What Is Doherty??

[moodymadmen]

I came across this quote from hall of fame coach Pete Newell regarding the St. John's hiring of Lavin, which obviously made me think about our head coach...

“You have to really take an honest look at yourself in what your strengths and weaknesses are,” Newell told The Los Angeles Daily News. “Some of us are motivators and not X’s and O’s guys. Some are teachers, but not really strong in game planning and assessing players.” Others were strong in recruiting, Newell said.

Which begs the question, if those are the primary attributes of a head coach, what is Doherty? My initial reaction upon his hiring at SMU 4 years ago was that he was a "recruiter"...but its clear that without Kansas, ND, or UNC on his polo he isn't much of a recruiter. And after watching him and his numerous systems over the years I don't think he is an "X's and O's guy" either. So what is he? A motivator? Teacher? Game planner? Talent evaluator? Or do you disagree and think he is a recruiter or X and O guy? Or none of the above? In all seriousness, I'd really like to know which of those attributes above you think Coach Doh can hang his hat on AT SMU*...

*no need to mention UNC recruits or anything else from the Kansas/ND/UNC eras because going into year 5 at SMU it is completely irrelevant to our programs current situation.

[CalallenStang]

Doherty is a CEO. He's good at organizing things. The problem comes in when he wants to get into the specific tasks that he should leave to his assistants (recruiting, game planning).

He's also not a bad recruiter, believe it or not. Talent evaluation is a question mark, but the Reggies + Lutz are good in that regard and they are great recruiters, too.

[CA Mustang]

The fact this question is being asked going into Year 5 says a lot.

Normally I'd describe him as a CEO, who is a the face of the program while others work behind the scenes. But looking at the staff turnover, admitted control issues, etc., I'm not even sure he is a solid delegator. Master motivator? No. Above-average recruiter? No. Superb tactician? No

He's a salesman, but the wares have a poor track record and he's losing customers.

[Cardinal Puff]

I think we are down to the core customers of SMU basketball. Due to the timing of Doh's hire, I would not count season one in my evaluation. Even writing off that year, we are still not where I expected for this past season-namely 20 wins and being a cusa factor.
I do think Doh and the team really took it up a notch after the UAB debacle. He let them play without the imminent hook threat, gave some credit to his assistants and appears to have cobbled together his best recruiting class.
We need the wins and the conference factor status this year.

[PonyDoh]

Doh can recruit, that's his bread and butter. The problem is that we've just turned so much staff over. Ultimately that comes back on Doh, but a program can't build relationships, if a recruits primary contact, changes every 6 months. It lacks stability and looks unorganized. It forces you into years like Mylo and Clink.

We're onto something w/Lutz & the Reggie's. This PG prospect pool was as good as it possibly could have been, this late in the game. They mined nugget after nugget. It's an aggressive group right now. Fab is an example, but they've hounded Loyd. Simply, we're beating better programs for kids w/regularity. We've even turned away a kid or two that wanted in, that ended up signing w/more reknowned programs.

Talent acquisition isn't the issue. Looking back on the season, we had enough horses to win 18 or so games. We just didn't bring it. Certainly, we need to upgrade the talent, but it's not killing us.

[expony18]

We've even turned away a kid or two that wanted in, that ended up signing w/more reknowned programs.

examples please

p.s. PB turned away Tim Tebow

edit: I do not consider UTA or Texas state more "renowned" programs

[PonyDoh]

We've even turned away a kid or two that wanted in, that ended up signing w/more reknowned programs.

examples please

p.s. PB turned away Tim Tebow

edit: I do not consider UTA or Texas state more "renowned" programs

There are many examples,, but since you are a [deleted], you only get a few from the '10 class . Preston Purifoy is one, Shamburger will be another, Haukur Palsson as well.

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

We've even turned away a kid or two that wanted in, that ended up signing w/more reknowned programs.

examples please

p.s. PB turned away Tim Tebow

edit: I do not consider UTA or Texas state more "renowned" programs

DJ Stephens signed with Memphis after being told he wasnt good enough to play here. There was a thread and article posted on this forum last summer. Stephens played in every game and started 3 times for Memphis this year, mostly as a defensive sub. He was the 7th-8th guy in their rotation, averaged about 8 minutes a game as a freshman.

Chris Clarke is now at Temple. That ones a mystery, no idea why they would give him a scholarship. I would think they could find much better players.

[RGV Pony]

DJ Stephens signed with Memphis after being told he wasnt good enough to play here.

[moodymadmen]

Doh can recruit, that's his bread and butter...
Talent acquisition isn't the issue. Looking back on the season, we had enough horses to win 18 or so games. We just didn't bring it. Certainly, we need to upgrade the talent, but it's not killing us.

So if you contend that recruiting is his forte and talent isn't the issue and we had the horses to win much more then we did...doesn't that mean Doh underachieved as a CEO, motivator, teacher, X and O guy, game planner, etc???

[CalallenStang]

Doh can recruit, that's his bread and butter...
Talent acquisition isn't the issue. Looking back on the season, we had enough horses to win 18 or so games. We just didn't bring it. Certainly, we need to upgrade the talent, but it's not killing us.

So if you contend that recruiting is his forte and talent isn't the issue and we had the horses to win much more then we did...doesn't that mean Doh underachieved as a CEO, motivator, teacher, X and O guy, game planner, etc???

Doh underachieved as an X and O guy.

[FriscoPMG]

Simply, we're beating better programs for kids w/regularity. We've even turned away a kid or two that wanted in, that ended up signing w/more reknowned programs.

Would you say this has been the case since Doh has been at SMU or more so since the Reggies arrived? I don't follow recruiting too closely anymore, but if we're truly beating out better programs and even turning away kids that go to those reknowned programs, then it is even more embarrassing that this program is still in its current state.

[EastStang]

CEO is probably a good description. Perhaps he should be kicked upstairs to Assistant AD in charge of basketball operations.

[CalallenStang]

CEO is probably a good description. Perhaps he should be kicked upstairs to Assistant AD in charge of basketball operations.

That's pretty much what ECU did with their coach this year, and I agree that it would be a good plan for Doherty as well. Let him keep doing the broadcasting thing on the side, too.

[expony18]

but since you are a [deleted]

ZING!