Coaching changes

Interesting that Sue Semrau at Florida State has also not received an extension on her soon-to-expire contract.

Head coaches at Navy, North Dakota, and Omaha have been let go recently.

Others who could be on the hot seat are Sherri Coale at OU (although her contract runs through 2023, I believe) and JPM at Duke.

 

Copying/pasting my thoughts on our coaching situation:

- our program is not heading in the right direction under Coach Aston; she couldn't maintain what she built, and the last two seasons signal a downward trend.

- Karen's recent comments that she has not discussed her future as our head coach with CDC could just be "coach-speak"; what was she supposed to say when the reporter asked her direct questions about her future at Texas? Honestly, this type of discussion should have occurred months ago (which I believe it did)

- if CDC were planning to extend her contract, it doesn't take but a few minutes to issue an official statement out in social media that Karen will be the head coach next season (the world's health issues could delay that, but everyone's jobs still have to go on). Not going on record in the near future doesn't help anyone.

- if CDC were planning to extend her contract, anything less than a 4-year extension will not provide current players, recruits, and their families any sense of stability or belief that he is making a firm commitment to Karen's future at Texas. Even with the health concerns we are facing, a one or two-year contract extension accomplishes nothing for the program's long-term future.

- if CDC is planning to make a change, I believe the pool of candidates will have shrunk significantly (due to the health issues). There may be candidates who are now unwilling to uproot their families, or even move away from certain family members. Conversely, perhaps there are a couple of candidates who now want to move back to Texas to be closer to family

- if CDC is going to want to conduct in-person interviews and provide tours of the University to prospective candidates, that is delayed indefinitely; the search and hiring process will take significantly longer than one would expect due to the world's health issues

 

Two points of view stick in my head:

- Aston remains the head coach at Texas until we are told she is not

- Aston has not received a contract extension to coach at Texas next season and beyond until we are told she has

 

The most recent media mentioning Coach A's situation was from Saturday's Statesman:

Texas athletes, coaches come to grips with stoppage, all wonder what’s next | Hookem.com

What about men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart’s status? He could not be reached Friday. What about Aston, who’s in the final year of her contract?

“I’m anticipating being the coach at the University of Texas,” Aston said. “The time will come when I’ll sit down with (Del Conte) and we’ll talk about the future of my program, my staff, but this isn’t the right time.”

Aston paused and noted, “Things that we think are important are on the back burner right now.”

 

Kathy Olivier resigned in early March, and UNLV has named her replacement:

 

Interesting. I don’t see Semrau not being at Florida St unless she retires.

 

Gail Goestenkors thinking of returning to coaching basketball.

After eight years away, Gail Goestenkors is ready to return...

It's too bad that Karen Aston had left Texas for Baylor (when she was apparently told that she would not be considered for the head coaching position once Conradt moved on) when she did. I think that Goestenkors being hired and retaining Aston as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator would have been a tremendous combination at Texas.

 

My gut still tells me that Karen won't be renewed/extended.

Here were some coaching candidates on my wishlist which I listed a couple of months ago:

Adia Barnes at Arizona is a great young coach who coaches in a very tough conference, and holding her own against some very experienced coaches in the PAC; her team would have been a Top 16 seed in this year's NCAA tourney. She is a great recruiter, including internationally as she made many connections during her playing days overseas. She is an Arizona alum, but UofA does not pay its women's sports coaches very well. UofA fans have really started to embrace her program; they drew over 7,000 fans for a recent game against Stanford. She just landed another transfer from Indiana University, and is in on several other transfers (like Destiny Pittman from Minnesota). Her husband is an assistant coach on her staff; does Texas have a nepotism rule? She is my first choice.

Adia Barnes - Women's Basketball Coach - University of Arizona Athletics


Cori Close at UCLA continues to get her team close to reaching a Final Four. Her team would have been a Top 8 national seed again in this year's NCAA tourney, I believe. Fabulous recruiter; not sure she is a great X's and O's coach yet. Recruits extremely well, especially in Texas. Now she is getting some fabulous players from Australia, as well. I think she only makes like $500k (which can't go far considering LA's high cost of living, and state income taxes). She graduated from UC-Santa Barbara, but may have been an assistant at UCLA early in her career. Believe she grew up in California.

Cori Close - Women's Basketball Coach - UCLA


Quentin Hillsman at Syracuse led his squad to a national runner-up finish a few seasons ago. Despite not likely qualifying for this year's tournament, I think his squad stiil beat Top 5 Louisville. He is recruiting lights out. But, he may already be making like $900k.

Quentin Hillsman - Women's Basketball Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Coaches who I believe would not leave their program for Texas (for many reasons) include those at Louisville, Miss. State, Oregon, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Oregon State. If CDC believes a new head coach needs to be hired, I'd bet he/she comes from the PAC, as they just don't pay their coaches well compared to other conferences, and more money could be a driving reason for them to come to Texas.

 

While there are several very good young coaches out there, I feel 100% confident in saying this is the resume' of one who will never be the coach at Texas, despite her past connections to CDC:

2014–15 18–14 9–9 (T-3rd) Raegan Pebley WNIT 2nd Round

2015–16 18–15 8–10 (T-6th) Raegan Pebley WNIT 3rd Round

2016–17 12–18 4–14 (9th) Raegan Pebley n/a

2017–18 23–13 9–9 (5th) Raegan Pebley WNIT Semifinals

2018–19 24–11 10–8 (5th) Raegan Pebley WNIT Semifinals

We won't be hiring a head coach who can't recruit the metroplex at a high level, and can only sign like one serviceable post player every 4-5 years. And, of course, not making the NCAA tournament is a definite red flag.

 

I like Regan Pebley, she's a good young coach. She makes the most of what she has. That's not necessarily saying she'd be a good candidate for Texas IF the position came open. Basically I just respect what she's done without top recruits.

I also like the other aforementioned candidates... especially Adia Barnes because she's brought the Arizona program back to some degree of significance. The Syracuse coach has been to a Final Four and usually puts a good team on the floor.

Cori Close... Like her but also not fully sure about her as a strategist. She's recruited Texas pretty good, but I wonder if it's her or sunny Southern California and the iconic UCLA brand that's the draw.

Time will tell IF and WHO...

 

Villanova is also searching for a new head coach.

 

While I understand Del Conte's comments that the health and safety of our student-athletes comes first, he can't really be spending 40 hours a week on that issue with all sports cancelled and all students away from campus.

Golden's nuggets: In light of outbreak, Del Conte mum on Smart, Aston

With the planet battling the spread of the coronavirus, sports has had to take a back seat, and understandably so. On Wednesday, Del Conte said the coaching situations are the least of his concerns. Not surprised by that.

“That question or that conversation has not been on the front burner of my mind,” Del Conte told us in this week’s “On Second Thought” podcast. “I’m sure it is on yours because that is your job. Mine is making sure the safety of our student-athletes is first and foremost.”

Translation? He will eventually get to it, but it’s not his biggest priority.


He owes it to the future of the women's hoops program to go on the record with a decision on Aston's future, one way or the other. Can it really take this long to decide if he is going to extend her contract or not? It's not like he wasn't contemplating this decision prior to the health concerns.

 

If the coronavirus ends up being some kind of excuse for not making the much needed coaching change, that will just be so incredibly lame.

 

If Astons contract is not renewed then Adia Barnes is the coach I hope Texas targets. Her style of play
and her development of players is exactly what Texas needs. Her recruiting is not going after top ranked players but she finds players that best fit her program and as we all see it has payed off very well.

 

I was curious as to exactly when Aston's contract expires; and I found where it runs through August 31, 2020.

 

Aida Barnes gets my vote. And maybe if old Rick flames out in Knoxville, we can get the Barneses together ;-)

 

As Adia Barnes of Arizona seems like a top candidate for many posters if we do need a new head coach, thought I'd put this blurb here that her team is pre-season #7 in ESPN's very early Top 25 for 2020-21:

7. Arizona Wildcats

The return of Aari McDonald (20.6 PPG) and Cate Reese (13.6 PPG) gives the Wildcats the best one-two scoring duo in the Pac-12 and a chance to continue the rapid evolution of the program ignited by fourth-year head coach Adia Barnes. The Wildcats went from 14-16 in her first season to WNIT champs last year to what was certain to be Arizona's first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2005 this season. The expectations for next season: contending for a Pac-12 title and a No. 2 seed. Steady guard Amari Carter is gone but will be replaced by Oklahoma transfer Shaina Pellington, who scored 13.1 points per game as a sophomore in Norman, Oklahoma. Five-foot-6 McDonald is the catalyst, though. She will be near the top of every All-American and player of the year list. Arizona's success largely rests on her shoulders. -- Creme

 

Looks like Shaka Smart is being retained.

'Shaka's our coach': Texas AD Chris Del Conte is sticking with Shaka Smart for 2020-21 | Hookem.com

No word on Coach Aston.

Del Conte also faces a decision on women’s basketball coach Karen Aston, who is now out of her contract. Texas could offer her a new deal or hire someone else. Her situation is totally different than Smart’s. Still, for Texas to lure a big-name coach, it’s likely going to require a hefty financial commitment.

 

let us not forget that NCAA is in the midst of implementing a rule that would let players transfer once without penalty. So Cate and Ari could theoretically follow Adia if she leaves. Makes her more attractive imo

 

Arizona also signed Lauren Ware. Hmmm....

 

So, Del Conte spoke to the media today (or at least Brian Davis) and spoke about Shaka; but, did not mention Aston. Would have been really easy to say he was extending Aston't contract . . . but, he did not do that today . . .

 

I believe she is under contract until the end of the school year. They could still be negotiating.

 

So he spoke to Brian Davis (I confess I don't know who that is), and Davis didn't even bother to ask him about Aston?

 

Really? When did that get passed? Also will it be implemented into this upcoming season or future seasons?

 

It hasn’t gotten passed. They were supposed to be having talks about it but it’s been pushed back because of the pandemic.

 

Shaka Smart will be back for a sixth season at Texas. Here’s what likely factored into his return

Del Conte still has to make a decision on women’s basketball coach Karen Aston, whose contract expires this summer. The Longhorns were 19-11 this year in Aston’s eighth season. While endorsing Smart, Del Conte offered nothing about Aston’s status to the Statesman.

 

Did they ask?

 

I think COVID-19 saved her job. I bet she gets a one-year (or maybe two) extension. Firing, then hiring, a new coach right now seems really difficult and I doubt it's a priority.

 

As I posted a few days ago, Aston's contract runs through 08/31/2020. That date always struck me as odd considering the hoops season pretty much ends no later than 03/31 unless you are playing in the Final Four. And, she was hired in like April, I believe, so why those "extra" months were padded on is strange to me.

Regardless, I did find the article announcing the details of her original contract:

Aston's contract in the middle of Big 12's women's hoops salary ranks

If Aston ever is terminated, there is a provision that forces Texas to pay her a base salary of $337,500 multiplied by the number of years she has remaining on the agreement.

I doubt that has much significance as her contract expires in 5 months. But, perhaps there is a legal difference if she is "terminated" versus letting her contract run out. Letting her contract run out means she has to stay employed in some capacity (re-assigned?) at Texas until 08/31/2020.

I had to dig up how exactly Texas parted ways with former softball head coach, Connie Clark. She did in fact resign on 05/23/2018, although most assumed she was not getting an extension as she was in the last year of her contract. So, technically, her resignation came before the actual expiration date of her contract.

For everyone's peace of mind (especially the players and staff), I sure hope we hear something official no later than the end of this week as April begins.

 

Yes legally there is a big difference. Right now no one is working so if the contract is not extended, reassign her to CdC's staff and tell her to work online until the contract ends. [Technically she should be assigned to Plonsky's staff, but I would not wish that on anyone (even Barry Switzer)].