What kind of coach can Iowa attract?

[tweeterhawk]

The Iowa men’s basketball job is not appealing, let’s be honest. Iowa is not a top-tier program; been decades since we were relevant nationally or in the B1G. After Lute Olson and maybe Tom Davis, no history of winning coaches. Not going to attract 4- or 5-star recruits to a state that is not racially diverse. Disgruntled fan base. Minimal donor support and even less for NIL. Older playing facility that is rarely more than half full for men’s basketball; minimal support from students.

About the only plus is a record of tolerance for coaching mediocrity. Really hard to fail at Iowa.

Whoever the next coach is, they’ll have a heavy lift ahead of them.

Without naming names, what kind of coaching candidate is Iowa going to attract when Fran is done? Which I believe is now.

 

[Hawksfor3]

The Iowa men’s basketball job is not appealing, let’s be honest. Iowa is not a top-tier program; been decades since we were relevant nationally or in the B1G. After Lute Olson and maybe Tom Davis, no history of winning coaches. Not going to attract 4- or 5-star recruits to a state that is not racially diverse. Disgruntled fan base. Minimal donor support and even less for NIL. Older playing facility that is rarely more than half full for men’s basketball; minimal support from students.

About the only plus is a record of tolerance for coaching mediocrity. Really hard to fail at Iowa.

Whoever the next coach is, they’ll have a heavy lift ahead of them.

Without naming names, what kind of coaching candidate is Iowa going to attract when Fran is done? Which I believe is now.

Not much to work with in accordance with your first paragraph. Tolerance for mediocrity can only be changed by success. I'd say try to get someone who is a dedicated and proven successful coach at the Div 1 Level. Someone who takes pride in the program, can develop the players as best as possible in ALL aspects of the game, and of course, run a clean and respectable program. Not much. But at this point, I can't pinpoint anyone in particular. Maybe a coach that's hungry?

 

[83Hawk]

The Iowa men’s basketball job is not appealing, let’s be honest. Iowa is not a top-tier program; been decades since we were relevant nationally or in the B1G. After Lute Olson and maybe Tom Davis, no history of winning coaches. Not going to attract 4- or 5-star recruits to a state that is not racially diverse. Disgruntled fan base. Minimal donor support and even less for NIL. Older playing facility that is rarely more than half full for men’s basketball; minimal support from students.

About the only plus is a record of tolerance for coaching mediocrity. Really hard to fail at Iowa.

Whoever the next coach is, they’ll have a heavy lift ahead of them.

Without naming names, what kind of coaching candidate is Iowa going to attract when Fran is done? Which I believe is now.

Sorry, I disagree with your belief that the Iowa job is not appealing. As for recruiting…..Iowa State doesn’t seem to have a problem. Last I looked they are in the same state.

For the other things, those can be fixed with the right coach and results.

It irritates me how little many Hawk fans think of the University of Iowa.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

A coach who enjoys making millions of dollars a year for a decade and a half by going .500.

There will be no shortage of interest in the position.

 

[the notorious r.d.m.]

I was looking around the nation at head coaches who are 50 and under, have current success, and currently coach at a low- or mid-major program. Some are more familiar than others. I excluded current high-major coaches.

Bucky McMillan (41) at Samford
Will Wade (42) at McNeese State
Ben McCollum (43) at Drake
Eric Olen (44) at UC San Diego
Ross Hodge (44) at North Texas
Brian Wardle (45) at Bradley
Alan Huss (46) at High Point
Bryce Drew (50) at Grand Canyon
Ryan Odom (50) at VCU

I personally feel Alan Huss would be a home run hire. Depending on what Greg McDermott's plans are Alan Huss could be heir-apparent at Creighton.

Bucky McMillan fits the overall culture of Iowa basketball. High scoring, full press defense.

Ross Hodge is a Grant McCasland former assistant. Eric Olen is not dissimilar to McCollum. His journey at UC San Diego has been incredible. Will Wade comes with baggage but wins. Bryce Drew and Ryan Odom speak for themselves.

 

[RocknRollface]

The Iowa men’s basketball job is not appealing, let’s be honest. Iowa is not a top-tier program; been decades since we were relevant nationally or in the B1G. After Lute Olson and maybe Tom Davis, no history of winning coaches. Not going to attract 4- or 5-star recruits to a state that is not racially diverse. Disgruntled fan base. Minimal donor support and even less for NIL. Older playing facility that is rarely more than half full for men’s basketball; minimal support from students.

About the only plus is a record of tolerance for coaching mediocrity. Really hard to fail at Iowa.

Whoever the next coach is, they’ll have a heavy lift ahead of them.

Without naming names, what kind of coaching candidate is Iowa going to attract when Fran is done? Which I believe is now.

The racial make up of the state is not a big factor in attracting high level players.

Money, winning and fan support are the factors. So that's just as bad for Iowa.

With that said, you don't have to land 4 and 5 stars to be good. TJ Otlzerberger is proving that. His top players were mostly unknown mid major guys.

But to win that way you have to have a coach who is very dialed in on exactly what he wants, knows how to identify it and knows how to get it.

I feel like McCollum fits that bill.

Winning will have to proceed fixing many of the other fan related issues.

 

[SCHawkFan]

Iowa can attract a very good coach. They have money and revenue sharing will be huge for them. NIL comes with excitement, and excitement comes with a new coach. I have no worries about a replacement for Fran.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

The racial make up of the state is not a big factor in attracting high level players.

Money, winning and fan support are the factors. So that's just as bad for Iowa.

With that said, you don't have to land 4 and 5 stars to be good. TJ Otlzerberger is proving that. His top players were mostly unknown mid major guys.

But to win that way you have to have a coach who is very dialed in on exactly what he wants, knows how to identify it and knows how to get it.

I feel like McCollum fits that bill.

Winning will have to proceed fixing many of the other fan related issues.

George Raveling was able to attract high level recruits to Iowa. One year he brought in Roy Marble, Ed Horton and BJ Armstrong, all rated in the Top 50 in the Nation. That same season he brought in future pros Kevin Gamble and Les Jepsen. All 5 of his recruits that season played in the NBA.

 

[amahawk]

The Iowa men’s basketball job is not appealing, let’s be honest. Iowa is not a top-tier program; been decades since we were relevant nationally or in the B1G. After Lute Olson and maybe Tom Davis, no history of winning coaches. Not going to attract 4- or 5-star recruits to a state that is not racially diverse. Disgruntled fan base. Minimal donor support and even less for NIL. Older playing facility that is rarely more than half full for men’s basketball; minimal support from students.

About the only plus is a record of tolerance for coaching mediocrity. Really hard to fail at Iowa.

Whoever the next coach is, they’ll have a heavy lift ahead of them.

Without naming names, what kind of coaching candidate is Iowa going to attract when Fran is done? Which I believe is now.

I would like a younger up and comer. 5 or 6 years here and with a couple of NCAA runs. Then they could move on to Duke or somewhere similar and hire another one. No dumb huge contracts or buyouts needed. Next man in.

 

[ZumaHawk]

RnR made some good points but his best point imo was fans. Disgruntled fan base and it’s not just Men’s Basketball!

 

[RocknRollface]

RnR made some good points but his best point imo was fans. Disgruntled fan base and it’s not just Men’s Basketball!

Winning is the only fix imo. The average fans won't get excited before the winning starts.

 

[perryhawk]

Iowa basketball coaches position will be recognized as a very good job.

We are in, unarguably, one of if not the wealthiest conferences in the country….

We will be in a very secure and strong position to pay players a guaranteed salary starting next season.

This high profile conference plays from coast to coast.

A new coach will most likely provide enough excitement to get NIL in a good place….

Iowa traditionally provides a level of job security that coaches only hope for.

Facilities aren’t cutting edge……but they aren’t the terrible disadvantage that some fans make them out to be.

For an ambitious young coach (McCollum or Devries) this would be a GREAT JOB. We won’t get Coach K out of retirement, Calipari, or Rick Pitino…..but we can do pretty well.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

So hilarious that some fans think that coaching at Iowa isn't an attractive job. Yeah, it would suck coaching at a school that regularly finishes in the upper division of the Big Ten, playing on national TV every game and having loads of resources, that's put multiple players in the NBA the past several years. JFC. Obviously fans are disappointed with the current regime's performance, particularly in the postseason, but stop acting like Iowa is a mid-tier Summit League school. Have some respect for yourselves. Unreal how badly KF has brainwashed so many people into the "Li'l ole Iowa' attitude.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

So hilarious that some fans think that coaching at Iowa isn't an attractive job. Yeah, it would suck coaching at a school that regularly finishes in the upper division of the Big Ten, playing on national TV every game and having loads of resources, that's put multiple players in the NBA the past several years. JFC. Obviously fans are disappointed with the current regime's performance, particularly in the postseason, but stop acting like Iowa is a mid-tier Summit League school. Have some respect for yourselves. Unreal how badly KF has brainwashed so many people into the "Li'l ole Iowa' attitude.

lol

I immediately ignore anyone who uses the term "upper division finish" like it's some kind of legitimate standard recognized by everyone in the college basketball world.

It's not. It's nothing but a pathetic cope. Like finishing 8th in an 18 team league automatically means you're relevant.