Mike Brey, Mike White unlikely to be next UM HC

Submitted by MGoChippewa on May 15th, 2019 at 9:53 AM
https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1128656648929730563?s=20

Would be more interested in hearing who IS in the race, but according to Jeff Goodman the two Mikes are unlikely to leave their current posts for Michigan.

 

Space Coyote

May 15th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^

I think people are undervaluing Brey a bit. He's not a homerun, but a couple years ago his resume wasn't terribly different than Beilein's, and he plays overall a very similar style of offense.

He has been at ND forever, so it's not the multiple program bit that Beilein has, but he took back-to-back Delaware teams to the NCAA, and finished with 20+ wins the last three seasons.

He then immediately improved Notre Dame, made the NCAA tournament 5 of his first 8 years in a very difficult Big East Conference, and made the NCAA tournament 12 of his first 17 years at Notre Dame. He probably had too many early round knockouts, but eventually made it to back-to-back Elite Eights. Then he was very highly ranked in 2017-2018 only to suffer a huge rash of injuries, then last year happened.

If it were a couple years ago, I think he'd be a legit poaching option. As it is right now, the cost of his buyout plus what it would take to lure him away probably wouldn't be worth it. I don't think he's a bad coach, I think he'd get Michigan to the NCAA tournament the majority of the time. But it would be a pretty high floor, low ceiling hire for the money involved.

Watching From Afar

May 15th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^

I'm kind of with Brian on the White thing. It would probably require a pretty big contract (which you could argue why would we care? They make a shit ton of money) for a guy without a sterling resume. Or, at least, a resume that doesn't require that big of a contract.

Florida under Donovan was a powerhouse and expecting that to continue with a new coach would be somewhat foolish, but as the SEC has gotten more competitive (Tennessee, Auburn, SCAR/Ole Miss on occasion) Florida has fallen back into .500 ball. The Big Ten is deeper and better than the SEC so a guy who is doing well, but not great in a lesser conference and possibly looking at falling into the pack wouldn't be a great hire IMO.

I don't want and "okay" hire and that's what he is. That's not to say I know who they should hire, but I would think they could get someone with an equal or better resume for less than White.

CTrace

May 15th, 2019 at 10:03 AM ^

I am not so sure about Howard. I think he may turn out to be a really good coach, but all of his experience is in the NBA. We need someone that is willing to recruit tirelessly and is a "college guy". I feel if Michigan gives Howard the job, it will be a stepping stone back to the NBA in say 3 years.

Space Coyote

May 15th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^

I think Howard is being overlooked. I think the transition from NBA basketball to college basketball is significantly easier than NFL Football to college football. There are so many young and raw NBA players that you are often dealing with teaching similar fundamentals. The practice time limitations may present a challenge, but with the significantly higher number of games in the NBA, that difference isn't as major either.

From a coaching standpoint, the biggest jump is just the skillset and what you can ask players to do, but even there I don't think the difference in what you ask guys to do is huge.

The recruiting aspect is the overall biggest difference. I really don't think Howard would have a significant issue there, especially if he had assistants used to the college level. Howard is likely a top 10 Head Coach candidate in the NBA, his has championship rings (and fairly recently), and had success at the college level. He is extremely relateable for many high level prospects. He's black, he was raised in the Chicago South Side projects, wasn't close to his biological parents (very close to his grandma), and he made it out, made the absolute most out of everything on the court and off of it. He can sell players and coaches. And he knows Michigan and can sell Michigan.

He knows basketball backwards in front, offense and defense, he's learned under Spoelstra, a very strong NBA mind. From a strategic standpoint, he would likely be great.

There is risk he hasn't been a head coach or at the college level. There is a risk if he's successful he's jumping at the NBA job, as it's clear that he's in demand at that level. But Howard, on paper, would be a very, very strong hire. The question is how his style would mesh with the personnel.

But honestly, the bigger question is what is Howard's end goal. If it's NBA, he's much better off staying put, he'll get a head coaching job in a year or two at worst. In college, he has to be successful to make it anywhere near the same timeframe. 

93Grad

May 15th, 2019 at 1:19 PM ^

Yep.  I'm on board with hiring Howard if they think he will stay at least 3-4 years.  I don't see him as any more of a risk than most the candidates.  He should be able to recruit well enough.  Even if the kids may not remember him, their parents and coaches certainly will and that opens a lot of doors in recruiting.  

rc15

May 15th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^

This is kind of genius by those coaches though. State you aren't likely to take a position, when you aren't in consideration... Makes it seem like you're loyal and highly qualified/sought after.

Also, saying "unlikely" still gives you the fallback that if UM did come calling you can still take it.

Perkis-Size Me

May 15th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^

I really, really hope that all this Porter Moser speculation is straight media speculation, or its his agent putting this all out there to get the guy a raise from Loyola. 

All I know is that if Manuel allows Porter Moser to walk up to the podium to be announced as the next HC of Michigan Basketball, then Manuel will have signed and submitted his own resignation papers. He'd get his ass run out of town the minute the basketball team starts to fall apart. Aside from one incredibly fluky (albeit entertaining) Final Four run, the guy's track record at Loyola is mediocre. And that's on a good day. He'd get taken behind the woodshed and would be beaten mercilessly by Izzo and the other conference heavyweights every year he was here, and everything Beilein built would be undone within a season or two. 

Perkis-Size Me

May 15th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^

Brey would've been a great hire a few years ago. IIRC, his team played that undefeated Kentucky team in the Elite 8 and almost beat them. But he's definitely lost a lot of his luster since then. 

Mike White....ehh he would've been okay, but I wouldn't have gotten excited about him. He's recruited well but his results have trended further downward every year he's been in Gainesville. 

stephenrjking

May 15th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^

I'm fine with this. 

Both of those guys fall into a large category of coaches that makes me think: "Meh, I guess they're ok." Like, if we hire one of them, I'll talk myself into it, but I would expect little. If we get a guy in that category, I figure it might as well be someone like Lavall or Yak whom I hope can maintain some continuity.

There is no Donovan noise; if Michigan hasn't already put out a feeler, it's not going to (in fairness, at least one poster in another thread had a good point - if Donovan gave feedback that he couldn't come without loosening of recruiting restrictions and Michigan was unwilling to agree to that, neither side would express public interest and nobody would ever know). I hope that the vague DM screenshot rumor about Greg Marshall is real, because he's a hire I could be excited about.

Perkis-Size Me

May 15th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^

Greg Marshall would be one hell of a second option if Donovan wasn't interested. Gets his players to play way above their recruiting ranking, has had plenty of sustained success, lots of tournament appearances, a Final Four, and appears to be a pretty good guy. 

I haven't heard any chatter about him so I'm not sure he'd even be interested, but he would be a guy worth getting really excited about. Maybe, just maybe he thinks he's hit his ceiling at Wichita State. 

Leaders And Best

May 15th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^

Unfortunately, no one is going to explicitly tell you who is in the race as no good coach that has a good job is going to come out and say he wants to leave his current job for another one especially without an offer. The coaches whose names get floated that seem totally out of left field (e.g. Chris Collins, Dane Fife) are there via agents and friendly reporters trying to get into race or get a raise/extension but not serious candidates often times.

ralphgoblue

May 15th, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^

Dont really want a 65-70 yr old as the next coach.Im hoping for someone that could be here 10+ years

I kinda want to see Juwan Howard over most names thrown around