Bouquets for coaching your team to a come-from-behind, convincing win in Minnesota's old barn (where many Iowa squads haven't been as successful) and for becoming the winningest coach in Iowa's history. The journey hasn't always been smooth. Whereas the coach you just surpassed, Tom Davis, inherited a bunch of talented Raveling recruits, the cupboard was mostly bare when you arrived in Iowa City. You've worked hard to restore the program to competitiveness, winning the B1G tournament two years ago and appearing in post-season tournaments 10 of your 14 years.
Iowa is hardly a blue-blood basketball program. It's difficult to recruit to a place mostly known as a football school and that gets cold and snowy during much of the basketball season. Carver-Hawkeye is hardly Cameron or the Dean Smith Center or Breslin Student Event Center. But you've managed to land several very talented players, including beating Dean Smith for the services of Adam Woodbury; Luka Garza; the Murray brothers; Dev Marble, and others. As we're discovering as this season progresses, you seem to have brought in a very good group of young players who have bought into the idea of "team." We're excited to see them grow.
You've not let personal difficulties affect your coaching. We sympathized and supported Patrick when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The tragedy involving Jack would distract any of us from our business and personal relationships.
I have been one of your biggest detractors on social media, and there are still issues I have with your line-ups and what appears to be lack of emphasis on defense.
But your tenure here largely has been honorable, free of scandal, and we see that you are invested heavily in your players. They like and respect you.
Again, congratulations!
Iowa is hardly a blue-blood basketball program. It's difficult to recruit to a place mostly known as a football school and that gets cold and snowy during much of the basketball season. Carver-Hawkeye is hardly Cameron or the Dean Smith Center or Breslin Student Event Center. But you've managed to land several very talented players, including beating Dean Smith for the services of Adam Woodbury; Luka Garza; the Murray brothers; Dev Marble, and others. As we're discovering as this season progresses, you seem to have brought in a very good group of young players who have bought into the idea of "team." We're excited to see them grow.
You've not let personal difficulties affect your coaching. We sympathized and supported Patrick when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The tragedy involving Jack would distract any of us from our business and personal relationships.
I have been one of your biggest detractors on social media, and there are still issues I have with your line-ups and what appears to be lack of emphasis on defense.
But your tenure here largely has been honorable, free of scandal, and we see that you are invested heavily in your players. They like and respect you.
Again, congratulations!
Last edited:
