Sources: Georgia has offered its head coaching vacancy to former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta.
Jon RothsteinVerified account@JonRothstein 19m19 minutes ago
Jon RothsteinVerified account@JonRothstein 19m19 minutes ago
Matta?
- Thread starter TIGER-PAUL
- Start date
Scratch him off the board.
I liked him a lot at first. However, as time went on I did some more research. He fell down my list to number 4.
I still hope we have a shot at Hurley, Muselmann, or Grant.
I liked him a lot at first. However, as time went on I did some more research. He fell down my list to number 4.
I still hope we have a shot at Hurley, Muselmann, or Grant.
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Just read about Musselman, grew up in Ohio.
I would like this guy. Coached on all levels.
What are the chances we get him ?
I would like this guy. Coached on all levels.
What are the chances we get him ?
People seemed to be excited about Matta as a candidate. Now that he’s going somewhere else, “we really didn’t want him, he’s not Pitt material.”
Where have we heard that type of thinking before?
I myself would have been perfectly fine with Matta provided he was healthy. In saying that, I don't think he was the obvious or only choice and others were a Plan B.
So we'll see who they end up with but I think it is certainly reasonable that Pitt would target say Hurley over Matta and maybe some others as well.
Can't really say one way or the other right now if Pitt looks bad if Matta takes Georgia job. There have been whispers that Pitt has even ruled him out due to health concerns.
So we'll see who they end up with but I think it is certainly reasonable that Pitt would target say Hurley over Matta and maybe some others as well.
Can't really say one way or the other right now if Pitt looks bad if Matta takes Georgia job. There have been whispers that Pitt has even ruled him out due to health concerns.
I missed the "he isn't Pitt material" part.
My post was pretty clear - I would have liked him for sure.
But, it is obvious that while he was part of the discussion, they did not decide to pursue him as the prime candidate, at the very least they clearly wanted to explore other options, if not, they would have moved to go after him the moment they made the official firing of Stallings.
I have no idea of our "chances" but I definitely like him. Of course he's not Pitino, Miller,
etc.etc. but I've mentioned him on here before. He's won at almost all levels and went to
Nevada and won immediately. Rather than striking out with the so called "elite" coaches
he is the type I'd pursue. Some of the mid level coaches that have been mentioned here
are not IMO in Musselman's league...example Schmidt (good coach but nowhere near
Musselman). In fact, even though this might not be popular on here...I'd take him over Matta.
Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
The dead rising from the grave!
Thad Matta goes to Georgia!
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!
-He interviewed for Ole Miss and Georgia. It looks terrible to not even get an interview if we are shelling out around $3 million dollars and not even get an interview.
-You have to draw some hype for the job. It doesnt help when hacks like Goodman and beat writers are already saying Pitt struck out swinging already.
-The longer the search takes, unless we are targeting someone in the NCAA Tournament, the worse it looks. The fact we hired a search firm, and Matta is making a decision within 24 hours after interviewing for Georgia, looks terrible.
-We had 2 months to start putting feelers out. We made a $20 million dollar error. The University is moving at turtle speed unless we have a sure fire coach we are targeting in the NCAA Tournament. Any other coach that is hired not in tournament looks awful.
-Putting a lid and tight mouth around this situation looks bad. We should be telling people who we are talking too. This whole secrecy thing is a joke. And now a search firm.
-Mark Fox got fired 2 days ago. Matta already interviewed for Georgia. The fact we are going this route again doesnt give me much confidence. And the longer this takes unless we hire a tournament coach, the worse its going to look. You would think we would be taking this $20 million dollar error more seriously. and would be moving at a faster pace.
If we had wanted Matta, don't you think we'd have gone after him? Let them do their jobs before we crush them for "swinging and missing". So far Lyke hasn't missed at anything. This is a big hire. We need to get it right. Back problems resurface.
What is wrong with you? Nothing at this point looks bad. You need to relax and let the process play out. It's like you've never observed a coaching search in college basketball before.
Exactly. People need to support this University. Stop complaining about everyone and everything.
Yeah, but since that's not going to happen without a splash hire, let's have a splash hire. Whatta ya say?
Not at all. She should be looking for somebody new. Matta's a good coach, but we need a young turk.
Kevin Stallings was kind of a splash hire. He made the same kind of splash like if you'd toss a giant rock into a lake. It would make a big splash, and then it would sink to the bottom.
I thought Matta was a good option, then I spent 15 minutes reading the stories on how bad he was debilitated and I immediately got concerned. You don't just get better from that. Great coach with a huge risk attached.
How do you know Matta was not already interviewed by Lyke. You don't. Your whole post is based on what you "think" is happening because you are not hearing anything.
Pitt is always tight lipped with their searches. This is no different.
Again, I am not defending Pitt because I have no idea who they will hire or if this will be a joke of a hire.
BUt just because you are not hearing much doesn't mean they swung and missed like you feel.
See the Tennessee football job search if you need reasons to keep your job search quiet.
It's been reported that the search firm received only a small contract from Pitt, consistent with vetting, possibly only for a minimal number of candidates. I think it is VERY doubtful that Lyke hired a search firm at this late date to broaden the search as you imply.
From what I've heard, Lyke did her due diligence about Matta's physical condition and the decision was made, perhaps mutually, that he was not ideal to rebuild a program like ours.
At this point, it's pretty obvious that Pitt is awaiting Hurley's decision between us and UConn. That can't come until URI is eliminated.
If he chooses us, great. If not, I feel certain she has alternatives in mind. Lyke is conducting her business in a quiet, professional manner, not discussing her moves in public.
This athletic department no longer leaks like a sieve. Given our local media, that is a good thing.
Also, from what I understand he also doesn't have the option to turn down a good job offer under the mitigation terms of his separation agreement with OSU. So even if he doesn't want to coach anymore, if he's medically cleared to, he has to. I think he comes with some real risk.
It only looks bad if we hire an uninspiring candidate. There are still some good names out there. Personally, he was my favorite so I'm disappointed. There was nothing resembling a leak of mutual interest concerning Matta, only media speculation resulting from Lyke and Matta having been at OSU together. Frankly, after the fire for cause fiasco, I can't imagine Matta considering us. Just tweaking his back while pruning the hedges and missing his weekly radio show for a week could be used as a fireable offense.
Nobody is concerned about the fire for cause issue but the dopes in the Pittsburgh media...no candidate gives a hoot about that.
Exactly. These big time coaches are confident, macho guys. They aren't thinking about worst case situations. They are basing their decision on money and opportunity to win.
Good information. If he said yes yesterday he said no today. What's tomorrow? Maybe?
Apologies. Matta told Georgia he accepted. Went home, wife said no, called back and said sorry. This was done. They should have never let him leave town without an agreement.
