rbg
Postdoc
Posts: 3052
Reg: 10-20-14
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10-26-20 11:31 PM - Post#315470
In response to Streamers
Nine Coaching Candidates for Penn State Basketball
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2020/10/26/215280...
Jim Ferry (Penn State Interim Head Coach)
Mike Rhoades (VCU HC)
John Becker (Vermont HC)
Steve Donahue (Penn HC)
Keith Dambrot (Duquesne HC)
Shaka Smart (Texas HC)
Jon Scheyer (Duke Assistant Coach)
Rick Pitino (Iona HC)
Brett Brown (former Sixers HC, currently unemployed)
Steve Donahue (Penn HC) - After getting Cornell to three straight NCAA Tournaments (including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010), Donahue had a rough go in the ACC at Boston College, with only one NIT appearance and three straight losing seasons to show for it. He’s since redeemed himself at Penn, having clinched three straight winning seasons, including an NCAA berth in 2018. Being in the heart of Philly, he likely has to have built some ties with the local hoops scene, which should make him an attractive target in those regards.
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TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
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10-27-20 09:19 AM - Post#315485
In response to rbg
If this is a good guess at the real list, Donahue is bubbling up.
I hadn't known Rick Pitino is now coaching at Iona. His salary at Iona is comparable to what Chambers was making. I don't see him as a viable candidate.
I don't see Rhoades or Smart. Penn St isn't an attractive position for either.
Coach K disciples are jockeying to be next in line. Scheyer's interest would be based on whether he thinks the job will help or hurt him.
Brown? That's a wild card. Don't know how realistic of a pick he'd be.
I don't think Donahue would be interested if he has a long term commitment from Penn. if he doesn't then he might be a possibility depending on the salary.
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3585
Reg: 02-15-15
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10-27-20 09:31 AM - Post#315488
In response to TheLine
Pitino is interested in redemption more than money at this point. Penn St puts him on a much bigger stage in the Big Ten than it does at Iona so I would think he would be interested if Penn St is interested.
Bret Brown is going to make a bunch of dough sitting this one out and I dont' see him wanting to take his first college gig at Penn St when it's likely he can land another HC job in the NBA next year.
I think Donahue is in the top 3 here. My guess is along with the interim, Ferry, and either Pitino, Scheyer or Rhoades.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32810
Reg: 11-21-04
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10-27-20 09:35 AM - Post#315489
In response to PennFan10
I cannot imagine Pitino taking the Iona job and abandoning it before they play a game. He'd get killed in NY...and Iona substantially increased its budget to get him
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rbg
Postdoc
Posts: 3052
Reg: 10-20-14
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10-27-20 10:07 AM - Post#315490
In response to palestra38
Becker and Boals are probably two of their top candidates.
Rhoades is a good choice, but his price is probably too high.
I agree with P38 on Pitino. It would be something, even for him, to start his rehabilitation tour by jumping to another school before game #1 at Iona.
SD seems to be one of the most consistent names on these lists, so he's probably in the mix.
https://www.btpowerhouse.com/2020/10/26/21535207/p ...
1. Jim Ferry (Penn State Interim Head Coach)
2. John Becker (Vermont)
3. Jeff Boals (Ohio)
4. Steve Donahue (Penn)
5. Rick Pitino (Iona)
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12530
Reg: 12-07-04
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10-27-20 10:37 AM - Post#315504
In response to rbg
I can't get passed the idea that another NBA team might hire Brett Brown. Is that really true? He's still thought of well?
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32810
Reg: 11-21-04
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10-27-20 10:38 AM - Post#315505
In response to Quakers03
They are talking about Penn State, not an NBA team. But I think it's just someone throwing out names.
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12530
Reg: 12-07-04
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10-27-20 10:49 AM - Post#315513
In response to palestra38
A poster above wrote off the possibility of Brown for this job because he'd be hired by a future NBA team. Is he really still thought of well in NBA circles? I could see him succeeding at the college level.
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TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
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Donahue to Penn St?
10-27-20 10:55 AM - Post#315516
In response to palestra38
Right. Pitino has stated he was really only interested in a couple of jobs - Iona and Providence were his top two choices. It's a different type of redemption he claims he is looking for. The Iona job also allows Pitino to live in his NYC home, which is a nice perk for him.
If Pitino wants a redemption on his ability to build a winning program again then Penn St isn't the right place anyway.
Penn St has never been willing to ante up for a basketball coach. It will limit options. It also makes Donahue a viable option if he has any interest.
There is zero chance it will be Rhoades. He already has a better and higher paying job.
Edited by TheLine on 10-27-20 10:59 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Silver Maple
Postdoc
Posts: 3775
Loc: Westfield, New Jersey
Reg: 11-23-04
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10-27-20 11:35 AM - Post#315522
In response to TheLine
I'll admit that I have a bias here-- I'd prefer Donahue to stay at Penn. That said, I really can't see why he'd take the PSU job. He already took one high major job that had failure baked into it, and we all know how that worked out. I can't see why he'd want to go down that road again. There might be another HM job out there for him someday, but I don't think this one is it.
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3585
Reg: 02-15-15
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Donahue to Penn St?
10-27-20 02:12 PM - Post#315528
In response to palestra38
I cannot imagine Pitino taking the Iona job and abandoning it before they play a game. He'd get killed in NY...and Iona substantially increased its budget to get him
I don't think what people think of him is a high priority on Pitino's list. If he thinks he can succeed faster at Penn St than at Iona, he will be a candidate. (But his home situation may be a factor too)
Bret Brown was considered by a couple NBA teams. He is well thought of in NBA circles and there is a narrative outside of Philadelphia fans that injuries and GM decisions hampered his ability to win. If he sits out a year and Doc Rivers hits a home run with the same roster, it may hurt Bret's chances. If Doc struggles, It will improve Bret's prospects.
Edited by PennFan10 on 10-27-20 02:14 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3585
Reg: 02-15-15
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10-27-20 02:15 PM - Post#315529
In response to PennFan10
I don't think Steve would ultimately leave for Penn St. I think he believes Penn can get back to elite status in the IL. If he does that, his prospects will be much more broad.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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10-27-20 02:27 PM - Post#315530
In response to PennFan10
I'll reiterate... I can't imagine a world in which Steve ends up at Penn State, though, again, I put a ton of stock in nychoops' tips. I don't even think he's the most likely *Ivy League* coach to end up at Penn State. But we shall see.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6412
Reg: 11-22-04
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Donahue to Penn St?
10-27-20 02:41 PM - Post#315539
In response to mrjames
Am I correct that the most likely Ivy coach is Jones? That is who I thought of when Chambers got fired, before Donahue’s name started popping up.
And just an aside, I think Pitino has a better chance to win at Iona than he would at Penn State. But I can’t imagine PSU wants him under the circumstances either. This is a time for a squeaky clean hire. Jones fits the bill, unless you consider cutting down the nets in an empty gym after tying for a league title as a dirty move.
To me, the fact Pitino keeps popping up (along with a couple of others on the list) suggests to me that the list isn’t really indicative of who they are looking at. Donahue isn’t as outlandish as some of the others.
Edited by SomeGuy on 10-27-20 02:44 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Jeff2sf
Postdoc
Posts: 4466
Reg: 11-22-04
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10-27-20 02:50 PM - Post#315543
In response to SomeGuy
Steve is 58, he will be turning 60 about a month after the next season the Ivy plays games. Not a ton of big schools going after 60 year olds (and I don't expect Steve to win that year, so it's really when he's 61 that options will open up for him).
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Charlie Fog
Masters Student
Posts: 586
Age: 55
Loc: Philly
Reg: 11-12-13
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10-31-20 09:36 AM - Post#315772
In response to Jeff2sf
Stay Steve
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Quake Show
Junior
Posts: 218
Reg: 03-04-20
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10-31-20 10:19 AM - Post#315773
In response to Charlie Fog
I’m not concerned about Donahue taking the Penn State gig - if he’s even offered it. He has made it clear in multiple news outlets and mediums that he intends to stay at Penn for a long time (like > 10 more years long) and build the program.
Doesn’t seem like the kind of guy given his history at Penn and in the Ivy to jump ship for a slightly shinier gig.
(Also, the point about him being 60 and Penn State needing a younger coach to build with is quite salient.)
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Silver Maple
Postdoc
Posts: 3775
Loc: Westfield, New Jersey
Reg: 11-23-04
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Donahue to Penn St?
10-31-20 02:31 PM - Post#315784
In response to Quake Show
I get what you're saying, and hope you're right, but I fear you might be a bit naive. Steve's a good guy, but, like any of us, if he sees truly significant advantages for him and his family to taking the Penn State job, he'll take it. He'll feel bad, but that won't change his decision. And I wouldn't blame him. It's not reasonable to expect somebody, regardless of career field, to turn down a valuable opportunity out of loyalty to a current employer. Employers certainly don't hesitate to cut employees loose if they see that as being in their interest.
All that said, I'm skeptical that PSU will offer the job to Steve, and am even more skeptical that he'd see that job as being sufficiently attractive to justify taking it.
I guess we'll see.
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Penndemonium
PhD Student
Posts: 1899
Reg: 11-29-04
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11-01-20 10:55 AM - Post#315795
In response to Silver Maple
The head coach is such a key to the program. For those of us who think Penn’s natural advantages should help any coach succeed, please refer to UCLA, Georgetown, St. John’s, NC State, etc. are our natural advantages stronger than theirs? Those programs have been mired in mediocrity far longer than their fans could have imagined in their prime past. All had huge fan bases, shoe company relations, money, and more. The head coach defines the outcome.
I like Donahue.
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rbg
Postdoc
Posts: 3052
Reg: 10-20-14
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01-27-21 12:19 AM - Post#319800
In response to Penndemonium
Update on the coaching search from Penn State AD Sandy Barbour.
- So far, assuming that risk has manifested itself to the Nittany Lions having a 5-6 record under interim coach Jim Ferry, who Barbour says has done an outstanding job.
As for if Ferry will drop the interim tag and become the full-time coach?
Barbour wouldn't say.
But she did give a deadline as to when the new full-time coach would be named.
"In terms of getting candidates and developing our list and kind of getting ahead of the game, we've been doing that," Barbour said. "The plan would be to name a head coach immediately following the conclusion of our Penn State men's basketball season."
Without divulging who's on the list, Barbour did say one advantage is that people interested in the job know it's open and don't have to wait and see if it will become available. -
- She also said that Ferry has made it clear to her that he'd like to be considered for the full-time position.
"Jim has certainly, from the beginning, indicated his interest in being a candidate, and in my evaluation, I think that Jim's done some great things,†Barbour said. “I'm not going to make that decision until the end of the season, but he's got a hands-on audition in order to make his case."
When it comes to naming a full-time coach, Barbour said she'll seek to strike a balance between on-court performance and fit for the job from a culture and off-the-court perspective.
"In terms of metrics, there certainly are some on-court metrics in terms of how teams play outside of the metric piece, it's about style and those kinds of things and I'm certainly relying on experts around some of that," she said. "My biggest contribution, if you will, is to really look at fit for Penn State, fit for our students, our expectations for coaches around being educators and how they work with and help our students develop and grow. In the end, we'll put all that together and figure out who the best or the best candidate is." -
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