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Just say no to Kevin Stallings

by Alex Bozich in Coaching search | March 18th, 2008

kevinstallings.jpgThe news that Harry Gonzo, not Rick Greenspan, will be leading the head coaching search was welcome to those of us in the “whatever you do, don’t hire Kevin Stallings camp.” It’s not that I’m dead set on having an “Indiana guy,” but I’m dead set on not having a Purdue guy. (In fact, I think the “we need to have an Indiana guy” stuff is ridiculous. There’s not a candidate that makes sense, folks.)

Greenspan’s connection to Stallings dates back to 1994 when the Athletic Director gave the current Vanderbilt coach his first head coaching gig at Illinois State. It’s also been reported that Greenspan has consulted Stallings for advice on numerous occasions. So let me make this perfectly clear: Indiana should want no part of Kevin Stallings as its next head coach. The further Greenspan is away from the decision making chair in this hire, the better.

It’s not that Stallings is a bad coach — he’s been to two of the last four Sweet Sixteen’s at a traditionally mediocre program — but shouldn’t Indiana be aiming higher than this? Do we really want to bring in a guy who attended and coached at our most bitter rival to bring the program back to the glory it once enjoyed? Absolutely not. Does Stallings give you that feeling of a home run hire that will create the much needed buzz we so desperately crave? Not even close. In fact, he might even possess less charisma than Kelvin Sampson, if that’s even possible.

So before you go any farther with your Kevin Stallings man crush, stop right there, search committee. The last thing we need at Indiana University is someone from Purdue trying to clean up this mess.

Reminder: Don’t forget to join the Inside the Hall NCAA Tournament Pick ‘Em Challenge by clicking here.

  • Brett
    Im not really with you on the whole purdue guy crap.. if hes a great coach who cares? thing is he isn't a "great" coach and this is where i agree with you A. IU needs to shoot for the stars here. SPEND MONEY. sometimes you have to spend a lot to make a lot. lets go after patino or izzo or pearl. household names at huge programs already. no reason we can't swing those guys to IU. its crazy to me to hear these guys on this blog pushing for mediocre coaches that haven't coached at big time programs.. we do not need that.

    side note : doesn't the AD hiring a commitee to search for a new head coach kinda scare you? i mean 10 people to find a head coach!? thats messed up.. FIRE GREENSPAN.
  • Having a committee to bounce ideas off of is a good idea. That way the AD doesn't exercise complete and total power over the process. And I think we can all agree that the less Greenspan's hands are involved in this mess, the better.

    I do agree with you, though, that I don't care about the coach. I'd take Matt Painter in a freaking heartbeat, and last I checked, he's a Purdue guy. But, you're also right in the notion that you have to spend some money. You're not going to lure a top guy/good guy away from a decent program without putting down some cash in order to do it.
  • I'd have to agree. I think bringing in a Purdue grad sends the wrong message about where the program is right now and how desperate it is to rebuild. I agree that his track record at Vandy is impressive and had it not been for where he went to school, I think he'd be a fine candidate.

    patrickdonohue.freedomblogging.com
  • Brett
    Did you really write your link again? Wow dude, PRO BLOGGER. Big A, please delete this post when you delete the pro blogger's, thanks.
  • Steve
    This has to be the most ridiculous post I have seen on this site from a contributor since I began coming here at the beginning of the season. As an IU alum and lifelong Purdue hater, I don't think that you can automatically write someone off simply because he is a "Purdue" guy. If you don't think he would make a good coach at IU because of his track record and/or personality, that is fine. However, basing your argument on the fact that the guy has previous ties to Purdue is ignorant. If he is deemed capable of getting the program back to where we all demand it to be, then previous affiliations are irrelevant. Track record is a better compass.

    That being said, I wouldn't be excited about a Kevin Stallings hiring either. On the other hand, a young, healthy John Wooden would be nice.
  • ken
    They should eliminate all potential candidates with the initials K.S.
  • kelin
    I hate to say this BUT.....if Matt Painter got hired as IU's next coach......give 1 week and no one would have a problem with it......so get over the Purdue guy stuff.....

    Lets compare.....

    Matt Painter vs. Randy Whitman.....winner Matt painter
    Matt Painter vs. Dane Fife....winner Matt Painter
    Matt Painter vs. Keith Smart....winner Matt Painter
    Matt Painter vs. Pat or His dad....winner Matt Painter
    Matt Painter vs. Steve Alford....closer but winner Matt Painter

    Shall I go on...now Matt Painter is NOT walking through that door but I am over the hiring of a Purdue guy given the fact that some of you have mentioned hiring a Puke Guy...I hate them both but I love winning, screens, movement, and a clean program more than I love hating Purdue.
  • JamesHardy
    Possibly your best post Kelin...couldn't have stated it better myself! NICE!
  • Jay
    Good post. After all, Knight was considered an Ohio State guy when we hired him.
  • tberry
    All things being equal, do not hire the PU guy.

    If the PU guy is CLEARLY the best guy then go for him.

    I just can't see his a CLEARLY the best coach out there.
  • I think my argument would be a bit different IF he was clearly the best candidate. He's not even in the top five.
  • Chris
    What is wrong with you people?!!!!! This is Indiana. This isn't Purdon't. Under NO circumstances should we ever contemplate hiring a PU coach. How did it work out for women's bball? This is a program with tradition and bringing in someone from the other school definitely sends the wrong message. I don't care if John Wooden was coaching at PU and we could hire him. No, No, No, No, No! I'd rather lose with class than win with PU.
  • The only way that this makes sense is so that the IU Athletic Department doesn't have to go around changing all of the embroidered towels and other monogrammed niceties at the coach's house. Plus, all the players can keep their shoes!
  • Cougar
    WASHINGTON ST. - this is where we need to look for our next coach.
  • stevce
    When you say we came aim higher then to me Brownell should not even be looked at. He has done nothing in a big conference. At least Stallings did it in the SEC. Brownell to me would really be a shitty hire and a cheap one as well.
  • BTOWN 40
    Amen brother......I want him 2nd only to ERIN ANDREWS becoming our next coach
  • Hoosier in Boston
    But let's think about this gentlemen (and ladies). Pitino once was a force at Kentucky before leaving for the NBA, and now he is at THEIR rival Louisville, and has them back into Final Four talk. Do you think anyone at Louisville cares at this point that he used to coach at Kentucky (and not only coach but was the FACE of UK basketball)? Hell no. They are super-psyched to have Pitino as their coach, as well they should be. It was only a story for about the first 2 weeks when he got hired there, and after that, it's been all business.
  • Brett
    BLOAW!! Great comment man and i agree whole heartidly.
  • T
    A little off topic, but looking back on it Dakich should have benched all the kids who missed practice when Sampson resigned for the first half of that Northwestern game, including D.J. White.

    Clearly the team doesn't respond to him, nor does it seem like they have too much respect for him. Dakich was likely not going to be re-signed anyways, he should have went down not kissing the ass of the players. Who knows? Maybe that would have lit a fire under them and they would've played harder.
  • drode
    It is nice to see that we are three days away from the tournament and all people can talk about is next year's coach.I understand that we drew a shitty seed, but does that mean that this season is already written off? If this team does make some kind of a run, I hope that all of you stay off of the band wagon, and continue your fantasy administrator league. If nothing else D.J. personally commands my full attention. I would like wish the CURRENT team luck in their upcoming endeavors. GO HOOSIERS!
  • Brett
    I think you are stating the obvious here bro, of course we all want to see our beloved hoosiers advance and will all route like hell to make that happen. In my opinion though we are all looking to move on to a new coach as quickly as possible. Lets be honest, the head coach is the most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to college basketball and at this present moment we don't have one.
  • Steve
    We are talking about next year's coach in this thread because that is what the post is about. The point is there is still three days to kill and the news right now is the fact that a search team has been created. Feel free to provide us with your Arkansas scouting report and we can all react to that as well.
  • JB
    Let's hope Greenspan only gets a half a vote on the committee or at worst a single vote - hopefully he's only on the committee to provide financial data to everybody else. As to all the comments on paying big money to bring in a big time coach please explain to me where the money is going to come from? IU has the unique problem of football not paying the bills at any where near the same level as the top 50 D 1 football programs. About the only positive thing Greenspan has accomplished is increasing football revenue in the past few years but we're still nowhere near the top 50 football programs in revenue. I suggest everybody keep their eye on coaches from schools with not much ( e.g. Washington State/Baylor/Dayton/Vanderbilt ) to zero (Xavier) football revenue as IU is probably in a position to offer these coaches more money than they are making now. If somebody like Pitino comes to IU it won't be for the money - Louisville can greatly exceed anything IU can offer in financial terms. Why a coach with no ties to IU would take a reduction in income is beyond me - maybe Cuban can offer free investment advice or a partnership in one of his business ventures?
  • Hoosier_Hound
    Why don't we pay our next coach with basketball money? Now there's a novel idea. The way I understand it, only UK, UL, UNC, and Syracuse rake in more from their basketball program than IU.
  • Hoosier_Hound
    This is a moot point. I agree that Indiana should never hire a Purdue guy, but it doesn't really matter in this case. Stallings is not the right guy to hire period. I can give you at least a dozen names, reasonable names, that should be ahead of Stallings.
  • Bay Area Hoosier
    i hear gene keady is still available. everybody likes a re-tread, so let's throw him in the mix.
  • Southern Belle
    psssht.... why would Stallings leave Vandy to go to a crappier team??? He's too good for you farm boys anyways
  • JamesHardy
    Prolly cuz he's sick of your stanky ass!
  • bootsie white
    friends don't let friends hire former Purdue basketball players
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