Controversial Coaching Change Suggestion
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 9:31 pmGents,
Before I begin, I must reiterate that I am thoroughly opposed to making a change at the Head Coach position. You all know that I think Dement is an AMAZING coach.
Having said that, I must address coaches that could be successful at SMU if we decide to make a premature coaching change.
While it is a controversial topic, I think it's necessary for the board to consider RACE as a factor in hiring a new coach, and not just because of the moral implications.
I truly believe that an African American head coach at a program of SMU's questionable caliber would be more equipped to succesfully recruit some of Texas' better players. While I do not have extensive knowledge of black coaches currently seeking a head coaching job, I will offer one suggestion - Coleman Crawford.
Crawford has prior head coaching experience (Akron from '90-'95), he is a proven recruiter (heavily involved with FSU's stellar recruiting class in 2000 - although that might not have yielded too much), and has knowledge and familiarity with current and future Ponies.
All other suggestions - Lavin, Tarkanian, harrick, etc. - reflect an inability to acknowledge the dire situation that SMU hoops is currently mired in - a situation that precludes SMU from hiring a KNOWN NCAA commodity.
Because of our position, we must find someone willing to take a chance on a program that doesn't have exceptional institutional support. Because of the lack of institutional support, we need a LEADER that can succesfully dissuade the state's top talent from playing at its bigger, more athlete-friendly schools. Having a black HEAD coach is one way of reasuring African American recruits that SMU is committed to diversity - and is not simply a racist institution cloaked in the rhetoric of diversity.
(I'm not saying SMU is a racist institution. I'm just saying that dispelling that myth is best accomplished with actions to the contrary.)
I think a black coach would be more equipped for accomplishment within the limitations of the SMU program than a high-priced NAME in the college hoops game.
I think that any discussion for a replacement MUST give exhaustive consideration to qualified black coaches.
Race is always a factor.
I'm out
Before I begin, I must reiterate that I am thoroughly opposed to making a change at the Head Coach position. You all know that I think Dement is an AMAZING coach.
Having said that, I must address coaches that could be successful at SMU if we decide to make a premature coaching change.
While it is a controversial topic, I think it's necessary for the board to consider RACE as a factor in hiring a new coach, and not just because of the moral implications.
I truly believe that an African American head coach at a program of SMU's questionable caliber would be more equipped to succesfully recruit some of Texas' better players. While I do not have extensive knowledge of black coaches currently seeking a head coaching job, I will offer one suggestion - Coleman Crawford.
Crawford has prior head coaching experience (Akron from '90-'95), he is a proven recruiter (heavily involved with FSU's stellar recruiting class in 2000 - although that might not have yielded too much), and has knowledge and familiarity with current and future Ponies.
All other suggestions - Lavin, Tarkanian, harrick, etc. - reflect an inability to acknowledge the dire situation that SMU hoops is currently mired in - a situation that precludes SMU from hiring a KNOWN NCAA commodity.
Because of our position, we must find someone willing to take a chance on a program that doesn't have exceptional institutional support. Because of the lack of institutional support, we need a LEADER that can succesfully dissuade the state's top talent from playing at its bigger, more athlete-friendly schools. Having a black HEAD coach is one way of reasuring African American recruits that SMU is committed to diversity - and is not simply a racist institution cloaked in the rhetoric of diversity.
(I'm not saying SMU is a racist institution. I'm just saying that dispelling that myth is best accomplished with actions to the contrary.)
I think a black coach would be more equipped for accomplishment within the limitations of the SMU program than a high-priced NAME in the college hoops game.
I think that any discussion for a replacement MUST give exhaustive consideration to qualified black coaches.
Race is always a factor.
I'm out