If Capel Stays, Who Should he Bring in as an Asst Coach?

[FaithfulSooner]

Romulus there's no we. I think you mean who should Coach Capel bring in as an assistant coach. Looks like you of all people will have to trust Coach Capel's judgement because he will be the coach next year buddy. BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!

 

[topcat]

What has Tommie Griffin ever done to prove he is ready for a D1 assist coaching job? Why doesn't he have a D1 assist job now if he's ready?

If we are going to take a AAU/HS coach he better be well connected like the guy KSU hired who will bring some studs with him.

I'd think a well connected current D1 assist coach who is a solid defensive coach would be the top pick. Money talks. Go get the best you can find and give him a nice bump in pay with a 2 year guaranteed contract.

 

[AdaSooner]

What has Tommie Griffin ever done to prove he is ready for a D1 assist coaching job? Why doesn't he have a D1 assist job now if he's ready?

If we are going to take a AAU/HS coach he better be well connected like the guy KSU hired who will bring some studs with him.

I'd think a well connected current D1 assist coach who is a solid defensive coach would be the top pick. Money talks. Go get the best you can find and give him a nice bump in pay with a 2 year guaranteed contract.

How many D-1 assistant coaches can you name who arrived on the college scene with a lengthy list of accomplishments before they took the job? Assistant coaches at the college level rarely develop an impressive CV unless someone is willing to give them a chance. Nearly all had to start somewhere, and many came out of the high school or AAU ranks.

Tommy Griffin's background as an educator, athletic director and coach at the high school and AAU levels is as solid as they come. In his 29 years as a head coach at John Marshall and OCS his teams won six state titles. He is also a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Why doesn't he have a D-1 assistant's job now? Likely for the same reason he resigned his position as the AD and coach at OCS in 2007. He wanted to spend more time with his family and enjoy watching his two sons compete at OU. Personally, I admire a father who is willing to put family over his career.

Coach Capel needs an older assistant on his staff with Tommy's experience as a coach and father who raised two boys of his own. Players look up to someone like him because he's a more of a father figure. His knowledge and connections on the AAU circuit in Oklahoma and Texas could also be invaluable. I have no idea if Tommy would even be interested in a job at OU? But if he is, I think he would be the perfect choice.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

How many D-1 assistant coaches can you name who arrived on the college scene with a lengthy list of accomplishments before they took the job? Assistant coaches at the college level rarely develop an impressive CV unless someone is willing to give them a chance. Nearly all had to start somewhere, and many came out of the high school or AAU ranks.

Tommy Griffin's background as an educator, athletic director and coach at the high school and AAU levels is as solid as they come. In his 29 years as a head coach at John Marshall and OCS his teams won six state titles. He is also a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Why doesn't he have a D-1 assistant's job now? Likely for the same reason he resigned his position as the AD and coach at OCS in 2007. He wanted to spend more time with his family and enjoy watching his two sons compete at OU. Personally, I admire a father who is willing to put family over his career.

Coach Capel needs an older assistant on his staff with Tommy's experience as a coach and father who raised two boys of his own. Players look up to someone like him because he's a more of a father figure. His knowledge and connections on the AAU circuit in Oklahoma and Texas could also be invaluable. I have no idea if Tommy would even be interested in a job at OU? But if he is, I think he would be the perfect choice.

Just made the same choice...not easy (but really it is). Would love TG on the staff at OU.

 

[AdaSooner]

Just made the same choice...not easy (but really it is). Would love TG on the staff at OU.

Good for you!!! :clap

 

[Sid]

Coach Capel needs an older assistant on his staff with Tommy's experience as a coach and father who raised two boys of his own. Players look up to someone like him because he's a more of a father figure. His knowledge and connections on the AAU circuit in Oklahoma and Texas could also be invaluable. I have no idea if Tommy would even be interested in a job at OU? But if he is, I think he would be the perfect choice.

^​

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Good for you!!! :clap

Thanks, was working for a sweat shop law firm that wanted 2,000 plus billable. Already had wrecked my family...decided enough was enough. Half the time, same amount of money, and planning on coaching every little league team I can.

For those on here that think that money is everything, you are mistaken...look at Tommy Griffin. He probably could have made more, but now has two kids playing in the league. All kids might not play in the league or whatever, but knowing that you loved them the best you could while you sould is worth more than any "job" you'll ever have.

 

[chico got game]

I think some of you have nailed it regarding the importance of this hiring. This staff needs a guy that can play the bad cop role with these kids. I don't think the recruiting is as important as being able to lay down the law and preach defense. Coach Cline and Coach Betts are both really solid recruiters (obviously Coach Capel is as well).

Just my thoughts. I don't have any specific names but I'm sure there are guys out there to fit that bill.

All of the so called bad seeds are gone Capel need to bring in a good defensive teaching coach and run 3 or 4 guards next season that specialize in defense as well.

 

[Sooner Quick]

Tommie Griffin without even blinking! The guy IS an enforcer, ask Blake and Taylor. He has numerous connections in the AAU circuit in Oklahoma and Texas as well as some other states like Kansas and Arkansas.

To answer the question about him not having any D1 experience, its not that people haven't tried to get him, it was his own personal choice. I think he might had been at OU if not for Blake and Taylor being there so he could be a serious contender for the job now.

Other names:
Bob Hoffman
Terry Evans
Stacey King
Fran Fraschilla

 

[SoonerDan74012]

Tommie Griffin without even blinking! The guy IS an enforcer, ask Blake and Taylor. He has numerous connections in the AAU circuit in Oklahoma and Texas as well as some other states like Kansas and Arkansas.

To answer the question about him not having any D1 experience, its not that people haven't tried to get him, it was his own personal choice. I think he might had been at OU if not for Blake and Taylor being there so he could be a serious contender for the job now.

Other names:
Bob Hoffman
Terry Evans
Stacey King
Fran Fraschilla

I would be thrilled with Tommie Griffin but I would be even more thrilled if Capel can somehow entice Bob Hoffman to return to OU. He not only has connections down in Texas for recruiting but he is a no-nonsense type of coach and would be a welcome addition to this staff that needs discipline in the worst way.

 

[stanley11]

Bob Hoffman is a head coach at D-1 Mercer now. He had his team in it's conference final this year for a spot in the NCAA field. It took him a year or two after Sampson left to land that job. I'm pretty sure he coached either one or two years of NBDL ball before getting another college job. Do you really think he would leave Mercer to run back to OU for another possible 1-2 year assistant spot, and then start looking for another job if things don't turn around here soon? I can't imagine he'd make that mistake twice, especially after being turned down by Capel the first time he hired a staff.

 

[SoonerDan74012]

Bob Hoffman is a head coach at D-1 Mercer now. He had his team in it's conference final this year for a spot in the NCAA field. It took him a year or two after Sampson left to land that job. I'm pretty sure he coached either one or two years of NBDL ball before getting another college job. Do you really think he would leave Mercer to run back to OU for another possible 1-2 year assistant spot, and then start looking for another job if things don't turn around here soon? I can't imagine he'd make that mistake twice, especially after being turned down by Capel the first time he hired a staff.

Maybe if Jeff gets canned he can be his replacement. He was a candidate when Kelvin left for Indiana.

 

[MichSooner]

^​

Very interesting thought. Interesting suggestion. This assistant coach hire is a crucial one for the program in many ways.

 

[MichSooner]

Whether it works or not I have serious doubts that Capel has the capacity right now to realize what is best for the program and who would be the best hire for the program. Imo he lost that right with the nonsense that is going on right now and Joe C is well within his power to impose a coach on Capel. The problems the program is having does not just involve Capel or the basketball program as a whole, it could potentially affect, yes (shutter) the football team and the university as a whole. Whether you believe that means Capel shouldnt be coach here anymore is a different topic.

Interesting points. However, whether Capel should coach here is not a different topic. If he is at the point of having assistants forced on him then he is not fit to be coach. You can't put anyones lieutenants in under them. That said, they will undergoe a serious vetting process that may be a bit more stringent than the usual one.

I lead a very a large organization. And the paternalistic approach you are suggesting has been tried many times but seldom works. And if he is worth his salt, he will figure out pretty quickly that he is at the end of his rope at OU if Joe C. forces a certain assistant on him.

 

[AdaSooner]

All of the so called bad seeds are gone Capel need to bring in a good defensive teaching coach and run 3 or 4 guards next season that specialize in defense as well.

Your point about putting players on the floor that specialize in defense is a good one. I would rather not see a four guard lineup again anytime soon. But I'm all for playing kids who are willing to bust their tails to shore up our defensive woes. If that is four guards and wings, so be it.

If I had to pick one thing out of the numerous weaknesses this year's team had that demanded the most attention, defense would win hands down. We absolutely must find someone who can get our players to buy into selling out on defense. If that person is already on staff, then he needs to step to the front and be recognized! I saw very little evidence that anyone on the current staff knows how to teach kids who aren't defensive minded when they arrive on campus how to be good defenders. That's why I agree 100% with what you said about hiring an assistant who is good at teaching kids to play defense.

 

[jaymOU]

I am going to disagree with most on this thread, as I don't believe this is an important hire at all. Here is why. I don't think Coach Capel will be here this time next year and, therefore, unless this hire becomes the "coach in waiting" - the hiring is not signifcant at all.

I think Capel has the chance to develop into a very good head coach, I just don't believe he can bring back this program at this time.

I hope I am wrong and will root like crazy for him and the program, but I simply don't see a plausible way out at this point.

 

[cowboysooner]

Long before I knew he had kids, I thought TG was one of the best high school coaches I had ever seen. I would be OK with TG and it doesn't have anything whatsoever to do with Blake and Taylor. Unbelievable guy and coach -- ask just about anyone that knows him. Like someone said above, he is well known in Oklahoma and Texas. But that being said, I have no idea whether he could recruit.

 

[Max Power]

Long before I knew he had kids, I thought TG was one of the best high school coaches I had ever seen. I would be OK with TG and it doesn't have anything whatsoever to do with Blake and Taylor. Unbelievable guy and coach -- ask just about anyone that knows him. Like someone said above, he is well known in Oklahoma and Texas. But that being said, I have no idea whether he could recruit.

"I taught Blake and Taylor how to play the game" is a good pitch to young high schoolers

 

[Mr.B!!!]

"I taught Blake and Taylor how to play the game" is a good pitch to young high schoolers

Add to that the pitch that he can make to parents as well...he has been there, done that.