Crutchfield to Arkansas(?)

[Seymore Cox]

Regardless for all the speculation about being a coach in waiting, what can't be denied is that OU, Joe C, Kruger, whoever, sent Crutchfield a message that you are not in the future plans.

 

[61sooner]

Think the Head-Coach-in-Waiting is a terrible move in any sport.

 

[AdaSooner]

Regardless for all the speculation about being a coach in waiting, what can't be denied is that OU, Joe C, Kruger, whoever, sent Crutchfield a message that you are not in the future plans.

Based on what we know so far, I have to agree with you.

The assistant who played a major role in recruiting Buddy Hield and Trae Young as well as other key players the past few years deserved better than a wave goodbye as he walked out the door.

If we learn later there’s more to this story, I’ll be happy to apologize for a lowering of my opinion of Lon Kruger and for Joe C’s continuing lack of support for our basketball program. If Chris Crutchfield was an assistant on the football team, Joe C would have bent over backwards to keep him. Some things never change!

And, for the record, I’m not for naming Crutchfield as a coach in waiting. It’s that there doesn’t appear to be much of an effort to keep him on the coaching staff.

 

[Max Power]

Based on what we know so far, I have to agree with you.

The assistant who played a major role in recruiting Buddy Hield and Trae Young as well as other key players the past few years deserved better than a wave goodbye as he walked out the door.

If we learn later there’s more to this story, I’ll be happy to apologize for a lowering of my opinion of Lon Kruger and for Joe C’s continuing lack of support for our basketball program. If Chris Crutchfield was an assistant on the football team, Joe C would have bent over backwards to keep him. Some things never change!

if the football team had the worst record in the big 12 over any 3 year period, everyone would be fired

 

[WichitaSooner]

So much wild speculation here. People claiming to know how long Lon will coach, claiming he didn't fight for Crutch, etc. Other than our trusted sources, I see no basis in fact for any of that.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Regardless for all the speculation about being a coach in waiting, what can't be denied is that OU, Joe C, Kruger, whoever, sent Crutchfield a message that you are not in the future plans.

And that is a good thing. When Coach Kruger does retire, his replacement should be someone far better than Coach Crutchfield.

:OU-logo:

 

[SoonerTraveler]

if the football team had the worst record in the big 12 over any 3 year period, everyone would be fired

So true. I am just hopeful for a .500 conference basketball record next season, which would be a big improvement over the past 3 seasons.

:OU-logo:

 

[AdaSooner]

if the football team had the worst record in the big 12 over any 3 year period, everyone would be fired

You would start with the man in charge of the decline and replace the assistants who failed to bring in the players necessary to improve your record, not the one who has been your best recruiter.

 

[Max Power]

You would start with the man in charge of the decline and replace the assistants who failed to bring in the players necessary to improve your record, not the one who has been your best recruiter.

In 1999 Bob Stoops brought in all new coaches. Blake's best recruiter didn't get to stick around. So i don't think Crutchfield Earned more money.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

You would start with the man in charge of the decline and replace the assistants who failed to bring in the players necessary to improve your record, not the one who has been your best recruiter.

If he actually was OU's best recruiter, then maybe that explains why the OU basketball team had the worst record in the Big-12 over the past 3 years.

Lon has tremendous contacts throughout the industry. Go hire someone better.

Frankly, I am optimistic about this change in personnel. This is good news. Coach Kruger has the opportunity to upgrade the staff.

:OUbball-logo:

 

[AdaSooner]

If he actually was OU's best recruiter, then maybe that explains why the OU basketball team had the worst record in the Big-12 over the past 3 years.

Lon has tremendous contacts throughout the industry. Go hire someone better.

Frankly, I am optimistic about this change in personnel. This is good news. Coach Kruger has the opportunity to upgrade the staff.

:OUbball-logo:

If Crutchfield leaving means Lon will upgrade his staff, I’ll be the happiest fan on this board. He had the same opportunity when he hired Hartmann and his son. I am already on record in saying that I’m excited about next year’s recruiting class. But nothing I saw for the previous two seasons led me to believe Lon’s hires were actually upgrades.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Hartman was the lead assistant in recruiting Jamal Bieniemy. That is a major feather in his recruiting cap IMO. I stand by my comment about Kevin Kruger.

 

[daqman]

And that is a good thing. When Coach Kruger does retire, his replacement should be someone far better than Coach Crutchfield.

:OU-logo:

Absolutely. If Crutchfield actually thinks he should be OU's next head coach, he's out of his mind.

 

[daqman]

If he actually was OU's best recruiter, then maybe that explains why the OU basketball team had the worst record in the Big-12 over the past 3 years.

Lon has tremendous contacts throughout the industry. Go hire someone better.

Frankly, I am optimistic about this change in personnel. This is good news. Coach Kruger has the opportunity to upgrade the staff.

:OUbball-logo:

Kruger will likely retire in a couple years. Might not be the best situation to try to upgrade an assistant when they know they won't have job security.
Look for someone similar to Molinari.

 

[Eielson]

Lincoln Riley never held the head coach in waiting title. No one except those deep in the program had any inkling of Bob Stoops retiring until 24-48 hours before it was announced.

Designating someone as HC in waiting is to put it in a contract and creating a financial obligation which would be a bad business decision. Not a Joe C. practice.

Some people call it a Kleenex when really it's just a tissue. I doubt Joe C offered a handshake agreement for Crutch to become the next coach, and Crutch refused because it wasn't in writing.

A job of OU's caliber doesn't get filled that quickly if OU hadn't already made the decision in advance.

 

[CoachTalk]

If Crutchfield leaving means Lon will upgrade his staff, I’ll be the happiest fan on this board. He had the same opportunity when he hired Hartmann and his son. I am already on record in saying that I’m excited about next year’s recruiting class. But nothing I saw for the previous two seasons led me to believe Lon’s hires were actually upgrades.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Hartman was the lead assistant in recruiting Jamal Bieniemy. That is a major feather in his recruiting cap IMO. I stand by my comment about Kevin Kruger.

read your texts!

Jalen Hill was Kevins. I think that will turn out as good as Jamal.

 

[AdaSooner]

read your texts!

Jalen Hill was Kevins. I think that will turn out as good as Jamal.

That’s news to me. I don’t recall reading or hearing anything to suggest that Kevin was involved in Hill’s recruitment, just that Lon’s ties to Vegas was a factor. Did I miss that in one of your responses to my criticism of Kevin?

If Kevin was the primary recruiter, that was a great get for him. I may be more excited about Jalen Hill than anyone in our 2019 class, with the possible exception of De’Vion Harmon.

 

[CoachTalk]

That’s news to me. I don’t recall reading or hearing anything to suggest that Kevin was involved in Hill’s recruitment, just that Lon’s ties to Vegas was a factor. Did I miss that in one of your responses to my criticism of Kevin?

If Kevin was the primary recruiter, that was a great get for him. I may be more excited about Jalen Hill than anyone in our 2019 class, with the possible exception of De’Vion Harmon.

Lol

No vbdad or someone said it.

 

[cvangild]

read your texts!

Jalen Hill was Kevins. I think that will turn out as good as Jamal.

Some on here want to treat KK like the football idiots treated Kish. Several REFUSED to give Kish any credit on getting certain recruits! It was comical. Heck, we can all thank Kish for OU getting Spencer Rattler! Kish is the one who identified Rattler through his connections in Arizona and told LR (back when he was OC) that he needed to check out his tape, etc.

I just hope that with Crutch heading to Arkansas, it doesn't impact Bryce Thompson's decision any. I would like to think that his dad is one that tends to think that you can't make your decision based on the asst. coaches on staff. He knows that asst coaching changes are very common and that OU is still OU, the location isn't any further now, LK is still the HC and he will run his same system. Rod also knows LK will bring in a quality coach....who ever it happens to be.

I know relationships are important, but LK has been VERY involved in Thompson's recruitment, so I would think LK has probably already spoken to them. And you know LK is one of the best about remaining calm and positive even through adversity. No TO's needed here!!!!

 

[Eielson]

Some on here want to treat KK like the football idiots treated Kish. Several REFUSED to give Kish any credit on getting certain recruits! It was comical. Heck, we can all thank Kish for OU getting Spencer Rattler! Kish is the one who identified Rattler through his connections in Arizona and told LR (back when he was OC) that he needed to check out his tape, etc.

I agree that we'll miss KK about as much as we'll miss Kish.

 

[skyvue]

De'Vion Harmon begs to differ:
Yeah this one Hurt. Thank you for believing in me when the rest of the World wasn’t checking for De’Vion Harmon. You gave me an opportunity that only I could have dreamed of... Love You Coach #GodBless����

Also, it's been announced that Crutchfield will be associate head coach at Arkansas.