J Kidd maybe a good choice of he can be a big time recruiter. Needs a quality staff that could help him build the program, like maybe a Brian Shaw, and getting a couple of qualified coaches to help assist with Defense and skill developing. We will be well on our way.

pingpong2 said:

---

Any chance we can get McNeil to come back if we land a big name guy like Kidd?

---

Supposedly McNeill wants to be a point guard, but what's Kidd going to say to him, "You're now a junior in college. Can't you just see where the nine other players are going to be on the floor two seconds before they get there? Dammit, I could do that when I was a junior in HIGH SCHOOL! Heck, a FRESHMAN in high school!"

Many in Memphis had the same concerns about Penny Hardaway and they seem to be doing okay. They'll more than likely make the tourney next year, just missed out on it this year.

Hired and fired on March 24.

Larno said:

---

Kidd does not have a college degree, as far as I know. That alone could be a disqualfier.

---

Its not a disqualifier

UCBerkGrad said:

---

Larno said:

---

Kidd does not have a college degree, as far as I know. That alone could be a disqualfier.

---

Its not a disqualifier

---

Cal has had other head coaches without degrees.
See Chris Huffins in track.
Not a dis-qualifier technically.

BeachedBear said:

---

Not sure how Kidd would work out as a College coach, but I AM confident that the program would be fascinating to follow.

---

Probably better than a pro coach because he talks strong and is hard on his players. Pro coaches have to be diplomats and psychologists so they can pander to the egos of guys out earning them by a multiple.

Civil Bear said:

---

BeachedBear said:

---

Not sure how Kidd would work out as a College coach, but I AM confident that the program would be fascinating to follow.

---

Hurley might show signs of PTSD if Kidd comes to Cal.

---

Ohhh Man! Now we HAVE TO GET HIM BACK. Forgot about that angle.

MinotStateBeav said:

---

These players saved Cal Basketball...my hats off to them.

---

I thought calbear80 did.

dear Civil: Not only if a kid comes to Cal but also if Kidd comes to Cal. Sorry---couldn't resist--

I agree that Hardaway is doing a good job but he is not in a P5 conference nor is he recruiting against most P5 schools....He is recruiting kids who are a notch below and he will probably make the dance from a conference that is a notch below.....Not saying he is not doing well but there are differences in the two situations...I can also point at a guy like Damon Stoudamire at UOP who is not setting the world on fire in a lesser conference...

Larno said:

---

Kidd does not have a college degree, as far as I know. That alone could be a disqualfier.

---

That doesn't matter

Dennis Gates

This comment about the Lakers would apply equally to Cal IMO...

Knowlton made the right choice. Wyking needed to show some improvement and that obviously didn't happen. The program was dying a slow death and extending this clown show another year wouldn't have made sense.

Knowlton needs to get this right, point blank. Another bad hire and it's lights out for this program.

My candidates (off the top of my head, need to do more research):
- Russell Turner (I've touted him for quite some time)
- Dennis Gates (FSU has been impressive)
- Nate Oats (great style, more of a "hot" coach right now)
- Travis DeCuire (2 NCAA's; been a good upkeeper of the Montana program)
- Kyle Smith (has gotten USF competitive, which has been hard to do since the program was reinstated)
- Shaka Smart (gettable if he can waive his buyout with Texas, which is possible since Texas might fire him either after this season or next; slightly worried at why he's struggled at UT, but maybe the fit isn't right)

On Kidd:
I'm a huge Jason Kidd fan as a player probably my favorite all-time, but does he actually want to be a college coach? I'm not certain of that. College coaching is much different than the NBA. You wear more hats and it's an around the clock jobno days off. Does he really want that? I'm not convinced, personally.

McNeill is a Chris Walker recruit. Walker is probably gone along with Wyking. Heck I can't see any of the assistants other than maybe David Grace sticking around.

Big C said:

---

pingpong2 said:

---

Any chance we can get McNeil to come back if we land a big name guy like Kidd?

---

Supposedly McNeill wants to be a point guard, but what's Kidd going to say to him, "You're now a junior in college. Can't you just see where the nine other players are going to be on the floor two seconds before they get there? Dammit, I could do that when I was a junior in HIGH SCHOOL! Heck, a FRESHMAN in high school!"

---

Larno said:

---

Kidd does not have a college degree, as far as I know. That alone could be a disqualfier.

---

So we hire him as an undergrad intern and save costs while he works towards his degree. How did no one else see this solution? Alumni love him, the faculty will love his dedication to academics, and athletics will love him because he's cheap.

/s if not apparent otherwise.

Penny's advantage is recruiting the Memphis area. He also seems like he wants to be there for the long haul. Kidd has had a taste of the NBA coaching lifestyle and it's an open question as to whether he'd be committed 100% to building a college program, IMO.

SoCalBear323 said:

---

Many in Memphis had the same concerns about Penny Hardaway and they seem to be doing okay. They'll more than likely make the tourney next year, just missed out on it this year.

---

tsubamoto2001 said:

---

Knowlton made the right choice. Wyking needed to show some improvement and that obviously didn't happen. The program was dying a slow death and extending this clown show another year wouldn't have made sense.

Knowlton needs to get this right, point blank. Another bad hire and it's lights out for this program.

My candidates (off the top of my head, need to do more research):
- Russell Turner (I've touted him for quite some time)
- Dennis Gates (FSU has been impressive)
- Nate Oats (great style, more of a "hot" coach right now)
- Travis DeCuire (2 NCAA's; been a good upkeeper of the Montana program)
- Kyle Smith (has gotten USF competitive, which has been hard to do since the program was reinstated)
- Shaka Smart (gettable if he can waive his buyout with Texas, which is possible since Texas might fire him either after this season or next; slightly worried at why he's struggled at UT, but maybe the fit isn't right)

On Kidd:
I'm a huge Jason Kidd fan as a player probably my favorite all-time, but does he actually want to be a college coach? I'm not certain of that. College coaching is much different than the NBA. You wear more hats and it's an around the clock jobno days off. Does he really want that? I'm not convinced, personally.

---

Agree with your list, I think on Kidd it is his call. I wouldn't overpay (aka somewhere between 1.5 and 2). But I think you do not know until you try. Supposedly a group of donors and actively lobbying for him and I wouldn't be surprised if they have been in contact. This sounds, blessed be the day, that the alumni that care about winning finally seize control of the AD from those that were committed to losing. <OK....NOW I am getting packed to get to swammi's>

tsubamoto2001 said:

---

On Kidd:
I'm a huge Jason Kidd fan as a player probably my favorite all-time, but does he actually want to be a college coach? I'm not certain of that. College coaching is much different than the NBA. You wear more hats and it's an around the clock jobno days off. Does he really want that? I'm not convinced, personally.

---

+1

I'd rather we hire a proven college coach. The last Cal legend coaching hire I remember, Joe Kapp, didn't work out all that well.

tsubamoto2001 said:

---

Penny's advantage is recruiting the Memphis area. He also seems like he wants to be there for the long haul. Kidd has had a taste of the NBA coaching lifestyle and it's an open question as to whether he'd be committed 100% to building a college program, IMO.

SoCalBear323 said:

---

Many in Memphis had the same concerns about Penny Hardaway and they seem to be doing okay. They'll more than likely make the tourney next year, just missed out on it this year.

---

---

Jason has always been something of an odd duck. Lets see how this plays out...and again, his call.

soCal: His call??That means he has been offered but has not accepted. Not sure I'm down with that. You need to have your ducks in a row.

No love for Randy Bennett? Think he gets alot out of his player.

OBear073akaSMFan said:

---

No love for Randy Bennett? Think he gets alot out of his player.

---

No, none.

(Were he to be hired here, though, I'd become an instant supporter.)

Monty surely will tell JK who is the superior coach on his coaching tree. The top guy needs to be available. He will also give JK his honest opinion of Kidd as a potential HC of Cal.

Smith of USF is also a sterling candidate.

calbear80 said:

---

please let us all wish Coach Wyking Jones and his family the best in this difficult time.

By all account, Coach Jones is a good man who was put in a position that he was not prepared for. I hope he stays in college basketball and does well.

Go Bears!

---

Now you're even calling him by name? You're so... gracious.

OBear073akaSMFan said:

---

No love for Randy Bennett? Think he gets alot out of his player.

---

That ship has sailed. He's had his chances to be the guy at Cal and he doesn't want to. Time to move on.

Alkiadt said:

---

UCBerkGrad said:

---

Larno said:

---

Kidd does not have a college degree, as far as I know. That alone could be a disqualfier.

---

Its not a disqualifier

---

Cal has had other head coaches without degrees.
See Chris Huffins in track.
Not a dis-qualifier technically.

---

If I recall, part of the deal was Huffins could complete his degree at Cal. I don't know if he did but things didn't work out. I thought the degree was the new requirement and was brought on when the student-athlete GPA requirement went up...but I could be wrong.

p,s. I think Kidd would be a mistake hire. His name could help in many ways, recruits, donors but he's not set up to coach in college. Doesn't have the connections to other college coaches to hire and don't think he has the "teaching" gene to help develop players. His skills are better suited to pro ball; more player/personality management than development.

He's been influential in building the FSU program. He's not my top guy or even top 5, but he's a former player. I think he deserves some consideration but I'd like to see him do well at a lower-level before I'd hire him.

Big C said:

---

GoCal80 said:

---

Dennis Gates

---

Please stop with Dennis Gates. We're going to hire a career assistant from the other side of the country because he went to Cal?

---

Big C said:

---

calbear80 said:

---

please let us all wish Coach Wyking Jones and his family the best in this difficult time.

By all account, Coach Jones is a good man who was put in a position that he was not prepared for. I hope he stays in college basketball and does well.

Go Bears!

---

Now you're even calling him by name? You're so... gracious.

---

Exactly . He wants us to like him now. What a phony POS