We will never know for sure, but I'm positive that there were tons of conversations with the search firm and many other candidates. Hobbs is connected and he knew what he was doing with Eddie weeks ago. He knew Hurley and I'm sure that Hurley told him and/or the search firm what it would take to get him to Rutgers. I think Hobbs got the commitments he wanted and Hurley still bailed. Maybe he didn't want to be on the big stage. Maybe he didn't want to live under the media scrutiny that comes with the Rutgers job. Maybe he didn't want to rebuild another program. Regardless, I would bet he indicated he was taking the job and that's why Hobbs said he would fill the job by the end of the week.
The search firm does a lot of the legwork and screening. I'm sure there was communication and conversations with plenty of coaches including Jay Wright, just in case Villanova lost early and he might have been fed up with all the criticism he's gotten over the years. When people say why wouldn't Hobbs talk to Sendek or Dawkins or Ford, he may have, or the search firm did and said this is not the direction you want to go in. We will never know where Pikiell was on the depth chart, but he probably was always Hobbs's guy if he couldn't get Hurley, or an Amaker type. It's a pick that won't embarrass the program and who knows maybe he's a John Beilein or Bo Ryan type of a pick. Nothing glamorous, but a very solid coach. I was not happy about this yesterday when the news broke, but I've come around and really will be rooting for this guy to succeed. Starting off with a great staff is critical.
The search firm does a lot of the legwork and screening. I'm sure there was communication and conversations with plenty of coaches including Jay Wright, just in case Villanova lost early and he might have been fed up with all the criticism he's gotten over the years. When people say why wouldn't Hobbs talk to Sendek or Dawkins or Ford, he may have, or the search firm did and said this is not the direction you want to go in. We will never know where Pikiell was on the depth chart, but he probably was always Hobbs's guy if he couldn't get Hurley, or an Amaker type. It's a pick that won't embarrass the program and who knows maybe he's a John Beilein or Bo Ryan type of a pick. Nothing glamorous, but a very solid coach. I was not happy about this yesterday when the news broke, but I've come around and really will be rooting for this guy to succeed. Starting off with a great staff is critical.