Coaching rumors

[olblue.sixpack]

We are just a week away from the beginning of March Madness which also means the coaching carousel is about to start spinning. Some interesting rumors are already making the rounds:

Pearl to Memphis (probably is dying to get out of Auburn)
Greg Marshall to OK State (would also be at the top of UofL's list)
Rick Pitino to UNLV (although I think his preference is the NBA)

Does LSU pull the plug on Jones?

Should be interesting.

 

[57stratdawg]

Gotta pull the plug on Jones.

 

[coach66]

They don't have any money

Nm

 

[patdog]

They've got money. The state budget crisis doesn't really affect the athletic dept. Other than the perception of spending money to buy out a coach's contract when the academic side of the university is facing cuts. If they gave a **** about basketball, they'd fire him in a heartbeat. But they don't, so he may survive.

 

[DerHntr]

Wouldn't be surprised by Marshall leaving. He's losing a great group of seniors and they haven't been nearly as good this year. If he is going to go, this is the year. Plus OK State at least has tradition of being a basketball school. Marshall would be a great hire at Louisville as well and that would put him at a major program.

 

[harrydawg.sixpack]

Stansbury to Memphis......heard weeks ago

 

[dawgdoug1962]

Stansbury to Memphis......heard weeks ago

Don't know about Stans, but Pearl won't end up in Memphis.....not convinced Pastner is gone yet.....

 

[olblue.sixpack]

Wouldn't be surprised by Marshall leaving. He's losing a great group of seniors and they haven't been nearly as good this year. If he is going to go, this is the year. Plus OK State at least has tradition of being a basketball school. Marshall would be a great hire at Louisville as well and that would put him at a major program.

OK State is a very good job in a great league. I'm surprised Ford crashed and burned there.

 

[johnson86-1]

They've got money. The state budget crisis doesn't really affect the athletic dept. Other than the perception of spending money to buy out a coach's contract when the academic side of the university is facing cuts. If they gave a **** about basketball, they'd fire him in a heartbeat. But they don't, so he may survive.

I think Jones survives. He should be fired, but miles was already saved in part by how terrible the optics would be to pay miles $20M to not coach while the university side is on the verge of bankruptcy. I assume the football boosters control the show and that they will want to keep their powder dry to take another run at firing miles next season if he doesn't perform.

 

[57stratdawg]

That would be a pretty big 180 from a few weeks back.

 

[DancingRabbit]

I don't think Memphis can afford to go get Bruce Pearl.

If they fire Pastner they owe him $10 million. Crazy contract ... if they fire him, he could go get whatever job and it doesn't reduce Memphis' liability. Four years at $2.65M.

If they hire Pearl there's the $5 million buyout that goes to Auburn plus $3 million+ per year to Bruce. Memphis doesn't have that kind of money.

Crazy as it sounds, they may fire Pastner and go hire Penny Hardaway on the cheap.

 

[dawgatUSM]

Pearl ain't going to Memphis. Paster, if fired, is gonna leave them broke.

Marshall is also making some coin at Witchita St. Don't see him leaving.

 

[DerHntr]

OK State is a very good job in a great league. I'm surprised Ford crashed and burned there.

Agree 100%. The job has built in recruiting advantages and a lot of $ to throw around. It's really odd he did so poorly.

 

[GloryDawg]

They've got money. The state budget crisis doesn't really affect the athletic dept. Other than the perception of spending money to buy out a coach's contract when the academic side of the university is facing cuts. If they gave a **** about basketball, they'd fire him in a heartbeat. But they don't, so he may survive.

It's about perception and politicians worry about that all the time. The average person doesn't understand that athletics' in collage is paid for from athletics'. They think the State is paying for it out of state budget.

 

[Drebin]

Stansbury to Memphis......heard weeks ago

Won't happen. After the Pastner mess, Memphis is looking for a home run, and that ain't Stans.

 

[BiscuitEater]

I think Jones survives. He should be fired ...

Looking through maroon glasses .. I hope Jones stays @ LSU for a long, long time.

 

[Drebin]

If they fire Pastner they owe him $10 million. Crazy contract ... if they fire him, he could go get whatever job and it doesn't reduce Memphis' liability. Four years at $2.65M.

If they hire Pearl there's the $5 million buyout that goes to Auburn plus $3 million+ per year to Bruce. Memphis doesn't have that kind of money.

Crazy as it sounds, they may fire Pastner and go hire Penny Hardaway on the cheap.

This is nonsense. The last couple of years notwithstanding, this is a traditional basketball power with premium facilities. It's a top 20 program in virtually every measurable statistic - including revenue generated. They have boosters with deep pockets. They can do whatever they want to do financially.

 

[BiscuitEater]

Pearl ain't going to Memphis. Paster, if fired, is gonna leave them broke.

On top of the 'most hated list' by Memphis fans (vast majority of which are basketball fans first and foremost) .. is ANYTHING UT related. Quickly followed by Calipari. Just don't think Pearl would ever be accepted by majority of fans.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Pearl is all they talk about in Memphis. The fans want him bad. And Drebin is right, they have big time boosters that will pay anything for wins in basketball and money is not an obstacle for them.

 

[GeneFrenkle]

Even though Pastner's buyout is $10M+, Memphis can't afford to have poor attendance for another season. They have to fire him. Is there news on Pitino or is everyone just assuming that he won't survive hookergate?

 

[olblue.sixpack]

This is nonsense. The last couple of years notwithstanding, this is a traditional basketball power with premium facilities. It's a top 20 program in virtually every measurable statistic - including revenue generated. They have boosters with deep pockets. They can do whatever they want to do financially.

Among those boosters are some rather large corporations who have a vested interest in Tiger basketball. You're spot on. There are no financial hurdles there.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

Even though Pastner's buyout is $10M+, Memphis can't afford to have poor attendance for another season. They have to fire him. Is there news on Pitino or is everyone just assuming that he won't survive hookergate?

The University President will be the first shoe to fall. Strippergate is just one hornet nest that guy is in the middle of. That's not bad news for Pitino because they aren't real chummy anyway.

Pitino's departure is more problematic. Unless they can tie him directly to the shenanigans at Minardi Hall (and I don't think they can), it would cost them a cool $50MM to fire him. Which means if UofL wants him gone, it will take some serious concessions to make that work and Pitino's relationship with Jurich has soured since they announced they weren't going to participate in the NCAAT.

There are some days I think he's ready to move on and some days I think he wants to lead them through this because he has a helluva team coming back. But the vibes I'm getting is he will be coaching somewhere else next season. If that happens, Chris Mack is at the top of their list.

 

[AssEndDawg]

Don't know about Stans, but Pearl won't end up in Memphis.....not convinced Pastner is gone yet.....

Memphis can't get rid of Pastner because they just gave him a contract extension last year (which they shouldn't have done) and there is no buyout clause (which is ridiculous given his record). They would have to pay his full salary for all the years on the contract and they simply can't afford to do that. HUGE mistake by the Memphis AD and he should be roasted for it. you will see Pastner back next year no matter what happens.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

On top of the 'most hated list' by Memphis fans (vast majority of which are basketball fans first and foremost) .. is ANYTHING UT related. Quickly followed by Calipari. Just don't think Pearl would ever be accepted by majority of fans.

I bet Louisville felt the same way 15 years ago.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

I bet Louisville felt the same way 15 years ago.

Can't believe they got 15 years out if the Maestro. I wish they had him for five more but it doesn't look good.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

FAHHHHHR STANNNNZ!

 

[Spiderman.sixpack]

Stansbury to Memphis......heard weeks ago

Be a great hire

 

[Drebin]

Be a great hire

for Stansbury. Memphis, not so much.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Geoff Calkins and others now saying Pastner will be back.

 

[AssEndDawg]

This is nonsense. The last couple of years notwithstanding, this is a traditional basketball power with premium facilities. It's a top 20 program in virtually every measurable statistic - including revenue generated. They have boosters with deep pockets. They can do whatever they want to do financially.

Problem here is that you are talking about basketball. No one makes a ton of money off basketball (when compared to football that is) so being in the Top 20 doesn't mean you are rich. Attendance has plummeted and the Tigers are already panicking here in Memphis. I was driving through Overton Square the other day and they have the UofM Cheerleaders on the corners with signs that said, "Honk if you want tickets!" They were literally giving them away on the street. So, while Memphis does make good "Basketball Money" they don't have money in the athletic budget in general to dig themselves out of this mistake with Pastner. And even though they do have some big corporations on their friend list things aren't going as well for FedEx, IP and AutoZone as they were in the past. All three companies have done layoffs recently and the money tree doesn't have as many leaves as it did a few years past.

Pastner will be definitely be there another year. Possibly two if they don't get someone to step up.

 

[Dog316]

for Stansbury. Memphis, not so much.

^^^^
You are so right. Why would they want a coach that could only average 20 plus wins over a fourteen year run in the SEC! With their tough schedule he'd probably only win eight or nine games a year, tops! Give it a rest.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

because their fans want to go to the sweet 16

^^^^
You are so right. Why would they want a coach that could only average 20 plus wins over a fourteen year run in the SEC! With their tough schedule he'd probably only win eight or nine games a year, tops! Give it a rest.

Let it go