Candidate-Frank Haith

[Dooby]

Supposedly, today's Austin American-Statesman lists Frank Haith as a candidate.


Associate Head Coach Frank Haith
Third season at Texas
Full name: Frank James Haith, Jr.
Date of birth: Nov. 3, 1965
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
High School: Western Alamance (Burlington, N.C.)
College: Elon '88

Frank Haith, who was promoted to associate head coach on April 16, 2003, enters his third season at The University of Texas. In his first two years in Austin, the 38-year-old has helped the Longhorns produce a 48-19 (.716) record while advancing to the NCAA "Sweet 16" in 2002 and Final Four in 2003. Last year marked UT's first appearance in the Final Four since 1947.
Haith joined Rick Barnes' staff on May 22, 2001. One month prior to coming to Texas, Haith had joined Dave Odom's staff at the University of South Carolina after spending the previous four seasons under Odom at Wake Forest.

While at Wake Forest, Haith was instrumental in leading the Demon Deacons to four consecutive postseason tournament appearances, including an NCAA first round showing in 2000-01. He also helped Wake Forest secure one of the nation's Top 10 recruiting classes during the 1999-2000 campaign. The Deacons registered a 74-53 (.583) mark during Haith's four seasons in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest advanced to the Postseason NIT second round in both 1997-98 and '98-99, before its youthful squad in '99-2000 posted a 22-14 mark en route to capturing the Postseason NIT championship.

Prior to joining the staff at Wake Forest, Haith served one year as the associate head coach at Texas A&M (1996-97). He spent one season (1995-96) as an assistant coach at Penn State, helping the Nittany Lions to a 21-7 record. Penn State was ranked as high as No. 9 in the national polls before placing second in the Big Ten Conference regular-season standings and earning the school's first NCAA Tournament bid in 31 years.

Haith worked three years (1992-93 to 1994-95) as an assistant coach at Texas A&M and helped the Aggies secure back-to-back recruiting classes that were ranked in the Top 30 in the country during his final two seasons in College Station. In 1993-94, Texas A&M posted a 19-11 mark, finished second in the Southwest Conference regular-season standings and reached postseason play (NIT first round) for the first time in seven years.

He started his full-time coaching career by serving two years as an assistant at UNC-Wilmington (1990-91 to 1991-92). He also worked as a graduate assistant coach at Wake Forest for one season (1989-90) during Odom's first year in Winston-Salem.

Haith graduated from Elon College in North Carolina in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. A Dean's List student, he served as a student assistant coach for two years. Following graduation, Haith worked as a part-time member of the Elon coaching staff while teaching in the public schools at nearby Western Middle School. During his three-year association with the Elon coaching staff, the Fighting Christians (now called the Phoenix) enjoyed two 20-win seasons.

Born Nov. 3, 1965, Haith is a native of Queens, N.Y. He and his wife, Pam, have one son, Corey (born Dec. 25, 1993). Pam serves as program coordinator for the Center for African and African-American Studies at The University of Texas.

[PG]

Haith is a name I tossed out a few weeks ago. I think he would be an excellent choice. Very good resume. Heck of a recruiter. He would get the DISD guys in here. He might also find the occasional Diamond in the Rough like he did with P.J. Tucker. I know many on here are already sold on Jummy Tubbs but I think Haith would be just as good and should be considered very strongly. He's learned under some fantastic coaches and could offer a lot.

Would he be interested? I don't know. It's nice to say you've been contacted by another school to be their head coach, then pull out after interviewing for leverage at your current school. Supposedly, some media members have told him to stay away from SMU (not even consider it) but hopefully he can make his own decisions and not listen to them.

I believe he's responsible for recruiting LaMarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and Dion Dowell to UT. I'm not saying he would be able to get them to SMU but Jimmy Tubbs wouldn't either.

[Charleston Pony]

what makes you say he would get the DISD guys in here? Does he have a good relationship with area coaches? That's where I'm thinking Tubbs might have an advantage...but this guy has certainly worked under some quality head coaches at some good programs in big time conferences. That could be a factor working against Tubbs and may be part of why he went to Oklahoma...to build his resume.

[ClassOf81]

Wow - I've been firmly in the Tubbs camp, but this guy's résumé sure is impressive. I'd say he merits a long look, if not the job itseslf.

[PG]

Haith recruited Seagoville's LaMarcus Aldridge, who is one of the nation's top 10 players and a McDonald's AA. Remember that we got into a recruiting war with UT over Hop (yes, I know Tubbs recruited Hop and eventually got him back -- no need to remind me). They're already in on SOC's Darrell Arthur (who will only be a junior next year). They've firmly planted their recruiting seeds in Dallas, as well as the Houston area, and I think Haith is a major reason for it.

[Stampede]

I have it form severall sources, if we get Tubbs, we have an excellent chance, if not lock, to get Arthur and Eaton. This is not just me talking, it is from coaches around the area.

In addition, I hear Clark out of Houston as well. I am sure Haith is good, but ....Tubbs is GREAT.

Now that is where we start! SMU can win at the highest level but we have to have the local coach.

BTW, do you feel that LaMarcus Aldridge would come to SMU had Haith or Tubbs been here? Probably not (sometimes the "T sips" get one)...but better shot with Jimmy, IMHO.

[Bergermeister]

Not the right guy for SMU.

[Stallion]

I'm beginning to come around to the Tubbs idea-especially when I see whose against him. There simply is not a single other coaching candidate who can offer the proven established recruiting ties in the DFW Metroplex that Tubbs can. Everything that is said about Bennett's recruiting ties is multiplied 3X by Tubbs in the Metroplex. If we ain't going to pay for a proven Division 1A head coach with experience -give me the guy who can bring in the talent because in all reality its a crapshooter picking head coaches from assistants especially when the several candidates I hear have similar resumes from top Division 1A powerhouses.

[LA_Mustang]

Not sure how accurate your info about Arthur and Eaton following Tubbs to SMU is, but if that happened, you could go ahead and order your dancin shoes. Those are two top 25 national players and the top junior (Eaton) and sophomore (Arthur) in Texas. Both are the real deal.

[mrydel]

I am on record as wanting more tactition than recruiter (I am talking 51%/49%), but would like to say that I went to many sites to read about Tubbs and have found that he is highly reagrded not only as a tactition, but apparently has a non stop work ethic. Combine that with his recruiting ability and it sounds promising. I stick by my tactition desire because with the talent in the DFW metroplex, any decent recruiter should be able to pull in some sort of talent to match his game style. I just want someone who can implement a successful game style with whomever he recruits. I must say though that Tubbs seems to have it all out of what I have heard so far.

[PonyFan]

Not sure how accurate your info about Arthur and Eaton following Tubbs to SMU is, but if that happened, you could go ahead and order your dancin shoes. Those are two top 25 national players and the top junior (Eaton) and sophomore (Arthur) in Texas. Both are the real deal.

No kidding. If you could guarantee getting both of those kids, the search would be over. I'd be happy with either one of them. Getting both would be unreal.