Why couldn't June do a better job replacing assistants?

[ponyinNC]

There is no defending Jones' track record of hiring assistants, whether SMU had big $$ to spend or not. It may be a good question going forward to guage where we are on the P5-G5 salary food chain, but even Jason B knows that Jones history included 3 commonalities:

Favoritism, Cronyism, and Nepotism. Gansz Jr was maybe the worst hire of all - just terrible. He got the job because his dad was friends with June, but he never recruited, his ST"s were garbage...and oh yeah, he was a drunk!

Reinebold leaving was so strange - never understood what happened there. He at least put effort into recruiting LA and East TX (and used social media, OMG what a concept!)

Jones' staff usually had 4-5 coaches that NEVER RECRUITED. NEVER! Why the heck do you have asst coaches on your staff that don't recruit!?!? College assistants don't need big bucks in order to put effort into recruiting. In this category I would put Suan, Morrison, McKnight, Haering,

The only coaches we had that recruited were Phillips, Mason, Hill and Odum. And obviously Klemm.

[Rebel10]

Since he was not bashful about complaining, I assume the budget was adequate. My guess is he approached hiring Assistants the same way he approached recruiting. He didn't search for good candidates, he just took someone he knew would not challenge him and happened to submit a resume.

That is what it looks like imo.

[ponyswim]

My comments are only about looking forward.
Learn from the past - and the lesson may be that salaries were fine, or not.
Go forward to get the best HC and staff possible.

[smusportspage]

I am absolutely not being an apologist. I agreed with letting him go. I am concerned that the school isn't going to put the necessary money towards hiring quality assistant coaches.

I hope that the problem was simply jones hiring incompetent buddies. I really do.

But someone needs to make sure we have the money set aside to hire a quality coach and great assistants. Just a head coach won't do. Larry has been great but it is the package of assistants that make the program roll.

You guys think I am trying to protect someone but I am not. I am trying to make sure everything is put in place to take us to where we need to go moving forward. I think it is in all of our best interests to make sure the next hire can take us to the top.

You should really get a rivals account. Along with about a 1/5 of regular ponyfans.

Sorry, don't pay for my info when it is not necessary. Plenty of info out there, just have to know where to find it or be willing to wait for the straight skinny to surface eventually. Besides paying for info. like that just seems desperate and sort of sleezy. Thats just my opinion but understand why some will pay.

[couch 'em]

I am absolutely not being an apologist. I agreed with letting him go. I am concerned that the school isn't going to put the necessary money towards hiring quality assistant coaches.

I hope that the problem was simply jones hiring incompetent buddies. I really do.

But someone needs to make sure we have the money set aside to hire a quality coach and great assistants. Just a head coach won't do. Larry has been great but it is the package of assistants that make the program roll.

You guys think I am trying to protect someone but I am not. I am trying to make sure everything is put in place to take us to where we need to go moving forward. I think it is in all of our best interests to make sure the next hire can take us to the top.

You should really get a rivals account. Along with about a 1/5 of regular ponyfans.

Sorry, don't pay for my info when it is not necessary. Plenty of info out there, just have to know where to find it or be willing to wait for the straight skinny to surface eventually. Besides paying for info. like that just seems desperate and sort of sleezy. Thats just my opinion but understand why some will pay.

he obviously doesn't know where to look or he wouldn't be asking such questions

[JasonB]

When June was first here, every time there was a discussion about an extension, he would wait until the last minute to sign it, and try to make the school commit to certain things before signing. We all make fun of the IPF and all, but another item that was in there was June felt like the school had promised to pay his assistants more and never did it.

Knowing that, and realizing that whenever someone left the program June would replace him with someone less competent, I started thinking about it. Is June really just hiring his buddies out of laziness and nepotism? Or is he hiring those folks because he took some of the old assistant salaries, gave raises to current assistants, and had a smaller budget to work with? Because these new guys were old friends with baggage, they would come here and work for cheaper.

Anyway, the point of all of this is that the assistants are just as important as the head coach. The head coach doesn't need local ties, but if he doesn't, the assistants do. That is what worked with LB. I want us to hire a head coach, but if don't have the budget to hire an OC or a DC and the head coach has to run one of the coordinator positions at the same time, it isn't going to work. Just pay attention to the assistants we hire as much as the head coach, and pressure the AD to put the right budget into it.

[blackoutpony]

I am absolutely not being an apologist. I agreed with letting him go. I am concerned that the school isn't going to put the necessary money towards hiring quality assistant coaches.

I hope that the problem was simply jones hiring incompetent buddies. I really do.

But someone needs to make sure we have the money set aside to hire a quality coach and great assistants. Just a head coach won't do. Larry has been great but it is the package of assistants that make the program roll.

You guys think I am trying to protect someone but I am not. I am trying to make sure everything is put in place to take us to where we need to go moving forward. I think it is in all of our best interests to make sure the next hire can take us to the top.

You should really get a rivals account. Along with about a 1/5 of regular ponyfans.

Sorry, don't pay for my info when it is not necessary. Plenty of info out there, just have to know where to find it or be willing to wait for the straight skinny to surface eventually. Besides paying for info. like that just seems desperate and sort of sleezy. Thats just my opinion but understand why some will pay.

You're so clueless.... Open your damn eyes man. Sleezy for paying for information and stories related to SMU on a daily basis? That's like calling it sleezy that you buy tickets to the actual game when you could watch it on TV because you'll find out the score either way.

It's damn near impossible to find anything related to my Alma Mater in the mainstream media. I like hearing about what's going on inside the program. I like hearing what recruits have to say about our coaching staff's, the good and the bad. If you prefer to have your blinders on and pretend everything is nice and ok, then so be it. I'm one of those people that prefer to be informed, about what I'm talking about, instead of just spouting worthless drivel like an uninformed buffoon.

[ghost]

Mac Brown with two good coordinators and young aggressive assistants that still have the fire and want to be head coaches one day would have saved his job at Ut. He should do everything but coach. Would be a good fit at SMU and I think he would like the challenge along with not going out as mediocre.

[Rebel10]

When June was first here, every time there was a discussion about an extension, he would wait until the last minute to sign it, and try to make the school commit to certain things before signing. We all make fun of the IPF and all, but another item that was in there was June felt like the school had promised to pay his assistants more and never did it.

Knowing that, and realizing that whenever someone left the program June would replace him with someone less competent, I started thinking about it. Is June really just hiring his buddies out of laziness and nepotism? Or is he hiring those folks because he took some of the old assistant salaries, gave raises to current assistants, and had a smaller budget to work with? Because these new guys were old friends with baggage, they would come here and work for cheaper.

Anyway, the point of all of this is that the assistants are just as important as the head coach. The head coach doesn't need local ties, but if he doesn't, the assistants do. That is what worked with LB. I want us to hire a head coach, but if don't have the budget to hire an OC or a DC and the head coach has to run one of the coordinator positions at the same time, it isn't going to work. Just pay attention to the assistants we hire as much as the head coach, and pressure the AD to put the right budget into it.

Obviously the staff filled your head wit the same stuff they filled Mexmustangs with. You are just being more subtle with your approach.

Recruiting starts at the top and here is what the UNT coach said today. And they have obviously out-recruited SMU and out-coached SMU with a lesser budget.

Dan McCarney ‏@NTCoachMac 6h

Our #1 priority is keeping the State of Texas HS Football talent at home. Period!

[Mustangs_Maroons]

honest question on Mack Brown, and I know his time at UT was mixed, but generally it started out really well and then it faded. But, given his latest (poor) experience which as also at the college level (so we have a good proxy), and given the fact that he struggled even with all the resources and talent that he had at his disposal at UT, what makes us think he can do what we need of him here?

[Digetydog]

honest question on Mack Brown, and I know his time at UT was mixed, but generally it started out really well and then it faded. But, given his latest (poor) experience which as also at the college level (so we have a good proxy), and given the fact that he struggled even with all the resources and talent that he had at his disposal at UT, what makes us think he can do what we need of him here?

While Texas is viewed as a "power" school, everyone post-DKR failed to really do much there until Mack came around. He had 9 ten win seasons on the 40 acres and probably lost a national championship when McCoy got injured v Bama. Then, the wheels fell off. He never found the right defensive coordinator after Muschamp left.

1) great at recruiting
2) relatively young and in good health
3) chip on his shoulder
4) at UT, they filled up their classes early and missed out on guys like Manziel. He won't have that problem on the Hilltop.
5) trying to keep control of FB players in Austin is more difficult than Dallas.

With a good DC and assistants, he would do fine by SMU.

[sbsmith]

But, given his latest (poor) experience which as also at the college level (so we have a good proxy), and given the fact that he struggled even with all the resources and talent that he had at his disposal at UT, what makes us think he can do what we need of him here?

Nothing really, Mack hasn't taken on a job like SMU in a very long time and he all but quit on his last job. Remember we have to hire more than just puffed up record which is all Mack is at this point. Does anyone really want another guy in here using us to pad his retirement fund?

[floridianstang]

But, given his latest (poor) experience which as also at the college level (so we have a good proxy), and given the fact that he struggled even with all the resources and talent that he had at his disposal at UT, what makes us think he can do what we need of him here?

Nothing really, Mack hasn't taken on a job like SMU in a very long time and he all but quit on his last job. Remember we have to hire more than just puffed up record which is all Mack is at this point. Does anyone really want another guy in here using us to pad his retirement fund?

Answer is no.

#MorrisandBeatytoSMU

[SMU Football Blog]

Don Nelson = June Jones. I have been saying it for years. I just never understood how right I was.

Once you understand this, it all becomes clear.

[PonyKai]

June hired at least one former assistant to do him a solid. Noble intentions, but to the detriment of the program. So, it may be both. But June most definitely made at least some assistant hires by choice not necessity.