concernedparent said:

---

bluesaxe said:

---

BC Calfan said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

BeachedBear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

Pac 12 I suspect Hopkins and Hasse are gone. I think Haase was under an ultimatum to win or else. Hopkins only because Udub seems to have money to throw around.

Salary wise, I don't see thinking about who Texas is considering as relevant.

Dennis Gates, if he will have us and we will pay sufficiently, seems to check off a lot of boxes.

Mark Madsen at Utah Valley and NBA Development League would be an interesting choice. Light on D1 coaching obviously.

Drew Valentine at Loyola Chicago looks like a winner, but probably is not on the search firm's radar.

Legans at Portland and the guy mentioned in the OP any UCSB, though they both come with some Cal baggage.

Then there all the guys the stupid search firm will come-up with.

I really don't trust JK with this decision.

---

FWIW, I sent a list of 60 candidates to JK last year that included some of these. Drew Valentine and Todd Golden were two that I highlighted as deserving of priority scrutiny.

---

Did you use your search firm name (or make one up)?

---

We should start a list of garbage candidates that a search firm would come up with so we're prepared. I'll start:

Ben Howland
Herb Sendek
Tommy Amaker
Steve Alford
Mark Gottfried
Lorenzo Romar
Jeff Capel
Bruce Weber
Tom Crean
Buzz Peterson

Knowlton, if you're reading this, STAY AWAY FROM GUYS LIKE THIS.

---

You know what's really sad about this list, aside from it being a lot like what Knowlton would probably look for? All of these guys would probably do better than Fox.

---

They would all do better than Fox. Fox is the starving orphan in a war-torn country version of Ben Howland.

---

Lol. Yeah, "poor man's Ben Howland" came to mind before, but your's is the far better analogy.

Big C said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

Ursine said:

---

BC Calfan said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

I am not going to mention the coach in the subject line but that is the alpha and omega of our search. Even if all it does is get the practice facility funded (it will) and allow us to get an improved roster (it would) and reconnect with Bear hoops Alumni that are all in on him. There may be another candidate who is realistic for Cal that would be better but I have not heard of him.

In case you are interested the Gauchos are now 17 and 3. Rainbow Warriors gave them a good game but a 1 point win and they are flying back to UCIV a happy group of players.

Honestly we may not be able to get him. He is gong to have some offers - I would assume that Huskies if they are not IDIOTS will be at the front of the line.

---

You just made me check the Big West standings. Had to look up who the coach is at Riverside who has his team in 2nd place.

Mike Magpayo - Wikipedia Profile

Very interesting background. Checks some boxes for us: young, California native, UC experience (UCSB grad), former CEO of a real estate company and something our school and fan base would appreciate: In July 2020, Magpayo became the first NCAA Division I men's basketball head coach of full Asian heritage

Don't know his recruiting acumen or playing style but someone we should track.

---

Those are the kind of boxes that I'm not remotely interested in ticking because none of them address the question of whether he can recruit and win. All I know about him is that he is capable of leading a winning program in a second tier conference and that he did it for a school considering shuttering its entire athletic program. That last part is interesting to me. His ethnicity, alma mater, and real estate experience are neither here nor there. That starts to get into the area where you are more interested in breaking barriers than success.

---

Great post.

---

Great post in your opinion, but I think you guys are seriously undervaluing real estate experience for a college basketball coach.

---

I think Magpayo is a really interesting long shot candidate whose career I will follow.

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

eastcoastcal said:

---

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

---

I think you can assume he's been approached by Cal and said no.

bluesaxe said:

---

eastcoastcal said:

---

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

---

I think you can assume he's been approached by Cal and said no.

---

By JK? Doubt it.

dimitrig said:

---

bluesaxe said:

---

eastcoastcal said:

---

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

---

I think you can assume he's been approached by Cal and said no.

---

By JK? Doubt it.

---

No. Before that.

bluesaxe said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

bluesaxe said:

---

eastcoastcal said:

---

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

---

I think you can assume he's been approached by Cal and said no.

---

By JK? Doubt it.

---

No. Before that.

---

Circumstances might have changed.

Wanting to evaluate great basketball coaching?
Tonight, Saturday Feb 4, in Orinda at 7:30 PM on ESPN you will have your chance to watch:

St Mary's (20-4) ranked #18 versus Gonzaga (19-4) ranked #14

eastcoastcal said:

---

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

---

He interviewed for one of our semi-frequent "opportunities" a while back (either when we hired Monty, or Cuonzo) and the scuttlebutt was that he didn't sound very impressive. He used to be interviewed on KNBR fairly regularly -- this is also a while back -- and I thought he came across as sort of a knucklehead. Respect to him, though, as he's done a great job at St. Mary's.

I think he found the perfect place for himself and has made the most of it. Good for him. Since that one Cal interview, I don't think there's been much interest from either side.

Ursine said:

---

Big C said:

---

eastcoastcal said:

---

How willing is Randy Bennett to take another position? He's been at SMC for a long time now and I have to assume he's been approached by other programs. He's got them at #1 in the WCC and they beat Gonzaga. Would he be willing to make a move to Cal?

---

He interviewed for one of our semi-frequent "opportunities" a while back (either when we hired Monty, or Cuonzo) and the scuttlebutt was that he didn't sound very impressive. He used to be interviewed on KNBR fairly regularly -- this is also a while back -- and I thought he came across as sort of a knucklehead. Respect to him, though, as he's done a great job at St. Mary's.

I think he found the perfect place for himself and has made the most of it. Good for him. Since that one Cal interview, I don't think there's been much interest from either side.

---

The scuttlebutt said Dennis Gates wasn't prepared for his interview. I don't really care what the scuttlebutt says. I want winners, not great interviewers.

---

Me too, but Bennett is probably good right where he is and not everywhere else, for any number of reasons.

Gates was unproven as a HC until Cleveland St... and then we missed that window. Ouch. Hopefully we'll hire somebody good in 5-6 weeks. Go Bears!

If we had someone like UCLA's AD, I bet Cal could work it out for Bennett to he HC. However, we also wouldn't be pining for a new coach for the past 6 years if we had a half decent AD…

https://watchstadium.com/which-coaches-are-on-the-hot-seat-in-college-basketball-02-03-2023/

Goodman is usually pretty tuned in, but his reporting on Fox's buyout seems at odds with what others have shared:

Contract: Signed a five-year contract in 2019 through 2023-24

Fox inherited a mess when he took over in 2019. The Bears were 16-47 in two seasons under previous coach Wyking Jones. Fox won 14 games his first season at the helm, but was 9-20 and 12-20 before this season which has resulted in a 3-19 record. Fox's days are likely done in Berkeley after the season, especially because the buyout is low (25 percent of his $1.8 million base salary).

According to the Hot Seat Report (updated Feb 03, before the Utah loss):

It's hard to fathom how things are this bad in year four of the Fox Era, as the 3-19 (2-9) Bears are easily the worst team major conference team west of Louisville.

And Hasse has moved from chair on fire to seat rather warm:

The Cardinal are just 10-12 (4-7) despite having NBA talent on the roster. But they are better than Oregon State and rival Cal and it seems like Haase might be buying himself another year with their current five-game winning streak (but do Stanford fans want that?).

smokeyrover said:

---

https://watchstadium.com/which-coaches-are-on-the-hot-seat-in-college-basketball-02-03-2023/

Goodman is usually pretty tuned in, but his reporting on Fox's buyout seems at odds with what others have shared:

Contract: Signed a five-year contract in 2019 through 2023-24

Fox inherited a mess when he took over in 2019. The Bears were 16-47 in two seasons under previous coach Wyking Jones. Fox won 14 games his first season at the helm, but was 9-20 and 12-20 before this season which has resulted in a 3-19 record. Fox's days are likely done in Berkeley after the season, especially because the buyout is low (25 percent of his $1.8 million base salary).

---

Knowlton extended him.

stu said:

---

According to the Hot Seat Report (updated Feb 03, before the Utah loss):

It's hard to fathom how things are this bad in year four of the Fox Era, as the 3-19 (2-9) Bears are easily the worst team major conference team west of Louisville.

And Hasse has moved from chair on fire to seat rather warm:

The Cardinal are just 10-12 (4-7) despite having NBA talent on the roster. But they are better than Oregon State and rival Cal and it seems like Haase might be buying himself another year with their current five-game winning streak (but do Stanford fans want that?).

---

Do Stanford fans know there's a men's basketball team?

HearstMining said:

---

stu said:

---

According to the Hot Seat Report (updated Feb 03, before the Utah loss):

It's hard to fathom how things are this bad in year four of the Fox Era, as the 3-19 (2-9) Bears are easily the worst team major conference team west of Louisville.

And Hasse has moved from chair on fire to seat rather warm:

The Cardinal are just 10-12 (4-7) despite having NBA talent on the roster. But they are better than Oregon State and rival Cal and it seems like Haase might be buying himself another year with their current five-game winning streak (but do Stanford fans want that?).

---

Do Stanford fans know there's a men's basketball team?

---

They don't talk about it much.

oskidunker said:

---

HearstMining said:

---

stu said:

---

According to the Hot Seat Report (updated Feb 03, before the Utah loss):

It's hard to fathom how things are this bad in year four of the Fox Era, as the 3-19 (2-9) Bears are easily the worst team major conference team west of Louisville.

And Hasse has moved from chair on fire to seat rather warm:

The Cardinal are just 10-12 (4-7) despite having NBA talent on the roster. But they are better than Oregon State and rival Cal and it seems like Haase might be buying himself another year with their current five-game winning streak (but do Stanford fans want that?).

---

Do Stanford fans know there's a men's basketball team?

---

They don't talk about it much.

---

I have a friend who went to Stanford. When he talks about it, what comes out is almost identical to me talking about Cal under Fox. Fire.

https://www.coachesdatabase.com/lets-speculate-california-head-basketball-coach-candidates/

oskidunker said:

---

https://www.coachesdatabase.com/lets-speculate-california-head-basketball-coach-candidates/

---

Semi-interesting list, but if Pasternack isn't on it, it lacks credibility. Cuonzo again? I don't think so. Gates? Sure, but... (as they alluded to)

That Bas t ard Cuonzo deliberately lost the Bakersfield game. No chance. Smoke and mirrors

BeachedBear said:

---

Big C said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

https://www.coachesdatabase.com/lets-speculate-california-head-basketball-coach-candidates/

---

Semi-interesting list, but if Pasternack isn't on it, it lacks credibility. Cuonzo again? I don't think so. Gates? Sure, but... (as they alluded to)

---

The sad thing is NOT that this is a pretty lazy spray of names (consider the source), BUT THAT it is likely far superior to what Knowlton has done to come up with his short list (if he even knows what a short list is).

---

Didn't know much about Dedrique Taylor. Worth a look though only a year at UC Davis. But could recruit the southland (or at least SHOULD be able to)

BeachedBear said:

---

Big C said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

https://www.coachesdatabase.com/lets-speculate-california-head-basketball-coach-candidates/

---

Semi-interesting list, but if Pasternack isn't on it, it lacks credibility. Cuonzo again? I don't think so. Gates? Sure, but... (as they alluded to)

---

The sad thing is NOT that this is a pretty lazy spray of names (consider the source), BUT THAT it is likely far superior to what Knowlton has done to come up with his short list (if he even knows what a short list is).

---

Yup. If most any regular poster on this board were AD, imagine how much they could tell us about any of these guys and 20-30 more. I would have a giant board on a giant wall, in the secret side room, off of my office. Monty Buckley and KJ Roberts, sworn to secrecy, would have visited it last weekend. Heck, I could tell you if Dennis Gates' family is happy, living in Missouri. The only reason Knowlton has been in touch with the search firm "already" is that they saw an opportunity and contacted him, months ago.