not that any coach would do

[scathendo]

i've read the comments from the UK president and the AD. i think we will get a good coach. truthfully, for me, there are alot of guys, proven and un-proven, that i would be happy to see get a shot at taken over this program. i'm not going to list names because i've read alot of posts already about coaches names. i want to take this to a more generic conversation.

the basic ingredients to being a 'successful' ncaa D1 coach, and what in particular will make a 'successful' coach at kentucky.

for example...
@ ncaa D1 -
1. clean program
2. good recruiting
3. x's and o's - life and basketball
@ UK
1. compete (win alot) - locally and nationally
2. embrace the spotlight - locally and nationally
3. play uptempo (take advantage of 23,000 ready to rip the roof off!)
4. balanced defensive and offensive schemes (personally, i'd like to take a look at his playbook under the heading "in-bound plays".
5. try not to let too many kentucky kids with b'ball skills go to another school and then come in and beat us. this really can get us p.o'd. you have to understand: that kentucky kid on the bench represents 'hope'. it's the hope that any kid in kentucky could sit at that bench. when they prove worthy - elsewhere, it really stings.
6. be sensitive to how much the UK fanbase cares about this program and don't try the 'jedi mind trick'/rumsfeld thing on us. we've watched ALOTTA good basketball. we may not always be right about what's wrong with a team but we know a good basketball team when we see one. if your taking care of the previous criteria, this one should be no problem

[Brian McCat]

scathendo wrote: for example...
@ ncaa D1 -
1. clean program
2. good recruiting
3. x's and o's - life and basketball
@ UK
1. compete (win alot) - locally and nationally
2. embrace the spotlight - locally and nationally
3. play uptempo (take advantage of 23,000 ready to rip the roof off!)
4. balanced defensive and offensive schemes (personally, i'd like to take a look at his playbook under the heading "in-bound plays".
5. try not to let too many kentucky kids with b'ball skills go to another school and then come in and beat us. this really can get us p.o'd. you have to understand: that kentucky kid on the bench represents 'hope'. it's the hope that any kid in kentucky could sit at that bench. when they prove worthy - elsewhere, it really stings.
6. be sensitive to how much the UK fanbase cares about this program and don't try the 'jedi mind trick'/rumsfeld thing on us. we've watched ALOTTA good basketball. we may not always be right about what's wrong with a team but we know a good basketball team when we see one. if your taking care of the previous criteria, this one should be no problem

So often, Clean Program and Good Recruiting is an oxymoron.

I would add to your list: ability to assess and develop talent.

#6 cracked me up. I can just see coach X:

Coach X: This IS winning basketball.

The fans: This IS winning basketball.

Coach X: You like watching us play.

The fans: We like watching you play.

Coach X: You can accept 10 losses a year.

The fans: We can accept....what?!?!?

[scathendo]

good recruiting/clean program problem is primarily caused by the ncaa and it's crazy rules. there's got to be a better way... one that actually looks after the athlete a bit more. that being said, at UK it has to be a bit easier because you have so many other things to offer... national exposure on tv all the time... top of the line in facilities, fans and coaches.

if i were to be asked by anyone who could actually do something about it, i'd say...

i'm sure this is not currently ok with the current rules but if we can make it better by changing a few rules then let's do it.

let the shoe/uniform/nba etc. companies set up a fund for the athlete. if they can afford to give one 19 year old a twenty million dollar shoe (rumored durant once he declares) contract, then they can afford to give each scholar athlete a little bit as well. 'don't bring it if you didn't bring enough to share with the whole class'. right?

all scholarship players are eligible. the rates, rules etc. are regulated by the ncaa and are equal for any athlete regardless of school attended or statistical data. in other words, once your on scholly you get a bit of the jersey or whatever showing your likeness or your number/name, sold. there is tons of money generated for this and a small percentage would be nothing. would you pay a buck or two more per jersey if you knew the money was going to the player for their future? the question is do you give them a percentage...downside to this is a power school would have an advantage, so i would say the athlete gets a set amount, again regulated by the ncaa (who knows maybe the nba pitches in: into a developmental kind of fund. it would be nice if the biggest, best paying employer in the business and the academic institutions tasked with producing the young adults who will be potential employess would work together for a change.

at the end of his/her first year they can, if they choose, leave school and they will be 25% vested into the fund from the shoe company. it's theirs to use to get them started in whatever venture they would like. the remaining 75% goes into a needs based scholarship fund for someone who really could use the help getting an education.

the player is rewarded for staying longer in college by becoming more vested in the fund. after 2 years-50%, 3 years-75%, 4 years 100% (probably a degree). it's like a 401k only you get access to it when you get out of college...it's a trust fund for kids that could use a boost. i know i could of used it (although i'd probably blown it on recording equipment:D).

it just seems to me that with professional sports of all kinds becoming more and more prevelant in our society that the universities have to bring something to the table to keep a kid a year or two more in school. this way the money is equaly spread acrossed all sports and all players on scholarship in any ncaa school. they don't get it until after they leave school so they are still an amature as long as their are here. and the longer their here the more educated they get and the bigger reward they get... everybody wins, it's perfect,,..........................wait, is that an ATF van outside???? i guess this could somehow still be considered illegal.......oops gotta go!