Greg McDermott Update

[tornado]

He's gone from the Valley, but there are a few stories about him in his first week of activity as head coach of Iowa State.

Iowa State's firing of a minority head coach and quick hire of a non-minority to replace him is coming under fire from some sources (namely editorial-types who consider themselves the protectors of society).


They cite Iowa State's Affirmative Action and Open Search Policy, which governs the hiring of all positions on campus, states: "In light of Iowa State University's goal to diversify its employee population, it is the university's policy that the pool of applicants for all positions being filled at the university be as broad as possible ???‚¬?¦"

But they only considered two candidates, and as soon as Rob Jeter turned the position down, the hire went out for McDermott.

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/media/storage/paper818/news/2006/03/27/Sports/Geoffroy.Says.Basketball.Coach.Hiring.Process.Was.Fair-1717265.shtml?norewrite200603291141&sourcedomain=www.iowastatedaily.com

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/media/storage/paper818/news/2006/03/27/Opinion/Editorial.Use.Hiring.Policy.Exemption.Sparingly-1717131.shtml?norewrite200603291141&sourcedomain=www.iowastatedaily.com

(this article also reveals that Kansas State also contacted McDermott and that Iowa State had to act fast or possibly lose him.)

McDermott's biggest initial job seems to be convincing several of the top Iowa State players to stay, as Stinson, Blalock, Taggart, Carr and others have stated they might leave.

McDermott has hired a new assistant, T.J. Otzelberger,
a past coach at Chiploa Junior College in FL.
Wonder is he's interested in any of their present players??

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060329/SPORTS04/603290380/1003

In the meantime, McDermott's replacement at Northern Iowa, Ben Jacobson has hired a new assistant,
Kyle Green, presently head coach at Romeoville, IL Lewis University, who succeeded Jim Whitesell in 2004 when Whitesell went to Loyola.
Green resigned his post at Lewis on Monday to accept a position as top assistant at the University of Northern Iowa.
Green is no stranger to the Northern Iowa program, having served as an assistant for two seasons from 2001-03. This time, though, he will be the right-hand man to head coach Ben Jacobson, who took over last week when Greg McDermott left to take the head spot at Iowa State.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/sports/4_2_JO28_GREEN_S1.asp

[chitownBUB]

I seem to recall there was another coach hiring in which charges were levied about
racism playing a part. Anyone else recall where that was?
Those stories about Iowa State almost make it look like the act of bringing in Jeter when they knew about his costly buyout, was just
a charade so they could later claim they did consider a minority, but that
they apparently really wanted McDermott all along.

[yourbradleybraves!]

I seem to recall there was another coach hiring in which charges were levied about
racism playing a part. Anyone else recall where that was?

Pretty much anytime a minority coach is not hired.

[BradleyBrave]

I seem to recall there was another coach hiring in which charges were levied about
racism playing a part. Anyone else recall where that was?
Those stories about Iowa State almost make it look like the act of bringing in Jeter when they knew about his costly buyout, was just
a charade so they could later claim they did consider a minority, but that
they apparently really wanted McDermott all along.

I might know of a few places.

However, Iowa State may be under more scrutiny, being a public institution and all (I am not familiar with the laws in Iowa to say exactly).

Private institutions are just that - private. They can do whatever they want. I think what irks some people is when they don't just go and do what they want, and instead trot out some dog-and-pony show for no reason.

Oh well. Alls well that ends well.

[tornado]

I think the McDermott hiring was the very best for all parties involved.
He is a lifelong Iowa kind of guy, whose loyalties imply he'll stay and do a great job, and he is a
proven winner with lots of head coaching D-I experience getting the most out of the players he gets.

If McDermott can get the caliber of talent that Iowa State has gotten in recent years (Rivals 150's and McD AA's)
then it's hard to imagine how well he'll do.
He will make the Iowans forget what's his name over there in Iowa City.

[BradleyBrave]

I think the McDermott hiring was the very best for all parties involved.
He is a lifelong Iowa kind of guy, whose loyalties imply he'll stay and do a great job, and he is a
proven winner with lots of head coaching D-I experience getting the most out of the players he gets.

If McDermott can get the caliber of talent that Iowa State has gotten in recent years (Rivals 150's and McD AA's)
then it's hard to imagine how well he'll do.
He will make the Iowans forget what's his name over there in Iowa City.

I agree. It's possible to win at Iowa St. It's been done in the past. I think Iowa St made a great hire, and look for McDermott to be very successful there for a long time.

[Bravesguy]

McDermott just hired another new assistant, Jean Prioleau
from Marquette.
Mac had already hired one of the Chipola juco coaches in hopes of getting some of their talent.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=412842

[user1]

Summary of all Greg McDermott's hires

http://iowastate.scout.com/2/516370.html