🏀 Avery Johnson hired

[planomateo]

 

[planomateo]

 

[Bamabww]

April 6, 2015

Hoops: Avery Johnson signs 6 year, $17 million deal with Alabama

Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist

The University of Alabama made it official on Monday night.

Avery Johnson, the electrically energetic former NBA coach and ESPN analyst, is the new leader of the Crimson Tide men's basketball program.

Johnson replaces Anthony Grant, who was fired after six years. Terms of Johnson's contract were not announced, but The News has learned that the deal is for six years and over $17 million, plus incentives.

"I am very pleased to announce that I have reached an agreement with Avery Johnson to become the new head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama," UA athletics director Bill Battle said in an official statement on Monday night.

"Coach Johnson has an impressive record from the professional ranks, as both a player and a head coach. His personal history is a testament to what character, enthusiasm, perseverance, talent and intelligence can do. He has shown fortitude and skill in every opportunity.

"I am confident that Avery will provide our student-athletes with the best qualities of leadership: commitment, hard work, enthusiasm, poise, confidence, and pride. I am very excited about having Avery join the Crimson Tide family. Not only do I believe that he will be an excellent head coach, but I am also convinced that he will be a tremendous example to our student-athletes in all areas on and off the court."

The time for Johnson's introductory press conference has not yet been set.

- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1754481#sthash.vskxjROk.dpuf

 

[psychojoe]

I can't remember where I saw it, but I remember seeing his name out there as a possibility fir some coaching vacancy when the season ended. Perhaps he put the word out that he wanted back in coaching.

 

[UAgrad93]

Of all people that put his name out there as a candidate for our position, was none other than Kevin Scarbinsky! Shocked the piss out of me!

 

[Ump]

Thats hard to believe coming from Scab.

 

[TerryP]

I can't remember where I saw it, but I remember seeing his name out there as a possibility fir some coaching vacancy when the season ended. Perhaps he put the word out that he wanted back in coaching.

Of all people that put his name out there as a candidate for our position, was none other than Kevin Scarbinsky! Shocked the piss out of me!

What's Scarbinsky have to lose?

H, I saw his name come up in relation to the Texas job in a quick note from a guy who mentioned Johnson had made it known to them he'd like to get back into coaching. Then I saw it leak over to a few Bama fans who suggested him, then he turned into a candidate about the same time Scarbinsky put his piece out.

After I'd seen his name several times over a 24-36 hour period I started looking to see where it was coming from. Yesterday, through some media outlet, I heard the same story sequence laid out.

I've had this thought on my mind for almost two days now...

Knowing Johnson reached out to Battle makes me ask "what made the job one he'd consider taking?"

Sure, there are the things we all know about; he wanted to get back into coaching. He misses the game. Some suggest he's tired of the NBA coaching style but I've yet to see anything to led me to believe that's the case.

But, what made him think, "Tuscaloosa, I want that job."

I coming to the opinion that Battle didn't strike out when he pursued Marshall; specifically, how it played out publicly. Were there any questions posed, from the various media outlets, that questioned the commitment from the to basketball?

(As you can see, I'm still processing...)

 

[TerryP]

I assumed we'd be waiting until Tuesday to officially announce due to the NCAA championship game being on tonight.

Definitely strange timing. Lets see if CBS announces the hire at halftime...

Why is the timing strange? Is the "strange," the point it was released at the same time as basketball is focused on the national title game? Or, that UA released something timed like this? It certainly wasn't news.

I read over a few timelines and noticed one tweet answering a question, "...nothing to worry about, it'll be done soon" when talking about Avery signing. Then, when it gets done in the same hour, people get upset because it's announced?

A news dump that was positive...can't say I mind that, at all.

 

[UAgrad93]

I had no issue of when the announcement was made. I thought that was the idea behind these things was to "make a splash" during the sports big event. I also thought that "hey, maybe that was when the deal was finalized!"
By no means did I mean to give Scarbo national credit. I just saw that he had mentioned AJ in the more local scene.

 

[TerryP]

By no means did I mean to give Scarbo national credit. I just saw that he had mentioned AJ in the more local scene.

I didn't mean to imply that. I've seen a handful of threads mention him and the point he mentioned Johnson.

You know me; it's habitual. When I see something/someone come from left field I'm caught: "where's that coming from?"

 

[planomateo]

I guess with it being reported Sunday/Monday, they'd wait until Tuesday to officially announce and get a bit more news generated. At this point, waiting a day probably won't matter as much because the talk will be about Duke (and possibly UConn vs Notre Dame).

Just seemed like a little more thought could have been put into officially announcing it.

 

[TerryP]

I just feel like his name came out of the blue. I think guys like Howland and Barnes are safer hires, but what do I know? They're known commodities in college where Johnson isn't. Avery Johnson could definitely be better than both. One thing I like is that he has a big personality. He'll get people excited about the program again.

You're thinking about one of the same things I've been; two, actually.

Known commodity: I asked several people yesterday what was the first thing they thought of when they heard the name, "Avery Johnson." Two guys were puzzled on the hire. I asked what would have been their thought a week ago and one pointed to playing days, the other as an announcer. Neither mentioned coaching.

Small sample size I know but it's peculiar to me he isn't though of in relation to his Dallas days, or national award winning years. I don't follow the NBA so there was little chance of me knowing, much less thinking, about those coaching ranks.

Program promotion: I don't know if you caught the conversation, but about a year ago several of us talked about how Grant had missed the marketing end of the program. I pointed to Coach Murph and Kristi as two great examples: Murph, hands down, one of the best. I also said I was lost on what Grant thought when he took the job.

Now, I consider the marketing aspect and have to consider how Battle would promote this. Then you have to weigh in there's a reason Johnson had his stints with ESPN; personality. I can't come up with another way to say, "the face of the program." There's a lot of potential here...do they see it and are they going to take advantage?

 

[TerryP]

Just seemed like a little more thought could have been put into officially announcing it.

On ESPN, the NCAAM front page, we see this:



I'm thinking ..."here I am, the day after the men's championship being played, and I see Crimson Tide on the front page."

I saw a few tweets from different mediaites voicing supposed shock; some saying why. I think they were pissed they had to work instead of getting a chance to watch the game.

To them I say, "double task, (insert appropriate word(s)) "

 

[bama4life]

I started thinking that maybe AJ came to Bama and his son would transfer from A&M to Ttown, but that does not seem to be the case.

Apparently the recruitment process of AJ's son and family were pushing for him to coach in college.

So why college basketball? Johnson's only coaching experience came in the NBA, compiling a 440-254 record in parts of seven seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets.

Johnson said he was re-energized in the two-plus years since he was fired by the Nets. He saw the college basketball machine work up close with the recruitment and freshman season of his son Avery Johnson Jr. at Texas A&M last season.

Johnson Jr. will remain an Aggie, his father said. There are no plans for him to transfer to the SEC program his father now coaches.

"He's excited for me in this new challenge," Johnson said of his son. "He's always wanted me to coach in college. He didn't want me to go back to the NBA. ... my whole family got a chance to meet coach Battle and Mr. St. John. So it was more than just my decision. It was a family decision and my kids were really pushing me to do this. As excited as I was, they were five times as excited."

Working through the process with his son, Johnson got to work with high-level AAU players in Texas.

"I just got really excited by it," he said. "I was thinking this could be a different challenge, a different opportunity so I thought with my skill set, I could best help in terms of leadership, character development, help players who aspire to be NBA players, help them reach their goals with my wealth of knowledge and resources."

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2015/04/avery_johnson_tells_story_of_h.html

 

[UAgrad93]

I could see why AJ doesn't want his son transferring in or allowing him to transfer. Coaching your own kid has it's ups and it's downs. A LOT of times it is more negative than positive. It can cause a rift amongst the players if the son was getting more playing time than what others thought he "deserved". It can cause a rift at home too. He coaches his son harder and seems more negative toward him. The reason I say this is because I saw it as a player in HS and then as a HS coach working with a coach with a son. I commend CAJ for going ahead and saying Jr. would be staying at A&M.

 

[Bamabww]

April 7, 2015

Avery Johnson joins Alabama men's basketball

Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist

Avery Johnson, the electrically energetic former NBA coach and ESPN analyst, is the new leader of the Crimson Tide men's basketball program.

Johnson replaces Anthony Grant, who was fired after six years. Terms of Johnson's contract were not announced, but The Tuscaloosa News has learned that the deal is for six years and over $17 million, plus incentives.

"I am very pleased to announce that I have reached an agreement with Avery Johnson to become the new head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama," UA athletics director Bill Battle said in an official statement on Monday night.

"Coach Johnson has an impressive record from the professional ranks, as both a player and a head coach. His personal history is a testament to what character, enthusiasm, perseverance, talent and intelligence can do. He has shown fortitude and skill in every opportunity.

"I am confident that Avery will provide our student-athletes with the best qualities of leadership: commitment, hard work, enthusiasm, poise, confidence and pride. I am very excited about having Avery join the Crimson Tide family. Not only do I believe that he will be an excellent head coach, but I am also convinced that he will be a tremendous example to our student-athletes in all areas on and off the court."

The time for Johnson's introductory press conference has not yet been set, but one of the characteristics that made the 50-year old Johnson a strong candidate is his ebullient personality which will help UA both in promoting attendance and in recruiting.

The recruiting started almost immediately after the announcement. Dazon Ingram, the point guard from Theodore who is the state's top uncommitted recruited, said via his Twitter account that he "just had a good talk with Coach Avery Johnson" just an hour after the official announcement.

Johnson, 50, has never coached at the collegiate level, but served as head coach for the Dallas Mavericks from March 2005 until 2010, leading the team to the NBA Finals in 2006 and earning NBA Coach of the Year honors for that season. He also coached for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets from 2010 until 2012. He currently serves as an NBA analyst for ESPN, appearing on NBA Tonight and Sports Center.

Johnson played at Southern University in Baton Rouge after first attending New Mexico Junior College and Cameron University. He is married with two children, including a son, Avery, Jr., who just completed his freshman season on the Texas A&M basketball team.

https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1754512

 

[Bamabww]

Avery Johnson retains current Alabama assistant, works to build rest of staff

Avery Johnson coached the Nets from 2010-12. (NJ.com)
Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com


on April 07, 2015 at 6:32 AM, updated April 07, 2015 at 6:52 AM

Now that Avery Johnson's official at Alabama, the real work begins.

It starts with building a staff and that work is already underway. Johnson plans to meet with the staff remaining from Anthony Grant's tenure, but has already retained one assistant.

Antoine Pettway will remain with the program, AL.com has learned. A star on Alabama's 2004 Elite 8 team, Pettway has been on the Tide staff since 2008.

RELATED: Antoine Pettway could be key to Avery Johnson's success at Alabama

Beyond that, the staff is still being assembled.

Johnson said he's spoken to 25 different people about joining his staff.

"I have an idea of how I want my coaching staff to look," Johnson told AL.com. "We haven't made any final decisions. I still have to meet with the current staff."

But the process is going well, he said. Johnson said he's received "a lot more phone calls than I do on the NBA level."

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2015/04/avery_johnson_assistant_coaches_alabama.html