What if OU had offered Bob Hoffman instead of Capel

[soonerfud]

Come on what? I really believe that!!! I think he's a truly GREAT coach. And you won't hear me say that about a whole lot of coaches!!! Not that it matters what I think!! LOL

 

[BigTime]

I've always liked Hoffman. Glad he is doing well!

 

[Big Old Booger]

Come on what? I really believe that!!! I think he's a truly GREAT coach. And you won't hear me say that about a whole lot of coaches!!! Not that it matters what I think!! LOL

Typical WTSooner. If he doesn't agree then it's just not true.

Hoffman is a great coach and has proven it at every level. A women's NAIA national championship, a men's NAIA national championship, winning teams at UT PanAm, and now Mercer and a successful stop in semi-pro when Capel didn't keep him around. It is a shame none of the instate schools ever gave him a chance.

 

[Sooner04]

Big Bob Hoffman fan here. The story I always heard was Bob was a victim of "guilt by association" from the final days of Kelvin's regime and the NCAA troubles that followed. Even if Jeff would have liked for Bob to stick around for the sake of recruiting, I've been told that it would've been frowned upon by the powers, the WAY UP powers, that be.

Very, very happy for Coach Hoffman. He was just as excited as his Mercer players during the key moments of the win over Duke.

 

[WTSooner]

Typical WTSooner. If he doesn't agree then it's just not true.

Hoffman is a great coach and has proven it at every level. A women's NAIA national championship, a men's NAIA national championship, winning teams at UT PanAm, and now Mercer and a successful stop in semi-pro when Capel didn't keep him around. It is a shame none of the instate schools ever gave him a chance.

First of all, it cannot be proven.

For a guy with such a resume, where is the big job offer? There is usually a reason a guy doesn't get such an opportunity.

IF he ever gets one, then he can do something to earn the praise that some of you guys put on him. To call him one of the best coaches in the country is a slap in the face to guys that have accomplished ridiculously more in the profession.

 

[soonerfud]

Not everybody gets the same opportunities in the coaching profession!! And a lot of guys get the bigtime jobs because of where they played, which has nothing to do with how good of a coach they will become. It's also about about luck, timing, and most of all WHO YOU KNOW!!! You gotta be good to get one of those elite jobs, but you also gotta be very fortunate, and just because you never land one doesn't mean you can't be one of the great coaches in the country.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Not everybody gets the same opportunities in the coaching profession!! And a lot of guys get the bigtime jobs because of where they played, which has nothing to do with how good of a coach they will become. It's also about about luck, timing, and most of all WHO YOU KNOW!!! You gotta be good to get one of those elite jobs, but you also gotta be very fortunate, and just because you never land one doesn't mean you can't be one of the great coaches in the country.

Exactly. I can name you 3 ex-Duke players who have so far amounted to nothing as a head basketball coach: Quinn Snyder, Tommy Amaker, and Johnny Dawkins. All 3 were given primo jobs at places that should be fairly easy to win. Hoffman will most likely never get that chance but I can guarantee you he is a better coach than 3 of the current in-state coaches.

 

[Big Old Booger]

First of all, it cannot be proven.



For a guy with such a resume, where is the big job offer? There is usually a reason a guy doesn't get such an opportunity.



IF he ever gets one, then he can do something to earn the praise that some of you guys put on him. To call him one of the best coaches in the country is a slap in the face to guys that have accomplished ridiculously more in the profession.

The reason is because of where he's from. And, how many current college (D1) coaches especially in the power conferences started their career in HS coaching then went to the NAIA? He's taken a circuitous route and not many NAIA coaches ever get the chance to coach D1 basketball.

 

[Sooner Season]

I have always maintained that Hoffman would have kept that great recruiting class together because he was a big part of getting them in the first place. With that talent, Hoffman would have soared from the beginning and who knows how high he and OU might be now, but I think he would be firmly entrenched as coach here today.

You might be right about the powers that be stopping Capel from keeping Hoffman, but I don't think so. Capel was very unprofessional in the way he handled Hoffman, especially how and when he let him know he wasn't being retained. I wish I could have seen the handshake Friday between Capel and Hoffman, I bet it was classic.

By the way, where were those powers that be when Capel hired Taliferro?? Guess they looked the other way on that one!!

 

[Big Old Booger]

I have always maintained that Hoffman would have kept that great recruiting class together because he was a big part of getting them in the first place. With that talent, Hoffman would have soared from the beginning and who knows how high he and OU might be now, but I think he would be firmly entrenched as coach here today.



You might be right about the powers that be stopping Capel from keeping Hoffman, but I don't think so. Capel was very unprofessional in the way he handled Hoffman, especially how and when he let him know he wasn't being retained. I wish I could have seen the handshake Friday between Capel and Hoffman, I bet it was classic.



By the way, where were those powers that be when Capel hired Taliferro?? Guess they looked the other way on that one!!

I agree with you that if he had been hired and if he could keep the recruiting class together the program would have launched. Especially when BG arrived and I can guarantee you BG would play for Hoffman.

I have to wonder though if the way our season ended had at least a little to do with the recruits changing their minds? I think the hiring of an unproven coach sealed their decision and Capel was unable to get them back in the fold. So I'm unsure Reynolds and the kid who went to Texas sticks if Hoffman is hired. However, Hoffman wouldn't have neglected some good instate players like Capel for a bunch of east coast thugs and head case burger boys.

He also wouldn't have hired questionable characters like Taliaferro.

In the end the program would have recovered and been further along than when Capel left.

 

[campbest]

The reason is because of where he's from. And, how many current college (D1) coaches especially in the power conferences started their career in HS coaching then went to the NAIA? He's taken a circuitous route and not many NAIA coaches ever get the chance to coach D1 basketball.

There are a lot of instances...off the top of my head is Bo Ryan at Wisconsin and Ken Bone at Wazzu (who just got fired).

 

[WTSooner]

There are a lot of instances...off the top of my head is Bo Ryan at Wisconsin and Ken Bone at Wazzu (who just got fired).

Yep. It may not be the longest of lists, but there is a list. It happens plenty. I think you could put Kelvin's name on that list, at least, in terms of guys that didn't play major college ball, and didn't come from big schools.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Yep. It may not be the longest of lists, but there is a list. It happens plenty. I think you could put Kelvin's name on that list, at least, in terms of guys that didn't play major college ball, and didn't come from big schools.

Kelvin's big break was becoming a grad asst on Jud Heathcote's team. I remember when OU played Michigan State (99) the week of the game they asked Heathcote about Kelvin being on his staff and he didn't remember him.

That's a lucky break that many coaches never get.

With 300 d1 basketball programs you are going to find some exceptions to the rule but for the most part the big jobs are handed to guys like Snyder, Capel, etc., who played for a name and spent time coaching some mid-major or as an asst to a name coach.

The coach at Central Missouri played at Mizzou for Norm Stewart or coached for him one, but every time the Mizzou job opens his name is bantered around but he's never given a chance. His UCM program is one of the better D2 programs and was one of the better NAIA when they were in that league. I wonder if Terry Evans will ever get out of Edmond? Unless OU (or Tulsa or ORU) gives him a chance he may be in Edmond until retirement and he's built a solid D2 program too.

It will be interesting to see who is hired in this offseason for the bigger jobs open (Marquette).

 

[Big Old Booger]

There are a lot of instances...off the top of my head is Bo Ryan at Wisconsin and Ken Bone at Wazzu (who just got fired).

I was thinking Ryan was an exception. I've heard many talk about him being an unknown when he got that job. Whoever found him unearthed a gem for sure because he can coach. I'm not sure he's the best guy in the world, he seems kind of sleazy but he wins.

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

You guys might not care, but there is an identical thread on OrangePower wondering why OSU never considered Hoffman. I guess hind sight is 20-20.

 

[Big Old Booger]

You guys might not care, but there is an identical thread on OrangePower wondering why OSU never considered Hoffman. I guess hind sight is 20-20.

I'm sure alums at ORU are thinking if Sutton can't get them back to postseason play could they pull the trigger and go after Hoffman?

If Marshall were to take a bigger job maybe Hoffman is on their (WSU) short list?