Purnell, Haith may not be only candidates for UGA
Word is the Bulldogs are going to talk to Clemson’s Oliver Purnell and Miami’s Frank Haith in Detroit. That’s just who we know about right now. Surely there will be others on Damon Evans’ to-do list in Motown. They could be still waiting on Baylor’s Scott Drew, whose team plays Penn State in the NIT finals tonight. Other names that have been discussed here — Xavier’s Sean Miller and Butler’s Brad Stevens, to name two — remain possibilities.
So would you want to see Georgia get Purnell or Haith? Some of those other guys? What about an assistant coach from one of the powerhouse programs? Let us know what you think?
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233 comments Add your comment
Clemsonjoe
April 2nd, 2009
1:25 pm
Stay the eff away from our coach you mutts.
Joe Schmoe
April 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
There is no way that an ACC basketball coach would leave for the soft SEC. This story is bogus. Why would they want to go from a powerhouse confrence to a pillow fight conference!
nola dawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
Chip – in your opinion, is the Capel thing off?
I don’t like Haith or Purnell. But I think Miller would be a GREAT hire.
david
April 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
ga better get going.ga was the first team looking for a coach. if they do not do something so all thr top coaches will be taken .then they will have to settle with whos left.
Mark
April 2nd, 2009
1:29 pm
Sean Miller’s resume is very impressive, Should he be a top candidate?
Left to Right
April 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO to Purnell and Haith.
I’d rather have a mid-major coach with potential than these two proven mediocrities.
Dawgbonz
April 2nd, 2009
1:31 pm
Sean Miller!!!!!!!! Please come to athens!!!
plainville dawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:32 pm
None of these names will fire up dawg fans. Bobby Knight is the only name that would get the fan base excited. 3-4 years of Bobby is better than another 5-8 years of “rebuilding”.
William West
April 2nd, 2009
1:33 pm
Go after Miller he is our man
Chardog
April 2nd, 2009
1:34 pm
Chip,
Do you think Damon is serious about these two guys? It seems like this would be a major letdown after 2 months of essentially no news.
Chip Towers
April 2nd, 2009
1:35 pm
Yes, I think the Capel thing is off. No interest from his end.
Clemsonjoe
April 2nd, 2009
1:35 pm
Left to Right…you are a silly man. Purnell has accomplished more in the past 3 years with Clemson than UGA has accomplished in the past decade.
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
1:36 pm
What about Capel in Oklahoma or SoCal’s Tim Floyd? I thought ga. was going “to pick” one of them?
Joe Schmoe
April 2nd, 2009
1:37 pm
Left to Right, UGA couldn’t hold the basketball shorts of those two coaches.
TommyP
April 2nd, 2009
1:37 pm
PLEASE say no to Haith and Purnell.
Haith hasn’t done much (aren’t the Miami fans ready to get rid of him?) and Purnell has NEVER won an NCAA tournament game.
Any from a list of Stevens, Miller or Drew would do well. I am really thinking Drew is a darkhorse candidate for our job.
nola dawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:38 pm
thanks Chip…
as you have been saying, i’d bet there is another coach out there that we are not talking about, that still could surface. I bet by the end of the weekend, or final game monday, we have a coach.
i am afraid Miller won’t leave… maybe 2 mil will be enough to get him to leave a pretty good gig at Xavier
Joe
April 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Every coach UGA is “looking at” is way out of their league. First Bob Knight, then Jeff Capel and Mike Anderson, now Oliver Purnell and Frank Haith. Outside of Knight, every one of these guys is in a coaching situation that is miles above where UGA is. Any of these coaches would be stupid to leave their schools and coach at UGA. The only reason they should consider it would be to get an extension at their current school. UGA needs to lower their standards a bit and start looking at some top tier assistants or coaches at lesser known schools.
Who’s next on UGA’s wish list?? John Wooden??
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Don’t worry Clemsonjoe! I promise that UGA fans are not kickin down the doors for Purnell who has a 57% win record. If we get either one of the coaches we’ll be looking for another coach in 4 or 5 more years with a program still at the bottom of the barrel. Please CJoe KEEP HIM. WE DON”T WANT HIM!
William West
April 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
ad on watching Georgia defense we need corrections, offense moving with out the ball passing catching a pass is very important we need to work on both of those that why I say go get Miller
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Oh, no interest from Capel’s end? I can’t imagine why not.
Chip Towers
April 2nd, 2009
1:40 pm
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I don’t think Georgia/Evans has done anything wrong. I believe they identified Capel as the top guy on their wish-list and Mike Anderson No. 2. Both coaches played deep into the NCAA tournament. Capel showed no interest. Mike Anderson was interested but decided to stay put after Missouri doubled his pay. I believe Anthony Grant was No. 3 but he was gone before they could talk to him. Now they’re further down the list. If you have a problem with the strategy it would have to be their evaluations/pecking order. But they said they were going to shoot high and that always comes with risks.
mattain
April 2nd, 2009
1:41 pm
Clemjoe, UGA has won a conference championship in the past three years. How many in the entirety of CU basketball have they won?
mexdawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:41 pm
TUBBY SMITH, TUBBY SMITH, TUBBY SMITH……He’s the man.
phil
April 2nd, 2009
1:43 pm
raise the bar– Haith and Purnell stink–you let Alabama get the best available coach.
Rock Preston
April 2nd, 2009
1:43 pm
Dawgbonz, you are right!!! Sean Miller from Xavier is who UGA needs. He knows the AAU circles and can recruit his a** off!!! Haith or Purnell have nothing on this guy!
bank walker
April 2nd, 2009
1:45 pm
Purnell maybe, Haith no way. To the Clemson guys: If we get the right coach, that recruits the state of Georgia well, we will be on top in basketball as well! Then you will be getting a little taste, in basketball, what you have received the past two days in baseball and the past two decades from UGA in football!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!
doyle
April 2nd, 2009
1:45 pm
if it’s colored orange, forget it!!!
Clemsonjoe
April 2nd, 2009
1:47 pm
SoCal Dawg, you UGA basketball fans HAVE to be some of the dumbest out there. Your basketball IQ is 0.0
Joey
April 2nd, 2009
1:48 pm
Why is Evans talking with coaches who have won only half of their games? Hell, just rehire Dennis Felton if that is the best we can do!!!!
murfdawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:49 pm
go get the guy from
Arizona.
Clemsonjoe
April 2nd, 2009
1:50 pm
LOL mattain, in the SEC? Wow. 1 through 9 in the ACC could have won the SEC that year.
BadgerDawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:50 pm
We NEED Sean Miller like we NEED Mike Anderson or we NEED Roy Williams. None of them will go to a 2nd rate basketball school. Evans needs to take some of that cash and build a new arena and all of the alleged UGA basketball fans need to start showing up and selling out our nothing arena. I’ve said it before, there are HIGH SCHOOL gyms in parts of this country that seat more than our stadium, and we can’t sell it out unless the other team does it for us (think Tech football for a comparison there.) That just about summed it up: UGA basketball = Tech football. Oh my, even I didn’t realize the situation was that grave.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 2nd, 2009
1:51 pm
LOL, Looks like two ACC coaches will be getting a raise.
CalDogg
April 2nd, 2009
1:51 pm
Tim Floyd is gone. See what happens when you twiddle whatever Evans is twiddling?
And a side-effect of this top-secret (but obviously not, considering the public smack down out of Missouri and this new limp noodle announcement), super-search firm (definitely not), please-tell-me-what-to-do (baby A.D. Evans’ M.O.) approach to hiring a coach.
NOBODY is in place to recruit players.
As for coaches in the tournament(s), no you can’t hire them before they’re finished playing but you sure as hell can talk to them. It’s done every day.
This amateurish show is surely going to impress the sports world. In the wrong way.
If you’d at least TALKED with Bob Knight (you should have hired him in a heartbeat but I understand that you have to discuss things to death and committee the thing into sausage), if not hired the man (what are you thinking down there, really), you’d have been way ahead of the game and a focal point of the basketball world for the entire run of the NCAA tournament, well on to recharging the base (yes, there is one out there for basketball), revamping the program, and communicating with prospects.
As it is, you give the appearance of paddling in circles while the river flows on by.
With the rate of hiring going on, apparently somebody in college basketball world knows who the best and brightest coaches are. Maybe we could give some other AD’s a call and save some bucks we wouldn’t have to pay this magnificent search firm, the gang that can’t shoot straight.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 2nd, 2009
1:53 pm
If we choose either one of these guys I guess we save a lot of money? Now its rumored that Pearl may end up in Memphis. UT better job than UGA. This just keeps getting better and better. Bad year to fire Felton.
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
1:53 pm
I hate to say it but Homer and Marge Climpson are right, Purnell wouldn’t go to ga. So all of you worried about it can relax.How about Jeff Jones at American?
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
1:53 pm
CJoe break out a calculator do the numbers look at stats you’re coach ain’t special.
oldgado
April 2nd, 2009
1:54 pm
Evans is dragging his feet and now there is nothing to get excited about We go from a bad coach to not having a coach. What does this say about the commitment to the basketball program. HEY EVANS GET OFF YOU BUTT AND SHOW US SOMETHING.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 2nd, 2009
1:55 pm
Guiding Light getting cancelled to be replaced by reality soap opera called “UGA Basketball”.
gbal
April 2nd, 2009
1:57 pm
Chip – I know you are just trying to report some news, but in the interest of UGA it would be best if these rumors of who we are/might be interested in are best kept out of the press until you here it directly from DE. If reported that we are “interested” in in so and so and it does not work out then it sheads a bad light on our school, even if there is a ligit reason for the prospect not wanting to move or take our job. There is no need for this bad light to shine on us just because you want a story. It makes other ligit prospects feel and know that they are the 3rd, 4th or even 5th choice.
Wait patiently for word from Evans… let him do his job, and report on something else UGA for a while until this gets ironed out. It the right thing and best for UGA>
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:00 pm
By the way CJoe it’s been awhile for UGA but when was the last time you made it to the elite 8? Not since UGA.
Clemsonjoe
April 2nd, 2009
2:00 pm
SoCal, its not only what he’s done but also what he is doing. Just picked up a McDonald’s All-American and a super strong recruiting class. Don’t see you and your failed, cheating program moving anywhere near “up”
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:03 pm
Cheating?
rphdawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:04 pm
no disrespect to those 2 guys, but even though the are FAR better than we had i would rather spend twice the bucks and get twice the coach. i mean really – they are both just barely above .500. Get a really good one now that we have the chance and go for the Oklahoma coach- spend the bucks – it’ll be worth it.
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:05 pm
CHEATING? What are you talking about CJoe?
Clemsonjoe
April 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
Harrick ring a bell? jebus!
59bulldawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:09 pm
You gotta be kidding me! Purnell or Haith? And as for “shooting high” I’d still rank Grant ahead of Anderson or Capel. The man can flat out coach and if Damon was worried that he’d one day leave for Gainesville, he could have crafted an expensive deterrent into the contract buy-out clause. We’ve already made one mistake by not taking Grant when we had the chance. Let’s not make a second one by overlooking another up and coming mid-major coach and there are still some good ones out there. I’d be in favor of that or a return to Tubby . . . if we could get him.
ldkei45
April 2nd, 2009
2:09 pm
Lon Kruger!
Typical Clemson Fan
April 2nd, 2009
2:11 pm
Hey Georgejaw phans,
Wee kan reed and riht at Klemsun! Donut u daire tacke are koach! We arre inn the A-Ce-Ce, babee! Thee homme off thee breast futball width thee lices of Raalf Freejen, Tommy Boudenn – ohhh wait – hee wuz phired.
Uhhh, knever minde. Hay, wherz my fride twinky?
Chardog
April 2nd, 2009
2:11 pm
If we were gonna look at an Ast. Coach, I’d be looking at Mark Montgomrey at Michigan St. Coach Izzo has said he’s ready and Rivals has him as one of the Top 10 up and coming coaches for Head Coach material. He understands championship level quality BB as he’s been with Izzo for 8 yrs.
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Almost a decade ago? Come on you clemson guys aren’t that dumb.
Josh
April 2nd, 2009
2:13 pm
Hey clemson joe….UGA owns clemson…. 45 -17 series last time i checked for football and ever since Harrick screwed us over I have lost interest in our basketball program other than our cinderella tournament last year in Atlanta.
rlinaug
April 2nd, 2009
2:14 pm
What I have a problem with is the firm Evans hired to help with the coaching search. Certainly, Evans didn’t pay them a LOT of money to only identify candidates–people reading this post could do that. He should have been paying them to FIND a coach and HANDLE the PR, so when the time came to announce a prime candidate, the candidate would be studying tie patterns in red and black. Instead we get an announcement that UGA has offered the job to a coach, who then uses that offer to get more money to stay where he’s at. Georgia has no clout as a basketball school. Repeated public spurnings will be ruinous to the program and result in a weak hire. I forget how much Evans paid the firm to run and organize this search, but I could do better sitting at my desk. And I work on the cheap.
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:14 pm
I have been a Damon Evans fan since we named him Athletic Director. If after all the Bullsh– time he wasted with that “search firm” leads him to hiring Miami’s Frank Haith, Evans should step down IMMEDIATELY as the Athletic Director.
I actually don’t think Purnell would be a bad hire. He’s won rather consistently. Frank Haith is a joke. He’s no better than Dennis Felton. He must show up to interviews with Lane Kiffin’s wife or something. Sheesh, Damon.
nola dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:15 pm
I disagree gbal… i am glad Chip is reporting on who UGA is interested in. It is going to get reported one way or another in this age of technology. And what’s to say that some people at UGA don’t leak the info on who their interested in…
Chip – just read your original post… are you hearing anything about top assistants? Like maybe Collins or Wojo at Duke? Got to be some great ass’t under Roy Williams? I’d be more excited about that then the 2 ACC head coaches above..
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:17 pm
Nola Dawg-
Honestly, I’d rather have a top Roy Williams or Coach K assistant than Frank Haith.
Bravedawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:18 pm
Chip–something about these guys just doesn’t do it for me. Purnell’s teams always seem to be there at the start of the year, because they play a poor non-conference schedule. Then they get beat up in the ACC and end up making the tourney but losing in the first round.
And Haith…I don’t even know who he is.
I realize that plenty of teams get beat up in the ACC–it’s one of the top leagues in the country. But from all indications we were looking for a “big name,” and Purnell doesn’t do it for me.
Nick
April 2nd, 2009
2:20 pm
Mike Davis anyone?? Drew would be okay too!
Haith and Purnell would be disasters. They have not accomplished anything were they are. If that was the direction the program was going to go we should have kept Felton. The program desperately needs some excitement and these guys are not it.
Hey clemsonjoe your just mad about the but kickin you just got in baseball the last two days.
nola dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:21 pm
agree 100% Dawgs97. and per the post from Chardog, Izzo is an amazing coach and anybody who learned from him for 10+ years works for me. That plan worked alright with our football coach learning under a legend right?
reservoirDAWG
April 2nd, 2009
2:23 pm
I don’t want Haith or Purnell. They are both mediocre at best.
dbc
April 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
When all is said and done and Georgia has their coach, guess what’s gonna happen. We’ll all wish we had Felton back. Nobody out there will bring the kind of instant credibility this program needs besides Bobby Knight. The really good coaches are tied up now and Evans will settle for some no name with a somewhat decent record and zero sex appeal. And that just won’t cut it. Evans screwed the pooch on this one from the very beginning, and his choice will leave everyone flat. I hope I’m wrong but really doubtful at this point.
Don Gill
April 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
UGA is going to have a tough time. A few of us are old enough to remember when a young Vince Dooley took over a very sad football program. Except for 1959-60 they had not had a good team since 1948. Tubby Smith was what I thought was going to become basketball’s VD. With all love and respect to Hugh Durham who had several good teams and good players no one has had the charisma to consistently recruit good or great players. Except Harrick.And he ruined us in more ways than one. He came to UGA because he had no other place to go. Even after a national title. Kinda like Bobby Knight. Who has several. Except Bobby doesn’t have the corruption of Harrick. We can’t woo a good coach from a good program. Even with big money. The Clemson and Miami possibilies are just assurance for more mediocrity. DG
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
Nola-
Great point about a certain Georgia Football coach. There are head coaches out there that are great who still could be had such as sean Miller or Brian Gregory. Those would be great hires. And again, the top programs are filled with ready-made head coaching stars to be.
Plus, say you hire a Dukie assistant. Even if Coach K retires in 5 years, there’s no guarantee Duke won’t say go first to Capel.
The bottomline is an SEC job with the fertile recruiting base of Atlanta and amazing new practice facilities is a great post for the right guy.
gg
April 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
I want a coach at UGA who can stand side-by-side with any coach in the country…Calipari, Pitino, Donovan, Tubby, K-whatever and not get lost in the crowd!
I want a coach who is well-known on a national scale and media savvy!
I want a coach with a resume equal to or better than anyone else!
I want a coach who recognizes the real potential that UGA offers, who can really take advantage of that potential, and, most of all, WANTS to be the UGA coach!
I want a coach with integrity and honesty, who runs a clean program, graduates his players and doesn’t use the one-and-done players the NCAA allows! (What a joke!)
I want BOB KNIGHT!
Fred
April 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
It is time to implode the Stegesauras and put in a soccer field. If we are settling for scrubs like Pernell and Haith, we might as well give up. It is over.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Me thinks it is time to start looking at some assistants at the top schools. You know the guys that are holding the clipboards for Coach K, Roy W, Tommy I. Maybe one of these cats are looking for a job. It won’t cost 2 mill. It will give them a shot at building a program and making their own. Hell if they are successful they might want to stay and see it through. Give them a solid base contract with a lot of incentives. But don’t go after the 2 guys mentioned above. The first one is too old and the Miami guy hasn’t done a lot of winning.
tdawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Purnell,Haith? Those are the top shelf candidates that the “Search Firm” has come up with??
Watch how quickly Memphis moves to get a name candidate.
Please call Tubby,today.
slick
April 2nd, 2009
2:27 pm
scott drew, scott drew, scott drew! he has resurrected a program where one player murdered a teammate. plus probation and lack of scholarships. this is the character and x’s and o’s coach the dawgs need.
DawginLex
April 2nd, 2009
2:27 pm
If Pearl goes to Memphis, UGA should go after UTEP’s coach Barbee who was Calipari’s assistant at Memphis and was thought to be the successor to Calipari.
If you want to get real crazy and satisfy Terence Moore, offer the job to a Smith, SAUL SMITH. Currently on Tubster’s staff at gopherville.
dawg fan
April 2nd, 2009
2:29 pm
Maybe I missed something here… didn’t one of the most successful college basketball coaches of all time (Bob Knight) express a desire to coach at UGA? Damon, what the heck are you doing? Hire him already!
RUKiddin?
April 2nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Join me in e-mailing our athletic director, who uses his blackberry to check e-mails at devans@sports.uga.edu. We must let him know we will NOT support Haith, Hamilton, or Purnell. Why fire Felton if this what you get?
nola dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:32 pm
Great points by slick – Drew would be great. Per Chip’s post above, we could be just waiting for him to finish NIT.
Dawg97, good post. Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski are K’s top ass’ts now and yeah, I’d say they have learned under a pretty damn good coach. I’d be jacked if we got someone like that, or that guy Montgomery from MSU
gdawginkalamazoo
April 2nd, 2009
2:32 pm
You know Chip, WTF is UGA doing here? If we are looking for top shelf coach WHY the hell even mention looking at those two clowns? That just depreciates the job even more. I guess I liked it better when nothing was said about it. What when this thing is announced are we going to have Gomer Pyle there going suprise, suprise, suprise?
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 2nd, 2009
2:36 pm
ONWARD DAWG FANS. THOSE NAMES REEK WITH…”WHY AM I GETTING MY BUTT KICKED EVERY FRICKING NIGHT?”
ANSWER: YOU CAN NOT RECRUIT GREAT PLAYERS THAT KNOW YOU COULDN’T COMPETE IN THE ACC.
ArkyTech
April 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Why would any of these coaches mentioned come to UGA? It would be a step down for all of them.
slick
April 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
drew has baylor yes baylor in the NIT final. think about this. baylor is no man’s land. they get what’s left over from texas, a&m, texas tech, houston, oklahoma, etc. waco texas is NOT a destination. athens is the mecca. drew is the man!
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:38 pm
Is the comments section down now?
Final Word Please, Chip?
April 2nd, 2009
2:39 pm
Chip,
Do you think Tubby is even anywhere on the radar? If the asnwer is no, please tell me, so I can quit wishing. I’m sure I’ll get lots who disagree, but he would be a great choice for lots of reasons: great coach (only coach we might have a shot at who has won a national title); been to the mountaintop of programs and would have no reason to leave–been there, done that; old enough to want to finish his career in Athens, but still young enough for us to get at least 10 years out of him; and I’d think he’d at least consider it. What do you think? Is there no chance? If so, is it because you think he’s not on our radar, we’re not on his, or both?
blufftondawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:43 pm
The top assistants dont always make the best coaches. buzz peterson, quin snyder, tommy amaker, jeff lebo (although he seems to be getting better), matt doherty, ron jirsa. Yeah, some have made it but we dont have any room to gamble here.
Hire Purnell and you get 16 wins before Jan 1 and 6-8 afterwards. Still, i’d take that at this point. Problem, he has a big time retirement buyout at klimpson. He’s OK, i’d be happy even with his downside.
Haith, please just kill me before you hire that guy. Mark Gottfried, Billy Gillispie, Lon Kruger, Rick Stansbury – all these guys would be better than Haith.
We won’t have a hire until Tuesday at the soonest.
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:43 pm
(sorry, I put a comment earlier that didn’t show up)
re: Bob Knight
Too old – he’s 68. Also, he’s a bully. No thanks. It would be a stupid hire. So, we’d fill the building, win 18, 19 games and get into the tourney as a 10 seed because we have a famous coach and then lose. How does that advance the program?
Either a top flight Coach K or Coach Roy assistant would be great, or we’ve mentioned a host of small school wonders…Drew, Butler’s Brad Stevens, Sean Miller of Xavier and Gregory from Dayton. All our great hires. Just because Dennis Felton was a small school success turned SEC failure, doesn’t mean that happens again.
Hire withing where we are right now. If the right guy is hied (re: not Bob Knight, not Haith, not Purnell), he can buil a great program with our Atlanta recruiting base and new practice facilities. And a few NCAA trips may finally see some serious overhaul money into Stegausaurus.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 2nd, 2009
2:46 pm
Chip is it true D. Evans has contacted John Wooden, and he’s very interested so long as he doesn’t travel with the team?
He’ll twitter the plays to his Asst. for the away games.
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:48 pm
Ramble ON,
I’ll take whomever we end up with over Paul Hewitt. JUST A guess, but you’ll be shopping next year.
freshd
April 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
If UGA wants a coach with name recognition, why don’t they go after former UCLA coach Steve Lavin. He would give GA. national exposure from working at ESPN, and he would be able to recruit national talent.
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:50 pm
Steve Lavin = NO.
Dawgs97
April 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Steve Lavin = NO
Gen Neyland
April 2nd, 2009
2:52 pm
DTW is becoming a job fair event for finding a BB HC for UGA..?
Sensible Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:52 pm
Neither Haith nor Purnell would excite the fan base. At least Purnell would be a slight improvement over what we had. I would prefer a young upcoming coach like Sean Miller. I don’t blame Damon for aiming high and going after Anderson but it is risky if you have to wait around until other good candidates are scooped up.
Mac
April 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Drew, Stevens and Miller are not qualified.
slick
April 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
how is drew not qualified? he’s got his team in the nit final. baylor of all teams
NCMTNDawg
April 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
No offense to Purnell or Haith, but that isn’t the direction UGA needs to go in. My pick is still Miller. Good X & O coach, good guy, very energetic and can RECRUIT. Next, I believe Drew at Baylor isn’t such a bad option. Third, and this is a REACH, Bob McKillop from Davidson. There isn’t a better person in the profession. He’s a solid coach who knows the game inside-and-out and I just think he’d fit in Athens.
We’ll see…GO Dawgs!!!
Rick
April 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
What UGA BB needs more than anything else right now is credibility and (positive) exposure. There are only two guys being mentioned that provide those two things – Bob Knight and Tubby Smith. Either one would be an excellent hire and a step in the right direction. We need to give these recruits a reason to come to Athens to play BB and a reason for the TV networks to show our games (or at least our highlights!!). Purnell, Haith, etc, aren’t going to that game-changer that Damon Evans is looking for. They just aren’t. I’m an alum and I follow and support all UGA sports, but those names don’t get me excited – not one bit.
jim
April 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
How about going after Rick Petinos TOP assistant…whoever he is… That coaching tree has been fertile for years…i.e. Donovan, Tubby to name a couple… They all have NC’s on their resumes. Invading Louisville can’t hurt.
goodenough
April 2nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Billy Gillispie is unemployed right now. And I am 100% serious. He did win at Texas A&M and UTEP, and won big. Plus, he won 22 games this year. I understand that’s not good enough for psycho UK fans, but we’d take those results in Athens in a second. Also, we’d get great media coverage at least twice next year for the UK/UGA showdowns.
It’s becoming readily apparent that Damon’s initial desire to lure an established, successful D-I coach is unrealistic. Mike Anderson didn’t even take us seriously enough to drive the price up on Missouri. We need to look for someone who is also looking for work.
slick
April 2nd, 2009
3:00 pm
mckillop from davidson. interesting. i’m for new and young. fresh dawg meat!
DawgNation
April 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
What about putting up $3-4M for AVERY JOHNSON. He’s won in the NBA as a head coach. He’s well known around the country. He’s from the South. He fits Damon’s overwhelming need to find a “diverse” coach.
WinderDogg
April 2nd, 2009
3:05 pm
Clemson and Miami are not top notch basketball schools. We can do better…
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
What ever happened to Bob Knight?
Chip Towers
April 2nd, 2009
3:08 pm
Final Word Please: Have you heard me mention Tubby Smith? All indications are that won’t happen.
Monvol
April 2nd, 2009
3:08 pm
Mac, Miller not qualified? Really? He’s better than either Purnell or Haith or almost anyone else who MIGHT come to uga. Xavier would have rolled uga at any point in his tenure there. I think most SEC folks would be very impressed if you could pull Miller, so don’t go after him.
WinderDogg
April 2nd, 2009
3:09 pm
Memphis wants Pearl to hold their team together. I think they are done! Pearl to Memphis for the money – they will not win, because the recruits will be in Kentucky blue so we should be able to get Pearl in two years. Someone contact Memphis and make sure the buyout is low! Go ahead and take one of T. Moore’s choices, just add a firing clause so we can get rid of them.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
April 2nd, 2009
3:13 pm
They’re down to seeds and stems now. They need to upgrade and call Fran McCaffery. He’s got the connections it takes to turn UGA around and everybody loves him.
NCMTNDawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:15 pm
slick – I too am more for new and young. And HUNGRY! Just an idea with Mckillop on the other end of the spectrum.
DawgNation – interesting thought on bringing an NBA’er to Athens. If you go that route, how about PJ Carlesimo. He was a great coach with Seton Hall back in the day and made them relevant.
What about Mark Few with the ‘Zags? I know he’s at a great place and owns the conference, but there’s Evans’ selling point. The challenge at hand of mixing it up in the SEC and at UGA for that matter. They all have an ego of some size, right???
freshd
April 2nd, 2009
3:15 pm
Steve Lavin:S record 145-78 -Frank Haith 88-73. We need someone to recruit some “silky smooth shooting guards and small forwards, instead of all these brick shooters we had this year. With all those BRICKS UGA put up this year, you could have built a new arena and enclosed Sanford Stadium and had some BRICKS left over. That why you UGA basketball has become a joke across the nation.Leave Haith in Miami.
Diamond Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:16 pm
Please don’t hire either of these two clowns. Serously Evans!!!!???
cajdawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Purnell or Haith? WTF. Why don’t we just apologize to Dennis Felton and ask him if he wants his job back?
NCMTNDawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Monvol – Sean Miller and Xavier did roll UGA in the first round of last years tourney. He’s solid!
cdog
April 2nd, 2009
3:22 pm
georgia need someone who has been to the championship round. forget about these others,hire either bobby knight or tubby smith point blank. these men have been to the water and dranked.
SkinnyJ
April 2nd, 2009
3:22 pm
Anthony Grant wasn’t gone before UGA COULD talk to him; he was gone before they DID talk with him. There was absolutely nothing that prevented Evans from reaching out to Grant, even for very cursory discussions. Instead, UGA overvalued their “program,” reached for the stars, and gave Grant no incentive to hold out for a week…or even just a couple of days, before deciding on Bama. It doesn’t get much dumber than that.
Ummmmm No Thank You...
April 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Clempsun sucks, end of discussion.
Steve
April 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Enough with the Bobby Knight talk. High school players at Wheeler, Norcross, or any of the other Atlanta-area schools are not going to want to play for an ill-tempered 70 year old man. He would have been a good choice a few years ago, but not now.
Final Word Please, Chip?
April 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Nope, I haven’t (but I also havent heard you eliminate him, until now–like you have with Capel et al.). That’s a shame. The Gophers are lucky.
hoopdog
April 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Kerry Keating – head coach at santa clara. only pure college basketball fans know the name, but he is going to be a great head coach some day. he was Ben Howland’s top asst at UCLA; former asst at Tennessee, Vandy and Tulsa; young, enthusiastic head coach known as one of the top recruiters in the game. i am sure damon evans has no clue who he is, seeing that evans has already totally bungled this hire.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:24 pm
It may not be mentioned but Tubby should at least have been asked the question, if he has interest in the dang job! Tubby did more in his tenure in Athens than anyone in 2 decades!
If not Tubby then who? If you go get a young kid from a mid-major then the UGA job is a stepping stone program.
Purnell? He can’t get out of the 1st round of the tourney! Does UGA just want a coach to go 19-11 w/ a first round elimination every year?
Please let it be Tubby!!!
Dawgbone
April 2nd, 2009
3:26 pm
We all understand that Damon is REALLY going to have to sell UGA to any basketball coach worth mentioning and pay an ungodly amount $$$$ to secure a respectable coach. My concern is reaching for names like Haith & Purnell. With all due respect to both, I am not truly excited by either of the two in regards to making UGA basketball viable (in the NCAA tourney each year). I would much rather bring Bobby Knight for two years, improve the status of the job/play, and then bring in a real stud to take the program to the next level. I mean at the rate we are going, Evans my interview Larry, Curly , and Moe.
Bobby Knight
April 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
Seth Greenberg if the man if I can’t have the job.
GO GET HIM!!!!!
Dawg Fud
April 2nd, 2009
3:35 pm
Damon Evans may lose his job over this. This has been a poorly managed search. His first screw up – not even trying to interview Anthony Grant.
Dawg Fud
April 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
i’ll pass on Louis Gossett, Jr (aka Oliver Purnell).
way to go Damon!
Coon-Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Miller or Stevens … Please !
gg
April 2nd, 2009
3:39 pm
From the heart of the Bluegrass, Gillispie is not the guy! No way! Forget that one! He was fired, after two seasons, for reasons not fully explained to the public. “Not the right fit?” That’s not an explanation. That’s the diplomatic avoidance of an explanation. So leave it at that and forget BG.
Maddog
April 2nd, 2009
3:39 pm
Faith or Purnell? Shoot, may as well go back and hire Felton.
Dawg Fud
April 2nd, 2009
3:41 pm
Chip – any average basketball fan could have seen that Anthony Grant was our best shot. we needed the next “up & coming” coach…which is Grant…who now is at Alabama.
Dooley applied this same methodology in 2001 with football and we got a darn good coach.
We wonder why Florida beats the crap out of us…Jeremy Foley v. Damon Evans…no contest. end of discussion.
tony
April 2nd, 2009
3:42 pm
Ga will reap what they sow if they hire someone else HC. He belong to those kids who committed to him. Bobby Knight is available so hire him. If not Bobby Knight then hire an assistent coach from a winning program who wants to a HC.
Stork
April 2nd, 2009
3:43 pm
This coaching search has been a disaster.
May as well go after Coach Bolton. You know him! He’s the guy who lead the East High Wildcats to back to back district championships in the High School Musical movies.
Good grief!!
BigNCDawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:43 pm
I hope not Tubby. He snubed us once and once is enough. This may have already been metioned, but why not the Mich. State coach.
bank walker
April 2nd, 2009
3:44 pm
Are you kidding me Purnell and Haith? Way to waist 75k on bulls$$$! Damon could have paid me 75k and I could have produced better results! This makes me wanna Puke! Let’s give another 75k to that “search firm” and see if we can find an AD with some ball$!
Hirsutedawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:44 pm
Haith = zzzzzzzzz Purnell = zzzzzzzzz
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 2nd, 2009
3:44 pm
Dawgs97, I wanted to do some shopping 3 years ago. I’ll take Felton over Hewitt all day.
Dawgfan
April 2nd, 2009
3:46 pm
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
Get a coach that has been to the dance on more than 2 occasions and has actually advanced! Otherwise, UGA is settling of “Above Average”. Is the goal to be “Above Average” – or to be great? Purnell and Haith have not brought greatness to any program they’ve been too.
What about Baylor’s coach? He took a very dire program w/limited resources and they are in the NIT championship tonight. Xavier’s coach and Butler’s coach also have much better resumes and success records considering the size of their schools and resources.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 2nd, 2009
3:46 pm
Why don’t we go after UCONN’s coach? They seem to be giving him a hard about the 1.6mil he makes a year. Pay him 2mil a year. He gets a 400k raise, we win and nobody complains about how much he gets paid.
1970dawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:47 pm
Everyone keeps saying let D.E. do his job.The problem is, he doesn’t know how to do his job. He can’t make a decision on his own, and no coach wants to work for an A.D. that has to check with his president before he can make a decision. And Chip you are way off base saying Grant was third in the pecking order. The problem was that Adams&Evans with their arrogance waited too long, and Alabama didn’t wait around and they got their coach. Why is it that Kentucky, Arizona,Virginia,and Alabama can make a hire within 2or3 days, yet arrogant UGA sits there all high and mighty with it’s $75,000.00 coaching search firm, and they can’t get any interest. UGA has had since the middle of December to make sure they had the right coach, and they still have no idea what they are doing. Evans is a puppet, and he will take all of UGA’s athetic programs down with him.Under his watch, the men’s basketball program is a total disaster, the Football program is on the skids, Women’s basketball is in the tiolet, yet Evans doesn’t have the balls to step in and put his foot down with Richt and Landers because he is a rookie, and they are established coaches.Evans is the wrong man for the A.D.job, it’s that simple. And it all starts at the top.
Dawg Fud
April 2nd, 2009
3:51 pm
ditto 1970dawg…you nailed it!
GLC4
April 2nd, 2009
3:52 pm
What is Sam Mitchell up to these days? I would rather have him over most of those being mentioned.
nick
April 2nd, 2009
3:53 pm
It is just this simple………… get the check book out call Sean Miller. he is the top choice out there.
Don,t miss the boat on this one Damon
DisgustedDawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:55 pm
Why are we going after 2 bottom feeders from the ACC? I know this isn’t PC, but there are a lot of good quality caucasian candidates out there… Butler’s Brad Stevens…Sean Miller…Drew from Baylor and the Dayton coach! Man up Evans and hire somebody. You blew it with Anthony Grant, he was good enough for FL’s AD Foley – should have been for us.
Judge Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:57 pm
I do not trust Michael Adams to let our AD get the best coach. We need a new president. Meanwhile, we need a coach with recruiting coming to an end in two weeks. I would try to get Miller.
JM Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
3:57 pm
Clemson Joe is just upset b/c his school might be the biggest choke artist in the History of ALL collegiate sports. Is there any type of championship, albeit ACC Conference or Nationally that Clemson has won in the past 2 Decades?? Every time you hear of one of there teams being hyped up they end up coming up WAY short… in EVERY SPORT!!!
Big Will
April 2nd, 2009
3:58 pm
All due respect to Purnell and Haith, but I’m not exactly peeing myself with excitement. I agree with giving Mike Davis a call.
jojo sunshine
April 2nd, 2009
3:59 pm
Big names that could bring in players and butts in the seats: Rick Pitino – offer him the same money Calipari got and he will come to UGA and UGA will be relevant, Billy Gillispie – pay him what he got at Kentucky and can you imagine the hype behind the hiring, Lon Kruger – headline reads, what he could not accomplish with the Hawks he will do for the dawgs, Butler University’s coach will come in and establish a program and it will be great, and last but not least Tubby Smith because he has already done it once.
Hire Bob Knight
April 2nd, 2009
4:03 pm
These 2 guys are NOT the big time proven coaches we were promised! For God’s sake ask for forgiveness and ask Bobby if he would still be interested! Otherwise, same old same old!
Tommy
April 2nd, 2009
4:05 pm
What a fiasco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim Harrick, Jr.
April 2nd, 2009
4:10 pm
I’m available.
howie
April 2nd, 2009
4:10 pm
Chip-
What do you think of Reggie Theus (sp?), Avery Johnson or Sam Mitchell as possibilities?
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
4:12 pm
What happened to Kelvin Sampson? He’d be perfect for ga. Just like Jim Harrick!
Dog in Fla
April 2nd, 2009
4:13 pm
What is “Panic in Detroit”?
Damon at the Final Four.
dawg fan
April 2nd, 2009
4:13 pm
Both Purnell and Haith would be an embarrassment to come to UGA. If this is the best we can do we should have kept Felton, at least he has one a conference tournament. Miami is as irrevelant in Basketball as the Dawgs, and Clemson always starts strong and fades in the end. This is worse than the mess after the Harrick Era. I agree with earlier post if this is the best we can do we should cancel the Mens B-ball program.
BraveFan73
April 2nd, 2009
4:14 pm
Seriously guys. Is the Capel thing off? It was NEVER on! Have you guys ever been to Norman and seen OU’s 15k seat arena. Mizzou plays in a palace. Damon Evans had an opportunity to hire Anthony Grant, who would have made Georgia a national powerhouse. Instead, he was dumb enough to believe that a coach would leave OU or Mizzou for Stegeman Coliseum. Evans should have hired a consultant, who has a clue.
Camden Mark
April 2nd, 2009
4:18 pm
Bob Knight not even being considered by the political correct pinheads at UGA? Winningest coach in NCAA history wants to coach your B-ball team and you don’t even talk to him? Boy thats just plain stupid.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 2nd, 2009
4:22 pm
Based on the candidates skin color thus far, Bobby Knight doesn’t have the right color.
Missouri, OK, Miami, Clempson. Is Terence Moore the CEO of this search firm?
cajdawg
April 2nd, 2009
4:27 pm
How about Seth Greenberg of Virginia Tech?
jarvis
April 2nd, 2009
4:29 pm
How do I get a job on the “search committee”? This is what 3 months of research has given us? Free money.
Hugh Durham
April 2nd, 2009
4:32 pm
Let me throw my name into the hat!
bartram
April 2nd, 2009
4:36 pm
you people that are down on miami’s haith haven’t looked at his body of work at miami. last year he won 23 games this year 19 at a school that was in far worse shape than georgia when he took over. oh ya and he came into atlanta last year and recruited dquan jones one of the best players in atlanta to go to miami.
DENNIS
April 2nd, 2009
4:42 pm
HAS ANYONE THOUGHT ABOUT PAT SUMMITT AS THE MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH ? SHE HAS PROVEN SHE CAN WIN AND MAYBE SHE COULD BE THE FIRST COACH TO WIN 1000 GAMES IN WOMEN’S AND MEN’S BASKETBALL. MAYBE ANDY LANDERS COULD ALSO WATCH AND GET POINTERS ON HOW TO WIN SOME NATIONAL TITLES.
THIS IS JUST A THOUGHT.
Say It Ain't So!!!!!
April 2nd, 2009
4:44 pm
Either one and Damon should be fired. From Anderson to Purnell or Haith? Dear Dawg so it ain’t so. If it happens we will NEVER be more than we already are, which is nothing. They will be giving away free seats with every Varisty hotdog order in hopes of filling a 10th of the Stegasaurus up. I’d rather Meadowlark Lemon come give it a try that Oliver Twist Purnell or Frank Stale Haithbar.
UGA
April 2nd, 2009
4:44 pm
I have to agree with RAMBLE ON, what does Damon have against “white” candidates? I understand if you hire Capel and Anderson b/c of their resumes, but the other two coaches have done nothing to warrant interest other than being african-american. We need to hire the “best” coach regardless of color and I would believe anyone would put Miller, Lavin, Stevens or Kruger ahead of those two. If Evans hires either of the two….it will be a HUGE letdown! PLEASE don’t screw this up Damon!? We don’t need another Jirsa.
Marcus
April 2nd, 2009
4:49 pm
At the top of the list would be Xavier’s Sean Miller, but I don’t think he would be interested. I would sit down and talk with Baylor’s Drew, Butler’s Steven’s, and Dayton’s Gregory. I’d also look at UTEP’s coach too.
I think Oliver Purnell would be a horrible fit. He’s proven he can win at Clemson which is nice, but the man is 57 years old, and it seems like he’s great at going 1 and done in the NCAA’s. Does this excite you? Nor does it me.
Way down the line, and he may not be ready for this position either would be Jacksonville Univeristy’s Cliff Warren. He used to be an assistant at GA Tech, and he would probably be able to recruit Atlanta very well.
Go Tech
April 2nd, 2009
4:50 pm
Please go after Hewitt !!!!!!
Georgia Dog
April 2nd, 2009
4:51 pm
Clemson Joe is telling us to leave his coach alone. First of all we do not want Purnell. 2nd if he was offered the job, he would be in Athens in heartbeat. Clemson sucks as a town and at sports. Damon please go get Tubby. If for some reason Tubby turns us down. Go get Bobby Knight. At least it would be fun for the next 3 years.
GoBama
April 2nd, 2009
4:53 pm
Bama was looking for another coach before Georgia was. Gottfried was fired, then Felton. Bama said they were looking for a proven winner, so did Georgia. Bama just hired a coach. Will Georgia ever get a clue?
dawgs2002
April 2nd, 2009
4:53 pm
With names like Purnell and Haith I’d say UGA needs a refund on their search firm purchase.
Grant was the best choice. Obviously (to me) Evans wasn’t that interested. Anderson was his choice, that’s clear.
Sean Miller would be an excellent choice. He won’t get a call.
Pitino would be a good choice. He won’t get a call.
Gillispie? Nooooo. But he won’t get a call anyway.
Bobby Knight would electrify the fan base and get UGA competitive. The problem with him, I think, (his temper aside) is that he won’t stay more than a year, two at most. It would be fun, just not long lasting. But he won’t get a call either.
Probably going to end up with some mediocre coach like Haith. Maybe an assistant coach (though no names have surfaced other than Blog Wish Lists). Or may even end up with a coach from some Div II school.
Sounds like our Basketball program is going to remain steady (losing) state for 5 or more yrs.
YoungDawg
April 2nd, 2009
4:53 pm
NO! TO Haith, Purnell & Mike Davis!
Stork
April 2nd, 2009
4:59 pm
Go Tech,
We’ll take Hewitt if you’ll go back and hire Chan-the-man as head FB coach.
Jimmy
April 2nd, 2009
5:07 pm
Isn’t DE violating some kind of federal law by not even interviewing a white candidate?? Oh wait, I forgot in the Obama administration that nobody cares about reverse discrimination.
MillerTime
April 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
Billy Freaking Gillispie, go get him now.
Thomas
April 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
Chip,
I don’t get it I thought we were going after a guy who has proven he can win at a major program, not just one year. I am extremely unimpressed with both Purnell and Haith’s coaching records, as I was with Anderson. We need to get a big name coach who does it year in and year out. Why are we looking so far down the food chain? As a booster, none of the names I have heard are even slightly interesting, even Capel. Capel’s record – 148 -74, at VCU and OU. He has only been to the elite eight once (only because he has the POY), and only at a big program for three years, hardly a proven commodity. Why are we talking Izzo, Tubby, or Matta We need a hire to get everyone excited. I am so disappointed with the names I am hearing. With Georgia’s resources and potential we can do much better.
Kunta Plenty
April 2nd, 2009
5:11 pm
Evans is the Obama of college ADs: all style, no substance.
Men’s basketball aside, Evans inherited one of the healthiest collegiate sports programs in the nation. To his credit, he hasn’t screwed things up, but what, exactly, has he done to make things better and earn the rave reviews he continues to get from the media?
Of course, Evans could hire the JV coach from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and Towers would praise it as an inspired, courageous choice.
BTW, does Evans use a teleprompter, too?
EG
April 2nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Tubby smith would do more for this program imediately than anyone they could get. He would keep the recruits in state, win games, unite the fan base and fill up Stegman
Dawg1
April 2nd, 2009
5:15 pm
Let me say this first, there was a time that UGA either could have cared less or turned a blind eye when it came to Academics and it’s athletes. That changed about seven years ago, with the University seeing steady improvement with every sport, especially basketball.
UGA’S APR for 2008 was 958, trailing only Vanderbilt in the SEC. By comparison, Clemson’s was 920. 925 is the ‘water mark’. You are subject to penalties and scholarship reductions when you are below 925. So why UGA is even talking with Pernell is a mystery to me.
And before all the sniping starts, here are some comparisons:
Clemson 920
Tech 931
Miami 948
UGA 958
Duke 984
If you come to Athens, you have to go to school. No, you literally HAVE to go to school or you will be held out of games. It’s the schools policy. So, hypothetically, if you plan to be around a year or two before moving on the NBA – you can ’skate’ through a lot of schools, but not at Georgia.
It took Coach Krzyzewski 8 years to turn Duke around. I’m not saying UGA Athletes face the same challenge a Duke Athlete faces, but I am saying that if Georgia holds to these standards, then they need to find a coach who can uphold the academic requirements, while winning. It will not be an easy putt. And it is something that the Clemson coach doesn’t even begin to comprehend.
It can be done; the Football team has the number one APR in the conference for 2008. UGA has been doing the right thing; they should not take a step back for the sake of a winning basketball program. Let’s make sure these kids can began a career after they leave the University.
DBasham
April 2nd, 2009
5:15 pm
For Pete’s sake, hiring either Purnell or Haith would be the equivalent of Auburn hiring Chizik in football.
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
5:17 pm
I thought a search firm would come up with some unheard of talent. They just looked at the NCAA bracket and picked some of the top coaches. When that didn’t work they went to the bottom of the ACC. Where is this firm located? GAINSVILLE FL?!?!?!?!
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
5:18 pm
Houston County, we have a problem. Nobody likes our dawgs!!
Again, give up the Purnell worries,read any other publication except dawgdroppings and you will see that there’s not a snowball’s chance of his making AT BEST a lateral move….and I don’t like orange.
gp295
April 2nd, 2009
5:19 pm
Hire the best AAu in the atlanta areas and we will win in the second best basketball talent in the south.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 2nd, 2009
5:24 pm
OK, Buyout Hewitt and it will only cost you $6,999,980.00
I’m throwing in the extra $20.
freshd
April 2nd, 2009
5:40 pm
do you guys think that the players that calipari is gonna bring to kentucky will go to class. these guys are one and done. if uga wants to get the top players in ga. they are gonna have to deal with the aau coaches and the high school coaches who know these players. either you want to be major college with top talent or you want to be a major college with mid-major talent like you have right now. the top players want to play pro ball. do you think richt gets top players because he is selling class work. he is selling the nfl. go get a top level coach in basketball.
JB
April 2nd, 2009
5:41 pm
ClemsonJoe hit the nail on the head! Get away from the coach of the Orange and White!!!!
bill_in_atl
April 2nd, 2009
5:43 pm
If it’s Haith or Purnell I might vomit, or I might just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep on the program for another 5 years.
Damon can do several things that will make me pay attention and may potentially get the fans excited about UGA basketball.
1.He can find a way to get a REALLY top notch guy. We know that will be tough but get creative and make a sale. Offer percentage of the gate, big incentives for NCAA appearances and SEC titles. Give an arrogant coach a chance to make $3-4M per year but ONLY if he wins big (which will assure the revenue to cover the pay).
2. Hire Bobby Knight. He is a jerk but so what. He wins. He graduates his players. He is NOT a rules violator. He’ll never be a “nice guy” but he has softened for sure. He would raise the level of UGA basketball immediately and would get UGA into a position where we may have an easier chance to land the guy we really want a few years down the road. You can bet you last nickel he would win right away and consistently for the time he stayed.
3. Find the BEST assistant coach there is and hope it works out as well as the Richt and Perno hires. Seems to me both of them are doing alright. This would NOT be a popular move in the short term for sure and it wouldn’t excite folks right away, but it would be much smarter than making a choice for a known loser.
I can’t for the life of me understand why Evans would want to hire someone who has PROVEN already that they are mediocre. Both Haith and Purnell are way under .500 in their own conference and have had very limited success getting to postseason play.
CalDogg
April 2nd, 2009
5:44 pm
Oh, goodness, call me an idiot. It never occurred to me to consider the color of the next UGA B-ball coach. But, when the odd combination of Haith and Pernell popped up (that is a list you want to actually publish when you’ve been so hush-hush about the whole process — two b-level coaches — made no sense), I checked them out. I honestly didn’t know that much about either one but, surprise, they’re black, too (a/la Capel, Anderson).
I’m just a dummy. Why did I not get this? UGA is bound and determined to hire a black coach. Hey, if they’re the best choice, fine by me. Who really cares what color they are.
But, I doubt if color is the guarantee of greatness, or the obvious answer to UGA’s basketball woes.
I mean, I guess that would mean these guys aren’t good enough for UGA: John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, Pat Riley, John Calipari, Roy Williams, Bob Knight, Phog Allen, Rick Pitino.
Mixed them up on purpose to avoid comparisons. They are in no particular order.
Wow. If that’s what’s going on, I’m astounded. I truly hope it isn’t. My admiration for baby A.D. Evans is already down in the low single digits. It could well evaporate.
Maybe Knight can get himself over to a Body & Soul Tanning Salon and get his bronze on, get himself on the UGA candidate list.
PTC Jacket
April 2nd, 2009
5:49 pm
Stay away from the ACC coaches. Kthanks.
Mr Realist
April 2nd, 2009
5:52 pm
Sources say??? Is this from the family of Sources?? You know, Reliable, his brother, Unidentified, and his sister, Undisclosed……
Geez, quit just printing crap to make yourself appear “in the know”. This is equivalent to the National Enquirer. You, Schlabach and the rest of the yahoo reporters know as much as we “commoners” know….
Greenville Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
6:00 pm
Who said Damon was in Detroit? Come on Chip, you can do better than this.
ahowie13
April 2nd, 2009
6:09 pm
What about Lon Kruger? He is a much better candidate than the Clemson/Miami coaches. I wouldn’t mint Xavier’s coach either.
Algonquin J. Calhoun
April 2nd, 2009
6:14 pm
No, actually, you can’t do better than Oliver Purnell. He was a great college player and as a coach his teams have become impressive winners under his guidance. He’s also a guy with a sense of ethics. i went to college with him and he was as great a person as he was a player. I doubt UGA will hire him but they should!
Dawg Tired
April 2nd, 2009
6:17 pm
Chip – Got to disagree with you on this one. My oldest son played with Capel at basketball camps growing up. I know the family well enough to have predicted from the get go on these blogs that he would not come to UGA. Said the same thing about Anderson. The flaw is in failing to properly evaluate whom we could SUCCESSFULLY go after. If DE’s “game plan” was to pursue coaches he had very little chance of actually hiring, he had a bad plan, i.e., he made a serious mistake that may have long term, and bad, consequences. He is possibly putting the program even further behind than it already is, if that’s possible. It’s like Pee Wee Reese (remember him?) going up with two out in the bottom of the ninth with men on 1st and 3rd and three runs behind. If Pee Wee decides to swing for the fences, he’s got a stupid plan. Pee Wee needs to get on base and let Duke Snyder (sp?) swing for the fences. This ain’t rocket science, but DE is close to failing the test.
Why do you think I’m wrong on this?
Rabun Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
6:21 pm
Somehow me thinks our A.D. overestimated the value of the job in Athens. I hate to say it, but , the job is a step down for a”big name” coach. Someone from a mid-major might see it as a step up, that’s why the not hiring of Grant stings! These other guys, Miller of Xavier, for example,has a very good program at a non-football school, and he probably is the “King Bee” around there. Same with Few at Gonzaga, and he would be way away from where he is well known to recruits. Now, that being said, what about the guy at Miss. State, Stansbury. He seems to run a pretty good program, and surely the lure of Atlanta talent and getting away from Starkeville might be appealing to him. I guess the “Search Firm” didn’t consider someone in the near area? I fear we are in for a big letdown, and we will be the “laughing stock” of the BBall world. Please Damon, prove me and all of the Bulldog Nation wrong!! Make us proud, and most of all, make me want to drive 160 miles round trip on a rainy Thurs. or any week night to see the Dogs play!! I did when Tubby and Harrick’s teams played!!
Georgia Also Interested In Drew, Miller, Stevens | MrSEC.com
April 2nd, 2009
6:21 pm
[...] to Chip Towers of The AJC, Oliver Purnell (Clemson) and Frank Haith (Miami) might not be the only candidates up for Georgia’s head coaching job.Also on the list might be Baylor’s Scott Drew [...]
FLDAWG
April 2nd, 2009
6:22 pm
Damon should have identified his top three candidates (Capel, Anderson, and Grant) and gone after the first available (Grant) and paid whatever it took to outbid other schools. We could have and should have had Grant. Congrats to Bama for getting a great coach.
As for the search firm, I see where a lot of people are criticizing it, I won’t go that far since apparently they did identify some very solid candidates. We just don’t know all the details of what they were suppose to do. The buck stops with Damon Evans. He should have been able to see the very real possibility of many schools looking for coaches and he did not. I don’t think this should be the end for Damon, but it is certainly a black mark on his record.
standupifyourUGA
April 2nd, 2009
6:41 pm
I’ll say it again and again. Mark Montgomery…Mark Montgomery…Mark Montgomery. Tom Izzo and his staff and turned MSU into a national power. Izzo is not leaving. He is an alum whose dream is to leave MSU basketball the equivalent of Kentucky, UNC, Duke, etc… He will retire at MSU. So if you can’t get Izzo, get the guy ready for a chance. Since the big names are drying up, lets be smart and give the reigns to Montgomery.
Gregg
April 2nd, 2009
6:43 pm
NOT real excited about Purnell and less excited about Haith!!
Paul Hamilton
April 2nd, 2009
6:46 pm
Memphis is trying to lure pearl away from tenn. and evans is begging second tier coaches to come in and run the show??? Evans really struck out standing there, while everyone else locked in their target and sealed the deal. Bob Knight looks like a real steal now. Evans could have looked this bad and still saved a couple hundred thousand on the search agency.
Frank Phillips
April 2nd, 2009
6:56 pm
OK. Here it is in a nut shell. My dad was a manager in the insurance business. He was very successful because HE was allowed to hire the men on his staff. He went after people he thought would do well in the business and at the same time make him money too. He performed a “thing” called “qualify”. He did not employ some outsider to SEE if those he hired would be “interested.” Damn Damon go get the guy you want as long as he is a good fit.
Sven Ottke
April 2nd, 2009
7:00 pm
The day a coach from the ACC, other than Haith (you can have him), leaves to coach in that inferior wrech of a league (other than Ky and those clowns will have the NCAA on their doorstep with Calicheesy) is the day hell freezes over. Take your lumps, mutts. I hear Jirsa is still available. When you changing your name to the UGa C Listers?
kauai dawg
April 2nd, 2009
7:13 pm
I was unsure of the Gilespie direction but that might not be so bad after all. He would want to prove he didn’t get enough time to finish the job. He wouldn’t have to be the face of Georgia since that is Mark Richt so that may be a better situation than earlier thought???? I am concerned of his non personality it seems but could be a possibility. Go DAWGS!
NGaDave
April 2nd, 2009
7:16 pm
I would be thoroughly disappointed if we hired either Purnell or Haith (I’d rather have Dennis than either of those guys… for that matter I’d rather have Obama’s brother-in-law here, at least we’d get a lot of TV exposure w/that which would probably be good for the program). Next step up, I’d be ok w/Lon Kruger, Tubby Smith, the current Baylor coach, or Gillespie. Top-shelf wise, I’d be glad to have Sean Miller or Mark Few as the UGA coach.
RedGADawg
April 2nd, 2009
7:22 pm
Unfortunately for DE this is a huge hire that is not going in a good direction, why settle for mid tier ACC coaches, might as well take Hewitt off Tech, I am sure the Yella Bugs would like that! It would be a huge relief for them. At least he can recruit, go to where coaching talent is really good, Big East! A Big East assistant is leagues ahead of the ACC coaches after Williams and Coach K! Tired of hearing that DAWGS will not support BBall, we need/want a reason to fill up the STEG and the names mention will not move me to buy tixs.
Bulldogs Setting Sights A Little Lower? UGA Considering Oliver Purnell and Frank Haith | GeorgiaBulldog.com - Georgia Bulldogs News, Discussion, Schedules & More
April 2nd, 2009
7:25 pm
[...] Towers suggests there are more names being tossed about. He mentions Baylor’s Scott Drew, Xavier’s Sean Miller and Butler’s Brad [...]
Jimmy in Gainesville
April 2nd, 2009
7:44 pm
Haith is not the one for Georgia. We have enough losers with Felton, Martinez, etc. Let’s go for Tubby. He’s well traveled but probably ready to settle down now. He’s a recruiter, a coach and a motivator.
Damon, Haith is a loser and we’ll go through another five or six years as losers. Go pay someone who can win whatever big bucks it takes. Don’t settle for a loser.
TRD
April 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
Georgia needs to take a look at Greg Matta with Kennesaw State. It would not cost them $2 million dollars and this guy can coach. His brother Thad is the head coach at Ohio State.
Hey Damon, give Greg a call.
freshd
April 2nd, 2009
7:51 pm
Damon please don”t hire the guy from PENN STATE. Big 10 basketball is like Big 10 football, slow and ugly. And we don’t need Joe Pa. as head cheerleader.
Clemson fan
April 2nd, 2009
7:52 pm
No big name (and I am not just talking about Clemson’s coach) would want to coach at Georgia. Terrible area and nothing to get excited about. Cab’t believe Ga does not have a coach yet….what 2 months. They need to look at a mid major….don’t see lightening striking twice….but look at what UT did getting Bruce Pearl.
DamnTheButcher
April 2nd, 2009
8:03 pm
The Clemson and Miami coaches are jokes. This is a total f-ing joke. I just as soon keep Pete Herman vs hiring one of this SOB’s
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:05 pm
According to a direct quote from Purnell in the Greenville New his not interested in UGA.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090402/SPORTS0101/90402019/1002/SPORTS
Look it up.
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:10 pm
sorry “news he’s not interested”
dap01
April 2nd, 2009
8:10 pm
The problem with that strategy is the over estimation of UGA basketball. I love UGA but Evans was foolish to not talk to anyone except those two(who were obviously out of UGA’s league). Evans is seriously out of step if that was his strategy (or was that the search firm’s strategy).
It was a terrible approach.
KYBulldog
April 2nd, 2009
8:11 pm
Couldn’t Evans have just called these guys on the phone and saved the state $100,000? That money could fund two teaching positions that Adams has cut.
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:12 pm
sorry
sorry “News he’s not interested”
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:18 pm
Chip. What do you think about the article in the Greenville News?
Cliff
April 2nd, 2009
8:20 pm
Wake-up boys. Purnell’s not even interviewing… http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090402/SPORTS0101/90402019 Besides, why would he take a step DOWN to crappy facilities and a vacuum of talent?
Spoke
April 2nd, 2009
8:22 pm
I cast my vote for Chris Collins or Steve Wojciechowski. I could get excited about an energetic young coach eager to prove himself. Plus Collins and Wojciechowski have instant name recognition and will draw media attention. Bonus: you can save a few bucks on salary!
If we are bound to go after a head coach, my vote goes to Brad Stevens, who is putting up astonishing numbers at Butler. He would also bring a youthful energy to the program.
7
April 2nd, 2009
8:26 pm
He!! no to Purnell and Haith! What a damn joke. Has Evans lost his b—– mind. No one would go watch those clowns coach. Yes, why has everyone so far been Black Coaches? Should have got Grant but more BS and the fans lose.I have nothing against Black Coaches but at least get a good one no matter to color and race.Evans better no f— it up!
hop
April 2nd, 2009
8:28 pm
of course chip, you would NEVER say evans was wrong with damon evans,but if he is not responsible for the mess at georgia,who is?
I guess we could blame adams since he hired evans,but when one is so naive to think he can get capal and anderson from establish programs, that person has got to be out of his mind.
alabama’s mall moore knew better since his school and georgia are not noted basketball programs.he was wise to focus on coach grant who could become the next great basketball coach,but our mr. evans decided to go after capel and anderson which was a huge mistake in judgement.
and not recruit coach grant.
as a result, alabama has a basketball coach and georgia is now looking for a second tier coach who will be fired just like coach felton within a few years.
so yes chip, your friend damon evans has blown this opportunity “big time” and georgia will be the ultimate loser because of his very poor judgement!
bank walker
April 2nd, 2009
8:33 pm
Clempson fan, and what do you call your area? We don’t want your coach! What has he done? What is Clempson? You are a bunch of losers, at everything. It’s freakin’ comical, you chumps come on here and try to talk your smack! CLEMPSON, YOUR DAD SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT YOU IN A RAG! Athens is leaps and bounds a better town than clempson.
Whopper Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:34 pm
The search and Damon is a joke. Tragically, this man is in charge of our athletic department (kind of, I guess) and has misread the entire national basketball landscape and UGA’s position in it. Unfortunately, the negative comments above are correct. Not a clue, not a clue.
thom
April 2nd, 2009
8:36 pm
It’s my understanding that the “marketing firm” that we have paid almost 3/4 million dollars to handle this search has been in serious negotiations with Ron Jirsa.
bulldog
April 2nd, 2009
8:36 pm
IS IT JUST ME OR HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THAT DAMON IS DETERMINED TO HIRE A BLACK COACH.
Lash La Rue
April 2nd, 2009
8:42 pm
You got it right bulldog!?!?!? Black is beautiful.
bank walker
April 2nd, 2009
8:43 pm
I’m glad Purnell’s not interested, because the fans don’t want him! Exactly what in the he** did DE hire a search firm for? He could made a couple of phone calls and had similar results. He’s looking more and more foolish by the minute! I agree with all the other posters on here: WHY HASN’T ANY WHITE COACHES BEEN INTERVIEWED!! I mean, you throw Purnell in there, who hasn’t done Jack at clemsux and the guy from Miami, WTH!! Can we please oust Adams and his puppet, D. Evans! HIRE BOB KNIGHT!! GO DAWGS!!
PC Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:47 pm
Agree with CalDogg and bill; I want the best coach regardless of his skin color, not the best black coach (who cares if he can’t attend the Black Coaches of America convention). I don’t care if Terence Moore says it will be a step backwards and send the wrong message. BTW let’s recruit the best players regardless of their skin color (blue, green, yellow).
This “search” is becoming an embarassment to UGA. Comments re: instant credibility, elevation of the program, winning, clean program, no thugs, and better shape in 3-5 years when we need to get someone else all point to reasons to talk with Coach Knight. Hire someone who wants to be there, not just a stepping stone!
;
Steve
April 2nd, 2009
8:49 pm
Mike Brey from Notre Dame – it would rectify the mess Adams got us into with Harrick. He was Vince’s choice instead of Harrick. Big East Coach of the Year previous 2 years. Solid.
If not him, John Thompson III – great recruiter, great dad, and heard he can be had.
Both these guys have great programs, just in NIT this year, so a little under the radar. Donovan has been in the NIT the last 2 years, and I would still take him, so one year in the NIT is not that bad.
If not those 2 – Brey or Thompson III, get Gilispie – next best coach available that I know of. Perfect fit for Georgia. If not him, Bob Knight – can you say “Excitement” in the program?
.
PC Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:52 pm
Please do not talk to John Thompson III or his dad.
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
8:55 pm
Hey what about all the asians out there that aren’t represented in NCAA BBall. I mean really this is crazy. Get a winner! If he’s black and wins Great! If he’s White and we win Great! If he’s a loser, black or white don’t talk w/ him.
dawg96
April 2nd, 2009
9:02 pm
Great hire DE.
AltamahaDawg
April 2nd, 2009
9:12 pm
I am laughing my ass off. (sorry I don’t do the teenage girl acronyms).
I’m not sure which is better, a great hire and a chance to finally get excited about UGA basketball….or……the realization from so many folks in here, just how little they know what the hell they are talking bout.
Oh the drama today,,,,,,,,,,waaaa waa
Rich.
Jim
April 2nd, 2009
9:12 pm
This looks promising.
freshd
April 2nd, 2009
9:18 pm
what are you gonna cry about, now that evans has hired a white coach. i guess all the good old boys can take a good dip of red man. it was a joke how they hired this guy. mark fox was not a big name coach. i hope they didn’T OVERPAY THIS GUY.
Jim
April 2nd, 2009
9:25 pm
Read this profile.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/17/sports/ncaabasketball/17nevada.html
RedGADawg
April 2nd, 2009
9:31 pm
Who is FOX and why will his hire move me to buy tix, what does he know about area talent, what an average resume, less than average conference, DE failed! Hope he pays him less than Felton, as he has little or no trach record, getting to the Dance is not the goal, how hard when in a little league conference, what has a team won with a conference championship, I am not happy, sure saved me money, may increase my football donation at least conssitent value!
SoCal Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
9:35 pm
If you want to know more about Fox look at this link. Impressive.
http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=56208&SPID=4084&DB_OEM_ID=10000&ATCLID=530559&Q_SEASON=2006
Fort Worth Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
9:39 pm
They probably said the same thing about Dooley when he was first hired …
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
9:39 pm
See, you had no reason to worry about Purnell. he didn’t even “consider” the job.
Congrats. on getting Mark “Fair and Balanced” Fox.
hop
April 2nd, 2009
9:48 pm
what a joke of a hire, we waited months for a hire like this.
this is white guy from the west! this was definitely a reach because damon evans had nowhere else to go with so many coaches showing little or no interest.
good luch recruiting in the southeast with the likes of anthony grant and other familiar sec coaches!
AltamahaDawg
April 2nd, 2009
9:55 pm
RedGaDawg, everything you said about… easy to win at a small school, “only ” getting to the NCAA, could have easily been said about every successful Big name coach out there at some point. You recon Tn fans were familiar with thier new coach from UW-Milwaukee? How about BIlly Donavan, really big time name from Marshall? Rememebr a Guy named Tubby Smith. I’m sure you were a big follower of the great Tulsa program at the time.
lawzoo
April 2nd, 2009
9:58 pm
This is great! His name was NEVER mentioned and there are people praising Fox? and his hiring.
PC Dawg
April 2nd, 2009
10:53 pm
This is the big name proven winner we were promised after 2 months of searching? I’m sure all the recruits are thinking about the Dawgs NOW!