A Vote for Sydney Johnson

[Missouri Brave]

I'd really like for this guy to be our next head coach and I've got to think that Dr. Cross wants to talk to him.

1. A proven winner. 47 wins and two NCAA tournaments over the past two seasons. Plus a conference title and two second place finishes the last three years.

2. A 19-win improvement over a three-year period.

3. His players graduate.

4. His teams are fundamentally sound, something which our teams have lacked for years.

5. His teams play terrific, terrific defense. Terrific.

6. He's been an assistant at Georgetown and doubtless has tons of great contacts.

7. An African-American coach wouldn't hurt in relating to players.

8. My lone question: would he consider Bradley? Princeton is his alma mater.

What's not to like? Let's go get this guy and get him on the recruiting trail.*

*This note is not any sort of knock on JL. This is a pro-Sydney post!

[lake Camelot]

I'll copy my comment from another thread.

Can Sydney just swing through Peoria on his way back, or is someone going to meet him outside the stadium for his interview?

[Beninator]

I almost started a Sydney thread, but got busy at work. I like him as a coach, but have two concerns.

1. Can he adapt a style of play to the MVC. I think that he is a smart coach so I think he can adapt.

2. Recruiting-- my main concern with Sydney... I think if we were to hire Sydney, then it would be imperative to hire an assistant with major midwest recruiting ties. jmho

[thefish7]

I think he's my personal favorite candidate.

I still have some reservations about running the Princeton offense, but his team looks good with the ball, so I'm willing to overlook that.

[LittleBrave]

So I take it he's the current Princeton head coach?
Not heard of his name before.

[SFP]

He is worthy of a look and interview. I pretty much agree on what Missouri Brave wrote up. Also The Princeton offense was designed to take advantage of playing like a team, not exposing weaknesses, utilizing sound fundamentals with good players but not needing great players to be successful.

[real fan]

I almost started a Sydney thread, but got busy at work. I like him as a coach, but have two concerns.

1. Can he adapt a style of play to the MVC. I think that he is a smart coach so I think he can adapt.

2. Recruiting-- my main concern with Sydney... I think if we were to hire Sydney, then it would be imperative to hire an assistant with major midwest recruiting ties. jmho

2 main concerns which are huge, hiring a recruiter is not easy for someone that is not from this area, the Ivy League is so much different and hard to compare to the Valley, he is a good coach but I have to pass because of where he comes from in that he is from out east with 0 mid-west ties.

[Beninator]

2 main concerns which are huge, hiring a recruiter is not easy for someone that is not from this area, the Ivy League is so much different and hard to compare to the Valley, he is a good coach but I have to pass because of where he comes from in that he is from out east with 0 mid-west ties.

Agree.. We would IMO have to hire either a Chicago area HS coach, or some type of midwest AAU coach for an assistant.

[thefish7]

The guy just took Kentucky to the wire with players who aren't offered athletic scholarships. I'm comfortable with his recruiting and assume the hiring of an assistant with suitable midwest is an easy step that will take care of his lack of local network. In case no one noticed, one such guy is our transitional head coach.

[Beninator]

The guy just took Kentucky to the wire with players who aren't offered athletic scholarships. I'm comfortable with his recruiting and assume the hiring of an assistant with suitable midwest is an easy step that will take care of his lack of local network. In case no one noticed, one such guy is our transitional head coach.

Johnson would be in my top 3 for coaches to interview. That being said, one game does not make a coach. --and I have seen Princeton 3 times this year. As for an assistant, I want someone with more recruiting connections than anyone currently on the staff to help him out if Johnson gets the job.

[ancona flash]

Willie Scott can connect with the Midwesterners/Chicago crew for the short term. I'm not saying hire the guy, but he intrigues me and is worth a strong look. I'd give him more credence that Fife.

[Braves4Life]

Didn't Johnson "cut his teeth" as a Georgetown assistant? I think he'd make a good hire, and I'd love to see Willie Scott repaid for his loyalty to BU and be made an assistant. Willie could definitely recruit Chicago for us.

[Missouri Brave]

JL did a tremendous job - a TREMENDOUS job - of recruiting highly athletic players, some of whom (have) turned into solid players, and some of whom have not. Sydney Johnson does not have the benefit of having those type of athletes at Princeton. Imagine what he could do with BU type of athletes. I'm very intrigued.

PS: also like the Willie Scott suggestion made by another poster. An interesting thought.

[Dallas Brave]

Agree.. We would IMO have to hire either a Chicago area HS coach, or some type of midwest AAU coach for an assistant.

I think Sydney Johnson, or any other head coaching hire from the East, would do well to keep Willi Scott on staff for this reason. Willi coached at Malcolm X, so he has renewed his recruiting contacts in Chicago ... and Willi is a Brave so he can communicte the tradition of the program to prospective recruits.

[srw]

Ummmm E?

Guys SidJohn has
2 Illinois Players (From Chicago area)
2 Wisconsin Players
1 guy from Tennessee

He has gotten some guys already from the midwest. I agree he needs some midwest people, but Im not too concerned about that.

Unfortunately I don't think he would view it as a step up...

And we really need to figure out if it is a step up....