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This is a total and complete "what-if" thread so stop reading now if you're a ponyfans lifer who prides himself on his post-count and impeccable grammar.

That being said: If I'm Orsini, I aim extremely high on this one and back it up with my pocketbook. Every once in awhile you'll land a June Jones-type who has no business even listening to offers from our section of the NCAA graveyard.

Number one on my list from AD dreamland is former Mavericks head coach and current ESPN/ABC analyst Avery Johnson. Before you start calling for John Wooden to be his first assistant, at least hear me out.

FAVORABLE CONTRACT SITUATION: Avery is under contract with the Mavs until 2011 and collects $4 million/year provided that he doesn't accept another NBA gig. So what, right? Think about a similar situation we watched play out as former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, still owed the remainder of his NFL contract, strongly considered the D-line position at Notre Dame (decided instead to take the year off for his hip replacement surgery). While the Mavs to SMU drop is significant, it pales in comparison to Crennel's almost-move from NFL head man to college position coach. All I’m saying here is that the Avery to SMU scenario is at least plausible as his contract couldn't be more favorable for Orsini to lure him to the Hilltop.

COLLEGE VS NBA: Avery’s high-energy coaching style clearly favors the college game; it’s only a matter of time before he realizes it too. His defense-first approach emphasizing fundamentals and hustle requires the freedom to discipline players in a way largely considered unacceptable by professional athletes. As a college coach, Avery could instill his blue-collar attitude in each of his players and push them to meet his high expectations holding them accountable for their production or lack thereof both on and off the court. For Johnson to truly maximize his potential as a coach and a motivator, the college game is where he belongs.

DALLAS: There are several advantages for Avery to remain in Dallas as the head coach at SMU rather than accept another NBA position. First of all, the college season is shorter and his travel time away from family drops significantly, even when recruiting trips are factored in. Although Avery was fired from the Mavericks, he is still a widely respected and popular basketball coach and member of the Dallas community.

RECRUITING: As a die-hard Mustang fan I’m often frustrated by the incredible amount of DFW talent that bypasses SMU for other Universities. With Avery as the figurehead of our program, it seems obvious that SMU’s recruiting base would shift to upper-level talent from Texas and the Dallas area which, coupled with winning, would heavily impact the pattern of anemic attendance at Moody. Johnson’s great reputation as a charismatic coach and first-class individual perfectly complements his extensive NBA background, a major positive for any recruit and his family.

LONG-TERM: Another positive for SMU if Avery somehow became our coach has to do with the fact that he doesn’t come from UNC, Indiana, UCLA, or another top-tier NCAA program. He understands the difficulty as a player coming from a smaller school and would take pride in building and maintaining the SMU program. The coaching carousel in the college-ranks rarely lends itself to long-term continuity within a program (see Coach K and Lute Olson) but Avery calls Dallas home and more importantly, has no aspiration to someday coach at his “beloved alma-mater.â€

If's and Buts...not reality. (1) Doh isn't leaving, this year. (2) AJ will get another NBA gig before we have an opening (can you say Wizards). (3) We won't spend the money he'd demand. If he were available at a reasonable price, he would be a fine choice. Doherty was a name coach at a bargain price and that's why he was hired. Put in his five years at SMU, turn the program around, and go to a big $$$$ program at a high salary. Hasn't worked out that way so far.

Agree on the reality check. As for point #2, AJ already turned down an offer from the Grizzlies, a young team with a lot of potential. Why then would he go to the Wizards, a team on the decline with a $111 million superstar who can't stay on the court?

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"I've said all along [that] at the right time and in the right situation, I will coach again," Johnson said Friday. "I am enjoying my time at ESPN and with my family. I think an awful lot of [Grizzlies owner] Michael Heisley and [general manager] Chris Wallace. I wish the Grizzlies the very best."

Johnson was fired by Dallas just one season into a lucrative reworked contract that will pay him an estimated $4 million this season and in each of the next two seasons unless he takes a head-coaching job elsewhere.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3855045
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While SMU couldn't pay him what he'd make in the NBA, the double salary of his $4 mill deal and say a million or a million and a half from SMU is at least worth considering. And as for Coach Doh's "name and bargain price," you get what you pay for.

Answer: $$$$$. Although Jamison and Butler are older, the upside is that they get a #1 or #2 and Arenas comes back and they have a huge turnaround next year and whoever is coaching the team will look like a genius. Pollin while cheap does spend money on coaches because he has solid ticket sales for the Wizards and owns 80% of the suite rights at the Verizon Center.

Forgetting Doh, who I really like and hope he can turn this around.

Why not Avery? First, how much does he need? Would there be a deal with Cuban and the school to make this a three year deal? What if? Say Cuban grants an exception, maintains the financial obligation to Avery, but say it is spread over 3 years and SMU contributes anther $1.3MM per year for three years, making this a $4,000,000, three-year deal for Avery, instead of just two (or some other mix of your choice). Cuban keeps Avery from the competition by banking him at SMU, after three years could persuade him to return, etc. Avery stays in Dallas, uses his energy to get this program going again and helps find a replacement here at SMU, etc.

I guess this sounds silly, because I still want Doh to succeed.

Sounds to me like you're a Wiz fan - I'd want AJ too. But again, he turned down the Grizzlies who are also looking at a lottery pick, plus they have the young and healthy trio of Mayo, baby Gasol, and Arthur. I like my chances for long-term success (or any at all) in Memphis over DC.

Had the chance to talk to Orsini @ TCU earlier this season (when the whole Charlie Weis nonsense was going on). I was surprised how outspoken Orsini was about CW having his chance to produce and needing to be let go, regardless of $. Hopefully he applies the same quick-trigger mentality to Coach Doh.

No doubt, AJ would be a fantastic choice for SMU but I seriously doubt he would consider taking a job here. First and foremost, money. Second, I’m sure AJ has an ego and I bet it would be a tough pill to swallow to go from the NBA Finals to a downtrodden mid-major college program in only three years. And finally, he will get another NBA job, probably soon. As you pointed out, he turned down the Grizz job not long ago.

Good thought, and I would love having AJ as our coach, but I just don’t see it happening.

Bob Knight

And we think we have a control freak in charge now??????? Please............

My opinion of Doh has not changed. Personally I like him alot but I've have made it clear on this board that Doh must go.

His strength is recruiting & I'm not impressed @ all with that.
His weakness coming in was X & O's & its much worse than I could have ever imagined. Plus, he hasn't surrounded himself with the proper staff imo. Also, it looks like there are some major player development issues with his own recruits.

Replacement- Anyone who comes in with a game plan to establish an identity for SMU basketball. "Staying at Home" Makes the commitment to build the program with DFW & Texas players (see women's team roster) No one can relate to a Bamba Fall & Doh doesn't sell anymore.
The team has no identity or mission statement other than the "top 25" statement.

As far as a replacement, someone like Anthony Grant @ VCU, Reggie Theus, Nolan Richardson, Russ Springmann, UT's top Assist, someone on the football thread mentioned Brooks Thompson @ UTSA. At this point, I'd be excited for a fresh approach from anyone as long as keeping DFW/Texas talent is the top priority. I'm talking 75% of your recruiting resources spent locally/Texas & 25% spent nationally.

Being a long-time Spurs fan, I love AJ. That being said, I don't think he's the right man for the job. There's a reason why he wasn't considered for any head coaching positions this year in the NBA. He can get the most out of players for a short period, but players will get burnt out. He may end up as a college coach, but I don't believe he'll be successful.

ndsonofhype18 wrote:Sounds to me like you're a Wiz fan - I'd want AJ too. But again, he turned down the Grizzlies who are also looking at a lottery pick, plus they have the young and healthy trio of Mayo, baby Gasol, and Arthur. I like my chances for long-term success (or any at all) in Memphis over DC.

Maybe it's because AJ isn't looking for a "long term" situation. One of the reasons that he probably felt Memphis wasn't a good fit because there was no chance to win right away. Keep in mind that AJ has never been in a situation where he's had to "build" a team. The Mavs were already a contender when he took over and that's really all he's had to work with in his brief coaching career. Why take over a team that's going to suck and take your lumps when you can go to a more competitive team when the time is right?

PAT SUMMIT

Norman Dale

Pete Bell from Western University.