This week has given hint to a renewed commitment to the program. The assistant coaching hires are relatively high profile guys… hinting that we likely dipped deeper into our pocket. In addition to perhaps increasing the salary pool, we also added a staff position… Dir. of Analytics. Both of these are very encouraging happenings. Flip the camera, Scott …. and then I’ll really be convinced!
Over the past few years, a lot of people seemed to feel UF's level of commitment to our two major sports was adequate. Now that changes are being made, it's apparent how far behind we have been.
The big question is were the last coaches not being supported or were they not asking for more support? Both of the new guys seemed to have a detailed plan of action and a list of demands. Demands that were immediately granted. That says to me the administration didn’t have an issue providing the support, so either the support wasn’t being requested or the coaches were unable to effectively sell their vision.
I don't see them as demands, I see them as required conditions to compete in the modern game. It's possible both new coaches are ahead of the curve in this sense - we'll find out soon. Also, I've made investments in the past...Let's just say the #1 factor in our decision making is the leadership team. I refuse to look back, but just making a general point. It's possible the AD was always willing to invest, but knew he didn't have the right leaders to pull it off...So he's making the investments now, with a new set of leaders capable of pulling it off.
I can’t speak for football, but many such things were being requested within the basketball program. Was it an effective sales pitch? Perhaps not. Or it is possible that results at Florida versus results at completing programs served as an eye-opener relating to the importance of these requests. And that might be true for both football and basketball.
One of the reasons I thought that a coaching change was needed was for this very reason. Just human nature that once you're the one hiring the coach, suddenly you become more invested. Perhaps this isn't fair to the last regime, but this is what probably needed to happen for the Administration to make a bigger commitment to basketball. I have to say that Golden has hired a great staff so far so I'm starting to see this commitment.
I will hold judgement on SS until either coaches actually produces. But we need to give the coaches at least 2 years.
2 YEARS? I like the philosophy of the boosters in the movie "Remember the Titans" - First loss...........you a "Gone Pecan".............
It's been written that Mullen asked but had no plan. And that Napier had a plan so detailed that checks were flying immediately.
So, the UAA doesn't have a plan and it's the responsibility of the coaches. That's a recipe to maintain upheaval and chaos. Sounds like a quality systems audit is in order.
SS made a comment about this very point - in summary it was something like “it’s one thing to ask for support yet not have a detailed plan to back it up - but once I saw Billy’s plan - I was sold immediately “.
