Official Utah basketball coach candidates thread.

[Donuthole]

I have different expectations for this hire. I want someone that can return some stability and respectability back to the program. If he turns out to be the guy that can take us to the promise land, that is gravy. IOW, I am looking for McBride, not Meyer. If Gottfried can recruit as well as he has previously, he can accomplish that regardless of his X/O's abilities.

I think this is a very reasonable attitude, and one more Ute fans would be wise to adopt. Focus on the history, tradition, and glory of your program once the next guy gets you back to going to the Dance every year. In the meantime, accept that your program isn't where it once was, and that it will probably take hiring an ambitious coach without significant D1HC experience to get you back to being a desirable destination for great head coaches.

[UtahDan]

This is exactly what Utah needs.

Agree.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I have different expectations for this hire. I want someone that can return some stability and respectability back to the program. If he turns out to be the guy that can take us to the promise land, that is gravy. IOW, I am looking for McBride, not Meyer. If Gottfried can recruit as well as he has previously, he can accomplish that regardless of his X/O's abilities.

I agree completely. This is where the program is right now. We made 2 bad hires and it is going to take time to rebuild this thing. Let's focus on the rebuild, not on getting it back to Majerus level. Realistically, we will be lucky to ever get back to Majerus levels. This is why I like Gottfried as a coaching option. He won't make us great, but he will make us respectable and stable.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I think this is a very reasonable attitude, and one more Ute fans would be wise to adopt. Focus on the history, tradition, and glory of your program once the next guy gets you back to going to the Dance every year. In the meantime, accept that your program isn't where it once was, and that it will probably take hiring an ambitious coach without significant D1HC experience to get you back to being a desirable destination for great head coaches.

On the other hand though, we also can't screw up this hire. This is why I'm against a guy like WoJo or Dave Rice. These guys are huge risks and if they flame out we are in serious trouble. Gottfried may not be great, but I doubt he flames out.

[LA Ute]

I have different expectations for this hire. I want someone that can return some stability and respectability back to the program. If he turns out to be the guy that can take us to the promise land, that is gravy. IOW, I am looking for McBride, not Meyer. If Gottfried can recruit as well as he has previously, he can accomplish that regardless of his X/O's abilities.

I think Majerus was the greatest blessing and the greatest curse to hit Utah baskeball. A guy who had failed at Marquette and had one good season at Ball State turned into the most successful coach we ever had by far. Having been to the promised land, lots of the more avid portion of the Ute fan base want that back, and soon. I think our next HC will be a very solid one, but some part of the rabid base will be unhappy no matter who it is. I disagree with Donuthole that it ought to be someone with no D1 head coaching experience. It will be someone who has been a head coach and has won in the NCAA tournament. Take it from me.

[CardiacCoug]

So Dave Rice is good enough for UNLV but not good enough for Utah?

That's funny. Rice would be a great hire for Utah -- I would love to have him as the next coach at BYU.

But I think it will be WoJo.

[Donuthole]

On the other hand though, we also can't screw up this hire. This is why I'm against a guy like WoJo or Dave Rice. These guys are huge risks and if they flame out we are in serious trouble. Gottfried may not be great, but I doubt he flames out.

I just don't know how you can be so certain about that. That's the baffling part--not that you like Gottfried as a candidate, but that you're so certain that he won't flame out and the career assistants will. One thing you can say about Rice or Wojo is that they've never flamed out before. You can't say that about Gottfried.

[LA Ute]

So Dave Rice is good enough for UNLV but not good enough for Utah?

That's funny. Rice would be a great hire for Utah -- I would love to have him as the next coach at BYU.

Hill won't hire an assistant this time. It's not a commentary on Rice, just the reality of the U's situation. Hill needs a high-percentage hire, and assistants who have never been HCs are too much of a gamble. I think Rice has a bright future as a HC.

[LA Ute]

One thing you can say about Rice or Wojo is that they've never flamed out before. You can't say that about Gottfried.

Well, now, you can't flame out unless you've been in a position to do so. Not your best argument, counselor!

[Donuthole]

Well, now, you can't flame out unless you've been in a position to do so. Not your best argument, counselor!

Because assistant coaches can't flame out? Your narrow-mindedness is unfortunate (though expected).

[Jarid in Cedar]

So Dave Rice is good enough for UNLV but not good enough for Utah?

That's funny. Rice would be a great hire for Utah -- I would love to have him as the next coach at BYU.

Apples and Oranges. UNLV and BYU(if Rose leaves) can look to a coach to sustain the level of success/stability that they currently enjoy. Both of those programs are at a level that they could take a chance with an up and coming assistant.

Utah needs a coach to resurrect the program. An assistant who hasn't coached prior is too big of a risk at this juncture. Rice would have had a shot had our circumstances been similar to what they were in 2006, but not this time around.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Apples and Oranges. UNLV and BYU(if Rose leaves) can look to a coach to sustain the level of success/stability that they currently enjoy. Both of those programs are at a level that they could take a chance with an up and coming assistant.

Utah needs a coach to resurrect the program. An assistant who hasn't coached prior is too big of a risk at this juncture. Rice would have had a shot had our circumstances been similar to what they were in 2006, but not this time around.

What the next coach needs to do at Utah is a lot more difficult than the next coach needs to do at UNLV. Plus, I don't think Rice will end up being good enough for UNLV, they are going to hire Theus.

[CardiacCoug]

What the next coach needs to do at Utah is a lot more difficult than the next coach needs to do at UNLV. Plus, I don't think Rice will end up being good enough for UNLV, they are going to hire Theus.

Yeah, Theus has the star power.

I honestly think Rice would be an awesome hire, but I understand what you guys are saying about it not being perceived as a very good hire. Makes sense that Hill would want somebody like Gottfried instead I guess.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I just don't know how you can be so certain about that. That's the baffling part--not that you like Gottfried as a candidate, but that you're so certain that he won't flame out and the career assistants will. One thing you can say about Rice or Wojo is that they've never flamed out before. You can't say that about Gottfried.

If Mark Gottfried's flame out at Utah comes after an 11 year tenure with 5 appearances in the NCAA tournament 2 first round wins and an elite 8 appearance, sign me up for that.

Rice and Wojo are both substantially bigger risks than Gottfried. Gottfried could end up not working out as their is always risk in hiring a coach, but Gottfried's risk is lower.

[Donuthole]

If Mark Gottfried's flame out at Utah comes after an 11 year tenure with 5 appearances in the NCAA tournament 2 first round wins and an elite 8 appearance, sign me up for that.

Rice and Wojo are both substantially bigger risks than Gottfried.

That's probably exactly what St. Louis was thinking when they hired Majina.