New NAU Men's basketball coach

[jacksfan2012]

Has anyone heard anything about who might be the next head coach of the NAU men's basketball team?? All i know is we need someone who can turn around a program quickly... I dont want to see someone from the "good ol boys" network, or some upstart assistant with no head coaching background!!!

 

[king]

Agree, we need fresh air. I hope we get a young coach who has that fire within and is energetic, passionate, and has a hunger to achieve great things. Haven't heard anything about possible candidates. Hope they have interviewed some people. We need someone who will make us competitive once again. How old is Bob Knight? does he have a job? :? :? :?

 

[jacksfan2012]

i haven't heard much but I have a friend in the athletic department and he says first there are some AD issues, and they haven't interviewed anyone but former south Mt high school coach David Grace has been mentioned and some college coach from New Mexico... I don't have much more information but I will try and find out more.

 

[mtjack]

i haven't heard much but I have a friend in the athletic department and he says first there are some AD issues, and they haven't interviewed anyone but former south Mt high school coach David Grace has been mentioned and some college coach from New Mexico... I don't have much more information but I will try and find out more.

I've seen nothing listed on any website about the coaching search I check re: NAU/Big Sky hoops.

I'd have to guess all of the coaching search stuff heats up once teams seasons end and assistants start looking into better situations.

For a "bigger" name: look at Russ Pennell @ Grand Canyon U.

For a "retro" name: look at Ben Howland when those whiny bi***, "what have you done for me lately" UCLA fans chase him out of Pauley...err... vacant, decrepit LA Sports Arena. Lousy ingrate Bruins fans.

For a "realistic" name: look at some young, hungry assistant filled with an abundance of energy and the ability to run into walls time and time again and still stay positive in the face of adversity.


Jacksfan2012 - Thanks for the chiming in. The NAU website (or was it azdailysun?) recently made a note that Jim Fallis, NAU's A.D., was in the running for the Athletic Director position at a small college in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I do know lots of football fans were unhappy with his handing Souers a contract extension. If the NCAA violations against Adras end up being true then Fallis did make the right call there, in my inconsequential opinion.

 

[jon]

Here is the first talk I have really heard about it at all - http://www.bigskybball.com/2012/02/northern-arizona-coaching-search.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some interesting names there... been surprising that there has been almost no talk about NAU, where as Idaho State has had a ton of talk about their coaching search. Hopefully the administration is just doing all of their homework behind closed doors (as opposed to not doing their homework).

 

[jon]

Don't know if they'll do it, but if I were them I would give Deane Martin a call. He did a great job as ISU's interim coach this year, but will not be retained as permanent coach. Could be a good choice to lead NAU.

 

[jacksfan2012]

I know Coach Harge from New Mexico is under the radar but if he is being looked at by schools like this why hasn't his name come up more often when talking about the NAU job.

Just looking at his resume he has the NCAA record for the biggest turn around in history, (at any level). If we want someone to come in and turn our program around quickly I think he has to be moving to the top of our list.

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2568826.shtml?cat=10508" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[mtjack]

Thanks for the scoop, Jacksfan2012.

I suspect that the mens hoops search is the first item of business with the new A.D.

 

[jon]

They have to make a move soon, right?

I heard a rumor that Rogers, Douglas, and Gruber might be transferring... I have no idea if it's accurate or not, but wouldn't be surprising if there starts to be some fallout from all of the inactivity...

 

[Axer80]

I heard Jay John was interested in the job. He's coached under Lute at UofA and Montgomery at Cal. He was also head coach at Oregon State.

The new AD better figure out a way to put the Men's and Women's teams back in the Skydome. It’s hard to recruit D1 players when your home court is equal to an average high school gym.

 

[jon]

Hearing a few candidates may be interviewing right now - http://www.bigskybball.com/2012/04/northern-arizona-coaching-candidates.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[GlendaleToFlagstaff]

Well, the new coach has arrived...

http://northernarizonanews.com/blog/2012/04/12/nau-tabs-murphy-as-next-mens-basketball-coach/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[jon]

Jack Murphy, assistant head coach at Memphis. Spent the last 3 years at Memphis, 3 years before that with the Denver Nuggets. Seems like a nice pedigree for such a young coach (32)

My article - http://www.bigskybball.com/2012/04/northern-arizona-hires-memphis.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[king]

Sounds like a great fit for NAU. This is exactly what I had in mind. A hungry young coach looking to establish himself and make a name for himself. He has the energy, the motivation, and some good experience as an assistant coach with pretty successful programs like Memphis and Arizona not to mention his experience with the Denver Nuggets.

I hope he is able to recruit some nice players in the next few years and put NAU back as one of the top 2 teams in the Big Sky year in and year out. I'm satisfied. Let the rebuilding begin. :clap: :clap:

 

[mtjack]

Hey, King. Good to hear you're alive. I feared a rough basketball season had sent you into a deep, dark depression. I agree with your take on the hire.

Coach Murphy has local ties (UA alum and coaching experience in Tucson), experience coaching/recruiting at a recently top 25 Memphis team and NBA experience and connections as well. Now to find a few late recruiting gems and convince last years players from defecting en masse as is often the norm with coaching changes.

King - I'll send you an IM later on (weekend maybe) about my NAU alum friend's connection to Coach Murphy.

I don't expect magic. I don't even expect conference playoffs next season. This won't be an easy job with less than stellar facilities and fan support. But it will be exciting.

Go Jacks!

 

[mtjack]

An actual in-depth, well thought out ESPN article on the Murphy hiring.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7807382/northern-arizona-lumberjacks-hire-jack-murphy-hoops-coach" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[king]

Well, I have to admit. It was depressing but I could never abandon the boards completely. Even though it's just two of us . I'm excited about this new coach and at the end of every storm there is alway a rainbow. Let's hope this new coach is a new raibow and brings lots of good times. God knows we need them.

 

[mtjack]

King -

Turn the fieldhouse into an on-campus basketball arena and things will really start looking up. I'll go back to my hallucinogenics now.

Did you see this re: NAU women's hoops/Laurie Kelly's resignation?

http://azdailysun.com/sports/college/nau-lumberjacks/nau-women-s-basketball-coach-leaves-for-new-post/article_f16c88e6-8b1e-11e1-80d7-0019bb2963f4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[dbackjon]

Really excited about this hiring

 

[mtjack]

Check out http://www.bigskybball.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more in-depth news courtesy of Big Sky Conference hoops fan/friend - Jon. He's going above and beyond to try to give some coverage to this vast conference.