If this job

[OldPony]

For those of you who think that we will have a lot of good choices, please remember that we hired Dement when we were a part of the SWC. It wasn't like we had a lot of choices even then. Now compare the job with a Conf USA tag with what we had to attract Dement. Does that sober you up?

[Greenwich Pony]

We certainly have issues, but I don't think it is as bad as that. We have some positives too, and a young, aggressive coach could make considerable headway here. We're in Dallas, a great recruiting lure (and a talent hotbed). The school itself is a good ticket. We still have things to fix, but we're on a more even playing field than we were a few years ago. Someone with a little fire and enthusiasm could reinvigorate the program and the alumni enough to at least replace the floor and scoreboard at Moody, and with some success, alumni wallets will open.

The question is, will we hire that young, aggressive coach? There, I'm not so sure. Dement seems like a good man, and has done much of what we asked of him. However, from the beginning, he always seemed undisciplined and ran an undisciplined shop. It's time to change gears.

[Greenwich Pony]

We certainly have issues, but I don't think it is as bad as that. We have some positives too, and a young, aggressive coach could make considerable headway here. We're in Dallas, a great recruiting lure (and a talent hotbed). The school itself is a good ticket. We still have things to fix, but we're on a more even playing field than we were a few years ago. Someone with a little fire and enthusiasm could reinvigorate the program and the alumni enough to at least replace the floor and scoreboard at Moody, and with some success, alumni wallets will open.

The question is, will we hire that young, aggressive coach? There, I'm not so sure. Dement seems like a good man, and has done much of what we asked of him. However, from the beginning, he always seemed undisciplined and ran an undisciplined shop. It's time to change gears.

[Greenwich Pony]

We certainly have issues, but I don't think it is as bad as that. We have some positives too, and a young, aggressive coach could make considerable headway here. We're in Dallas, a great recruiting lure (and a talent hotbed). The school itself is a good ticket. We still have things to fix, but we're on a more even playing field than we were a few years ago. Someone with a little fire and enthusiasm could reinvigorate the program and the alumni enough to at least replace the floor and scoreboard at Moody, and with some success, alumni wallets will open.

The question is, will we hire that young, aggressive coach? There, I'm not so sure. Dement seems like a good man, and has done much of what we asked of him. However, from the beginning, he always seemed undisciplined and ran an undisciplined shop. It's time to change gears.

[Greenwich Pony]

We certainly have issues, but I don't think it is as bad as that. We have some positives too, and a young, aggressive coach could make considerable headway here. We're in Dallas, a great recruiting lure (and a talent hotbed). The school itself is a good ticket. We still have things to fix, but we're on a more even playing field than we were a few years ago. Someone with a little fire and enthusiasm could reinvigorate the program and the alumni enough to at least replace the floor and scoreboard at Moody, and with some success, alumni wallets will open.

The question is, will we hire that young, aggressive coach? There, I'm not so sure. Dement seems like a good man, and has done much of what we asked of him. However, from the beginning, he always seemed undisciplined and ran an undisciplined shop. It's time to change gears.

[Mike Damone]

Unlike some, I actually think this would be an attractive job to an up and coming coach.
1. We are right smack in the middle of one of the greatest recruiting areas in the nation.
2. The move to C-USA will provide an upgrade in future opponents.
3. Dement has been given years and years to accomplish what he needed to. We obviously have patience.
4. With no NCAA appearances in recent history, there isn't a lot of pressure.
5. Unlike the football program, there is some quality talent currently here and on the way.
6. Basketball is much easier to turn around than football. You can ride one or two good players all the way to the tourney.

Yeah, there are also a number of negatives to taking this job, nobody is going to deny that. We're not getting the top high school players like UT, not getting JUCO's like Tech, and not getting the non-qualifiers like Fresno. But we have had some quality college talent here that stays together for four years. It really is unacceptable that some of those teams haven't been in postseason play.

[Waz]

Sorry to look like an idiot to you CoxSMU. I guess I forgot to explain to you that no one applies for a job that isn't open. I will try and fill in all the blanks for you in the future.

[RGV Pony]

Another name mentioned for the Baylor job before they hired Scott Drew was UTPA's Bob Hoffman. He was a finalist for the Campbell job a couple of years ago also. He's done a respectable job of managing a program that's been on probation, that's been kicked out of a conference, and that doesn't have a great arena or financial resources. He's a good guy, and I think he'd do a good job at recruiting talent at a higher level. There's not many schools from which SMU would be a step up, but Pan Am is one. When the Broncs played OU, Kelvin Sampson said UTPA was the better prepared of the two teams that night. When's the last time someone said that about SMU? Oh, and Hoffman likes Jucos too. On the downside, he did call Dement "one of the best coaches in the country" earlier this year-kind of makes you wonder about his sense.

[Stallion]

I'm getting goose-pimples just thinking about these great Coaching Legends about to be born on The Hilltop. How about some High School Coaches?

[RGV Pony]

Not sure about HS coaches, but the last "legend" hired away from Pan Am was Lon Krueger. Maybe you've heard of him.

[EastStang]

There are six types of coaches available for any openning. First, coaches who got fired somewhere else. Some are good, some are burned out, some are in between. Second, coaches who have been working as broadcasters, Dicky V types. Third, Top assistant coaches at other programs. Fourth, lower tier head coaches looking to move up. Fifth, high school coaches with great credentials and records. Sixth, coaches at top flight programs looking for a challenge. You won't find many in category 6. But you'll have plenty from the other five categories to choose from. Each will have plusses and minusses. The question is would you risk trading Dement for one of these types of coaches?

<small>[ 01-28-2004, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: EastStang ]</small>

[OldPony]

Does anyone remember how many qualified applicants were brought in to interview when Dement took the job? My recollection is hazy but I don't remember any very exciting names being talked about. Again, that was with a SWC to recruit to, not a watered down CUSA. Dement was so excited to get the job that he didn't even go home after getting it. He stayed and started watching film immediately. He was what we are looking for now without the burnout of trying to do things the SMU way. If you really believe that the talent is there now, are you (for the umpteenth time) willing to fire a new coach if he doesn't win with this great talent next year? After all Simpson and Castro and Isham will all be seniors next year and Lowe leaves this year. 4 of the starting 5 to be replaced at the end of next year. That sounds like win now or wait a while.

[Mike Damone]

I'm getting goose-pimples just thinking about these great Coaching Legends about to be born on The Hilltop

Interesting. Are you listening to the Hoosiers soundtrack in your office?

I don't want a legend. Just someone that can get one of the 64 NCAA tourney bids every once in a while with more than decent talent. Or just once. One time will do. It can be on a complete fluke and we can be a 16 seed, I don't really care. And if we do get there, I'd like a coach that picks his own starting lineup as opposed to treating it like voting for homecoming king and queen.

[BigEasyPony]

Seems like a lot of doom and gloom on this board. Let's think about this for a moment. In order to attract any level of serious interest SMU would have to put together a very good package for an incoming coach. Not to mention Copeland knows that his rear would be on the line with this hire so he can't really take a chance with a young assistant or young HC prospect. He knows the best way to pump life into this moribund program is to hire a coach with credibility. Hence any coach with credibility would demand certain changes be made to the program e.g. recruiting restrictions, budgets et al.

Sometimes in order to really improve a program a new coach has to be hired who commands certain changes. A current coach doesn't have the leverage to get some of the same things accomplished. Its unfortunate, but that's life.

[EastStang]

I was reading an article in the Washington Post this morning about all of the coaches in the Eastern Conference of the NBA who have been fired in the past 12 months. Some of whom were hired by other teams (Lenny Wilkins, Isaiah Thomas) and others are free agents like George Karl, Jim O'Brien, Doug Collins, Byron Scott. Perhaps bringing a former NBA coach would get these kids attention, and he could be a solid recruiter. Would these guys stoop to a college gig? You never know.