Former Cal Bear Alex Pribble hired as the next Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Idaho...was Chris Victor's Associate HC at Seattle University.
So, we hired Mark Fox towards the end of March, 2019...Gates was hired by Cleveland State, his first Head Coaching job, in July of 2019. Honestly, I don't completely fault Knowlton for wanting to avoid a first time HC following the Wyking Jones disaster, and to his credit, Knowlton DID reach out to Gates. In the end, Jim went with the more experienced HC, which certainly made sense at the time...the problem was the selection, not the formula: a below average recruiter that had struggled to consistently produce a competent offense in 9 years at UGA was a poor fit from the start for the points-savvy P12, as we saw. I guess In a perfect world, Knowlton fires Fox at the end of LAST season as many of us had hoped, after it was clear the program was already stagnating (for various reasons, some admittedly beyond his control) with Fox, and hires Gates after he's gained HC experience and before Missouri gets to him.
In my opinion, that idiot Mike WIlliams was the one that REALLY dropped the ball. If you are comfortable going with a first time head coach in the first place, THAT guy needs to be Dennis Gates, NOT Wyking f-ing Jones. Williams interviewed Gates, but went with Wyking in March 2017...considering Gates' playing career at Cal, his 10+ years as an assistant coach, including two seasons under Braun at Cal, and then his time with Leonard Hamilton at Florida State, Gates WAS the guy in '17...plenty of us on the CGB (I believe) site were banging the table for him. Even at the time, Wyking Jones was just a catastrophically poor decision by a complete nincompoop sitting in the Director's chair.
Had the same thought, so I asked my coaching buddy that same question in February…he’s pretty familiar with Lav…felt he wouldn’t be interested, primarily because of Knowlton…Jim’s reputation is not currently the greatest in the coaching community. While this news should come as no surprise to Cal fans, it is nonetheless unfortunate, though more oversight and involvement by influential donors is a good sign, IMO.
Who knows, minds can change, especially if they’re getting the bag from Cal, and access to a growing NIL pool, as reported. Fingers crossed.
Lavin does not know basketball. I followed ucla and his players basically taught and coached themselves so they were fortunate to have had a run of some pretty great players who were recruited by his predecessor and also attracted by the school name.
Some Twitter Coaching (@CoachingChanges) account reporting:
“Have now heard from 2 sources that Stan Johnson is in the mix at Cal. Assuming true, great job flying under the radar and his credentials do make sense for that job.”
I do. Still....I think Stan would be a fine add, though I've heard he's kind of an a$$hole from a buddy who is quite dialed into the college coaching profession, FWIW.
He came on board at Loyola Marymount during '20-'21 COVID year and went 13-9...I can hear Knowlton kvelling, given the parade of pandemic excuses he allows his coaches. Sure, LMU took a step back in '21-'22, but this year was definitely solid. It's tough to build a program in a small conference that has 2 absolute juggernauts...beating both Gonzaga and St. Mary's is not nothing...
He's not my 1st choice, but I think he'd be solid.
Ha! I have heard my Jewish friends use that term. I did have to look up how to spell it, though, and to confirm I was using it correctly. Sadly, that and “shtoop” are pretty much the extent of my Yiddish vocabulary.
Yeah but the problem is that the trendline was heading down, concerning for a potential employer and note that he was basically cooling his heels for 1.5 years after being fired.
I would agree that there are (hopefully!!) better options out there than both Stan and Travis...I would also hope we can attract someone with a little more upside than both.
How does a program driven to irrelevance attract a decent candidate, like, who would want to come willingly to this coaching graveyard? From what I've watched of the tourney thus far, no to anyone ever associated w/ Sean Miller, including past & present AZ. No boring AF middle-aged white dudes a la Fox 2.0.
Abdur-Rahim or bust: upside, Cal connection, seems likable. But again, someone's gotta love the total rebuild idea...
Who cares. Does anyone here think that Knowlton will make a good decision. Hell no, it will be awful (btw, a "safe" decision e.g. P, is awful).
F Knownuttin. He needs to be gone. Then, and only then, Cal can move forward.
Former Cal Bear Alex Pribble hired as the next Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Idaho...was Chris Victor's Associate HC at Seattle University.
Dennis Gates leads Mizzou to the round of 32
Never heard of him.
I *heart* Gates...our past two stooges at the AD position over the last 7 years cost us a real good one...passed on him multiple times.
Sigh.
https://youtu.be/A0qm8nq8RcA
So, we hired Mark Fox towards the end of March, 2019...Gates was hired by Cleveland State, his first Head Coaching job, in July of 2019. Honestly, I don't completely fault Knowlton for wanting to avoid a first time HC following the Wyking Jones disaster, and to his credit, Knowlton DID reach out to Gates. In the end, Jim went with the more experienced HC, which certainly made sense at the time...the problem was the selection, not the formula: a below average recruiter that had struggled to consistently produce a competent offense in 9 years at UGA was a poor fit from the start for the points-savvy P12, as we saw. I guess In a perfect world, Knowlton fires Fox at the end of LAST season as many of us had hoped, after it was clear the program was already stagnating (for various reasons, some admittedly beyond his control) with Fox, and hires Gates after he's gained HC experience and before Missouri gets to him.
In my opinion, that idiot Mike WIlliams was the one that REALLY dropped the ball. If you are comfortable going with a first time head coach in the first place, THAT guy needs to be Dennis Gates, NOT Wyking f-ing Jones. Williams interviewed Gates, but went with Wyking in March 2017...considering Gates' playing career at Cal, his 10+ years as an assistant coach, including two seasons under Braun at Cal, and then his time with Leonard Hamilton at Florida State, Gates WAS the guy in '17...plenty of us on the CGB (I believe) site were banging the table for him. Even at the time, Wyking Jones was just a catastrophically poor decision by a complete nincompoop sitting in the Director's chair.
Keep your eye on Danny Sprinkle…went hard after USD job that Lavin got, and is rumored to want to get back to CA despite coaching at his alma mater.
Wait. What about Lavin? He’s a local… his Dad was a SF Don. Unfairly criticized at UCLA, imo.
Had the same thought, so I asked my coaching buddy that same question in February…he’s pretty familiar with Lav…felt he wouldn’t be interested, primarily because of Knowlton…Jim’s reputation is not currently the greatest in the coaching community. While this news should come as no surprise to Cal fans, it is nonetheless unfortunate, though more oversight and involvement by influential donors is a good sign, IMO.
Who knows, minds can change, especially if they’re getting the bag from Cal, and access to a growing NIL pool, as reported. Fingers crossed.
Lavin does not know basketball. I followed ucla and his players basically taught and coached themselves so they were fortunate to have had a run of some pretty great players who were recruited by his predecessor and also attracted by the school name.
THE 13 SEED FURMAN PALADINS WITH ONIONS!!!!! DOWN GOES #4 VIRGINIA
WVU Maryland coming down to the wire. Furman storming back. Mizzou leads Utah State at the half by 4. Kansas struggling with Howard.
This is March. Welcome to the Madness.
Awesome article. Thank you. Lots of intrigue.
Furman vs Virginia at half. 10 minutes to Utah State vs Mizzou ft. The Sheriff
West Virginia vs Maryland underway in the opening game!
Some Twitter Coaching (@CoachingChanges) account reporting:
“Have now heard from 2 sources that Stan Johnson is in the mix at Cal. Assuming true, great job flying under the radar and his credentials do make sense for that job.”
Would be a solid hire…
I wonder if this is for show or due diligence, if you know what I mean.
I do. Still....I think Stan would be a fine add, though I've heard he's kind of an a$$hole from a buddy who is quite dialed into the college coaching profession, FWIW.
He came on board at Loyola Marymount during '20-'21 COVID year and went 13-9...I can hear Knowlton kvelling, given the parade of pandemic excuses he allows his coaches. Sure, LMU took a step back in '21-'22, but this year was definitely solid. It's tough to build a program in a small conference that has 2 absolute juggernauts...beating both Gonzaga and St. Mary's is not nothing...
He's not my 1st choice, but I think he'd be solid.
Ha! I have heard my Jewish friends use that term. I did have to look up how to spell it, though, and to confirm I was using it correctly. Sadly, that and “shtoop” are pretty much the extent of my Yiddish vocabulary.
Underwhelming though. We have got to be able to do better than a solid WCC coach who has gone 43-39. I'd rather have Decuire.
No .500 coaches need apply. See Fox, Mark.
Yeah but the problem is that the trendline was heading down, concerning for a potential employer and note that he was basically cooling his heels for 1.5 years after being fired.
Respectfully, BP, but no way. Decuire's completely stagnated at Montana.
Though I agree...I'd prefer the candidate to at least have made the Dance.
He has plateau'd definitely. And he has made the dance...twice at Montana.
Loyola Marymount HC?
yep
Bob, they are not in NCAA tournament. Johnson has not led a team there in his short coaching history thus far.
He should be like a 3rd tier candidate.
"good" is not good enough. I want at least something exceptional in the resume. Decuire has 2 NCAA and conference championships to his name at least.
I would agree that there are (hopefully!!) better options out there than both Stan and Travis...I would also hope we can attract someone with a little more upside than both.
How does a program driven to irrelevance attract a decent candidate, like, who would want to come willingly to this coaching graveyard? From what I've watched of the tourney thus far, no to anyone ever associated w/ Sean Miller, including past & present AZ. No boring AF middle-aged white dudes a la Fox 2.0.
Abdur-Rahim or bust: upside, Cal connection, seems likable. But again, someone's gotta love the total rebuild idea...