I really want Jamie Dixon to Stay

[Gep Dawg]

But if he decides to leave, as I've said before the program will move on and survive without him. What I would like is someone who has had some success in the tournament. Mccaffrey and Mack are great coaches, but I would prefer someone like Archie Miller who's made a run with less talent. Another candidate that should be considered is my 1997 Pitt classmate who currently coaches Seton Hall as well. He did a great job getting great players to the Hall and winning the Big East tournament. It's his alma mater and a chance to coach in the ACC so you know he would definitely consider it.

 

[Pittx9]

But if he decides to leave, as I've said before the program will move on and survive without him. What I would like is someone who has had some success in the tournament. Mccaffrey and Mack are great coaches, but I would prefer someone like Archie Miller who's made a run with less talent. Another candidate that should be considered is my 1997 Pitt classmate who currently coaches Seton Hall as well. He did a great job getting great players to the Hall and winning the Big East tournament. It's his alma mater and a chance to coach in the ACC so you know he would definitely consider it.

Great points. Totally agree. I would be very interested to see the recruits a new coach could bring in, a new style of play, etc. But it's ridiculous the way some take Jamie for granted. He's done so much for the university and the city and is everything you'd want from a coach in an era run by so many scumbag coaches. It won't be the end of the world, but I would greatly miss Jamie.

 

[CrazyPaco]

But if he decides to leave, as I've said before the program will move on and survive without him. What I would like is someone who has had some success in the tournament. Mccaffrey and Mack are great coaches, but I would prefer someone like Archie Miller who's made a run with less talent. Another candidate that should be considered is my 1997 Pitt classmate who currently coaches Seton Hall as well. He did a great job getting great players to the Hall and winning the Big East tournament. It's his alma mater and a chance to coach in the ACC so you know he would definitely consider it.

I wouldn't want to see Willard. Very shady stuff going on at Seton Hall. Taking Herb Pope told me all I need to know, and he's been hanging on by a thread there with 1 NCAA in 6 years. The BE tourney is the first thing he's ever won, and it isn't exactly the Big East of 2009. It would be a major downgrade. In any case, I doubt he has any loyalty to Pitt with how he was treated here.

 

[Gep Dawg]

All good points Paco, although the shady stuff including recruiting Pope was what got Bobby Gonzalez fired and Willard hired. In fact I think they have stuck by Willard because he has run a fairly clean and family like program despite the lack of winning.

Also, I thought Kevin was treated fine here and was long gone when his dad started having problems but my memory could be wrong.

 

[levance2]

All good points Paco, although the shady stuff including recruiting Pope was what got Bobby Gonzalez fired and Willard hired. In fact I think they have stuck by Willard because he has run a fairly clean and family like program despite the lack of winning.

Yeah, Paco has his timeline wrong. Pope joined Gonzalez before he was fired.

The rest seems accurate. Consider this is the first winning conference record Willard has had since he joined SHU in 2011. In years 3-5 of his tenure, he was 3-15, 6-12, and 6-12. That's pretty bad.

 

[Pittbaseball11]

Willard hired Tiny Morton back when he was openly campaigning for a job by promising to bring Isaiah Whitehead and Desi Rodriguez to whatever school hired him, which helped form a strong NYC recruiting class.

That's about the shadiest Willard has seemed, although IMO it calls into question how well he will actually recruit. The whole hiring a guy to get a kid can be risky and can only be done so much.

 

[pittbb80]

Great points. Totally agree. I would be very interested to see the recruits a new coach could bring in, a new style of play, etc. But it's ridiculous the way some take Jamie for granted. He's done so much for the university and the city and is everything you'd want from a coach in an era run by so many scumbag coaches. It won't be the end of the world, but I would greatly miss Jamie.

Prior to this dance with TCU, I was a supporter of JD staying as I thought it would be in the best interest of the program. Given that he's once again entertaining a position at another school, I think its time to part ways. Perhaps if the program wasn't in the current downward trend I'd feel a bit different. However, there are legitimate concerns about the direction of the program and whether or not JD can turn this thing around. I just don't think its a good thing to keep a guy who is not competing at a high level who seems to continually be looking for other opportunities. If this were just a rumor, I would think that JD would immediately come out and claim hes not interested as he has to know this type of thing will just further poison the waters with a fan base that is already restless.

Couple of other thoughts regarding JD and the coaching situation.

1. Regarding the loss to WIscy......that wasn't JD's finest hour but IMO that loss was more about a group of players who just don't have what it takes to consistently win tight games. Pitts D was not good this year but if you look at most of their losses, they were more because their offense was even worse..........I think everyone knew this team was going to be challenged defensively but far too often, the supposed strength was more of a glaring weakness as well.

2. Regarding the "Pitt cant do any better than JD" argument, I call BS. Not sure if they can get a Marshal or not but there are a number of really good young coaches who would potentially be an upgrade over the last five years of JDs tenure. The standard over that period is not that high.

3. The flip side is true as well. You could just as easily do much worse. I recall this was the argument being made regarding DW when he was cut loose. As we all know Smiley royally botched the first hire and it took the program two more attempts to finally get it right. That's one of the reasons I was not in favor of running JD off prior to the TCU affair.

4. Speaking of young coaches, while Marshal would clearly be a home run, among more realistic expectations I'd prefer a guy like Miller at Dayton who has a bit more of a track record than KEatts. Heck Williard woiuld be pretty good as well.

5. Having said that, I feel much better knowing Barnes will be making the choice rather than Smiley. If Smiley were here, I'd be incredibly nervous that hed try outsmart everyone and hire SMoke...............

6. I do think the program is far more attractive than many fans give it credit for. VT had far less to offer and got a heck of a coach in Curly. Pitt will do at least as good.