Names being mentioned as possible next Illinois coaches

[Da Coach]

There is plenty of talk that this could be Bruce Weber's last season at Illinois. I have heard that Weber is said to be agreeable to a buyout, so there seems to be a good chance that will happen is new AD Mike Thomas can come up with the $3.9 million needed.
Here are a couple names mentioned by Illinois insiders-
Frank Martin of Kansas State who just upset #3 ranked Missouri at Missouri tonight, and Gregg Marshall. Anyone else have some thoughts?

[lightsout]

On the Illini boards lots of guys are asking for Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens.

[egib52]

You know people will throw Stevens name out there, but he won't leave. Stalling is an interesting name, and if this was three to five years from now Bryce Drew would be interesting. Would Buzz leave Marquette?

[Da Coach]

Yes, I have seen those 2 names mentioned.

John Supinie had an article in today's PJ Star about this topic. 2 members of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees who are black voted against the hiring of new football coach Tim Beckman only because he wasn't black. That means there will be pressure on the new AD Mike Thomas to make his decision on a new basketball coach primarily based on skin color.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/illini/x1353882766/Supinie-Illini-coaching-issue-isn-t-black-and-white

Is Shaka Smart black enough? His father is from Trinidad and is of African ancestry. Shaka was named by his father after a famous Zulu warrior, Shaka Zulu, but was raised by his white mother in Wisconsin. It seems silly to mention all this, but believe it or not these issues will become very important if he is considered as a candidate for the Illinois job.

[lake Camelot]

[B] Bryce Drew would be interesting. Would Buzz leave Marquette?

You mean Scott Drew I think ? from Baylor?

If you mean Bryce I don't get that possibility.

[Bravesfan]

You mean Scott Drew I think ? from Baylor?

If you mean Bryce I don't get that possibility.

Bryce and Valpo just clinched the Horizon League regular season championship tonight with an overtime win over those pesky Loyola Ramblers again! But if Bryce is the one you were talking about, it's very possible he may just want to stay home with his family and his school for the foreseeable future. I have no idea if Bryce is the type of person who would be "job hopping" throughout his career.

And as eluded above, Bryce is only in his second year of coaching there (he took over for his dad a few years ago when Homer retired the first time). Shaka is young too, but he has a Final Four appearance on his resume.

[Future Walk-On]

I personally want Greg Marshall.


All those fans are screaming Shaka when I believe Shaka hasn't proven ANYTHING to warrant the number 1 spot in line. Barely any experience....he would maybe be appealing to recruits...but Illinois knows it can't get by simply recruiting top 30-100 players.

I just don't get why they are slamming the idea of Howard, then acting like Smart is the savior of the program.

They are also throwing out names that are ridiculous.

[Da Coach]

Bryce and Valpo just clinched the Horizon League regular season championship tonight with an overtime win over those pesky Loyola Ramblers again! But if Bryce is the one you were talking about, it's very possible he may just want to stay home with his family and his school for the foreseeable future. I have no idea if Bryce is the type of person who would be "job hopping" throughout his career.

And as eluded above, Bryce is only in his second year of coaching there (he took over for his dad a few years ago when Homer retired the first time). Shaka is young too, but he has a Final Four appearance on his resume.

I also don't think Bryce Drew is "big enough" for the Illinois job, but then again the AD just hired a football coach who was just 21-16 in his 3 seasons at a MAC school.

[Bravesfan]

I personally want Greg Marshall.


All those fans are screaming Shaka when I believe Shaka hasn't proven ANYTHING to warrant the number 1 spot in line. Barely any experience....he would maybe be appealing to recruits...but Illinois knows it can't get by simply recruiting top 30-100 players.

I just don't get why they are slamming the idea of Howard, then acting like Smart is the savior of the program.

They are also throwing out names that are ridiculous.

Blame Chicago sports talk radio for this. They are throwing out Shaka's name more often than I can count. And a lot of it is because he would fulfill the minority "quota" that so many on the U of I Board of Trustees seem to want. I personally wouldn't mind him since he is a great coach which has nothing to do with his race. But is he experienced enough to handle the scrutiny that he will get from Illini fans if they have a bad year or two. Who knows.

[Bravesfan]

Yes, I have seen those 2 names mentioned.

John Supinie had an article in today's PJ Star about this topic. 2 members of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees who are black voted against the hiring of new football coach Tim Beckman only because he wasn't black. That means there will be pressure on the new AD Mike Thomas to make his decision on a new basketball coach primarily based on skin color.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/illini/x1353882766/Supinie-Illini-coaching-issue-isn-t-black-and-white

Is Shaka Smart black enough? His father is from Trinidad and is of African ancestry. Shaka was named by his father after a famous Zulu warrior, Shaka Zulu, but was raised by his white mother in Wisconsin. It seems silly to mention all this, but believe it or not these issues will become very important if he is considered as a candidate for the Illinois job.

Well, here is his educational background from Wikipedia:

Smart's given name was bestowed in honor of the famous Zulu warrior.[8] He graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College with a degree in History, researching and writing on issues related to race and the Great Migration his junior and senior years.[9] Smart received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and earned a master's degree in social science at California University of Pennsylvania.

So despite his Caucasian ancestry on his mother's side, I guess his education would make him black enough.

[Bravesfan]

I also don't think Bryce Drew is "big enough" for the Illinois job, but then again the AD just hired a football coach who was just 21-16 in his 3 seasons at a MAC school.

That, and I don't think Bryce wants to get involved in a league where cheating runs rampant, which has been another hot topic on the Score afternoon show the last couple of days. Of course his brother Scott is the highly successful coach of Baylor in what's left of the Big 12, where we know cheating never happens!

So I would think Scott does things the right way even within a conference where teams cheat left and right. But does Bryce want to deal with that same type of negative spotlight by joining the Big Ten? That's doubtful.

[egib52]

I agree Bryce is too green, that's why I said three to five years from now. He has Powell on his staff, great lineage, and probably good recruiting knowledge from Scott, but not ready yet.

[lake Camelot]

that's why I said three to five years from now.

I guess I need a reading comprehension class. I don't remember seeing that part. Must have just been scanning names. Sorry about that.

[lefty]

I think Anthony Grant has been mentioned too form Alabama...

[Beninator]

I hope they keep Weber.