Real Candidates Emerge

[AWK]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0EXy6lqCztM/S6jWdNbyN8I/AAAAAAAADUU/xw0av4A1q6Q/s1600-h/HFHACVTHFMFNVLG.20040731004332.jpg

Hey everyone. Auburn's search for a new basketball coach is beginning to take shape.

We know, courtesy of the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle, that North Texas coach Johnny Jones has been contacted and is expected to interview for the Tigers' gig this week.

I haven't yet been able to confirm this on the record, but we believe Jones will be on campus Thursday for an interview. He will be the first candidate to meet face-to-face with athletic director Jay Jacobs.

So who is this guy?

Here's what UNT has been doing ...

2000-01: 4-24 (year before he arrived)
2001-02: 15-14
2002-03: 14-17
2003-04: 13-15, 8-8
2004-05: 14-14, 6-9
2005-06: 14-14, 6-9
2006-07: 23-11 10-8 (made NCAAs)
2007-08: 20-11, 10-8
2008-09: 20-12, 11-7
2009-10: 24-9, 13-5 (made NCAAs)

Jones is 47 years old. He played at LSU from 1980-84. He also coached under Dale Brown and played a significant role during the days of Shaquille O'Neal, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Randy Livingston. He spent time as an assistant at Memphis prior to John Calipari's arrival and spent the 2000-01 season as an assistant at Alabama.

What can we glean from his record? There are two explanations. One is that he's a decent mid-major coach who occasionally takes a team loaded with experience and challenges for an NCAA bid. Call it Jeff Lebo Syndrome.

The other is that Jones is a guy who needed a few years to learn how to build teams and now has reached a certain level of celestial understanding. He has at least 20 wins in each of his last four seasons, which is significant given the UNT context.

Which is it? I really don't know.

and...


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Hey everyone. Sam Houston State coach Bob Marlin will be interviewed by Auburn in the coming days. Athletic director Jay Jacobs asked SHSU's athletic director, Bobby Williams, for permission on Monday afternoon.

This is attributable to a Houston TV station.

Marlin's Bearkats clobbered Auburn this season in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum (big accomplishment) and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. He is 225-130 in 12 seasons at Sam Houston State. His teams have cracked the 20-win plateau six times.

http://jaygtate.blogspot.com/

Chad won't like the second candidate because he is white.... Discuss.

[War Eagle!!!]

These aren't exactly the mid major coaches that get me excited...

[wesfau2]

These aren't exactly the mid major coaches that get me excited...

What he said.

[Snaggletiger]

What he said.

What both of ya'll said. 

Chad is black?

[AWK]

What both of ya'll said. 

Chad is black?

Some say, he can rock Vanilla Ice like no other.

On topic, I will usually say that we do not need to make a big splash hire, but hire the right candidate.  However, in this case I think we need to go out and hire a great coach and big name regardless of the $. 

I feel that Jacobs is trying to make a Chizik esque hire ... We don't need more years of Lebo basketball.

[Jumbo]

Some say, he can rock Vanilla Ice like no other.

On topic, I will usually say that we do not need to make a big splash hire, but hire the right candidate.  However, in this case I think we need to go out and hire a great coach and big name regardless of the $. 

I feel that Jacobs is trying to make a Chizik esque hire ... We don't need more years of Lebo basketball.

Chad is totally crossed out catchin' all the ladies. I want a slash hire not a Who and Wtf hire.

[The Prowler]

Chad is totally crossed out catchin' all the ladies. I want a slash hire not a Who and Wtf hire.

Yes....what Jumbo said.

Now, which candidates out there qualify for being a Slash hire???

Hows about this for a Slash hire:  Pat Summit?  Ssssssslash!!!!!!!!

[AUChizad]

Yes....what Jumbo said.

Now, which candidates out there qualify for being a Slash hire???

Hows about this for a Slash hire:  Pat Summit?  Ssssssslash!!!!!!!!

He wants this guy.

[Kaos]

He wants this guy.

I would seriously buy season tickets if he was hired.  I'd go to every home game in hopes he'd throw a halftime session.

[Saniflush]

I would seriously buy season tickets if he was hired.  I'd go to every home game in hopes he'd throw a halftime session.

Maybe we can get a package deal?

[jmar]

I have been following the search while still at home. Is there a base salary constraint under 2 M preventing big name (splash types) from being interested? I'm speaking of any coach that has ever crested 2 M past or present because these coaches are already aware of the present football salaries at AU and the median average of basketball coaches in the SEC.

[Snaggletiger]

I vote slash hire.  As big a name as possible.  Jeff Lebo nor Sam Houston State's Corch nor North Texas State's Corch is going to attract top recruits to Orburn.  The new arena is nice but we don't need "up and coming" that nobody has ever heard of outside of the Sun Belt.  If you're serious about putting the B'ball program on the map, then act like it.

[War Eagle!!!]

I vote slash hire.  As big a name as possible.  Jeff Lebo nor Sam Houston State's Corch nor North Texas State's Corch is going to attract top recruits to Orburn.  The new arena is nice but we don't need "up and coming" that nobody has ever heard of outside of the Sun Belt.  If you're serious about putting the B'ball program on the map, then act like it.

Not gonna happen.

1) A big time coach is not coming to Auburn for several reasons.

2) Jay Jacobs is doing the hiring. He don't work like that. He wants to try and get the best bang for his buck.

[AUsweetheart]

2) Jay Jacobs is doing the hiring. He don't work like that.

I personally can't wait to hear him say we are going through the front door just one more time.

[jmar]

Not gonna happen.

1) A big time coach is not coming to Auburn for several reasons.

2) Jay Jacobs is doing the hiring. He don't work like that. He wants to try and get the best bang for his buck.

Person's topped 2M maybe twice during his career. I think Jacobs does the merry-go-round for show and hires Person by the weekend.

[Kaos]

I personally can't wait to hear him say we are going through the front door just one more time.

The back door is better. 

You don't get anything good by going in the front door all the time.

[AUChizad]

The back door is better. 

You don't get anything good by going in the front door all the time.

I bet you do like it in the backdoor. 

[Jumbo]

Da Skreets tell me Tony Barbee is set to interview.

[jmar]

danger in dem skreets

[Snaggletiger]

I've got an interview next Tuesday but I don't think I can make it.  The kid's got a game.