talhadfoursteals
Active member
Finalists have been on campus. To me, one stands higher than the rest. He is a HC and a HC who wins.
-
Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts, upgrade to remove ads and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your BigSkyFans.com experience today!
Possible Coaches
- Thread starter talhadfoursteals
- Start date
oldrunner
Active member
I have no knowledge about where they are in the process of hiring our next coach or why it has taken this long to do it. However, it could have something to do with the fact that college basketball is still being played. Coaches are required to attend meetings at the final 4. They could be waiting on that or they may have made a choice already, but just can't announce at this point.
Any way I look at this, it seems to be a complete rebuild, after having 6 of our top 8 players, plus one senior leaving the team. We will have at least 6 spots to fill and the need will be at every position.
As for the debate about whether we should get a coach with local ties or someone from another geographic region, I don't see that it should matter at all. Just bring in the winningest coach you can find and let the chips fall where ever the fall. As for taking the advise from Dame and our coaches still on campus, I would say to take all the expert counsel you can get to make the right decision.
I'm not so worried about recruiting the transfer market. The players who are out of our price range will still be out of our price range and there will still be a large contingent of quality HS and transfer players available over the next month or two. We landed Stan Rose and Rico Washington in the middle of the Summer.
Any way I look at this, it seems to be a complete rebuild, after having 6 of our top 8 players, plus one senior leaving the team. We will have at least 6 spots to fill and the need will be at every position.
As for the debate about whether we should get a coach with local ties or someone from another geographic region, I don't see that it should matter at all. Just bring in the winningest coach you can find and let the chips fall where ever the fall. As for taking the advise from Dame and our coaches still on campus, I would say to take all the expert counsel you can get to make the right decision.
I'm not so worried about recruiting the transfer market. The players who are out of our price range will still be out of our price range and there will still be a large contingent of quality HS and transfer players available over the next month or two. We landed Stan Rose and Rico Washington in the middle of the Summer.
oldrunner
Active member
I'm thinking that we will end up with a winning D11 coach, a winning JC coach, or a highly regarded assistant coach from a from a successful mid major program. I'm also sure that all of our current assistants will be looked at. I would like to see a hire by Saturday as well, but I wouldn't be shocked if it wasn't announced until next week.
Just to mention a speculation listed by ESPN, one "dark horse" candidate with a connection to Lillard, Kaleb Canales. He is the Troy associate head coach as mentioned & was tied in with the Portland Trailblazers (interim HC a short while) & Dame at that time. Mentioned earlier in a your (BigWaldO) post. Current status as a candidate unknown.
BenchedWald0
New member
I might be behind on this topic, but I’m truly so confused and full of questions about this…
Is Duft really going to have a say in things regarding the team still? If so, this makes ZERO sense to me. Why would anyone want to accept this job if the previous coach (who was let go) is still involved in any sort of decision making? To me this is like getting divorced, allowing your ex-wife to live in your house, trying to get remarried, and allowing your ex to have a say in how things go in your new marriage.
oldrunner
Active member
The answer is no. If he is asked, I'm sure he could give an opinion, and the AD may find marketing and fundraising things for him to do, but he wouldn't be making any decisions about the team. This isn't an unique situation. These sorts of things happen all the time and it has happened at Weber in the past as well. Knowing Eric, He wouldn't do anything to undermine a new coach. In fact, I feel that he would do anything the new coach wanted, including nothing. The same goes for Dame.
footballguy
Member
I'm not sure anybody really knows at this point. Details have been vague. Best case, it's an honorary title and he collects the rest of his salary while doing nothing--this is silly for its own reasons. Worst case, he really does have control over basketball operations and this dog and pony show was for nothing. It is probably somewhere between the two, but none of it really makes sense.
oldrunner
Active member
He is not in the chain of command and is not 'in control' of anything. Those responsibilities were taken from him when he was removed as the coach. He is not 'over' anything. He may get assignments, who knows. We've all been asking for better marketing and public relations. I suppose assignments in those areas would be useful to the AD and would probably fit his skill set. I feel that some of us are making too much out of the situation. We had a former football coach go through this situation and it worked out well for him and the University. In fact, he stayed employed long after his contract expired. He brought in a lot of development money to the University.
footballguy
Member
How do you know this? There have been no details. I would not consider Graybeal's reassignment the same thing. He was moved to Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics which is very common for other schools. He also later became AD and then associate AD of Development. He was also a coach for longer and won Big Sky COY the year prior. Other longtime coaches like Coach K get similar "honorary positions" to help fundraise and continue receiving their contract.
Duft was a three year head coach in his early 50s. He didn't earn some honorary title. I would also argue that the title "President of Basketball Operations" gives an entirely different connotation than special assistant to the AD. This is the same move that Brad Stevens made in the NBA. I am not saying that you are wrong, but from the outside looking in, why would a candidate look at the situation and believe Duft won't be involved? And if he won't be involved, why would a new HC be okay with him having that title and receiving his entire salary to do nothing when that could go to revenue sharing for the roster? $200K is not a small sum at this level.
Lastly, there is a large contingent of fans on the Weber State Fans facebook page that believes Dame is pulling all the strings and some have even said "holding the program hostage" (reference: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DSAdatZCr/). When there are no details released and fans are unsure what is happening, how could an outside candidate feel confident in what they are walking into?
Again, I am not saying you are wrong on anything you have said, but considering the optics I understand why many on this board have questions or are frustrated.
talhadfoursteals
Active member
Duft has no power over the program. He is doing something similar to what Coach Graybeal did (love Coach and am still sad he is retired). Who knows, this might end up being a really great move for Coach Duft, athletics and the university. I hope so. If Coach Duft gets another opportunity to coach, that would be great for him. I only wish him the best. However, his title is really weird. I said this before, his title should have been "special assistant to the AD." That isn't confusing and doesn't associate him directly with the program.
footballguy
Member
I agree. This would help out a lot for a number of reasons. I also wish him the best. Not questioning any decisions made on his end in this ordeal
oldrunner
Active member
After 20+ years of employment with Weber State, at lower than market salaries, and with never having any issues that would threaten the program and University, Coach Duft more than earned the right to be treated fairly in this situation. Job titles mean nothing and there is no job description for a situation that will evolve over time. Coach and his family are well respected in our community and I am glad that he is sticking around. Dame being given a title of 'General Manager" is also an empty title. Both men have contributed greatly to the University and community. In this NIL era of college sports, programs now have a need for additional marketing and development for that aspect. By definition, those NIL contracts are outside of the administration of the programs and University. Dame is still playing in the NBA and can't devote enough time to that process. You need boots on the ground. I don't know if that will be part of Eric's assignments, but there is definitely a need for coordinating those efforts. I would think that any new coach would welcome having someone to help with that need. The new coach will want to spend his time coaching and not have to deal with the added burden that comes with NIL.
Another area that is a pain in the neck for coaches is scheduling. It can be a time consuming burden on coaches and that aspect could be handled by someone like Eric and Dame.
I can see many areas where having assets like Eric and Dame could be a huge help to a new coach. Neither can tell the AD or coach what to, and they wouldn't anyway, but they are assets and not burdens.
Another area that is a pain in the neck for coaches is scheduling. It can be a time consuming burden on coaches and that aspect could be handled by someone like Eric and Dame.
I can see many areas where having assets like Eric and Dame could be a huge help to a new coach. Neither can tell the AD or coach what to, and they wouldn't anyway, but they are assets and not burdens.
Agree that this has the potential to be a helpful asset & hope it works out that way, semantics aside. A better approach to the title for the move would have helped; it does cause confusion as footballguy says. Interesting to see who the new coach is & how it goes; imagine this matter was discussed in the interview process, at least should have been questioned. The AD staff could certainly use some help in marketing & development!! Scheduling(?), as a past season ticket holder, was quite frustrated with the Duft/Rahe tendency to bring some real boring patsies in non-conference home games, but know that's a universal problem, & no longer a problem for this fan as I pick the games to attend.
Oops! Excuse me for saying "patsies" (now I am guilty of mislabeling, as some of those non-D1 teams gave the Wildcats fairly tough competition!) My Bad.
Oops! Excuse me for saying "patsies" (now I am guilty of mislabeling, as some of those non-D1 teams gave the Wildcats fairly tough competition!) My Bad.
Last edited:
My initial response was merely speculation of why it could be taking time. I did speak with two players who are transferring and they said they ultimately decided to transfer because they hadn’t heard from any coaches, former or future, in weeks, no one has been on campus and they were given no direction/plans from the athletic department. The players were caught off guard with Dufts firing.
I also know that Cody Fueger interviewed for the job and is very interested in it. TJ Benson also is in communication about it but less interested as of now
I also know that Cody Fueger interviewed for the job and is very interested in it. TJ Benson also is in communication about it but less interested as of now