Is OU an attractive job right now?

[mardaddy51]

Who do we know that wants the job, besides the obvious assistants at Houston & OU?

Does UNT coach have any actual interest?


Sorry, this seems like a negative post, but it really isn't. Just curious how attractive the job really is from the outside looking in.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Only my opinion;

We are not a top tier job, but one where an outstanding coach can position us to compete with the top tier. Frankly we were not that far off this year with mostly the disaster with Xavier and the disaster at Manhattan. Otherwise we won or lost close games to a lot of ranked teams.

Our job is a good stepping stone to the blue bloods for an up and coming coach but I wouldn't expect a fair number of power five coaches to consider it a step up from where they are. Great step for almost any assistant/associate coach unless they are already the heir apparent to the blue blood job where they are.

 

[thegreyghost]

Let’s see Top 20 program that is stable w/ 4 coaches in the last 40 years. One of the top AD’s in the country. Final 4 appearances, consistent NCAA appearances so you can win games and not a ton of scrutiny like a Kentucky or Indiana. Has produced some superstar players in the last 10 years. Close to Texas for recruits (lot more players coming out of there now than in past), Good power 5 Basketball conference.

Drawbacks....Lloyd Noble Center is an albatross, not a real enthusiastic fan base/support, tough conference, have to put in max effort to recruit

 

[WichitaSooner]

If you want to coach at a school that is a top 20 program both historically and currently, and where every coach worth his weight in salt has been successful, then heck yes. There are obviously 10-15 better jobs/schools, and there are other jobs that are comparable. But any coach at UNT or any comparable school would be insane to not want the job.

 

[ouboomer]

I think the OU Job ranks somewhere in the # 25-30 in the country...and that's not too bad being a football school, the basketball arena being dated, low attendance (especially student wise), but the right coach in a 10 year span can make a legit run at a national title. Not a blue blood program by any means but not a chopped liver program either.

 

[IndySooner]

Who do we know that wants the job, besides the obvious assistants at Houston & OU?

Does UNT coach have any actual interest?


Sorry, this seems like a negative post, but it really isn't. Just curious how attractive the job really is from the outside looking in.

From what people have told me who are around the program and around college basketball, the inability of the last three coaches to get a new arena weighs heavily on this job. That, plus the lack of fan support and playing 2nd fiddle to football all make it a tough pull for anyone who is up for top tier jobs.

Direct quote from one person, "It's not a good job!" That was related to facilities and fan support. Impossible to recruit against the big boys with those two things lacking.

 

[TINY]

From what people have told me who are around the program and around college basketball, the inability of the last three coaches to get a new arena weighs heavily on this job. That, plus the lack of fan support and playing 2nd fiddle to football all make it a tough pull for anyone who is up for top tier jobs.

Direct quote from one person, "It's not a good job!" That was related to facilities and fan support. Impossible to recruit against the big boys with those two things lacking.

It isn’t an elite job but it certainly is a good job. Top 30 job.

Anyone who says that it isn’t a good job is insanely misinformed.

If your buddy was only referring to the fan support and arena then I will say he was being too kind to reference it as simply “not good”. Relative to a program’s success, our fan base is the worst in the country.

 

[IndySooner]

It isn’t an elite job but it certainly is a good job. Top 30 job.

Anyone who says that it isn’t a good job is insanely misinformed.

If your buddy was only referring to the fan support and arena then I will say he was being too kind to reference it as simply “not good”. Relative to a program’s success, our fan base is the worst in the country.

His exact words, "No one attends the games."

 

[WTSooner]

Impossible to recruit against the big boys with those two things lacking.

That is why it's a MUST to find a coach that can develop talent and run a system.

I hate to keep bringing him up, but Kelvin doesn't really have better players than OU on paper. But they damn sure play better basketball. That is coaching. That is what OU needs. Billy Ball is gone. The "niche" that was JUCO basketball isn't bringing elite talent to Norman anytime soon. We need somebody that can coach the kids up and win with the kind of talent OU is going to be able to consistently recruit. Not saying we can't land good players, but we need a coach that is going to get the most out of the guys he lands.

 

[IndySooner]

That is why it's a MUST to find a coach that can develop talent and run a system.

I hate to keep bringing him up, but Kelvin doesn't really have better players than OU on paper. But they damn sure play better basketball. That is coaching. That is what OU needs. Billy Ball is gone. The "niche" that was JUCO basketball isn't bringing elite talent to Norman anytime soon. We need somebody that can coach the kids up and win with the kind of talent OU is going to be able to consistently recruit. Not saying we can't land good players, but we need a coach that is going to get the most out of the guys he lands.

I 100% agree with that. Lon was that coach as well. It's why a young guy is a bit of a craps shoot, unfortunately.

 

[Maverick008]

But they damn sure play better basketball.

This is such a biased and incorrect statement. If you want to say that against the competition that they play regularly then sure but there is in no way a comparison between the two conferences that Houston and Oklahoma play in.

Did Houston play that much better basketball against East Carolina when they got beat this year? Or when they were on the ropes against Rutgers and should have lost that game two rounds ago before the complete meltdown by Rutgers? Come on now, we all know you love Kelvin and that’s fine but quit making it sound like every time his team steps on the floor it is better than Oklahoma‘s team.

Especially this year, as another poster pointed out except for the Xavier and Kansas State game in Manhattan,Oklahoma actually played solid to really good basketball most of the rest of the season. Unfortunately they were playing top 25 teams almost every game and it was every game for a good stretch of the season and if you don’t play near perfect almost every game you aren’t going to win them all.

We are all hoping for the best with this next coaching hire but comparing every single team/coach to Kelvin/Houston is getting old.

 

[WichitaSooner]

That is why it's a MUST to find a coach that can develop talent and run a system.

I hate to keep bringing him up, but Kelvin doesn't really have better players than OU on paper. But they damn sure play better basketball. That is coaching. That is what OU needs. Billy Ball is gone. The "niche" that was JUCO basketball isn't bringing elite talent to Norman anytime soon. We need somebody that can coach the kids up and win with the kind of talent OU is going to be able to consistently recruit. Not saying we can't land good players, but we need a coach that is going to get the most out of the guys he lands.

We may have just seen the biggest lie in board history ... “I hate to keep bringing him up” is the funniest thing I’ve seen all day!!

 

[Eielson]

It's undoubtedly a top 25 job. It's also undoubtedly not a top 10 job, and it never will be.

 

[mict085]

To the right coach, it’s an attractive job. Not to every coach. A good coach can win here just like previous coaches have done. However, the continued lack of fan support, the aging and awful LNC, coupled with lack of support from administration is going to continue to weigh down the program and scare away good coaches.

If we don’t fix those problems we will become an afterthought and a stepping stone to other jobs in our own region. The fall can come quickly. The climb back would take years.

 

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

From what people have told me who are around the program and around college basketball, the inability of the last three coaches to get a new arena weighs heavily on this job. That, plus the lack of fan support and playing 2nd fiddle to football all make it a tough pull for anyone who is up for top tier jobs.

Direct quote from one person, "It's not a good job!" That was related to facilities and fan support. Impossible to recruit against the big boys with those two things lacking.

I believe this is accurate. The best things going for the job is that it has solid tradition and that it is in the Big 12. But, the arena and fan issues are a major issue for any coach taking the job. So, coaches will think twice when considering the job. There's a reason Joe C. had to offer the job to Lon three times, then eventually overpay him to come. We got 10 mostly good years from him.

I expect Joe C. to take a shot at a younger coach from a lower-level conference. OU has done this before. FWIW, our most successful and most loved coach was hired from Lamar after taking them to a Sweet 16.

 

[OULad]

Yes

 

[opsooner]

That is why it's a MUST to find a coach that can develop talent and run a system.

I hate to keep bringing him up, but Kelvin doesn't really have better players than OU on paper. But they damn sure play better basketball. That is coaching. That is what OU needs. Billy Ball is gone. The "niche" that was JUCO basketball isn't bringing elite talent to Norman anytime soon. We need somebody that can coach the kids up and win with the kind of talent OU is going to be able to consistently recruit. Not saying we can't land good players, but we need a coach that is going to get the most out of the guys he lands.

Yep. Of course, there is a good chance that coach will not remain here long if he does have success. But if he he is able to eventually get butts in the seats you never know.


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[sheepdogs1]

It's undoubtedly a top 25 job. It's also undoubtedly not a top 10 job, and it never will be.

Things like that are a hard call. You can use Gonzaga as example. Expectations are just expectations and they can certainly contain little predictive value.

 

[Soonerinkc]

The salary of the "current" coach who is retiring says it is...at least pay wise.

Heck Coale was paid top 10 at least..maybe higher for her dismal performance the last 5 yrs.

Listening to a satellite radio talk show...they were talking horns job and the 2 guys thought OU was better as far as history as a bball program.

 

[mict085]

The salary of the "current" coach who is retiring says it is...at least pay wise.

Heck Coale was paid top 10 at least..maybe higher for her dismal performance the last 5 yrs.

Listening to a satellite radio talk show...they were talking horns job and the 2 guys thought OU was better as far as history as a bball program.

Based on past performance on the court, OU is miles ahead of texas. Based on current factors a coach would consider, OU has some difficult obstacles.