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Post by rmcalhoun on May 27, 2021 9:36:24 GMT -6
Unless something really weird is going Whit made the hire. Headcoaches have always hired their own assistants.
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Post by bsutrack on May 27, 2021 9:43:06 GMT -6
Here's a quote from an article concerning Darner's contract:
"Darner’s deal was a bad deal for the school, which would have to add a year to coaches contract every time the Phoenix finished in the top four of the conference. He also reportedly had provisions in the deal that could extend his contract if certain changes occurred within specified positions of leadership at the school."
The guy was going to end-up owning the university!
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Post by sweep on May 27, 2021 10:02:41 GMT -6
Unless something really weird is going Whit made the hire. Headcoaches have always hired their own assistants. Ordinarily yes, but Goetz may have not so subtlety influenced the decision. Sort of like "Hey, I really like this resume, you need to bring him in for an interview". I don't see Whitford hiring Darner even if we are going to give him a two year extension. You also have to wonder why Darner was the second hire and not the first ?
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Post by david75bsu on May 27, 2021 10:14:34 GMT -6
So, do we think we have upgraded the overall coaching staff with the replacements? With Darner, yes. He has won a ton more games in his coaching career that Whit and Wright combined! Does Whit have enough smarts and leadership ability to listen and utilize his knowledge? That is the question. Hell, pay him $230,00 as the Associate Head Coach!!!
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Post by williamtsherman on May 27, 2021 11:42:24 GMT -6
Very odd situation to have an assistant with so much of a better record than the head coach. Maybe sometimes when the assistant is an older guy just keeping busy, but Darner and Whiford are basically the same age.
There is a fairly obvious potential problem when you have two assistants who are older...and especially with a head coach who is already an extremely low-energy recruiter to start with. Who is going to beat the bushes all summer on the recruiting trail? And like David, I wonder what the dynamic among the staff is going to be. Looking at the comparative records, it looks like BSU would be best off if Whitford would just always do whatever Darner told him he should do. But not many, if any, head coaches would be inclined to do this.
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Post by bsu0 on May 27, 2021 12:01:26 GMT -6
I love the idea of hiring a coach from D-1 or D-2...He won a National Championship for heaven's sake...Something tells me this guy can teach fundamentals...I would name him the coach today if I could...Name a better coach for Ball State at this point and will I eat your shorts...Send Whit at the end of a D-1 bench where he belongs with the other assistants counting time outs taken by the opposing team...Want to see some asses in the seats on opening day hire this guy...and yet here we are talking about another mediocre (if that good a season..I am getting sick to my stomach...This site is driving me to more day drinkin'
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Post by 00hmh on May 27, 2021 12:19:24 GMT -6
Very odd situation to have an assistant with so much of a better record than the head coach.
I like Darner, too, but the W-L record is mostly DII. That counts, but if you look only at his D1 results you can't really argue he has an amazing mid major record. From 2015-20 he is 90-82 at GB. Whitford in the same period is 95-70 at BSU. Darner got GB into the NCAA after finishing 4th in the league his first year, has postseason in the CTI and CBI tournaments. He has a couple of big wins against top programs.
We're lucky to get a quality assistant, who could be a solid MAC HC. He should help, but the "general disdain" for Whitford may be convincing you Darner has so much of a better record when the numbers don't show quite that much. The D1 record is good but not that good. Horizon League not a better conference than the MAC. GB not so much higher rated in Sagarin or KenPom in the seasons they are rated higher.
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Post by 00hmh on May 27, 2021 12:22:01 GMT -6
I love the idea of hiring a coach from D-1 or D-2...He won a National Championship for heaven's sake...Something tells me this guy can teach fundamentals... That is a good point. The D2 record does show he can produce an excellent team without premier talent. That is a great quality for a MAC coach, and got him the job at GB.
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Post by 00hmh on May 27, 2021 12:26:36 GMT -6
So, do we think we have upgraded the overall coaching staff with the replacements? With Darner, yes. He has won a ton more games in his coaching career that Whit and Wright combined! Does Whit have enough smarts and leadership ability to listen and utilize his knowledge? That is the question. Hell, pay him $230,00 as the Associate Head Coach!!! No need to pay him...GB is making up the difference!
I am hoping he is assertive and makes an impact. He is sure to have some different views and experiences, but I doubt the two coaches are miles apart on approach or he would not be here. Neither coach would want to be part of a staff that could not work together.
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on May 27, 2021 12:30:39 GMT -6
I'm starting to wonder if Whitford is looking to step down at the end of his contract.
Maybe he and Goetz have some kind of agreement. Terrible optics, though.
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Post by 00hmh on May 27, 2021 12:31:11 GMT -6
Here's a quote from an article concerning Darner's contract: "Darner’s deal was a bad deal for the school, which would have to add a year to coaches contract every time the Phoenix finished in the top four of the conference. He also reportedly had provisions in the deal that could extend his contract if certain changes occurred within specified positions of leadership at the school." The guy was going to end-up owning the university! Wow, that is hell of contract. Goes a long way to explain how the administration would pay a buyout, and can a fairly popular coach who was not a great trajectory and where they want BB to be the signature sport.
The money and the timing where they might have been anticipating not having options the next year may help too.
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Post by sweep on May 27, 2021 12:53:28 GMT -6
With Darner, yes. He has won a ton more games in his coaching career that Whit and Wright combined! Does Whit have enough smarts and leadership ability to listen and utilize his knowledge? That is the question. Hell, pay him $230,00 as the Associate Head Coach!!! Neither coach would want to be part of a staff that could not work together.
If this was Whitford's idea he would have hired Darner with the first hire.
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Post by rmcalhoun on May 27, 2021 13:22:32 GMT -6
It's odd no doubt about it.. What's Darners demeanor do we know?. Whit might drive him crazy
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Post by 00hmh on May 27, 2021 13:49:58 GMT -6
Neither coach would want to be part of a staff that could not work together.
If this was Whitford's idea he would have hired Darner with the first hire. Why? Who knows the process, alternatives, or what Darner was thinking? We have little reason to speculate there is anything else here except a good hire.
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Post by rmcalhoun on May 27, 2021 14:16:45 GMT -6
If this was Whitford's idea he would have hired Darner with the first hire. Why? Who knows the process, alternatives, or what Darner was thinking? We have little reason to speculate there is anything else here except a good hire. hmmmmm there are plenty of reasons to speculate. This question is any of it warranted or are we just sitting around in yin foil hats. Only time will tell
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