NU’s historical attempts to hire the right coach

[7th Cir. Cat]

Cleveland State season ticket holder here. Gates is awesome! As good of a coach as he is, he is an even better person.
His in game coaching for the most part is good. There have only been a couple of games where I thought he should have maybe changed to a zone down the stretch, as the other teams found mis-matches with the man to man and kept driving the ball to the rim.
I actually talked to him at a pre-season event before this season about him being quite a popular name after last season, and he said that the grass isn’t always greener somewhere else. CSU reworked his contract after last season, and he is now the highest paid coach in the Horizon League, and I’m hearing rumblings about a new arena being planned.
I don’t think he would leave CSU for just any high major job, and I have a feeling FSU may be in play for him when Leonard Hamilton retires. I think if he can get Florida State down the line, he’d never come to NU.

Thanks for the insight! Any idea whether he's still connected to Chicago? I know he went to Cal for college, but I'm wondering if the pull to come "home" would make a difference. Did he ever coach in Chicago? Does CSU have Chicago kids on the roster?

 

[Cat Fan in Buckeye Land]

Thanks for the insight! Any idea whether he's still connected to Chicago? I know he went to Cal for college, but I'm wondering if the pull to come "home" would make a difference. Did he ever coach in Chicago? Does CSU have Chicago kids on the roster?

I think he’s kind of connected everywhere, but he was at Florida State for quite a while, so I imagine his strongest connections are in those circles. Only one Chicago kid on the CSU roster. I don’t think coming “home” would influence his decision as much as the right fit and feel would for him. He is very well thought out, and always has his eye on the big picture.
Funny story. I recently ran into Gavin Skelly’s high school coach, former Cleveland State PG, Shawn Hood, who I have known for a while. When Shawn was an assistant coach at Wisconsin, he actually was recruiting Dennis Gates to try to get him at Wisconsin.

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

I think he’s kind of connected everywhere, but he was at Florida State for quite a while, so I imagine his strongest connections are in those circles. Only one Chicago kid on the CSU roster. I don’t think coming “home” would influence his decision as much as the right fit and feel would for him. He is very well thought out, and always has his eye on the big picture.

Last question, I promise! Is there a sense in Ohio that Chris Holtman has underperformed in the years he’s been there? He’s flamed out pretty hard in the tournament (Ex: losing to a #15 seed in the 1st round) and despite always seeming to win 20 games I don’t think he’s had a deep tourney run. Is he on the hot seat at all? If so, then Gates would be wise to wait and see what happens in Columbus.

 

[CatJones]

He did struggle at Holy Cross in his years there

....except for the year he took Holy Cross to the NCAA Tournament.

 

[eastbaycat99]

....except for the year he took Holy Cross to the NCAA Tournament.

The year HC made the Tournament under Bill, they went 15-20 and got there by winning the conference tournament. He did not have a winning season in his four years.

 

[willycat]

You may have Willy. We were both much younger to be sure. I look a bit different from the guy you know!!!

Yes, those were definitely my younger days. Usually did minutes played and then after the game went down into the locker room to note comments from HC and couple of players. Those comments were then given to NU scorer and the visiting teams reporters. Used to read a lot of them in next day's newspapers. Of course, then headed up to the press box for sandwiches and beer. Also watched Les Grobstein fill his pockets with sandwiches. He and his antics will be missed. Condolences to his family.

 

[nu greek]

Sounds like an awesome and interesting career! Let this board know if you ever do a podcast! I love the behind the scenes perspective.

Thanks for the compliment and the thought. My sources are all good people and I don't want to burn any bridges. My career observations were really amazing. One quick one. I was dancing one night with this very attractive older woman, at a bar having a great time and feeling lucky till her 280 lb. Bears husband walked into the place and if looks could've killed. She saved me from a beatdown. I thought she was single. No ring. Funny now. Scary then. He and I did have a laugh over it at the same bar with a certain Bears QB, #7 about a month later.

 

[Cat Fan in Buckeye Land]

Last question, I promise! Is there a sense in Ohio that Chris Holtman has underperformed in the years he’s been there? He’s flamed out pretty hard in the tournament (Ex: losing to a #15 seed in the 1st round) and despite always seeming to win 20 games I don’t think he’s had a deep tourney run. Is he on the hot seat at all? If so, then Gates would be wise to wait and see what happens in Columbus.

Honestly, I try to pay as little attention as possible to all things Ohio State, so I don’t really know the perception on whether or not Holtman has underperformed…I would hope that when the time comes that Gates moves on to a bigger job, that it isn’t for Ohio State…just because I don’t like all things buckeye.

 

[elgatoloco]

If NU intends to be competitive in the conference, the administration needs to understand and accept what's required to be competitive in college basketball today.