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Memo to Chacellor Gabel and BOT

9782978

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Jan 15, 2024
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Before you make any move on Capel and/or Narduzzi, please do a deep dive on HOW hiring and other major athletic department decisions have been made over the past 30 years. Also, find how such decisions are made at schools that always seem to get it “right”. Once you come up with a methodology for making a major hiring decision, make sure to focus on two hiring coaches that: (1) teach and demand sound fundamentals that are practiced for 40 or 60 minutes each and every practice and game, (2) are good “game day” coaches, and (3) recruit high school and transfer students who practice sound fundamentals. We probably won’t land the next Nick Saban, but could get someone who wouldn’t blow close games against mediocre or below opponents, or get embarrassed by superior teams. The losses to Western Michigan and a poor Miami team during the Kenny year, and to GT the next year still stick in everyone’s craw, as do Capel’s late season losses to ND and other struggling teams during the past two years.

Finally, implement a strict approval process of major decisions by AD’s. Rubber stamping of Pedersen, Barnes and Lyke decisions have led us to where we are today, in my opinion. We will not turn things around overnight, but can at least get pointed in tthe right direction now. If you believe that either Capel or Narduzzi are unable to demand and teach sound fundamentals, eat the money and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
 
Recruiting is almost meaningless these days. The great ones want the money. Even the not so great do as well.

Find a coach that understands the latest pathway of college football and hire the guy.
 
A benefit of having AD Greene leading a head coaching search for basketball is that he’s been around great coaches and programs over the past ten years. Nate Oats at Buffalo, Bruce Pearl at Auburn, and most recently Rick Barnes at Tennessee. Although he didn’t hire any of them, those programs maintained very high levels while he was there.

In fact, he might be the most qualified AD we’ve ever had in regards to making a head basketball coaching hire.
 
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A benefit of having AD Greene leading a head coaching search for basketball is that he’s been around great coaches and programs over the past ten years. Nate Oats at Buffalo, Bruce Pearl at Auburn, and most recently Rick Barnes at Tennessee. Although he didn’t hire any of them, those programs maintained very high levels while he was there.

In fact, he might be the most qualified AD we’ve ever had in regards to making a head basketball coaching hire.

unfortunately we thought the same thing of Barnes and saw how that turned out.
 
unfortunately we thought the same thing of Barnes and saw how that turned out.

Exactly. I'm in a wait and see approach with Greene. He's given interviews and sounds good. For now, that's all we got. I want to see results, a reorganization of both major sports coaching staffs with terminations, hiring decisions that are smart and that hire coaches that teach fundamentals and emphasize hard practices, and coaches who know how to prepare their teams and themselves for games every time. We don't have that now.
 
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unfortunately we thought the same thing of Barnes and saw how that turned out.
True. Time will tell. Regardless, with the financial support and facilities we have in place, we should at least be able to go after most candidates we think will be good here.

Hopefully Greene doesn’t have any conflicts of interest… :oops:
 
Recruiting is almost meaningless these days. The great ones want the money. Even the not so great do as well.

Find a coach that understands the latest pathway of college football and hire the guy.
I think the coach and everyone in Pitt's administration understands the latest pathway of college football. And if your school isn't in the SEC or the Big 10, that pathway is a dead end.
 
I think the coach and everyone in Pitt's administration understands the latest pathway of college football. And if your school isn't in the SEC or the Big 10, that pathway is a dead end.
The second and third tier conferences have their place in the NIL/portal world. They are great for schools that can’t or won’t spend obsene amounts of money on FB and/or MBB. ACC may be or has become third tier, unfortunately. Pedersen might have bet on the wrong horse, as things stand right now. MAC and similar conferences are fourth tier. I am creating multiple mid-major tiers because that is how things have shaken out. The fourth tier are low-majors.
 
The second and third tier conferences have their place in the NIL/portal world. They are great for schools that can’t or won’t spend obsene amounts of money on FB and/or MBB. ACC may be or has become third tier, unfortunately. Pedersen might have bet on the wrong horse, as things stand right now. MAC and similar conferences are fourth tier. I am creating multiple mid-major tiers because that is how things have shaken out. The fourth tier are low-majors.
What's the second tier then?
 
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