Kent's Replacement

[soduck]

Schroeder has a good column up today about who turned down Arizona last year. That will certainly be an issue for us with the highest profile coaches too. There is also the dilemma of how much to pay a new coach versus how much he returns in gains to fill the new arena in the short and long term. I found an interesting article about Kentucky's search last year here, http://apudgeisasandwich.wordpress.com/ ... m-edition/. It goes through the pros and cons in a cutesy way, but a good review. We definitely don't have the clout of Kentucky, or Arizona for that matter, but we all want the best coach for now and long term. I don't know about PJ Carlesimo, but maybe the best big name for now that we can get to come here. The question is not just who do we want, or who can we afford, but who can we get to come here. I feel right now Few maybe the best of all worlds, but perhaps Jaime Dixon would come here. Someone brought up on another thread that there is an advantage of slower/ lower expectations here then some programs like Kentucky, or Arizona for example. This certainly is a better place to live climate wise anyway than Spokane, or Memphis. And closer to home for Dixon and of course Few. Turgeon would also be on the top of my list and will have great connections for recruiting in Texas. I think Texas is a great potential hot bed for recruiting for us as Kelly has found out. We will always be behind Texas, but only so many scholarships to give there. And think of the kids coming to visit Eugene, green, not dusty brown, hot and humid. The big cities aren't great there, so lower expectations that ways for big city life for the kids

[duckfan22]

I know the ducks will throw a good amount of money at a new
coach. i just hope the new coach comes here because he wants
to be here and not just because of the money. hope that he see's
this as not a stepping stone but a place to raise his family. what worries
me about a guy like Turgeon is that if bill self from kansas were to leave
turgeon being an alum what bolt . but those are chances in anyone they select. college sports is a business.

[Cota]

Schroeder has a good column up today about who turned down Arizona last year. That will certainly be an issue for us with the highest profile coaches too. There is also the dilemma of how much to pay a new coach versus how much he returns in gains to fill the new arena in the short and long term. I found an interesting article about Kentucky's search last year here, http://apudgeisasandwich.wordpress.com/ ... m-edition/. It goes through the pros and cons in a cutesy way, but a good review. We definitely don't have the clout of Kentucky, or Arizona for that matter, but we all want the best coach for now and long term. I don't know about PJ Carlesimo, but maybe the best big name for now that we can get to come here. The question is not just who do we want, or who can we afford, but who can we get to come here. I feel right now Few maybe the best of all worlds, but perhaps Jaime Dixon would come here. Someone brought up on another thread that there is an advantage of slower/ lower expectations here then some programs like Kentucky, or Arizona for example. This certainly is a better place to live climate wise anyway than Spokane, or Memphis. And closer to home for Dixon and of course Few. Turgeon would also be on the top of my list and will have great connections for recruiting in Texas. I think Texas is a great potential hot bed for recruiting for us as Kelly has found out. We will always be behind Texas, but only so many scholarships to give there. And think of the kids coming to visit Eugene, green, not dusty brown, hot and humid. The big cities aren't great there, so lower expectations that ways for big city life for the kids

People turned down Arizona because no one wants to follow a legend. I would much rather be the guy picking up the pieces rather than be forced to live up to unreal expectations.

[ducksrock]

I understand the hesitancy for PJ, and I'm on record suggesting we should look in another, younger direction, but if PJ is the choice it wouldn't be the end of the world. He is, for all intents and purposes, a very good coach. We would just have to go through another coaching search in 5-6-7 years. That's the only drawback that I can see. The NBA experience would not hurt in recruiting.

He's not in the stratosphere of Jamie Dixon, and I, personally, would take Few or Turgeon over him in a heartbeat, but he'd be a better choice than a terrible high-major conference coach like Steve Alford.

The biggest drawback to me is he's not relevant to current players. He's been out of the college game so long and as a pro coach he didn't have success. To top it off he's probably best known during the last 10-15 years as the coach that was choked by Sprewell. I think he'd have a tough time recruiting.

Exactly....PJ had success at Seton Hall.....and that was a long time ago....and hasnt done anything notable since (in the pros or otherwise)...Right, wrong, or indifferent....The choking incident is not an attractive stigma to add to our athletic programs...Especially given that he is old news to begin with...

[PDXShogun]

i have been hearing alot about blazers ass. coach Monty Williams. what do you guys think about that?

I think he has a personality that college kids would love to play for and considering he is the guy responsible for developing Outlaw and Batum, he appears to be a great teacher. He's not at the top of my list, but he's an interesting option if we have to drop out of the Dixon, Few, Turgeron tier.

[SuperDuck]

People turned down Arizona because no one wants to follow a legend. I would much rather be the guy picking up the pieces rather than be forced to live up to unreal expectations.

In all reality, it's not like there won't be high expectations for whoever's hired. Ernie Kent is the winningest coach in Oregon history with two Elite Eight's, a regular season Pac-10 Title and two tournament titles. Yes, Ernie had some bad seasons and he wasn't a great "X's and O's" guy, but the Oregon fans will be expecting something more than just mediocrity from from whoever's hired, especially with the new arena.

I'd almost bet that Kent would have taken this group to the NCAA Tourney next season and, unless there are more than 2-3 defections, that will probably still be expected from the new guy, or at least a winning record and trip to the NIT. If he comes in and doesn't do well all the Kent backers are going to be screaming injustice.

Personally, I'm torn. It didn't hurt my feelings much to see guys like Don Monson, Jim Haney, Jerry Green, etc to leave because, at the end of the day, they weren't "Oregon guys".

Kent is, and it really sucks that it has to be this way.

Is it necessary? Yeah, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's time for a change, but more because of finances and the new arena than anything. Ernie Kent CAN coach and I expect him to land somewhere else and do well.

I just hope that whoever we hire is half the "Oregon guy" that Kent was.

Ernie Kent, thank you SO MUCH for the great memories!

[cordy02c]

one wild card name that hasn't been mentioned what about the coach at byu they are always good and they always beat or scare top level teams

[dthomas=ddixon]

Baylor is crushing texas right now. I we can't get one of the big 3 I would love for us to go after their coach.

[HugeInTheEug]

In no particular order, I would like one of these guys:

Dixon, Alford, Turgeon, Monty.

[greenyellow]

In no particular order, I would like one of these guys:

Dixon, Alford, Turgeon, Monty.

I would say no to Alford due to his past statements about not playing second fiddle to football, which he would be doing here since football is a whole lot popular than basketball. Plus, he doesn't have the best coaching record.

[duckgrad99]

For what it's worth, Clownzano reported today that he is hearing that Jamie Dixon is interested in the Oregon job. I know he reported this the other day, but I think this is something after the fact.

[greenyellow]

I say go hard after Dixon and Turgeon, bring them in to see who the players like, and hire whichever one the players and AD like.

[woundedknees]

I could be very happy seeing Dixon or Turgeon given the reins... How I would feel 13 seasons later, remains to be seen.

[greenyellow]

I could be very happy seeing Dixon or Turgeon given the reins... How I would feel 13 seasons later, remains to be seen.

I doubt either one stays for 13 years though. I could see Turgeon leaving if the Kansas job ever opened up and Dixon leaving for possibly the NBA or UCLA if Howland ever left.

[woundedknees]

Not saying I would expect to see either of those guys stay that long... (Turgeon might, with his previous experience here.).

I always thought guys like Lute Olsen, Coach K, and others were rather unique in sticking with their respective programs, even with their levels of success.