USC's Andy Enfield is the only one who checks all the Pitt boxes

[pittpitt]

Can turn around a D1 team: He took over a completely unknown FGCU that was 10-20, and two years later they were 26-11, had a clear identity, and were the only 15-seed ever to advance to the Sweet 16. He then took over a bottomed-out USC team with 20 total wins over their previous 2 seasons (and on probation), and in his 3rd season had them in the tourney at 21-12 and making late-season appearances in the rankings. They lost by 1 in the first round on a last-second brain fart to a team with a top-5 draft pick.

Can recruit: USC '16: 3* G (top-150), 3* PF, 4* G (top-100). USC '15: 4* SF (top-60), 4* PF (top-45). USC '14: 4* PG (top-50), 4* SG (top-70), 3* PF (top-110), 3* SF. That's all for a team coming off a really low bottom, in the same city as UCLA, who have been winning 19 to 28 games each year during USC's recent down time.

Can play a more exciting style -- will maintain excitement when we're not great: FGCU's Dunk City took over the nation 3 years ago, thriving off steals and fast-break baskets. That team was only 51st with 73 pts/gm, but they were 5th in steals (lead to fast breaks) and 18th in defensive rebounds (lead to fast breaks), so they were opportunistic about running and ended up with the 24th best 2FG%. This past year's USC team was the first to take on this up-tempo identity, finishing 19th in scoring (81 pts/gm) even though their steals (110th) and defensive rebounds (44th) were nothing special (DReb still pretty good, though), but they were 20th in 3FG% (.387).

I still think Enfield will turn Pitt down since he's chosen to coach in Florida (FSU assistant, FGCU) and LA the past 10 years, so Pittsburgh doesn't seem like a lifestyle fit for him, but he did leave a super-cushy gig at FGCU with no expectations to take on a bigger challenge, so he might be willing to leave the Pac-12 to take on bigger fish in the ACC. Regarding the "he's obscenely rich and won't be swayed to Pitt by money" discussion, I just did a little research and he is worth around $10m (that's TEN), not $100m. Huge difference when you're talking about making $1.5m/year (his USC salary) vs. $2.5-3m/year (probably what Pitt would offer). It's also worth noting that USC is going through a change of AD, which can often cause personality/loyalty issues with coaches hired under the previous regime. We might be able to sway him after all with money and a bigger challenge.

 

[OriginalEther]

I hope not. I think he's more style than substance.
One cute little tournament run doesn't make a coach great.

Like I said earlier, left lane hammer down......High Octane Part two.

 

[JD1976]

I agree with the OP. He also has the best mix of top experience (NBA assistant for 6 years, ACC assistant for 6 years, FGCU and USC head coach) while still being relatively young. There is really no downside to Enfield. The only criticism I hear is his overall record and that he is living off his Sweet 16 run at FGCU, but again USC was in the dumps as low as any Power 5 program in the country 3 years ago and he had them in the Top 25 this year with a lot of talent on the roster coming back. He would be a home run hire and generate a lot of excitement. Plus, of all the guys being mentioned I could see him getting the most out of the current roster, which is very talented as we all know.

 

[TiredRam97]

If Andy Enfield was a single man, he'd be the next head coach. There's no way his wife will let him leave LA. I don't there's any amount of money you could throw at him to sell his wife on coming to Pittsburgh.

 

[steel_curtain]

If Andy Enfield was a single man, he'd be the next head coach. There's no way his wife will let him leave LA. I don't there's any amount of money you could throw at him to sell his wife on coming to Pittsburgh.

-The man is loaded. Money is not the issue. At all.

 

[TiredRam97]

-The man is loaded. Money is not the issue. At all.

That's fine. Do you think he'd take the job for free? There would have to be some amazing incentive to convince Andy and his wife to move.

 

[pittpitt]

If Andy Enfield was a single man, he'd be the next head coach. There's no way his wife will let him leave LA. I don't there's any amount of money you could throw at him to sell his wife on coming to Pittsburgh.

They have 3 small children. Where would you want to raise them: Pittsburgh or LA? Don't get me wrong, I probably agree with you, but when it comes to to cities that do well on "Best City" lists because of factors like "good place to raise a family" and "bad stuff doesn't happen there," Pittsburgh kills it. I'm just saying an argument can be made to a couple that has lived in the fast lane for a while and might actually be settling down at 46 and 36 years old.

-The man is loaded. Money is not the issue. At all.

Look it up. He's worth around $10m, not $100m. The difference between making $1.5m (USC) and $3m is an issue.

 

[steel_curtain]

That's fine. Do you think he'd take the job for free? There would have to be some amazing incentive to convince Andy and his wife to move.

-Of course not. Playing in the best basketball conference in the country by a landslide, in a top basketball arena and student section, with an AD that hopes to win big and could load up Elite assistants (Elite Assistants), offers major incentive.

 

[steel_curtain]

They have 3 small children. Where would you want to raise them: Pittsburgh or LA? Don't get me wrong, I probably agree with you, but when it comes to to cities that do well on "Best City" lists because of factors like "good place to raise a family" and "bad stuff doesn't happen there," Pittsburgh kills it. I'm just saying an argument can be made to a couple that has lived in the fast lane for a while and might actually be settling down at 46 and 36 years old.




Look it up. He's worth around $10m, not $100m. The difference between making $1.5m (USC) and $3m is an issue.

-Using the internet to determine one's net worth is ridiculous. The guy makes a paltry $1.4 million at USC.

 

[TiredRam97]

-Of course not. Playing in the best basketball conference in the country by a landslide, in a top basketball arena and student section, with an AD that hopes to win big and could load up Elite assistants (Elite Assistants), offers major incentive.

UCLA could sell him most of that in a year and he wouldn't even have to move. Outside of the facilities, UCLA and the Pac 12 are sleeping giants. They are just run poorly right now.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I do question why the Enfields would ditch SoCal for the Burgh. Hope he's just not trying to get a raise.

 

[steel_curtain]

UCLA could sell him most of that in a year and he wouldn't even have to move. Outside of the facilities, UCLA and the Pac 12 are sleeping giants. They are just run poorly right now.

-Im not Enfield. But for me personally, Im not a huge California person, at all. Maybe Enfield isnt either, I dont know. Enfield has spent most of his career in eastern territory. Boston Celtics, Florida State, Florida Gulf, Milwaukee. His MBA is from Maryland.

 

[Ski11585]

They have 3 small children. Where would you want to raise them: Pittsburgh or LA? Don't get me wrong, I probably agree with you, but when it comes to to cities that do well on "Best City" lists because of factors like "good place to raise a family" and "bad stuff doesn't happen there," Pittsburgh kills it. I'm just saying an argument can be made to a couple that has lived in the fast lane for a while and might actually be settling down at 46 and 36 years old.

I generally think those "Best City" lists are stupid, especially when you're really wealthy and can afford to do awesome stuff to raise a family anywhere. Also, if you're spent a significant amount of recent time in Florida and LA, Pittsburgh weather may not be for you.

 

[UPitt '89]

The biggest problem with Andy Enfield is that the minute the UCLA job opens up, he'll be gone. It will be Howland all over again.

And Alford is a shitty coach, so that could be sooner than you think.


But if he wants to come here, it might be worth a shot. Maybe get a clause in the contract that the buyout would be enormous if he leaves for UCLA or Arizona.

 

[MajorMajors]

-Using the internet to determine one's net worth is ridiculous. The guy makes a paltry $1.4 million at USC.

Speaking of wealth, I found it interesting that a list of the top 10 highest paid BB coaches had two native Pittsburghers on it -- John Calipari and Sean Miller...

So the area doesn't produce a lot of high-end BB players, but it has produced an unusually high percentage of the highest-paid head coaches.

Go Pitt.

 

[noelr]

So keatts is definetely out? Too toxic?

 

[pittpitt]

The biggest problem with Andy Enfield is that the minute the UCLA job opens up, he'll be gone.

Is there reason to believe that he wants the UCLA job?

He's lived in LA the past 3 years, but his adult life from 18 to 43 was spent in Baltimore (college), NYC (business), Tennessee (business), Maryland near DC (MBA), Milwaukee (NBA ast), Boston (NBA ast), and Florida (college ast & HC).

 

[steel_curtain]

So keatts is definetely out? Too toxic?

-No one is going to answer that question. He's the biggest player kept on the low. Because if dirt was discovered, no way in hell is it getting leaked into the media. That's why lip service is tight on him.

 

[ratking17]

The biggest problem with Andy Enfield is that the minute the UCLA job opens up, he'll be gone. It will be Howland all over again.

And Alford is a shitty coach, so that could be sooner than you think.


But if he wants to come here, it might be worth a shot. Maybe get a clause in the contract that the buyout would be enormous if he leaves for UCLA or Arizona.

I don't follow college coaches as much as others, but to go from Florida to California to pa back to California all while raising kids seems pretty tough to me.

 

[UPitt '89]

Is there reason to believe that he wants the UCLA job?

He's lived in LA the past 3 years, but his adult life from 18 to 43 was spent in Baltimore (college), NYC (business), Tennessee (business), Maryland near DC (MBA), Milwaukee (NBA ast), Boston (NBA ast), and Florida (college ast & HC).

Because as a married man, I can tell you that he'll move to where his wife wants to live.

 

[vegasgreed]

I do question why the Enfields would ditch SoCal for the Burgh. Hope he's just not trying to get a raise.

USC doesn't care about its basketball is one big reason. He is from PA, another reason.

 

[Pitt1992]

Looks like he could be named the next head coach

 

[Crimmins27]

Each their own! My personal experience.... Originally from PA and love the Bugh! But that said, I live on LOUISVILLE now after 7 years in Miami and I really miss the weather and the sun. For some of us, all that grey can be very depressing after living in the sun year round! Wifey will want a big raise!!

 

[Jpripper88]

They have 3 small children. Where would you want to raise them: Pittsburgh or LA? Don't get me wrong, I probably agree with you, but when it comes to to cities that do well on "Best City" lists because of factors like "good place to raise a family" and "bad stuff doesn't happen there," Pittsburgh kills it. I'm just saying an argument can be made to a couple that has lived in the fast lane for a while and might actually be settling down at 46 and 36 years old.




Look it up. He's worth around $10m, not $100m. The difference between making $1.5m (USC) and $3m is an issue.

Agree on the net worth. He still has a lot of incentive to get paid. However, the "bad stuff doesn't happen here" doesn't matter for people like Enfield or D1 bball coaches. They don't even encounter the areas where "bad stuff happens" unless they are there on a recruiting trip.