2012 Coaching Openings

Martin Smith Certified. wrote:

Dan Steele

All assistants gone

That would be an incredibly dissapointing hire. That will not cause any major shuffling in the NCAA (UNI??). Steele has offiially made UNI insignificant again... Non threat to the SEC...

This hire if it is true, makes last years hire of Dan Waters at Alabama, lie they hired Pat Henry or John McDonnell.

Man of Steele wrote:

Martin Smith Certified. wrote:

Dan Steele

All assistants gone

That would be an incredibly dissapointing hire. That will not cause any major shuffling in the NCAA (UNI??). Steele has offiially made UNI insignificant again... Non threat to the SEC...

Dan Waters was a suspect hire as well based on the MAJOR NCAA violations that he participated in at TCU, but Steele is still a head scratcher. I'll wait until they offiially announce something and then we can all collectively laugh at the selection committee.

Blame Steele all you want, but I do not think it nearly all his fault. Steele was hired by the new AD, who severely cut the budget from what Bucknam had when the team was hot.

Just wondering if we could have a peak at the resumes of everyone who is bagging on Dan Steele?

Coaches News Network wrote:

Just wondering if we could have a peak at the resumes of everyone who is bagging on Dan Steele?

I'm a data analysis manager for a major electrical company, who doubles as a major track fan who lives in Kentucky. My resume is really not worth comparing... I am smart enough to realize Kentucky has the power, name brand and money to hire EXTREMLY qualified head coaches. If you think Steele is that man then I'm officially at a loss for words...

Please provide proof that any budget Steele has had is less than what Bucknam had. I highly doubt your statement is accurate in regards to Steele having less.

And whom would you prefer they hire?

Most NCAA hires are based on who you know and who knows you, not just your coaching resume. Maybe 10% (and I am being generous) of hires go to the most qualified. Steele has major connections, and I don't think all of the issues at UNI are his fault. One Mid majors cannot be powers every year, especially when they put a ton of energy and resources into football thinking they will make a name for their University that way, and two I think Bucknam obviously took a step up going to Arkansas, but it is possible that he fled a sinking ship just in time. As for living in Kentucky making you qualified to make the hire is ridiculous. Kentucky does not have the kind of power in Track and Field or any sport outside of Basketball that it once did. Their resources and marketing will always be for the court not the track or field including football. Maybe this is a step up for Steele, but it just might be the right think for Kentucky as well. They need someone who can find mid level talent and turn them into someone that can score at SEC's (no easy task). But who better than a mid major coach who is used to recruiting those kinds of kids. Kentucky will never out recruit Arkansas, Florida, LSU, and now A&M in anything but Basketball.

I may not be a track coach, but that does not mean I do not have knowledge of track and field. I have been officiating track for 25 years and have worked nearly every national championship since 1990. So politically I am likely more connected or in the know than most of you on this board. So name dropping is no difficult task...

I will start the list and I'm sure many can add...

Offer $200k/ aggressive assistant $ pool. I personally think everyone on the list is better.

HEAD COACHES

Edrick Floreal (former assistant)

Darryl Anderson (former assistant)

JJ Clark (bordering foe)

Carol Smith (SEC experience)

Fred Harvey (More $)

Harry Marra (better DEC coach than Steele) ;-)

Dave Cianelli (SEC attempt)

Ron Helmer (Bball foe)

Associate/Assistant Head Coaches

Ken Harden

Mario Sategna

Lonnie Green

Greg Jack

Kris Grines

Dave Dumble

Vince Anderson

Mark Elliot

Weak points... Kentucky had the number #1 recruiting class in the nation in 2007 and 4 or 5 top 15 national finishes in the past 5 years. I was on the team in 08' that finished 9th. UK does not need a coach to get "mid-level" talent. UK needs a game changer. I'm a recent UK athlete, so I know the money and support we get. So please keep the "mid-major" recruiter away from our program!

That's a pretty stout list. My observation is that many of the top assistants are pretty happy not being the head coach because of all the administrative responsibilities beyond coaching and recruiting. I'd put Vince Anderson and Harry Marra squarely in that category, although you never know. Lonnie Green is a good coach and we'll see how he does in his new position.

Man of Steele wrote:

Offer $200k/ aggressive assistant $ pool. I personally think everyone on the list is better.

So let me get this straight. Kentucky is offering $200K and an SEC head coaching job to a mediocre coach that has spent the last three years doing poorly at an upper-level mid-major program that was significantly better before he got there? Simply because he was an assistant at OREGON????

Coaches News Network wrote:

That's a pretty stout list. My observation is that many of the top assistants are pretty happy not being the head coach because of all the administrative responsibilities beyond coaching and recruiting. I'd put Vince Anderson and Harry Marra squarely in that category, although you never know. Lonnie Green is a good coach and we'll see how he does in his new position.

Agreed, it's stout. UK just gave the WOMEN's bball coach a $7 mill contract! I have to think they the guts to buy nearly every coach listed plus many more...

So let me get this straight. Kentucky is offering $200K and an SEC head coaching job to a mediocre coach that has spent the last three years doing poorly at an upper-level mid-major program that was significantly better before he got there? Simply because he was an assistant at OREGON????

I just threw out an arbitrary number. I have NO IDEA how much the job is paying...

Kentucky has stunk in track and xc for years, with a few moments of success. Lets talk about programs that matter needing coaches.

Any work on the Cal distance position?

How many from your list would take the job at Kentucky? That will tell you all you need to know about the position. And no they are not paying $200,000.

Kentucky NCAA Outdoor Finishes the last 5 years.

Men 2012-43rd, 2011-41st, 2010-13th, 2009-15th, 2008-9th. Women 2012-no points, 2011-60th,2010-51st, 2009-no points, 2008-no points. The Kentucky men had a few standouts from 2008-2010 you are correct. But if you take away Sorillo and Scott from those teams they finish about the same every year around 40th or so. The women are lucky to score points at NC's. This is not a track power. Southern Utah scored 20 points and finished 11th this year and nobody is calling them a power house. Every once in a while even a mid major gets a foreign athlete that wins a national title. And as far as having the #1 recruiting class in 2007 what did that team accomplish? They would have been seniors in 2011 and they placed 41st. I have nothing against Kentucky, I am just trying to bring to light this is not one of the major track and field programs in the country these days. They need to shake some things up if they are going to do better than 7th or 8th in the SEC every year. I would like nothing better than to see UK be a Track school instead of a basketball school, they just have a long ways to go still.