A Big Blue domino enters UGA coaching search
Dominoes were starting to fall in several schools’ searches for a new men’s basketball coach. Now a big blue bowling ball just rolled through and dominoes are being scattered all over the place.
The University of Kentucky was to announce at 4:30 p.m. Friday that it has relieved Billy Gillispie of his coaching duties. So a Division I coaching landscape that included notable vacancies at Georgia, Alabama, Arizona and Virginia, suddenly includes an opening at one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country.
What does that mean for Georgia, which is seeking a replacement for ousted head coach Dennis Felton? Probably not as much as it does at Alabama. The Crimson Tide just this week was parading VCU coach Anthony Grant around campus in Tuscaloosa, a clear sign that he was their main target. But Grant quite notably did NOT accept their reported offer. That’s more understandable in light of this latest development.
Just the mere speculation that Gillispie could be dismissed after just his second season had already produced rumors and reports that the ‘Cats would again be coming after Florida’s Billy Donovan. And if Donovan decides to head to the Blue Grass state this time, Grant would surely be the Gators’ pick, as he was when Donovan briefly left for the Orlando Magic.
BREAKING NEWS: Reports at 8 p.m. Friday night say Grant accepted Alabama’s offer to become head coach.
If Donovan doesn’t work out, word is UK will look to former Wildcat Travis Ford, who’s now at Oklahoma State. But the Cats may also want to look some of the “hot” coaching prospects that appear to be on Georgia’s radar. Missouri’s Mike Anderson and Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel have made a big name for themselves in this year’s NCAA tournament. So have Pitt’s Jamie Dixon and Xavier’s Sean Miller and Villanova’s Jay Wright.
I talked to Georgia AD Damon Evans briefly when Bama went hard after Grant. I wanted to find out if the Tide’s level of interest in Grant, one of the hot candidates for 2009, bothered him or impacted Georgia’s search.
“All I’m thinking about is doing what’s best for the University of Georgia. I’ve got to stick to our game plan,” Evans said.
I tried to get hold of Evans again Friday but I assume his answer would be the same regarding this latest development. Do you think it will impact the Bulldogs’ search?
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92 comments Add your comment
spotts
March 28th, 2009
2:05 pm
For all you guys bashing Stafford and using Mike Singletary’s comments as fuel, keep in mind that:
1) Singletary drops his pants as a way of motivating his team.
2) Stafford was brilliant at ProDay, showing that he’s a great quarterback physically and mentally. If you’d rather have a mediocre quarterback who isn’t upset by his parents’ divorce, then go ahead. But I’m going to take his performance on the field over what a psychologist says.
Dawggone-it
March 28th, 2009
2:07 pm
Georgia Basketball Sitcom Pilot
Adams walks into Evans’ office…
Adams: Hey Damon, who are we looking at for the job
Evans: Well, we’re targeting Capel, Anderson, and Anthony Grant.
Adams: Grant? Who?
Evans: He’s the hot young coach from VCU.
Adams: Where’s VCU?
Evans: You know Michael, he is a Donovan disciple and know how to recruit the SEC.
Adams: Hummm, he sounds like another FELTON. Forget him, we’re not even giving this guy an interview. How about an established coach like Jim Harrack?
Evans: PRESIDENT ADAMMMMS!!!!!
Remember Dawg fans who’s in charge behind the Arch.
AltamahaDawg
March 28th, 2009
2:42 pm
Wow, took all day for somebody to figure out how to tie the hiring of a BB coach to thier dislike of Willie Martinez.
Cuz
March 28th, 2009
2:45 pm
Sounds great Dawggone-it. We could call it “The Adams Family”. Oh never mind, I heard that one is taken. The theme song would fit though.
Cuz
March 28th, 2009
2:57 pm
Slow day with the rain and all Alt, you flooded out there on the Coast? No wait a minute, that is just high tide, my bad.
Just so long as it does not rain here during the tuna-ment. Augusta dialect included.
AltamahaDawg
March 28th, 2009
3:29 pm
No, its not raining here too much. Kinda sweeping across the middle of the state. I guess we’ll be getting that red-tinted flow downriver in a few days.
MCDAVID
March 28th, 2009
5:23 pm
It looks like Georgia is sleep walking through this. Why did we fire a coach in the middle of the season if we were going to sit on hands and do nothing. We’ve got a real problem now as the kentucky and a lot of other schools will be looking. Alabama got busy and got the job done. Georgia’a efforts look like a coming fiasco.
DramaQueen
March 28th, 2009
5:28 pm
I feel right at home in here.
BadgerDawg
March 28th, 2009
5:35 pm
Shards, your reasoning would be the same reasoning Richt would leave UGA to go to Vanderbilt. When your the team losing the coach, it sounds laughable because it is. When you’re the team trying to get, I guess it’s nice to dream but it’s not based in reality.
As for Butler, yes they’ve established a program and yes they also keep losing their coaches to big programs. They are not recruiting the likes of Capel or Miller (actually, Miller was one they lost.) They are going with the next assistant on the bench and hoping it works out, so your comparison doesn’t hold any weight. They also have legit fan/student/admin/community support for hoops there and are the biggest college team in a major city. Face it, we are a small time basketball school that could become big time because of the athletes in state if we get the right coach and ideally if we get the right facilities.
Sautee
March 28th, 2009
7:00 pm
Mike Anderson would be fabulous.
Brian
March 28th, 2009
8:00 pm
After watching Missouri/UConn i would love to have Mike Anderson. With the athletes we have in state that 40 minutes of hell they unleash would be awesome.
Thomas Brown
March 29th, 2009
4:09 am
How can you get so worked up about a basketball coach in that gym ?
hop
March 29th, 2009
7:55 am
altamahadawg, do you really think dooley hired evans,if so you are smoking some strange stuff.
evans was a political hire by adams only to get the dooley thing behind him.
Mark
March 29th, 2009
7:57 am
Like Georgia won’t blow this hire?…The cupboard is bare and all they are selling is potential…someone better be patient and write a REALLY LARGE check just to get anyone of note from a mid-major let alone an established program.
jacketbacker
March 29th, 2009
10:14 am
why would anyone want to coach basketball at ugag?? it would be a step down for ANY D1 coach…..
Steve
March 29th, 2009
10:21 am
UGA blew it big time not going after Grant.. the real upcoming star of coaching and a recruiting master to be….
Jay Wright is not leaving, Capel would go to Virginia if he leaves or Arizona, Sean Miller will not stop the Georgia talent leaving, Anderson would go to Kentucky or Arizona if he leaves at all and Grant will out recruit him… this leaves UGA third rate again fire the AD!!!!! he has had forever to find someone and it is obvious he does not know what he is doing and UGA knows little about BB and the football team will suffer,, ALA already out recruits football and BB coach strenthens this with Grant, FLA is pro and GA little league in football recruiting, SC is fast catching GA in football, and Mississippi schools are as well
DramaQueen
March 29th, 2009
11:09 am
All I do know, from Dooley’s own word, is that Evans was his choice to succeed him. I’m just going to have to assume that Dooley wasn’t just lying as a favor to his good pal Adams. I never said Dooley hired Him, but Evans is who he wanted, groomed and endorced. (and certainly would have hired) How does Adams recognition that it was smart political hire, change that, or my question to you? If anything that only proved my point even more. Dooley IS the reasson that Evans was in that position to get hired. I’d say you would have more of a beef IF Evans got hired only to spite Dooley.
BadgerDawg
March 29th, 2009
11:09 am
UGA would be a step down for almost any major school coach, it is true and that is what I’ve been trying to say. It would be a step up for coaches at mid major schools such as Georgia Tech University.
Oledawg
March 29th, 2009
11:18 am
hop- Altamahadawg is correct. Where did you get your supposition…uh, “information”? You should change your name to Flying Leap and then take one. Better yet, change it to hophead for a better fit.
Now all the techsters are jealous of Damon Evans. I’ll bet most of you belong to the party of “NO!” also. Keep your uninformed crud off our blog. As some Dawgs have already mentioned here, most of us are glad Evans is not rushing into this. Methinks some of you crudsters are fishing for your usual putdown. Maybe the “psychologist” in SF could help you. He is nonprofessional enough to do your session and put it on UTube since you like being villified publically. The idea that Stafford has psychological issues because he loves both his parents is repulsive in itself. For a “psychologist” to release such an opinion through a pro coach is even more repulsive. I hope Staff sues the a..holes.
DramaQueen
March 29th, 2009
11:26 am
dammit, I’m trying to join the ranks in here, conspiracy theories, hate to get up on Monday morning for fear that some coach In Athens is out to ruin my life, nothing is ever right. I have finally given in. And Oledawg goes and outs me.
AltamahaDawg
March 29th, 2009
11:27 am
I guess I’ll go back to my old self and be a slave to reality again.
AltamahaDawg
March 29th, 2009
11:53 am
I just hope we don’t do something stupid like hire a guy from Marshall or UW-Milwaukee.
Dawg Tired
March 29th, 2009
12:03 pm
Oledawg – Is it ok to say “NO” to socialism?
Oledawg
March 29th, 2009
12:22 pm
Haven’t vented completely yet. The “psychologist” appeared to take it personal because Staff challenged him about the question. It doesn’t sound as if the “psychologist” is professional enough to absorb Staff’s rebuttal to a prying question that means zilch to an interview report. Staff asked him one right back. So what does the jerk do? He spins Staff’s reply by putting his “opinion” to the question and misses the rejoiner’s meaning. It is a prying valueless question for a football interview or any job for that matter. It was bright of the player to ask how much SF was paying him to bring up such a valueless query. A professional psychologist would not ask in the first place and second would never mention it in a report to people who are not learned in the subject and never think of challenging his spin. I’ll bet by now that upper management has heard of this bruhaha and have changed their evaluation staff. I would feel this way no matter the player involved. It is not done in loyalty to Staff, but rather is an opinion on the unprofessional behavior and insensitive public publication of a psychological value placed on the interview exchange. The player has the high ground here and the “psychologist” is immature.
Oledawg
March 29th, 2009
12:25 pm
Dawg Tired- you make everyone tired.
Cuz
March 29th, 2009
1:22 pm
In the age of instant communication, Damon becomes a failure if he waits for Felton to clean out his office before he hires a new coach. Give the man a break.
Steve
March 29th, 2009
2:00 pm
Anderson is a great coach, bad recruiter. Don’t need him. Get Capel, John Thompson III, or Gillispie. If you can’t get them, let’s try the Sam Mitchell approach. Kids would love to come play for a former NBA’er.
BadgerDawg
March 29th, 2009
3:00 pm
Steve, Gillespie is the only possibility on that list, and that’s because he’s damaged goods. That being said, I think he’s by far the best option that we may have a shot at. Every other option listed by anyone here has been unrealistic. You may not want Anderson, but he’d be the best choice if he’d ever say yes. However, there’s not a chance that he will. We’re off getting a hot assistant or mid major coach if BG doesn’t work out. I’m hoping BG will want revenge and see the potential. At least there wouldn’t be a rodeo going on in Stegman now if he were to visit. As far as the “patience” goes, you don’t fire a coach in midseason and have no game plan this late in the game. You fire a coach to immediately to do some searching and putting feelers out for interest since coaches then wouldn’t be commenting on taken jobs. By now, we should absolutely know who we’re targeting and approaching them. I figured Grant was the obvious choice a month ago…too late now!
Cuz
March 29th, 2009
6:27 pm
I am just amazed that Damon has not called me and asked me my opinion.
bwell
March 29th, 2009
7:14 pm
I think Ga need to go after Rick P at L’ville and M. anderson of Mizzou. Coach Izzo at MSU or Fla Coach Donovan. Offer 10 year 80M. Watch Ga march forward with wins and recruits! Make it happen AD Evans
Dawg Tired
March 29th, 2009
8:07 pm
Oledawg – Is it ok to say no to socialism?
P.S. I’m not your enemy. Think about it. My question was intended to be serious. This country seems to be intentionally moving towards socialism. You may think that is a good thing (apparently a majority of the country thinks so). That’s your (and theirs) right. My question is whether it is ok to think that it is a bad idea. Surely saying no to what one believes is a bad idea is ok, isn’t it? If not, then we’re moving beyond socialism to totalitarianism.
Besides, we need a basketball coach. When do we think we will get one?
Finally, I’m sorry if I make you tired. Could it be something else? Are you sure I’m to blame for that too?
Have a good week.
Go Dawgs!
BravesFan79
March 29th, 2009
9:28 pm
Even more of a worry than the move to socalism is the imput of “Hate Crime Laws” which seem to affect ONLY whites……. its already happened in Australia, FInnland, and Canada. These hardcore left liberal nuts have already taken over most of Europe, and they want the US to join them.
Check out Ron Paul…. he really speaks some scarry truths about what the future holds if these nuts take power over here and allow the EU to override our constitution like theve done to Ireland, Finnland, England, etc…..
Cuz
March 29th, 2009
9:47 pm
Can’t we save the politics for how much we all despise Mike Adams?
Steve
March 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
Anderson may leave Mizzou simply because UGA has a 60 million dollar athletic dept. surplus – we will offer 2 million plus per year, even in these bad economic times it seems. That is over twice as much as Capel or Anderson are making now.
hop
March 29th, 2009
11:53 pm
altamahadawg,dramaqueen or whoever you are… vince dooley stated that evans needed more time to get ready for the job. adams seldom listen to anything dooley recommended.
only when dooley knew that he was not going to stay as A D is when he suggested that evans be selected .
adams knew that the fans would not accept anyone else,because of the handling of dooley matter. and the political correct thing to do was the only reason that evans was selected. it had nothing to do with vince dooley’s choice.
in either case he is a very poor selection and it is becoming evident more everyday!
take your rose-color glasses off and stop making such “off the wall comments” about mr.evans”.
are you a relative of his ? you must be because this guy has not done anything that vince dooley had not already planned, started or completed.
his mishandling of coaches richt,and felton, as well as the current hiring process is bush league and georgia has fallen way back in the pecking order and yes we will not get the type of coach that can win in the SEC which is a rather unique region.
yes, you do need a dose of reality!
Thomas Brown
March 30th, 2009
3:15 am
You totally disregard the post by the Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Fan that he hears that Matthew Stafford is not a good teammate, and that he acts like a pompous arrogant pretentious ostentatious portentous snob.
Vincent J. Dooley hired Damon Evans. Damon played for Vince. Vince always had it in his mind that he was grooming Damon Evans for this job, just not on this time schedule. I have had reservations about (1) him never having coached anything and yet responsible for hiring the coaches that would be the future replacements, as you cannot hire someone for a position you have zero experience at and (2) my complaints to-date about some crap Damon Evans has put forth about how with $60 million profit a year in the Athletics Department at UGA that we cannot begin to consider even having a loan to build ourselves a gym. He says the same about borrowing to build ourselves an indoor football practice facility. That is totally crazy. Pay cash for example for a gym ? This is the only way he will let us have a gym. Therefore, we lose the top men’s and women’s players from this hotbed of recruiting in this state because it is a horrid basketball facility.
No coach will want to come here given the task of keeping them in-state, when they have to play in that hell-hole of a gym.
SWEEP. We Sweep the vols.
vols swept.
In here, we were promised baseball analysis, but to-date, after that promise there has been nothing.
Chip Towers said UGA had to hit 100 home runs this season, that that is all he knows about the game of baseball when discussing Nike bats or Eason. But, the facts of the matter are that UGA has some quite good pitching this season and is hitting the ball much better.
Diamond Dawgs lead The SEC in On Base Percentage and in Runs Scored. We have the 2nd best batting average in The SEC.
Diamond Dawgs have the Most Wins of SEC teams and is the Highest Ranked Baseball Team in the nation.
We also lead The SEC in ERA.
We are not a very good fielding team.
Some of our Leading Hitters are Rich Poythress .420, Johnathan Taylor .383, Joey Lewis .383, Bryce Massanari .342, Levi Hyams .328, Chase Davidson .322, Colby May .316, Lyle Allen .410, Matt Cerione .327, and Zach Cone .303.
This is a much better measurement of bats than just only how many home runs we hit.
We beat the vols in baseball again yesterday to leave the Diamond Dawgs the best baseball team in The SEC and to leave the volmits the dead last worst.
UGA Number 6, Tech Number 13 Baseball America :
UGA Number 1 Tech Number 7 ESPN/USA Today :
UGA Number 1, Tech Number 3 NCBWA :
UGA Number 1, Tech Number 3 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper :
Now, where is this baseball analysis you guaranteed to us all Chip Towers ?
hop
March 30th, 2009
6:38 am
thomas brown you hit the nail on the head with your post concerning stafford,evans, and chip towers.
i don’t know who is the worse journalist at the ajc, terence moore or chip towers!
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2009
7:39 am
While we are handing out doses of reality, how about showing me where I ever said anything about the job Evans was doing. Or where I made any off the wall comments about him. You are so dead set at bashing the man, that you are arguing in circles with me, oddly enough pointing out things that only validation of my original, correct, and simple point. Damon Evans was Dooley’s hand picked choice for the job. You kinda have to think thats the idea behind promoting somebody to Assistant Athletic Director. Then lobbying for him when you retire. The forced timing has absolutely nothing to do with that. In fact the extra year Dooley requested was by his own account, so that he could further entrench Evans into the post. Or do you think that Dooley was flat out lying about that too, along with being, in your opinion, a poor judge.
seahawk
March 30th, 2009
11:57 am
We will never have a basketball program until football fans get their football blogs outta the basketball blogs.
BadgerDawg
March 31st, 2009
8:32 am
Thomas Brown = buLLdawg or there are two sick people on this site.
Jag5
March 31st, 2009
3:13 pm
There is only one wining basketball program in the state of Georgia…Guess where? D2 Augusta State.
hop
April 1st, 2009
9:00 am
you have been a consistent promotor of damon evans and have come to his defense regularly.
you,dr.adams, and damon evans deserve each other, as we observe the latest miscalculation with the search of a new basketball coach by mr.evans.
vince dooley was driven out of his job by adams and he did not want to leave period, he came to realize that he could not keep his job under any circumstances. he did not think damon was ready and wanted to stay three years and then he ask for one year. he was refused of any extension. then he endorsed evans and only then.
that is the way it was and if you don’t believe that, you need to to do further research.