📡 Alabama begins its search for their new basketball coach

[TUSKtimes]

This article managed to cover ever angst in the fandom psyche. The AD is getting paid to put his hiring skills to the test. A few years ago it was ONLY Mal Moore's determination and willingness to humble himself for the greater good that got us to Nick Saban. If we go that route again and swing for the fences, it's going to take a real inventive package to make the coach and administration happy.

Regardless of who we eventually get I hope Byrnes draws the next basketball contract up with heavy laden incentives over base salary. That shouldn't offend any HC coming in with the usual heavy verbal expectations. Earn it, what a unique concept.

 

[TerryP]

swing for the fences, it's going to take a real inventive package to make the coach and administration happy.

draws the next basketball contract up with heavy laden incentives over base salary.

Are you wanting to go big or go small?

 

[TUSKtimes]

Are you wanting to go big or go small?

Question is, what does Brynes want to do?

 

[TerryP]

Question is, what does Brynes want to do?

He can't structure a contract to be heavy on incentives, light on salary, and then swing for the fences. If he's going big I'm think we're going to see a talent fee of three million plus.

 

[#80]

He can't structure a contract to be heavy on incentives, light on salary, and then swing for the fences. If he's going big I'm think we're going to see a talent fee of three million plus.

I totally agree. Sampson is making $1.4M a year so we could certainly knock that out of the park.

 

[TUSKtimes]

He can't structure a contract to be heavy on incentives, light on salary, and then swing for the fences. If he's going big I'm think we're going to see a talent fee of three million plus.

Right. Or he could go for an up and comer and could heavily incentivize his contract based on production. My personal thought on that part of it is less like Nick Saban and more like FSU's Leonard Hamilton.


"Sunday’s outcome alone meant $225,000 for Hamilton, who has one of college sports’ most lucrative incentive plans. He’s now at $675,000 in team-performance incentives for the season – by far the most for a public-school coach in the tournament. Or, put another way: It’s $275,000 more than Murray State coach Matt McMahon’s basic compensation for this season.

If the fourth-seeded Seminoles were to find their way to the national championship, he would add $1.375 million more – and he still would be well short of achieving the maximum amount of bonus money that was available to him when the season began."

FSU coach: More in bonuses than some base salaries

If someone like Pitino was to survive the vetting process, more base salary is fine given his resume but a good chunk of it should be incentivized for longevity at the Capstone and post-season accomplishments. The moral-clause in the contract might read like "War and Peace" though.

 

[TerryP]

He’s now at $675,000 in team-performance incentives for the season – by far the most for a public-school coach in the tournament.

That puts him less than 100K away from Avery's contract.

I want to say I heard Oats contract was at 875K. According to that he's getting twice as much as Murray's State's coach.

 

[TUSKtimes]

That puts him less than 100K away from Avery's contract.

Which is cool if AJ was in the sweet 16, no one would argue he was being overpaid. Next year, if FSU doesn't make the tourney or hit other incentives it's nowhere near AJ's contract. I like it.

I want to say I heard Oats contract was at 875K. According to that he's getting twice as much as Murray's State's coach.

I like Oat's team. Doesn't feel like smoke and mirrors as much and I hope we get to the interview process with him. Murray State is such a one-man band it feels more of a risk/reward.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

The next coach in addition to being a solid coach has to expand the recruiting base outside of Alabama.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Byrne needs to swing for the fences. If the coach has good character, recruit, and can win I don’t care what it costs

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Read on the Rant that Avery and his wife settled with Bama for 5 million...…...best of luck to them

 

[ColAngus]

Pitino has a job. I can’t believe I keep hearing his name mentioned. Why would anyone that circus to come to Tuscaloosa is beyond me.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Without a show-cause penalty hanging around his neck, Bruce Pearl doesn't give the barners the time of day. So, it's been done.

As i have read on here and havr known. Pearl is pure AU material. Slime at one school. caught cheating and lying at the other
Pure AU. But decent HC job this year. Those boys can shoot the ball for sure

 

[footballer]

@JoseyWalesTheOutlaw, And teach and coach up the players he does get no matter where they're from.

 

[bamafan9201]

I hear all these people wanting a Nick Saban like hire as Basketball coach, unless we seriously offer insane money and drop in some new facilities for the team, I don't see any high profile guys wanting to sign here. No offense, Bama is just not a basketball school at this time.

 

[planomateo]

We're already paying top 20 money, there isn't much difference getting to top 10 money. Top 3 is where the big jump is.

I would guess if the right coach comes along, the donations to Crimson Standard will see a boost along with the updates to Coleman happening sooner than initially planned. I would guess that everything is on the negotiation table.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I hear all these people wanting a Nick Saban like hire as Basketball coach, unless we seriously offer insane money and drop in some new facilities for the team, I don't see any high profile guys wanting to sign here. No offense, Bama is just not a basketball school at this time.

Nick Saban good would be like coach K good.

Thad Matta is out there somewhere. I would make him tell me NO at least 3 times.

 

[ColAngus]

Thad Matta stepped down due at Ohio State due to long time health issues. Is there some reason to think he’s better?

 

[TerryP]

Thad Matta stepped down due at Ohio State due to long time health issues. Is there some reason to think he’s better?

There's many reasons namely him saying so. I'll touch on that in a second. His story has been skewed so many different ways you have to be careful whom you believe here.

A mutually agreed upon parting of ways is a nice way of saying Matta was fired.

From the Columbus newspaper

Matta, 50, was fired at Ohio State last June after 13 seasons with the Buckeyes. He took Ohio State to the national title game in 2007,

ESPN

Matta was fired at Ohio State because he'd missed two tournaments in a row. Add to that he lost three players due to transfers and missed out on a couple of recruits.

Why did he miss out on those guys?

According to Matta:

“Somebody told a recruit I was dying,” Matta said. “Swear to God. Not that my foot doesn’t lift, but I was going to die. Tough business I’m in.”

He added that the recruit’s father then called him saying that the recruit was going to delay the announcement of his commitment because of health issues. When Matta asked the father what was wrong, he told Matta it was not the recruit’s health, it was Matta’s.

“He said, ‘Well it’s your health. You’re going to die.’ I said, ‘I’ve never missed a day of work, I’ve never missed a day of recruiting, I’ve never missed a game,” Matta said.

Matta has gone out to recruit this year more than he ever has in the past, according to team sources, taking advantage of off days and seeing as many recruits as possible in the 130 days allotted by the NCAA per year — which should be a sign that Matta’s health isn’t a variable.

Last season he was actively pursued by three teams in D1 play: two of them from the SEC. Matta turned down UGA (who ended up going with Crean which is of note considering how many have been talking about Avery's buyout and Crean is sitting on one in the multi-millions.) Ole Miss went with Kermit. All indications I've seen led to Matta wanting the UGA job until meeting with UGA officials.

While he was meeting with Ole Miss officials, ESPN reported, "According to one source close to Matta, he currently is in much better shape physically and is rejuvenated after dealing with back and foot issues."

In my view that's it's not about his health. It's about whether or not the job at Bama is good enough to attract Matta. If he's interested in UGA and Ole Miss, I'd say the chances are good he'd meet with Byrne. Then it's all about what UA would, or will, offer if the fits seems right.

 

[Bama News]

Watch Stadium Channel on Bally Sports Live - MiLB, BKFC, PFL

Stream free live sports on Stadium. Fast growing combat sports including Bare Knuckle FC, Pro Fighters League, SlapFight plus MiLB and Banana Ball games.

watchstadium.com

Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne decided to make a move with Coach Avery Johnson after a disappointing season in which a talented Crimson Tide team didn’t get into the NCAA Tournament. Johnson, who wasn’t hired by Byrne four years ago, went to just one NCAA Tournament in his four seasons in Tuscaloosa.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Alabama is obviously football-crazed but the program has had its share of success on the hardwood. Alabama has gone to the Sweet 16 eight times in its history and it went to the Elite Eight once.

THE DECISION-MAKER

Greg Byrne – He’s considered a football guy but Byrne does his homework when it comes to hoops. He’s been an athletic director since 2008 – he’s now at his third stop – but this will be his first hoops hire. He inherited Rick Stansbury at Mississippi State and Sean Miller was already at Arizona when he got there. The same was the case for Johnson when Byrnes arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2017.

Men’s Basketball Hires: None

TAKE A SWING

Chris Beard, Texas Tech – I’d be surprised if Beard leaves Texas Tech for Alabama but it’s worth a shot. I’d throw everything I could at him to try and lure him to Tuscaloosa. Beard has turned Texas Tech into a nationally relevant program and should be the frontrunner to win National Coach of the Year.

SECOND CALL

Kelvin Sampson, Houston – There’s a thought that Sampson would go to Arkansas if it opened but maybe Byrne could convince him to come to Tuscaloosa for the right package. Sampson has done a tremendous job turning around the Cougars program the last couple of years.

WORTH A SHOT

Steve Prohm, Iowa State – Prohm seems to be the ideal candidate, largely because he was a manager at Alabama way back when. But there’s a case to be made that Prohm has a better job now in Ames — and I fully expect Prohm to stay with the Cyclones.

Mick Cronin, Cincinnati – I’m not sure he’d make the move but Cronin has done one heck of a job rebuilding and sustaining success with the Bearcats. It’s worth calling a guy that has nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

OTHER CANDIDATES

Nate Oats, Buffalo – He doesn’t fit geographically but Oats has gone to the NCAA Tournament in three of his four seasons since being elevated from his assistant spot after Bobby Hurley left for Arizona State. Byrne could opt to go this route, especially after watching Oats and the Bulls destroy his former coach, Sean Miller, and Arizona last year in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Thad Matta – He was fired at Ohio State a couple years ago and the big question is whether he truly has any interest in coming back. He said no to Georgia last year so it’s difficult to imagine he’d take the ‘Bama job – unless he’s got the itch now that he didn’t have a year ago.

Mike Young, Wofford – He’s shown the ability to coach, evaluate and develop guys. Young has gone to the NCAA Tournament five times, including earning a No. 7 seed this season and nearly knocking off Kentucky in the second round.

John Brannen, Northern Kentucky – The good? He’s a former Alabama assistant. The bad? He was on a Crimson Tide staff that was let go after six years and just one NCAA Tournament appearance. He’s done a heck of a job at Northern Kentucky, taking the Nurse to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three years.

Matt McMahon, Murray State – He has taken the Racers to the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons and he also recruited a kid named Ja Morant. It’s just a matter of time before McMahon gets a power conference gig.

Wes Miller, UNC Greensboro – The former UNC guard turned around the program and he took the program to the NCAA Tournament last year and almost got them there again this season.

Ryan Odom, UMBC – The Retrievers pulled the ultimate upset a year ago, becoming the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed. Odom has southern ties so that could help.

MY PICK: Chris Beard – Alabama has money. I’d make Beard an offer that he can’t refuse. He’s one of top up-and-coming coaches in the country.


WHO I THINK THEY WILL WIND UP HIRING: Thad Matta – Here’s what I know: Matta is feeling better. He doesn’t love attention, and he would be happy in the shadow of Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa. There’s also the fact that Byrne is close with Sean Miller from his days in Arizona, and Miller is extremely close with Matta. Just a hunch.