I don’t know much about college basketball because we have been terrible since I graduated. That said, if you don’t think this is a good hire, read Stanfurd fan twitter.
Dennis Gates' Tweet with Shareef Retweeting, "Couldn't say it better! Go Bears!" :
Congrats to @Madsen_mark as he enters into this next chapter @UCBerkeley! Yes he is a @Stanford
grad! So what! He is a great leader, person & coach. If you want @CalMBBall to WIN show him & the players unwavering support! I do! Best of luck! I can’t wait to hear him say Go Bears!
Feeling better about the hire with all the glowing testimonials and it sounds like he gets the transfer portal & NIL. Supposedly, already has had a Zoom with the team & they were pumped. Also, recruit Rodney Brown is eager to play for MM.
While I'm still not sure this was the best basketball choice given a couple of the alternatives, it's hard not to appreciate all of the optimism and attention that has been lacking for six years. If that's all MM does and I'm sure it won't be, then that's definitely a very large step in the right direction. Ready to ride the Mad Dog train!
For anyone who knows mark madsen, He is a loyal guy. Cal gave him this opportunity and neither Stanford nor BYU (especially BYU) will be able to lure him away. He said he would love to stay his whole career at Cal. Stanford basically told him that they didn’t want him when they doubled down on Haase. They had their chance. BYU picked Pope over him (big mistake) and they had their chance. Mark should kill it at Cal if he can get the support of the university around him. Go Mark Madsen and GO BEARS!!!
Am I missing something about the BYU connection? Is it just because he is LDS? I am a member and it isn’t as though we are all called to work at BYU. I don’t think he is coming here just to jump in two years, but as others have said, if he is, then it means he was successful here.
Marks comments were to me personally. He is very happy to be going to Cal and he is a loyal person. He could easily spend his entire career there if he does well.
What's to say he won't go to UCLA, or Wisconsin, or Georgia Tech or North Carolina or Villanova or New Mexico State or the 76ers or the Italian national team or Berkeley High or what's to say he won't quit and join the circus or be hypnotized into thinking he's a chicken. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!!!
Well Dennis Gates is a successful NCAA coach who is Cal Alum, and our HC position opened up but Cal didn't hire him. Coaches don't automatically go to their alma mater is what I'm saying.
Well, Missouri signed him to an extension with a dump truck full of cash, so yeah, no chance of Gates ever coming to Cal.
Madsen's contract details are not clear yet, but Hasse has been the coach for 7 seasons, with no NCAA appearances and an overall record of 112-109. If Stanford is mediocre again next season and Madsen is able to turn Cal into a competent basketball team, then it wouldn't be hard to see Stanford calling afterwards.
Somewhere, there is a photo of Mark Madsen and Tim Young in Rally Committee rugbies. I wish I had it -- we put it on fliers after they were good enough sports to actually put them on -- but it's one of those things that exist only as a memory, unless somebody happens to know what happened to that picture. (I think it was the 1996-1997 season, the last one at Harmon, when it happened.)
Speaking of which... is Underhill Field still on the top of the unit 2 parking complex? I used to play intramural soccer on it and there was like a serious slope. I gather something called Underhill is now used for field hockey. If it still has that slope I would recommend suing again to get a real facility...
Excellent question IMO and apparently the number one reason CAL doesn't have a dedicated practice facility, even over money... though infinite money I suppose could buy some place to put it.
Considering the school can't build/open dorms, don't expect eminent domain to actually work. Sure, the school might be able to use it to buy land, but getting past the quality of the neighborhood based lawsuits is unlikely to work.
Main options I've vaguely heard...
1. Revamp Haas again somehow vertically, but likely too expensive
2. Actually dedicate part of the rec center but politically unlikely due it being the "student" rec center (I last played pick up ball in Harmon Gym so I've never seen the rec center, but it seems to me that something should be workable...)
3. Pick some place up the hill from Memorial and build. Problems = still expensive, dedicated to intercollegiate sports (not just MBB) which is politically undesirable to the AS, harder to get to for the players going to regular practice but at least it's closer to the high performance center...
I could have sworn that, some years ago, I saw a rendering of a proposed facility that was attached to Haas and essentially took up the space on the north side of Haas covering most of the asphalt area between Haas & Frank Schlessinger Way (enveloping the portico/loading dock area which could be moved one level down below grade). You could actually fit it in that space & keep 5 regular & 6 handicapped parking spaces. It could be 80' wide x up to 230' long (interior dimensions 74' x 220' fitting piggy-backed basketball courts if they want two courts, otherwise could be 80' x 125' including bathrooms - courts are 50' x 94'). This way they'd have easy access to their own locker and showering facilities in Haas. I'd design the interior to mimic the look of Pete Newell Court with large graphics on the walls & lighting to match.
What about Hearst Gym being upgraded as a basketball practice facility? I never see it mentioned, but the building is already on campus. Would it be that hard to adapt the facility in that manner?
Like I said, I've never seen the rec center, but I thought the Rec Sports Facility is the gym part of the Hearst Gym complex (like Hearst Pool is the pool part of Hearst Gym which is kinda like Dr. Who having a pool in the library I guess...) and right or wrong I think it should be possible to improve it...
RSF is an entirely separate building from Hearst gym. I think the Hearst gym would be ideal as a practice facility. However, it's probably considered a "historic building" and retrofitting/renovations would be limited/challenging. The Channing lot/tennis courts could potentially work.
I just glanced at some photos, and realized I had my Poli Sci 1 final in that location back in '81. I still have PTSD from that experience (my watch stopped and I almost ran out of time...) but I digress.
Anyway, there are basketball courts there--how many are needed for a proper practice facility? Especially since the women's team could also use one?
All the important little things I got out of the CAL article...
Madsen is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks whose career will officially crater when he is formally introduced at a press conference at 1 p.m. PT on Monday, April 3 in Haas Pavilion.
"We conducted an exhaustive search, and one name kept rising to the top” of Montgomery’s list. I had to hire him or Monty would have me fired… Oh, wait… that’s happening anyway?
"I am extremely grateful to Chancellor Christ” for actually doing the hiring and for choosing me even though I graduated from Furd and therefore cannot spel.
Madsen earned the nickname "Mad Dog" and “is an incredible human being.”
- Actually I'm pretty positive about Madsen... not quite stoked but I think it's a good move.
Since it appears, he was the only one that interviewed via Zoom. I'm guessing, that it was on his request since he was clearly being courted by other schools and was keeping his options open. I think USF & $$ was his preference.
Knowlton hurt Cal's chances. (is always the answer)
(fixed it for you)
Obviously, we'll never be privy to what went on behind closed doors, but if I was AAR, I'd be hesitant to take the Cal job with an AD whose foot is/should be half-way out the door. AAR is/was an extremely attractive up-and-comer, and was clearly taking calls from others. Why not get a big payday to remain in region and play to your own local recruiting strengths?
I really think folks don't understand how good this hire is. Madsen is basically a pro coach who understands college basketball, while also getting the academics. Hey, I might be wrong, but I think this hire is going to age well. He has all of the makings of a long term success.
Agree with the assessment and the hope. If CAl can coalesce some support for a few key issues like a practice facility this could work out well for both parties.
Let's turn this ship around and get our team assembled!
Hope he can also unlock some NIL dollars by providing some desperately needed hope for the program given his rising stock. I also think he has the right personality to handle coaching at Cal (despite being a Furdie).
I don’t know much about college basketball because we have been terrible since I graduated. That said, if you don’t think this is a good hire, read Stanfurd fan twitter.
I think this is about as good as Cal could have done. Go Bears! (and ex-furds)
Madsen will need some NIL dollars to bring in some talent to compete the Pac12.
Great time to start (or up) you support of NIL
https://calegends.com
Dennis Gates' Tweet with Shareef Retweeting, "Couldn't say it better! Go Bears!" :
Congrats to @Madsen_mark as he enters into this next chapter @UCBerkeley! Yes he is a @Stanford
grad! So what! He is a great leader, person & coach. If you want @CalMBBall to WIN show him & the players unwavering support! I do! Best of luck! I can’t wait to hear him say Go Bears!
Feeling better about the hire with all the glowing testimonials and it sounds like he gets the transfer portal & NIL. Supposedly, already has had a Zoom with the team & they were pumped. Also, recruit Rodney Brown is eager to play for MM.
That's more encouraging than when Rodgers showed discontentment about coaching changes.
While I'm still not sure this was the best basketball choice given a couple of the alternatives, it's hard not to appreciate all of the optimism and attention that has been lacking for six years. If that's all MM does and I'm sure it won't be, then that's definitely a very large step in the right direction. Ready to ride the Mad Dog train!
For anyone who knows mark madsen, He is a loyal guy. Cal gave him this opportunity and neither Stanford nor BYU (especially BYU) will be able to lure him away. He said he would love to stay his whole career at Cal. Stanford basically told him that they didn’t want him when they doubled down on Haase. They had their chance. BYU picked Pope over him (big mistake) and they had their chance. Mark should kill it at Cal if he can get the support of the university around him. Go Mark Madsen and GO BEARS!!!
Am I missing something about the BYU connection? Is it just because he is LDS? I am a member and it isn’t as though we are all called to work at BYU. I don’t think he is coming here just to jump in two years, but as others have said, if he is, then it means he was successful here.
Is there a longer statement from him somewhere where he says this about wanting to be at Cal long term?
Marks comments were to me personally. He is very happy to be going to Cal and he is a loyal person. He could easily spend his entire career there if he does well.
What’s to say he won’t leave the minute furd opens up if he has success?
What's to say he won't go to UCLA, or Wisconsin, or Georgia Tech or North Carolina or Villanova or New Mexico State or the 76ers or the Italian national team or Berkeley High or what's to say he won't quit and join the circus or be hypnotized into thinking he's a chicken. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!!!
Because Dennis Gates would be here now if that is true.
Not after a season. Like let’s say 3
Well Dennis Gates is a successful NCAA coach who is Cal Alum, and our HC position opened up but Cal didn't hire him. Coaches don't automatically go to their alma mater is what I'm saying.
Borderline incompetent Athletic Directors are a turnoff for some.
Well, Missouri signed him to an extension with a dump truck full of cash, so yeah, no chance of Gates ever coming to Cal.
Madsen's contract details are not clear yet, but Hasse has been the coach for 7 seasons, with no NCAA appearances and an overall record of 112-109. If Stanford is mediocre again next season and Madsen is able to turn Cal into a competent basketball team, then it wouldn't be hard to see Stanford calling afterwards.
Somewhere, there is a photo of Mark Madsen and Tim Young in Rally Committee rugbies. I wish I had it -- we put it on fliers after they were good enough sports to actually put them on -- but it's one of those things that exist only as a memory, unless somebody happens to know what happened to that picture. (I think it was the 1996-1997 season, the last one at Harmon, when it happened.)
So I'm actually really excited about this hire. Just wondering, do we have any idea where a dedicated basketball practice facility would be if the funding showed up for it? I'm sleuthing around Google Earth and can't really see many good spots. (Unless we eminent domain something near campus…) https://earth.google.com/web/@37.8685991,-122.26296944,93.37124511a,455.17379493d,35y,-9.56782994h,33.84583411t,360r
I recall some discussion of using the Dwinelle parking lot?
Speaking of which... is Underhill Field still on the top of the unit 2 parking complex? I used to play intramural soccer on it and there was like a serious slope. I gather something called Underhill is now used for field hockey. If it still has that slope I would recommend suing again to get a real facility...
Still there, though I think they rebuilt the structure at some point, so maybe they leveled it out.
The Underhills are still pissed at Mrs. Stanwick and Irwin K. Fletcher for the exorbitant lunch bill at the club…just saying.
I’ll have the steak sandwich and a steak sandwich.
John Cocktoastin, I presume
How about Clueless carol's office, it's worthless
Excellent question IMO and apparently the number one reason CAL doesn't have a dedicated practice facility, even over money... though infinite money I suppose could buy some place to put it.
Considering the school can't build/open dorms, don't expect eminent domain to actually work. Sure, the school might be able to use it to buy land, but getting past the quality of the neighborhood based lawsuits is unlikely to work.
Main options I've vaguely heard...
1. Revamp Haas again somehow vertically, but likely too expensive
2. Actually dedicate part of the rec center but politically unlikely due it being the "student" rec center (I last played pick up ball in Harmon Gym so I've never seen the rec center, but it seems to me that something should be workable...)
3. Pick some place up the hill from Memorial and build. Problems = still expensive, dedicated to intercollegiate sports (not just MBB) which is politically undesirable to the AS, harder to get to for the players going to regular practice but at least it's closer to the high performance center...
I could have sworn that, some years ago, I saw a rendering of a proposed facility that was attached to Haas and essentially took up the space on the north side of Haas covering most of the asphalt area between Haas & Frank Schlessinger Way (enveloping the portico/loading dock area which could be moved one level down below grade). You could actually fit it in that space & keep 5 regular & 6 handicapped parking spaces. It could be 80' wide x up to 230' long (interior dimensions 74' x 220' fitting piggy-backed basketball courts if they want two courts, otherwise could be 80' x 125' including bathrooms - courts are 50' x 94'). This way they'd have easy access to their own locker and showering facilities in Haas. I'd design the interior to mimic the look of Pete Newell Court with large graphics on the walls & lighting to match.
What about Hearst Gym being upgraded as a basketball practice facility? I never see it mentioned, but the building is already on campus. Would it be that hard to adapt the facility in that manner?
Like I said, I've never seen the rec center, but I thought the Rec Sports Facility is the gym part of the Hearst Gym complex (like Hearst Pool is the pool part of Hearst Gym which is kinda like Dr. Who having a pool in the library I guess...) and right or wrong I think it should be possible to improve it...
RSF is an entirely separate building from Hearst gym. I think the Hearst gym would be ideal as a practice facility. However, it's probably considered a "historic building" and retrofitting/renovations would be limited/challenging. The Channing lot/tennis courts could potentially work.
I wonder though if they could build on top of those tennis courts/parking garage between Hearst pool and the Anthro museum?
I just glanced at some photos, and realized I had my Poli Sci 1 final in that location back in '81. I still have PTSD from that experience (my watch stopped and I almost ran out of time...) but I digress.
Anyway, there are basketball courts there--how many are needed for a proper practice facility? Especially since the women's team could also use one?
https://pe.berkeley.edu/hearst-memorial-gymnasium-rentals
That said, is situation still true about the building's condition? Is that's why I've never seen it entered into the conversation?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Cal-s-Hearst-Gym-crumbling-without-partner-to-6711789.php
All the important little things I got out of the CAL article...
Madsen is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks whose career will officially crater when he is formally introduced at a press conference at 1 p.m. PT on Monday, April 3 in Haas Pavilion.
"We conducted an exhaustive search, and one name kept rising to the top” of Montgomery’s list. I had to hire him or Monty would have me fired… Oh, wait… that’s happening anyway?
"I am extremely grateful to Chancellor Christ” for actually doing the hiring and for choosing me even though I graduated from Furd and therefore cannot spel.
Madsen earned the nickname "Mad Dog" and “is an incredible human being.”
- Actually I'm pretty positive about Madsen... not quite stoked but I think it's a good move.
itd be funnier if they left out the incredible part and just mentioned him being human as a qualifier for being head coach
oh, yeah! I should have made that edit myself... good get!
Thanks Rob!
While So Florida formally hires AAR. Interesting timing.
So who is planning the going away party for Fox. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
I hope we don't regret passing on AAR. I liked the idea of hiring him
Since it appears, he was the only one that interviewed via Zoom. I'm guessing, that it was on his request since he was clearly being courted by other schools and was keeping his options open. I think USF & $$ was his preference.
I expect AAR to do well; I'm guessing the lack of West Coast ties hurt his chances at Cal.
Not being part of Monty's knitting circle hurt his chances more than anything
Knowlton hurt his chances at Cal.
Knowlton hurt Cal's chances. (is always the answer)
(fixed it for you)
Obviously, we'll never be privy to what went on behind closed doors, but if I was AAR, I'd be hesitant to take the Cal job with an AD whose foot is/should be half-way out the door. AAR is/was an extremely attractive up-and-comer, and was clearly taking calls from others. Why not get a big payday to remain in region and play to your own local recruiting strengths?
I’ll drive him to the airport…
we should have left him on the Vegas tarmac.
I really think folks don't understand how good this hire is. Madsen is basically a pro coach who understands college basketball, while also getting the academics. Hey, I might be wrong, but I think this hire is going to age well. He has all of the makings of a long term success.
From your lips (keyboard) to Oski's ears (eyes).
I hope you're right brother! #GoMM #GoBears!
Agree with the assessment and the hope. If CAl can coalesce some support for a few key issues like a practice facility this could work out well for both parties.
Stanford fans are prob punching air right now, love to see it :)
There is probably Rob B. aka GoTree49 who had been preaching about Madsen the last three years across the Bay.
This is f'ing hilarious. Parallel universe across the Bay.
Now I picture the entire W4C gang at ROT in the vein of Bizarro Jerry.
Let's turn this ship around and get our team assembled!
Hope he can also unlock some NIL dollars by providing some desperately needed hope for the program given his rising stock. I also think he has the right personality to handle coaching at Cal (despite being a Furdie).
The bigger question is: Will he also be coaching the dance team?!?
don't worry coyote, I appreciate your post - diehardlakerfan :)
if so, he bette hurry as JK will find a way to eliminate the dancers, even tho they are volunteers