Coaching candidates

[tornado]

Dave Reynolds is now reporting that in the mix and/or being interviewed for the Bradley job are
Scott Nagy, Brian Wardle, Dane Fife

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150327/SPORTS/150329228/12701/SPORTS?rssfeed=true&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Mentioned with a little less certainty is Jim Crutchfield

Nagy has been in the discussion since before Geno was hired...back almost in Feb. - LINK
Wardle likewise - LINK - before we even had heard Geno was canned.
Fife was discussed in 2011 but was not a serious contender for the job then - and started to get mentioned in connection with Bradley just 10-14 days ago.
Crutchfield was first discussed here in the context of his entertaining, hi power offense - LINK,
but as far as being in the mix now - his name is kinda new...but he's almost 60 and has zero DI experience.

I would like to hear more about Crutchfield - he sounds like a great coach - a winner - and he can coach tennis, too -
maybe bring back men's tennis -

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/609136.html

[lightsout]

For what its worth I just read this on twitter......

Roy Schmidt
@prepbullseye

Brian Wardle has become the 3rd coach to interview for the Bradley job, joining Scott Nagy & Mike Davis. Dane Fife also in contention.

[Da Coach]

I think an announcement is close. I think Wardle will be the choice, as long as he doesn't hold Bradley up trying to play one offer against another.

[Braves2006]

For what its worth I just read this on twitter......

Roy Schmidt
@prepbullseye

Brian Wardle has become the 3rd coach to interview for the Bradley job, joining Scott Nagy & Mike Davis. Dane Fife also in contention.

I really would like Mike Davis. Wardle second. Crutchfield is intriguing...

[ghunt]

Wardel just does not seem strong at all. It is like he is Geno-light, but worse. If Mike Davis is seriously in the hunt with the other names recently mentioned (Brian Wardle, Scott Nagy, Mike Davis, and Dane Fife), he is by far and away the best candidate of that group. If we offer to someone other than him first, it would be utterly stupid, just sayin'...

[Braves2006]

Wardel just does not seem strong at all. It is like he is Geno-light, but worse. If Mike Davis is seriously in the hunt with the other names recently mentioned (Brian Wardle, Scott Nagy, Mike Davis, and Dane Fife), he is by far and away the best candidate of that group. If we offer to someone other than him first, it would be utterly stupid, just sayin'...

I'm with you ghunt.

[lightsout]

From Dave Reynolds on twitter

Just heard from 2 good sources that Scott Nagy is out of the mix for Bradley job.

[Da Coach]

I think an announcement is close. I think Wardle will be the choice, as long as he doesn't hold Bradley up trying to play one offer against another.

I am hearing an agreement has been reached and Brian Wardle will be the next Bradley coach.

[lightsout]

I am hearing an agreement has been reached and Brian Wardle will be the next Bradley coach.

Wow..... I trust Chris Reynolds, so let's hope Coach Wardle can bring us to the top of the Valley and back to our winning ways!

[afan]

There are lots of references about him being a great recruiter. I think you know that already. Every coach he has worked with acknowledges he is an outstanding recruiter, and he's paid over $300k, which is among the top handful of assistants nationwide.


"Ace recruiter Jerrance Howard"

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20130529-report-larry-brown-smu-lose-ace-recruiter-jerrance-howard-to-kansas.ece

I'll try to find a few more, but its not easy on a cellphone while driving.


But (Larry) Brown doesn't look at Howard as simply a recruiter.
"He's a head coach now in my mind," Brown said. "He has everything you want in a head coach. He had a tremendous background with coach Weber, Bill Self, Billy Gillispie. He loves basketball. He loves coaching.
"If you look at everywhere I've been, everyone has become a head coach. I look at Jerrance the same way. If someone had a coaching opening, I would recommend him in a minute. He has the whole package."

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=chicagocolleges&id=8970&tag=jerrance-howard&city=chicago

Howard was as an assistant to former Illinois coach Bruce Weber for five seasons, and he was the lead recruiter on a majority of the players on the team’s current roster...
“Obviously, it’s been a difficult decision,” Groce said. “It’s hard. There were two or three routes I could have gone. I have made the decision that I’m going to hire outside....His work speaks for itself. He’s a done great job coaching, recruiting...
“I know Jerrance is going to be successful no matter who he’s working for and where he goes."

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=chicagocolleges&id=5990&tag=jerrance-howard&city=chicago

The superlatives have been thrown Jerrance Howard's way. The Illinois assistant coach, in a rather short period of time, has established himself as one of the elite recruiters in the country. And his value to the Illinois basketball program is so vital and obviously immeasurable.
It's no wonder why Howard has been such a prized commodity and wanted by some of the elite college coaches and programs in the country -- some that have been public and some that have been behind the scenes. Howard has gone from a young, energetic, wet behind the ears assistant coach to a recruiting force and presence in the business. And his energy and passion are contagious.
He meets and exceeds so many of the standards that makes a great recruiter: tireless worker, connected, respected and as personable and easy to relate to as anyone out there. As one recruit's father recently told the Hoops Report: "He just makes you feel like you've known him for so long and are long-lost pals as soon as you meet him."
As with any business, there are some out there in the coaching profession with a bit of jealousy towards Howard. There are assistant coaches, some who have been on the job many years longer than Howard, who do get a little tired of the hype thrown his way and the attention he has received from a few of the elite college programs in the country. But those coaches also find it nearly impossible to dislike Howard. That's where the magnitude of Howard's personality -- the down-to-earth, fun-loving, lack of arrogance -- shines through.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoopsreport/2011/05/djimde_makes_it_7_for_illini_j.html

University of Illinois assistant basketball coach Jerrance Howard has earned a reputation as a great recruiter. Jerrance loves recruiting and loves that reputation

http://www.cinewsnow.com/sports/Jerrance-Howard--More-than-a-recruiter-126556853.html?m=y&smobile=y

"Recruiter extraordinaire"

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=13128

There are many more, including from the Kansas media, but anyone who wants to look them up can do it as easily as me.

Lots of accolades from former coaches. Lots of generalities about his assistant coaching and recruiting skills. Show me where an unbiased report that scores him specifically has a top 10 assistant or a top 5 recruiter. It doesn't matter anymore as we have a new coach. But....I still don't see a specific report that lists him as a top 10 or top 5 anything as noted by an objective source. I am super happy with the choice that CR has made!
I also continue to find it rather strange that as great as he is, nobody will hire him. His current salary, etc wouldn't stop a school if they really wanted him.