Yes, me too. You have to be careful about who you replace a HOF coach with. Cori Close is an awful good one and a proven recruiter as well. I'd love to see the Big 12 get stronger and stronger.
This has been enlightening y'all. Thanks! And I agree with the above posts that we want a strong conference. More exciting games and higher rankings for all.
Interesting that we consider our conference, muddling along with 10 teams, to be one of those in a position of strength. What determines that? Money? Why do we think we're in better shape than Pac-12 or ACC? Is it because the football mostly sucks in those conferences?
Well, football IS the cash cow. I personally judge a conference's strength by competition top to bottom. But since we're talking about potential coaching hires, the ability to pay top dollar carries mega weight. So, yes, I'd say money determines a conference's strength when speaking in terms of ability to hire top coaches.
Are all the coaches at the final 4 this year? I understand that that's usually where a lot of these interviews take place. Or are they doing more zoom interviews these days?
I'm happy for her! She will turn that program completely around. I pray she doesn't take any coaches from the staff with her especially coach Lovato. I wonder how much of an impact this move will have on transfers. Mississippi state players to be specific
It more than likely will depending on who goes with her to Auburn. Especially the transfers from MSU seeing that most are from that area.
Do yall think he will promote within the program or does he hire another associate head coach? I personally believe he promotes within the current staff baring anyone else leaves. We now need a coach that can develop bigs and can be a great recruiter. I personally have no worries because I know whoever it's going to be will have to be a perfect fit and a proven track record
No need to promote unless it matters to Elena, but Dionnah also carried the associate HC title. I do know that Vic relied on Johnnie a lot, so I am scared of what that will mean for the program but we can’t hold Johnnie back from her HC dreams for our own selfish reasons. Best of luck to her
It's great that Johnnie is so highly thought of to land her first head coaching position on any level at a P5 conference school. But it's not easy running your own program for the first time; and, she's heading into a very strong conference and inheriting a program that has finished near the bottom and where the recent head coaches have failed to turn Auburn into any kind of post-season constant. Wish her the best. But, we saw how Nikki McCray struggled at a program where she inherited so much more talent and winning tradition. I actually think it's going to be a very tough challenge as programs like Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Tennessee are on the upswing even though MSU and LSU seem to be on the downswing.
I agree, I am a little worried as of now but I'm always like this so it really holds no water. I'm happy for her and if she felt this was perfect for her then you can't pass it up and I know Vic approves as well. Once we make the new hire and the transfers begin to come in then that will relieve all the stress I am currently gaining
Ladies and gentlemen... let us not forget who gets paid the big bucks to be the CEO of our program. While I certainly hope that Johnnie would be with us for a while, but it was the it is the inevitable. That's what each of us do in our professional lives -- strive to be better and move up. Good for Johnnie!! I hate that she's leaving, but there are capable assistants out there and Vic knows who is who. We lost three assistants to head coaching jobs during KA's tenure, so it's not anything we haven't seen before. Just as that spoke volumes about Karen's ability to hire good people, it speaks the same about Vic. He'll find someone good, and there's no need to panic. One of the highly regarded young coaches out there is one of our very own. Here's what they have to say about her (she is now at UNLV) Nneka Enemkpali (UCSB assistant coach) Enemkpali was a beautiful hire for Coach Bonnie Henrickson at UCSB. Enemkpali has brought elite level skill development for the Gaucho post players. Ila Lane’s rise to prominence as just a freshman can be credited in large part to Coach Enemkplali’s ability to develop elite post players. Lane finished the 2019-2020 season as the #1 rebounder in the NCAA DI (13 RPG), Big West Freshman of the Year and AP All-American Honorable Mention. Enemkpali came to UCSB by way of Gonzaga video coordinator. She was drafted 26th overall out of Texas by the Seattle Storm. While at Texas, Enemkpali averaged 10ppg and 8rpg.
Yep. Vic might be having a short turkey hunt this year if he has to replace both assistances and try to find transfers .
Will Vic promote Blair to an assistant coach role? She certainly appears to be interested in a coaching role. I like the thought of Nneka as well. UNLV recruited a nice 2021 class.
That's the job he's getting paid to do. Ultimately the responsibility of the program is his and he'll be the first to say so. I'm sure if we've thought of these possibilities, then so has he... and long before us.
I think there’s some policy that prevents Blair from being an assistant coach at Texas under her dad. Could go with Johnnie to Auburn to start her official coaching career.
I thought there was a nepotism rule at the university preventing that? Although it’s a stupid rule to apply in sports
Part of the issue at OU was people felt Sherri hiring her son as an assistant was not a good look, especially considering all the experienced and qualified coaches there are to choose from.
