If this job

[Dooby]

Originally posted by 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.

I need to respond to this. I don't know if think, or just hope, that you are right.

[BigEasyPony]

The chance of any of these coaches coming to SMU is infinitesimal. That's pure fantasy. The average salary of an NBA coach is about $2MM a year. The average salary for the #1 assistant in the NBA is about $600M. Now what do you think the probability of luring one of these coaches to SMU would be. There are also at least 30 (maybe 50) college programs that are more attractive than SMU's job. I am all for aggressively pursuing the best candidate, but you need some measure of reality as well. Entertaining such thoughts is not healthy.

[OldPony]

I can name a heck of a lot more than 50 schools which are more desirable to be the HC of their basketball team. That is the heart talking- not the head when you say we are one of the best 30 to 50 jobs in the country. Think before you type. BTW- Damone- One of the things that good coaches sometimes do to try to figure out what is wrong with the chemistry of a team is to get them to express in some way(like selecting the starting team) who they respect on the team. People who are dogging it noticeably to their teammates or who are doing things detrimental to the team away from the court are sometimes jolted into reality by this method when they realize their teammates don't believe they are working as hard as they can for the success of the team. Dement knows he isn't running a popularity contest. He is trying his damndest to figure out what is wrong with this group. I still have hope that he can put this group together again. If he can't, our problems are much deeper than Dement and I'm not even starting to talk talent.

[EastStang]

We don't know what they'll want to work for. It depends on how long they remain unemployed, whether they want to coach in college, and what their desire is to build something when they have control over who gets to join their team (unlike the NBA). Sure I doubt it, my point was that there are always plenty of coaches looking for work. If the NBA guys get sucked up by big programs, then the SMU's of the world may get some quality college guys who are looking.

[BigEasyPony]

I hardly called SMU one of the top 50. I said there were at least that many. I personally would rank us somewhere between 70-90.

I think we all want Dement to succeed b/c that means SMU is winning. It does appear that this team will have to really go on a tear to prevent his dismissal and this team doesn't appear capable of that. I sincerely hope I'm wrong about that. It appears that Dement is close to wearing out his welcome at SMU. Having been there 9 years we have yet to get into the NCAA tournament and like it or not that is how coaches are judged. The only way to put fans in the stands is to win and though Dement has won he hasn't won enough.

[OldPony]

I'm sorry but that isn't necessarily how coaches are judged. If so, there are a whole lot of bad coaches in D-1 who are well thought of. If you have one hand tied behind your back and you can't get to the Championship fight, are you a bad boxer? I am not saying that Dement is a great coach. I will bet you that he would be in the tourney every year with UT though. Would that make him a better coach?
I am very disappointed this year. I expect Dement to get the best from his players. He certainly did last year. I don't know why this group has quit and neuther does anyone on this board. I have continually asked the same question that none of the fire the coach crowd's answered though. If the material is so good this year, it is obvious that it will be even better next year since all of the top 10 come back except Lowe and Voc. If a new coach doesn't get to the dance, do you want to fire him?

[Hoop Fan]

I don't consider myself in the fire the coach crowd, but I have continually addressed that very valid issue. At this point, making a change is NOT just about whether Dement is a good coach in reality and whether he would go to the tournament at UT. Of course he could, and he has had some good moments at SMU over his NINE years. The issue is whether the fans, admin and players have lost confidence and enthusiasm in SMU basketball. Unfortunately, that isn't necessarily a 100% direct reflection or measure of Mike Dement. If he leaves, he will do well someplace else.

<small>[ 01-29-2004, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: Hoop Fan ]</small>

[BigEasyPony]

I agree with your point that Dement would have taken a program like UT to the NCAA's, but he hasn't taken us there. I think it's grossly unfair to judge Dement against the UT's of the world, but he should be compared against peer institutions. I don't want to fire the guy, but this tema is not responding and he's in year 9 of his program. When do you make a change?

I think, unfortunately, the only way to make our program more competitive is to have a change in coaching. Dement has no leverage with the administration to effect change. That is grossly unfair to him, but often times that happens. Would I fire a new coach if he didn't get to the NCAA's? Yes, if in year 5 (not 9) SMU does not make the NCAA's (unless there are some unusual extenuating circumstances then I would let that coach go.

[OldPony]

But the new coach would be inheriting all this talent.