It’s up to Fox to change perceptions
Athens – To Damon Evans’ credit, he did not introduce Georgia’s new basketball coach Friday as, “My first choice all along,” because he probably figured everybody knew otherwise.
Jeff Capel stayed at Oklahoma. Mike Anderson stayed at Missouri. Evans might have tried to sell both that Georgia was some step up, the land of great potential, the sleeping beast of the Southeast. And they probably looked at him like you would look at Mrs. Paul’s if the company suddenly decided to open a fresh seafood restaurant.
Georgia basketball has been fish sticks for too long. If this program is destined to be anything but that, it was going to take a coach whose name you didn’t have to Google to prove otherwise.
“People want the big name,” Evans said Friday after his first significant coaching hire as athletic director. “People want somebody who is going to win the press conference. I want to win basketball games. I want the person who can make that happen.”
Mark Fox got everybody's attention at Nevada. His challenge is doing the same at Georgia.
Mark Fox wasn’t the first choice. That doesn’t mean he won’t turn out to be the perfect choice. Everything on the resume says success. He recruited from an office in the relative dead lands of Reno, yet he won 123 games with three NCAA tournament appearances in five years. He is young, smart and passionate. He is regarded highly enough in basketball circles to have been rumored for past openings at Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona State and Kansas State.
The man is so driven, he missed the birth of his daughter, Olivia (now 6) because he was trying to sign a player. He later reasoned that he had the rest of life to spend with his daughter. The guard, he’d have for only four years.
But his relative anonymity in this part of the country, his coaching roots coming in the WAC – isn’t Winnipeg in that conference? – and his lack of ties to the state’s rich recruiting base explains the absence of confetti on Broad Street.
Fox said he can’t worry about that.
“I’m just here to make sure the kids are on the same page and playing the right way,” he said. “If we do that and have success, the rest will take care of itself.”
You wanted to think, “Wow!” not ask, “Who?” But this is where Georgia is. That doesn’t necessarily project more doom. Bruce Pearl went to Tennessee. Trent Johnson went to LSU. Basketball in Knoxville and Baton Rouge are no longer afterthoughts. Or punch lines.
You wanted marquee value. You wanted somebody who would slow state recruits from running to the border. But Jeff Capel? He probably sees his next office as closer to Durham than Athens.
Results change perceptions.
“You have to make your program relevant so kids will want to play here,” he said. “We have to earn that respect.”
He believes he can win here. He has spoken to Tubby Smith and Jim Harrick. He laughed when asked if his 8-year-old son, Parker, also will teach a class on the principles of basketball.
“No. He could pass that test, though,” he said.
He can’t give a timeline for success. He’s barely seen the roster. But the ceiling? There isn’t one.
“I can’t tell you we’re going to be in the Final Four in two years,” he said. “But this is a job where you should be able to compete for a championship.”
Do that, and next time this job will be an easy sell.
Jeff Schultz, fighting to stay relevant with peeps under 40, can be reached via email (jschultz@ajc.com), Facebook, Tweeter (SchultzAJC) or carrier pigeon (make a right off 400).
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102 comments Add your comment
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 3rd, 2009
4:22 pm
didn’t even read your article SChULTZIE you sux and so does your company
GBRAVE
April 3rd, 2009
4:26 pm
I’m glad it wasn’t Capel. The guy from VCU that went to Alabama would have been better than Capel. Like everyone else i had never heard of this guy. Good luck coach, hope it goes well.
FLDAWG
April 3rd, 2009
4:29 pm
When Fox competes for championships, we might not have to sell the job for a long time. Good luck Coach Fox and GO Dawgs!!!
Alex
April 3rd, 2009
4:31 pm
I think he might be a perfect hire for Georgia as well, but missing the birth of child for your job doesn’t impress me. And the “I have the rest of my life to be with my daughter” reasoning I don’t think plays out, because you’ve already shown what’s more important to you. And last time I checked, while his daughter may not remember who was there on the day she was born, you can bet his wife will always remember him not being there.
Nobody’s perfect and I appreciate the point that he is committed to what he’s doing and I hope he has great success, but sacrificing family for vocation isn’t worth it.
Hamp McWhorter
April 3rd, 2009
4:33 pm
Jeff-
The article is 100% correct…as with any hire, only time will tell.
Just an interesting tidbit, with the hiring of Coach Fox, only 1 current head coach of a men’s sport at UGA had prior head coaching experience before taking his job at UGA…Mark Fox.
Mac
April 3rd, 2009
4:34 pm
Give him a chance, I say. He can’t be any worse than Felton (who, by the way left the cupboard more bare than he found it, which was pretty bad). Let’s sit back and see what the boy can do.
Jeff, I think you and your company are both dandy. Don’t let ol’ Tudd(?) get you down.
Coach Fox
April 3rd, 2009
4:35 pm
I’ll tell you, like I told the whiners on the other “dawg blawg”, I am happy to be the UGA basketball coach!
From my perspective this is a win-win situation. Georgia is a hotbed of recruiting bball talent, I’m getting paid more, and there is no where for “y’all” to go but up. So quit your bitching and I’ll see what I can do to turn this sh*t mixer around.
Coach Fox
yellowblood
April 3rd, 2009
4:37 pm
We continue to beat UGAG and hold wonderful Tickle Piles!!!
shannon
April 3rd, 2009
4:38 pm
Good hire for various reasons. 1) Mike Anderson couldn’t be helped-he turned memphis down too-it wasn’t just UGA. 2) Grant will be the next UF coach when Donovan leaves. 3) This guy put 4 players into the NBA from Nevada!! Surely the state of Georgia can produce some players for him. 4) Even Felton got very good players, they just didn’t stick around: Mercer, Humphrey, Takais brown, Singleton, etc. If this guy can get those same type players and they stick around, we are a 21-8 type team, sweet 16 or so. 5) Next season he had a commitment from the #8 player in the nation. To come to Nevada??????? Compare to trey Thompkins, #10 in his class. I feel confident this coach can get us 1-2 four stars per season, and 1-2 three star types enough to give us tournament appearances.
Einstein
April 3rd, 2009
4:39 pm
Thanks Jeff, for a good read. I am glad we were able to get a Mark Fox, as a “big name” coach would have only used us for a stepping stone for his next $$$ contract. A young, smart, and energetic coach should be able to tap into our in-state talent and be very competitive in a few years…just like CMK in football. I also thought Felton was the right hire; however, Western Ky just seems to win regardless of their coach. Good luck Coach Fox and GO DAWGS!!!!!! Peace.
Wynn
April 3rd, 2009
4:40 pm
Again, it looks like the Fox and the hounds (dawgs). Go Dawgs!!
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 3rd, 2009
4:41 pm
of course there is always an uncle tom showing up.
Hi mac
Rabun Dawg
April 3rd, 2009
4:41 pm
Not exactly a household name, but I think we should all get behind the man and support this hire and try to get UGA basketball to the point of being relevant! I personally had hoped for a bigger name, but, after all UGA has not exactly been on the front stage of the Bball world. Maybe with some decent fan support, Bball can be relevant for a change. Winning can cure a lot of ills! I for one will go over to the Stegasaurus to see his first edition some. Good luck to Coach Fox, and welcome to all his family to Athens and the state of Georgia!!
Steve
April 3rd, 2009
4:43 pm
Good move, he’s fiery, but next year could be ugly…
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 3rd, 2009
4:44 pm
this is recycled material from yesterday.
HE ain;t even spoke to the man
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
Where’s Uncle Tom Terrence
HH
April 3rd, 2009
4:47 pm
Let’s be realistic. There is no where to go but up for this guy. He can’t make the situation worse than it already is. If he works out, fine; if he doesn’t, they will just get rid of him and start all over like they did with Felton. The only difference will be that Damon won’t be the one conducting the search. He will be gone out the door too.
blue fox
April 3rd, 2009
4:53 pm
And just think, Tech fans would have LOVED to give Paul Hewitt to UGA for a song.
Dr. Evil
April 3rd, 2009
4:58 pm
the main 2 things Fox had going for him were that he’d take the job, and he’ll do what the administration tell him to do. There was no need to make this decision now. we could’ve had him anytime we wanted. Just shows no one cares about being at the barn and competing against Calipari, Donovan, etc. Our basketball program will continue to be a laughing stock for another 3-4 years until we try to bring someone better in. I just hope Tech sticks with Hewitt as long!
DawgGirl32
April 3rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Great article, Jeff. Let the guy coach a few games before we make judgements. I think given the situation we were in that it was a great hire. I remember when Mike Smith was named the new head coach of the Falcons and people had a similar reaction. NOBODY knew who he was and that turned out pretty well, didn’t it?
LawDawg86
April 3rd, 2009
5:27 pm
Alex … “you can bet his wife will always remember him not being there.”
I am guessing when he landed that $9 million contract last week, his wife forgave him for not being in the delivery room. You think?
kauai dawg
April 3rd, 2009
5:31 pm
With FOX being our coach will the assistants be Bill O’reily and Sean Hannity?
AltamahaDawg
April 3rd, 2009
5:35 pm
I am borrowing this line from another source, but its worth sharing. UGA wasnt going to find it’s Billy Donavan out there right now. What UGA needed right now was to find it’s Lon Kruger.
Ed
April 3rd, 2009
5:44 pm
I don’t know, a guy who averaged nearly 25 wins a year at Nevada might know a little something about basketball.
It couldn’t have been easy to lure talent to Reno, what with its remote location and notoriously wacky Sheriff’s Department…
esaun
April 3rd, 2009
5:48 pm
UGA’s basketball problem is not incompetent coaching it is more their inability to to receive any interest from the state’s top talent. This hire, while Fox may can coach does nothing to fix this. Wonder if someone at UGA pissed off the big wigs in Ga. AAU ball. Only winner today was the search firm UGA hired.
WOW!
April 3rd, 2009
6:04 pm
I sure UGA just couldn’t wait until after Final Four to pick its head coach! This is hilarious! It’s clear UGA supports its college football program over the b-ball. A six year, $7M+ deal??? LOL!
And Nevada!!! Of course you can get talent to an institution if you promise good HS players with 3-digt SAT scores a chance. UGA’s only problem is keeping in state players here and from the NBA for at least 2 years. Josh Smith rather go to the NBA, along with Dwight Howard, and Louis Williams. And with Favors committed to Tech, at least one GA institution is a win!
RJS
April 3rd, 2009
6:09 pm
High School basketball is a national sport, heck, watch the Nike Hoop Summit on April 11th- it’s an international sport. The top kids play in AAU and HS tournaments across the country. A good coach can recruit anywhere in the US. Plus, Reno ain’t Vegas- he’s been doing something right the past 5 years.
Dan
April 3rd, 2009
6:14 pm
I actually like this hire. Given the state of UGA basketball, it was unrealistic to expect the likes of Jeff Capel to be our coach. But Fox seems to have drive and apparently recruits well even in the hinterlands of the hinterland known as Nevada, and he can clearly coach well, piling up wins in the WAC, which is not a garbage conference. Dennis Felton could coach but ultimately couldn’t compete with the big boys on the recruiting trail. I am excited to see what Fox can do with our great in-state talent. If he recruits well, the turnaround could be as little as 2 years, guys.
Good job, Evans.
NCDawg
April 3rd, 2009
6:24 pm
Geez Tudd, for some one who doesn’t like Jeff or his company, you sure spend enough time on their site.
Anderson would have been good, but Fox will work. Currently UGA has one 3* commit, Nevada has 2. I wonder if any of his left coast recruits will follow him east.
Lash La Rue
April 3rd, 2009
6:25 pm
Give Fox 2 or 3 years and all you crying fans will be glad you got him.
Hell, UGA is Lucky…you could be stuck with Paul Hewitt!!!
Lane Kiffin.
April 3rd, 2009
6:28 pm
Maybe this will take the heat off me for being the dumbest hire in the SEC this year.
Endymion
April 3rd, 2009
6:32 pm
I think this guy will get UGA winning again. But throw up a wall around GA and get the great GA HS players to stay home? He says he’s counting on hiring some assistants that know the area. So now we’re counting on some assistants to win recruiting wars with Louisville, Kentucky and everywhere else GA players have been going to? Doesn’t sound like a successful plan. I’ll just hope for another Hugh Durham level of winning (which was better than any other time in UGA basketball) but not expect many Final Fours.
Sensible Dawg
April 3rd, 2009
6:36 pm
Plan A was to go after Anderson and/or Capel. That wasn’t going to work because those guys were not going to leave a good program and go to a Georgia program that was in disarray. Mark Fox is a good Plan B hire. He’s got a 74% winning record and has been conference coach of the year 3 times I believe. He’s a good up and coming coach and realistically that was the best we could do. I’m liking this guy more and more. He’s got a lot of work to do but if he can recruit he will do well. We already know that he can win.
Da Hood
April 3rd, 2009
6:41 pm
So the George Constanza-look a like got a six year contract and the man who made it to the Elite eight couldn’t get seven? Damon is Uncle Tom to his Massa Michael Adams.
doyle
April 3rd, 2009
7:00 pm
Damon is a “damn good Dawg” and with this being his 1st big hire, I am positive he gave it due diligence. Give them both a break and let’s see what happens 2 years from now. If I remember correctly, it was after the 2nd year “The Tub” turned blue(grass). If Tubby could turn it around in 2 years, then Fox should at least be able to show progress. Patience is a virtue!
Richard Hall
April 3rd, 2009
7:07 pm
Interesting to say the least. The BULLDOGS will be coached by a FOX! The odds are that this is going to prove to be a fantastic hire. Good work, Damon Evans. GO DAWGS!!!
esaun
April 3rd, 2009
7:33 pm
Fox was a great choice no lofty expectations in Athens anyway. 15-16 wins a year, tourney every 3 years and all is well. GA sports attitude overall real lax; celebrate anything. Pro sports teams get parades for 2nd place and coaches get praise for winning conferences (or 1 side of the conference). Calipari saw only 1 kind of banner hanging the rafters of Rump, while the Tide base call for your head even if you won the SEC before. So good job Evans
SANTA DAWG
April 3rd, 2009
7:36 pm
GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE. IF HE DON`T WIN, I PERSONALLY WILL BUY HIM A BUS TICKET TO ATLANTA, BECAUSE BY THAT TIME GA. YUCK WILL HAVE GOTTEN TIRED OF HEWITT.
he's a winner
April 3rd, 2009
7:42 pm
He won at Nevada with as a head coach with players he had recruited as an assistant. When Jones left Nevada to go to LSU, Fox stepped in and they didn’t miss a beat. Nice hire, albeit unexpected.
Fox’s Hounds…nice ring to it
Rod
April 3rd, 2009
7:49 pm
Mark Fox will be to UGA as Urban Meyer is to Florida.
Red GA Dawg
April 3rd, 2009
7:55 pm
Calling all DAWGS! Get over your thoughts of woulda, coulda and why not! This is the hand we are dealt and now is time for us to do our part. For those who complain about the cow barn (I showed cows behind the Steg in high school) buy season tixs, if you don’t use them give them to someone! We will not get a better facility until enough of us loyal fans make the drive to fill the Coliseum. I am committed to doing my part, ask yourself are you?
Whopper Dawg
April 3rd, 2009
8:02 pm
After an initial negative reaction to the hire, I am warming to it. I never thought the Anderson or Capel would come and I really didn’t want either for various reasons. I did want a good strong run at Grant though and I don’t think that happened. I think that part of the reaction to this hire is due to the expectations that Evans created – i.e. We are going to spend and do whatever it takes to hire the right person for get the UGA basketball program where it should be (among the elite programs). Then he hires Fox who is very obscure with no ties to the region. Mr. Evans needs a couple of lessons on how to handle creating expectations from the master, Vince Dooley. That being said, Fox seems OK, but he really has his work cut out for him.
Diamond Dawg
April 3rd, 2009
8:28 pm
I agree give the guy a fair chance. Next year very well could be another disaster, but within the next three years we should be up and rollin a little. The bulldog nation needs to actually show up at the games though. Recruits want to go to a school with a good atmoshpere.
ToccoaDawg
April 3rd, 2009
8:40 pm
I supported the Traitor while he was here. I supported Coach Felton while he was here. And I will support Coach Fox. Besides Fox Dawgs has a nice ring to it.
Jeff Schultz
April 3rd, 2009
9:02 pm
For what it’s worth, my early impressions of Fox are positive. He handled the media situation today at the press conference great. When a sports information director came by to break up a post-press conference scrum, Fox — who was supposed to break away to do TV one-on-ones — turned to us and said, ‘I want to make sure these guys have all they need.’ I think he understands that there’s skeptics. But he’s confident in his abilities and I have a good feeling about him. We’ll see. Also, for what’s it’s worth, I never pre-judge coaches.You can go back and look at every column I’ve ever written at a coach’s introductory press conference — Mike Smith, Jim Mora, Bobby Petrino, Paul Johnson, etc. — and I’ve never written, “This guy will be great” or “This guy will be awful.” The fact is, none of us know. I can comment on the hiring process and perceptions and my feelings about how the coach handled day one, but that’s about it. We’ll see how this plays out. But I think everybody should realize that Georgia isn’t a quick fix.
Thanx
Jeff
Nevada Wolf Pack
April 3rd, 2009
9:16 pm
Coach Fox is a fiery guy who has been known to lose his temper at times. But maybe that’s just what the Dr. ordered for your floundering hoops program. A guy that can light a fire under arses. Along with that he runs a tight ship. His kids have respect for him.
He does actually have some recruiting ties to the south. One example is Ramon Sessions who is currently doing pretty well with the Milwaukee Bucks. We got him from South Carolina along with another current Pack player Malik Cooke.
Best of luck to Coach Fox and the Georgia Bulldogs.
P.S. Reno, NV. isn’t such the barren wasteland some of you think it is. Ever heard of Lake Tahoe 45 mins. up into the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains? It’s a great place to call home.
greg
April 3rd, 2009
9:20 pm
Anyone of you who has been to any games the past few years should remember Mark Fox bringing a team to Athens in 2004 or 2005.Those rosters weren’t that different, but those in attendance saw what a disciplined, precise, good rebounding team looked like,and they wore blue , not red and black.
Jeff Schultz
April 3rd, 2009
9:22 pm
Nevada — I used to live out there. Don’t compare Lake Tahoe to Reno. They’re like different planets to me — one I’d love to live on (Tahoe), the other no so much. And yes I love the Sierras. Our daughter is named after them. (”Sierra”, not “Nevada.”)
Jeff Schultz
April 3rd, 2009
9:25 pm
By the way, one thing I thought was kind of amusing today: The Fox family — coach, wife, two kids — all were complete outfitted in Georgia gear already — tie, jackets, shirts, pins. They all looked like mannequins from the bookstore. Must’ve stopped in there before going to the press conference. I imagine they had a line of credit.
Henry
April 3rd, 2009
9:27 pm
Please remember all the skeptics when the Falcons hired Mike Smith. He was not a big name coach.
Henry
April 3rd, 2009
9:33 pm
Whopper Dawg you must understand that Damon Evans was aiming high, and there is nothing wrong with that, I like the fact that he was going after the best available candidates. Truth is I did not believe either was coming here, because the program does not have any history of success recently. So Damon did the next best thing. Let us all support the new coach.
truth-serum
April 3rd, 2009
9:39 pm
kauai dawg
April 3rd, 2009
5:31 pm
Yeah. This is an ultra right wing radical newspaper led by Schultz among others. By the way ZaZa stinks in critical time hes miss four dunks and has had three turnorver in limit action. Boston went out and got another center for KG but we cant get help and the other teams are killing the hawks in the low post.
boots
April 3rd, 2009
9:40 pm
Not sure if you heard Fox on 680 tonight, but he sounds a lot like Coach Richt – steady, focused and confident like he has a plan. I am like everyone else in that I would love for us to take the UNC or Duke coaches, but that isn’t happening. This guy can rebuild the program, and the pieces are there; we just need someone to put them together.
fresh
April 3rd, 2009
9:43 pm
mike smith had one year. now let see if he can break the curse. you know what it is ,back 2 back winning seasons. and they won”t play a cream puff schedule next year. even jimbo had a winning season his first year.
truth-serum
April 3rd, 2009
9:48 pm
I guess Schultz wants Woodson fired and he doesnt seem to care the he has the sorryiest center in the NBA and other teams make us pay for it. What a liability Pachulia is. There is 8 minute left in the game but its over because boston is riding bicycles to the post on ZaZa. Hes missed four dunks and the other team scored each time. Now were down 13 with 8 minutes left….guess whos going to win….lets talk about that!
wolf pack fan
April 3rd, 2009
10:20 pm
you guys crack me up….
Nevada is a waste land? then why the past two years has nevada out recruited the dawgs?
Last ago: 1 five star; 1 four star; 3 two stars
This year: 1 four star; 2 three stars
Not even close when you compare: Oh and we also beat you a few times head-to head. Nevada is still the better program.
Steve
April 3rd, 2009
10:40 pm
We now officially have one of the all-time great name combinations to work with: The Fox and his Hounds – Fox’s Hounds – Hounded by Fox – The Dawgs and a Fox – One big Dawg (Thompkins, if he stays) and one sly Fox etc. etc. almost in adfintitum…This is great!
Voice of Reason
April 3rd, 2009
10:41 pm
An excellent piece, Jeff. Unlike that pile of crap that Bradley wrote…he was just mad cause he didn’t get a scoop. You showed much more ….professionalism.
Steve
April 3rd, 2009
10:46 pm
Howard Thompkins – please stay! This guy puts big men in the NBA – you couldn’t have had a better hire that Fox – check out his record.
OhioDawg
April 3rd, 2009
11:06 pm
Everyone just remember to give this man some time to implement his system and players.What UGA needed was a coach with the desire and hunger – wanting to prove he belongs at this level.I believe we got that individual.All this skepticism is natural considering the other would be choices, but let’s face it our basketball program is not that attractive nationally.We needed someone willing to take on this challenge.I like the hire given our current situation.. Good luck Coach Fox…..
BILL COLLINS
April 4th, 2009
12:27 am
THIS IS A HISTORICAL COMMENT TO SHOW ALL OF YOU HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED IN THE PAST 50 YEARS PARTICULARLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA! IN MY YEARS AT GA (1955-59) ALL OF THE COACHES AT GEORGIA HAD TO TEACH OR AT LEAST HOLD THREE(3) PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES A DAY EXCEPT WALLY BUTTS WHO GOT OUT OF THIS OBLIGATION BY BEING ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. IN ONE OF MY TWO CLASSES WITH RED LAWSON, THEN HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT U OF GA, I ASKED HIM HOW HE HAPPENED TO GET HIS JOB AT THE UNIVERSITY. HE REPLIED ,”BILL–I HEARD THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A COACH AND SO I APPLIED FOR THE JOB. I COACHING AT LEXINGTON AT THE TIME (tHAT’S LEXINGTON,GA,NOT KENTUCKY). i TOLD THE INTERVIEW COMMITTEE THAT IF THEY WOULD GIVE ME THE JOB, i WOULD MOVE MYSELF AND NOT REQUIRE ANY MOVING EXPENSES. i THINK THAT IS WHAT SWAYED THEM TO GIVE ME THE JOB.” BY THE WAY, THE SALARY WAS 6 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR! SO MUCH HAS CHANGED!
Nev. BBfan
April 4th, 2009
12:31 am
Wow, I thought the bandwagon fans here in Reno were bad. We can’t hold a candle to you Dawgs. First things first. He can recruit. #23 recruiting class in the country for last years incoming freshmen. One of those a McDonald’s all American and freshman of the year in the WAC. He has had the last two WAC freshmen of the year, both his recruits. He draws from all over the country. Texas, Carolina, Washington, he will draw good talent. One remark I saw was that his player was arrested the other day. That was Trent Johnson’s player. Fox was the assistant for the sweet sixteen team. He took over when Johnson went to Stanford after one winning season. You will be entertained, he puts on quite the show when things aren’t going good. The crowds cheer when he takes his coat off and tosses it into the crowd. You have a great coach and a great recruiter. Good luck to you and your program. You have also just created a huge rivalry with LSU. Two former Nevada winning coaches. It will be fun to watch.
Steve
April 4th, 2009
3:44 am
#23 incoming recruiting class at Nevada!! Geez.
Let’s look at UGA. Despite the state of Georgia having 10 of the top 77 prospects in the country for 2009, Georgia recruiting class probably isn’t in the top 50 schools. We were 28th last year, with nearly the same percentage of talent in the top 100 recruits (not to mention 6 of the top 34).
There is absolutely NO reason that UGA cannot be a basketball powerhouse. There is more talent in this state than all but three or four others. Granted, a significant portion of that talent in Georgia can’t seem to meet the academic requirements, but there is still enough talent to get a handful of 3-4-5 star recruits EVERY year.
I am not convinced Felton could have won even with top 10 recruiting classes, but since he never recruited very well, we will never know. No Felton fans, one good recruit last year is not a good argument. One good recruiting class his entire tenure here is not enough either.
Fox has to understand that the talent is here. He has to recruit like nobodies business. If he can win over 4 of the top in-state recruits every year he will be guaranteed a top 10 class most years. If he can do that, winning in the SEC will be easy.
I have high hopes for Fox, and I think he will make us a winner.
Cuz
April 4th, 2009
6:05 am
Well we got a Fox in the Dawghouse. Let’s give the man a chance before the “FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ” crowd jumps on Coach Fox. What is a blog without a fire Willie comment. Hey Jeff you coming to Augusta for the tournament?
David
April 4th, 2009
7:25 am
Jeff do your homeowrk. Capel isn’t heir apparent to K, Johnny D is.
athensdawg
April 4th, 2009
7:54 am
at least we have a basektball coach. i’ll reserve my judgement until this time next year.
JGray
April 4th, 2009
8:32 am
I continue to be surprised by Georgia’s arrogance around its basketball program. Why would any top tier coach consider signing up at a program without any facilities, any tradition or any pipeline of talent? While Tennessee has improved its standing in basketball as a football first school, their hire of Bruce Pearl was a gamble that has paid off handsomely for the Vols. Fox might do the same for the Bulldogs.
Jeff Capel? Mike Anderson? Both are on the upswing at programs that value basketball. Why in the world would anyone think they would potentially ruin their reputations and possible moves to a place like Duke to come to Georgia.
Good luck to Coach Fox!
blazer
April 4th, 2009
8:33 am
Why get this guy and not even interview Grant. Grant wouldve been able to bring in the recruits to get the basketball program to where it should be. With the big name coaches in the South and elsewhere thats recruiting Ga why would the big prospects sign with UGA to play for a coach no one has heard of who has ony recruited players in the west. When we have those big named coaches in Tenn, Kentucky, Fla and Bama kicking our tells then we could be down the same road 4-5 years from now, but time will tell.
Alex
April 4th, 2009
8:59 am
LawDawg86 – I am guessing when he landed that $9 million contract last week, his wife forgave him for not being in the delivery room. You think?
No, I don’t think. I don’t think the ends justify the means, I don’t think money makes life better, easier in many ways, but not better, and I don’t think people with more money are any happier. And I’m not trying to be holier than thou and say I haven’t put my career over my family at certain times, far from it. I just don’t think we should celebrate it.
Pete in Milledgeville
April 4th, 2009
9:00 am
Great hire Damon. This man is a winner and will continue that with the talent here in Ga. Oh yea, I bet the same people criticizing this hire did the same for Richt and Perno. Remember too that we once hired a freshman coach out of Auburn to run our storied football program. As a season ticket holder, Mark Fox has my support.
hop
April 4th, 2009
9:00 am
the process of reaching this stage has been nutty with many mistakes from our pathetic athletic director damon evans.
that said, fox might be another mark richt,if he turns out that he is he will save evans job,even thought damon’s management skills of being a micro-manager are still there. if he does not change them,georgia will lose some key coaches.
i listen to coach fox on the 680 the fan, he sounds genuine with an idea of what he needs to do. he projects a quiet confidence but also knows it is going to take much work to get this program moving in the right direction.
i hope he is a huge success and deserves the support of all dawgs!
kansasdawg
April 4th, 2009
9:15 am
Top drawer people don’t coach basketball at GEORGIA. Because GEORGIA does not care about basketball and this proves it. What let down for the fans. However, I do wish him the very best. Go Dawgs.
bill_in_atl
April 4th, 2009
9:31 am
Thanks for that article Jeff. Much more open minded and honest than Bradley. Not sure what his deal is on the hire. I accused him of being upset for being caught as unaware as the rest of us on the hire. Only thing I could think of that made good sense.
The guy fits exactly the mold of what we should have been looking for. Only time will tell if he was the right pick but I’m pleasantly surprised at this stage. I was very concerned that we would vastly overpay to steal a coach who has already proven that he is not up to the task of winning in a major conference, namely Purnell or worse, Haith.
jrmjr
April 4th, 2009
9:54 am
When Georgia is serious about basketball, they will build a NEW BASKETBALL ARENA. Until then, IMHO, they are just waiting on football to begin and not serious about basketball.
SlimG
April 4th, 2009
11:13 am
This guy looks a little wacky, which I like in a coach. Do we have a job for his wife? Sounds like an active family. Maybe this will wake up the fever for Bball in Athens.
If he can win a first round tourney game with Nevada, we should make the final four in a few years. Sounded like 2 was the goal. We have talent here in state so this should not be that difficult. Find a point guard, a big guy, a shooter,and some role players. Then let’s role the dice.
ButlerDawg
April 4th, 2009
11:40 am
Schultz, again with the glasses. Come on man, lose em.
Dawg Tired
April 4th, 2009
11:40 am
Dr. Evil – You don’t know what you’re talking about. The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune both reported Fox to be a likely candidate for the Arizona job. Talk about things you have some knowledge of – if there are such things.
lawzoo
April 4th, 2009
12:03 pm
I said that ga. should get Mike Fox from the outset.
59bulldawg
April 4th, 2009
12:30 pm
OK . . . I admit I had never heard of this guy before last Thursday. But I’m excited because I think we may finally have a good coach, a good recruiter, and a guy who WANTS to be here. Welcome to Athens coach! I hope your stay is long and successful.
swgaboy
April 4th, 2009
2:05 pm
Any run of the mill basketball junkie should know something about this guy because Nevada has been extremely competitive with several upper level basketball programs in the last 10 or so years. Folks around here should know something because they’ve beaten UGA twice and nearly knocked GT out of the NCAA tournament in 2004 when they reached the final.
To have someone like Andy Staples from SI say that he didn’t know anything about him, is an embarrasment for SI. He’s obviously not the expert that he purports himself to be.
But I do have to say, thanks Jeff, for writing a fair editorial. You didn’t sugar coat anything. But you didn’t go overboard with your shots either.
59bulldawg
April 4th, 2009
3:37 pm
I’m sorry swgaboy, but I’m not a college basketball expert! I’m just an alumnus pulling for his school. Just being honest. I admit that my first love is football. But if I still lived in Athens I would attend several games/matches a year as I would for baseball, tennis, and gymnastics. Never called myself a “basketball junkie” and don’t think I have to be Dick Vitale to be a fan. I can say that my during my years at UGA I enjoyed my share of great basketball watching the likes of Wilkins and Fair and company. As a kid I watched Eric Marbury, one of the best pure shooters I’ve ever seen. And I can remember when the hiring of Hugh Durham was the biggest thing that had ever happened to Georgia basketball. When Tubby arrived (to date the best thing that’s ever happened to Georgia roundball) I got to see more Georgia games on tv than I ever have before or since. From several states away I’ll just be content to continue watching on tv when I can get them and read about them online in the AJC. I hope this coach does even better than Tubby and from what you “basketball junkies” tell me he just might do it. That would be great!
Daniel A.
April 4th, 2009
4:27 pm
Thank you Jeff for being the first journalist at your wretched rag to write an accurate portrayal of the Fox hire. If the other writers at AJC were more objective like yourself and didn’t make it their personal mission to skewer Damon Evans for not hiring a black coach (we know who I’m talking about) or for not being able to hire a final four coach, despite the reality of the situation, I might not be predisposed to speak as badly of the AJC as I currently do.
Thomas
April 4th, 2009
4:59 pm
I will admit I have my doubts. I do like the fact that he is a winner, but he has much stiffer competition in the SEC, and we have a pathetic roster. My biggest complaint is why are we paying him 1.3 million? He was making under $500k at Nevada. Wouldn’t have Felton’s salary of nearly $800,00 been sufficient, what has he done already to warrant a three hundred percent pay increase? Double wasn’t enough? For the money we are paying, I am disappointed with the choice. I hope he succeeds and at minimum after two or three year has us going to the tourney almost every year from then on. I fear that in five years we will still be in a very similar situation. we may have a slightly better roster, and be close to winning twenty games, but we will still not be as competitive as we were under Tubby. My only question is how long do the faithful at Georgia have to wait for a nationally competitive team? We deserve one.
Steve
April 4th, 2009
7:13 pm
Guys, if we keep the rest of our players and recruits, the ‘10-11 year is going to be a very good one for us – we only lose Jackson and McPhee after next year. But next year is going to be a challenge – like 4-12 in the SEC challenge. Maybe he could talk to Swanyze and Brewer about staying…Tenn, Fla, and Kent. are going to be beasts next year, with SC and Vandy not far behind, so cut him some slack – I at least like his fire.
Jeff Schultz
April 4th, 2009
7:28 pm
# Henry — I’m sure Georgia wouldn’t mind if Mark Fox matched Mike Smith’s success.
# Kansas — I think Damon Evans does care about hoops, as evidenced by his search. But you can’t MAKE somebody (Capel, Anderson) take a job.
# Bill — Thanks.
# ButlerDawg — I kinda need to see.
# Daniel — Thanks.
# Thomas — Georgia paid what’s become the going rate. Plus if you try to go on the cheap in salary, it sort of devalues the guy you just hired.
Jeff Schultz
April 4th, 2009
7:28 pm
Sitting here watch Michigan State-Connecticut — 2 teams that of course I don’t have in my bracket.
truth-serum
April 4th, 2009
9:22 pm
Going into the fourth quarter The Magic center has 20+ rebounds…ZaZa is on the bench…as usual. I got an Idea…lets blame the coach… Its coach Woodsons fault he doesnt have a center.
Hurry up and get back Micheal Vick, we need your marquee stature in the city of atlanta….
» SEC links: Spring football links John Clay’s Sidelines
April 5th, 2009
8:03 am
[...] Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that new Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox must change perceptions. [...]
SEC links: Spring football links | MrSEC.com
April 5th, 2009
9:20 am
[...] Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that new Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox must change perceptions. [...]
Jborodawg
April 5th, 2009
11:20 am
As stated, only time will tell; but seems like an OK hire. Averaging 25 wins a year. I agree with “Steve”: Apparently he’s a good recruiter; which is what we need; like getting the top players from GA to go to UGA; doing that should lead to success. Not sure about his commitment to academics and developing players “overall”; we’ll see. He’s not as “unknown” in the WAC; actually pretty highly respected out there.
One semi-correction: He’s said that the recruiting trip while his daughter was being born was a bad move; his wife said it was OK because he got a top player with that trip. She’s apparently a “gamer”; also an assoc. athletics director.
I agree with ‘Thomas’; my only gripe is that we might have gotten him for far less money. He was making about $500k a year and probably would’ve taken the $750-$800k that Felton was making. Then, with success, get him up to the $1mi level. But, otherwise, hopefully a good hire.
BTW, Stegeman has been renovated and is a much better facility; not the greatest, but much better.
Now, like Red GA Dawg says, it’s time to get out and support the team! Hopefully, CMF’s “antics” and fieriness will get some students into the stands.
7
April 5th, 2009
3:15 pm
Fox will have UG Basketball kicking peoples a@@ in 2 years. Go you Foxy dog…..Welcome to the South Mark Fox.
Tom Trojan
April 5th, 2009
4:11 pm
You have a great coach, and you don’t yet realize it!! If you are stocked with the bball talent you think you have, Coach Fox will find it, trust me! He will give his team everything he has, and will expect nothing less from them! He will fight for his players and team trust me! He has been ‘Excused’ several times from games when he thought the Refs were doing a job on his players! Two years is all he needs, so support him and enjoy the results! GO DAWGS!!!
renopackfan
April 5th, 2009
5:02 pm
What you have here is a coach that rants and raves on the sidelines at the refs, his players, and his assistants. At Nevada he played a very slow boring style of basketball and is a terrible x and o coach that will lose many more close games than win (check the record of games decided by 10 or less). After the success Nevada had over the last 8 years (including Trent Johnson), only one player is in the NBA (Ramon Sessions with the Bucks). Nevada does have a lot of talent which says he can recruit, but coaches in the SEC will eat him for lunch (including Trent Johnson) on game days. My guess he will be gone in three years!!!! You heard it here first. And David Carter will have Nevada in the sweet 16!
AltamahaDawg
April 5th, 2009
7:34 pm
We will always remember this moment, as we heard it here first. The moment we learned of your “guess”.
Monday Odds & Ends for UGA Athletics | GeorgiaBulldog.com - Georgia Bulldogs News, Discussion, Schedules & More
April 6th, 2009
7:02 am
[...] Schultz weighs in on the Mark Fox hire. And yes, he calls UGA basketball “fish [...]
Around the SEC East - 4/6/09 | MrSEC.com
April 6th, 2009
8:52 am
[...] Want to know more about new basketball coach Mark Fox, read this.UGA: It’s up to Fox to change the perception of Georgia basketball… that it’s something akin to Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks.UF: The defense continues to be [...]
Fred
April 6th, 2009
9:44 am
I was mildly concerned about the hire until Bradley panned it. Then I knew that Fox was the right man.
If only Schultz had mocked it with one of his frequent “trembling chihuahuas” columns, I would have made my Final Four reservations for next year.
Keeping It Real
April 6th, 2009
10:35 am
The word is that since Fox cannot recruit local talent, he will try to get some of the girl gymnasts to walk on. This should be exciting for the opposing teams especially when they set picks. LOL.
BILLY JACK
April 6th, 2009
10:36 am
Jeff if UGA folks will give him a chance I think he will be very good.My college basketball friends tell me this is a good hire.If the basketball team wins,people will support the program.It cant get any worse than the embarrasing season of last year.I dont think anybody ever heard of Bruce Pearl before UT hired him.
Edgar
April 6th, 2009
11:30 am
What a mix of comments so far. I thought for several years Dennis Felton was what UGA wanted. Last year during the SEC tournament I figured he had finally crossed over with a team and recruiting that would find UGA getting into the NCAA for a few years. How wrong I was. After the storm hit during last year’s SEC tournament I think all the teams just wanted to get the hell out of Atlanta before a hotel or arena they were playing in collapsed from storm damage. I checked his (Mark Fox) record from the 08-09 season and it wasn’t bad (21-12) counting the WAC tournament and not counting the exhibition win against San Francisco St. The Wolf Pack’s next to last game in the WAC tournament was a loss to Utah St. If they win that game and they’re in the NCAA. They did go to the College Basketball Invitational Tournament (Is this the NIT?) and lost the first game.
Jeff, I say again it would be nice next season to see UGA get selected or get an automatic by virtue of winning the SEC. Last year was a fluke. The selection when Harrick was coach was a fraud. Tubby Smith was the last coach to get the Dawgs in with a legit team. GOOD LUCK MARK FOX!!! And PLEASE!! IF you build and coach UGA to great heights, like several Final Four appearances and 2 or 3 NCAA Championships, how about hanging around for lets say….until you’re ready to retire. That would be real nice.