Dear Doh: Need 3 recruiters not 2

[hoopmanx]

I don't want this to be a diatribe, b/c there are many positive things surrounding SMU basketball. We have our first postseason & 20 win year in forever, acquired funding for Moody renovations, what seems to be a charter plane for the team/recruiting , although I'm not sure that's been verified. We also had a tremendous '11 class, much of it local, and our transfers/ineligibles all come available this upcoming year. Our systems are sound on the court, and don't pose a problem moving forward etc.

The issue I have w/the program is two fold. First, over the 5 years Doh has been around, we've had more assistant coaches leave, and more kids transfer, than is close to normal. Since it's been known for quite some time that Brion Raven & Reggie Brown were either leaving or entertaining other offers, let's address the staff. Simply, Doh has made far more bad hires in his time here, than good ones. The good ones all had a quality career arc and moved on. Lance Irvin left to be an associate head coach. Now, In two years time, we've lost fast-riser, Steve Lutz, who went straight to Creighton, then pillaged Texas for at least two kids, we should have offered when he was here. We clamored for those kids to get offers, but they never came b/c of Doh. Freakin Groselle grew up a Mustang, and his mom played for the ladies team.

Guess what? Lutz had no ability to extend those offers here. Austin chatman & Groselle weren't good enough for Doh, so Lutz grabbed them when he left. What's funny is that Mangino came in, and siad Groselles skillset fit w/the new system so to prioritize him, only about 2 years too late. Lutz was responsible for Vilde, Smith, also was primary on Cotton etc . Now, after one year away from Doh, Lutz is being courted by multiple Big 12 staffs, b/c of his Texas prowess.

Enter Reggie Brown, who was Lutzs recommendation to Doh. Brown can recruit, and did very well in his very first year as recruit coordinator. Straight up, Doh allowed TCU to steal him. I think we all get the Big East deal, but do people understand that our recruit coordinators are the worst paid on our entire staff? Do people understand that our assistants complain about money, more than any batch I've ever seen in revenue basketball.

Now, last summer after Lutz went to the Bluejays, just after Reggie Geary was exposed, we entered the July open evaluation period w/only two sets of eyes. The first was Doh, the other Brown. Suffice it to say, 3 are allowed out, and you need 3 out. Brion Raven helped the cause and did some legwork himself, but now he’s gone too. In an attempt to save their [deleted], they admittedly scouted ’11 and worked ’11. ’12 wasn’t a huge consideration. W/an extended season, Doh wasn’t able to make it out as much this season either. Now, Brown is gone, and effectively we’ve had no one on the entire staff watching 12 & 13. It’s early enough to overcome this lack of scouting, but it will take 2 savvy hires, not one.

After the open eval last July, Doh announced that he’d hired Mangino and Hobbie. Everyone surrounding the program knows that Mangino changed the on court culture. He’s a brilliant tactician and teacher. He’s associate head coach material, as he’s everything that Doh isn’t on the bench. So what does that make Hobbie? Reportedly a shot doctor, an assistant w/bench mileage, and individual position coach. Mostly though, he’s just Doh’s buddy from his bachelor days in NYC, roomates during their Wall St days. Now, I don’t want this to be a dump on Hobbie post, cause he has things to offer, but none of those things are recruiting.

Simply, both Hobbie & Mangino are dead weight on the trail. You can’t have two bench coaches that don’t, can’t and won’t recruit. Furthermore, you can’t pay Hobbie more than Reggie Brown or Steve Lutz, or give him a more desired chair. He’s not responsible for acquiring talent or having them execute in the systems. He’s not responsible for much of anything, other than collecting a check. Other staffs have system, tactician guru’s on the bench, even some that don’t recruit. That said, no one has a system guru that doesn’t recruit, sitting next to another guy that doesn’t recruit or know the system. That’s lol worthy. I’m sorry, but Hobbie is a ‘yes man,’ and is regarded that way in the industry. The thought that we shot better b/c of his shot doctoring is funny, if not absurd. We had shooters, they just needed a system & movement to get them clean looks, in desired locations. That’s Mangino, not Hobbie.

Now, I’ve heard a number of the candidates to replace Reggie, and some actually have better resumes than either Lutz or Brown, when they arrived. Only problem is that they aren’t regarded as dynamic closers in the way Lutz/Brown are. Pooh williamson is a name that comes up all the time. He was basically 3rd guy on Turgeons staff at A&M, and is widely regarded as a class individual & very professional. He also never landed anyone of worth to A&M, that was mostly all Spinelli, and that still wasn’t regarded as strong staff in terms of recruiting. I’m not against williamson, if teamed w/another capable young, preferably black, recruiter. That could be a very good look for SMU. See Talvin Hester, maybe even a Kenton Paulino, if you’re going for something.

What’s not a good look is just Doherty & Pooh! That won’t work, and isn’t better than what TCU, UNT, Baylor, Texas, prob A&M & UTEP have lined up. It’s not so much that Pooh can’t get it done, it’s that we’re still short on recruiting staff. We’re askin 2 to do the job of 3, and one of the 2 is our head coach. That’s just dumb.

The way you accomplish balance, is to move Hobbie off the bench, and give him another title altogether. He’s probably not a natural ops guy, so you may have to be creative and invent a position, sorta like Maryland did to accommodate Joe Harrington. Heck, Turgeon moved his 2nd assistant at A&M, to an ops related position at Maryland, cause he can’t recruit. Like Hobbie, capable and a good set of basketball eyes, very competent & worth having around. That said, you recruit shooters, you don’t teach them to shoot when they arrive, especially if your aim is to be Top 25 in everything you do.

Let me give you guys a practical example of not having the right template. This Spring, Reggie loves Drew Charles from Azle. Since they are busy w/the CIT and other things, only Reggie saw Charles. Doh needed more viewings cause he wasn’t looking for ’12 last summer. Meanwhile, Charles wants SMU, but we’re afraid to offer, cause its early, we haven’t scouted properly, and maybe there’s something better around the corner in July. Charles calls SMU, gives them right of first refusal, and we pass on the kid, cause we haven’t put the eyes on him. He verbals to UTA that same night. I’m not saying I wanted Charles or that we are worse off w/o him, I’m merely saying we’re getting beat to the evaluation punch by having only 2. As of now, we only have one, and if the 2nd isn’t a world-beater, we’re walking a slippery slope.

[hoopmanx]

Also, understand this. I spent the better part of a week basically in and around Marylands war room. From the second Turgeon was mentioned as a viable candidate, he was told that Pooh wasn't coming to College Park, cause he couldn't recruit Texas much less Maryland. Now, a week later, he's probably going to be SMUs new recruit coordinator by himself? The lone man on the trail, not named Doh? are u effin kidding me?

[ponyscott]

Did you send this directly to someone in Athletics or is this just an open letter?

[hoopmanx]

Did you send this directly to someone in Athletics or is this just an open letter?

I didn't send this specifically, but I've addressed it w/some of the powers that be. Most tend to agree w/me in basketball circles, particularly w/regards to this, except Doh. Doh has this tendancy to get hurt/hold grudges. No Irv, not b/c Irv couldn't do the job, but b/c Doh is still mad Irv left after two years, just like Reggie. Hell, Irv left to be an associate head coach in Illinois, where he's from, and his Dad heads up the Mac Irvin Fire. He had to take that job.

I think we all know Doh is a control freak, so he tries to bury his head on these issues. Several days ago, supposedly rivals tried to speak w/him, to basically confirm or deny the Reggie to TCU rumors. As the story goes, he basically was rude to our rivals guy, told him he was rumor-mongering etc. A day later, reggie did his formal interview and accepted. He'd had a written offer on the table for weeks, so the interview was just a formality. Doh basically tried to bury it. SID tries to help Doh on these issues and he'd rather play stubborn and bury his head like an ostrich. The reality is that he still has nightmares about Rashad MCCants & his Dad. Paranoid and always will be. Unfortunately for him, this is our program, not his, and on occasion some transparency needs to exist. Hiring just Pooh would be a screw up, pure and simple.

[PonyKai]

Much more informed now...wish I could add to the whining to help achieve the best possible outcome.

[2ndandlong]

Definitely an interesting perspective

[ponyscott]

How could we at PF, effectively, pass these views on to anyone who may influence?...or is it a foregone conclusion?

[RGV Pony]

Link this thread and tweet it to Doh

[hoopmanx]

fwiw, a libation or two later, I want to revamp some of the prevous statements, or at least make them more clear.

1) Pooh would be a tremendous addition to our staff. I'm not lamenting his potential hire, I'm celebrating it. My issue is that we need 2 guys like Pooh, not Pooh alone. Its hard to argue against a Pooh hire, but what's the end goal, if its just him? The dept would take on an extra salary, but that's how you fill the new Moody. Top 25. Give Pooh & Doh help on the road!

2) I think Hobbie is a program asset. and a good coach. Also, he was pretty good on morale this past year. I dont want to see him thrown away, he helps Crum. I want to see the office restructured ever so slightly to accomodate the proper number of basketball men & recruiters.

3) In terms of eligibility, Smith/Vilde/Manuel/Cunningham/Jones/Norman are all pretty much freshmen this upcoming year. Frog a soph etc. Depending on Haynes ship, we have 3 to give in '12. Just b/c we're young and talented, makes these next 3 ir 4 ships that much more important. We can load up for 3 or 4 years w/another sick class. Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas.

[Big Easy Pony]

Fantastic stuff, Hoopmanx.
Thanks for posting.

[ponyscott]

Way to put some' thinking juice' to it Ponydoh! We appreciate the time and cerebral efforts you put into the SMU basketball. We just hope that the powers that be will take heed of the constructive criticism.

[hoopmanx]

Way to put some' thinking juice' to it Ponydoh! We appreciate the time and cerebral efforts you put into the SMU basketball. We just hope that the powers that be will take heed of the constructive criticism.

Well, I sincerely hope people don't take it as bashing an improving program, as much as being constructive about what it truly takes to be top 25. Again, love Pooh, and appreciate what Hobbie brings, we just don't have too many guys w/both skillsets, coaching & recruiting. Since that's the case, we need an additional recruiter, which may mean moving a few people around in the basketball office.

Its not about reaming guys like Reggie or Lutz for taking better positions, or harshing on their potential replacement. We just need 3 capable trail guys, all of which who are skilled enough to snare an impact kid on their own. We don't have that, and that's a competitive disadvantage.

I make this point now for two reasons. First, its poignant given that Reggie & Brion are gone. Second, it's been my fear that the hoops office, and certain members of the staff, view '12 as the opportunity to grab some 'role' players, cause there isn't much playing time available, given the current roster and its youth. While that may be true to an extent, it's bad form to assume kids like Leslee Smith returns full strength, or that Jalen Jones is a guaranteed star, same w/Manuel. Who is to say we can't grab kids in '12 that put Jalen/Manuel on the bench? Competition, not recruiting over, needs to be the goal of Top 25 programs. Get the best kids, line them up, sort them out. Don't intentionally look for back-ups to kids that have yet to pan out, despite being supremely talented.

[papawasamustang]

Very accurate & informative. Also, taking role players won't work. ALWAYS take the best players & let them battle it out in practice. Reminds me of a local pro football team that wasted an entire draft on selecting players they thought would be good special team players. A huge bust/waste.

We discussed a while back that maybe a certain coach was getting a little "big headed" over very moderate successes. Time to put the pedal to the medal & recruit like a mad man.

The Smith injury should be a wake up call that you are never as deep as you think you are.

[hoopmanx]

Its going to get tougher w/Cyprien at A&M, and the rumors of Lutz on new Ag staff. That staff may be Big 12, if it happens, but they'll slaughter us for kids

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

For what its worth, Eastman and Beaudine are handling the search process. Doh will of course have final say, yes or no, on the candidates that are chosen, but the search firm is handling the major portion of the process.