[Ed Dantes]

Let's look at our AD's track record.

Two years ago, we let go of our basketball coach. There is an ACC assistant on the bench that would've made a great head coach. He didn't promote him. Went outside of the staff.

Baseball coach steps down. Did not promote an assistant or go after a former assistant. Went outside of the staff.

Women's soccer coach steps down. There is a very capable assistant that could easily take over the program for "continuity." He didn't promote him. Went outside of the staff.

I just don't see him promoting an assistant. If he promotes Soucie, we're in this position in three years again because when McKay gets another head coaching job, Soucie is gone.

But how much of that was our AD saying 'these coaches and assistants weren't hired under my tenure. I want to bring my own guys in'.

And I thought McKay basically said he was done with head coaching positions and he just wanted to be an assistant from here on out.*

*of course, that was last week. McKay waffles more than IHOP.

[SuperJon]

HMO, you keep talking about keeping the recruits, keeping the recruits, etc.

Have you thought about the idea that whoever we hire could bring a recruit or two with them? If we get an assistant at a BCS conference, I'm sure they have someone who is a borderline player there that could be a star here. Maybe a bunch of shooting guards or combo guards won't fit well in their style of play.


A head coach is significantly more important than one year's recruiting class.

[Th3rd]

Let's look at our AD's track record.

Two years ago, we let go of our basketball coach. There is an ACC assistant on the bench that would've made a great head coach. He didn't promote him. Went outside of the staff.

Baseball coach steps down. Did not promote an assistant or go after a former assistant. Went outside of the staff.

Women's soccer coach steps down. There is a very capable assistant that could easily take over the program for "continuity." He didn't promote him. Went outside of the staff.

I just don't see him promoting an assistant. If he promotes Soucie, we're in this position in three years again because when McKay gets another head coaching job, Soucie is gone.

But how much of that was our AD saying 'these coaches and assistants weren't hired under my tenure. I want to bring my own guys in'.

And I thought McKay basically said he was done with head coaching positions and he just wanted to be an assistant from here on out.

He also said the week before that he felt God wanted him to be here forever, so take it how you will

[RagingTireFire]

My point is that a big name WILL leave sooner rather than later. An if the Admin is set on a big name, we should add an LU guy as a assistant to train and be ready to step in and lead for the longer term.

If the university is handcuffing any new coach by telling him he has to have X. Player as an assistant, I don't see why that coach would take the job in the first place.

[Hold My Own]

Of course that's why I said losing Soko doesnt crush me b/c any coach half way decent will hopefully have a few of his own. That's also why I dont want to hire a lower level Christian coach because they havent been looking at the same caliber we have and I want a coach with a black book full of possibilities.

But our recruits are main priority. We have already done the leg work to make sure they fit the LU mold. These other guys that some other coach brings in made sure they fit the Marquette mold or VT mold...we have a completely different mold here.

[Ed Dantes]

He also said the week before that he felt God wanted him to be here forever, so take it how you will

Yeah, I re-edited my post.

[kingaling42]

Odam is only like 34 I think he's in a position to build

I don't know much about the other guys you're mentioning but Liberty would do well to go with Ryan Odom- first he's a former UNCA coach & knows the league.. Second, he's a super bright & upcoming coach.. Third, he has connections all along the Eastern seaboard- stints at American & V Tech would help recruiting AND retention... Of course some of you think he's probably not as accomplished of a coach as you would like since you're ready to switch leagues & what not.. I know Coach O personally, although I don't know about his religious faith... dare I say I'd actually have to pull for Liberty more often if he were part of your team..

[Rocketfan]

But our recruits are main priority. We have already done the leg work to make sure they fit the LU mold. These other guys that some other coach brings in made sure they fit the Marquette mold or VT mold...we have a completely different mold here.

are you really serious about this MOLD junk....if they dont' fit the new coaches style of play...BYE BYE. Besides one coaches " they fit Liberty" may not equal anothers, case in point how many athletes have left LU in the past few years because " it wasnt for them" once they got here. Some coach saying " he fits the LU mold" mine as well be like someone saying " he verbally committed". Telling someone what this place is about and living it are two completly different things as we can all attest.

[Hold My Own]

I'm just not sure having you as a fan is what we need...you play the perfect rival role

[Sly Fox]

That is probably reason enough right there to keep looking. We'd hate to put Kingaling42 is such a conundrum.

[Hold My Own]

But our recruits are main priority. We have already done the leg work to make sure they fit the LU mold. These other guys that some other coach brings in made sure they fit the Marquette mold or VT mold...we have a completely different mold here.

are you really serious about this MOLD junk....if they dont' fit the new coaches style of play...BYE BYE. Besides one coaches " they fit Liberty" may not equal anothers, case in point how many athletes have left LU in the past few years because " it wasnt for them" once they got here. Some coach saying " he fits the LU mold" mine as well be like someone saying " he verbally committed". Telling someone what this place is about and living it are two completly different things as we can all attest.

Mold isnt referring to style of play Rocket..it's referring to lifestyle and beliefs...we've come a long way from where it has been with kids like Sanders, Austins, Weavers, Stephene, Minaya, Carter and others...those are great kids who can play the game...I dont want to see steps backwards taken in that area...so yes I'm serious about that mold crap

[kingaling42]

Touche gentlemen.. touche! I mean it's more realistic than Dean Smith though... what's in the Kool-Aid these days??

[Maximus]

Touche gentlemen.. touche! I mean it's more realistic than Dean Smith though... what's in the Kool-Aid these days??

Come on man... Only the good stuff

[Rocketfan]

But our recruits are main priority. We have already done the leg work to make sure they fit the LU mold. These other guys that some other coach brings in made sure they fit the Marquette mold or VT mold...we have a completely different mold here.

are you really serious about this MOLD junk....if they dont' fit the new coaches style of play...BYE BYE. Besides one coaches " they fit Liberty" may not equal anothers, case in point how many athletes have left LU in the past few years because " it wasnt for them" once they got here. Some coach saying " he fits the LU mold" mine as well be like someone saying " he verbally committed". Telling someone what this place is about and living it are two completly different things as we can all attest.

Mold isnt referring to style of play Rocket..it's referring to lifestyle and beliefs...we've come a long way from where it has been with kids like Sanders, Austins, Weavers, Stephene, Minaya, Carter and others...those are great kids who can play the game...I dont want to see steps backwards taken in that area...so yes I'm serious about that mold crap

How would you know minaya that well to judge him....the kid has been part of the program...what 3 months? Other than Sanders out of that group, how many flamefans are really going to get upset if we lose any of the other guys....not many. The bottomline at LU should be can you abide by the rules and are we as a university making a positive impact on your spiritual life.

While we want everyone to be like Tebow, the bottomline is you can't predict what a kid is gonna to do once he gets to college, no one can.

[Hold My Own]

It's easy to judge a kid when you've been watching them off the court...he's no different then any other the other Freshman...if you cant figure out which freshman are going to give you trouble for 4 years and which ones should be ok after only a month (let alone 3 months) then coaching just isnt for that person

[olldflame]

Something to keep in mind for Soucie is that "messages from God" can take a variety of forms. For the last 14 years, every time Richie changed jobs, he was able to take Brad with him. It looks like he tried this time, but since the decision wasn't his, he couldn't pull it off. Putting myself in Soucie's shoes, I might just think this is a "message" that it's time to cut the McKay umbilical cord and chart my own career path.

[Hold My Own]

Putting myself in Soucie's shoes, I might just think this is a "message" that it's time to cut the McKay umbilical cord and chart my own career path.

you nailed it and in several ways.

[4everfsu]

oldflame you may have a point there. Especially since McKay doesn't want to be a head coach again, too much pressure. So Soucie may have figured out that Liberty is where he cut ties with McKay. Besides McKay words about too much pressure to be a head coach will bite him in the butt one day.

If you cannot stand the heat, get off the Mountain(Liberty)

[jcmanson]

I hope you guys don't sincerely believe that RM will never be a head coach again.

[olldflame]

I hope you guys don't sincerely believe that RM will never be a head coach again.

No way of knowing that. My point is that if he does take another HC job, it is not necessarily a given that Brad would go with him.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Happy?

[Hold My Own]

Seth, let's be careful about that. The Athletic Department is already on edge enough with Flamefans I couldnt imagine if we were to start taking things to this level.

[Rocketfan]

It's easy to judge a kid when you've been watching them off the court...he's no different then any other the other Freshman...if you cant figure out which freshman are going to give you trouble for 4 years and which ones should be ok after only a month (let alone 3 months) then coaching just isnt for that person

Counter example....a kid could be happy and work hard and love the university for a year....his playing time gets reduced cause we have better players come in...then he becomes a problem. Sound familiar? and this example isn't about this year....no coach can predict that will happen after a month. Beyond that there are grades ( which dont have to manifest into a problem for months), friends, work ethic etc....


Your statement is ridiculous.

[olldflame]

I think this may be a rare time to get the scissors out and make a post or 2 go away. They aren't contributing anything, and could cause problems down the road.

[Hold My Own]

Your statement is ridiculous.

Are you even slightly familiar with our past players? I know your not around campus to much but its not hard to know which players are going to go with the grain and which ones are going to go against it....ask SJ, JC, LUconn or whoever else follows the team closely and they can tell you fairly quickly