It's nice to think of the great coaches that MIGHT come to Iowa if Fran leaves, but Iowa is not all that attractive to name coaches. While we have tradition of going to the tournament we haven't made a deep run in forever and it's hard to recruit. It's much more realistic that firing Fran would set Iowa back rather than drive us forward. While this team is bad in almost every phase of the game, I believe Iowa will bounce back in 2019. What this team lacks more than anything is the confidence and swagger of last years team knowing that Jok was there to carry the team when things were down.
For those who want Fran fired
- Thread starter Gabe Sifuentes
- Start date
We would have no problem getting a coach. We have already proven we are ready to hand out ridiculously absurd contracts based on very little production. That should be a coaches dream.
Good grief it's not happening this year, nor should it happen this year. This year has not been good. Let's see how the rest of the season plays out and what happens over the next 12 months.
I beg to differ, our problem is not lack of swagger. We need substance not swagger to compete. Confidence comes from knowing you have practiced and prepared harder than your opponent and you impose your will on them until they succumb to your style of play. If you don't believe me, just go back and watch what Purdue did to us. Substance like hard nosed defense, rebounding, setting screens, taking care of the ball etc, etc.
I see plenty of confidence and swagger in the Ball family.... no thanks.
I am not calling for him to be fired, but I don't like that its not even a possibility now for at least two years.
I wish there was something coming that said they will improve, but I am not sure what that would be. He signed two more wings for next year, still no ball handler. People are going to start to defend and mean it?
I wish there was something coming that said they will improve, but I am not sure what that would be. He signed two more wings for next year, still no ball handler. People are going to start to defend and mean it?
Barta proved he is the guy that should be fired. He had a talk with Alford after Alford put up winning B1G records 3 of his last 4 seasons. Fran gets $10 million guaranteed.
your "Logic" is a bit flawed because you seem to feel that winning is what drives the contract?
Clearly Barta and really the Iowa Administration is not focuses simply on winning on the court/field/etc....
It's how you go about running your program. Like Kirk, Fran puts a premium on the culture of the program. Winning in the classroom, in the community is just as important as the results on the scoreboard.
Really wish we could all get behind and support our programs for what they are, and realize there's a fine line between a great season and a bad season. I still feel the future is bright for the hoops team over the next couple seasons. Sometimes it takes teams a while to learn how to win, and what they need to do to be successful. No better motivator than a season like this.
Last off-season we heard a lot of talk about the young guys wanting to become great. But this off-season I hope to hear less talk and see more work because the talent is there collectively.
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Please get a man to cut your hair and discuss this at your barbershop.
Sorry Gabe, not really picking on you, just couldn't resist. Hayden Fry stayed for 20 years. Kirk will be over 20 years. Fan will retire if the seat doesn't get too hot.
I'd say Iowa is a pretty damn good destination.
You have a good weekend Gabe!!
Read the high-lighted portion and then re-read your post. Then try and connect the two.
Please get a man to cut your hair and discuss this at your barbershop.
Sorry Gabe, not really picking on you, just couldn't resist. Hayden Fry stayed for 20 years. Kirk will be over 20 years. Fan will retire if the seat doesn't get too hot.
I'd say Iowa is a pretty damn good destination.
You have a good weekend Gabe!!
The football program would very easily attract a top tier coach if KF leaves. The BB program is a different story. CHA is old (even with the renovations it's not a top facility), Iowa has tradition but it's more than 20 years since the last FF. Fran has suceeded in attracting top 50 players (not all of them have panned out and some of his other recruits are questionable); other coaches have not had the same success. We don't have the appeal or resources to lure away a top coach from a top program and there's no guarantee another mid-major coach will be any better than Fran. We could just as easily get stuck with another Todd Lickliter. Iowa can't afford to fire a coach for one poor season. You can argue that with Fran has met expectations each year during the regular season (although he hasn't been successful in the post-season).
Watching games this season it's clear that this team is struggling to find confidence and leadership. Players pass up shots and make ill advised passes because they don't trust themselves to make a play. The offense is forced. The defense is lost because there's no communication or leadership. The deficit at the guard position doesn't help as Moss is not consistent and JB is the only serviceable point.
I'd rather let Fran have at least one more year to see what he can do than risk the next coach being another Todd Lickliter. That's how I feel. I know others disagree and want Fran gone now but honestly Fran's success is fairly comparable to the success of Alford, maybe even better considering Alford chocked badly in the tournament. I think that warrants at least another season.
And why do you think Iowa needs a top-tier coach to improve? Fran was coaching in basketball obscurity at Siena, a school I doubt 80% of Iowa fans had ever heard of. Was he a big time hire? You are kidding yourself if you think Iowa now, or ever, is going to attract some big name coach. Iowa is a great job for an up and coming mid-major coach who wants to take the next step (like Fran was).
This whole Fran infatuation cracks me up. 7 years and no PG better than Gesell. No turnover in his staff, who was supposed to bring deep relationships in Florida juco (Speraw), in Texas (Dillard), and Fran on the east coast. Senior class = Uhl. Junior class= Baer. An F would be appropriate grade for these two classes. Add to this that defensive is a foreign concept (again) and the team is inferior athletically to every team in the conference other than a rebuilding Wisconsin.
Every other team in the conference is improving, while Iowa is regressing. IL is stacked with young talent with more on the way. Meanwhile, we add Connor, Weiskamp, and Frederick to a team that couldn't hang with Rutgers for 10 minutes, scored 9 points in 11 minutes against Purdue and turns the ball over ~ 20 times against teams that play ball pressure D. As we will see tonight, the gap in athleticism between Iowa and other teams in the conference is significant and Fran doesn't have anybody coming in next year that is going to move the needle in this department.
This whole Fran infatuation cracks me up. 7 years and no PG better than Gesell. No turnover in his staff, who was supposed to bring deep relationships in Florida juco (Speraw), in Texas (Dillard), and Fran on the east coast. Senior class = Uhl. Junior class= Baer. An F would be appropriate grade for these two classes. Add to this that defensive is a foreign concept (again) and the team is inferior athletically to every team in the conference other than a rebuilding Wisconsin.
Every other team in the conference is improving, while Iowa is regressing. IL is stacked with young talent with more on the way. Meanwhile, we add Connor, Weiskamp, and Frederick to a team that couldn't hang with Rutgers for 10 minutes, scored 9 points in 11 minutes against Purdue and turns the ball over ~ 20 times against teams that play ball pressure D. As we will see tonight, the gap in athleticism between Iowa and other teams in the conference is significant and Fran doesn't have anybody coming in next year that is going to move the needle in this department.
Not many are saying fire Fran, he needs to make some changes in his bench staff and roster to have at least one or two guys that can create their own shot or dribble drive to the basket.
GB gave Fran a contract to allow him to see his boys play at Iowa plan and simple as well as a Golden Parachute if it doesn't work out. Barta's the one who should be fired due to his incompetence with too many things to list such the contracts w/ hefty buy outs, lost lawsuits this past year costing roughly 7 mil are just a few. Go schedule NDSU again Gary.
GB gave Fran a contract to allow him to see his boys play at Iowa plan and simple as well as a Golden Parachute if it doesn't work out. Barta's the one who should be fired due to his incompetence with too many things to list such the contracts w/ hefty buy outs, lost lawsuits this past year costing roughly 7 mil are just a few. Go schedule NDSU again Gary.
THIS! SO MUCH THIS!
My God! Do iowa fans really think there isnt a plethora (thank you three amigos) of coaches who would love the opportunity to come here? I mean look at the last 8 yrs. In my view, it seems to me we are essentially paying millions and millions of dollars to Fran so the guy can go ape and throw tantrums on the sidelines. I've seen very little evidence of any kind of great coaching on his part,and we now have a pretty big sample size to judge from. His players rarely improve, they dont play defense (past players admitted they rarely even worked on it! Let that stink in). If you dont think that there are many, and i mean many, other coaches who can roll the ball out there and accomplish just as much or probably more than FM then i dont know what to tell ya, other than you may be related somehow to Gary Barta
Since when was last year a success? NIT bid? A lousy year and worse this year. Fran needs to go immediately. With all due respect, I think u r the one that lacks confidence and swagger. Aim higher bro
So other than no confidence (this happens when you get down 15 every game) and no leadership (this happens when Uhl is your only senior) and no PG or SG, you are good with Fran moving forward? Yes, another season to validate that we have no confidence, leadership, PG, SG and can't defend is definitely needed.
Considering we lost 4 seniors prior to last season an NIT bid was a success. Fran and Alford both had 3 NIT appearances and 3 NCAA bids and Fran actually has one more NCAA win that Alford had. No one thought this season would turn into the disaster it's been but it's one season. Our best players are freshmen and sophomores. I know a lot of folks experiences delusions of grandeur with the upsets last season but it's time to but the bottle down and just relax and let things play out.
Alford is considered a huge failure but unlike White Magic, Alford had B1G tourney wins in spades. Alford had B1G winning record 3 of his last 4 seasons. Why did Alford get the Talk and Fran got his buyout bumped up to$10 million? No doubt We are stuck with Fran for several years, but Fran has already shown his ceiling with 2 All B1G players and 4 seniors is meh. It is pretty easy to find a coach to accept a paltry $2 million per year. We won't get Bennett, but the guy we got thinks defense is optional and recruits mostly Iowa.
It cracks me up to read posts from the Fran apologists talking about our "best players are freshmen and sophomores". Consider the absurdity of this statement given Uhl is the only senior and Baer the only junior. The light does not go on for these folks that we actually should have juniors and seniors contributing--it's called player development. Fran has managed to botch multiple recruiting classes, resulting in the current state of affairs. Not enough talent on this roster next year, even with new guys, to be better than bottom 5. Every other team is adding better athletes to rosters with better athletes today. We are the new Penn State. Talk about effort and improvement after every loss and hope we can win 5-6 conference games.
20 years and three coaches since last Sweet Sixteen.
40 years and six coaches since last Final Four.
40 years and six coaches since last Big Ten Title.
3 NCAA wins in 20 years.
Gabe is right. That “tradition” has skipped an entire generation. An entire generation.
Amazing really.
Ihawkhoops is also spot on. Demographics are destiny. Unless we have a coach that can consistently recruit nationally (or at least in Chicago at at least the level ISU does), we need to start accepting the kind of results we’ve seen for the past 20 years or so as the norm. The next BJ Armstrong is not walking through that door anytime soon (ever) with this staff at the wheel.
JW is a great high school basketball player. Watch his highlight vids. Tell me honestly if more than 10% of the shots featured in them will even be available against B1G caliber competition. People expecting this kid to come in and instantly move the needle for Iowa are being unfair to him.
That’s why the extension was such a frustrating thing to people who understand what’s going on. It was a clear resignation to more of the same results we’ve seen for the past two decades. CHA — a good place to get some studying done.
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I hate to burst the bubble of people that truly believe this but here I go......True Iowa would not have a problem getting a new coach! But ....this new coach would not be a coach from a top shelf program ....not even a top two or tree shelf program. If this guy came from a P5 school if would only because he was fired from his current job! We would hire a coach from a mid or lower level school ....kinda like we have done for the last two hires! So how has that worked? Iowa is not a desired place for players or coaches ....we can say that's not true.....but the fact is its true!
Plenty of ex-player assistants sitting out there waiting for something better. You don't think Dean Oliver (as an example) wouldn't be thrilled to get a head coaching job? He would bring in guys he knows and likely pull in an ex-Iowa player like Cole (as an example) to help recruit Kansas City or someone who knows Illinois or Michigan. We might actually develop an identity for defense, rebounding, or toughness vs. stat sheet packer opponent, BTT choker, and scoring droughts aka The Fran Era.
I have far more confidence in a coach succeeding here who has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove than a coach who knows he is untouchable because of a buyout. Why should Fran change?
I have far more confidence in a coach succeeding here who has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove than a coach who knows he is untouchable because of a buyout. Why should Fran change?
Yep, we’re just l’il ol’ Iowa. We can’t compete so we shouldn’t even try.
Meanwhile, Nebraska has passed Iowa in basketball. Nebraska. Think about that.
Pathetic.
2-8 in conference, 11-12 overall. It can get worse? Maybe you need to get some perspective.
The key to your post is you are talking about young coaches, former Hawks or not. A young head coach and staff could help a great deal in recruiting.The current staff is all the same, not much of a mix. Players today know nothing of Iowa's history or have heard of most of the places anyone on staff has coached at. Since there will be no change at the top, a staff shakeup is desperately needed.
Additionally even if we get a good mid-major coach to replace Fran, a coaching change would most likely result in attrition. Worse case scenario we lose one or two recruiting classes and current players leave. I'd hate to see what Iowa might look like without Cook, Bohannan or Garza.
I'm not willing to trade the potential bad season next year under Fran for the potential two or three bad seasons if a new coach has to come in and start from scratch.
Thankfully we have Fran with his eye for talent!! Uhl,Ellingson, Wagner, Moss, Hutton, Flemming, Dickerson, Baer....that is what made up our jr/sr class. The best of the bunch is Baer, a walkon that chose Iowa.
Fran is a former Random Mid major coach who has a flawed system (doesn't believe in defense). We can hire another random Midmajor and upgrade the team's chances going forward because almost every coach out there values defense more than Fran. Fran brings nothing to the table recruiting wise.
Anyway, nothing is happening and next year if we win only 6 or 7 B1G games as I suspect, then the noise will get louder. Fran can shut everyone up by winning.
Oh no, can’t take any chances. 1-2-3 bad seasons, doesn’t matter. Rarely win a game in the BTT, never make the Sweet 16. Doesn’t matter. We just can’t risk getting rid of Fran because we MIGHT be worse. And we MIGHT lose a 2* recruit to a mid-major.
Fan apathy at its finest. Mission accomplished, Gary.
What? Fran won multiple tournament games at Siena and passed on multiple east coast power 5 offers.
I was making this same argument 2 months ago. Fran gets one more year to keep all the pieces in place.
But now I dont care. None of these guys play well on both ends. I just dont see it ever working.
This group is the worst defensive team in major college basketball. Thats not going to improve enough to matter in 1 year.
Weiskamp is really the only peice that is important Imo.
And where would he go post-Iowa? Back to some obscure mid
Multiple as in 2? I would say 2 vs. multiple, although technically you are correct since it is more than 1. 90-87 record at UNC-Wilmington and 2 NCAA wins at Siena, losing both 2nd round games.
https://www.btpowerhouse.com/2015/3...tournament-record-history-stats-iowa-hawkeyes
