Gates probably would not have been my first choice, he may not have been DRF’s either. We will never know because certainly they will say he was. That being said the more I read I think I may have been wrong. His resume honestly checks every single box you could want except is already a successful P5 coach that is currently winning at their job and a sexy
1. History Recruiting athletes it takes to win here.
He certainly did that. He recruited the team that kicked Zo’s best team’s ass up and down the court in the tournament. A team that had incredible athletes at every single position. He did so at a very similar school to Mizzou. Some history, not the best, not a blue blood. But not terrible either. Fertile recruiting area but also very competitive recruiting area.
2.,Can develop players. Basically turn the kids he gets here into better players. We have not had that since Mike Anderson. He worked in the NBA as a player development coach. Nuff said on that one.
3. Can rebuild a program. Took over one of the worst teams in college. Struggled year one. Last two years wins conference coach on the year and wins a huge percentage of games
If you said to 90% if people on this board you will get a coach that checks these three boxes everyone would have said cool let’s go. Will he be able to do it here? Who knows but you never know. People thought Arkansas one the lottery when they hire Brett Bielima and he was awful. Hell almost every single coach people wanted over Zo last time was worse than Zo. If the reports are to be believed then he is our coach. Support the man until he is not. Hopefully he is here for the next two decades.
All that being said really wish this did not get out before it was done because it is one thing to get Paintered by Matt Painter. It’s another thing to have it happen from the Cleveland St Coach. If this doesn’t work out for whatever reason I doubt we could get anyone to work here.
1. History Recruiting athletes it takes to win here.
He certainly did that. He recruited the team that kicked Zo’s best team’s ass up and down the court in the tournament. A team that had incredible athletes at every single position. He did so at a very similar school to Mizzou. Some history, not the best, not a blue blood. But not terrible either. Fertile recruiting area but also very competitive recruiting area.
2.,Can develop players. Basically turn the kids he gets here into better players. We have not had that since Mike Anderson. He worked in the NBA as a player development coach. Nuff said on that one.
3. Can rebuild a program. Took over one of the worst teams in college. Struggled year one. Last two years wins conference coach on the year and wins a huge percentage of games
If you said to 90% if people on this board you will get a coach that checks these three boxes everyone would have said cool let’s go. Will he be able to do it here? Who knows but you never know. People thought Arkansas one the lottery when they hire Brett Bielima and he was awful. Hell almost every single coach people wanted over Zo last time was worse than Zo. If the reports are to be believed then he is our coach. Support the man until he is not. Hopefully he is here for the next two decades.
All that being said really wish this did not get out before it was done because it is one thing to get Paintered by Matt Painter. It’s another thing to have it happen from the Cleveland St Coach. If this doesn’t work out for whatever reason I doubt we could get anyone to work here.
