LMU Head Coaching Candidates

[greendoberman]

Since I saw this coming, I worked on some possible coaching candidates over the weekend. I'm sure I missed quite a few and some on the list may not merit consideration.

Please feel free to ask questions about the candidates and feel free to add names you deserve merit.

Let's keep this constructive and informative as this is a critical hire for this program.

[greendoberman]

Possible coaching candidates:

Donny Daniels
Scott Duncan
Scott Garson
Danny Manning
Richard Pitino
Glynn Cyprien
Ben Johnson
Ron Sanchez
Mark Hudson
Steve Wojciechowski
Chris Collins
Gib Arnold
Bob Cantu
Phil Johnson
Greg Gard
Howard Moore
Doug Oliver
Leon Rice
Tommy Lloyd
Ray Giacoletti
Robert Burke
Mike Lonergan
Pat Duguette
Ryan Odom
Chris Mack
Mike Adras
Ken Bone
Ritchie McKay
Archie Miller
Steve McLain
Bob Knight
Tony Shaver
Dee Vick
Todd Bozeman
Steve Merfeld
Dave Rice
Craig Neal
Steve Henson
Cameron Dollar
Ralph Willard
Scott Cherry
Kyle Smith
Russell Turner
Rick Adelman
Mike Montgomery
Larry Farmer
George Raveling
Jim Harrick
Steve Lavin
Kelvin Sampson
Paul Westhead
Ben Braun(?)
Mike Dunlap
Bobby Braswell

[LMUpepbander]

To be honest, I think that now would be the time to look at someone with some experience, since we really didn't know what we would get with Rodney. For instance, all I kept hearing when he was hired was how he had all his LA area recruiting pipelines intact from Arizona, but that obviously got us nowhere. Mike Montgomery might be a dark horse, with his son going here. Westhead I think's too over the hill, although he would be great for PR purposes. Lavin might also be up there, since he expressed interest in USF, and LMU's a lot more solid behind the scenes.

[smc4]

Green D you've obviously done your homework. Do you have a top 5 wishlist from that group?

[golions]

There have been a lot of grumblings in Berkeley about the staus of Cal Head BB Coach Ben Braun. Word is he may be a goner at season's end.

Add his name to the list.

[greendoberman]

Added Ben Braun with a question mark next to his name since he's currently at Cal and would not leave there for here on his own.

[greendoberman]

MVL,
I'm a big believer that you are only as good as your mentor. To be a successful head coach you need to learn from a strong coach when you are an assistant. That was my complaint with RT as I've never though Lute was a very good floor coach.

We also need to consider someone that can recruit within the constraints of our strong academic reputation. That's why I am not high on guys like Harrick, Lavin, etc. as they will constantly bump heads with admissions on questionable recruits.

My personal blueprint (just my own opinion) for a candidate I would consider worthy would ideally come from those two backgrounds first.

LMU and other WCC schools typically have a bias towards the West Coast when looking at candidates. LMU specifically has leaned as well towards other Catholic or Jesuit institutes as well at times. That is understandable, but we must make sure we don't box ourselves in and eliminate someone who may be the best fit.

Here's my top 5 right with brief explanations:

[greendoberman]

1) Tony Shaver- current head coach at W & M. Would be tough to get him to leave there, however. Played and learned under Dean Smith and had success in D-3. Outstanding floor coach and fits in academically as W & M is even more stringent with its academic requirements than LMU. Would also like to see his assistant Dee Vick get a shot.

2) Mike Montgomery- fits multiple criteria. Is a big name, West Coaster, has multiple ties to school-son, AD. Sterling reputation and was winner at strong academic school. Could be hungry to prove he can still coach after minimal success in pros.

3) Russell Turner- both a Montgomery and Shaver disciple. Was a finalist last time around (and in my eyes, was a mistake not hiring him). Pro and con in that he is young and unproven.

4) Paul Westhead- Pepperdine turned back the clock with Asbury, why not us as well. There's no reason not to put feelers out to see if he's interested. Obviously he loves coaching and if it doesn't work out, well we're not going any further down the food chain.

5) Dave Rice- played under legendary Tark. Has paid dues learning under many different coaches, some good, some not so good. Currently key guy at BYU. Is a clean cut candidate that has a thick rolodex of contacts.

Honorable mention: Greg Gard- don't know much about this guy but he is Bo Ryan's top assistant at Wisconsin and played for him at UW-Plateville. Strictly a candidate based on the fact I think Ryan is one of the best floor coaches in the country and his assistant hopefully learned by osmosis.

[ironlions]

That is quite a extensive list. I'm not sure if his name on the list but I think Mike Dunlap would be a great for LMU.

www.nba.com/nuggets/staff_directory/dunlap_bio.html

I'm sure we would have to pay up to get him a way from his NBA job.

Go Lions!

[lionspride]

If Husak does not name a new coach in 3 weeks, it is obvious he does not have a plan. However, I think he must have someone in his back pocket to make this move. I thought the announcement would be made on Tuesday, but it was Wednesday.

[tom70]

I HAVE ONE NAME FOR THE LIONS...IF YOU DO SERIOUS HOMEWORK HE MAY BE THE 1 COACH THAT GETS THE MOST FROM WHAT HE HAS WITH VERY LITTLE TO WORK WITH...HE WOULD BE A GREAT GET FOR THE WCC....BOBBY BRASWELL CSUN

[greendoberman]

Good find in Dunlap. Did not know his resume or that he was an alum. Will add him to the list.

I thought hard about putting Braswell on it. I just didn't see him leaving CSUN, a program competing for a berth in the Big West, to start over here.
I guess money would talk if it came to that. I'll add him back in as well.

[bankman44]

I have always liked Mike Dunlap. He recruited Australia well at Metro State and of course won the two national titles there. I was at LMU during the coaching search that brought in Steve Aggers. Dunlaps name was being tossed around then mainly because he was an Alum and was good friends with Lane Bove.

The rumors were that Bove and Husak were in charge of making the alternating hires. Husak made the hire with Bradely, Bove took Aggers because Dunlap had dropped his name out, and Husak got the Tention pick. Sounds like Bove is calling the shots on this one and I wouldn't be suprised if she goes with Dunlap.

My dark horse pick that would be great is Nolan Richardson. His contract with Arkansas just ended so he is free to take a new job. He really wanted that Arkansas State job but things didn't work out. Im not sure if he is an LA guy.

[shanny28]

With the recent departure of Jay John at Oregon State, Jesse Evans at USF, and now Rodney from LMU can we please can the idea of taking anymore UofA assistant coaches. LMU needs to get someone with a track record of winning who is willing to work for peanuts. I think Nolan Richardson would be an outstanding choice because he fits both criteria. The man is the only coach in history to win an NAIA title, NIT Championship, and NCAA title. If that doesn't speak to his abilities I don't know what does. He wanted the Arkansas State job badly and was denied the opportunity. I'm sick of the losing at LMU. Its gone from bad to worse over the past decade. How can a school located in one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country get consistently outrecruited by lesser institutions? Aside from Portland every other school in the WCC has experienced some level of success over the past 10 years. I'm hoping that LMU makes a commitment to winning again.

[ldawg]

This will be an important hire. It can get us on track or officially send the lions basketball program to siberia .