grandmastapoop;842298892 said:

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I think Jerod knew a lot more about Bozeman. I grew up in SLT, and grew up going to the school's basketball camps and got to know the head coach pretty well (now at Clovis West). After Jerod left Cal, we were not allowed to wear Cal gear at the camps. When asked why, the coach said that Cal's coach was not a good guy, etc. This was well before the Bozeman scandal came down. Jerod saw what was going on and got out.

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People who sell pork sandwiches in the Baltimore area agree with you.

I Bear;842298625 said:

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Shaka Smart!

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Shaka Smart would be the #1 best hire in the history of the Cal basketball program, even ahead of Mike Montgomery.

However, with our athletic director and her inability to get her foot in the door of even the lukewarm-to-warm candidates (much less the white hot national coaching candidates), as shown in our football head coaching search last year, I don't have much faith in Shaka's hiring happening.

sluggo_Cal;842298690 said:

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Guys I like are:
Tommy Amaker (Harvard)

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Amaker would be great.

It would also add to the SF Bay Area rivalry to have two former Duke Final Four backcourt teammates coaching at the same time for Cal and Stanford. Coach K would be proud.

Yes to Shaka.

CALiforniALUM;842298569 said:

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Greg McDermott (Creighton)
Mike Lonergan (George Washington)
Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State)
Randy Bennett (St. Mary's)
Steve Lavin (St. John's)
Steve Fischer (SDSU)
[SIZE="7"]Shaka Smart (VCU)[/SIZE]
Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)
Scott Drew (Baylor)
Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt)
Tim Miles (Nebraska)
Mitch Henderson (Princeton)
Andy Toole (Robert Morris)
Sydney Johnson (Fairfield)
Josh Pastner (Memphis)

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Bear_Elegance;842299449 said:

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Shaka Smart would be the #1 best hire in the history of the Cal basketball program, even ahead of Mike Montgomery.

However, with our athletic director and her inability to get her foot in the door of even the lukewarm-to-warm candidates (much less the white hot national coaching candidates), as shown in our football head coaching search last year, I don't have much faith in Shaka's hiring happening.

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While I completely agree with you that Smart would be a great choice (I'm trying hard not to make the obvious pun here), there's this little nagging issue that we will have to overcome. Namely, buying out his current contract. Smart's guaranteed compensation is $1.45 million in the first year of the contract and $1.5 million per for the remaining years ... all 14 of them. He is under contract through 2028. Roughly, that's $20.9M to buy him out, not to mention the fact that the contract is incentive laden for things that are all but certain to occur. So unless you know something I don't know, can we get back to reality and quit the pipe dream that is Shaka Smart?

Amaker would be great. I have no idea what his contract situation is.

Vandalus;842299453 said:

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While I completely agree with you that Smart would be a great choice (I'm trying hard not to make the obvious pun here), there's this little nagging issue that we will have to overcome. Namely, buying out his current contract. Smart's guaranteed compensation is $1.45 million in the first year of the contract and $1.5 million per for the remaining years ... all 14 of them. He is under contract through 2028. Roughly, that's $20.9M to buy him out, not to mention the fact that the contract is incentive laden for things that are all but certain to occur. So unless you know something I don't know, can we get back to reality and quit the pipe dream that is Shaka Smart?

Amaker would be great. I have no idea what his contract situation is.

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That is not how a buyout works. If they wanted to fire him, they'd owe him the 20.9M (unless there was some other buyout figure in the contract, which there usually is). If he wants to leave early he/his new employer don't have to pay the 20.9M that VCU would have had to pay him over 14 years. Logically, it doesn't make any sense. However, there is undoubtedly some buyout figure. I bet it's not 20.9M.


Found a good breakdown on Google.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/atlantic-10/smart-receives-raise-incentives-to-stay-win-at-vcu/article_3b38d70c-4d93-5ae2-8e37-a324b66a400b.html

First, at present, his contract runs only through 2024 - it increases one year every year that passes for the first five years, finally ending in 2028 (but that's not true until after 2017).

But as I suspected - his buyout right now is $600,000.00. On April 30, 2014 it goes down to $500,000 (and lowers by $100,000 every year). Additionally, the new school would have to play a home and home with VCU or buyout the games for an additional $250,000 (an innovative twist that I have never seen before).

So if we hire him now, his buyout is no more than $850,000, or $600,000 but we'd have to schedule a home and home with VCU.

With all that said - SHAKA SMART IS NOT COMING TO CAL. It's just not going to happen. He is the hottest name in college basketball and has turned down some prestigious jobs that are leaps and bounds above Cal. I have no idea why people keep suggesting him when it is completely unrealistic. Though, I suppose this is a "wish" list.

No to Amakar.

Here is why.

Harvard is like Furd. It recruits itself. Pisses me off to no end to type that (I dislike BOTH schools for undergrad) so it is just impossible to know whether it is the coach or the school. And tommy has a prior track record that is...well....Not good.

I like a lot of things about him. I know I liked him a while back. It might be worth interviewing. But there are a lot of warning signs from the Michigan stint so if you are Sandy you better go in and be DAMM sure that you know the questions to ask.

Shaka Smart is the new Chris Peterson.

GB54;842299490 said:

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Shaka Smart is the new Chris Peterson.

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So there's a chance?

NYCGOBEARS;842299492 said:

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So there's a chance?

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Udub fans just all over just got wet. (it's raining there, duh.)

grandmastapoop;842299455 said:

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That is not how a buyout works. If they wanted to fire him, they'd owe him the 20.9M (unless there was some other buyout figure in the contract, which there usually is). If he wants to leave early he/his new employer don't have to pay the 20.9M that VCU would have had to pay him over 14 years. Logically, it doesn't make any sense. However, there is undoubtedly some buyout figure. I bet it's not 20.9M.


Found a good breakdown on Google.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/atlantic-10/smart-receives-raise-incentives-to-stay-win-at-vcu/article_3b38d70c-4d93-5ae2-8e37-a324b66a400b.html

First, at present, his contract runs only through 2024 - it increases one year every year that passes for the first five years, finally ending in 2028 (but that's not true until after 2017).

But as I suspected - his buyout right now is $600,000.00. On April 30, 2014 it goes down to $500,000 (and lowers by $100,000 every year). Additionally, the new school would have to play a home and home with VCU or buyout the games for an additional $250,000 (an innovative twist that I have never seen before).

So if we hire him now, his buyout is no more than $850,000, or $600,000 but we'd have to schedule a home and home with VCU.

With all that said - SHAKA SMART IS NOT COMING TO CAL. It's just not going to happen. He is the hottest name in college basketball and has turned down some prestigious jobs that are leaps and bounds above Cal. I have no idea why people keep suggesting him when it is completely unrealistic. Though, I suppose this is a "wish" list.

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Thanks for the correction; I didn't know he had a specific buyout clause written into his K. But your final point is what matters.

Next Coach Candidate:

Hey, here's a name I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned. He's young (looking), has HC experience, has been to the NCAA tournament several times, is a good recruiter, and even has numerous pre-existing Cal connections - I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the name of Ben Braun. He's available and looking for work!

concordtom;842299618 said:

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Next Coach Candidate:

Hey, here's a name I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned. He's young (looking), has HC experience, has been to the NCAA tournament several times, is a good recruiter, and even has numerous pre-existing Cal connections - I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the name of Ben Braun. He's available and looking for work!

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Hey, if all it takes is someone who took us to the sweet 16, Todd Bozeman is available I bet.

I saw on Twitter that there's a surprising East Coast candidate that is very realistic for our new coach. Anyone have any insight?

GB54;842299490 said:

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Shaka Smart is the new Chris Peterson.

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I posted this in another thread:

Smart's wife Maya is a writer/business journalist with degrees from Harvard and masters from Northwestern (journalism). Cal rugby coach Jack Clark visited VCU and sat with Maya in the stands for a game. She quotes him in her blog:

Quote:

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Jack Clark, the long-time rugby coach of the University of California, Berkeley, put this notion of fortitude another way, during his recent visit to VCU. I sat with him at a basketball game, and he told me that his definition of mental toughness is simply the ability to move on to the next most important thing. Winners don't expect to get a good break and they aren't debilitated by bad ones. They consistently take what comes and do what's next, he said. He should know; he's won 22 national championships that way.

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http://mayasmart.com/category/essays/

So I'm sure Jack Clark knows Shaka too. I think if Sandy puts Jack Clark on the search committee (he should be anyway) and goes to see Shaka and Maya, with maybe the chancellor coming up with an opportunity for Maya at Haas or at the J-school...who knows?

It would not be the first time a man's career decision was influenced by what his wife wants and what is best for his family.

oskithepimp;842299653 said:

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I saw on Twitter that there's a surprising East Coast candidate that is very realistic for our new coach. Anyone have any insight?

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Tease!

oskithepimp;842299653 said:

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I saw on Twitter that there's a surprising East Coast candidate that is very realistic for our new coach. Anyone have any insight?

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I hope it's Jay Wright. That would be a home run, and seems more realistic than Shaka Smart.

grandmastapoop;842299674 said:

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I hope it's Jay Wright. That would be a home run, and seems more realistic than Shaka Smart.

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Tommy Amaker would fit also with the east coast tie.

Vandalus;842299728 said:

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Tommy Amaker would fit also with the east coast tie.

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So would Shaka

calumnus;842299731 said:

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So would Shaka

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For what it is worth about our NBA alums caring and wanting to help. True for Sacto Mayor and, one would assume, NBA coach of the Year, Jason Kidd

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/thompson/2014/04/01/time-for-cal-to-step-it-up/

calumnus;842299655 said:

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I think if Sandy puts Jack Clark on the search committee

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The last man who ever listened to Jack Clark's idea on who would make a good major athletic department hire was Robert Berdahl. I don't expect that to change any time soon.

socaltownie;842299739 said:

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For what it is worth about our NBA alums caring and wanting to help. True for Sacto Mayor and, one would assume, NBA coach of the Year, Jason Kidd

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/thompson/2014/04/01/time-for-cal-to-step-it-up/

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So, no Rabb.

Thompson is right on cue, Cal needs to step it up.

tsubamoto2001;842299748 said:

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So, no Rabb.

Thompson is right on cue, Cal needs to step it up.

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That was a good article. Sounds like it could have been written by you, SFBearz or socaltownie LOL (I say that in a good way). Recruiting is the name of the game these days.

DrDanger;842298529 said:

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1. Played for Monty.
2. Pac 12 experience as a HC. Also coached at Montana.
3. IMO was Coach of the Year with what he did at Utah after last year.
4. Is not a Mormon.
5. NBA experience as a 10 year player. Still young enough to relate.
6. He would be more than interested in the job....

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I like it!

socaltownie;842298536 said:

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I have soured. I think he is the same place as Dawkins - Harvard recruits DESPITE the head coach. We need a guy (Howland, for example) with a track record of succeeding both in recruiting and on the court while being a second cousin to power programs in a conference.

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Harvard's recruiting has surged under Amaker. I don't know how good a coach he is, but he's certainly better than Dawkins!

Vandalus;842299728 said:

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Tommy Amaker would fit also with the east coast tie.

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Does no one else remember that Ammaker stunk at Michigan, and as soon as he left they became nationally relevant again?

tsubamoto2001;842299748 said:

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So, no Rabb.

Thompson is right on cue, Cal needs to step it up.

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So where is Travis?

grandmastapoop;842299755 said:

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Does no one else remember that Ammaker stunk at Michigan, and as soon as he left they became nationally relevant again?

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Well they were already bad before Amaker due to NCAA sanctions. Beilein also just happens to be a great coach.

Silly and very superficial article. As if Cal just has to try a little more and things will change. All the systematic flaws with the university as it relates to sports be damned.

socaliganbear;842298728 said:

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Utah can pay him well and they're building new bball facilities as well as updating the always packed Hunstman Center. Does he want to be in Ca that badly?

I personally would love him.

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The Huntsman Center is not always packed; their non-conference games usually draw crowds of 7-8k, while their Pac-12 games are in the 9-11k range with the exception of a few big games. The capacity is 15,000 and they had zero(0) sellouts this year. So the fact is your impression of their crowds is inaccurate and exaggerated.

barabbas;842299761 said:

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The Huntsman Center is not always packed; their non-conference games usually draw crowds of 7-8k, while their Pac-12 games are in the 9-11k range with the exception of a few big games. The capacity is 15,000 and they had zero(0) sellouts this year. So the fact is your impression of their crowds is inaccurate and exaggerated.

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Meet the hyperbole. Fact is, their attendance was the 2nd highest in conference behind Zona. They don't sell out yet, but by Pac standards, that is packed.

Additionally, here is the info on their upcoming basketball facility http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865591351/Utah-basketball-Utes-kick-off-fundraising-for-new-36-million-basketball-center.html?pg=all. But yeah, maybe Larry would be content with Gold Gym in the RSF. The point is, they're not some insignificant program we can just pick from at will. Not saying Larry wouldn't come here, for all I know he might really want to live in the Bay Area, but Utah has enough to keep coaches happy, including a great fan base.

grandmastapoop;842298856 said:

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Ridiculous. If you were working at a company and knew that the boss was doing something illegal that would have ramifications on the company and everyone working there, no one would hold it against you for "bailing". You'd probably be praised for your integrity.

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He didn't leave because of that and the Jelani Gardner thing happened years later. He bailed on the program, because he didn't feel he fit in. Campanelli and Jeff Wilburn worked hard on recruiting him out of the program after the firing. His dad died a month or so before his coach was fired.He like Cal fine until all the sh*t happened. I'm sure he thought Bozeman was not his type of guy/coach,His personality doesn't make me excited. BTW, I know several people from the Tahoe area that have adjusted to Cal quite well, so that leap is specious.

barabbas;842299765 said:

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He didn't leave because of that and the Jelani Gardner thing happened years later. He bailed on the program, because he didn't feel he fit in. Campanelli and Jeff Wilburn worked hard on recruiting him out of the program after the firing. His personality doesn't make me excited.

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You think Bozeman sent Gardner cash and that was his first illegal recruiting tactic? He went from completely above board to mailing a wad of cash??

socaltownie;842299479 said:

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No to Amakar.

Here is why.

Harvard is like Furd. It recruits itself. Pisses me off to no end to type that (I dislike BOTH schools for undergrad) so it is just impossible to know whether it is the coach or the school. And tommy has a prior track record that is...well....Not good.

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While I agree the undergrad experience at Harvard or furd is a joke to my taste, Harvard basketball does not recruit itself and comparing it to furd is without foundation. Harvard basketball sucked: from 1900-2010 Harvard never won the Ivy League and had a horrible basketball program. Furd has a sports legacy, Harvard does not. Big time athletes have avoided Harvard like the plague. Amaker has changed that at Harvard for their basketball program. If Harvard was such a mecca wouldn't they have enough talent to stumble into a decent team once in a while.

grandmastapoop;842299755 said:

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Does no one else remember that Ammaker stunk at Michigan, and as soon as he left they became nationally relevant again?

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And yet, he's done really well at harvard, with less talented players. So what's a more accurate record of his coaching acumen?