I’m hoping for the retention of at least one assistant for the sake of the current players as well as overall program harmony (I like the symbolic significance of formally tying together the Beilein and Fab Five eras). I like Yak…I do think he’s the defensive genius he’s credited with being, and he seems to be a great recruiter…though it sounds like Howard is also a defense guy, so I do hope there is strong offensive coaching on staff as well.
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I would expect Howard to want to bring in at least one, and possibly two new assistants. To lose Yaklich to Texas would be a huge mistake. I’d like to see Yak, at least, remain on staff unless Beilein wants him in Cleveland.
When an assistant has been as effective as he has, I don’t think it’s unwise to place emphasis on retaining him, regardless of how few seasons he stays. I’m hoping for as smooth a transition as possible into the new era, and starting over completely from scratch does not achieve that.
I’d be shocked if the next coach doesn’t keep at least 1 assistant. Brooming the entire staff of a top 10 program and having no continuity is just asking for a disaster. Even Beilein kept mike Jackson.
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Keeping one assistant is much different than keeping all three, not saying that retaining some (even all) assistants couldn’t work.
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Smart is a bad choice, period. We’ve seen what he can do at the major college level, and it’s not pretty.
Ask yourself this: If the Cavs had hired Izzo away instead of Beilein, would State be going hard for Shaka Smart? No way. So why should we?
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For the record, my first choice certainly wouldn’t be Smart, but since we’re asking hypothetical questions, who is State talking to in your scenario that we’re ignoring?
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I think we all know State would promote an assistant.
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Not Smart, and he’s the guy who’s relevant. I couldn’t care less who else they might go for in that scenario.
Do you agree or disagree that State wouldn’t be going hard for him?
Who is the IMG coach who was an assistant at Michigan at the beginning of the Beilein era? I believe he left his IMG job but he is obviously plugged in to there and that’s also in Florida. Maybe Howard reaches out to him. I’d be surprised if they’ve never met before. Just an interesting thought.
John Mahoney
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Curious if Howard does get hired if we see a special assistant to head coach that some staffs have. Hoiberg hired Bobby Lutz in that role, not sure on exact duties but good for mentorship I would think.
John Mahoney, I was always surprised jb let him go. He always seemed like the best recruiter on those early Beilein staffs. I specifically remember Casey Prather talking about how Mahoney sent him a hand written letter everyday.
I’d also bet that if any coach was likely to be retained, its Washington because he’s been the primary in state recruiter for Michigan and you need someone who has strong ties in state. Usually an assistant.
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I agree that MSU wouldn’t look at any outside candidate. Doesn’t matter who you name.
Thanks. I think he’d be a interesting assistant option if Howard wanted to bring in his own people. Because of Howard’s kids being good players and Mahoney being one of the main guys running a national powerhouse in Florida, I’d be semi-surprised if Howard doesn’t know of Mahoney. I’m pretty sure IMG played U-School, the school Howard’s kids are at a few times over the years as well.
Mahoney’s linkedin still says he is a coach at IMG so maybe he is still a coach there.
Webb also said Saddi is the closest assistant to the Wagners too. He’s also the primary on abdur rahim,
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I can’t recall what thread the angst about Beilein going without saying goodbye, and the debate in terms of who leaked it was, but according to Joe Vardon via the man himself, he had texted everyone Sunday night:
Beilein said after he had agreed Sunday to coach the Cavs, he sat down that night to prepare individual texts for all of his players and recruits. When the news broke, they had them on their phones — personalized notes from him, bidding farewell.
Mahoney was coaching IMG’s post-grad team. I’m pretty sure they didn’t play against high school teams.
True I realized that after I posted it. But a lot of times Post grad staff will go to the high school team games and vice-versa. I still would be a bit surprised if they don’t know each other or have a relationship of some sort.
I do think time is of the essence with some of the assistants. I don’t believe they are waiting around for the next coach. Best chance to keep 1 or 2 is to move as quickly as possible then go hard at the assistants you want. Yaklich has already been woo’d by Texas. He isn’t an automatic to keep in town. I do think that his son being a senior in high school helps. That assumes he is wanted