TCU's new coach

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:18 pm

Kent State's Jim Christian, after six consecutive seasons of winning at least 20 games, will leave for TCU.

According to multiple sources close to the situation, the 43-year-old Christian has accepted the offer and will be introduced at a news conference either on Saturday or Monday.

Christian, who took over Kent State's program in 2002 after Stan Heath left for Arkansas, has a 138-58 overall record and a 76-28 conference mark.

The Golden Flashes lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to UNLV earlier this month.

The other candidates in the mix were Sam Houston State's Bob Marlin, Tennessee-Chattanooga's John Shulman, Charlotte Bobcats director of player personnel Buzz Peterson and Oral Roberts' Scott Sutton.

by **George S. Patton** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:24 pm

Interesting choice. Kent has always had a solid program and produced good coaches including Stan Heath who went to Arkansas and is now at South Florida.

Don't know much about them but I watched Kent play that bracket buster game at St. Mary's when the Golden Flashes won. But Kent also had the distinction of scoring only 10 points in the first half against UNLV in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament.

I just want our BB rivalry with them to be good again. Bust of course, I want us to kick their butts every year.

It makes you wonder what happened to Buzz Peterson and Scott Sutton when people were saying and the FWST said they were targeting those two. Maybe the market did open to the point where they thought they could do better.

by **50's PONY** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:48 pm

Sutton withdrew his name, even though offered more money, because he said that he was still not convinced of TCU's commitment to basketball.

by **George S. Patton** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:59 pm

50's PONY wrote:Sutton withdrew his name, even though offered more money, because he said that he was still not convinced of TCU's commitment to basketball.

Thanks. That would do it. And I think them being in the MWC will always hurt their men's bb program above any other.

by **Hoss** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:27 pm

Well that sucks - he's not a bad coach.
I was hoping that they'd hire someone just as bad as his god-awful predecessor.

by **SoCal_Pony** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:03 pm

50's PONY wrote:Sutton withdrew his name, even though offered more money, because he said that he was still not convinced of TCU's commitment to basketball.

Ouch...

Can HFvictory confirm this...he is rather reliable and posted earlier that it would be Sutton.

by **mustangxc** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:19 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3318808

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:08 pm

Looks like a decent hire, but not a "wow" hire. But, TCU doesn't have the mob boss, do they?

Fear the mob boss :twisted:

by **ReedFrawg** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:47 am

ALEX LIFESON wrote:Looks like a decent hire, but not a "wow" hire. But, TCU doesn't have the mob boss, do they?

Bout as good as we could do given the state of affairs regarding our bball program. I believe the comment about "commitment to basketball" was made by the newspaper writer so take it for what it's worth (although I woudn't doubt that there is some truth to it). It looks like Sutton was angling for a raise for himself and his assitants and that's what he got from ORU.

by **Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:04 am

ReedFrawg wrote: It looks like Sutton was angling for a raise for himself and his assitants and that's what he got from ORU.

Did he tell the people at ORU that if they didn't give him and his staff a raise that he was going to die?

by **George S. Patton** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:17 am

Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex wrote:
ReedFrawg wrote: It looks like Sutton was angling for a raise for himself and his assitants and that's what he got from ORU.

Did he tell the people at ORU that if they didn't give him and his staff a raise that he was going to die?

Well, Oral Roberts recruited that 900-foot Jesus who is in Tulsa. Must be in some AAU league. That's a pretty good reason to stay.

Seriously, you have to wonder too about his status. He would go from being lead dog at ORU to always running second or third behind Patterson or Schlossnagle. Maybe the ego couldn't live with that?

by **SMUFan** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:53 am

Second.

With the possible exception of Rice, no basketball coach should run behind someone whose name sounds like a German entree and teaches people to play a game with metal bats. Then again, if you're at Frog High, it doesn't really matter where you rank - you're still at Frog High and have to live in Fort Worthless.

by **Duke Blue Blood** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:42 pm

That is a WOW hire. This is step down for him. He should have held out for a better job.

DBB

by **Pony81** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:02 pm

Jim Christian should have waited for a better job. Coming to Mountain West TCU is a lateral basketball move from Kent State.

He could have landed a power conference position, one would think.

He will do well but he will not do great.

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