What to do with Coach Prohm Poll..

[Cyinthenorth]

I think the bottom line is that fans are willing to be patient when you are at least competitive. Everyone gave Prohm a pass after Fred's players left - we all knew there would be a pretty big reset happening. So that first last place finish was "ok". Then we brought in a great recruiting class with an NBA lottery pick and another NBA player. And we finished 5th in the conference. One of those NBA players left and we finished in the basement again. We bring in more talent and are poised to finish dead last in the conference. Does that sound like something that will be magically fixed between Year 6 and Year 7? If so, how?

I think it has been very, very clear over the past 2 seasons that Steve Prohm isn't going to work out at Iowa State. We all wanted it to work...but its clearly not working. So why prolong the misery for a 7th year?

All I know is this: He looked extremely defeated in the TTU post game presser. The man has grayed grayed and wrinkled at an incredible rate over the past 2-3 years and at 46 could easily convince me he's 10 years older. He sounded mentally exhausted and on the brink of hopelessness. Almost like a man who knows he's running out of time, whether the decision comes from him or higher up the food chain. I don't have any insider information obviously, but would I be surprised if he resigns before he gets fired, and could it happen as early as this offseason? No, and yes.

 

[ZRF]

It's delusional to state that anyone could do better than 10th?
Back-to-back 20 loss seasons here, unless there is a huge wave of cancellations. Anyone can do better.

He's talking like we are some low level, dumpster fire program. Bob Knight and Chris Beard went to Texas Tech a historically inferior program. Scott Drew is at Baylor. Seriously, we are supposed to bring in a recruiter and "hope" he can coach?

No, we need better and Pollard needs to do a better job when finding the next coach. He needs to spend more time evaluating team discipline, ability to coach Xs and Os, etc. To be honest neither Prohm, or Hoiberg are/were very good game day coaches. I had to watch Hoiberg REFUSE to use defensive subs at Kansas, with 3 TOs no less, and not foul Kansas which led to Maclemore banking in the 3. He then allowed KU to real off 9 straight points at the Phog before calling a TO in overtime.

Iowa State has enough history and fan support to draw recruits. We need an XO's guy, like Beard, who can coach a unified brand of basketball.

As an aside the ONLY coach I can think of who grew from a "recruiter" to a coach is Drew. He had all of the talent in the world and would do some of the stupidest **** I've seen in a game. I can't remember who it was but Baylor was playing a quality opponent in a midst of a 7-10 point run to go up double digits. Right after one of his team's OWN baskets he called a timeout. The opposition recomposed themselves and promptly went on a run of it's own. It's not the only time he did that either. Now, when you watch Baylor, they are so much more cohesive and Drew maintains more control over the games. Almost a completely different guy.

 

[cycloneworld]

All I know is this: He looked extremely defeated in the TTU post game presser. The man has grayed grayed and wrinkled at an incredible rate over the past 2-3 years and at 46 could easily convince me he's 10 years older. He sounded mentally exhausted and on the brink of hopelessness. Almost like a man who knows he's running out of time, whether the decision comes from him or higher up the food chain. I don't have any insider information obviously, but would I be surprised if he resigns before he gets fired, and could it happen as early as this offseason? No, and yes.

And that's too bad. I guarantee he's trying his best. He wants to win really, really badly. I have no doubt about that. Which is why everyone wanted him to be the guy. But when you are paid $2.4 million per year to win basketball games and you don't, you should have a reasonably short leash.

He's not resigning, no one does that with $10 million on the table (and $5+ million in buyout money). Maybe he moves to a different opportunity but he's not outright quitting. Nor should he, he has a contract and Iowa State will have to live up to their end of the contract. If he gets fired, he'll be well compensated and can move back down to a level with less stress.

 

[CyBobby]

I don't appreciate the tone of this post. It's not going to work out for Steve, but taking shots at his mannerisms and how he conducts himself is low.

He conducts himself with class and, by every indication, loves ISU and probably would have retired here had it worked out, which is more than we can say for a lot of ISU coaches. It's really crappy it's not going to work, and I imagine it bothers Steve more than anyone.

I AGREE that Coach Steve Prohm is a Class Act but He just cannot coach at the level of his Big 12 peers....

Compare coach Prohm with Chris Beard at Texas Tech and where he has taken his program and Beard is Miles ahead of CSP.....
Coach Prohm just can NOT Coach at the level of Chris Beard, and its not going to get much better at ISU.

 

[Neptune78]

Just think, if Prohm hadn't been gifted an extension, the 21-22 season would be the end of his contract.

I'm sure JP is regretting this screw up after every game he watches this year.
As much as we know that the CSP death watch is on, I don't see the bean counter eating $5 million at the end of this year. Regarding the big donor money, JP has that money pegged on big losses elsewhere.

 

[Land Shark]

I'm sure JP is regretting this screw up after every game he watches this year.
As much as we know that the CSP death watch is on, I don't see the bean counter eating $5 million at the end of this year. Regarding the big donor money, JP has that money pegged on big losses elsewhere.

Probably true and JP can also enjoy sitting in a 1/2 full arena next year and trying to figure out how to offset the drop of somewhere between 1-3k in season tickets sold. Then, combine that with a mostly filled lower bowl student section and empty student balcony and Jamie can dim those lights even more to cover up this mistake. The majority of fans are done, have zero hope and frankly, have moved on from Cyclone Basketball. If Steve stays, this lack of support will be noticed next year by the laughable lack of a home court that we have.

 

[heitclone]

I'm sure JP is regretting this screw up after every game he watches this year.
As much as we know that the CSP death watch is on, I don't see the bean counter eating $5 million at the end of this year. Regarding the big donor money, JP has that money pegged on big losses elsewhere.

Idk man, he made the exact same mistake with Paul Rhoads and didn't learn from it. I honestly don't expect him to let Steve go next year either, paying the buyout is admitting he made a mistake, I love JP but his ego makes him pretty sensitive to criticism. The only thing that will make him move on this is if ticket sales plummet next year.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I AGREE that Coach Steve Prohm is a Class Act but He just cannot coach at the level of his Big 12 peers....

Compare coach Prohm with Chris Beard at Texas Tech and where he has taken his program and Beard is Miles ahead of CSP.....
Coach Prohm just can NOT Coach at the level of Chris Beard, and its not going to get much better at ISU.

Chris Beard is at the Matt Campbell level when it comes to the quality of the "find" for the program -- even more than what Hoiberg brought during his time. Beard almost won a natty, and Campbell is close to that level at a program most have considered a graveyard given its history. Both are remarkable coaches.

I do not know if we can expect to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

 

[goody2012]

Even if you give him an additional year, does anybody think he will be able to make the tournament next year? That's highly unlikely given the guys coming back next year can't even see the floor with this team. He has to be done at the end of this year. The only reason you bring him back is $$$.

 

[rochclone]

I applaud those who made constructive suggestions. Craig Smith and Darian Devries might be worth a look. My fear is that Prohm had a similar, if not better track record and pedigree at the time we hired him.

Coaching in the Big 12 is tough - you are coaching against Scott Drew, Bill Self, Bob Huggins, et. Al. Unless we can get a blockbuster coach with a big name and credentials to match those coaches, I’d rather hope that we have a recruiter who we can grow into a Big12 coach with help, rather than going after the latest wunderkind.

For those of you who simply state anyone would be better or do as well, you are delusional.

Smith and DeVries are coaching in mid-major conferences. And with Smith he has success in the Summit League while building South Dakota. The Summit League is better than the Ohio Valley. The OVC is a low-major conference. Prohm skipped a level of coaching that would have benefitted him. Furthermore, Smith and DeVries have built a program from the bottom up. That is something Steve never had to do at Murray State.

 

[rochclone]

You all are making a compelling case for Devries.

But what about his predecessor Niko Medved?

He seems to be doing very well at Colorado State.

I like Medved a ton and he has won at Furman, Drake and Colorado State. The CSU team loves to shoot the 3 ball and all five starters are capable. Remember those days. He would be a good hire but I suspect he might wait for a better job.
Not sure about DeVries interest either. Being on McDermott’s staff he would have undoubtedly heard from Greg the problems with this job. Especially where CSP has driven it,

 

[GetAwesome]

I think Shaka is one of the most overrated coaches of the last decade. And I don't think that's even a hot take.

+100. Shaka is going to have a nice year this year only for the same reason Prohm's only winning conference records were his first two years. You have a starting rotation that consists of 3 guards that have been playing together for 3+ years, and in Texas's case this season you have also Sims as a veteran big.

p.s. When we played Texas last week I thought for most of the first half that Texas had fired Shaka in the offseason and I didn't realize it. I had never seen him with hair, and didn't recognize him.

 

[GetAwesome]

I like Medved a ton and he has won at Furman, Drake and Colorado State. The CSU team loves to shoot the 3 ball and all five starters are capable. Remember those days. He would be a good hire but I suspect he might wait for a better job.
Not sure about DeVries interest either. Being on McDermott’s staff he would have undoubtedly heard from Greg the problems with this job. Especially where CSP has driven it,

I think any respectable coaching candidate would immediately see Iowa State as a great get, no matter any stories McD has. Add that Devries has another decade learning under Dana Altman prior to McD at Creighton, that's a heck of a winning pedigree, even if it's all at one school.

 

[CycloneErik]

Even if you give him an additional year, does anybody think he will be able to make the tournament next year? That's highly unlikely given the guys coming back next year can't even see the floor with this team. He has to be done at the end of this year. The only reason you bring him back is $$$.

Nobody makes the comebacks that Prohm has to make. Coaches that bottom out this way aren't capable of bringing it back. They're pretty much the reason for the bottoming out.

 

[Messi]

Nobody makes the comebacks that Prohm has to make. Coaches that bottom out this way aren't capable of bringing it back. They're pretty much the reason for the bottoming out.

It would take some research but i wonder if a college basketball coach has ever had a 3+ year run of .300 in conference play (prohms current stat since 2017-18) and retained their job, let alone turned it around and gotten to ncaa tournament?

 

[Sigmapolis]

It would take some research but i wonder if a college basketball coach has ever had a 3+ year run of .300 in conference play (prohms current stat since 2017-18) and retained their job, let alone turned it around and gotten to ncaa tournament?

Great idea. How about you go and do that and report back to us?

 

[cykadelic2]

Not sure about DeVries interest either. Being on McDermott’s staff he would have undoubtedly heard from Greg the problems with this job. Especially where CSP has driven it,

DeVries had positive influence on McDermott changing his coaching style after leaving ISU for Creighton. I don't think DeVries' ties to McDermott should negatively impact his potential candidacy/interest for ISU.

DeVries' interest in ISU is TBD but I do think son Tucker is a clear high major talent and that may significantly increase Darian's interest in ISU if ISU does end up with an opening. Otz's UNLV buyout is in the $4-$5M range. I have no idea what DeVries' is at Drake.

 

[CycloneErik]

It would take some research but i wonder if a college basketball coach has ever had a 3+ year run of .300 in conference play (prohms current stat since 2017-18) and retained their job, let alone turned it around and gotten to ncaa tournament?

I don't know if I have time, but it sounds fascinating to find out!
We could put a group together. Everyone picks a conference and finds out?

 

[cyclones500]

It would take some research but i wonder if a college basketball coach has ever had a 3+ year run of .300 in conference play (prohms current stat since 2017-18) and retained their job, let alone turned it around and gotten to ncaa tournament?

So it doesn't have to be 3 consecutive at .300 or worse, just 3 total, at one school?

(Not saying I'll be able to help with the research anyway, just checking specific parameters)

 

[cycloneworld]

Nobody makes the comebacks that Prohm has to make. Coaches that bottom out this way aren't capable of bringing it back. They're pretty much the reason for the bottoming out.

This, this, this. How many coaches have taken their teams from the repeated basement of the conference and made them a contender or even relevant. Even with Shaka Smart, he wasn't finishing 9th or 10th in the league...