ponyswim wrote:I have no doubt that Rick Hart and staff has been on the lookout for a new coach for a couple of years. Not extensively, but keeping their eyes open asking questions about different people. They have been looking for someone with some Texas ties among other things. I think after talking to Rick Barnes and others, pretty quickly Lanier was identified as an excellent potential coach for SMU. I don't think you do an exhaustive search by interviewing 5-10 coaches for hours and hours - lot of people can interview. You do your homework with the Rick Barnes of the world - which I am sure they did. They is the way most of the coaching hiring world works. Basketball coaches and AD's know each other - they know who is good.
well this was a very unique situation in that SMU had a successful coach whose contract they refused to renew, so yes, they probably have been on the lookout for a new coach 'maybe' for the past couple of years. Yet Rick Hart stated at the press conference Lanier first got on his radar TUESDAY, 5 days before his hiring.
So my question to you ponyswim, or for anyone else who wants to answer it is this, If Rick Barnes (from Tennessee no less...where Rick Hart's dad was AD) has so much sway over our hiring of a BB coach, why weren't they talking during these past 2 years and why wasn't Lanier on our short list, at least for the past several months.
I agree with xc. Hope Lanier does well, but this certainly DOES NOT appear to be an exhaustive search.