I’ve heard rumblings of the Cal AD making major MBB coaching staff moves if the losses continue. To say it bluntly, if Cal loses to UCSD on Tuesday, im not sure MF is making it to conference play.

— BearWire (@goldenbearwire) November 14, 2022

Much as I think we need a coaching change I'm not in favor of mid-season firing unless some kind of malfeasance is involved.

Knowlton will look through his Rolodex and see if he can find a former ice hockey coach to take over.

eastcoastcal said:

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Is it wrong for me to root for us to lose to UCSD? I hate to root against Cal but there is nothing that I want more than to see us turn the program around and I simply do not believe Mark Fox is or will ever be the answer.

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You don't have to root for UCSD. This game doesn't look like one where we come out of with a W.

BearGoggles said:

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The real question - how does a win over UC San Diego save a Cal coach's job?

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It doesn't, just delays the inevitable and maybe Knowlton wants to avoid the headache until after football concludes.

Who takes over as head coach? What a disaster.

sluggo said:

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If you are going to fire him in the preseason, why not fire him at the end of last season when you could bring in someone new? This year's disaster is entirely predictable.

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JK's line with Fox was that recruiting needed to improve but he was hamstrung by Covid and with a little time he'd succeed just like Wilcox in football.

The start of this season negates that narrative. Recruiting wasn't better. More time hasn't changed anything - the team is maybe even worse. And with football sucking so badly the 'aspire towards being JW' thing maybe isn't so glamorous a goal after all.

bear wire is full of **** with zero connections, literally nothing he says is accurate but whatever

there is a future head coach whose been identified as the top candidate by multiple cal's largest basketball donors but trust me alky don't got a clue either

look it's no crime to be clueless but it's no bueno to think that cuz u do an annual group dinner with arguably the worst coach in p5 basketball & his gracious wife to think u know what's gonna happen with respects to cal's men basketball

don't be a dumb azz (much better to palm a tight azz)#

eastcoastcal said:

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Is it wrong for me to root for us to lose to UCSD? I hate to root against Cal but there is nothing that I want more than to see us turn the program around and I simply do not believe Mark Fox is or will ever be the answer.

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Well my brother was the PG there following Randy Bennett, and my oldest went there, so…

BearGoggles said:

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The real question - how does a win over UC San Diego save a Cal coach's job?

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the accurate answer is that the uc san diego game is irrelevant on multiple levels

bluehenbear said:

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Who takes over as head coach? What a disaster.

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Marty Wilson was the head coach at Pepperdine for 7 years, compiling a record that makes Fox's look good.
But he was a HC.

Maybe Andrew Francis?

This is kind of like Geep Chryst as OC.

Shocky1 said:

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bear wire is full of **** with zero connections, literally nothing he says is accurate but whatever

there is a future head coach whose been identified as the top candidate by multiple cal's largest basketball donors but trust me alky don't got a clue either

look it's no crime to be clueless but it's no bueno to think that cuz u do an annual group dinner with arguably the worst coach in p5 basketball & his gracious wife to think u know what's gonna happen with respects to cal's men basketball

don't be a dumb azz (much better to palm a tight azz)#

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Future head coach targeted? PM me, promise I won't tell.

calumnus said:

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Shocky1 said:

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bear wire is full of **** with zero connections, literally nothing he says is accurate but whatever

there is a future head coach whose been identified as the top candidate by multiple cal's largest basketball donors but trust me alky don't got a clue either

look it's no crime to be clueless but it's no bueno to think that cuz u do an annual group dinner with arguably the worst coach in p5 basketball & his gracious wife to think u know what's gonna happen with respects to cal's men basketball

don't be a dumb azz (much better to palm a tight azz)#

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Future head coach targeted? PM me, promise I won't tell.

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calumnus, once you get this info PM me. I wont tell anyone too

eastcoastcal said:

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calumnus said:

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Shocky1 said:

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bear wire is full of **** with zero connections, literally nothing he says is accurate but whatever

there is a future head coach whose been identified as the top candidate by multiple cal's largest basketball donors but trust me alky don't got a clue either

look it's no crime to be clueless but it's no bueno to think that cuz u do an annual group dinner with arguably the worst coach in p5 basketball & his gracious wife to think u know what's gonna happen with respects to cal's men basketball

don't be a dumb azz (much better to palm a tight azz)#

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Future head coach targeted? PM me, promise I won't tell.

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calumnus, once you get this info PM me. I wont tell anyone too

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Ditto.

Me too, please

sluggo said:

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tequila4kapp said:

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sluggo said:

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If you are going to fire him in the preseason, why not fire him at the end of last season when you could bring in someone new? This year's disaster is entirely predictable.

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JK's line with Fox was that recruiting needed to improve but he was hamstrung by Covid and with a little time he'd succeed just like Wilcox in football.

The start of this season negates that narrative. Recruiting wasn't better. More time hasn't changed anything - the team is maybe even worse. And with football sucking so badly the 'aspire towards being JW' thing maybe isn't so glamorous a goal after all.

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We disagree about this season, which was inevitable given the roster. There was no alternative narrative. I know Fox spouted whatever going into the season, as he always does, but how could anyone believe him?

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My concern is that JK believed him...and now it isn't happening, which could theoretically lead to the seat getting warm.

BeachedBear said:

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stu said:

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Much as I think we need a coaching change I'm not in favor of mid-season firing unless some kind of malfeasance is involved.

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Usually, I agree with this, but the last time Cal did this, I think we made a sweet 16 run?...

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Aside from ethical questions I'd ask:

Has Fox lost the team? Is it falling apart from internal dissension?

Is the situation similar? Do we have enough talent to reach the top half of the PAC-12?

Who would we hire at this time? Where would we find a great long-term coach? How much better would a temp do?

How did the rushed hiring of Bozeman work out in the long run?

My answers are all negative.

Shocky1 said:

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there is a future head coach whose been identified as the top candidate by multiple cal's largest basketball donors but trust me alky don't got a clue either

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Tantalizing post Shocky. I presume this coach is currently employed at another university. So identifying them in mid-November will probably get very complicated as the season unfolds.

Unless this mystery candidate is currently available or in the professional ranks; I will assume they aren't a top assistant since the Wyking disaster is so fresh.

The pressure is greater than ever to nail this hire.

stu said:

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BeachedBear said:

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stu said:

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Much as I think we need a coaching change I'm not in favor of mid-season firing unless some kind of malfeasance is involved.

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Usually, I agree with this, but the last time Cal did this, I think we made a sweet 16 run?...

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Aside from ethical questions I'd ask:

Has Fox lost the team? Is it falling apart from internal dissension?

Is the situation similar? Do we have enough talent to reach the top half of the PAC-12?

Who would we hire at this time? Where would we find a great long-term coach? How much better would a temp do?

How did the rushed hiring of Bozeman work out in the long run?

My answers are all negative.

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Well, not to nitpick on your post, but Bozeman got greedy in the long run...he keeps his hand out of his wallet, it's possibly a different game....he could recruit, period.

stu said:

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Much as I think we need a coaching change I'm not in favor of mid-season firing unless some kind of malfeasance is involved.

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Hi Stu,

Just curious on your logic here. I can see both sides of the argument. Is your stance in general or specific to the situation with Fox?

"...he keeps his hand out of his wallet, it's possibly a different game...." The next coach won't have to secretly pay the recruits.

It's a different game for the players with NIL. Next coach's recruiting willget substantial support from the fans, donors, collective etc..

BC Calfan said:

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stu said:

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Much as I think we need a coaching change I'm not in favor of mid-season firing unless some kind of malfeasance is involved.

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Hi Stu,

Just curious on your logic here. I can see both sides of the argument. Is your stance in general or specific to the situation with Fox?

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For me this is a general principle, unrelated to Fox.

I should have added another cause: loss of control. If players are in open revolt or leaving the team in the middle of a season then something needs to be done right away. Did I mention coaches assaulting one another?

tequila4kapp said:

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Not firing coaches mid-season is a noble but antiquated way of thinking that is tied to the old college sports model. Now that the revenue sports are effectively professional and players have almost unrestricted ability to move around you simply cannot let a clearly incompetent coach stay on, just for the sake of finishing the season. Doing so demonstrates a level of indifference that will lead to players departing, which creates a full rebuild.

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Thank you. My thinking has often been called antiquated but seldom noble.

Are players allowed to transfer during the season and play right away?

Can we at least have a hint about the identity of this future head coach identified by multiple large donors?

Is it someone who has previously kicked a Cal basketball player?

;-)

stu said:

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tequila4kapp said:

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Not firing coaches mid-season is a noble but antiquated way of thinking that is tied to the old college sports model. Now that the revenue sports are effectively professional and players have almost unrestricted ability to move around you simply cannot let a clearly incompetent coach stay on, just for the sake of finishing the season. Doing so demonstrates a level of indifference that will lead to players departing, which creates a full rebuild.

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Thank you. My thinking has often been called antiquated but seldom noble.

Are players allowed to transfer during the season and play right away?

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The only argument for a graceful exit is for a long-time formerly successful coach who 'earns' not being fired that way (maybe you convince them to early announce retirement for the end of the season etc). Not for a coach who hasn't won anything for your program and has overseen the rapid disintegration of interest in your team (from recruits and fans alike).

BearSD said:

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Can we at least have a hint about the identity of this future head coach identified by multiple large donors?

Is it someone who has previously kicked a Cal basketball player?

;-)

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Yup

For those that need a history lesson there was strong rumors that the Kicker was strongly backed by several large donors. He is known with his connection to the Braun family (and of course his stint as an assistant).

For those counting at home his Gaucho's are 2-0.

Honestly he checks ALL the boxes. He has shown at UCSB the ability to win. He has a prior Cal Connection. He as support among major donors. He understands the UC system. Both there and at Zona he recruited the southland.

But give that of course he won't get the nod.

However, I would be SHOCKED if the dismissal happens this week. Basketball loses money. It isn't going to suddenly MAKE money with a coaching change (I assume that the variables on the revenue are pretty minimal after season tixs are accounted for. Concessions are not a huge net profit).

But here is how bad it is. I COULD go to the game tomorrow. 20 minute drive from the Casa. SCT Jr. is interested in UCSD so nice excuse to visit campus again for an event.

But I am "meh". Maybe game time decision......