Todd Golden named head coach

who is right. this the best we could do? I'm shocked. And a 6-year deal? Time to get Stricklin's head examined.

 

I like the he has some fire in him and doesn't put up with BS. He doesn't dance around questions and calls it like it is. He might actually be good for the program. Less pussy-footing and coach-speak. Seems like a bit of a bulldog.

 

one of the lead recruiters under Pearl = head bagman?

 

Guys, we have a NEW coach. And this thread is about HIM. Why all the retread over White? Is Golden going to get us to "The Promised Land"? Who the heck knows. But this continued White vitriol should be over. And if not, how about keeping it where it belongs...in the OTHER threads.

And as a drive-by shooting on "our favorite subject", it just shows how much effect Mike has had on many of our psyches.

 

Believe I read that SS did.in fact reach out to Grant and Smart. I don't know where that conversation strted.or what was said. But to act like.SS didn't do due diligence is a little absurd. We ...this free.gators basketball board..has known MW was looking around for some time. If we knew SS did as well. My guess is.MW was.told to start looking around by SS.

Every person in the college coaching world seems to think TG is a brilliant, hard working, head coach. The more i read about him the more I like him. He seems like a modern version of Billy Donovan. I just hope he has a Mike Miller and Jason Williams to bring along with him.

 

O , just liked him representing the team and the university. I’m sure TG will do the same. I’m not Coach Whites dad.

 

He recruited the SEC for two years. I do in fact remember Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. I also recall that Todd Golden wasn't on the AU staff of Harper's freshman year as he had already left for San Fran. Additionally, both Harper and Bryce Brown have credited former assistant Tony Jones for their recruitment to AU. He was with Pearl for like 10 years. Jones was also found to be involved with the sanctions thrown at AU (stemming from 2017) and resigned shortly thereafter. On top of this there is the Danjel Purifoy FBI investigation.

I like Pearl, his energy and coaching, would have taken him here in a second! I think he is awesome. But some of the posters here have bashed him for the obvious. Now you're using TG time at Auburn as a golden seal of approval of his recruiting prowess? A bit odd.

You don't have to agree with my opinion, that is completely fine but the above are facts. Don't throw out statements like "he was on every Power 5 AD short list." You have no verifiable, tangible proof of this. So, I am all for being proved wrong. Also thanks, I did my homework on
TG. It's not like my opinion makes me an outlier. The hire is polarizing. I hope he is everything the other side say he is.

 

Pat D. is that you? jk

 

I’ll say this, so far his first 3 moves have been A+:

called Billy D, Chandler, Patric Young and others to learn and build relationships….I LOVE this!!!!! You cannot understand how important it is to tap into the former greats and ingratiate yourself.

He has not reached out to current players so as not to cause a distraction. BUT his Gator gear is on and he’s rooting for his new guys.

He Will call current guys as soon as they are done.

 

I have a second question, who among us has great confidence in our Athletic Department to build a and more modern support system to compliment and enhance our basketball profile. We have to find more innovative ways to make UF a “ more desirable “ basketball destination. That would go a long way in enhancing recruiting. The Coach still has to win, but a better support network would help the brand.

 

They asked the CBS panel who would take Mike K’s torch and Kellog mentioned he wanted to see what the young talented coaches could do and mentioned Golden. Nice!

 

I think my problem is this.
There is this obsession to find the next Billy D.

That ain’t happening. Billy is/was one the greatest college coaches of all time.

Billy is one of only four men (Dean Smith, Joe B. Hall and Bobby Knight being the others) to appear in the NCAA Final Four as a player and win the NCAA national championship as a coach.
He was an assistant under a lengedary coach in Pitino and then turned the gators hoops program into a basketball juggernaut.

he was so unique. You had the pantheon of college coaches and then their is Billy the kid. A young coach then gets to the final four and then a few years later goes back to back with a different basketball style and then continues be successful.

Whose the only young coach that even comes close to him in history? Brad Steven’s? He didn’t even win a title.

I just feel like the last 2 hires aren’t let’s get the best guy to coach the gators - but rather let’s get the guy we think is the next Billy D.

 

Completely agree, 100%. Smart move.

 

Has talk to our recruits that's great as we need them to show up.
Think most of returning players come back.

 

I think so too. I also think it could be a good sign that we haven't seen the recruiting class instantly fall apart a la what has happened to LSU in the wake of Wade's firing. We shall see.

 

So many of these guys were seniors. Not sure how many end up coming back for a 5th year…Fleming and McKissic are 100% done. They played 5 years. Presumably Castleton goes pro (Europe).

The two big recruits are key. Kawacie is key. Jitoboh could be key (esp if 1 or 2 of the recruits bail).

Who from our remaining backcourt of Kennedy, Jones (5th year), Appleby (5th year) comes back? It seems pretty obvious our guard play overall is a weakness. The question is can this guy bring in a couple recruits/signees to do anything about it. Pre-covid we’d be pretty much screwed with the nonexistent roster White is leaving. But now with the transfer portal and a couple guys that have a 5th year available at least there’s a chance to stay somewhat competitive. It just depends how many holes there will be to fill. If he keeps the big recruits, Jitoboh and Reeves that is something to work with. Otherwise he basically needs to recruit an entire team, all 5 positions.

 

In terms of assistants, we will have at least one spot as his associate head coach was just named the new head coach at San Francisco.

Chris Gerlufsen Promoted to Head Men's Basketball Coach - University of San Francisco Athletics

I assume Safir will likely come with him. He is Golden's analytics guy.

Jonathan Safir - Men's Basketball Coach - University of San Francisco Athletics

Not sure on the third assistant (Plank), who appears to be a West Coast recruiter, but I wouldn't be surprised if bringing him over isn't of high priority.

So there should be room to keep Pastrana is he wants to be retained and there is a fit personality-wise. I would suspect that he would then like to hire a pretty direct replacement for Gerlufsen, an offensive coordinator and a guy primarily to work with the guards.

One name that used to be on his staff to maybe keep an eye out for would be Kevin Hovde, who was his offensive coordinator initially at San Francisco (and did a similar task for Kyle Smith before him), who is now an Assistant at Richmond (his alma mater).

Kevin Hovde - Assistant Coach - Staff Directory - University of Richmond Athletics

 

I am willing to bet big bucks that all of the returning players come back and all of the departing players do not come back.

 

Back in 1992 The Grateful Dead helped the Lithuanian national team get to Barcelona to compete in the Olympics and win a bronze medal by selling t-shirts. I have two of them. One I played hoops in and one pristine.

Šarūnas Marčiulionis played for them and that is why it happened.

Added in edit: I had to cut and paste his name and then I had a font change and bold.