Second Chance Coach = Best Case

[Hoop Fan]

Coker did not build that Miami program. he was a cog in Butch Davis's wheel. No doubt an important one as a play caller and X and O guy, but is that what we need to build SMU from where it is today? No. We need a builder and architect and a guy with charisma. I dont care if he is 40 or 80 on his birth certificate or what he looks like per se, its the whole package. Not going to sell SMU publicly to fans or recruits. Not a dymamic, energetic personality. If he is so great, ask yourself why he did not get a head job until age 53 or whatever. He was a career assistant, not a leader. This guy is not head coach material and never has been. The U promoted the guy to drive the bus and keep what Davis started on track. It was obvious then as it is now.

[BRStang]

I am amazed at the insanity of people in here....

Coker, while not my first choice, has the coaching skills to win some games and the recruiting prowess to snag a couple of decent mid-level players that are looking for early playing time. That's all this program needs right now, and really, the best case scenario of what we can expect to get out of a head coach at this point.

Insanity? Give me a break. THE most important thing is winning games. But, we need a coach who can recruit to do that. We also need someone who can motivate. Coker was a horrible recruiter and that was when he had a national championship caliber-school. Now, he is a has-been who was fired for losing. Do you honestly think that will draw recruits?????

Listen to the Hurricane fan that paid us a visit. WE DON'T WANT HIM!!

EDIT: The looking old thing probably stems from the fact that the guy has no personality and looks like a freaking dud when he is on camera. Again, we need someone who can spread excitement. Even if he was the guy, why now? I could've gotten past him earlier on, but now? Orsini will have lost all credibility in my book.

[huskerpony]

Even if he was the guy, why now? I could've gotten past him earlier on, but now? Orsini will have lost all credibility in my book.

I agree completely on that point! I don't understand why we would be doing this now, unless we have struck out everywhere, and Barnett isn't even willing to come now.

In any case, my point was that--even though I'm not in favor of us hiring Coker--I don't care if he won a national championship with someone else's players or chimpanzees. He is still a whole lot better than Bennett, Cavan, Rossley. He's definitely better than a local high school coach (as many of the people on this board are advocating.) He's probably better than an unknown coordinator (for SMU at this time--I think we need a name rather than an up-and-comer, IMO, to turn recruiting around.)

So, while I would be disappointed, it is far from the worst we can do. But, yes, it would certainly be a BIG FAT FAILURE as far as Steve-O's credibility is concerned.

[Duke Blue Blood]

There were SO many guys on this board that said there was ZERO chance he(Coker) would ever come here. Now that he is a realistic possibility, you don't want him.

He is an ABSOLUTE upgrade from what we have had. Maybe not the perfect choice, but come on boys, WE are so far from perfect it is not even funny.

Manage your own expectations and you will never disappoint yourself.

DBB

[Hoop Fan]

There were SO many guys on this board that said there was ZERO chance he(Coker) would ever come here. Now that he is a realistic possibility, you don't want him.

He is an ABSOLUTE upgrade from what we have had. Maybe not the perfect choice, but come on boys, WE are so far from perfect it is not even funny.

Manage your own expectations and you will never disappoint yourself.

DBB

who said that? Coker was basically lobbying for the tulsa job last year. Why would he be untouchable for us? We could have had him last week, last month or last year.

[QuikSStang]

trust me, we dont want him

[Stallion]

Coker can't find a job-literrally he's tried to get his name thrown into even the most third tier coaching searches. I think many many feared that we'd end up with the guy-that's why we hoped he wouldn't be in the equation.

[SMUer]

Coker did not build that Miami program. he was a cog in Butch Davis's wheel. No doubt an important one as a play caller and X and O guy, but is that what we need to build SMU from where it is today? No. We need a builder and architect and a guy with charisma. I dont care if he is 40 or 80 on his birth certificate or what he looks like per se, its the whole package. Not going to sell SMU publicly to fans or recruits. Not a dymamic, energetic personality. If he is so great, ask yourself why he did not get a head job until age 53 or whatever. He was a career assistant, not a leader. This guy is not head coach material and never has been. The U promoted the guy to drive the bus and keep what Davis started on track. It was obvious then as it is now.

How can you call a guy that was Davis' OC from the very beginning merely a cog in the wheel and that he had no part in building that program? I'm sorry but that's idiotic...

[Hoop Fan]

Coker did not build that Miami program. he was a cog in Butch Davis's wheel. No doubt an important one as a play caller and X and O guy, but is that what we need to build SMU from where it is today? No. We need a builder and architect and a guy with charisma. I dont care if he is 40 or 80 on his birth certificate or what he looks like per se, its the whole package. Not going to sell SMU publicly to fans or recruits. Not a dymamic, energetic personality. If he is so great, ask yourself why he did not get a head job until age 53 or whatever. He was a career assistant, not a leader. This guy is not head coach material and never has been. The U promoted the guy to drive the bus and keep what Davis started on track. It was obvious then as it is now.

How can you call a guy that was Davis' OC from the very beginning merely a cog in the wheel and that he had no part in building that program? I'm sorry but that's idiotic...

Sorry genius but being on the staff of a program builder does not make one a program builder. Phil Bennett was thought to be an integral part of Bill Snyders staff, how'd that work out for us? Just one example that hits close to home. Another Bennett like hire (Venables?) would be much better chance to take than Coker though.

[Stallion]

I'd take Venables in a second because he would run circles around Coker in recruiting and building support among alumni.

[Hoop Fan]

I'd take Venables in a second because he would run circles around Coker in recruiting and building support among alumni.

Its not even close. Any AD who would bring Coker in here before Venables needs their head examined. Gawd, Coker makes Chan Gailey look like a real go getter. Uh oh.

[SMUer]

Phil Bennett was thought to be an integral part of Bill Snyders staff, how'd that work out for us?

Bennett arrived in Manhatten 10 years into Snyder's tenure. No, I would not say Bennett helped him build that program. Especially when he hadn't failed to win 9 games for the 6 years prior. Play again.

[Hoop Fan]

Phil Bennett was thought to be an integral part of Bill Snyders staff, how'd that work out for us?

Bennett arrived in Manhatten 10 years into Snyder's tenure. No, I would not say Bennett helped him build that program. Especially when he hadn't failed to win 9 games for the 6 years prior. Play again.

are you actually trying to make the case that Coker had a significant role in building Miami? Is this the same Miami which had basically been a dynasty through the 80s and 90s? Davis took a Lamborgini and gave it a freakin tune up. Coker was along for the ride as his straight man.

[SMUer]

Are you really trying to make the case that Coker had no role at Miami by bringing up Phil Bennett as a counter example? The man has never lost more than four games at ANY place he has ever coached. He has only two sub.500 season in 28 years of coaching. He coached with B. Davis at Miami from the beginning and throughout the entire tenure of B. Davis and then took those players (who he helped recruit) to TWO national title games in a row. I said it before and I'll say it again...I'm not saying Larry Coker is some sort of coaching savant, possibly far from it, but if he really sucks at coaching, he's one lucky sonofagun for being around so many people in every situation he's ever been in to cover it up. It's much more likely that he's not as bad at coaching as people are making him out to be.

[Hoop Fan]

Are you really trying to make the case that Coker had no role at Miami by bringing up Phil Bennett as a counter example? The man has never lost more than four games at ANY place he has ever coached. He has only two sub.500 season in 28 years of coaching. He coached with B. Davis at Miami from the beginning and throughout the entire tenure of B. Davis and then took those players (who he helped recruit) to TWO national title games in a row. I said it before and I'll say it again...I'm not saying Larry Coker is some sort of coaching savant, possibly far from it, but if he really sucks at coaching, he's one lucky sonofagun for being around so many people in every situation he's ever been in to cover it up. It's much more likely that he's not as bad at coaching as people are making him out to be.

If that 28 year record was even half as a head coach you might have something. Dont quote us his record as an assistant . I'm sure he is a great offensive mind, coach and tactician. I'm sure Butch Davis thinks the world of ole Larry. That doesn't make him the right coach for SMU.