58 Comments

ALL, please sign and donate to this petition. We want Knowlton gone.

https://chng.it/yWJdxFCjKJ

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He smells like corned beef

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author

going to need an anecdote for this one

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This is going to be a great hire. How many D1 coaches have played with Shaq and Kobe, been coached by Phil Jackson, been to a final four, coached in the NBA, and have East Bay roots. We will leverage Madsens NBA network and sell recruits on setting them up for success at the next level. GO BEARS!

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I like the fact that he’s from the East Bay Makes it more likely he’ll stick around. I’m excited about the prospect of having the Mad Dog as coach. I always loved watching him as a player, even though I’m an obligatory Furd and Laker hater.

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Excellent summary of his resume.

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Who cares if he is a Furdie. So was Dave Esquer and he took Cal to the College World Series. What I worry about is becoming the laughingstock of the college basketball world and there is no reason that we should.

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To borrow from an old Keanu Reeves project, "Mister, we're already there".

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Jimmy, you nailed it. my thoughts exactly.

College basketball has changed, and MM's current profile might have been fine if this was 6 seasons ago (current MM > WK six years ago)

But we needed a game changer, and MM isn't it for the reasons you stated

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Good dancer.

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Well I don't care. If he can coach, I will be fine

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Madsen officially offered.

If he backs out we’re fuct….

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Yup. Here's the article.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/college/article/cal-offers-men-s-basketball-head-coaching-job-17861374.php

Didn't ever expect to have someone in hated with such a passion during my college years on our sideline but, hey, if he can coach, he can coach.

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I didn't even know he was coaching. So no opinion on his coaching. We need a transformative coach, and I've said here recently that I want a coach who deeply embraces Fiat Lux. Wilcox gets us, and though his results are mixed, he is easy to cheer for. I'm curious what those more familiar with his X's and O's can say about his coaching? And what would he bring that AAR does not? All things being equal, I would prefer AAR.

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Is it a package deal? Will Shaq be his assistant coach?

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Bold, very un-Knowlton like (which means it was somebody else's idea) - I like the notion, let's see what shakes out.

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sorry, the opposite of bold

it is par for the course for a JK hire with Monty and Jay John as the primary decision makers

the donors and basketball alum will also feel like their input was ignored

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bold or not, if Montgumery blessed it that's a hell on an endorsement

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One of my most hated sports figures as a youth...

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Not a terrible choice, if true. Wonder if the students will start coming back to games and filling The Bench?

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Well . . .better him than Fark Mox.

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so, like, not sure it matters, but i recall reading that bringing a coach of color to the pac12(minus 2) was of importance to this search?

madsen is so white i can see thru him.

seriously, one of those seasons when CAL was playing at the oakland coliseum, like maybe the year they won the NIT?

i saw madsen's veins. thru his skin. it was gross.

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Wow. Racist much,,,?

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Mar 26, 2023·edited Mar 26, 2023

So, Mad Dog is personable, can coach, brings energy and NBA experience as a player. These are all good things…kids will like him, IF he actively recruits.

Is he bolting for Stanford, BYU or the NBA? It’s a concern. Can he rebuild Cal? Who knows….he’s got 4 guys on the UVU roster that would start for Cal…will some or all follow him, a must if a HC is gonna turn Cal around quickly?

AAR and Pasternack both had tangible NIL funding possibilities…will donors support Madsen? In news that should surprise no one because it was something Faraudo suggested in a recent article, Mike Montgomery has become Knowlton’s main advisor, way more so than Shareef or Jaylen…this makes little sense and is worrisome because Monty hated to recruit and is openly hostile towards the NIL and transfer portal, which are the only ways Cal can really turn things around because MM is likely not here for the long haul.

Not the worst hire, but not the best, and figures to do little to energize the fan base and program.

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Can you/someone explain what we mean by this: AAR and Pasternack both had tangible NIL funding possibilities.

Does this mean they have folks who will support NIL at Cal because of THEM (such as a brother who has NBA salary earnings, etc.)? If so, what were Pasternack's connections?

Thanks.

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Yes. There are rumblings that certain Old Blues had offered large commitments if a specific former Cal Assistant Coach was hired. Likewise, the same was rumored about certain revered former players on behalf of another candidate. Instead, Jim Knowlton listened most to Mike Montgomery and Jay John, two crusty old retired head coaches that never had to contend with the NIL and despise it's very existent. This is now the second time Knowlton has ignored the input of various key factions of the donor base, and it has consequences.

Now, Madsen is a likable, charismatic, and personable guy...I have no doubt that he will eventually make inroads with donors once he is announced and start building support for his program. However, the NIL is the single most important factor right now in Cal turning this ship around in short order, which is required, and other candidates would have started with a nice little nest egg, so to speak. Right now, Madsen will not have that luxury.

Remember, the NIL is EVERYTHING now...perhaps more important than coaching.

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Should Monty's kid get hired by Madsen....

the stink of nepotism and bs that Monty brought to the table will wreak; I do not like nepotism and never have.

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Oh it would be awful.

If you ask me, Cal fans need to be more vocal in their calling for the ouster of Jim Knowlton. He is awful. He is literally killing Cal sports.

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Agree with this.

And, why is knownuttin using Monty as his advisor. Recently Monty stated it was difficult, nay impossible, to succeed at Cal. Monty, IMO, is out of touch with this era player, NIL and recruiting. It makes no sense to rely on him. But of course this makes knownuttin "feel" comfortable or some shit. Lastly, why would Monty recommend Madsen if there is such a small probability of success?

I have no knowledge of Madsen's coaching ability be he gone once furd fires Haase. Also, can Madsen recruit??

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Could be a parting shot from a lame-duck AD. He can argue that he made a professional and thorough search, soliciting the help of longtime Cal notables, and made his decision accordingly.

Also, I wonder if Christ is purposely holding back firing JK, in case the investigation finds cause. Restricting JK in the MBB hiring process could be seen as a prejudice or something. JK has the front or patina of due diligence and professionalism for the search, but sets a tone in the hire that seems to risk a similar outcome to Fox. In fact, if MM fails, then, perhaps, JK can boast it's us, not him, that's the problem.

Just some thoughts.

I do not watch much Cal BB, but I'd love to have a good reason to.

Time will tell.

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Faraudo floated the idea that Knowlton should solicit Monty’s help in a recent article and it was just a horrible f-ing idea. Monty is the poster child for the Get Off My Lawn old-white men coaching fraternity…he should have been nowhere near this damn hire.

In vintage incompetent Knowlton fashion, now both he and Monty have got their hands all over it. The fact that Carol Christ gave the tool full autonomy to actually make this hire despite formally being under investigation is equally laughable.

Madsen has been exposed to two very good coaches. We’ll see how he does with this…unfortunately, even though Cal is a mess, in the NIL/Portal era, he honestly doesn’t have a long time for a rebuild. Knew Knowlton was not the man for this job when he gave Fox a built in excuse about Cal being a “long rebuild.”

Each day that passes, I hate Knowlton more.

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BI has an interesting article on the hiring process. It will make your blood boil.

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There's a Fiat Lux on BI. Can you just imagine what I thought?

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A name from the past…

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Through a metamorphosis, I believe he lives on by another name.

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Ya I read it earlier. My blood is boiling.

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Not at all comfortable with Madsen. That having been said, I will defer to others who are more knowledgeable on the MBB coaching landscape.

I think Knowlton once again pussed out and used the absolute wrong person for advice: Monty. I don't share your optimism at all. Should the young men on the MBB team succeed, I of course will by happy for them and support them.

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Randle would make a lot of sense. Monty’s son is also likely.

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Randle would be a good choice for skill training and his international contacts.

If Monty's son is an assistant coach it would make this bad hire even worse

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Factual statement, hoop. I think bringing Jerome on board makes a ton of sense. And we need less Montgomery influence, not more. The Montgomerys have already done enough…

I am now terrified that Madsen gets cold feet after the story just broke…this could still get worse if Madsen takes heat for the jump and backs out.

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