in the Big Ten. All of us would trade Rutgers roster for that of Xavier or Dayton or Pitt in a heartbeat.

 

[srru86]

I like Carter and Keating. But totally agree we should let Coach make the hires he wants.

But if we are going to engage in message board nonsense speculation I'll throw this name in the mix:
Marquis Webb
Honestly don't know enough about his coaching. But I can't think of much better displays of tenacity than how in the second half of his career at RU every night he'd be defending the best scoring threat on whatever Big East team, back when that meant toughest conference in the country, each night, and most nights he held that guy below his average.

 

[GL213]

I like Carter and Keating. But totally agree we should let Coach make the hires he wants.

But if we are going to engage in message board nonsense speculation I'll throw this name in the mix:
Marquis Webb
Honestly don't know enough about his coaching. But I can't think of much better displays of tenacity than how in the second half of his career at RU every night he'd be defending the best scoring threat on whatever Big East team, back when that meant toughest conference in the country, each night, and most nights he held that guy below his average.

Hire Brevin Knight if he does not follow Dixon to TCU

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Hire Brevin Knight if he does not follow Dixon to TCU

I don't think Pitt has been killin it in NJ on the recruiting trail recently....but, he is a Jersey guy who probably has lots of contacts.

The last Jersey guy they got was Mike Young in 2013

 

[imbazza2]

There is a great former RU player and coach who is free now... ED something... Eddie Jordan yea that it, a real slam dunk after all he was a player and coach in the Pros! How can that go wrong?

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

There is too much overhype with local recruiting and overall, the market is saturated with schools mining talent here. RU has more than enough choices locally and around the region for kids that are looking to get away for school. Not every kid wants to play near home for college and most of the local schools over the last 10 years have not had success with this strategy. You have to get past the hype of what the media wants you to do and build the program based on what it takes to succeed.

RU is going to play defense, rebound and do things that other flashier schools may not sell to their recruits....what if the bulk of the local recruits want up-tempo and don't have an interest in actually working on defense....are they coachable, do they fit in academically, can they function in a team environment or want to score all the time??

To build a program the right way, means you identify the kids locally and regionally that fit what you need, not the other way around.

Someone mentioned how Matt Bullock was a recruit that wanted local interest or to play at RU....he's the type of unheard of recruit from a national scale, that you build your program around and develop. Does he rebound, defend....?? Yes....then you take him on and assign him to the teams best offensive player in 2 to 3 years and let him guard people....will it win recruiting rankings....probably not....

 

[Sideline20]

Jamie Dixon is leaving Pitt so Brandin Knight is now available as an assistant (from East Orange)....has been a Pitt assistant for many years

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/brandin_knight_270782.html

 

[RutgHoops]

Many, many programs are succeeding without using the recruit locally paradigm. Both Miami and USC are two examples. One of these days Rutgers will get smart and drop the recruit NJ/NY nonsense. It hasn't worked for multiple decades. That ship has already sailed. Major programs have eaten our recruiting lunch locally for decades. Let's wise up and use a different tact. There has to be a sea of Big Ten-caliber players from major cities in the Midwest and the eastern seaboard who want to play in the Big Ten. All of us would trade Rutgers roster for that of Xavier or Dayton or Pitt in a heartbeat.

New York has the 12th most players on D-1 rosters. New Jersey is 15th. Taken together it is 4th most populous region in terms of talent behind only California, Texas and Florida. There is no sound strategy that doesn't focus on strongly competing for talent in our backyard.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Someone mentioned Kevin Freeman on another board, the UCONN DOBO, as a possibility. He is from Connecticut, but, went to school at Paterson Catholic with Tim "the toolman" Thomas.

If Calhoun is advising Pikiell maybe he understands the basketball knowledge that Freeman has and thinks he is ready to step up.

 

[B1GNJHoops]

If Pikiell's a great Xs and Os guy, lets get some savvy recruiters. Interesting name but he's never recruited.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Craig had Ebanks and I know this for a fact because I know the Dad and others who were around him. It seems they did not appreciate the approach or lack of approach from um, ah, oh, um other people at RU. They were all in with Craig but he was not the head coach. I have so many other similar stories. This Book Richardson stuff is so funny. Guy was Gauchos head guy at a young age and I often wonder whats his claim to fame. I sure have not seen many NY or NJ area kids minus the kid from Chester Pa. head out to Arizona. I also always look at where coaches sit on a bench to understand importance to program. Craig was never accepted or appreciated with those on board scared of who he was based on his RU, and NYC connections. He was even told not to speak to certain people by paranoid coaches. Trust me he would be perfect for the 3rd Spot! By the way Shayle Keating would also be great but he makes too much money based on a great education from Rutgers College (smile). But I would love to see eeither JR Inman, Anthony Farmer, or the Griffin kid be considered for Asst. Director of BB Operations. Its the least RU can do based on the loyalty they gave attending RU and the way it all turned out!

Do any of the 3 have ANY such experience? I don't know to be honest, however, based on his posting style Mr. Inman might be too self-absorbed for such a position, IMHO.

 

[Ray6232010]

Calhoun is advising Pikiell. He stated that you need a recruiter, an X's and O's guy and a guy that can develop players.

This guy was coached by Calhoun and is a former teammate of Pikiell........ Donyell Marshall, currently an assistant coach at Buffalo.

UB assistant and former NBA standout Donyell Marshall has 'the answer'.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-donyell-marshall-reading-20160211-story.html

Brandon Knight asst. Pitt coach is now available

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Brandon Knight asst. Pitt coach is now available

Unless he follows Dixon to TCU.

 

[Scangg]

Many, many programs are succeeding without using the recruit locally paradigm. Both Miami and USC are two examples. One of these days Rutgers will get smart and drop the recruit NJ/NY nonsense. It hasn't worked for multiple decades. That ship has already sailed. Major programs have eaten our recruiting lunch locally for decades. Let's wise up and use a different tact. There has to be a sea of Big Ten-caliber players from major cities in the Midwest and the eastern seaboard who want to play in the Big Ten. All of us would trade Rutgers roster for that of Xavier or Dayton or Pitt in a heartbeat.

We shouldn't recruit NY/NJ? That's beyond stupid

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

If Pikiell's a great Xs and Os guy, lets get some savvy recruiters. Interesting name but he's never recruited.

Which name, Freeman or Marshall?

If the staff makeup is, as Calhoun suggested, a recruiter, an X's and O's guy and a player development guy I would think they both fit for player development guy. Either one could mentor front court players while ex-PG Pikiell could mentor backcourt players for his system.

 

[NJ4life]

Brandon Knight would be GREAT for RU.....He get's NJ PLAYAZ on campus at will and they will become a friend to the program with one of their own coaching

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Brandon Knight would be GREAT for RU.....He get's NJ PLAYAZ on campus at will and they will become a friend to the program with one of their own coaching

He checks two boxes....player development for guards and recruiter.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Marshall interviewed with Jordan back in the day...

BK, do you think Rutgers will keep the "Advisor" position that O'Koren had or do they use that money for higher Asst. Coach salary ?

 

[BKIn118]

Choppin...

I have no idea, but I doubt that type of position is a priority in the grand scheme.