The next men's head basketball coach is a big deal choice for Liberty. As a program trying to maintain it's appeal as an future FBS program a statement will be made with the new hire. Other boards posters yell aloud as false when it's proposed that a strong MBB program will have an impact in an FBS invite. But just read the numerous posts on the SBC where many want U-AB for their basketball success and U-Mass as football only. Lots of people support that premise.

As the tough decision has been made and the basketball program is heading forward, this is a very important hire. Much more important than when Hankinson, Dunton, McKay, or Layer were hired. Those coaches were employed to play and win in the Big South Conference. The new coach will have much more demanding and higher goals. To recruit higher quality players to play in a future higher level conference and win. When FBS, the OOC games will be tougher with fewer Randolph College and lower division, stat stuffing, cupcake games.

If by some stroke of good fortune we acquire a dynamic coach who brings in strong recruits and wins and over achieves, it will benefit us more than at any other time. This is likely the most demanding hire for AD Barber to get right to move the program forward and excel rather than to muddle in mediocrity. He's going to select a coach who'll guide the program for the next 3-4 years and that coaches success, or lack of, will have an impact on how LU sports and appeal is perceived.

(03-10-2015 02:50 PM)NewTimes Wrote:  The next men's head basketball coach is a big deal choice for Liberty. As a program trying to maintain it's appeal as an future FBS program a statement will be made with the new hire. Other boards posters yell aloud as false when it's proposed that a strong MBB program will have an impact in an FBS invite. But just read the numerous posts on the SBC where many want U-AB for their basketball success and U-Mass as football only. Lots of people support that premise.

As the tough decision has been made and the basketball program is heading forward, this is a very important hire. Much more important than when Hankinson, Dutton, McKay, or Layer were hired. Those coaches were employed to play and win in the Big South Conference. The new coach will have much more demanding and higher goals. To recruit higher quality players to play in a future higher level conference and win. When FBS, the OOC games will be tougher with fewer Randolph College and lower division, stat stuffing, cupcake games.

If by some stroke of good fortune we acquire a dynamic coach who brings in strong recruits and wins and over achieves, it will benefit us more than at any other time. This is likely the most demanding hire for AD Barber to get right to move the program forward and excel rather than to muddle in mediocrity. He's going to select a coach who'll guide the program for the next 3-4 years and that coaches success, or lack of, will have an impact on how LU sports and appeal is perceived.

It's Dunton. Randy Dunton is the man's name.

and yes, a great or even merely solid hire will have a positive impact. More accurately, it will lessen the negative impact MBB has been to our chances to date

(03-10-2015 02:56 PM)PAmedic Wrote:  

(03-10-2015 02:50 PM)NewTimes Wrote:  The next men's head basketball coach is a big deal choice for Liberty. As a program trying to maintain it's appeal as an future FBS program a statement will be made with the new hire. Other boards posters yell aloud as false when it's proposed that a strong MBB program will have an impact in an FBS invite. But just read the numerous posts on the SBC where many want U-AB for their basketball success and U-Mass as football only. Lots of people support that premise.

As the tough decision has been made and the basketball program is heading forward, this is a very important hire. Much more important than when Hankinson, Dutton, McKay, or Layer were hired. Those coaches were employed to play and win in the Big South Conference. The new coach will have much more demanding and higher goals. To recruit higher quality players to play in a future higher level conference and win. When FBS, the OOC games will be tougher with fewer Randolph College and lower division, stat stuffing, cupcake games.

If by some stroke of good fortune we acquire a dynamic coach who brings in strong recruits and wins and over achieves, it will benefit us more than at any other time. This is likely the most demanding hire for AD Barber to get right to move the program forward and excel rather than to muddle in mediocrity. He's going to select a coach who'll guide the program for the next 3-4 years and that coaches success, or lack of, will have an impact on how LU sports and appeal is perceived.

It's Dunton. Randy Dunton is the man's name.

and yes, a great or even merely solid hire will have a positive impact. More accurately, it will lessen the negative impact MBB has been to our chances to date

Thanks for the reminder of Dunton. This is really a big deal hire.

Medic is here, there goes the neighborhood

yeah thats a valid point

sorry. in fairness- I did wait a while

You may stunt our growth... Ouch.

i'm just here to attract the ladies

In this post I feel like I just moved into the neighborhood misspelling Dunton and not knowing PAMedic. Must be a resuscitated FF fan.

I was hoping Duntons name never came up on this board.

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Good luck being in an LU forum an RDs name being absent. He's like a recurring nightmare.

Medic is Old School pre-dating FlameFans. Now that he is here, he has a whole new board to be reminded of the glorious nature of the Texan experience.

As for the original premise, there is no question that our next hoops hire will have significant sway in our candidacy for FBS conferences. That is the reason why I suspect we are looking to make a bigs plash with a brand name hire as opposed to an up & comer. Short term concerns outweigh longterm vulnerbilities at this point.

(03-10-2015 03:48 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  Good luck being in an LU forum an RDs name being absent. He's like a recurring nightmare.

I don't want pile on but his name was mentioned, not by me but others, as someone who has a strong interest in the coaching vacancy. I believe his last coaching gig was the girls program at Virginia University. If true, that is really a hard fall.

I'll always remember when he was coaching and and strayed few feet onto the court and obstructed an opposing team player. That pretty much sums up his coaching legacy, that and beating UVA.

I think our new coach will effect our FBS candidacy from a results point of view. The performance of his team will determine if we get an invitation or not. If we maintain our football status and increase our basketball even marginally then I believe we significantly increase our odds of an invite. It really sucks that our worst basketball program ever is in the middle of our FBS push.

I heard that it's a done deal. Calipari will be our next coach and he's already hired his coaching staff... Donovan, Pitino and Self. I suspect that will help us get to FBS.

(03-10-2015 06:26 PM)army56mike Wrote:  I heard that it's a done deal. Calipari will be our next coach and he's already hired his coaching staff... Donovan, Pitino and Self. I suspect that will help us get to FBS.

Sounds great as long as we don't have any recruiting violations! Some of those guys don't have the cleanest records.

MBB is the missing link. If we can bring that up to a winning level type program folks argument against LU being FBS will be weak.

(03-10-2015 06:41 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  MBB is the missing link. If we can bring that up to a winning level type program folks argument against LU being FBS will be weak.

Agree. It's the key and this hire is very important.

I don't know if I'd say it's "the" key, but for sure it's "A" key. I think national success in all sports beyond the BSC, enhanced academics, and growth of alumni and fan base are key as well.

(03-10-2015 08:41 PM)army56mike Wrote:  I don't know if I'd say it's "the" key, but for sure it's "A" key. I think national success in all sports beyond the BSC, enhanced academics, and growth of alumni and fan base are key as well.

In whatever way we state it, the MBB program has been a hindrance and laggard on the athletic perception of LU. A/The key for all LU fans is a fast upturn to the program and have it be a strong and viable program with appeal and high attendance.

The good thing about basketball, unlike football is a quick turn around can be made. If the right coach is hired within 2 years we can be competitive.

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