Michigan BB Head Coach Position

[MaxBuck]

How so, might I ask? It's obvious Beilein is an upgrade - he did far more this season, in a tougher conference, with less talent, than Amaker ever did.

Scorn the Beilein hiring at your own peril. He's been successful with every team he's coached. We're a long way from Brian Ellerbe here.

How nice that both Weasel fan and Buckeye fan can be pleased with this move! You may be right that Beilein is the next coming of John Wooden; please allow me to be skeptical.

Overall, I suspect we will see a terrific record for Michigan for the next year or two, until Beilein has to field talent he recruits himself. Then the program will sink further.

 

[jwinslow]

Sure Beilein got more out of his talent than TA, but so did a vast majority of coaches in D1.

Beilein is a good coach, but so is Izzo, Matta, Ryan, Sampson, Painter, Lickliter & Smith (hon mention: Weber). How will the coaching improvement translate in a more talented big ten, both in coaching & talent? I don't see him consistently outplacing OSU, MSU or WISC... and I have a feeling Painter & Sampson will only improve as time passes.

"Success" at UM might be placing 5th/6th in the conference consistently, with a few top-4 finishes thrown in.

(partially repeated from 07 b10 thread)

 

[HailToMichigan]

Here is another question for you. How long do you think it will take Beilen to get the team "up to snuff" if he can? 3 years ?

2-3 years. Next year's team is going to be terribly inconsistent. Not just week to week or game to game, but timeout to timeout. Even assuming Harris and Legion stick around, most of the talent will be underclassmen, all trying to learn a new system. Only one rising senior next year. But long-term I think that'll work in their favor.

As for recruiting, just because Beilein hasn't recruited in Detroit doesn't mean he can't. He got bashed a little for having New York ties but no Detroit ties, but let's face it, having some connections in NYC is never a bad thing, and the Detroit ties will come.

Would it be nice to have a dedicated practice facility? Sure, but my opinion is, that's a bit overblown, a practice facility is really nothing more than a recruiting tool. Last I checked, Crisler's got a hardwood floor, some nets, and no "Games Only" sign on the door. So I think a new facility would be nice, but that's not what's kept Michigan out of the tournament these past few years. At the very least, I wouldn't go so far as to say the facilities are the "root" of the problem. The root of the problem is that Izzo was a rising star at the same time Michigan got plastered with scandals - the confluence of the two at the same time meant that Michigan fell much harder than they would have. Then just when they were starting to get a little mo', injuries struck and struck hard a couple years ago.

Rambling, sorry. Bottom line: Michigan struggles next year. For every surprisingly good win there'll be two bad losses. '08-'09, they start to put it back together and make their run at the tournament. I think the general baseline assumption (not just here) is that Beilein won't be able to recruit, but Detroit's a target-rich environment.

 

[HailToMichigan]

How nice that both Weasel fan and Buckeye fan can be pleased with this move! You may be right that Beilein is the next coming of John Wooden; please allow me to be skeptical.

Overall, I suspect we will see a terrific record for Michigan for the next year or two, until Beilein has to field talent he recruits himself. Then the program will sink further.

I think it's just the opposite. It'll take Beilein a couple years to get up to speed - he's not starting from a position of strength.

And please don't put words in my mouth. I'm not running through the streets proclaiming the Gospel of Beilein. I think he's the first really legit coach we've had since Fisher. I don't think you can possibly claim I expect the second coming of John Wooden. And I think you need to give the man more credit than you do on the recruiting front. He hasn't proven he can recruit to Michigan, but he hasn't shown he can't, either.

You certainly have the right to be "skeptical", as would anyone. I think you've gone beyond skeptical into "trashing". Given Beilein's success at his other coaching stops, I don't think you have any cause to do that.

 

[jwinslow]

I believe you're projecting certain anti-beilein arguments from the UM boards to this one. You're arguing against certain Beilein 'weaknesses' (ie Detroit) which aren't found here, unlike the UM boards.

This is the only "doubting" I've seen of beilein's recruiting (perhaps I missed something), and the other seemed to suggest it was possible if UM would finally invest in their bball program.

Bingo, that's why the upgrade is necessary. By upgrade, I mean Bomb the horse barn and build a nice place...

Agree 100%. Also I am not sure that Beilein can recruit the talent Michigan needs to be an elite team in the Big Ten.

It will take outstanding recruiting and/or coaching to be an elite team in this conference. I think Beilein is a good coach and an okay recruiter... so I'm not sure why this is an unfair observation.

 

[MaxBuck]

I think you've gone beyond skeptical into "trashing". Given Beilein's success at his other coaching stops, I don't think you have any cause to do that.

I really started out by saying that WVU got the better of the coaching trade by trading Beilein for Huggins, who is a far superior coach. And by saying I was pleased by Michigan's choice. I think I've stopped pretty far short of trashing. Fact remains, I am pleased to have Beilein in Ann Arbor; so, obviously, are you. Where's the beef?

 

[HailToMichigan]

I really started out by saying that WVU got the better of the coaching trade by trading Beilein for Huggins, who is a far superior coach. And by saying I was pleased by Michigan's choice. I think I've stopped pretty far short of trashing. Fact remains, I am pleased to have Beilein in Ann Arbor; so, obviously, are you. Where's the beef?

Overall, I suspect we will see a terrific record for Michigan for the next year or two, until Beilein has to field talent he recruits himself. Then the program will sink further.

Beilein was a hideously bad choice by the Weasels. Michigan continues their track record of coaching mediocrity. I'm sure the slow white boy theme will play great in Detroit.

I rest my case.

Anyway, the real reason I poked my head back in here:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070409/SPORTS06/70409039/1048/SPORTS

U-M's Beilein re-hires assistant from Amaker staff

New Michigan coach John Beilein?s first hire might be his most important.
Beilein re-hired Mike Jackson, an assistant coach from Tommy Amaker?s staff. Jackson had accepted a position at Illinois State two weeks ago.

...

Jackson, whose family planned to stay in Michigan for the next year, was the staff?s most effective recruiter during his two years in Ann Arbor. The Detroit Mercy grad joined the Michigan staff in 2005 after stints at Dayton and Toledo.

...

Legion?s mother, Annette Williams, said today that Beilein told her in their meeting last week that Jackson was returning, and she said that was a major factor for her son, who is still considering whether to attend U-M.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

hires based on who recruits like......those always work out.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

hes one of the 25 most winning d1 coaches of all time.

interesting they bring in a native new yorker with lots of wv ties and a stint in va to coach. i really thought itd be a "michigan man" guess thats what happens when "michigan men" dont run show...

 

[super_mario]

Jackson was brought back because he's a great assistant. Probably the only assistant on Amaker's entire staff in his entire tenure that was any good. Jackson will help recruit the state as his ties run deep in the state, it wasn't just about Manny and Legion, and honestly this probably does nothing if anything to help M's cause in regards to those two recruits. Jackson is a good coach and a great recruiter. Beilein knows he's in a basketball hotbed, he absolutely needed somebody with ties to the region on his staff, and that's Jackson.

Oh, and to the poster who says that Huggins is a better coach, give me a break. Huggins is a better recruiter and he's worked with much better talent throughout his career, but Beilein puts that guy to shame in two categories. X's and O's and integrity/character. Huggins is one of the biggest slimeball scumbags in college or professional coaching. No way in hell that I would ever want that guy in charge of my college program.

UM just got a pretty hefty donation to get the ball rolling on some rennovations to Crisler and a new basketball practice facility. It's not going to cover the cost of the entire thing, but it's a great start. Michigan's AD made over 17 million in profits last year. They have a pretty strict policy when it comes to using that money. They will not borrow from the school or go into the red or even the black to get projects done. They usually like to get half of the money before they think about financing. It might take them a bit longer too get a basketball facility and a rennovation to Crisler, but it is what it is, just the way they are going to do things. They aren't going to go on a spending frenzy, just not their thing.

Beilein is a great coach, if he can get the talent in Detroit to stay home he'll do just fine. If he cannot, he still might be able to do just fine. Izzo gets little to not talent from Detroit, yet he's run one of the premier programs in the entire country. Hopefully Beilein will be able to tap into Detroit. If they dominate recruiting in the Detroit area like they used, and like the football program currently does, then Beilein is guaranteed success.

 

[MaxBuck]

UM ... will not borrow from the school or go into the red or even the black (???) to get projects done. They usually like to get half of the money before they think about financing.

That's what I like to hear! Michigan thereby guarantees that they will continue to have second-rate facilities, since this is the way things were done in the 1940s, not the 2000s.

 

[ScriptOhio]

I don't know why, but every time I see "Michigan BB Head...." in the latest replies listing (thread); I read it as "Michigan Bobble Head".

 

[super_mario]

That's what I like to hear! Michigan thereby guarantees that they will continue to have second-rate facilities, since this is the way things were done in the 1940s, not the 2000s.

Sorry MaxBuck, but I tend to AGREE wholeheartedly with the way Michigan does things. The AD is completely self-sufficient and one of the few out there that actually turns a profit.

Sorry we can't be like Ohio State and borrow from the school and go into massive debts just to keep up with the Jones'. You know the main difference between people who have a lot of money and who don't is debt management. Most people with a lot of money have it because they saved it, and invested it wisely. They don't get into debt up to their eyeballs. There are plenty of people in this country who live $500,000+ houses and drive Mercedes Benz's who in reality cannot afford to live in those houses and drive that kind of car. They go into debt up to their eyeballs to pay for it and all that usually happens is their house goes into foreclosure and they have to give up their car. Only person who should have a top-of the line Mercedes is one who can write a check for it and pay for it in cash and not have to bat an eye about it.

Same thing goes with successful corporations, which is what UM's AD is- a self-suficent corporation which tries to use it's funds on all athletics, not just basketball and football.

Call me old-fashioned or conservative, ridicule me, the school I love, or my post, but I can proudly say that I'm one of the few Americans that isn't in debt up to their freaking eyeballs. It's sad just how much debt this country is in, and foreign countries/corporations are buying up all of our debt.

 

[jwinslow]

Same thing goes with successful corporations, which is what UM's AD is- a self-suficent corporation which tries to use it's funds on all athletics, not just basketball and football.

When was the last time they made a noticeable investment in basketball, sm?

Congratulations on your moral victory (tho I'd like to see some numbers backing up your assertion). I'd imagine many bball fans would be okay with a couple million in debt for a simple practice facility. Once the boosters have a reason to care/support UM bball, that debt should disappear quickly.

 

[super_mario]

When was the last time they made a noticeable investment in basketball, sm?

They haven't had the private funding to do anything significant, and they've put a lot into raising the money for the football upgrades. You do know they are currently undergoing a $230+ million renovation of the Big House and a new practice facility for the football team right?

The money is coming for the basketball program. There was recently a $5 million donation to the AD.

One thing I disagree with the AD on is their stance on advertising. They get virtually no advertising dollars. Put more signs in Crisler, put signs in the Big House. Get them corporate dollars.