Braun solved the film room problem. Would more charter flights help that much?

The program really has hit a low point. An Oreogn writer trashes the coach. program, players (indirectly), fans and AD, and you know, it is hard to take issue with what he says. And yes, I think any guy JK hires, will lose as well.

concordtom said:

---

Pay the players, not the coach.

A decent high schools coach can run Xs and Os well enough if he has nba level talent.

---

Exactly. Many know X's and O's better than Fox who is notably deficient and doesn't take input from players or assistants. Plus, hundreds, make it thousands, of coaches are far more personable, positive and player friendly making a fraction of what we pay Fox. It is the NIL era, if we adapt sooner we will have an advantage.

Yes he covers the Ducks, but he also covers the Pac12 extensively (like Wilner)

wifeisafurd said:

---

The program really has hit a low point. An Oreogn writer trashes the coach. program, players (indirectly), fans and AD, and you know, it is hard to take issue with what he says. And yes, I think any guy JK hires, will lose as well.

---

calumnus said:

---

concordtom said:

---

Pay the players, not the coach.

A decent high schools coach can run Xs and Os well enough if he has nba level talent.

---

Exactly. Many know X's and O's better than Fox who is notably deficient and doesn't take input from players or assistants. Plus, hundreds, make it thousands, of coaches are far more personable, positive and player friendly making a fraction of what we pay Fox. It is the NIL era, if we adapt sooner we will have an advantage.

---

THIS!!!!

The X's and O's are the easy part. The trick is getting everyone on the team on the same page and advancing through more complicated aspects. Coach K, Monty, Calipari were all renowned for their ability to INSTALL an offense or defense. It involves lots of teaching concepts, but also a level of connection to each player and as a group.

The results are obvious - the players either are in the right place at the right time or they are not.

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

Whoever hired the AD who fired Braun could have done it. And whoever hired the current AD could still do it. But you're right about Montgomery.

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

Yeah, my idea of what constitutes unacceptable results at Cal has been greatly adjusted the last several years.

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

It was Sandy Barbour

canzano's title was too positive. We are the opposite of flying. More like crash and burn.

Big Dog said:

---

his title was too positive. We are the opposite of flying. More like crash and burn.

---

Well, before you hit the ground, technically you're still flying...

Econ141 said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Montgomery underperformed expectations. Won a weak pac-12 conference I don't think anyone cares about and never got as far as Braun in the tourney. I appreciate that he's a good x and o coach but coaching is the sum of x and o and recruiting. He didn't deliver as far as I'm concerned but I would have much rather kept him on board for the past however many years to avoid this dark period. Heck is rather have kept Braun if that meant avoiding this dark period.

---

Monty teams (and programs) are NOT designed to do well in the tourney as they relied a lot on "team ball" and scouting/preparation. They rarely featured great break down one on one play and loved picking up touch fouls.

This is specifically NOT the NCAA tournament

1) You have VERY little prep time. You find out your opponent and then you are GOING. MAYBE you have ONE day to walk through and focus on a few things but nothing else.

2) Games are called MUCH loser. So if you are not athletic and rely a lot on touch fouls good luck. Gotten better but ALWAYS a problem for his underperforming Furd teams.

2.5) Month's disdain for the Pac12 tournie which really cost Cal in 2010

3) Absent really dominance it is so hard for the Pac12 runner up(s) to get off the seed of death. Even more so the seed of death in the pod system - that near guarantees that round 2 will be essentially a road game in front of a rabid fan base. I mean I am frustrated that we didn't get to the S16 under Monty but I am not sure I am blaming him for


1) Losing to #1 Seed Duke
2) Losing the stupid play in game in Dayton

On monty is
3) Losing to Maryland. That was a game we should have won
4) Losing to Syracuse in a game at San Jose. That was a tournament we could have done well.

socaltownie said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Montgomery underperformed expectations. Won a weak pac-12 conference I don't think anyone cares about and never got as far as Braun in the tourney. I appreciate that he's a good x and o coach but coaching is the sum of x and o and recruiting. He didn't deliver as far as I'm concerned but I would have much rather kept him on board for the past however many years to avoid this dark period. Heck is rather have kept Braun if that meant avoiding this dark period.

---

Monty teams (and programs) are NOT designed to do well in the tourney as they relied a lot on "team ball" and scouting/preparation. They rarely featured great break down one on one play and loved picking up touch fouls.

This is specifically NOT the NCAA tournament

1) You have VERY little prep time. You find out your opponent and then you are GOING. MAYBE you have ONE day to walk through and focus on a few things but nothing else.

2) Games are called MUCH loser. So if you are not athletic and rely a lot on touch fouls good luck. Gotten better but ALWAYS a problem for his underperforming Furd teams.

2.5) Month's disdain for the Pac12 tournie which really cost Cal in 2010

3) Absent really dominance it is so hard for the Pac12 runner up(s) to get off the seed of death. Even more so the seed of death in the pod system - that near guarantees that round 2 will be essentially a road game in front of a rabid fan base. I mean I am frustrated that we didn't get to the S16 under Monty but I am not sure I am blaming him for


1) Losing to #1 Seed Duke
2) Losing the stupid play in game in Dayton

On monty is
3) Losing to Maryland. That was a game we should have won
4) Losing to Syracuse in a game at San Jose. That was a tournament we could have done well.

---

tbf: touch fouls were a product of Larry Scott. (and I too disdained the p12 tourney.)

Big Dog said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Montgomery underperformed expectations. Won a weak pac-12 conference I don't think anyone cares about and never got as far as Braun in the tourney. I appreciate that he's a good x and o coach but coaching is the sum of x and o and recruiting. He didn't deliver as far as I'm concerned but I would have much rather kept him on board for the past however many years to avoid this dark period. Heck is rather have kept Braun if that meant avoiding this dark period.

---

Monty teams (and programs) are NOT designed to do well in the tourney as they relied a lot on "team ball" and scouting/preparation. They rarely featured great break down one on one play and loved picking up touch fouls.

This is specifically NOT the NCAA tournament

1) You have VERY little prep time. You find out your opponent and then you are GOING. MAYBE you have ONE day to walk through and focus on a few things but nothing else.

2) Games are called MUCH loser. So if you are not athletic and rely a lot on touch fouls good luck. Gotten better but ALWAYS a problem for his underperforming Furd teams.

2.5) Month's disdain for the Pac12 tournie which really cost Cal in 2010

3) Absent really dominance it is so hard for the Pac12 runner up(s) to get off the seed of death. Even more so the seed of death in the pod system - that near guarantees that round 2 will be essentially a road game in front of a rabid fan base. I mean I am frustrated that we didn't get to the S16 under Monty but I am not sure I am blaming him for


1) Losing to #1 Seed Duke
2) Losing the stupid play in game in Dayton

On monty is
3) Losing to Maryland. That was a game we should have won
4) Losing to Syracuse in a game at San Jose. That was a tournament we could have done well.

---

tbf: touch fouls were a product of Larry Scott. (and I too disdained the p12 tourney.)

---

There is still a P12. For now anyway. Why the past tense? You don't disdain it anymore?

dimitrig said:

---

Big Dog said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

Econ141 said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Montgomery underperformed expectations. Won a weak pac-12 conference I don't think anyone cares about and never got as far as Braun in the tourney. I appreciate that he's a good x and o coach but coaching is the sum of x and o and recruiting. He didn't deliver as far as I'm concerned but I would have much rather kept him on board for the past however many years to avoid this dark period. Heck is rather have kept Braun if that meant avoiding this dark period.

---

Monty teams (and programs) are NOT designed to do well in the tourney as they relied a lot on "team ball" and scouting/preparation. They rarely featured great break down one on one play and loved picking up touch fouls.

This is specifically NOT the NCAA tournament

1) You have VERY little prep time. You find out your opponent and then you are GOING. MAYBE you have ONE day to walk through and focus on a few things but nothing else.

2) Games are called MUCH loser. So if you are not athletic and rely a lot on touch fouls good luck. Gotten better but ALWAYS a problem for his underperforming Furd teams.

2.5) Month's disdain for the Pac12 tournie which really cost Cal in 2010

3) Absent really dominance it is so hard for the Pac12 runner up(s) to get off the seed of death. Even more so the seed of death in the pod system - that near guarantees that round 2 will be essentially a road game in front of a rabid fan base. I mean I am frustrated that we didn't get to the S16 under Monty but I am not sure I am blaming him for


1) Losing to #1 Seed Duke
2) Losing the stupid play in game in Dayton

On monty is
3) Losing to Maryland. That was a game we should have won
4) Losing to Syracuse in a game at San Jose. That was a tournament we could have done well.

---

tbf: touch fouls were a product of Larry Scott. (and I too disdained the p12 tourney.)

---

There is still a P12. For now anyway. Why the past tense? You don't disdain it anymore?

---

yes, no more disdain. Over the years, it's grown on me and has now moved up to my ignore/waste of time meter.

pingpong2 said:

---

The fact that we're still more profitable than UCLA tells me that it really are the fans who are enabling JK. Until people stop buying tickets, buying merch, and donating, nothing will change.

---

That has already happened. Most of the revenue is from conference TV contracts - the sources you mention have all dwindled. Just go to Haas and you can see, When I cancelled my chairbacks after 30+ years of donations, I was told that thousands of season ticket holders had cancelled (this was 2 seasons ago).

When I asked how could Cal let this happen - the gist I got (albeit from a disgruntled JK employee) that Mens BBall was considered by Knowlton to be annoying and the vocal fans did not pony up millions, so he was happy to have them just dissappear.

So your premise seems right, but the feedback loop is broken (fans aren't the source of revenue - its TV and mega donors)

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Braun, like Tedford, was a good coach who lost his fastball in his last few years at Cal. Monty was a short-term improvement. I would not go so far as to call it a genius hire.

Cuonzo Martin, for that matter, was also a reach for a short-term improvement.

The downside of always reaching for short-term improvements is the risk that you will eventually replace a decent short-term hire with a bad one, and Cal has made that risk evident by making the two worst head coaching hires in all of men's college basketball in the last ten years.

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Q: How long did Montgomery last?
Genius????

A: Mike was born February 27, 1947.
Hired April 4, 2008.
He was 61.
He coached 6 seasons, resigning on March 31, 2014.

2008-09 California 22 - 11, 11 - 7, T3rd NCAA Division I first round
2009-10 California 24 - 11, 13 - 5, 1st NCAA Division I second round
2010-11 California 18 - 15, 10 - 8, T4th NIT second round
2011-12 California 24 - 10, 13 - 5, T2nd NCAA Division I first round
2012-13 California 21 - 12, 12 - 6, T2nd NCAA Division I third round
2013-14 California 21 - 14, 10 - 8, T3rd NIT quarterfinal
California: 130 - 73 (.640) 69 - 39 (.639)


Commentary: He produced lots of wins, got into post-season play every year, and outcoached other teams to victory on a regular basis. It was lots of fun to watch Cal be in the hunt and playing intelligently down the stretch! He also gave us our first conference title in 50 years. So, with that alone, he goes down in history!

But upon closer inspection, his recruiting was shaky, as was his sideline temper with players (well, at least one time - cheap shot?). He lasted only 6 years, and when he was gone, the program was left in shambles with no plan for the future. It was simply that he was gone. We've been in the wilderness ever since.

I respect MM as a coach very much. But I think GENIUS would be to hire someone who decided that Cal was a place where they wanted to be for a 10-30 year career, not just a stepping stone to the next job, and not just a place where they can collect that healthy $1.8M contract until they get fired.

Berkeley is a wonderful place to live and work. And one can enjoy a wonderful life for a fraction of the salary than we've been paying our failed hires.

Q: Do any candidates I dream of exist?
I imagine they do. Well connected, Bay Area based, basketball professionals who can both recruit and coach exist. Why can't we find them?


Check out some of the incentives these schools have written for coaches?

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2019/11/4/20946421/ncaa-basketball-head-coach-contract-salary-database-mid-major-2019-20

Jeff82 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Q: How long did Montgomery last?
Genius????

A: Mike was born February 27, 1947.
Hired April 4, 2008.
He was 61.
He coached 6 seasons, resigning on March 31, 2014.

2008-09 California 22 - 11, 11 - 7, T3rd NCAA Division I first round
2009-10 California 24 - 11, 13 - 5, 1st NCAA Division I second round
2010-11 California 18 - 15, 10 - 8, T4th NIT second round
2011-12 California 24 - 10, 13 - 5, T2nd NCAA Division I first round
2012-13 California 21 - 12, 12 - 6, T2nd NCAA Division I third round
2013-14 California 21 - 14, 10 - 8, T3rd NIT quarterfinal
California: 130 - 73 (.640) 69 - 39 (.639)


Commentary: He produced lots of wins, got into post-season play every year, and outcoached other teams to victory on a regular basis. It was lots of fun to watch Cal be in the hunt and playing intelligently down the stretch! He also gave us our first conference title in 50 years. So, with that alone, he goes down in history!

But upon closer inspection, his recruiting was shaky, as was his sideline temper with players (well, at least one time - cheap shot?). He lasted only 6 years, and when he was gone, the program was left in shambles with no plan for the future. It was simply that he was gone. We've been in the wilderness ever since.

I respect MM as a coach very much. But I think GENIUS would be to hire someone who decided that Cal was a place where they wanted to be for a 10-30 year career, not just a stepping stone to the next job, and not just a place where they can collect that healthy $1.8M contract until they get fired.

Berkeley is a wonderful place to live and work. And one can enjoy a wonderful life for a fraction of the salary than we've been paying our failed hires.

Q: Do any candidates I dream of exist?
I imagine they do. Well connected, Bay Area based, basketball professionals who can both recruit and coach exist. Why can't we find them?


Check out some of the incentives these schools have written for coaches?

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2019/11/4/20946421/ncaa-basketball-head-coach-contract-salary-database-mid-major-2019-20

---

I have to slightly disagree with ConcordTom, only because I think one of the reasons Monty retired was that he was fairly certain he could turn the reins over to Travis. I think he was as surprised as everyone else when they instead went with Cuonzo Martin, a decision that, IMHO, sent the program on a tangent from which it has yet to recover. Unless he won the NCAA championship and was given a lifetime contract, Martin was never going to stay at Cal, and is a guy who parlayed a compelling personal story and a willingness to go into politically-marginal situations to make way more money as a coach than his results justify. Had we hired Travis, we would have had a young African-American coach to continue with a program that had generated six years of some success. Would Travis have been able to recruit Raab and Brown. Don't know. But in the end, having them hasn't really provided any lasting benefit to Cal basketball, because of what happened after they left.

---

I wish someone would ask Monty (and Sandy?) why Travis was not made "co-coach" or whatever title Fisher gave to Brian Dutcher to essentially indicate he would be the "guy" after retirement. Maybe Monty didn't have that pull.

calumnus said:

---

Jeff82 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Q: How long did Montgomery last?
Genius????

A: Mike was born February 27, 1947.
Hired April 4, 2008.
He was 61.
He coached 6 seasons, resigning on March 31, 2014.

2008-09 California 22 - 11, 11 - 7, T3rd NCAA Division I first round
2009-10 California 24 - 11, 13 - 5, 1st NCAA Division I second round
2010-11 California 18 - 15, 10 - 8, T4th NIT second round
2011-12 California 24 - 10, 13 - 5, T2nd NCAA Division I first round
2012-13 California 21 - 12, 12 - 6, T2nd NCAA Division I third round
2013-14 California 21 - 14, 10 - 8, T3rd NIT quarterfinal
California: 130 - 73 (.640) 69 - 39 (.639)


Commentary: He produced lots of wins, got into post-season play every year, and outcoached other teams to victory on a regular basis. It was lots of fun to watch Cal be in the hunt and playing intelligently down the stretch! He also gave us our first conference title in 50 years. So, with that alone, he goes down in history!

But upon closer inspection, his recruiting was shaky, as was his sideline temper with players (well, at least one time - cheap shot?). He lasted only 6 years, and when he was gone, the program was left in shambles with no plan for the future. It was simply that he was gone. We've been in the wilderness ever since.

I respect MM as a coach very much. But I think GENIUS would be to hire someone who decided that Cal was a place where they wanted to be for a 10-30 year career, not just a stepping stone to the next job, and not just a place where they can collect that healthy $1.8M contract until they get fired.

Berkeley is a wonderful place to live and work. And one can enjoy a wonderful life for a fraction of the salary than we've been paying our failed hires.

Q: Do any candidates I dream of exist?
I imagine they do. Well connected, Bay Area based, basketball professionals who can both recruit and coach exist. Why can't we find them?


Check out some of the incentives these schools have written for coaches?

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2019/11/4/20946421/ncaa-basketball-head-coach-contract-salary-database-mid-major-2019-20

---

I have to slightly disagree with ConcordTom, only because I think one of the reasons Monty retired was that he was fairly certain he could turn the reins over to Travis. I think he was as surprised as everyone else when they instead went with Cuonzo Martin, a decision that, IMHO, sent the program on a tangent from which it has yet to recover. Unless he won the NCAA championship and was given a lifetime contract, Martin was never going to stay at Cal, and is a guy who parlayed a compelling personal story and a willingness to go into politically-marginal situations to make way more money as a coach than his results justify. Had we hired Travis, we would have had a young African-American coach to continue with a program that had generated six years of some success. Would Travis have been able to recruit Raab and Brown. Don't know. But in the end, having them hasn't really provided any lasting benefit to Cal basketball, because of what happened after they left.

---

Just to clarify, Cuonzo Martin is one year younger than Travis DeCuire (currently 51 and 52 respectively).

We hired Cuonzo within a week of his taking Tennessee to the Sweet 16. It was a huge coup.

He landed McDonald's All Americans Brown and Rabb, two players we had no chance with Monty. He also got Marcus Lee to transfer back. He figured out how to sell Cal to young, smart, politically aware, top ranked African American players (what should be a Cal comparative advantage). In only his second year we went undefeated at Haas and earned a 4 seed, our highest seed in our history. Yet many alums complained about him (and complained about Brown), and minimized the results (and still do). He was undermined by the university, announcing an investigation into both he and Hufnagel for sexual harassment the day before the team left for the Tournament. Headlines of newspaper articles made it seem like Martin (married with kids) was the one accused of sexual harassment.

When Missouri offered a huge increase over his Cal salary he jumped. I am pretty sure that if Missouri had made an offer like that to Travis DeCuire he would have jumped too. If you want coaches that are successful at Cal to not jump for much bigger money you need to either hire alums, or treat the successful mercenaries better and match better offers.

---

We also lost the Filipino connection.

calumnus said:

---

Jeff82 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

stu said:

---

southseasbear said:

---

I remember how much we were thrilled with the Ben Braun hire and his early teams. By the end, we were happy to see him go.

The article makes me think he was a hero. Perhaps instead of firing him we should have promoted him to Associate Athletic Director.

---

FIFY

---

Yeah, I almost put that but then I realized that it was not likely that the AD who fired him (I no longer remember who that was) would fire himself and appoint Braun as successor. Still, the hiring of Montgomery was pure genius.

---

Q: How long did Montgomery last?
Genius????

A: Mike was born February 27, 1947.
Hired April 4, 2008.
He was 61.
He coached 6 seasons, resigning on March 31, 2014.

2008-09 California 22 - 11, 11 - 7, T3rd NCAA Division I first round
2009-10 California 24 - 11, 13 - 5, 1st NCAA Division I second round
2010-11 California 18 - 15, 10 - 8, T4th NIT second round
2011-12 California 24 - 10, 13 - 5, T2nd NCAA Division I first round
2012-13 California 21 - 12, 12 - 6, T2nd NCAA Division I third round
2013-14 California 21 - 14, 10 - 8, T3rd NIT quarterfinal
California: 130 - 73 (.640) 69 - 39 (.639)


Commentary: He produced lots of wins, got into post-season play every year, and outcoached other teams to victory on a regular basis. It was lots of fun to watch Cal be in the hunt and playing intelligently down the stretch! He also gave us our first conference title in 50 years. So, with that alone, he goes down in history!

But upon closer inspection, his recruiting was shaky, as was his sideline temper with players (well, at least one time - cheap shot?). He lasted only 6 years, and when he was gone, the program was left in shambles with no plan for the future. It was simply that he was gone. We've been in the wilderness ever since.

I respect MM as a coach very much. But I think GENIUS would be to hire someone who decided that Cal was a place where they wanted to be for a 10-30 year career, not just a stepping stone to the next job, and not just a place where they can collect that healthy $1.8M contract until they get fired.

Berkeley is a wonderful place to live and work. And one can enjoy a wonderful life for a fraction of the salary than we've been paying our failed hires.

Q: Do any candidates I dream of exist?
I imagine they do. Well connected, Bay Area based, basketball professionals who can both recruit and coach exist. Why can't we find them?


Check out some of the incentives these schools have written for coaches?

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2019/11/4/20946421/ncaa-basketball-head-coach-contract-salary-database-mid-major-2019-20

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I have to slightly disagree with ConcordTom, only because I think one of the reasons Monty retired was that he was fairly certain he could turn the reins over to Travis. I think he was as surprised as everyone else when they instead went with Cuonzo Martin, a decision that, IMHO, sent the program on a tangent from which it has yet to recover. Unless he won the NCAA championship and was given a lifetime contract, Martin was never going to stay at Cal, and is a guy who parlayed a compelling personal story and a willingness to go into politically-marginal situations to make way more money as a coach than his results justify. Had we hired Travis, we would have had a young African-American coach to continue with a program that had generated six years of some success. Would Travis have been able to recruit Raab and Brown. Don't know. But in the end, having them hasn't really provided any lasting benefit to Cal basketball, because of what happened after they left.

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Just to clarify, Cuonzo Martin is one year younger than Travis DeCuire (currently 51 and 52 respectively).

We hired Cuonzo within a week of his taking Tennessee to the Sweet 16. It was a huge coup.

He landed McDonald's All Americans Brown and Rabb, two players we had no chance with Monty. He also got Marcus Lee to transfer back. He figured out how to sell Cal to young, smart, politically aware, top ranked African American players (what should be a Cal comparative advantage). In only his second year we went undefeated at Haas and earned a 4 seed, our highest seed in our history. Yet many alums complained about him (and complained about Brown), and minimized the results (and still do). He was undermined by the university, announcing an investigation into both he and Hufnagel for sexual harassment the day before the team left for the Tournament. Headlines of newspaper articles made it seem like Martin (married with kids) was the one accused of sexual harassment.

When Missouri offered a huge increase over his Cal salary he jumped. I am pretty sure that if Missouri had made an offer like that to Travis DeCuire he would have jumped too. If you want coaches that are successful at Cal to not jump for much bigger money you need to either hire alums, or treat the successful mercenaries better and match better offers.

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concur with most, but mercenaries will never stay, even if we could match the $$. So, unless someone like Cuonzo happens to be available just right then, (such as how Monty was available, we are better off looking elsewhere IMO.