IF he is healthy, then would you make him a big offer to become our new HC or would you still go after Musselman, Hurley, or someone else.
Thad Matta
- Thread starter DiehardPanther
- Start date
I compared (at least I tried to) Matta and Crean. There is no comparison. I really think if he is healthy and wants to come back he would be a home run hire.
I read today that he was visiting Ole Miss. Hopefully our AD has a short list with his name at the top. He has had 2 final four's but more impressively no losing seasons as a head coach
I read today that he was visiting Ole Miss. Hopefully our AD has a short list with his name at the top. He has had 2 final four's but more impressively no losing seasons as a head coach
If he goes to Ole Miss, we BETTER hire a coach better than him because its unacceptable to lose him to freakin Mississippi.
BTW, the SEC is a who's who of coaches right now. It has
I’ve seen Musselman’s name connected to the Ole Miss job. Kermit Davis as well.
Kermit Davis has to get a better job after this year. I wonder if MTSU would consider Stallings.
If he’s 100% healthy he’s by far their best option.
If he’s running practices from a barstool like he was his last few years at Ohio State, then he’s still probably better than Musselman but Pitt should aim higher if they’re paying a buyout to get back into the coaching market instead of waiting a year or two.
If he’s running practices from a barstool like he was his last few years at Ohio State, then he’s still probably better than Musselman but Pitt should aim higher if they’re paying a buyout to get back into the coaching market instead of waiting a year or two.
Why not? Great conference, great facilities. The problem I see is no local recruiting base.
The fan base would instantly be re-energized
The more I think the more I like this option.
Wouldn’t other schools that would able to offer more money than Pitt feel the same about Matta?
Are the facilities still considered that great?
I don’t really know, but I would think that if Matta was ready to roll he could do better than Pitt.
One more thing to consider. Maybe after the health issue may not want a job with too too much pressure. I am not saying the Pitt job would be easy, but there may not be the same pressure as some other programs in the country.
Losing and failure creates its own pressure .
Losing anywhere created pressure. I am just looking at it from the point that at Pitt, right now, there is nowhere to go but up. Matta has won at Xavier and OSU and I think with the contacts he has could right this ship within a couple years
Read some of those articled about Matta's health issues. Back and foot issues sound chronic if he resumes the grind of coaching. You hire him for big money, health problems return in 2 years, then you're stuck again with a long term useless contract. Other coaches really hammered Matta with the health issues on the recruiting trail. I think you talk to him if you want, but too risky in our situation.
Well money is always the great enticement if we were willing to offer Matta enough. Otherwise, I think our only chance at him is if he would be intrigued at the opportunity and challenge of coaching in the ACC. He’s obviously already experienced and had success coaching in what is considered one of the top and tradition rich P5 BB conferences. Location wise, Pittsburgh isn’t much different than his roots and footprint but the ACC conference definitely is. So unless there is that allure to the challenge of the ACC, it ain’t happening.
People said all that when Dixon left, and we got Stallings. I don't know if we get someone of his caliber or not, but history says not,
Not sure great coaches think like that. "Let me find the fan base with the lowest expectations possible, i'll take that job". Also, we don't have low expectations, we have one of the more entitled fan bases, relative to our standing in college hoops history, in the NCAA.
I wonder if Lyke and Matta are friends from their days of working together at OSU. I have no idea, but friendship and familiarity would play a factor in Matta’s decision if he comes back.
I would hope that in the 2 years that he's been out of coaching that he was able to devote more time to rehabbing himself. He's relatively young in the grand scheme of things so he may be much healthier now than he was at OSU.
Sure. It's only been a year since he's been off, but the back doesn't seem to concern Ole Miss. Still back problems are chronic and I'd want a lot of reassurance before I'd commit to this guy. 50 isn't old, but it can be with a bad back.
Either way, Ole Miss, who did what I suggested we do and parted ways with their coach during the season seems to be all over him. We're still rolling happily along with KS as our coach. If we wanted Matta, should have made the move earlier. Just another dumb suggestion I had.
Either way, Ole Miss, who did what I suggested we do and parted ways with their coach during the season seems to be all over him. We're still rolling happily along with KS as our coach. If we wanted Matta, should have made the move earlier. Just another dumb suggestion I had.
I don't have any inside info, but I think the Stallings to Pitt was part of the buddy buddy system Barnes had with the search firm.
When Dixon left, Barnes came out and said he was looking at a YOUNG up tempo coach. And we got Stallings
The only person who knows what is going on is Lyke (and part of the admin) So to say we haven't already made a move may be inaccurate
Pitt would be a great stop for Matta with the regional recruiting area and proven coaching record. Money and Health is the only potential hurdles for Lyke. He may see Pitt as a final stop or relaunch (ala Stallings) but OSU is winning with his recruits so there is some belief that he was signing recruits despite his health issues. Not a fan of Crean. But I would have taken him over our current coach. His team always seemed to defend hard.
Someone will take a chance on his record alone. Why not Pitt?
Someone will take a chance on his record alone. Why not Pitt?
If matta is healthy and shows an interest in returning there's no hope for Pitt if that's not the first call they make.
There is nothing that Mississippi has done with regards to Matta other than actually bring him on campus that Pitt couldn't have already done. And having him on campus at this point is completely irrelevant. Pitt doesn't need to fire Stallings before they talk to agents or advisors or talk to guys who are not currently coaching anywhere. Pitt wasn't going to be able to bring any sitting head coach to campus for an interview in any event, and neither has Mississippi.
If we want Matta we have already been in contact with him and his agent. 100% guaranteed.
I live in West TN. Ole Miss is a hop, skip, and jump away. Ole Miss fans think Matta is theirs.
Ole Miss has the least basketball history of the 14 SEC schools. If Pitt were to fire Stallings and offer Matta, Matta would be insane to head to Oxford.
Not quite as sure about this as you. We haven't even had a chance to announce our "national search firm" yet. If ole miss wants him they're already working on an offer. Sec teams go after what they want.
I'm still not sure he's the right fit for pitt with his health issues and age.
Then again, I'll take just about anyone over Stallings, and Matta would certainly be a home run. I just don't trust his health issues.
Id be less concerned with Matta's back than I currently am with stallings' brain.
This^^ They worked together for 9 years at Ohio St. I'm sure if she was interested she made the call already. I also would think she's knows a good bit about his health problems.
Again, I doubt that any of the names that are mentioned or have been mentioned on this board are being considered or will be considered for the Pitt job. I'd be very surprised if they were.
I want Hurley.
I want a great coach that can recruit well with great connections.
I don’t want a great recruiter or offensive genius that doesn’t have solid coaching organizational skills.
I want a great coach that can recruit well with great connections.
I don’t want a great recruiter or offensive genius that doesn’t have solid coaching organizational skills.
If Matta is back in play, Pitt cannot let him take the Ole Miss job without setting foot at least once in Oakland.
An utter dereliction of duty if it turns out we didn't pursue Matta while he was unemployed and looking to get back in.
I hope (and will assume for now) that we've done so thru secure channels... but the silence is deafening.
An utter dereliction of duty if it turns out we didn't pursue Matta while he was unemployed and looking to get back in.
I hope (and will assume for now) that we've done so thru secure channels... but the silence is deafening.
We don't have to announce a "national search firm" to call Matta or his representatives. We don't have to have already fired Kevin Stallings to be working on a offer to Matta (or any other coach for that matter). We don't even have to have actually fired Stallings yet to make an offer to Matta. If Pitt wants Matta there is nothing, absolutely nothing at all, that is stopping them from doing anything other than announcing a hire right now. And since Mississippi hasn't announced his hiring yet you know for a fact that they have no agreement with him. They are in no better position than us vis-a-vis negotiating with Matta, assuming that Pitt has decided that they want to negotiate with Matta.
