WWJD-What Would Johnny Do?

That was probably Fred's plan all along until we ran into the immovable object that is UAB.

Pure guessing, I think Gar Heard and John Paxson have been greasing the switch all season. Maybe Thibs was going to be ejected when he raised the stink over moving of Boozer.
 
Stormin, so what do you think Johnny would do in Hoiberg's sitation?

Johnny did not have NBA aspirations that I am aware of. Hoiberg is making a boatload of money at Iowa State. Johnny left Michigan because he wanted a small raise and the Athletic Director refused to give it to him. That is the reason he left.

I can't answer for Hoiberg. But IMO, his dreams for ISU are unfulfilled. We are at the point of being a consistent NCAA Tourney team and a bona fide threat to Kansas' dominance of the Big 12. At this point we have won consecutive Big 12 Tourney Championships and are doing well in the regular season. Our highest finish in the NCAA Tourney is a Sweet Sixteen finish.

So in terms of fulfilling his goals at ISU......and I am assuming things about his goals at ISU......I would say they are still unfulfilled. And ISU is at the point that we can do even better. Hoiberg is 42 years old and has a young family and is near his extended family. Personally, I would stay at ISU, and fulfill more goals at the college level. The NBA will certainly be there if he wishes if he attains those goals.

On the other hand, if Hoiberg's only wish was to stay at ISU long enough to get himself an NBA job, then now might be a great time to leave. The NBA offers the opportunity to get players long term and build around them. The college game not so much. At the same time, IF Hoiberg goes to the Bulls, then much will be expected of him. The Bulls have a talented but aging roster that has had some serious injuries. Thibodeau has actually been a very good coach. Coach of the Year once and also a 3rd place in COY voting. And yet the Bulls want to part ways because they have been eliminated by the Cavs.

The window for the Bulls is pretty narrow IMO. And there are some serious question marks. Not sure how a lot of those players fit in what Hoiberg's ideas are for a team. And then there are the bigger issues that everything will pale in comparison to the Phil Jackson--Michael Jordan Era. Even if you win. And if you don't, there is not much longevity IMO.

I can see Hoiberg getting more control if the Timberwolves job were to open up. IMO, that would be a better situation. But that is my opinion. Hard to say what Fred wants to do.
 
Is that you Gene? I suppose you're also going to say that Hallahan was going to be Johnny's successor but he decided he'd rather run the Iowa Games.

Johnny was not forced to retire. Johnny wanted Hallihan to succeed him. ISU chose Tim Floyd. Hallihan wanted the job bad. After Hallihan was not chosen for the ISU job, then he headed the Iowa Games.

What is it that you don't understand?
 
Let's say Fred jumps to the NBA and does not have the success he had hoped for...(that could possibly happen if he takes this Bulls job.) say he stays in the NBA as a coach for 5 years...about as much time as he has been here...and he is fired. Would ISU entertain thoughts of taking him back if he wanted to come back? (If ISU was not doing well in basketball at that point) Even after leaving once on ISU... I'd still bring him back in a heartbeat.
 
Let's say Fred jumps to the NBA and does not have the success he had hoped for...(that could possibly happen if he takes this Bulls job.) say he stays in the NBA as a coach for 5 years...about as much time as he has been here...and he is fired. Would ISU entertain thoughts of taking him back if he wanted to come back? (If ISU was not doing well in basketball at that point) Even after leaving once on ISU... I'd still bring him back in a heartbeat.

Depends on a lot of things. Fred could apply like everyone else if there is an opening. IMO, if Fred leaves it is likely he will not come back to the college game. He will stay in the NBA.
 
Depends on a lot of things. Fred could apply like everyone else if there is an opening. IMO, if Fred leaves it is likely he will not come back to the college game. He will stay in the NBA.

Sincerely, Larry Brown.
 
Let's say Fred jumps to the NBA and does not have the success he had hoped for...(that could possibly happen if he takes this Bulls job.) say he stays in the NBA as a coach for 5 years...about as much time as he has been here...and he is fired. Would ISU entertain thoughts of taking him back if he wanted to come back? (If ISU was not doing well in basketball at that point) Even after leaving once on ISU... I'd still bring him back in a heartbeat.

He wouldn't have the same recruiting cache that he does today. That's his biggest asset to us. He's proven he can win and top recruits are picking us. We're not going after mid major type guys anymore.
 
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So in terms of fulfilling his goals at ISU......and I am assuming things about his goals at ISU......I would say they are still unfulfilled.....

Based on Fred's 'national championship' comments at the beginning of last season, we don't have to assume that he has not met his goals at ISU.
 
He wouldn't have the same recruiting cache that he does today. That's his biggest asset to us. He's proven he can win and top recruits are picking us. We're not going after mid major type guys anymore.

Why do people keep saying stuff like this? The biggest thing that has held ISU back from even greater success is that we simply don't get the same caliber of players that many other teams do.

ISU has been getting similar players to that which we have always been getting.
 
Why do people keep saying stuff like this? The biggest thing that has held ISU back from even greater success is that we simply don't get the same caliber of players that many other teams do.

ISU has been getting similar players to that which we have always been getting.

We are getting better players now than we did under previous coaches at ISU. Look at our recruiting. We are not at the level of Kentucky and Kansas but we are getting some very solid recruits now who are higher profile recruits than we had previously.

We certainly are not recruiting Charles Boozers, and Dodie Dunsons, anymore. We previously got 3 star recruits and some 2 stars. Rarely did we get higher. Now our recruits are generally 4 star recruits anymore. We have definitely raised our level of BB recruits.
 
We are getting better players now than we did under previous coaches at ISU. Look at our recruiting. We are not at the level of Kentucky and Kansas but we are getting some very solid recruits now who are higher profile recruits than we had previously.

We certainly are not recruiting Charles Boozers, and Dodie Dunsons, anymore. We previously got 3 star recruits and some 2 stars. Rarely did we get higher. Now our recruits are generally 4 star recruits anymore. We have definitely raised our level of BB recruits.

Maybe clearly better than the McDermott years (I lived in another country and didn't pay much attention during the McDermott years). But doesn't seem far superior to the Floyd and Eustachy years. Not 2*s, but Hoiberg's has had plenty of 3* players.
 
100% wrong. Johnny was forced out and didn't have much to do with ISU until Fred returned.

BS. Johnny was NOT forced to resign. Johnny was ticked off that Hallihan was not given the job when Johnny specifically endorsed him to succeed him. But Johnny was NOT forced to resign.

Quit making stuff up.
 
I have heard it stated many times pretty much as fact that Johnny was forced out at least a year before he wanted to go (I don't know if he even wanted to go then). I have also heard it pretty clearly that Johnny wanted Hallihan to have the job and that Hallihan wanted the job.
 
I have heard it stated many times pretty much as fact that Johnny was forced out at least a year before he wanted to go (I don't know if he even wanted to go then). I have also heard it pretty clearly that Johnny wanted Hallihan to have the job and that Hallihan wanted the job.


His "retirement" announcement hardly seemed like something he really wanted to do. It was much more like something he was "forced" to do.
 
I have heard it stated many times pretty much as fact that Johnny was forced out at least a year before he wanted to go (I don't know if he even wanted to go then). I have also heard it pretty clearly that Johnny wanted Hallihan to have the job and that Hallihan wanted the job.

I believe Johnny had one more year left on his contract, and he would have been allowed to coach the final year. However, Gene Smith did not give any indication of extending his contract beyond that. These issues were working against ISU on the recruiting front. Johnny did resign as coach with one year left on his agreement, despite having one of his best returning classes. He did remain on the university payroll in an associate AD role of sorts. By leaving a year early, he did give the next guy (he hoped it would be Hallihan) a jumpstart to being a successful coach at Iowa State.
 
BS. Johnny was NOT forced to resign. Johnny was ticked off that Hallihan was not given the job when Johnny specifically endorsed him to succeed him. But Johnny was NOT forced to resign.

Quit making stuff up.

Johnny was give and agreed to a 2 year contract extension in 1992 which would mean the contract expired at the end of Fred's senior year. So I guess it would make sense that he would "retire" one year before that? Gene Smith was hired in 93, one year after the contract extension was given and agreed upon by JO and Urick.

Not to far fetched to believe that when new AD's come into play, they want their "own guys". Could have Gene waited for the last year of Johnny contract to expire? Sure, but the 1994-1995 team was loaded with enough talent to "entice" a much better coach than the following year when the cupboards would have been much more "bare". So perhaps "force out" is not as appropriate as "greatly persuaded" to retire a year earlier than a contract agreement given just one year prior.

Did Johnny want Hallihan to follow? Yep, but Gene had his own ideas.

Additionally, when you retire, you are done, right? Yet Johnny was placed in a position at the university so that he was paid out his final year.