Someone must work for a search firm.

GoCal80 said:

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Dear Coach Fox,

Welcome to the cal family! Here's wishing you a successful run as Head Coach of our men's basketball team. I can't wait for next season to start.

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+1

Welcome, Coach Fox! Best of luck. I really hope the program has a lot of success with you at the helm.

What's done is done. Time to get comfortable and Go Bears!

socaltownie said:

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I have gone through the 4 stages. I am onto Acceptance. We have him for the next 2-3 years. Might as well make the best of it.

Go Bears!

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Yah, focus on the positive. At least it's not another season of Jonesmageddon. He does have HC experience at P6 conference. Maybe he learned something from his previous jobs. And of course Cal could have hired Steve Lavin or gone for that weird "first female coach" experience that CGB was pushing, so Cal avoided the Three Mile Island scenario. Could have been a lot worse.

socaltownie said:

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I have gone through the 4 stages. I am onto Acceptance. We have him for the next 2-3 years. Might as well make the best of it.

Go Bears!

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Haven't got there yet. With Dykes, Wyking and Wilcox it took me a day (only Martin was I on board instantly). Maybe if he hires one or a combination of Cal alums (Theo, Dennis Gates...) who can be groomed to take over if/when he is fired? Or just a great recruiter? Maybe a "big name" ex-NBA player?

Uthaithani said:

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socaltownie said:

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I have gone through the 4 stages. I am onto Acceptance. We have him for the next 2-3 years. Might as well make the best of it.

Go Bears!

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Yah, focus on the positive. At least it's not another season of Jonesmageddon. He does have HC experience at P6 conference. Maybe he learned something from his previous jobs. And of course Cal could have hired Steve Lavin or gone for that weird "first female coach" experience that CGB was pushing, so Cal avoided the Three Mile Island scenario. Could have been a lot worse.

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+1. What I want to understand is the kids he found at Reno. I saw at least one thing that said he has a good eye (and can develop) under appreciated talent. It would be interesting to hear about that.

socaltownie said:

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Uthaithani said:

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socaltownie said:

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I have gone through the 4 stages. I am onto Acceptance. We have him for the next 2-3 years. Might as well make the best of it.

Go Bears!

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Yah, focus on the positive. At least it's not another season of Jonesmageddon. He does have HC experience at P6 conference. Maybe he learned something from his previous jobs. And of course Cal could have hired Steve Lavin or gone for that weird "first female coach" experience that CGB was pushing, so Cal avoided the Three Mile Island scenario. Could have been a lot worse.

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+1. What I want to understand is the kids he found at Reno. I saw at least one thing that said he has a good eye (and can develop) under appreciated talent. It would be interesting to hear about that.

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That is the mark of many mid-major coaches. Then he gets them to play tough defense. Ben Braun was that at Eastern Michigan and brought that skill to Cal. Problem is, in today's world, with recruiting news all over the internet, other coaches can track your recruiting and poach your "finds."

Fox's record as a recruiter of top talent at Georgia was bad, considering the talent base. However, by all reports he is a really nice guy, so at least if his assistants bring in top recruits, he won't be a negative and should be able to close the deal.

calumnus said:

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socaltownie said:

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Uthaithani said:

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socaltownie said:

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I have gone through the 4 stages. I am onto Acceptance. We have him for the next 2-3 years. Might as well make the best of it.

Go Bears!

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Yah, focus on the positive. At least it's not another season of Jonesmageddon. He does have HC experience at P6 conference. Maybe he learned something from his previous jobs. And of course Cal could have hired Steve Lavin or gone for that weird "first female coach" experience that CGB was pushing, so Cal avoided the Three Mile Island scenario. Could have been a lot worse.

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+1. What I want to understand is the kids he found at Reno. I saw at least one thing that said he has a good eye (and can develop) under appreciated talent. It would be interesting to hear about that.

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That is the mark of many mid-major coaches. Then he gets them to play tough defense. Ben Braun was that at Eastern Michigan and brought that skill to Cal. Problem is, in today's world, with recruiting news all over the internet, other coaches can track your recruiting and poach your "finds."

Fox's record as a recruiter of top talent at Georgia was bad, considering the talent base. However, by all reports he is a really nice guy, so at least if his assistants bring in top recruits, he won't be a negative and should be able to close the deal.

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I think the question about Georgia talent (and SEC) is whether he was a poor recruiter or whether he refused to pay $$$ and thus was at an extreme disadvantage compared to his peers.

_IF_ JK is right and a reckoning of extreme order is coming then a high character guy could be fantastic to have.

When does anyone hire a fox to do the job of a bear, I ask?

I hate to say it, but the most common fox is the....errrr......the red fox.

Welcome to Cal, Coach Fox and family.
And welcome Coach TJ.
Best.
Go Bears!

socaltownie said:

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calumnus said:

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socaltownie said:

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Uthaithani said:

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socaltownie said:

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I have gone through the 4 stages. I am onto Acceptance. We have him for the next 2-3 years. Might as well make the best of it.

Go Bears!

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Yah, focus on the positive. At least it's not another season of Jonesmageddon. He does have HC experience at P6 conference. Maybe he learned something from his previous jobs. And of course Cal could have hired Steve Lavin or gone for that weird "first female coach" experience that CGB was pushing, so Cal avoided the Three Mile Island scenario. Could have been a lot worse.

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+1. What I want to understand is the kids he found at Reno. I saw at least one thing that said he has a good eye (and can develop) under appreciated talent. It would be interesting to hear about that.

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That is the mark of many mid-major coaches. Then he gets them to play tough defense. Ben Braun was that at Eastern Michigan and brought that skill to Cal. Problem is, in today's world, with recruiting news all over the internet, other coaches can track your recruiting and poach your "finds."

Fox's record as a recruiter of top talent at Georgia was bad, considering the talent base. However, by all reports he is a really nice guy, so at least if his assistants bring in top recruits, he won't be a negative and should be able to close the deal.

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I think the question about Georgia talent (and SEC) is whether he was a poor recruiter or whether he refused to pay $$$ and thus was at an extreme disadvantage compared to his peers.

_IF_ JK is right and a reckoning of extreme order is coming then a high character guy could be fantastic to have.

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If all we needed was a high character guy who cannot compete with the dirty programs then Knowlton thought he had that in Jones. You don't need to spend another $5 million to get a high character guy.

DeCuire is high character and is a good coach. Kyle Smith is high character and is a good coach.

is trent johnson coming with fox???

CALiforniALUM said:

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When does anyone hire a fox to do the job of a bear, I ask?

I hate to say it, but the most common fox is the....errrr......the red fox.

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A for creativity at least.

Best thing about this is that he will have to work his ass off to prove himself. The fans are not in his side. Recruit and win, and he will be embraced and rewarded. If he chose this to phone it in and collect a paycheck, he's in for a rude awakening.

calgo430 said:

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is trent johnson coming with fox???

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Supposedly

Getting Johnson makes this hire much more palatable. Johnson is a better x and o coach and will recruit well. I'd make it a Reno trifecta and bring in David Padgett also.

mcdbear said:

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Getting Johnson makes this hire much more palatable. Johnson is a better x and o coach and will recruit well. I'd make it a Reno trifecta and bring in David Padgett also.

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I leave this data point for you. Over the last 7 years of his head coaching career, Johnson was 20-100 in conference.

Looking forward with cautious optimism, to next reading about new coach's contract featuring financial terms that are 'heavily incentivized'. Also that it frees the university from an un-merciful buy out if things go south. If Cal's new HC is NOT dis-incentivized by the excessive "big $$$ guarantees" commonly luxuriated by HC's throughout the P-5 conferences, then we must all be seriously on board with applause & of course: 1, 2, 3, hit it Go Bears!
JK its time to show your mettle beyond sports clich heavy news bulletins.
Cut a world class, modest $$$ deal and earn some 'back-slaps'; don't give away the already, heavily mortgaged farm (pardon the slur) as did your predecessor.

I'd prefer Dennis Gates and Theo Robertson to Padgett but I've learned my lesson not to pick assistants for HCs.

mcdbear said:

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Getting Johnson makes this hire much more palatable. Johnson is a better x and o coach and will recruit well. I'd make it a Reno trifecta and bring in David Padgett also.

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Or just have hired Musselman in the first place?

OaktownBear said:

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mcdbear said:

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Getting Johnson makes this hire much more palatable. Johnson is a better x and o coach and will recruit well. I'd make it a Reno trifecta and bring in David Padgett also.

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I leave this data point for you. Over the last 7 years of his head coaching career, Johnson was 20-100 in conference.

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Good point. I am basing it off what he did at Nevada and Stanford. Didn't pay too much attention after he left Stanford. He did leave all four stops with pretty good rosters on the way out. Fox's success at Nevada was because of the players Johnson recruited.

I'd absolutely have room for Theo and Gates on my staff if they wanted to come. I bring up Padgett because of the natural connection to Johnson and Cal plus we could use a big man coach.

k9dog1 said:

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Hey they made the call, and not to many of us wanted to see a third year of WJ...so this is where we are. I say give the guy a chance just like we gave WJ a chance. This is an upgrade no matter what anyone says.

Go Bears!

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WJ was a bad hire, because he lacked experience. He made mistakes in recruiting and strategy, but was improving. He might eventually be a good coach, but we cannot have him learning on the job while the losses pile up. Fox is a modest improvement in the short run (a very low bar) and maybe not even in the longer term, and certainly not worth the $3 million or so we spent for such a modest improvement.

calumnus said:

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k9dog1 said:

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Hey they made the call, and not to many of us wanted to see a third year of WJ...so this is where we are. I say give the guy a chance just like we gave WJ a chance. This is an upgrade no matter what anyone says.

Go Bears!

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WJ was a bad hire, because he lacked experience. He made mistakes in recruiting and strategy, but was improving. He might eventually be a good coach, but we cannot have him learning on the job while the losses pile up. Fox is a modest improvement in the short run (a very low bar) and maybe not even in the longer term, and certainly not worth the $3 million or so we spent for such a modest improvement.

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Ok I gotta say that is not fair The dude has coached for 15 years. 20+ wins in 8 of them. I bet a dozen top dogs that Jones didn't crack 10. He didn't.

Am I THRILLED about the hire? No. But I think it is better than a lot of you are making it out to be. The endorsements, off the record, by people that could be honest here is telling.

#teamhope

mcdbear said:

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OaktownBear said:

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mcdbear said:

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Getting Johnson makes this hire much more palatable. Johnson is a better x and o coach and will recruit well. I'd make it a Reno trifecta and bring in David Padgett also.

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I leave this data point for you. Over the last 7 years of his head coaching career, Johnson was 20-100 in conference.

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Good point. I am basing it off what he did at Nevada and Stanford. Didn't pay too much attention after he left Stanford. He did leave all four stops with pretty good rosters on the way out. Fox's success at Nevada was because of the players Johnson recruited.

I'd absolutely have room for Theo and Gates on my staff if they wanted to come. I bring up Padgett because of the natural connection to Johnson and Cal plus we could use a big man coach.

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Trent Johnson was born in Berkeley.

Hopefully he can recruit. Cal has had 4 McD AA's in the last 5 years. I like to think that has something to do with the university and its location, and not just the coach and his style of play.

CalEnviroLaw said:

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Hopefully he can recruit. Cal has had 4 McD AA's in the last 5 years. I like to think that has something to do with the university and its location, and not just the coach and his style of play.

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How many McD AA's did Braun bring in his 9 years again? Powe and? Who am I missing?

Wyking brought in zero.

Monty, is a great Hall of Fame coach, but got Bird mostly because he was a Legacy and a Cal fan his whole life. Multiple McD's passed on us with Monty as the coach. Lee came back as a grad transfer after he was gone and Rabb only showed interest after he was gone.

So 3 of the 4 were under Cuonzo. The location and university are great, but it takes the right coach too.

He was a poor recruiter at Georgia all things considered. Hopefully he has some good recruiters on his staff at Cal. He is personable enough.

Absolutely Not! Calumnus

Musselhead really messed up coaching the experienced Nevada roster. And that's not my opinion but season ticket holders of the Wolfpack up here.

The Thurmanator chimes in again.

NVGolfingBear said:

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Absolutely Not! Calumnus

Musselhead really messed up coaching the experienced Nevada roster. And that's not my opinion but season ticket holders of the Wolfpack up here.

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Musselman wasn't coming (and I wouldn't want him). But if Wolfpack season ticket holders' view is so important to the equation, Georgia fans' view of Fox is far more negative.

TheSouseFamily said:

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The Thurmanator chimes in again.

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One of my all time favorite Bears.

Oh wait.. I was thinking of Michael J Fox.