Beilein Out, Bickerstaff In as Cav's Coach
Mates,
So now they are reporting this as a 'done deal'. JB will meet with the team after they come back from their ASG break today to fill them in. A notable quote here:
Friends and associates of Beilein have described him as unhappy -- even miserable -- with the move to the Cavaliers. The losing that comes with a rebuild, as well as several skirmishes in public and private with players, has played a part in the rapid deterioration of tenure, sources said.
The link to the article here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28732883/john-beilein-cavs-head-coach-jb-bickerstaff-takes-over
Lots of talk about JB in the threads the last few days. I personally will always love the guy for his exceptional ethics and performance in a dirty business. After he led the team off of a crashed jet to win the B10 tournament in a practice uniforms I would've let him coach the team for life.
We are blessed to have Juwan doing such an exceptional job and I don't think many of us predicted that, but JB is a gem and credit to our school. I hope his next endeavor, whether its retirement or coaching at some level, brings him a peace and fulfillment that he so richly deserves.
And this should also serve as a reminder that virtually nothing in ohio is good.
XM
February 19th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
This is so not surprising. The only surprising part is that JB did not see this coming. It was a terrible fit for so many reasons.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:28 AM ^
That the Cavs couldn't handle Beilein is a fucking indictment of the Cavs and the NBA, not Belein.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
when the hell did thug become an ethnic slur???
February 19th, 2020 at 10:46 AM ^
https://www.npr.org/2015/04/30/403362626/the-racially-charged-meaning-behind-the-word-thug
Sometime on or before 2015.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:48 AM ^
If it were possible to bring him in as a shooting coach I'm all for it.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
Beilein's NBA *career* makes Dick Vitale's seem successful--he lasted an entire season and won 30 games.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:56 AM ^
They just didn't "believe in Beilein" like they should have. The NBA gets in too much of a hurry for instant success.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
I think a huge mistake was in just hiring him & thinking that was all that was needed. They really needed to bring in a couple former Michigan players. When installing a new system it would really help to have some guys who are actually familiar with it, and who could help communicate to the rest of the team on their level.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:48 AM ^
Well said Xtra!
February 19th, 2020 at 12:03 PM ^
I'll always love Beilein for what he did and the man he is. I understand him wanting to try something new, but I will truly never understand why he thought going to the Cleveland Cavaliers was a good idea. Looked bad at the start and played out about as bad as it could've. I just wanna be like 'What did you expect John??'
February 19th, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
None of this is at all shocking to me. The only thing that would shock me is if JB took another B1G job. The thought of him competing against Michigan in the very near future would seemingly be as anathema to him as it would to all of us--but I could be wrong.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^
It seemed like a bad fit from the start, turns out it was even worse than we thought. All time head-scratching move.
Best of luck to Beilein at his next stop, unless its another Big 10 team of course.
February 19th, 2020 at 12:54 PM ^
Agree. Thanks for all you did, JB. I'm happy with how it turned out for us, but I really feel bad for the guy. I personally hope he retires so we don't have to play against a team he coaches at any point.
February 19th, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
Almost nothing in Ohio is good but go down to Cincinnati. It's neutral territory as they folks down there are homies. They care about their local colleges like Univ of Cinti, Xavier and Miami of Ohio way more than Ohio State. Plus the city is very pretty and vibrant.
Wishing Coach Beilein a happy retirement.
February 19th, 2020 at 2:14 PM ^
May he have a long and peaceful retirement and never go to the state of Indiana
February 19th, 2020 at 2:30 PM ^
I love Coach B, and hope the best for him. But for a Natty, that was the most enjoyable and successful run of a M coach in my lifetime. Teams full of likable and coachable kids and a clean nose of a program to boot.
That said, he definitely wanted to leave Ann Arbor. I don't blame him for the opportunity to coach at the "highest level" but it was an odd reach that the Cavs and their dysfunction up and down the org was the best place to go. He's too wise not to know this and saw the title, position and money as a compensatory hedge.
I am sure he thought he could coach these brats, but think it was secondary. Wish him the best wherever he goes.
February 19th, 2020 at 3:06 PM ^
It takes a conscious effort to type "Cav's."
February 19th, 2020 at 3:45 PM ^
I don't wish any ill will on Beilein, but I also don't feel sorry for him. He CHOSE to go to the Cavaliers despite knowing they sucked. He had a great thing here and he chucked it for greener grass that ended up being nothing but weeds.
I hope he finds something good to round out his career so he doesn't retire with a bad taste in his mouth.