Parrott Blog: Dixon, Williams pegged to coach UL basketball

[Cajunsmike]

_ Yeah, but are you as confident in UL's ability to make the right decision, i.e. letting Lee go and having to pay more for another coach? Will UL take the cheap way out and keep him, replace him with the cheapest hire available, or hire the right coach to turn this once proud program turned debacle around? If he wins 18 games and the Western Division of the SBC, but doesn't win the conference tourney and doesn't go to the NCAA, will UL keep him? I hope not, but who knows. We'll just have to let things unfold and see what happens. I just hope our program isn't on life support after another year with Lee. _

I don't know what will happen in the scenario you describe. However, I am highly confident that a change will be made if we are not several games above 0.500. I am also confident we have the ability to make a quality hire. The APR will be mostly behind us and no remaining years will be on the contract following next season. The administration understands how unpopular their decision was. However, an unfortunate situation exists here. The way things were handled last year tells me that Coach Lee won't regain much support even if the team goes to the NCAA tourney next year. How many of you would support resigning him if the team got that far?

[reddot]

The way things were handled last year tells me that Coach Lee won't regain much support even if the team goes to the NCAA tourney next year. How many of you would support resigning him if the team got that far? _

Are you asking us to be "HYPOTHETICAL" fans?

[MetryCajun]

Anything less than a SBC championship and NCAA berth, he should be fired.

[Cajunsmike]

_ Anything less than a SBC championship and NCAA berth, he should be fired. _

If he got to the NCAA, would you support a new contract being given? Yes, I am talking hypothetically here.

[zephyr]

Being that wins and losses are the primary deciding factors in choosing a coaches fate, I'd say he should be given that extension, albeit a small one. If there is somebody out there that we can get serious about going get, and put it in our minds that we will have to pay them better to come, then I'm all about it also but I'm simply basing my judgement on what so many here seem to judge on.

[rhineaux]

f/CoachKeathley via Twitter

I'd like to wish Coach and the University of Louisiana the best of luck next season! I think its a great school with a passionate fanbase!!
2:19 AM Jun 7th from web

I've had a lot of e-mails and questions--and I wanted to wait until the staff was finalized before I mentioned my status..
2:22 AM Jun 7th from web

There's no question we would have had the Cajin Dome rocking! But, I felt, I needed to explore other opportunities right now..
2:25 AM Jun 7th from web

Who knows, maybe down the road...Thank you to all the Cajin Fans who sent me notes or e-mails!
2:28 AM Jun 7th from web

A great City, School, Fans! I'll be cheering with you guys next season!
2:32 AM Jun 7th from web

[Cajunsmike]

_ Regardless of how many wins we get next year. Its still under the watch a below average coach. You see there or FLOATERS and MOTORS in the world. I think we got a FLOATER as a coach. Just think what we could do with a MOTOR for a coach. With the talent we have coming back for the 2010 season, we should get a MOTOR for a coach and watch how good talent and good coaching works together. It what jump start good recruting coming in for 2011 on.

These kids are not even taken part in a offseason routine. They dont shoot ball everyday, they dont work out everyday. I played ball with daigle today at Girard Park. No other players were there. I know a few of them are working hard, Like Tyren Johnson, who works out everyday. We have a chance to be good next year, but it all falls on how well the players play the game. _

Today was the first day of summer school. Perhaps they were in class this morning and will work out at the indoor facility in the afternoon. If that is not occurring, then you and Metry are right in that we will have a new basketall coach at this time next year.

[zephyr]

_ f/CoachKeathley via Twitter

I'd like to wish Coach and the University of Louisiana the best of luck next season! I think its a great school with a passionate fanbase!!
2:19 AM Jun 7th from web

I've had a lot of e-mails and questions--and I wanted to wait until the staff was finalized before I mentioned my status..
2:22 AM Jun 7th from web

There's no question we would have had the Cajin Dome rocking! But, I felt, I needed to explore other opportunities right now..
2:25 AM Jun 7th from web

Who knows, maybe down the road...Thank you to all the Cajin Fans who sent me notes or e-mails!
2:28 AM Jun 7th from web

A great City, School, Fans! I'll be cheering with you guys next season!
2:32 AM Jun 7th from web _

So, what happened with Keathley???

[MetryCajun]

_ If he got to the NCAA, would you support a new contract being given? Yes, I am talking hypothetically here. _

Depends. If he wins 18+ games, yes. If he just catches lightning in a bottle for the SBC tourny, no.

Come next year, I do not think this will be a tough decision.

[rhineaux]

_ So, what happened with Keathley??? _

I'm not sure. he was offered and had accepted pending the salary structure, last we heard. Not sure if the salary was too low or if he saw the writing on the wall. One thing's for sure, the guy seems to know basketball, and he would have been an asset to this staff. And, should RL not be retained, Keathley could easily be a candidate for the HC position.

_ Depends. If he wins 18+ games, yes. If he just catches lightning in a bottle for the SBC tourny, no.

Come next year, I do not think this will be a tough decision. _

I'd almost suggest that wins aren't even a factor in this decision next year. First, make no mistake why he was kept in the first place. It had absolutely nothing to do with the teams on-court performance or lack thereof. Secondly, look at the schedule...2 D-II games, 2 games v. bottom rung CUSA teams, the first conference slate of SLC games, and the second conference slate of SBC games. Who gives a crap if he wins 18 games next year? I worked at the YMCA one summer and played soccer with the kids everyday. I looked like a regular Diego Maradona, but it was against 10 year olds, so who really cares? This team could probably win 24 games next year, and lose in the Tournament finals, and still be a weak candidate for an at-large spot because the RPI and SOS would be so low.

I (as well as others) said after the season that if they wanted the fans to follow them and trust them, a change needed to be made. He was retained, and I think that attendance numbers for 09-10 will prove us right. But if you think attendance will be bad this coming season, go ahead and reward him for 18 wins (his second winning season in 7 years) by resigning him...I certainly wouldn't want to be on the business end of that revolt.

In my opinion, he's had plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents. It just hasn't worked out. Regardless of what happens next season, I think it would be best for both parties to move on. The Athletic Department needs a change in order to renew the excitement in the fans, and to add some stability to the Basketball Program. RL needs a change so that he can start over, reflect, and absorb everything he's learned while he was here...and hopefully jump on with another program as an assistant somewhere (maybe a smaller school), network, move to a bigger school, and hopefully one day, get another HC gig. I always thought that RL was a little behind the 8-ball because he never had any tutelage under a major coach, other than that secondary connection to Lute Olsen through Evans...and who knows what he was able to gather from coaching under Fletcher.