Steve Pikiell

[Goo]

I just have a bad feeling about our perceived top 2 choices. This is the guy I would prefer. I can guarantee you he would have the best plan to get RU back on track. There's a good chance he will be available for an interview on Thursday or Friday. However, should Stony Brook win (unlikely)....more reason to wait on him and the tourney.

Let's get to know him....

http://www.stonybrookathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/steve_pikiell_233252.html

 

[bac2therac]

yes if Hurley falls through and Lonergan isnt interested, this is the man I would go with..a real coach..we could do much worse

 

[Plum Street]

Hurley is my number one choice . Pik and Williams I have even on the 2 line .

 

[rutgersguy1]

Lonergan, Sendek are my top tier guys but I'd be okay with Pikiell. Cluess is still the guy I like on the tier below. He was the one I wanted when we hired EJ and still is now if it's not one of the other two but I'm okay with quite a few of the names on the lower tier list. I'm still cool on Hurley though and there would be a good handful of candidates I'd like before him.

 

[RBS05]

Since there hasn't been any mention of Sendek in the media (that I've seen, maybe I've missed it) and considering he's the only one unemployed, have to believe Hobbs is either not interested or he's a backup plan way down the list.

 

[Local Shill]

Either Pikiell or Cluess would both take the job if offered, I think.

 

[RUJMM78]

yes if Hurley falls through and Lonergan isnt interested, this is the man I would go with..a real coach..we could do much worse

Why would another low tier coach be any better than those that have failed in the past at Rutgers?He would be another low budget hire that probably would not enhance donor support for facility construction.Once again this process is upsetting me because a head coach is needed who has the name recognition to improve recruiting and a second/third tier option isn't the answer.The fact Williams was interviewed makes me believe that Hobbs understands the importance of cache with NJ/NY Metro high school and AAU coaches.His total lack of coaching experience obviously is a negative for the head coaching job but not for a assistant position.

 

[RUPartisan]

I am sure he is a good coach but would be a very uninspiring hire. If he wins who cares but dont see how anyone could get excited about him. I dont understand why Masiello doesn't even seem to be an option.

Any possibility of Ford getting an interview?

 

[Russ Wood]

Since there hasn't been any mention of Sendek in the media (that I've seen, maybe I've missed it) and considering he's the only one unemployed, have to believe Hobbs is either not interested or he's a backup plan way down the list.

A few days ago I saw on Twitter that Sendek wasn't interested in the Rutgers job.

 

[Knightmoves]

A few days ago I saw on Twitter that Sendek wasn't interested in the Rutgers job.

No surprise there about Sendek. Remember when we hired Bannon he was about our 7th or 8th choice ? Really hope we don't end up down that road again.

Unless there is an unknown candidate out there I believe that we are looking at a big drop off after Hurley, since I don't think that Lonergan will take the RU job either.

It ain't easy being us.

 

[RutgHoops]

Similar hire to Waters and Rice. And I liked both.

Hurley and Lonergan in the abstract give RU a better chance to succeed if for no other reason than they have the leverage to "make demands" on the program. I'd imagine Pikiell would come for the opportunity.

Pikiell coached under Karl Hobbs at GW and Howie Dickenman at CCSU. Those two are Jim Calhoun disciples.

 

[knights1212]

Masiello's team was bad this year. I don't like that he really doesn't care about his OOC games. This I saw on TV this year at the beginning of the season. He said they are games to find out his rotation for his league games. That might be true but he sounded like he didn't care about his OOC games. That to me is a joke as the OOC games are part of the season and often determine if your team will play in any post season tournament. I also don't like that he lied on his resume when he never graduated. Just a few weeks ago I saw him on Bruce Beck's show and I really wasn't too impressed.

 

[RocktheRac]

It took 4 years for Pikiell turn turn the program around for Stony Brook. he went .500 and then exploded. How long would it take him at Rutgers in the B1G?

 

[B1GNJHoops]

It took 4 years for Pikiell turn turn the program around for Stony Brook. he went .500 and then exploded. How long would it take him at Rutgers in the B1G?

Plus he had Warney, which he gets credit for. But Warney was best player in the American East. He'll never have the best player in the Big Ten.

I guess my take on Pikiell depends on his assistants.

 

[Scarlet Pride]

It took 4 years for Pikiell turn turn the program around for Stony Brook. he went .500 and then exploded. How long would it take him at Rutgers in the B1G?

Impossible to say but I'd take 4 years to rebuild followed by 4 league championships in 7 years. Now of course I wouldn't expect that and America East isn't exactly the Big Ten. But he has shown the ability to build a program and win championships. I think he's reasonable candidate and I agree good assistant hires would be key (and that's true for any of our candidates).

 

[Goo]

Stony brook was not a turn around story. Steve Pikiell went in there to start a Division 1 program.

RUJMM78, who's your guy? And realistically, can we get him to come here? I would love a top assistant (think Chris Ash), but those guys may not be willing to come here. So again I ask, who do you have in mind?

 

[bac2therac]

Why would another low tier coach be any better than those that have failed in the past at Rutgers?He would be another low budget hire that probably would not enhance donor support for facility construction.Once again this process is upsetting me because a head coach is needed who has the name recognition to improve recruiting and a second/third tier option isn't the answer.The fact Williams was interviewed makes me believe that Hobbs understands the importance of cache with NJ/NY Metro high school and AAU coaches.His total lack of coaching experience obviously is a negative for the head coaching job but not for a assistant position.

Im not saying he would but this is the best we will get of the rest unless they Williams which they very well could so they can save money and not have to meet any demands by the head coach and save money. its the fans who will once again suffer

 

[MCKnight2004]

If Cluess or Pikell somehow won an NCAA tourney game or two this weekend, they will be a hot commodity and the average RU fan would welcome them with open arms....with That said, maybe we wait for the next hot name to get to the sweet sixteen, ala Andy Enfield and FGCU... Bunch of of younger coaches coaching the 13-15 seeds this weekend

 

[RU_Planning]

Masiello's team was bad this year. I don't like that he really doesn't care about his OOC games. This I saw on TV this year at the beginning of the season. He said they are games to find out his rotation for his league games. That might be true but he sounded like he didn't care about his OOC games. That to me is a joke as the OOC games are part of the season and often determine if your team will play in any post season tournament. I also don't like that he lied on his resume when he never graduated. Just a few weeks ago I saw him on Bruce Beck's show and I really wasn't too impressed.

I've always thought Masiello is not cut out for high level basketball based on what I saw from him in person (in games), but this information confirms it.
He reeks of used car salesman.

 

[RUJMM78]

Stony brook was not a turn around story. Steve Pikiell went in there to start a Division 1 program.

RUJMM78, who's your guy? And realistically, can we get him to come here? I would love a top assistant (think Chris Ash), but those guys may not be willing to come here. So again I ask, who do you have in mind?

Sendek has been my choice since Jordan was fired because of his experience in coaching against power conference opponents.

 

[bac2therac]

hopefully Hobbs is making some backdoor calls to Herb to get him interested again

 

[shields]

Would be nice to get Herb interested.

 

[jakeknight]

McKnight, brings up an interesting point, there are a slew of good young coaches around the country, as McKnight says look at the 13-15 seeds and watch their teams play, some of these programs have had a history of strong performances, there really is no shortage of potential candidates.

 

[essexknight]

I would prefer Schmidt at SBU. It is not an easy place to win and his team did win a share of the A10 regular season title. They should have made it into the NCAAs. Underwood at SFA is another guy to look at. Their team is impressive for a low major. Bryce Drew or Kevin Keatts could be two other coaches. There are options if Hurley says no. I hope we don't take a flyer on Jay Williams or Kevin Boyle.

 

[shields]

Schmidt is an interesting name. Like above not easy place to win.

 

[rutgersguy1]

If Cluess or Pikell somehow won an NCAA tourney game or two this weekend, they will be a hot commodity and the average RU fan would welcome them with open arms....with That said, maybe we wait for the next hot name to get to the sweet sixteen, ala Andy Enfield and FGCU... Bunch of of younger coaches coaching the 13-15 seeds this weekend

I'm not a fan of the flavor of the month club where a team gets hot and that coach becomes the next best thing. I'd look at the career body of work, a run in the tourney would just be a bonus. Actually, Andy Enfield was a rare time I made an exception and thought this guy could be a solid coach at a higher level. Struggled for a bit the first 2 years and I thought maybe I was wrong and just another flash in the pan but solid year this year. We'll see if he can build on it. Usually if it's a guy that has made a hot run but hasn't done much else I'm always skeptical.

After Sendek/Lonergan, and it's sounding more and more like those guys might be out of the picture, I like Cluess and then Dooley. FGCU having a nice showing right now so far in their first four game against FDU. Also like that he remade the team in a style he liked and moved away from the whole dunk city thing. Be true to who you are and your style, Cluess with his fast pace game or Dooley with an efficient defensive team. I like identity. Pikiell, Masiello some others including Hurley farther down are all okay with me to varying degrees.

I'm not so discouraged as others if we hire another low mid major coach. It's a typical route for a lot of schools. Yes we haven't hit in our last few tries but it doesn't mean it's a bad path to follow. Bannon was close until the FT shooting thing. Waters might have gotten over the hump if he had more time with Hill on staff. Obviously they didn't work out but it's not like they were miles away from getting over that last hump. I understand we've had lousy results and bad luck down that path but I don't feel discouraged if we go down that path again. Bo Ryan was a mid major or lower level basketball guy, McCaffery at Iowa too and of course many others. You have successes and you have failures, just like anything else. If it's a guy with some beef on his resume even from a lower level I'm fine with it personally.

 

[shields]

He struggled because he had other guys players right. To expect a coach to do well right away is silly. Penn State coach took 5 years and they were 16-16 this year.

 

[rutgersguy1]

He struggled because he had other guys players right. To expect a coach to do well right away is silly. Penn State coach took 5 years and they were 16-16 this year.

That's true too have to give a guy time to rebuild. Not familiar with USC so don't know how bad it was there when he took over. It's more just looking at the record and not seeing much improvement in the 2nd year but it's also not always just a uniform steady uphill trajectory when you rebuild. It can be choppy.

 

[shields]

Penn State guy won 22 games combined first two years and Enfield won like 22 games also. People here need to let next guy get some recruiting classes in here.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Penn State guy won 22 games combined first two years and Enfield won like 22 games also. People here need to let next guy get some recruiting classes in here.

You're right. I'd be patient here and I tend to think most would to a degree. We're familiar with this program though, I don't know what every coach who takes over somewhere new is finding when he lands up there though. I think all you'd like to see as a fan is improvement over time and that you feel something is being built with better spoils down the line.

 

[Goo]

Sendek has been my choice since Jordan was fired because of his experience in coaching against power conference opponents.

I'm fine with your choice, but considering he is available now, the silence from Camp Sendek concerns me.

On another note, you would not be ok with an coach from an a mid-major conference. However, NCState had no problem hiring Sendek right out of powerhouse Miami of Ohio, when they were not too far removed from the Valvano years....