Rumor mill

[mustangxc]

I hope Lanier is successful at SMU, but we clearly didn't do an exhaustive search. He probably only accepted since he went to Butler, but still would have liked to reach out to him.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status ... 1846198281

[ponyboy]

What evidence do you have that we ΓÇ£clearly didnΓÇÖt do an exhaustive searchΓÇ¥?

[ponyswim]

I have no doubt that Rick Hart and staff has been on the lookout for a new coach for a couple of years. Not extensively, but keeping their eyes open asking questions about different people. They have been looking for someone with some Texas ties among other things. I think after talking to Rick Barnes and others, pretty quickly Lanier was identified as an excellent potential coach for SMU. I don't think you do an exhaustive search by interviewing 5-10 coaches for hours and hours - lot of people can interview. You do your homework with the Rick Barnes of the world - which I am sure they did. They is the way most of the coaching hiring world works. Basketball coaches and AD's know each other - they know who is good.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I think after talking to Rick Barnes and others, pretty quickly Lanier was identified as an excellent potential coach for SMU.

Rick Barnes said "I'm confident there are great things in store on the hardwood in Dallas" so I imagine his input certainly could have been involved in the decision.

[SoCal_Pony]

I have no doubt that Rick Hart and staff has been on the lookout for a new coach for a couple of years. Not extensively, but keeping their eyes open asking questions about different people. They have been looking for someone with some Texas ties among other things. I think after talking to Rick Barnes and others, pretty quickly Lanier was identified as an excellent potential coach for SMU. I don't think you do an exhaustive search by interviewing 5-10 coaches for hours and hours - lot of people can interview. You do your homework with the Rick Barnes of the world - which I am sure they did. They is the way most of the coaching hiring world works. Basketball coaches and AD's know each other - they know who is good.

well this was a very unique situation in that SMU had a successful coach whose contract they refused to renew, so yes, they probably have been on the lookout for a new coach 'maybe' for the past couple of years. Yet Rick Hart stated at the press conference Lanier first got on his radar TUESDAY, 5 days before his hiring.

So my question to you ponyswim, or for anyone else who wants to answer it is this, If Rick Barnes (from Tennessee no less...where Rick Hart's dad was AD) has so much sway over our hiring of a BB coach, why weren't they talking during these past 2 years and why wasn't Lanier on our short list, at least for the past several months.

I agree with xc. Hope Lanier does well, but this certainly DOES NOT appear to be an exhaustive search.

[Terry Webster]

Why do I have a feeling that if we hadn't hired a coach by now we would be screaming about why this is taking so long?

[HubbaHubba]

We should be screaming about it taking so long if that were the case. The AD should have a list in his top desk drawer of possible coaching candidates for all the sports. The list should be regularly updated. This and finances are the 2 most important functions for an AD. Don't know why the position exists otherwise.

[JasonB]

The fact that the search quickly went well beyond the original candidates that were leaked to the media tells you that it was, indeed, a broad search.

[Bergermeister]

[tristatecoog]

Maybe the search firm identified Rob as a top guy. Looking forward to hearing about the assistant coaches.

[HubbaHubba]

Could we hire the search firm as our new athletic director?

[SoCal_Pony]

I thought this for FB as well.

That was a very generous gift of $50M by Garry Weber.

Once again, using the 7.5% return rate, i wonder if Coach Lashlee would rather have the expansion or $3,750,000 each year in NIL disbursements.

ThatΓÇÖs paying your top 40 players some $100k per year.

Which would make SMU more competitive???

I wonder if our AD even had this discussion.

Recent SI article and how it relates to Weber donation + the other facilities upgrades SMU has done recently…I’m thinking specifically Swimming & Diving

ΓÇ£ItΓÇÖs totally changed recruiting. I joke all the time about it. Facilities and all that. Go ahead and build facilities and these great weight rooms and training rooms, but you ainΓÇÖt gonna have any good players in them if you donΓÇÖt have NIL money. I donΓÇÖt care who the coach is or how hard you recruit, that is not going to win over money.ΓÇ¥ - Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss HC

[tristatecoog]

See Jackson State and Memphis