UL Basketball Coach ... NEXT

[rhineaux]

Personally, if I were going to hire a coach that I knew had baggage, I'd pick Gillespie over Floyd. If Gillispie grabs another DUI, then it will give UL a black eye, but that's it. If Floyd does something shady, then UL will get that black eye and perhaps much more, negating whatever good he did for the program. Secondly, even if Floyd didn't really do anything wrong, other than use bad judgement, he's still been in the middle of this significant investigation with the NCAA, and I would imagine that they're going to keep a close eye on him. With what this school has recently gone through (APR, T-shirt "scandal", etc), I don't know if that makes for a good marriage.

As for Gillispie, Coach Hall recently said that the guy is a ball coach. He's also known as a grinder and has had success in multiple places. I don't even hold the UK stuff against him...I don't think he was what some of the UK Boosters really wanted and there was conflict from the beginning. As for his drinking, he did spend some time getting treatment, so one would hope that he's been able to overcome his issues.

He and Kennedy would be my first choices. Dennis Felton and Mark Gottfried would also have to be up there somewhere near the top. IF Floyd isn't planning to hold out for the Hornets job after this season, and is interested, I wouldn't hate the hire, but I would always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. If either Butch Pierre or Danny Kaspar are hired, I would hope they're several spots down on the list, and only after the first choices declined UL's offers for Major Coaching jobs. I don't think either one of those guys creates the "buzz" that the Athletic Dept says they want.

[Turbine]

In his third year, he inherited both academic and NCAA issues that resulted in scholarship losses for the program. Lee’s commitment to the program, both on and off the court, allowed the program to overcome these issues.

I thought Robert Lee was thrown under the bus on the NCAA issues. I will assume the reference is to Orien Greene's summer studies. Well, with the duplicate NCAA interpretation of summer school studies at the time this farce should have been fought vigorously. UL should have never offered up sanctions on a silver platter like they did. Since then I have seen schools with blatant violations offering no more and sometimes less than UL did. You can go to the paper of record on microfiche and find that UL was transparent in what Orien was doing over the summer to get eligible. UL had nothing to hide; Robert should still have his wins.

As far as inheriting academic issues I suspect the press release is referring to the dismal APR year that was so bad even when coupled with 3 close to perfect years the average remained below par. Well those were not inherited and if he is going to get credit for turning things around it should be stated he was responsible for the problem in the first place. In his 6 years as HC he had 17 players leave the program prematurely and 12 were one-and-done, and this doesn't count players who became ineligible sat out and came back. The only inherited player to leave the program early and cause APR problems was Tiras Wade. The other 16 were brought in by Lee and let go for whatever reason by Coach Lee.

Now let's find a new coach. Every one out there will be APR ready.

[MetryCajun]

_ I thought Robert Lee was thrown under the bus on the NCAA issues. I will assume the reference is to Orien Greene's summer studies. Well, with the duplicate NCAA interpretation of summer school studies at the time this farce should have been fought vigorously. UL should have never offered up sanctions on a silver platter like they did. Since then I have seen schools with blatant violations offering no more and sometimes less than UL did. You can go to the paper of record on microfiche and find that UL was transparent in what Orien was doing over the summer to get eligible. UL had nothing to hide; Robert should still have his wins.

As far as inheriting academic issues I suspect the press release is referring to the dismal APR year that was so bad even when coupled with 3 close to perfect years the average remained below par. Well those were not inherited and if he is going to get credit for turning things around it should be stated he was responsible for the problem in the first place. In his 6 years as HC he had 17 players leave the program prematurely and 12 were one-and-done, and this doesn't count players who became ineligible sat out and came back. The only inherited player to leave the program early and cause APR problems was Tiras Wade. The other 16 were brought in by Lee and let go for whatever reason by Coach Lee.

Now let's find a new coach. Every one out there will be APR ready. _

Great post. How can you inherit a problem in your third year?

[cajun4life]

_ I thought Robert Lee was thrown under the bus on the NCAA issues. I will assume the reference is to Orien Greene's summer studies. Well, with the duplicate NCAA interpretation of summer school studies at the time this farce should have been fought vigorously. UL should have never offered up sanctions on a silver platter like they did. Since then I have seen schools with blatant violations offering no more and sometimes less than UL did. You can go to the paper of record on microfiche and find that UL was transparent in what Orien was doing over the summer to get eligible. UL had nothing to hide; Robert should still have his wins.

As far as inheriting academic issues I suspect the press release is referring to the dismal APR year that was so bad even when coupled with 3 close to perfect years the average remained below par. Well those were not inherited and if he is going to get credit for turning things around it should be stated he was responsible for the problem in the first place. In his 6 years as HC he had 17 players leave the program prematurely and 12 were one-and-done, and this doesn't count players who became ineligible sat out and came back. The only inherited player to leave the program early and cause APR problems was Tiras Wade. The other 16 were brought in by Lee and let go for whatever reason by Coach Lee.

Now let's find a new coach. Every one out there will be APR ready. _

Same goes for Coach Rogers. All he inherited was a Top 25 team that just received an at large bid to the NCAA's. Returning two 1000 point scorers and a handful of key contributors. All he has done since inheriting that program is flush it down the toilet and fail to win a measly 10 games in one season.

[FORMERCajinHS]

Some of you might not agree, but I would bring back Jessie Evans, and UL can bargain with him about salary, because he is not coaching at the present time. I like Tim Floyd, but he aint never coming back to college until this crap from USC is over, Billy Kennedy he wasnt a good coach, just a name, Billy Gillespie, come on now, do we want a drunk single man in the Bayou?????? There are some good assisants, out there, and some former good head coaches who have a proven winning record, we should go that route, because they are hungry and yes UL can really bargain a balanced salary.

[SlappyCajun]

_ Some of you might not agree, but I would bring back Jessie Evans, and UL can bargain with him about salary, because he is not coaching at the present time. I like Tim Floyd, but he aint never coming back to college until this crap from USC is over, Billy Kennedy he wasnt a good coach, just a name, Billy Gillespie, come on now, do we want a drunk single man in the Bayou?????? There are some good assisants, out there, and some former good head coaches who have a proven winning record, we should go that route, because they are hungry and yes UL can really bargain a balanced salary. _

I've read two of your posts, and none of them make sense.

Billy Kennedy not a good coach. Two different schools, two NCAA tourneys.

30 wins this year.

[FORMERCajinHS]

_ I didn't mean to belabor the point. I was taking exception to comments that typified all the kids that played under Evans as bad students.
I liked Coach Lee's passion for the program and I thank him for that.
My opinion is that if UL is looking to go in a different direction with the basketball program it ought not look to anyone with ties to Evans, Fletcher or Lee. Start fresh. _

Now that is a great qoute, start fresh, because we all will never agree, we want this guy and you want that guy, and when it is all said and done, we will have no say so what so ever, all we will do is either complain or be happy. If is Calipari or Robert Lee twin brother, we need some one who can win, and graduate players, and run a respectable program, and at this level we aint got that much money to hire a great coach. So really lets cross our finger and hope for the best and believe we will get the best coach available. All this is really bull______ talk, we aint A.D or Boosters, so just wish for the best, I remember the best ball when I was H.S in the late 90's, Robert recruited me brieifly, he didnt follow up, and I went elsewhere, but I came home and graduate from USL in 99, and I have fond memories of sitting in Coach Evans office just talking to him, and thats why I wish he would come back, but I know thats along shot, and I will accept that, but bring someone who is better at winning, recruiting and graduating players, and you got the best coach possible, but how long will we keep him.???????

[VObserver]

Until he takes us to the Sweet 16, and we'll all be glad to see him better himself and leave us in great shape.

_ Now that is a great qoute, start fresh, because we all will never agree, we want this guy and you want that guy, and when it is all said and done, we will have no say so what so ever, all we will do is either complain or be happy. If is Calipari or Robert Lee twin brother, we need some one who can win, and graduate players, and run a respectable program, and at this level we aint got that much money to hire a great coach. So really lets cross our finger and hope for the best and believe we will get the best coach available. All this is really bull______ talk, we aint A.D or Boosters, so just wish for the best, I remember the best ball when I was H.S in the late 90's, Robert recruited me brieifly, he didnt follow up, and I went elsewhere, but I came home and graduate from USL in 99, and I have fond memories of sitting in Coach Evans office just talking to him, and thats why I wish he would come back, but I know thats along shot, and I will accept that, but bring someone who is better at winning, recruiting and graduating players, and you got the best coach possible, but how long will we keep him.??????? _

[leeman]

_ Danny Broussard would be my 1st choice but don't know if Danny is interested. With him, at least we would be fundemenatlly sound and we would be winners.

If can't get him, I would definately be interested in Butch Pierre. He can flat out recruit. _

Is Ricky Broussard Danny's brother?... where is Ricky now?...

[HOUCajun]

_ Same goes for Coach Rogers. All he inherited was a Top 25 team that just received an at large bid to the NCAA's. Returning two 1000 point scorers and a handful of key contributors. All he has done since inheriting that program is flush it down the toilet and fail to win a measly 10 games in one season. _

The Cajun women were in the top 25?!? I must have missed that one.