If Les were to leave.....

[dogsrus]

I think ser-solace said it best...the coaching era of JL at BU has JUST begun. Could he go someday...certainly but I just don't see it for at LEAST the length of his unknown contract.

[houstontxbrave]

I am just curious what would be a better situation or job for JL then Bradley? Old Miss, Northwestern, Penn State, Utah, South Florida etc? These yes are in BCS conferences but other then money and I doubt many of us know what he makes, would any be an upgrade to the situation he has at BU?

Now if Clemson Michigan or someone like a Washington for example came calling then yes those should be considered.

[Bravesfan]

First, I highly doubt Coach Les would leave. He's got a personal connection to Bradley, and it's that personal connection that I think will keep him here. I believe he wants to bring glory back to basketball through continued success for years to come. The Coach Les era of Bradley basketball has only just begun.

In any case, if Coach Les were to leave for a BCS school, I'd be very disappointed. If the reason for leaving were to be "pursue other challenges" as you propose, that would be a huge dis to Bradley and the MVC. What I think the MVC, and all the coaches, are trying to do is make our conference on par or exceed those BCS schools.

IF he were to leave before the MVC has that respect, he would be in fact leaving behind a challenge that hasn't been met yet. Helping to make the MVC a major conference (in the eyes of the media and among BCS conferences), is a much larger challenge than jumping ship to join a BCS conference.

I don't think Coach Les is that kind of guy. He loves being at Bradley, and he's here to stay. The only way I see him leaving Bradley is retiring after winning a national championship and some consistent appearances in the Final Four.

Exactly how I feel. What could be more of a greater challange than trying to elevate Bradley and the Valley to a position on par or better than a BCS conference for many years. Anyone can elevate a program for a year or two. The challange is keeping it there year after year.

[Dallas Brave]

It would take the right BCS job for JL to leave I would think. I don't think he would leave BU fro a second-tier program in a BSC conference, nor do I think he would want to go through a rebuilding effort like he had to at his alma mater. All the same, would he leave for the UIUC job if it came open in the next few years? I don't know how he would pass it up.

Which all means that we need to prepare for what could be an eventualality. How? By grooming assistant coaches who have also played at Bradley - they will bring the same passion and love for the program that JL has. Among all the great players that BU has turned out over the last 10 years, there must be 2 or 3 great candidates to consider - hire one as the low man on the totem pole (is that abusive language?) and start grooming him. There are already asst. coaches that you must give appropriate consideration to if JL were to leave in the next 5 years. I think the long-term health of the program is maintained by developing your own asst. coaches from your ex-players.

[BUBalum05]

I'd imagine that JL wants to knock off SIU and hold down the top spot in the MVC for a stretch before he'd even consider moving on.