*** COACHING SEARCH THREAD: Thursday, June 4 ***

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ChrisMWilliams

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Not much new news to report tonight as obviously, Wednesday was a wild day. Here's a quick recap.

--- Regarding Jeff Hornacek, I stand by my report citing a source close to the situation who told me that his camp declined an interview request. To my knowledge, the request came from the Parker Search Firm (this is how searches with search firms usually work) and not Jamie Pollard. What channels ( rules with the Phoenix Suns) Iowa State's representation did or didn't use are unknown to me.

I have left a voicemail with and emailed Hornacek's agent to tell that side of the story but have yet to hear back.

--- On Wednesday evening, CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish reported the following: Parker Search contacted or tried to contact Brad Underwood/Steve Prohm/Jeff Hornacek/Bryce Drew about Iowa State, sources told @CBSSports."

--- Later on in the night, ESPN's Andy Katz wrote the following: "
Valparaiso's Bryce Drew, Stephen F. Austin's Brad Underwood and Murray State's Steve Prohm are all scheduled for interviews, according to sources. The search firm and Iowa State are also expected to interview current Iowa State assistant T.J. Otzelberger."

--- Katz also reported that interviews are expected to occur this weekend.

--- I think those two national guys are pretty spot on, although I still wouldn't be surprised if there is a candidate or two out there who we haven't talked as much about. Maybe a Tad Boyle (I actually did hear that name once today but don't consider him to be a serious candidate) or Dana Altman type.
 
I got some requests for this again so will throw it out there. Here are some posts I made today with various pieces of information...

Regarding Lansing...

FYI Lansing is the one putting his name out there. He personally reached out to ISU as well as local media and insiders to help pump him up. I know that from first hand experience.

Regarding Weekend Interviews...

Don't assume that only those 4 will interview - it's at least those 4...

Regarding The Search & Leaks / Friction

I was just talking to some people about that. While I absolutely think it's important for Leath to push JP out of his comfort zone - because let's be honest, all of his searches have been very limited in scope/breadth - there is a line that he can't cross of being too integrated into the actual process.

I will add that while people love what JP has done, there are a lot [redacted] that feel he's great at working the donors, building excitement, etc but can't be fully trusted to make the call on coaches. He has a narrow focus on those that he feels he has considered to lead the various programs and his mind is set from there on. Donors don't like that because they are fanatics just like everybody else and want to be excited. Leath doesn't like it because he wants to constantly push the bar higher (rightfully so).

If Leath wasn't here, we would have had TJ announced by EOD tomorrow. With Leath involved, a proper search is being conducted with input from a lot of people. As much as I think the current friction is being aired too much and hurting us, it is long overdue to be quite frank - and many people share that opinion.

I will pass along something I've heard from several key members in all of this - "JP has done more for ISU Athletics than any single individual before him, but he continues to operate like Iowa State is the little school on the prairie like when he arrived."

That sentiment speaks to the level of candidates and the money that JP has been working with, right or wrong. People don't have to like his process, but people need to love where Leath wants to take our athletic programs - much higher than even JP has envisioned.

Regarding Hornacek / ISU Denied Interview...

From early in the afternoon...

I’m going back and forth with some texts, but I think it boils down to this (based on past info which I’ve shared and the latest events)… ISU is interested, Hornacek is only very slightly interested – very, very slightly, his agent wants to use it as leverage to add a year to his contract with the Suns, and it doesn’t benefit Hornacek or his agent to have the news leak so they’re trying to put the genie back in the bottle.

Later Update...

I know how careful Chris is with posting anything and know that he wouldn't have shared what he did without it being indisputable. I have since verified that ISU DID reach out, they did NOT go through the Suns' front office, and that they were told that Jeff was NOT interested in interviewing for the position at this time.

Mid-Afternoon Update...

In response to the latest grumblings and events...

There are a ton of names going around, but only a few rock solid candidates by rock solid sources, but it's actually a bit of a cluster at the moment. There are too many hands in the cookie jar and each likes a different type of cookie - actually some like the same taste of cookie, but they know it by a different name. A good example is the news of Jeff turning down an interview with JP AND Leath. Everybody has an agenda.

The more that leaks (much of which is being put out there with a very clear agenda), the more we likely come back to TJ in the end (ironically though those leaking most of the info are ones not wanting TJ). I can tell you there are a lot of egos at play (donors, JP, Leath, etc) and each one has tried to play things to their own advantage - in many ways hurting the overall objective for everybody.

Then you have genuinely interested candidates that are themselves reaching out to Iowa State (i.e. [redacted] himself is desperate to get noticed by JP and has reached out to me as a conduit) and creating their own mini storms by who they contact, what they say, and who else they leak it to in order to build momentum.

There continue to be bigger names mentioned (i.e. Altman) but very, very little actual chatter from the camps of the candidates (i.e. you likely won't hear or see Altman's team leaking anything).
 
Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Andre Miller. With Derek Fisher and Jason Kidd retiring and going straight into coaching why not keep the trend rolling? :jimlad:
 
If they hire Dana Altman, I'll lose every bit of respect I have had for Pollard. This guys team are always SAWFT! I'll puke if they hire him.

TJ is real interesting. He has ties with current players and just might be the best guy for the 2015-2016 team, but a lot of question marks with him. At this point I guess I have to ride with Pollard and think he's going to be a good coach, but I know a ton of criticism is coming if he falls down. I'm a little iffy about him.

Tim Floyd- cheater and still doesn't win post ISU?..... No thanks. Move on.

Nick Nurse- I have NO idea. Was great for Energy, but different league.

Archie Miller- Why?...

Hornacek- a lot like Fred. I think he can be a good coach, but not a great coach.

The candidates I have heard about I haven't been overly impressed. We need to get on the line with Larry Brown, Jim Calhoun, and Greg Marshall and ask them if they are interested in a National Championship. Brown and Calhoun have their share of championships, this would just add to the collection. But telling Greg Marshall about this start studded team would get him real excited. Problem is he seems loyal to the Shockers. It is definitely worth the phone call! We can't screw this up. 5 years from now I don't want to be looking back at this and saying we could have done more. Jamie, I'm counting on you, don't let me down. Make every effort possible!
 
Thanks for the nightly recap. As interesting as the threads have been, it's nice to reset with all of the actual information.
 
I want Prohm. Four straight OVC titles. 104-29. Only 40 years old. Had Murray St ranked in top ten in the country at one point in his career and I believe won 24 straight games at one point. Good enough for me. The guy is a rising star.
 
If they hire Dana Altman, I'll lose every bit of respect I have had for Pollard. This guys team are always SAWFT! I'll puke if they hire him.

TJ is real interesting. He has ties with current players and just might be the best guy for the 2015-2016 team, but a lot of question marks with him. At this point I guess I have to ride with Pollard and think he's going to be a good coach, but I know a ton of criticism is coming if he falls down. I'm a little iffy about him.

Tim Floyd- cheater and still doesn't win post ISU?..... No thanks. Move on.

Nick Nurse- I have NO idea. Was great for Energy, but different league.

Archie Miller- Why?...

Hornacek- a lot like Fred. I think he can be a good coach, but not a great coach.

The candidates I have heard about I haven't been overly impressed. We need to get on the line with Larry Brown, Jim Calhoun, and Greg Marshall and ask them if they are interested in a National Championship. Brown and Calhoun have their share of championships, this would just add to the collection. But telling Greg Marshall about this start studded team would get him real excited. Problem is he seems loyal to the Shockers. It is definitely worth the phone call! We can't screw this up. 5 years from now I don't want to be looking back at this and saying we could have done more. Jamie, I'm counting on you, don't let me down. Make every effort possible!

Sigh...I feel like I'm feeding the troll a bit here, but one would think that someone with such an obsession for Gregg Marshall, which you seem to have, would know by now that he's making over $3 million a year now with Wichita State. Any coach that makes over $3 million/year isn't coming to Iowa State. Just stop already.
 
I want Prohm. Four straight OVC titles. 104-29. Only 40 years old. Had Murray St ranked in top ten in the country at one point in his career and I believe won 24 straight games at one point. Good enough for me. The guy is a rising star.

Not to mention more NBA draft picks than Hoiberg after this upcoming draft at Murray effing ST.
 
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