Barnhart Hires Search Firm....

[SCBlu]

Interesting take on UK hiring the same search firm that hooked Tubby up with Minn.

Hope Few isn't our principal "fallback"

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10093707

[BlueBalls]

Hint to Mitch......save some money, search in Gainesville, Fla.

[Scratch]

Well there goes the done deal rumor.

[Littlemeyer]

Scratch wrote: Well there goes the done deal rumor.
Maybe that's what they'd like us to believe. :shock::thumbup

[BlueHeart]

Scratch wrote: Well there goes the done deal rumor.
Not if you buy into the writer's 2nd theory. Then it would be a pay back.

[Scratch]

Littlemeyer wrote: Scratch wrote: Well there goes the done deal rumor.
Maybe that's what they'd like us to believe. :shock::thumbup
Haha. That is a little to 007 for me.

[RaleighCat]

BlueHeart wrote: Scratch wrote: Well there goes the done deal rumor.
Not if you buy into the writer's 2nd theory. Then it would be a pay back.

I think this theory might be true. And if it is, Barnhart is a darn genius.

It's also a good way to make sure other guys on our list stay on that list as long as possible in case Donovon doesn't work out.

I like it, frankly. Great move by Mitch even if the cloak 'n dagger angle isn't true.

[wildcatdon]

i find it very hard to believe that mitch hired a search firm..no need to..this is a guise..its all part of the plan..keep everyone focused on NCAA so billy can help his team stay focused...billly is coming people,why cant you accept it? Mitch doesnt need a search firm...gracious...

[BlueHeart]

RaleighCat wrote: BlueHeart wrote: Scratch wrote: Well there goes the done deal rumor.
Not if you buy into the writer's 2nd theory. Then it would be a pay back.

I think this theory might be true. And if it is, Barnhart is a darn genius.

It's also a good way to make sure other guys on our list stay on that list as long as possible in case Donovon doesn't work out.

I like it, frankly. Great move by Mitch even if the cloak 'n dagger angle isn't true.

The theory holds more water if you consider that it was a "all for one" type deal. Imagine this... Barnhart, not Minnesota, initiates contact with the search firm. "Find a place that will pay Tubby, make him feel at home, and help us save face. In the meantime, make sure Donovan has interest." Who knows? Cheaper and better for PR to pay the 1.5 mil to Tubby and the firm's fee instead of the 4mil buyout...

[Bob Day]

RaleighCat wrote: BlueHeart wrote: Scratch wrote: Well there goes the done deal rumor.
Not if you buy into the writer's 2nd theory. Then it would be a pay back.

I think this theory might be true. And if it is, Barnhart is a darn genius.

It's also a good way to make sure other guys on our list stay on that list as long as possible in case Donovon doesn't work out.

I like it, frankly. Great move by Mitch even if the cloak 'n dagger angle isn't true.
I would beg to differ on this and here's why. Parker Executive Search is one of the best and most presitigous executive search firms in the country. They are widely used and most especially in the southeastern and midwestern states. There are only about three other firms in the country that even come close to being peer with PES in this territory. The other three are in Chicago, Los Angeles and Plano, TX.

Many top schools have used them to help recruit new head basketball and other athletic coaches I believe in the Big 10, Big 12, MVC, ACC and SEC. Who knows where else? In fact, I believe both Louisville and UK have used them before, but don't quote me on that because I may be mixing up schools. Top coaches use them too. Even more than this, Parker was hired to help find a new President for the NCAA in 2002!

The point is, Gary Parrish did not say one word in his article about the fact that the most likely reason UK hired them would be because they are the best executive search firm out there. Either he didn't know that, or he did know it and failed to point it out in order to try to create a seemingly stronger basis for his theory that UK was "paying them back". Either way, shame on him. That's lousy, misleading journalism. Now, people can believe what they want to believe, but to my thinking, it is a lot more likely that UK hired Parker because they are the best at this sort of thing than because Mitch was paying them back somehow. Am I making any sense? Anyway, his theory may turn out to be true, but I doubt it. That my two cents.

[goforbigblue]

Its just smoke and mirrors.

[ukwebfan]

UC used a search firm to hire Huggy's former assistant, Mick Cronin. I guess it's just a place where coaches can connect with schools and seemingly has become as necessary as administrators and agents themselves. You might say it's the beginning of the end of the search.

[goUKatsgo]

Maybe hiring the search firm is part of the deal to help Florida find a replacement. HA HA HA

[RedandBlackATTACK]

In response to one of the above posters, I don't believe UL at least as long as Jurich has been AD has ever employed a search firm.

After Petrino took the Falcons' job, when asked if he was forming a search committee and or employing a search firm, Jurich responded; "Yea, It's called Jurich and Jurich".

Rick

C-Bus

[Bob Day]

RedandBlackATTACK wrote: In response to one of the above posters, I don't believe UL at least as long as Jurich has been AD has ever employed a search firm.

After Petrino took the Falcons' job, when asked if he was forming a search committee and or employing a search firm, Jurich responded; "Yea, It's called Jurich and Jurich".

Rick

C-Bus



As I mentioned in my post, I may have gotten Louisville mixed up with another school or another position within UL. I think Tom Jurich is one of the best AD's in the country and I wouldn't be surprised that he handles many such things himself. That aside, the point I made about Parker Executive Search remains a valid one. That's who people very often turn to when seeking new hires in academia and college sports. They are considered the best.

Of note, Parker currently is also handling the search for Iowa's new head basketball coach, as well as one for Denver University and Northern Illinois University. They are also involved in the search for a new NCAA Vice President of Education Services. These are posted on their website along with the University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Coach position. Reference: http://www.parkersearch.com/current-ops-athletics.htm

[Caveman Catfan]

RedandBlackATTACK wrote: In response to one of the above posters, I don't believe UL at least as long as Jurich has been AD has ever employed a search firm.

After Petrino took the Falcons' job, when asked if he was forming a search committee and or employing a search firm, Jurich responded; "Yea, It's called Jurich and Jurich".


Had Pitino not been available, I doubt Jurich would be nearly as confident hiring a basketball coach. Hiring a football to UL has not been such a big deal until Kragthorpe. Hiring a guy like Smith when Cooper left was pretty easy. Hiring Petrino was also easy. Smith could not be hired to UL again. He simply was only good enough, because UL was not an established program. Today, even without MSU on his resume', Smith could never be hired. Petrino would still be a great hire, but would Jurich today hire an OC for the HC job? I don't know. Time will tell on Kragthorpe.

I am not so certain that Jurich is nearly as savvy about basketball. Pitino was a gift. Only made possible because UK had already lured Rick to the bluegrass once before.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

the article doesn't name it's sources- so there you go, like everything else we're hearing.

[UedK]

The search firm plays many important roles. They act a a facilitator, they compile background information, they have connections with most all agents. The athletic department would be reinventing the wheel to try and become proficient at many of the tasks the search firm will perform and they would not do half as good a job.

I is a very professional thing to do and will keep something from falling through the cracks.

[Caveman Catfan]

Calling this an article might not be an accurate depiction. It's more like a blog offering up a rumor, IMO.

[bleedbluelady]

UedK wrote: The search firm plays many important roles. They act a a facilitator, they compile background information, they have connections with most all agents. The athletic department would be reinventing the wheel to try and become proficient at many of the tasks the search firm will perform and they would not do half as good a job.

I is a very professional thing to do and will keep something from falling through the cracks.

:thumbupI agree.

[Bob Day]

UedK wrote: The search firm plays many important roles. They act a a facilitator, they compile background information, they have connections with most all agents. The athletic department would be reinventing the wheel to try and become proficient at many of the tasks the search firm will perform and they would not do half as good a job.

I is a very professional thing to do and will keep something from falling through the cracks.
Exactly, and in this case it precludes the nightmare that could potentially ensue from from the efforts of any internal search committee setup by UK.

[Caveman Catfan]

"President Todd has asked me to lead the search," Barnhart said in that statement. "Our strategy does not involve a search committee. Obviously, I will utilize the opinions of experts in this business. We will also lean on people who understand and are committed to the success of Kentucky basketball."



From Mitch's initial press release. Not sure why people are thinking the worst about this. Nothing inconsistent here.

[Bob Day]

Caveman Catfan wrote: "President Todd has asked me to lead the search," Barnhart said in that statement. "Our strategy does not involve a search committee. Obviously, I will utilize the opinions of experts in this business. We will also lean on people who understand and are committed to the success of Kentucky basketball."



From Mitch's initial press release. Not sure why people are thinking the worst about this. Nothing inconsistent here.

I agree. While the results are not in, I feel Barnhart is at least going about this recruitment in one of the smarter ways possible.

[catfan83]

JOHN BLUEBLOOD wrote: the article doesn't name it's sources- so there you go, like everything else we're hearing.
Supposedly it's up on the search firm's website as one of the schools they are currently helping. I read that in an article today.

[Bob Day]

catfan83 wrote: JOHN BLUEBLOOD wrote: the article doesn't name it's sources- so there you go, like everything else we're hearing.
Supposedly it's up on the search firm's website as one of the schools they are currently helping. I read that in an article today.
Well now, this is interesting. The Men's Basketball Head Coaching position for the University of Kentucky was on the Parker website yesterday, but it is gone today.

Here's the link: http://www.parkersearch.com/current-ops-athletics.htm

That's the same page it was on yesterday. I wonder what that may indicate. Ssshhheeeeessshhh! It's not like we aren't already getting pitched enough screwballs.