[huntandfish]

now sure who you are asking about but I would think that a few would be. Thinking of one for sure.

[Jonathan Carone]

If the guy you're thinking of is the guy I'm thinking of, and I'm 95% sure it is, then I would say I respectfully disagree. He's a prolific high school coach, one of the top in NC, but I don't think he'd fit as the head coach of where Liberty is now or where it wants to be in five years. That's not a knock on the man or his coaching, just don't think it's a fit.

[huntandfish]

I agree not a head coach but I do think he would be a good AC. We are speaking about the same guy I think. Issue is would he come etc... But I agree need a college guy as head coach.

[Jonathan Carone]

You know him better than anyone else so if you're unsure about him, everyone else must be too.

[huntandfish]

only time will tell. It s crazy times on Liberty Mtn.

[Larryhenry24]

My main concern is the timing of the fire/re-hire. This coming week is the biggest recruiting week of the year down in Atlanta and unless we hire quickly, the new coach will already be behind. With waiting so late to let Toman go, I would've assumed Jeff already had someone in mind. Plus, what about our committed guys? My guess is they will decommit if something doesn't happen soon. Those guys are stuck in limbo. Thoughts?

[BJWilliams]

Well here's the thing to consider as well...if you look back at the article from November (before Kiriloff and Lee were drafted and signed), all those kids were signed on the dotted line, so they are not really "in limbo" unless there is talk of releasing all of them from their NLI once the new coach is hired. That said, I can see your point to a degree with anyone that either a) has committed but didn't sign in the early signing period or b) Had Liberty as their #1 before Toman's departure. But as of the current moment, we have 10 players who are signed to be wearing Liberty on their jersey come the start of school

[olldflame]

My main concern is the timing of the fire/re-hire. This coming week is the biggest recruiting week of the year down in Atlanta and unless we hire quickly, the new coach will already be behind. With waiting so late to let Toman go, I would've assumed Jeff already had someone in mind. Plus, what about our committed guys? My guess is they will decommit if something doesn't happen soon. Those guys are stuck in limbo. Thoughts?

I was thinking the same thing about JB having someone in mind and the timing It may be he has been waiting for some other dominoes to fall Let's say for instance he is planning to back the truck up to the bank and go after Deefner Nothing was going to happen there until Texas made their hire, which they did a few days ago (David Pierce from Tulane) Yes I understand that's a long shot Just an example

It may also be that there is something we don't know about that led JB to believe a change had to be made regardless of bad timing Hopefully we will be hearing something soon

[olldflame]

Well here's the thing to consider as well...if you look back at the article from November (before Kiriloff and Lee were drafted and signed), all those kids were signed on the dotted line, so they are not really "in limbo" unless there is talk of releasing all of them from their NLI once the new coach is hired. That said, I can see your point to a degree with anyone that either a) has committed but didn't sign in the early signing period or b) Had Liberty as their #1 before Toman's departure. But as of the current moment, we have 10 players who are signed to be wearing Liberty on their jersey come the start of school

And if we do not have a coach in place within a reasonable time frame, all 10 of them will have a case in seeking a hardship exemption from the NCAA Even if we hire soon, it is pretty much SOP to grant a release if a player wants to decommit after the new coach has had the opportunity to re-recruit him, which is the first order of business for any new coach

[Larryhenry24]

The 10 that have signed are in a good position...but the 2017 and 2018 commits are the guys that are stuck in the middle. They are verbals who can'tsign...too early. With recruiting classes being wrapped up so early now..if those guys stay committed to a coach they don't know...and they don't decommit...then the other schools out there may fill up their classes and those kids could miss out. This week was the 2017s playing in ATL. Next week it's the 2018s...just hard to imagine we are missing that recruiting opportunity. Something needs to happen quickly. I wasn't happy with the Toman firing...but could stomach it better with the hire of a big name. Praying everything works out....and quickly!

[BJWilliams]

Im sure JB is aware of the recruiting value as well...but do we knee jerk for a good candidate who may be a name hire, or do we get the best candidate who can benefit us in the short and long term future of the program?

[Jonathan Carone]

The other thing to remember is that the new coach is likely out recruiting for his current school. So are the guys that will make up his staff. He won't be starting from scratch.

[jinxy]

Take the time. Make the right hire. How many of the kids you guys are talking about do we get anyway. Maybe 4 or 5 in this class max. We can catch up with the right guy.

[Larryhenry24]

I agree we need to make sure we hire the right guy...but why did he wait so long to let Toman go? Most of the people I know in coaching just assume that JT did something wrong that we don't know about. I've never heard of a baseball coach being let go this late. The whole thing seems strange. But most schools have locked up their 2017 classes and will finish their 2018 classes next week. If the new guy can keep Toman's commits from those 2 classes we should be ok. However, after looking at the perfect game site we only have 1 commit listed for 2017..and 3 for 2018. In today's recruiting that's unheard of. I suppose 3 or 4 2017s de-committed.. I've seen Horton and Baughman from 2018 and they are solid and I've heard the Francisco kid might be the best pure hitter in VA. Noticed he was only All State 10th grader. If we keep those 3 and don't lose them....and new guy gets a couole jucos. ..we should be OK.

[ATrain]

My brother-in-law, has taken Rustburg Dixie Youth to the Dixie Youth World Series 2 out of the past 3 years

[Jonathan Carone]

...but why did he wait so long to let Toman go? Most of the people I know in coaching just assume that JT did something wrong that we don't know about. I've never heard of a baseball coach being let go this late. The whole thing seems strange.

I have only heard bits and pieces, but my understanding is a good part of it was the lack of player development.

WARNING: reckless speculation to follow.

With the gap between the end of the season and the coaching change, I can only assume he either had discussions with players who were unhappy or there were significant players who requested their transfer and then he looked into it. I have nothing to back those two statements up, but they make sense given the timing and reasoning.

[Purple Haize]

I am a little surprised that a new coach wasn't on deck prior to letting Toman go. Seems odd

[Jonathan Carone]

I'm actually glad (it appears) Jeff didn't get tunnel vision and lock in on one guy. This is an important decision and for him to be talking to the quality of people he's been talking to is a good thing.

[Purple Haize]

I'm actually glad (it appears) Jeff didn't get tunnel vision and lock in on one guy. This is an important decision and for him to be talking to the quality of people he's been talking to is a good thing.

Sorta agree. But if you are going to let a guy go you better have 2 or 3 lined up on speed dial

[BJWilliams]

Its like i said, do you grab a good hire because it's a flashy "name hire" for short term recruiting benefit, or do you take your time and get the best hire that can potentially benefit this program well beyond one or two classes?

[Jonathan Carone]

I'm actually glad (it appears) Jeff didn't get tunnel vision and lock in on one guy. This is an important decision and for him to be talking to the quality of people he's been talking to is a good thing.

Sorta agree. But if you are going to let a guy go you better have 2 or 3 lined up on speed dial

He obviously had some on speed dial because Kendall Rogers leaked Gibson's name immediately.

[Purple Haize]

I'm actually glad (it appears) Jeff didn't get tunnel vision and lock in on one guy. This is an important decision and for him to be talking to the quality of people he's been talking to is a good thing.

Sorta agree. But if you are going to let a guy go you better have 2 or 3 lined up on speed dial

He obviously had some on speed dial because Kendall Rogers leaked Gibson's name immediately.

Yet there is no coach. This seems like a long delay at least to me

[Jonathan Carone]

I don't think it's long at all. It's been ten calendar days with a holiday in there. If we don't have someone by Thursday/Friday, then I'll be worried.

[Purple Haize]

I don't think it's long at all. It's been ten calendar days with a holiday in there. If we don't have someone by Thursday/Friday, then I'll be worried.

That's a long time to me. But fair enough. Your timeline is solid too

[jinxy]

That's my point. We don't really have many future recruit's to lose. Toman takes so many jucos. Hopefully that changes going forward and we see more high school talent. Toman hit a lot of hrs in the first four or five years but then the well ran dry the last 2 or 3 from jucos for the most part.