What do you want in a coach?

[BradleyJD]

As I read the various threads about winning, injuries, state of the program, etc....I thought about what you want in a coach.

These are just some things that came to mind (in no particular order):

1. teaches fundamentals...players shoot, pass, defend well

2. sound defensively....in position, flexible, know the X's and O's

3. gets the most out of or develops players ....growth in skill is obvious

4. good recruiter....team is deep and talent is varied by position.

5. contends for titles (league, tournament, etc)

6. instructs players outside of basketball...ie, being a good student, being a better man, working hard

7. coaches motivate players.........to achieve, play hard, buy in to program


I am sure there are more things you look for, and feel free to add to the list.

In the end, I started wondering.....

How many of these things does Jim do at Bradley?

[BradleyBrave]

From your list JD, I would say not many very well. Or at least not consistently. About the only thing we're good at consistently is graduating our guys that stay 4 years.

This isn't grade school, junior high, or high school. This is Division I basketball, a billion dollar business. I want winning, first and foremost. If that's not the priority, we shouldn't be playing Division I.

At Bradley, Jim has done nowhere near enough winning.

[chitown fanatic]

Wins!!!!!

[real fan]

As I read the various threads about winning, injuries, state of the program, etc....I thought about what you want in a coach.

These are just some things that came to mind (in no particular order):

1. teaches fundamentals...players shoot, pass, defend well

2. sound defensively....in position, flexible, know the X's and O's

3. gets the most out of or develops players ....growth in skill is obvious

4. good recruiter....team is deep and talent is varied by position.

5. contends for titles (league, tournament, etc)

6. instructs players outside of basketball...ie, being a good student, being a better man, working hard

7. coaches motivate players.........to achieve, play hard, buy in to program


I am sure there are more things you look for, and feel free to add to the list.

In the end, I started wondering.....

How many of these things does Jim do at Bradley?

Good list, if you have a good coach with good asst"s I believe you will get all these things.

[BradleyJD]

Good list, if you have a good coach with good asst"s I believe you will get all these things.

Excellent addition to the list...

Quality assistants

[thefish7]

I want the thing that is what I think separates great coaches from good or decent coaches. I want a coach who adapts system to fit personnel and situation, rather than the other way around. This is what makes most great coaches great, I think. (This appears to be a Les minus)

The other thing I think is important to a midmajor like Bradley... A loyal guy who wants to take the program somewhere, not someone using it as a stepping stone. (This is a Les plus)

[ph]

I don't want a coach that believes a mid-major should never play in a final four.

[stevebu91]

As a '91 alum being spoiled by HH my freshmen year and then going through the drought after that...I once again have a feeling that it is time for a change...

JL has not met his commitments as presented in his opening speeches upon hiring..Not even close.

I am disappointed as I thought he could meet his goals..

Lets get a named coach in that can give us a BRAND of winning basketball. And while BU is at it how about a MASCOT for Marketing Revenue like every other BB/Football program. The indecisiveness is ridiculous...

The screen set weave shooting has been outrageous for years and continues to remind me of the Globetrotters (minus the winning). Lets post up, dish to the center, or us a run/attack...Or....keep on playing the same way and lose another generation of BU basketball fans...

A DISGUSTED METRO EAST ST. LOUIS FAN

[thefish7]

I don't want a coach that believes a mid-major should never play in a final four.

???

Do you mean that Les thinks that, or you just want that attribute in a coach?

[BradleyBrave]

The other thing I think is important to a midmajor like Bradley... A loyal guy who wants to take the program somewhere, not someone using it as a stepping stone. (This is a Les plus)

Why wouldn't you want a guy using the job as a stepping stone? He's gonna be a lot more motivated than guy who's reached his perceived pinnacle. I hear it over and over and I just don't get this logic at all or why people at BU think we're above this. No one is moving on from BU unless they have tremendous success, and that generally means more than one season of success. Don't you want that? You wouldn't take the success of a Mark Turgeon/Bruce Weber/Matt Painter/Keno Davis/Greg McDermott/Kevin Stallings/Dick Versace and soon to be Gregg Marshall, Cuonzo Martin, and Ben Jacobson? Go look at their records in the MVC and honestly tell me you wouldn't take that. Heck even Dana used the job as a stepping stone to get back to a big job. You wouldn't take 7 NCAA's in 9 seasons? Because saying you don't want a guy using it as a stepping stone is essentially what you are saying. Not trying to sound like a j-rk about it, but this boggles my mind.

Lastly - Do you honestly think JL would stay here if he had offers in the Big 10, ACC, Big East, or NBA? No chance. None.

[ph]

???

Do you mean that Les thinks that, or you just want that attribute in a coach?

No, I don't think Les ever put a ceiling on his aspirations. Unfortunately, there is a gaping hole in the floor right now.


I believe Jank made some comment that mid-majors should not be in a final four, and don't want any part of a coach like that.

[thefish7]

Why wouldn't you want a guy using the job as a stepping stone? He's gonna be a lot more motivated than guy who's reached his perceived pinnacle. I hear it over and over and I just don't get this logic at all or why people at BU think we're above this. No one is moving on from BU unless they have tremendous success, and that generally means more than one season of success. Don't you want that? You wouldn't take the success of a Mark Turgeon/Bruce Weber/Matt Painter/Keno Davis/Greg McDermott/Kevin Stallings/Dick Versace and soon to be Gregg Marshall, Cuonzo Martin, and Ben Jacobson? Go look at their records in the MVC and honestly tell me you wouldn't take that. Heck even Dana used the job as a stepping stone to get back to a big job. You wouldn't take 7 NCAA's in 9 seasons? Because saying you don't want a guy using it as a stepping stone is essentially what you are saying. Not trying to sound like a j-rk about it, but this boggles my mind.

Lastly - Do you honestly think JL would stay here if he had offers in the Big 10, ACC, Big East, or NBA? No chance. None.

It all depends on what someone's aspirations are for. I'm not offended by a guy using a place as a stepping stone, but if for some reason you get a great coach who wants to make it happen for Bradley for whatever reason, that's even better. Think Coach K... Duke was no bigger a deal than Bradley when he became their head coach.

Also, I think Les would stick around over an offer to coach in a BCS conference. I may be dumb to think that, but I do think that.

To be clear, I'll take results over loyalty, but if we're just laying out what we want, then I want some genius coach guy who wants to turn BU into his own personal dynasty for whatever reason.

[Beninator]

Question to add to this thread.

What type of salary do you think Bradley will allocate toward getting a coach with the traits mentioned so far?


Honest question with no right or wrong answer. Just curious as to what people on here think of a salary range.

[squirrelgotdead]

Why wouldn't you want a guy using the job as a stepping stone?

I think an argument could be made though JL believed he could turn BU into a national power, he also had NBA aspirations.

That said...looking at BU history...

Anderson parlayed BU into Michigan State.

VanAtta was encouraged (IOW run out on a rail) to Memphis State.

Orsborn used the job and his national appeal to take the AD spot on campus.

Perhaps Stowell and Versace viewed BU as a lifetime gig, but at the same time Versace and Albeck also were interested in the NBA. And Stowell had world coaching opportunities.

Molinari was mad that Kavanagh staved off overtures from Michigan, and if not for the disappointing 99-00 season, could have had step-up opportunities.

It's a special person and circumstance that allows for destination/lifelong status.

[Da Coach]

Wins!!!!!

Hmmm...Jim Les has over 100 wins over the last 5 years prior to this season, despite all the injuries he has had to deal with. But nobody counted those, it seems we only count the losses.