How did SMU land Larry Brown?

[LA_Mustang]

I've heard out assistants are the highest paid assistants in the country.

[PonyFan32]

I've heard out assistants are the highest paid assistants in the country.

So money CAN buy happiness. For a long-depressed fan base at least

[ponyinNC]

We wanted Buzz Williams more...he was close to taking the job...talking about crazy $, but ultimately decided to stay at Marquette.

The rumors were that some other high-profile guys turned us down, such as Gregg Marshall, Tommy Amaker, et al.

Couldn't have worked out better for SMU.

[SMU 86]

For the record Tristate our basketball Circle of Champions booster club is paying Coach Brown's salary not the actual school. We offer Buzz about 2 mil so I would think LB is probably getting anywhere between 1.5 and 2 mil per year.

[SMU 86]

I heard Turner hired him to build the program up to where we're legit and then kill men's basketball...You know, because he hates athletics so much.

Word is that Orsini tried to stop this evil plan and that got him fired...at least that's what Mexmustang told me.

Not what happened. LOL.

[CalallenStang]

Larry said on SportsCenter yesterday that he would have taken a high school job - he just missed coaching too much.

[blackoutpony]

I've heard out assistants are the highest paid assistants in the country.

I know they're up there. Jank makes more than a lot of head coaches. I've heard its somewhere around $1 mil. I'd imagine Maligi makes more than KT, but I know both are VERY well paid. When Jerrance left, KT actually called us up asking for the job.

[malonish]

He called us. He basically begged us for the job.

He wanted to make this the crowning jewel on a coaching career that didn't need it and will most likely never be equaled.

If he could take SMU, a dog sh@t program that was a dumpster fire and make them like a Georgetown, as he's always said he wanted to, then it would be his greatest challenge and accomplishment to date. Larry's a competitor and wanted the challenge, but the man loves basketball. It's in his blood and at the college level, he can better shape and mold players "the right way" which is exactly what he's doing here.

If he takes us to the final four, he needs to be inducted into the Basketball HOF AGAIN!!

Hall of Fame-ception

[GRGB]

I heard Turner hired him to build the program up to where we're legit and then kill men's basketball...You know, because he hates athletics so much.

Word is that Orsini tried to stop this evil plan and that got him fired...at least that's what Mexmustang told me.

Orsini got fired for other things (conduct unbecoming of an AD relative to the President). He originally preferred other coaches (younger), but after his run at the Marquette coach, the now-deceased Rick Majerus (whoa! Can you imagine him dieing courtside?), amongst others, he settled on LB (who was there from the start).

Also, CalallenStang told me that JJ did not suck his wee wee and that played no part of him coming to SMU, but he accepted the job despite our failed fb program of 4 bowls in 4 years.

[PonyKai]

Looking at all of O's revenue coaching searches - the searches - leaves a hell of a lot to be desired. National embarassments.

[03Mustang]

Ironic that people bash Hart over JJ while the program he has more control over right now is reaching new heights.

Call me naive, but I think we're in very capable hands once Jones can be pushed out. I'm blown away at not only the quality of play on the court but the top-notch marketing and game presentation.

Those in charge now "get it"....I'm more and more convinced Orsini was just a bull in a china shop with no real plan. The fact that he hasn't caught on anywhere else is a good clue about how ineffective he really was.

[Mustang11]

Cool info. So he's in the $1.5-2.0MM range himself. All-in, SMU may be paying around $3MM for coaches. Maybe not the top three in the AAC but solidly upper-tier and highly committed. UH is probably around $800K to $1MM total. I've seen that Dickey makes $400K.

It is more than three mil a year for the staff but he did vocally come out and say he wanted the SMU coaching job once Doh got fired. Nationally, the hire was considered more of a joke...in hindsight it was a brilliant move.

[smusic 00]

Ironic that people bash Hart over JJ while the program he has more control over right now is reaching new heights.

Call me naive, but I think we're in very capable hands once Jones can be pushed out. I'm blown away at not only the quality of play on the court but the top-notch marketing and game presentation.

Those in charge now "get it"....I'm more and more convinced Orsini was just a bull in a china shop with no real plan. The fact that he hasn't caught on anywhere else is a good clue about how ineffective he really was.

We are also still paying him quite a bit. He was fired without cause.

[gostangs]

It didn't help orsini's case, but that was not the reason he was dismissed.

[bubba pony]

Orsini got fired for other things (conduct unbecoming of an AD relative to the President). He originally preferred other coaches (younger), but after his run at the Marquette coach, the now-deceased Rick Majerus (whoa! Can you imagine him dieing courtside?), amongst others, he settled on LB (who was there from the start).

Also, CalallenStang told me that JJ did not suck his wee wee and that played no part of him coming to SMU, but he accepted the job despite our failed fb program of 4 bowls in 4 years.[/

this is the way I remember it. also Jank refused at first, Illinois State was on the up tick. SMU offered $800,000 making him the highest paid assistant in the country. Nic came along with Jank.
Jank new salary was maybe double what he was making (?).
Orsini , in my opinion, wanted Norte Dame AD where he played football. ND had an opening and shot him down right away. Thereafter Orsini said he was never interested. Which is AD talk when you are not considered. Anyway, Where is Orsini now? out of work I believe.

Larry Brown's interest in SMU came out of the blue. He turned down, I believe UCLA, before he decided he wanted back in coaching. He was hanging out at Villanova and other Philly colleges just couldn't stay away. Amazingly some on this forum didn't want him because of his age. His reputation to bolt after a few years. (hence SMU got Jank to counter LB's reputation for short term commitments).

Now it's surreal. Beyond all of our expectations. LB proving to the football coaches and all SMU coaches, fans, administration, AD, there are no excuses not to excel. What LB says about our University, Dallas, opportunities is extraordinary.