A Way-Too-Early Look at John Beilein's Replacement Candidates
Well...this sucks. But the question has to be asked as to who is going to be the next head coach for the program. I would say the massive favorite and most realistic amongst Michigan fans would be Luke Yaklich given he's already with the program and has transformed the team's defense since arriving.
If Warde decides an outside hire is best, it's an interesting question as to who they would look for given this is rather late. Dream scenarios would include names like Chris Beard, Jay Wright, even Brad Stevens.
They would probably look at Lavall Jordan as well, but he hasn't had too much luck over at Butler. Who would you like to see if it's an outside hire? IF you can get Chris Beard, then I would say you go and get Chris Beard. What are your thoughts?
Promoting an assistant would be a complete disaster and put Michigan back into the dark ages.
Disagree. I've seen numerous comments from recruits/analysts that Coach Yak is relentless on the recruiting trail. He's also a great defensive coach (obviously).
I don't see it with Saddi or any of the other former/current assistants though.
Space Coyote made some comments in another thread that Yak probably isn't the best bet to take over the program, given not too long ago he was a struggling HS coach, etc. Then he went on to say if they stay in house and want to stay the course, Washington would be the better choice.
Either way, wow.. this was unexpected. Why can't we have nice things?
I completely disagree. Coach Yaklich is the key to the team's elite defense which has propelled it to a Championship game and Sweet Sixteen run the past two years. It would be a home run. There may be other good candidates but Yaklich would be a great choice.
Didn't Beard just sign a huge extension with TTU ?
John Beilein just signed a huge extension with Michigan..
The extension made Beard the 4th highest paid coach in NCAA basketball. Normally I would agree and just say so what? But the extension he signed is for a ton of money which means Michigan would likely have to offer him more money than TT did (which would be more than they were paying Beilein) and that isn't including any buyout amount. Beard is the only "realistic" candidate out of the three listed, and I think it would be tough for Michigan to get him, but they should absolutely try. Brad Stevens and Jay Wright are just absolute pipe dreams right now. I don't see Jay Wright ever leaving Nova for another college gig, and Stevens isn't going to be fired and if he decides to leave, there would be plenty of NBA organizations that would want him.
Gregg Marshall or Brad stevens
I'm going to nominate Juwan Howard. He interviewed for the Lakes job and has been paying his dues on the Heat staff.
He interviewed with the Cavs too. He's my favorite choice, but I'm not sure if he has any desire to coach at the college level.
Brad Stevens wouldn't leave the NBA.
Coach B wouldn't leave Michigan...
Stevens is an excellent and well-respected NBA coach, at the pinnacle of his sport. There probably aren’t 5 guys that teams wouldn’t shove out of the way to hire him. He has no reason to leave the Celtics, but if he does, it will be for another team in the NBA.
Stevens would be a dream candidate. However, after this season, definitely worth a call. 2 reasons he may have interest: Kyrie Irving.
Four words to explain why it's not worth a call...
Kyrie Irving's contract expired.
Possibly Billy donovon if he wants out of OKC
It’s a possibility the Thunder want Billy out of OKC. Donovan would be one of my first calls.
I think Donovan is doubtful. His son was a teacher and the HS basketball coach at my daughter's high school here in Gainesville. He left because his Dad got him a job coaching the Spurs G League team. Jr. said his Dad felt like he could help him along in the Spurs organization, and the "G" League was a better option than college. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't see Donovan leaving the Spurs just a short time after relocating his son into his own backyard.
Tony Bennett only makes $2.43mm per year so you have to ask with 2x salary to at least see. Unlikely he'd come but he was another top candidate the year we hired Beilein.
$5-6mm/year for Bennett would absolutely be worth it. Not a chance it happens, but may as well make an offer. Hell, Holtmann makes $7mm at OSU. Surely Bennett should command more.
Is Bennett a Virginia alum
Nope, he played at Wisconsin-Green Bay for his father, and coached with his father at Wazzu before going to Virginia.
Also he left his heart in San Francisco
We are not getting Jay Wright, Chris Beard or Brad Stevens. Those are just asinine ideas.
Mike White out of Florida wouldn’t be a bad hire. Frank Martin maybe, will the Shaka Smart saga re-emerge?
Sarcastic? That is a horrible short list. I agree Stevens isn't leaving but you might as well take a shot at the other two.
If you're trying to help then get raises at their current schools, then yes you should call Wright or Beard.
Jay Wright has won two national titles with Nova. Why would he leave what he has built at Nova to come to Michigan and do some rebuilding? Mike White can really coach and is young. Frank Martin had a tough year this year but is a great leader and coach. Shaka Smart re-emergence was sarcastic.
These are all options that would be thoroughly disappointing IMO. Wright/Stevens/Bennett are all pipe dreams. Beard slightly less so because TTU isn't a proven commodity but he did just sign a long contract. But what's the harm in reaching out? If they say no then you're in the same spot as before, which is not having them as a head coach.
Martin has made 1 tournament in 7 years at USC. He made 4 in 5 at KSU before that but the only year they made it out of the 2nd Round was as a 2 seed that lost to a 5 seed and never beat anyone higher than a 6.
Mike White has made 3 NCAA tournaments in 4 years, made it past the 2nd round once, and his record has gotten worse the past 2 years.
Shaka Smart has missed 2/4 NCAA tournaments at Texas and never won a tourney game there.
Michigan has been an elite basketball program over the past decade. We need to view ourselves as such and hire that way. All these guys are mediocre P5 guys who would scream "well it was a fun decade, sorry it's over" if hired.
I just don’t think Michigan is a appealing as we make it out to be. Michigan is a football school and basketball will always play second fiddle. Wright and Bennett are at huge basketball schools, we are gonna have to target someone who is okay being at a football school. I just don’t see a big name hire.
Since 2013, here is the list of schools with multiple National Title Appearances:
Villanova
UNC
Michigan
End list.
Agreed, that's so unappealing.
Sure, we're a football school. Sure, those two national title appearances are directly tied to Beilein. But he's shown it can be done at Michigan. Michigan is a spot where a good coach can realistically come to win a national title. We're not UNC or Duke but next level down that's as appealing as it gets. Who cares if we're a football school? The basketball program has thrived in recent years. Money has been funneled in and support has been massive. Even if it's not football levels it's higher than most other schools basketball support is.
Beilein had a resume better than White/Smart/Martin when we hired him. After going to 2 national title games in 5 years, we're going to settle for a worse hire?
The attitude that basketball must be second fiddle and we should be thankful for whatever we can get is what dooms a program. The attitude needs to be here are great coaches we want to hire, let's go down the list and get one of those guys. Not hopefully one of these mediocre coaches will settle for Michigan.
Chris Beard would absolutely think of leaving. He's losing a lot from that team and while he's got good young guys coming in the idea of TT being a consistent power player in basketball isn't a given. It's just as easy they struggle a bit this coming year and the buzz is off his name.
I agree about Wright and Stevens. I want absolutely nothing to do with Frank Martin. He's made 1 NCAA tournament at South Carolina and that feels like a massive fluke. Mike White at Florida wouldn't be a bad signing, though his teams have underwhelmed the past couple of years and, I'll be honest, I always get a little nervous about guys who big-time recruiting chops who don't win a ton of games and coach in the SEC. That feels like a situation that might not be reproducible outside of the SEC environment, even at a school like Florida that seems to at least give lip service to recruiting above board.
While I would absolutely love it, it would seem shortsighted for Beard to leave. He was a Tech assistant for 10 years and likely has a lot of recruiting relationships in Texas. He has no ties to the midwest. It is also sort of baffling that there isn't at least one basketball power in Texas, and he could be on his way to building it.
I'm old enough to remember when people thought it was asinine Harbaugh would leave the NFL for Michigan.
Frank Martin wouldn’t be a bad hire
Martin would be an awful fit at UM.
Juwan Howard. Was considered for the Lakers job.
He was my first thought. Can we get Jalen Rose as an assistant too?
He's never done college though. Who knows if he can recruit.
Tell that to Penny Hardaway at Memphis
Well...there are rea$on$ he's a successful recruiter
Well...there are rea$on$ he's a successful recruiter
Isn’t he related to Jaden McDaniel...if he can bring him in...GRAB HIM NOW!!!!
Beard is going nowhere for the next few years. Tech has made a large investment in program because of his influence and impact.
Way to early? Warde needs to move fast for keeping recruits and filling the roster. Move should be made swiftly! John interviewed for the Pistons last year, Warde made a short list to replace him after he interviewed for the Pistons so Warde had a feeling this might happen and is prepared!
I hope you're right, but Warde has inspired no confidence in me. The Pearson hire was shooting fish in a barrel. If he gets this one right, he can stay. If he promotes an assistant or something worse, we have to start over AGAIN
I bet they'll interim Yaklich or Saddi for '19-'20. If whomever that is comes up with a miracle season they get the gig. Otherwise it gives the AD the year to evaluate and also see who makes themselves available.
One of the really big challenges right now is making sure that whomever you hire has clean hands and won't in some way get implicated in the shitstorm that could come out of the Adidas/college basketball trials.
On that note, it will be interesting to watch what the NCAA does. If they really don't push hard on what has already come out in court its pretty much safe to say the doors are open and the NCAA is dead. As has been stated, this may be part of why Beilien left. Usually the NCAA gets derailed because they don't have subpoena power. Here the feds did it for them. They have ACTUAL facts. If they do nothing with it maybe its open season and we need to get with the program and hire a scumbag who plays by the new rules. My internal moral compass wouldn't ordinarily think this is the way to go but at some point if the NCAA is really turning its back then I guess you have to do what you have to do.
"On that note, it will be interesting to watch what the NCAA does."
Guessing jack shit. They've shown no inclination to clean up recruiting, and the tourney still mints money.
Then do you make a move for someone who plays the game?
Nah. While the Fab5 era was fun, it took decades for the program to be rebuilt.
I don't think we're a one and done school.
NBA commissioner has said they're getting rid of one-and-done within the next two years so that battle isn't going to be there.
I'm more talking about paying coaches/parents for players. Again, I'm disgusted having to even say it but clearly Beilien was convinced you can't win without cheating anymore. Maybe we have to play ball and hire a coach who does.
Nothing will come from the Dawkins trial. He is on the stand telling everyone that they pay the players in HS to influence who they'll sign with after college. They're not paying coaches, so the colleges/NCAA is insulated.
That said, there is still Sean Miller, Will Wade, etc... No action taken against any of them.