Personally, love the idea of Abdur-Rahim. Cal family connection. Bro still a big supporter, and has NBA ties. Young up-and-comer (hopefully). Sure, he'll have some growing pains, but anyone is better than Fox. Add Shantay, Theo?
(Concerned about teh wonky Pasternack burning out, a la Tedford.)
Vetting is a solid process where you have the opportunity to find what invariably may take someone out of the running. The search firm that was deployed in the hiring of Fox was done haphazardly and much too quickly. I do find that some on this list should be given full consideration, starting with Abdur Rahim. I like his resume and the family are basketball Blue Bloods. His brother Sharieff ,President of the NBA affiliated G League, had an outstanding career at Cal and he continues to excell in the development of student athletes who want to make a career in the sport, and Amir shares that DNA. Tim Miles ,for me deserves consideration as well, having done excellent work at San Jose state and had them playing well in the CBI tournament, until yesterday. Shantay Leggins was on my original list, having played at Cal and has really organized the program in Portland. I hope that his transfer from Cal does not exclude his candidacy. Russell Turner is also an intriguing candidate. He's coached in the UC system, albeit Irvine, but his connection with Mike Montgomery is interesting. Montgomery believes in maintaining a connection to the former players and allowed them to return for mentoring as Lamond Murray alluded to. Finally, Randy Bennett would be the worst hire imaginable. Embracing diversity and reflecting it with the product that you put out on the floor is very important in today's market of student athletes.
I just hope an announcement is made while the tourney is still running, maybe Thursday or Friday. (Please no "safe" hires this time around). Gotta swing for the fences now.
Good board, folks! Nice - and thank you!! I heard they contacted Jamie Dixon as well in the “Reach for the Stars” category, FWIW…and Croy at Cal Baptist got a feeler. As for these candidates:
“Tim Miles: Would not be an exciting hire but Miles can at least coach.”
Sounds exactly like something that was likely written somewhere about Mark Fox 4 years ago. The similarities are striking, and Miles’ turnaround at San Jose State is somewhat of an outlier given the presence of MWC POY and likely future NBA G Omari Moore, a player he inherited from the previous regime. While Miles did get him to stay, I suppose, if there is one thing the program absolutely needs, it is EXCITEMENT…a spark in interest …and this is not it. He would be another disappointing Knowlton hire that would likely trudge along in Berkeley and bring a low ceiling, high floor to the mix…sounds familiar. Please, no.
I keep coming back to Pasternack; his donor support and knowledge of the Cal machinery would be vital as an academic-focused school like Cal transitions to the next phase in a collegiate revenue sports world dominated by the transfer portal and NIL. Donor support will be vital to get the rumored dedicated practice facility done in a parking area near Haas. If Cal is going to maintain the high admission standards that impacts their ability to bring in some players, improving in other areas like the practice facility, portal and NIL fields is a necessity…Pasternack checks those boxes.
Fingers crossed. Thanks again for the awesome article, folks!! Exciting and anxious times…
Pasternack should be in the middle tier. He is a way more attractive candidate than Turner or Miles.
My own personal wish is for Theo as HC and Randle as lead recruiter.
Personally, love the idea of Abdur-Rahim. Cal family connection. Bro still a big supporter, and has NBA ties. Young up-and-comer (hopefully). Sure, he'll have some growing pains, but anyone is better than Fox. Add Shantay, Theo?
(Concerned about teh wonky Pasternack burning out, a la Tedford.)
Vetting is a solid process where you have the opportunity to find what invariably may take someone out of the running. The search firm that was deployed in the hiring of Fox was done haphazardly and much too quickly. I do find that some on this list should be given full consideration, starting with Abdur Rahim. I like his resume and the family are basketball Blue Bloods. His brother Sharieff ,President of the NBA affiliated G League, had an outstanding career at Cal and he continues to excell in the development of student athletes who want to make a career in the sport, and Amir shares that DNA. Tim Miles ,for me deserves consideration as well, having done excellent work at San Jose state and had them playing well in the CBI tournament, until yesterday. Shantay Leggins was on my original list, having played at Cal and has really organized the program in Portland. I hope that his transfer from Cal does not exclude his candidacy. Russell Turner is also an intriguing candidate. He's coached in the UC system, albeit Irvine, but his connection with Mike Montgomery is interesting. Montgomery believes in maintaining a connection to the former players and allowed them to return for mentoring as Lamond Murray alluded to. Finally, Randy Bennett would be the worst hire imaginable. Embracing diversity and reflecting it with the product that you put out on the floor is very important in today's market of student athletes.
Gary Payton! A Deion Sanders kind of hire. Has relationship with Oski. HC at Lincoln U (Oakland)
Billy Donovan. A return to college greatness and fewer egos!
I just hope an announcement is made while the tourney is still running, maybe Thursday or Friday. (Please no "safe" hires this time around). Gotta swing for the fences now.
Good board, folks! Nice - and thank you!! I heard they contacted Jamie Dixon as well in the “Reach for the Stars” category, FWIW…and Croy at Cal Baptist got a feeler. As for these candidates:
“Tim Miles: Would not be an exciting hire but Miles can at least coach.”
Sounds exactly like something that was likely written somewhere about Mark Fox 4 years ago. The similarities are striking, and Miles’ turnaround at San Jose State is somewhat of an outlier given the presence of MWC POY and likely future NBA G Omari Moore, a player he inherited from the previous regime. While Miles did get him to stay, I suppose, if there is one thing the program absolutely needs, it is EXCITEMENT…a spark in interest …and this is not it. He would be another disappointing Knowlton hire that would likely trudge along in Berkeley and bring a low ceiling, high floor to the mix…sounds familiar. Please, no.
I keep coming back to Pasternack; his donor support and knowledge of the Cal machinery would be vital as an academic-focused school like Cal transitions to the next phase in a collegiate revenue sports world dominated by the transfer portal and NIL. Donor support will be vital to get the rumored dedicated practice facility done in a parking area near Haas. If Cal is going to maintain the high admission standards that impacts their ability to bring in some players, improving in other areas like the practice facility, portal and NIL fields is a necessity…Pasternack checks those boxes.
Fingers crossed. Thanks again for the awesome article, folks!! Exciting and anxious times…
GO BEARS!! Gotta ace this hire!
Hammons is the unAmerican fool that became a Russian citizen to play for the Russians in the Olympics.