Potential Pitt Opening..McCaffery?

[kshawk]

Just got a text from a friend who lives in Pittsburgh who says talk is strong there that Jamie Dixon might be leaving for his alma mater at TCU. My friend also said some local Pittsburgh sports writer mentioned that if Dixon leaves that Fran McCaffery may be high on Pitt's list as a replacement.
Fran is a native of Philadelphia and not Pittsburgh I think.
Just passing along. No basis on this rumor only mentioning what a friend in Pittsburgh texted me about.

 

[Auger]

Fran would be dumb not to take that. He has better east coast connections. That said Pitt alums would not be a fan of the pick. Fran hasn't shown he can really be consistent at coaching a team from start to finish.

 

[And1Hawk]

Fran would be dumb not to take that. He has better east coast connections. That said Pitt alums would not be a fan of the pick. Fran hasn't shown he can really be consistent at coaching a team from start to finish.

You know Fran might do a hell-of-job at a place like PITT and show that the Iowa is one tough job. No one has ever considered this possibility.

Now why anyone would take the TCU job is beyond me.

 

[eyeohuh]

Fran would be dumb not to take that. He has better east coast connections. That said Pitt alums would not be a fan of the pick. Fran hasn't shown he can really be consistent at coaching a team from start to finish.

Yeah I dont know if they would consider fran an upgrade from dixon

 

[as024]

Fran would be dumb not to take that. He has better east coast connections. That said Pitt alums would not be a fan of the pick. Fran hasn't shown he can really be consistent at coaching a team from start to finish.

Since when has Pitt been on the east coast? Methinks you need to purchase a map. Pitt is Midwest b

 

[AlvySinger]

...Really...?!?!

Deep breaths....

 

[ICWestfan]

Ferentzian paranoia syndrome. Fran may work a raise out of this season!

 

[frydaze]

Now why anyone would take the TCU job is beyond me.

Dixon is a TCU alum and it's been reported TCU is willing to offer Dixon top $$$$$$.

 

[And1Hawk]

Dixon is a TCU alum and it's been reported TCU is willing to offer Dixon top $$$$$$.

Then you are getting a coach looking for one last paycheck to retire on.

 

[Herkuleez]

Since when has Pitt been on the east coast? Methinks you need to purchase a map. Pitt is Midwest b

Personally, I consider any where east of Ohio to be "east coast" ...I don't think anyone considers Pennsylvania to be "Midwest"

 

[WAHawkeye]

To the extent that Pitt plays in the ACC, the college basketball map considers them to be an east coast team.

 

[SotaHawk87]

I think Dixon leaves because if Pitt doesn't win an NCAA game next year he is getting fired and won't be worth near as much!

 

[MMoran]

Really - Fran is not going anywhere... He will get a bump in pay... Look at he talent he has.. that is already here and what is coming in... The 2016/2017 team is going to be real good ... the athleticism of the guys....
Give these guys a break.. give them a year to develop... They are going to need a leader....I think they will be more firepower next year then on any of Fran's team's as a Hawkeye coach...

- Jok
- Uhl
- Willams
- Wagner
- Hutton
- Moss
- Baer

Coming in
- Cook
- Pemsl
- Bohannon

 

[BigHAWK8]

You know Fran might do a hell-of-job at a place like PITT and show that the Iowa is one tough job. No one has ever considered this possibility.

Now why anyone would take the TCU job is beyond me.

Every single coach at Iowa since the mid-70s has had basically the same amount of success here, with numerous tourney appearances, a handful of first round wins, and very, very few sustained, deep tourney runs. No conference titles from anyone in the last 40 years or so.

There has been one notable exception to the above, but the other 5 out of the 6 during that timeframe have done a very solid job (Alford was a dick but is not exactly the worst coach in basketball history).

So maybe it's a myth about how tough the Iowa job really is.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

I would encourage Fran to take a job like Pitt, it would probably be a better fit for him. He would be able to recruit the East Coast. If he were to leave, Iowa could target the Stephen F. Austin coach Brad Underwood who is obviously and up and coming mid-major coach. His teams play good fundamental basketball their style is tough, physical, and they do not quit.

 

[Hawkeyefan1234]

I would encourage Fran to take a job like Pitt, it would probably be a better fit for him. He would be able to recruit the East Coast. If he were to leave, Iowa could target the Stephen F. Austin coach Brad Underwood who is obviously and up and coming mid-major coach. His teams play good fundamental basketball their style is tough, physical, and they do not quit.

Might be good for both parties

 

[as024]

Personally, I consider any where east of Ohio to be "east coast" ...I don't think anyone considers Pennsylvania to be "Midwest"

That's funny because anyone from the east coast would consider west of philly to be Midwest. East coast people don't consider penn state to be a northeast team, they are clearly Midwest.

 

[Herkuleez]

That's funny because anyone from the east coast would consider west of philly to be Midwest. East coast people don't consider penn state to be a northeast team, they are clearly Midwest.

Not my problem east coast people are morons.

 

[HawkGem11]

Really - Fran is not going anywhere... He will get a bump in pay... Look at he talent he has.. that is already here and what is coming in... The 2016/2017 team is going to be real good ... the athleticism of the guys....
Give these guys a break.. give them a year to develop... They are going to need a leader....I think they will be more firepower next year then on any of Fran's team's as a Hawkeye coach...

- Jok
- Uhl
- Willams
- Wagner
- Hutton
- Moss
- Baer

Coming in
- Cook
- Pemsl
- Bohannon

The fool better not get a bump in pay for the Crap job of coaching he did AGAIN this year!

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

That's funny because anyone from the east coast would consider west of philly to be Midwest. East coast people don't consider penn state to be a northeast team, they are clearly Midwest.

Pitt is considered Mid-Atlantic not Midwest.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

Dixon is a TCU alum and it's been reported TCU is willing to offer Dixon top $$$$$$.

Every time the TCU job opens up, Dixon is rumored, but he's turned them down before.

However, your Fran would be more than welcome at my other alma mater, to replace the other Fran there . . . if someone can finally convince him to retire. However, I'm assuming he currently makes more than Dunphy does, and I doubt we could match that.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

That's funny because anyone from the east coast would consider west of philly to be Midwest. East coast people don't consider penn state to be a northeast team, they are clearly Midwest.

Montgomery County is west of Philly.

 

[And1Hawk]

I would encourage Fran to take a job like Pitt, it would probably be a better fit for him. He would be able to recruit the East Coast. If he were to leave, Iowa could target the Stephen F. Austin coach Brad Underwood who is obviously and up and coming mid-major coach. His teams play good fundamental basketball their style is tough, physical, and they do not quit.

Flavor of the month. For everyone one of these types of guys who gets hired at a power 5/6 level I can find probably 5 others that were fired about 4-5 years later from next place. Heck Lick made 2 sweet 16's and was national coach of the year coming to Iowa. How about Groce from IL who lead Ohio to the sweet 16? Here's an old one Stan Heath that took Kent State to the final 8. Fired from Arkansas and then S FLA. Remember Dan Monson who was the initial Zags coach that had success... then to Minny ... and bombed? How many more examples you want?

A hire has to come from somewhere so I get that but to think you can watch a team in the tourney and say we are going to get that and have that kind of success is still a crapshoot.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall as the Pitt A.D. pitches Fran to the big boosters. LOL.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

Flavor of the month. For everyone one of these types of guys who gets hired at a power 5/6 level I can find probably 5 others that were fired about 4-5 years later from next place. Heck Lick made 2 sweet 16's and was national coach of the year coming to Iowa. How about Groce from IL who lead Ohio to the sweet 16? Here's an old one Stan Heath that took Kent State to the final 8. Fired from Arkansas and then S FLA. Remember Dan Monson who was the initial Zags coach that had success... then to Minny ... and bombed? How many more examples you want?

A hire has to come from somewhere so I get that but to think you can watch a team in the tourney and say we are going to get that and have that kind of success is still a crapshoot.

If you look at Brad Underwood's pedigree he has worked under some good coaches, including Bob Huggins. He has paid his dues so he is more than a flavor of the month. Of course, you could say that Tom Herman at Houston was a flavor of the month and look how that has worked out.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall as the Pitt A.D. pitches Fran to the big boosters. LOL.

It would go something like this, "He has multiple 20 win seasons, 3 straight 1st team all conference selections, NIT runner up, 3 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two second round wins and two blowout losses in the round of 32. In addition, he has done this at multiple schools.

 

[hawksauce]

It would go something like this, "He has multiple 20 win seasons, 3 straight 1st team all conference selections, NIT runner up, 3 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two second round wins and two blowout losses in the round of 32. In addition, he has done this at multiple schools.

And you want him gone?

 

[frydaze]

It would go something like this, "He has multiple 20 win seasons, 3 straight 1st team all conference selections, NIT runner up, 3 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two second round wins and two blowout losses in the round of 32. In addition, he has done this at multiple schools.

I am guessing this is the answer that MeetTheFerentz didn't expect to get.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

And you want him gone?

I am not a "Settler" and I have not seen anything in Fran's past or present that would indicate he will get Iowa any further. Just my opinion.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

I am guessing this is the answer that MeettheFerentz didn't expect to get.

I believe it is pretty accurate description of Fran.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

It would go something like this, "He has multiple 20 win seasons, 3 straight 1st team all conference selections, NIT runner up, 3 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two second round wins and two blowout losses in the round of 32. In addition, he has done this at multiple schools.

LOL. Sorry, I keep picturing George Costanza introducing the future architect dude to the Susan Ross Foundation Board.

 

[hawksauce]

I am not a "Settler" and I have not seen anything in Fran past or present that would indicate he will get Iowa any further. Just my opinion.

Have you talked to Gary about it yet?

 

[FatPhilM]

I think Dixon leaves because if Pitt doesn't win an NCAA game next year he is getting fired and won't be worth near as much!

My initial reaction was that there is no way he would take the TCU job. That's a good observation and probably correct. Dixon has mostly underachieved in the Tournament. He has to be feeling some pressure. If TCU is willing to pay him he might want a fresh start.

 

[LuteHawk]

Coach Fran will remain in Iowa City and retire here.
He and his family enjoy the Iowa City lifestyle and
their boys enjoy the high schools.

 

[And1Hawk]

If you look at Brad Underwood's pedigree he has worked under some good coaches, including Bob Huggins. He has paid his dues so he is more than a flavor of the month. Of course, you could say that Tom Herman at Houston was a flavor of the month and look how that has worked out.

Did you look at the pedigree of Stan Heath (MSU assistant), Groce (OSU, Xavier), etc.? I guess no one has paid their dues or worked under anyone besides Underwood.

Tom Herman took a job at Houston where numerous coaches before him have had success in a football rich state... hardly had to build anything in his one year. Call me when he takes the Rutgers, Purdue type of job and builds a winner.

 

[EddieHaskell]

Do not want another head coach from a low or mid major school.

 

[StatewidePundit]

Please leave and take your future recruits ( yes, his way overrated slow soon to be useless in the Big 10 kids ). Alford , Licklighter, and McCaffery wow Dr. Tom where are you !!!

 

[StatewidePundit]

Coach Fran will remain in Iowa City and retire here.
He and his family enjoy the Iowa City lifestyle and
their boys enjoy the high schools.

Oh great another Kirk Ferentz who cares how you actually perform , just do the minimum get big pay raises , have a fluke big year and easy money this Iowa .... and don't forget the d1 scholies for the kiddies ( when no other D1 school would even consider any of their kids, yes KF's kids were not good dont kid yourself, same as Mac slow stiff kids ).

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

Did you look at the pedigree of Stan Heath (MSU assistant), Groce (OSU, Xavier), etc.? I guess no one has paid their dues or worked under anyone besides Underwood.

Tom Herman took a job at Houston where numerous coaches before him have had success in a football rich state... hardly had to build anything in his one year. Call me when he takes the Rutgers, Purdue type of job and builds a winner.

Have you talked to Gary about it yet?

I have a call in to him now but have not been able to connect. Hey maybe you could let him know I am trying to reach him when you see him.

 

[hawkeyemark]

Oh great another Kirk Ferentz who cares how you actually perform , just do the minimum get big pay raises , have a fluke big year and easy money this Iowa .... and don't forget the d1 scholies for the kiddies ( when no other D1 school would even consider any of their kids, yes KF's kids were not good dont kid yourself, same as Mac slow stiff kids ).

Ridiculous to suggest that Kirk's kids haven't deserved scholarships. I would rate Brian Ferentz as good of a center as we have had in Kirk's tenure. Haven't seen Fran's boys play to comment. Not fair to either to suggest that they don't work hard- with Fran we haven't had a coach who works as hard as he does in recruiting for awhile. Both men fit Iowa and represent their respective programs well. That doesn't make either of them great coaches and I wouldn't have any heartburn really if Fran moved on. But I respect the effort he makes even if at times I don't agree with his methods.