Page 1 of 2

Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 7:15 am
by Cider Jim
You couldn't have 2 more different state basketball programs: Bennett's UVa team is ranked #3 in the country and has the #1 seed in the East regional; Tech's former head coach Johnson was given his walking papers yesterday after only two seasons where he posted a 22-41 record (6-30 in the ACC). And Tech will still owe him $851,997 in salary. Let the national search begin! Candidates?

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/virgi ... 8eac6.html

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 9:59 am
by Purple Haize
Mike Young- Wofford

http://athletics.wofford.edu/coaches.as ... ath=mbball

IMO, Johnson got a raw deal. He is brought in late after the Seth debacle. He'd just left to take an Assistant HC job at Clemson but returned to help out. He really didn't even have 2 years and they let him go. I mean it's not like he had back to back 20 loss seasons or anything..

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 10:13 am
by Liberty22
Purple Haize wrote:Mike Young- Wofford

http://athletics.wofford.edu/coaches.as ... ath=mbball

IMO, Johnson got a raw deal. He is brought in late after the Seth debacle. He'd just left to take an Assistant HC job at Clemson but returned to help out. He really didn't even have 2 years and they let him go. I mean it's not like he had back to back 20 loss seasons or anything..
I see what you did there... :flamingdevil

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 10:23 am
by JK37
Hard to call it a raw deal when he comes out with $850k.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 10:43 am
by BJWilliams
I do as well...although 41 losses in 2 years isn't exactly setting the world on fire either. This is the first hire for the new AD Babcock so I hope he takes his time in this coaching search and gets a good solid candidate who can reverse the culture there in Blacksburg

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 10:46 am
by Purple Haize
JK37 wrote:Hard to call it a raw deal when he comes out with $850k.
But he could have had an opportunity for more if he was allowed to stay and turn the program around

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 12:58 pm
by flamehunter
Gregg Marshall. Do you all think he would take it to get into the ACC? Or is Tech too much of a train wreck?

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 1:08 pm
by Purple Haize
flamehunter wrote:Gregg Marshall. Do you all think he would take it to get into the ACC? Or is Tech too much of a train wreck?
I think its a step down from where he is at now. Wichita St at least had a solid hoops tradition whereas Tech never has had one.
Not sure what ACC job is open that he'd want. If he wants the ACC he might wait for Clemson

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 1:14 pm
by TIMSCAR20
Wichita and VCU have better programs than most of the ACC at this point. It is no longer considered "an offer you can't refuse" when the ACC comes calling. I don't think Marshall goes anywhere unless Kentucky, Michigan, Duke or Carolina comes calling. Maybe Syracuse too. Otherwise he is better served to stay where he is. He can still make a lot of money and be a dominant force similar to the way Gonzaga owns the WCC. Mark Few isn't looking for a job. He could have left Gonzaga years ago.

I think Kevin Keatts gets the Virginia Tech job. He is a Native of Lynchburg and is currently on Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville. I think he would be a great fit! I personally would LOVE IT too :D

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 1:16 pm
by jcmanson
SCAR wrote:I think Kevin Keatts gets the Virginia Tech job. He is a Native of Lynchburg and is currently on Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville. I think he would be a great fit! I personally would LOVE IT too :D
He was the first name that popped in my head when the job came open yesterday. I wouldn't be shocked though if VT is looking for someone with college head coaching experience.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 3:15 pm
by flamehunter
jcmanson wrote:
SCAR wrote:I think Kevin Keatts gets the Virginia Tech job. He is a Native of Lynchburg and is currently on Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville. I think he would be a great fit! I personally would LOVE IT too :D
He was the first name that popped in my head when the job came open yesterday. I wouldn't be shocked though if VT is looking for someone with college head coaching experience.
That's what VT's AD Babcock stressed in his press conference today.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 4:40 pm
by Chris Lang
JJ never had a chance in this gig. He was over his head from the start, had a talent deficit, and his teams dealt with mounting injuries in both of his seasons. He's a good guy and a solid assistant coach who would do well to get another shot as a head coach at a mid or low major.

Anyone who talks about Gregg Marshall re: Tech is insane. He makes close to $2M a year at Wichita, which is one of the really good basketball jobs out there right now. Great facilities. Great community and athletic department support. No football to compete with. Tech paid JJ less than $700K, and new AD or not, I don't see the Hokies going the route of paying $2M-plus to a basketball coach.

I'm not sure why someone like Chris Mack would want to leave Xavier, another good basketball situation, for Tech, which is a bad basketball situation. Same with Mick Cronin. If you're looking for a guy who knows how to turn around a hopeless situation rather quickly, Tech should be looking 15 miles down the road at Radford, but we all know the Tech fan base wouldn't go for the Hokies hiring a Radford coach. Mike Jones has done tremendous work there under trying circumstances, and he cut his teeth under Shaka. I know it won't happen, but he'd be a guy worth looking at, at least.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 18th, 2014, 5:01 pm
by flamehunter
I'm one of your biggest supporters Chris and you call me a nut job! Between you and my wife my self esteem is shot! :D

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 19th, 2014, 3:50 pm
by g-webb1994
Ritchie Mackay.

:dance

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 20th, 2014, 1:51 am
by lynchburgwildcats
Firing Seth Greenberg and thus causing Montrezl Harrell and Dorian Finney-Smith to go elsewhere sure did work out well for Tech...

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 6:17 pm
by 4everfsu

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 6:27 pm
by Chris Lang
That's a phenomenal hire.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 6:30 pm
by flamehunter
That is good news for Tech fans.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 7:10 pm
by Purple Haize
Shocking hire, but in a good way. They threw some solid cash at him for sure.

I wonder if this means a home and home with VT now?

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 7:55 pm
by SuperJon
If Layer stays, absolutely. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled a McKay. I also wouldn't blame him one bit if he pulled a McKay.

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 8:14 pm
by Purple Haize
SuperJon wrote:If Layer stays, absolutely. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled a McKay. I also wouldn't blame him one bit if he pulled a McKay.
You're so cynical.....which is why you are a favored member of :flamingdevil

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 10:21 pm
by VAGolf
So, I like VT and all but why would you leave Marquette for VT?

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 10:27 pm
by flamehunter
Better weather?

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 10:36 pm
by Chris Lang
New AD and president at Marquette, Big East's declining profile. $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Re: Tech's basketball head coach Johnson is fired

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 10:37 pm
by Purple Haize
VAGolf wrote:So, I like VT and all but why would you leave Marquette for VT?
Better Conference
Better Challenge
Better Location (have you ever BEEN to Milwaukee?)
Better Resources
Better Paycheck

EDIT Lang copy catted me