[belcherboy]

Ahhhhhhh. I can't stand this board sometimes.

No kidding....like they are really trying to picture "what if's" with some of these names....

FYI! I posted Dean Smith as a 100% joke not knowing some would try and make it a real possibility! WOW!

Yeah, I bit it. I guess I'm becoming a publicity whore with Liberty being in the news/on ESPN all the time lately (the Curry and McKay sagas). Hiring him would put Liberty on the front page! Can you imagine the media circus (well at least for the beginning of the year)


It is probably the Sam Rutigliano effect!

[jcmanson]

So, is Beej on his way to Detroit to follow JB around?

[Cider Jim]

No, BJ is probably already hanging out in Coach's old office, filming his OWN VERSION of this:

[olldflame]

Click on this Link Its a intresting article about are possible new coach Russ Pennell,I believe he would be a great fit for LU basketball http://phoenix.fanster.com/2009/04/02/w ... ll-end-up/

Don't take this the wrong way, but after taking Arizona to the sweet 16, I'm not sure he wouldn't feel like he is taking a step backwards to come to Liberty. I can't imagine he isn't getting some interest from a mid-major or even a middle to bottom team in a big conference. He is probably a hot name in the coaching circuits right now. It would be a GREAT hire for Liberty, but I don't think he would consider it.

One of the things that is AWESOME about Liberty, but really hinders it is the fact that they will only hire a Christian. I wouldn't want it any other way, but it does limit the pool from which we can draw from. Obviously there are some GREAT Christian coaches out there, but it has to be VERY difficult to find that GREAT one. We have a God that is in control of all things, so I believe He will give us what we need and what is best for us.

A "step backwards" doesn't mean much if you are unemployed, which Russ is likely to be shortly . I would agree he would probably jump at an offer from a major, but I'm not sure if there are openings at other mid-majors that would be that much more attractive than LU, especially to someone of like faith.

[Ed Dantes]

So... is there an official short-list?
...is there an official long-list?

Or is this going to be like our commencement speaker, where we'll speculate for eons until finally we realize.. we won't have a commencement speaker.

[belcherboy]

Click on this Link Its a intresting article about are possible new coach Russ Pennell,I believe he would be a great fit for LU basketball http://phoenix.fanster.com/2009/04/02/w ... ll-end-up/

Don't take this the wrong way, but after taking Arizona to the sweet 16, I'm not sure he wouldn't feel like he is taking a step backwards to come to Liberty. I can't imagine he isn't getting some interest from a mid-major or even a middle to bottom team in a big conference. He is probably a hot name in the coaching circuits right now. It would be a GREAT hire for Liberty, but I don't think he would consider it.

One of the things that is AWESOME about Liberty, but really hinders it is the fact that they will only hire a Christian. I wouldn't want it any other way, but it does limit the pool from which we can draw from. Obviously there are some GREAT Christian coaches out there, but it has to be VERY difficult to find that GREAT one. We have a God that is in control of all things, so I believe He will give us what we need and what is best for us.

A "step backwards" doesn't mean much if you are unemployed, which Russ is likely to be shortly . I would agree he would probably jump at an offer from a major, but I'm not sure if there are openings at other mid-majors that would be that much more attractive than LU, especially to someone of like faith.

He won't be unemployed for long. I imagine there are SEVERAL big conference coaches that would LOVE to hire him as an assistant, if he can't find a head job.

I would LOVE to have him here, but if he has aspirations of being a head coach of a top 50 program, I'm not so sure Liberty is a good stepping stone for him. Especially given the fact he is at the top of his game right now. (although apparently not good enough for Arizona)

[flameshaw]

So... is there an official short-list?
...is there an official long-list?

Or is this going to be like our commencement speaker, where we'll speculate for eons until finally we realize.. we won't have a commencement speaker.

It was going to be RMK, looking for a backup now.

[flameshaw]

Cameron $ listed as one who could be a HC at USC if Floyd left. Some of the other ones mentioned were crazy, so don't know how realistic it really is.



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/list ... am-2352762

[jcmanson]

Guys we should know alot more by Monday if not sooner.

[belcherboy]

Guys we should know alot more by Monday if not sooner.

Woo Hoo!!

[jcmanson]

I wasn't implying that I have any insider information, but just that these things tend to move quickly. Add to that, JB going to Detroit this weekend for the sole purpose of finding a coach, and it's pretty easy to see that by Monday there will be alot of knowledge out there. It's just a matter of people getting that info and putting it on here.

[coolhandluke]

No, BJ is probably already hanging out in Coach's old office, filming his OWN VERSION of this:

I regret that I was ever involved in filming that video... I regret ever chanting his name...

[Chris Lang]

Just wanted to clear up a couple of things:

1. Barber going to the Final Four is not an uncommon occurence. There's the added bonus of running into coaching candidates up there, but just about every Division I coach (head and assistant) along with most DI athletic directors go to the Final Four on a yearly basis. The NABC holds its convention in conjunction with the FF every year.

2. He'll be coming back Tuesday after the championship game.

3. As manson said, by early next week, I'm sure there will be an established list of candidates. As for a short list right now, I'd say it's Soucie and Dale Layer. But that list will surely expand by the end of the weekend once Barber gets a chance to talk to people in person.

I'll have a blog post up later tonight on this ... gotta crank out some football copy first, though.

[Rooster Cogburn]

No, BJ is probably already hanging out in Coach's old office, filming his OWN VERSION of this:

That needs to be DELETED from YouTube!

[belcherboy]

If I had a choice (thank God I do not for Liberty's sake), I think I would go with Soucie. Even without McKay, we have a good thing going. Hopefully our current recruits would feel just as comfortable with Soucie as they would have with Ritchie. I'm sure Soucie had contact with them as much or more than RM. Also, this team has learned a new system. I'm sure Soucie would use that same system.

Unless we get a big name, I say you offer the job to Soucie.

[coolhandluke]

If I had a choice (thank God I do not for Liberty's sake), I think I would go with Soucie. Even without McKay, we have a good thing going. Hopefully our current recruits would feel just as comfortable with Soucie as they would have with Ritchie. I'm sure Soucie had contact with them as much or more than RM. Also, this team has learned a new system. I'm sure Soucie would use that same system.

Unless we get a big name, I say you offer the job to Soucie.

I'd say unless we get a big name, or Layer, we should hire soucie... So yes, maybe he's a back up plan, but he's definitely a good option.

[jcmanson]

Both Soucie and Layer are more committed to McKay than they are LU. So, I’m not so sure I want either.

[ToTheLeft]

Both Soucie and Layer are more committed to McKay than they are LU. So, I’m not so sure I want either.

You really think Layer is committed to McKay?

I really don't think he is...

[jcmanson]

Both Soucie and Layer are more committed to McKay than they are LU. So, I’m not so sure I want either.

You really think Layer is committed to McKay?

I really don't think he is...

I think that if the UVA thing goes well, McKay will get a head job at a low BCS school, and will try to get Layer and/or Soucie. I think both would go.

[olldflame]

The same thing could be accomplished by hiring Dale Layer, as long as Soucie stayed, which seems to be likely.

As far as retaining current players and recruits is concerned, I think there are a lot of good men out there who could keep them around. Willis Wilson would pretty much guarantee the Sanders brothers. I tend to lean toward bringing someone new in, but try to retain at least one assistant from the current staff; possibly Eaker, for continuity, and I REALLY like the idea of bringing in an alum like JUICE as an assistant.

[jcmanson]

I tend to lean toward bringing someone new in, but try to retain at least one assistant from the current staff; possibly Eaker, for continuity, and I REALLY like the idea of bringing in an alum like JUICE as an assistant.

What he said

[coolhandluke]

I tend to lean toward bringing someone new in, but try to retain at least one assistant from the current staff; possibly Eaker, for continuity, and I REALLY like the idea of bringing in an alum like JUICE as an assistant.

What he said

I like that option. But I am still sold on Layer and Soucie...

[RagingTireFire]

I REALLY like the idea of bringing in an alum like JUICE as an assistant.

Is he coaching anywhere now? If not, that seems like a really bad idea to me.

[jcmanson]

The only thing I like Layer and Soucie for is continuity. As I said earlier:

We shouldn't hire someone based on whether or not one or two recruits will stay.

[ToTheLeft]

I think Layer is more than just continuity tho. Soucie would be just continuity.