[ATrain]

Just Say No to Eaker

[bluejacket]

Jason Eaker

Nope.

[flamesfilmguy]

I think he's doing just fine helping Mercer beat Duke in the NCAA tourney and winning conference championships. Just because the guy screwed up doesn't mean this horse needs to be beaten again. He's turned things around and I see him on a daily basis. Love him as a person and as a basketball coach.

[ballcoach15]

A name that was tossed to me last night:

Bryant Stith, Assistant Coach at ODU. Now granted some may laugh or think it's a bad choice, but if one knows him and his family, they could see it being good potential in more ways than one.

Don't shoot the messenger, I am just relaying what I heard.

[R i]

*

[R i]

I think he's doing just fine helping Mercer beat Duke in the NCAA tourney and winning conference championships. Just because the guy screwed up doesn't mean this horse needs to be beaten again. He's turned things around and I see him on a daily basis. Love him as a person and as a basketball coach.

Do you think he deserves a shot to be the LU head coach ?

[TIMSCAR20]

A name that was tossed to me last night:

Bryant Stith, Assistant Coach at ODU. Now granted some may laugh or think it's a bad choice, but if one knows him and his family, they could see it being good potential in more ways than one.

Don't shoot the messenger, I am just relaying what I heard.

I have spent a lot of time with Bryant the past couple of months including last week on their road trip through Tennessee and Alabama. We all joke that I am on their staff now. He told me that Andrew Rowsey had the single best performance in a high school game he has ever seen in person when he was coaching against him in the State Finals. His son BJ or Brandon got into foul trouble and no one else on the team could guard him. Brunswick (Stith's school) won the title but Rowsey was unbelievable. One of the other coaches said, "you must not have seen A.I. play in HS." Stith said he did see Iverson but Rowsey that day was the best he had seen. That day not overall.

Stith could get it done. He is a strong candidate I would say, if he is even interested in the job. He seems to be happy at ODU and next season his son gets to play for them. He transferred in from East Carolina and is sitting out this season.

[olldflame]

Let's not get carried away and give too much credit to Eaker for whatever success Mercer has had in his time there. He's one of 3 graduate assistants.

[lynchburger]

Actually, the Stith thing makes loads of sense.

If there's someone who could step into any home in the Commonwealth and have instant credibility, it's probably that guy. He's coached at the high school and collegiate level, and most of the dads of Virginia kids probably grew up seeing him play in Charlottesville. He's also a solid family man who's a believer.

Like others have mentioned, the question is whether or not he would want the job, but I would absolutely make him turn me down. Besides, if he did turn Liberty down, he may have another name that would be a similarly good fit.

Another name, assuming Stith weren't interested: Jason Williford at UVa.

[BJWilliams]

JB could, to borrow a phrase, "make him an offer he couldn't refuse". He certainly doesn't sound like someone who would keep a tight hold on his purse strings in hiring a coach

[ballcoach15]

I was never impressed with Eaker when he was at LU. Seemed to not have a good personality.

[flamesfilmguy]

I think he's doing just fine helping Mercer beat Duke in the NCAA tourney and winning conference championships. Just because the guy screwed up doesn't mean this horse needs to be beaten again. He's turned things around and I see him on a daily basis. Love him as a person and as a basketball coach.

Do you think he deserves a shot to be the LU head coach ?

No I don't. but I also don't think he deserves to be beaten to death more than he already has. He is a grad assistant however I don't think i've seen a GA that coaches guys like he does. obviously he has some experience with that. our success this year so far largely has to do with his individual work with our top scorer. Ike Nuwamu. if you watched SC last night he was #5 on the SCtop10 for a monster dunk. seen Here: https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/4813FAA3 ... LgSdCAfFHI
Ike came from Cleveland state. Ridiculously strong and incredible hops. But REALLY raw. every time i'm in the arena which is almost every day he's working individually with Ike (by being a GA it gives him flexibility to work with him individually whenever) and Ike has really stepped up his game to become our leading scorer.
Now I don't pretend to think that Jason is perfect. we know that he isn't but I think a little grace can be shown as well. just my .02

[TheGovernor]

I was never impressed with Eaker when he was at LU. Seemed to not have a good personality.

Well, Youre wrong.

Sorry to be so blunt, but your perception lacks facts.

[jinxy]

Williford is a good name coaching wise. Local coaches love him and he invites them up to practices and shows them around campus a lot. The 2 coaches i knew have never had any d1 talent but hes been great with them. I dont know where he is spiritually but he knows how to connect to the locals and recruit.

[R i]

http://www.vcuathletics.com/information ... ard_Jeremy

Jeremy Ballard.

Graduated from Colgate in 2003 with a with a bachelor's degree in English and a minor in Religion. Was an assistant at Mercer, Tulsa and is now on staff with Shocka up the road in Richmond. He worked with Troy Daniels (from Roanoke, now playing in the NBA). Sounds like a good fit for the school and he could have a good VA recruiting base started.

I think our next head coach is a first time head coach.

[ATrain]

I was never impressed with Eaker when he was at LU. Seemed to not have a good personality.

Well, Youre wrong.

Sorry to be so blunt, but your perception lacks facts.

He's not the only one I've heard that from...

[bballfan84]

eaker is a good dude..made a mistake..lets leave him out of this

[flamesfilmguy]

eaker is a good dude..made a mistake..lets leave him out of this

thank you. also congrats on post 700

[huntandfish]

OK let's get this out of the way first. Do you guys think the guy needs to be a Christian? I would hope so but he should also be walking with Christ to lead kids that know Christ or led them to Christ. I know not everyone at LU is a Christian but I would hope that EVERY HEAD COACH is a Christian and walking with Christ. IF not that is a slap in the face to what Doc's vision is/was. What do you guys think. I know some things are a given and I thought this would be a given but some of the post are .... great coach, like the guy etc.. but not sure where he is Spiritually.

[BJWilliams]

I'll leave it to others to torch your comment, but I will simply state that people dont say it because really they shouldn't have to.

[huntandfish]

You know as you get older you will realize that EVERYTHING needs to be started and signed. I loved being young but learned after many an interview that the things not said are not said for a reason. So I started asking the point blank questions. Getting old sucks but you do get wisher. I love this board ,it's funny.

[R i]

If it is not a written requirement , it should be.

[rogers3]

As a fan and a financial supporter, I would not be interested in an LU program led by a non-believer. There is no reason why our school needs to settle for anything less... a guy like Stith would certainly be great, IMHO.

[Bigsouthking]

What has Stith proven at the college level? You would be willing to turn a program over to him with only Brunswick HS experience. Once his own kids graduate who would he have to coach? Has he signed any D 1 players that's not related to him? Could he sign any kids outside of VA?

Big names, NBA experience don't get it done in the bus league of the Big South. Pressures of winning a conference tournament, some guys don't know how to handle it.

Williford at UVA would be a better choice than Stith, but RMK & Soucie maybe jealous.

[g-webb1994]

Carey Green?