Are Tubby Assistants Promotable?

[Bailey]

I did not have enough space in the subject line to state my real question.
Do you think that Tubby is doing a good job preparing his Assistant Coaches to one day become Head Coaches?
I have 3 statements to bring forward in my thoughts on the issue.
1. I have to admit that I am not a good authority on this topic. That is why I am asking the question.
2. My thinking is we need a benchmark for comparison. I will use Slick Rick as he is as good as it gets in getting his assistants promoted. No one stays on his staff for a prolonged time.
3. Why is Hobbs still here? I know he could have taken several Head Coaching jobs. Is he hindering the promotions of the other assistants?
Bailey

[Administrator]

1. I'm in the same boat as you. I know very little about this subject so all of my answers are guesses.

2. I believe the head coach shouldn't be judged on how far his assistants go. The assistants learn from the coach, do what they are supposed to do and that's it. It's up to them to do what is necessary to make the transition to the head coaches chair.

3. I believe Hobbs is here because he wants to be. He was a head coach before so he knows what that is like. I'm sure he's been offered some head coaching vacancies and he's either just plain happy where he is or the 'right' deal hasn't came along.


Again, an amateur conclusion on all questions but it was fun thinking about in nonetheless.

[kentubbybasketball]

Hobbs think he's got one of the best jobs in America. He was in on the Richmond job earlier this year. When he didn't get it, he said he's not just gonna go after any job. The right one has to come along he said.

Tubby has been known to say that he loves continuity on his staff from year to year, thus he seems to keep his assistants.

How long has Johnny Dawkins been at Duke? What about Dave Dickerson at Maryland before Tulane hired him? Lute Olson seems to keep his assistants. How long has Blaney been at UConn? Sam Alford's been with Steve Alford for a while at Iowa. What about Pat Knight and Sean Sutton with their big-name fathers? Tubby's not the only one that keeps his assistants. Just three years ago he sent Mike Sutton to Tennessee Tech.

[Bailey]

Good Post KT. I learned a lot from your post.
I still wonder if Hobbs needs to be pushed out of the nest to give others like Hanson a chance to enter the lime light.
Bailey

[Administrator]

Here are some things you might find interesting:


Dave Telep:: Tubby is the best recruiter UK has and when I say that I mean once Hanson and Co. get him in the home, Tubby can close the deal. This past summer I saw Hanson more than anyone and found him to
be a hard working, intelligent recruiter who took the time to see a high number of kids. If there was a time avaialable he was off to see a young kid and that's a good sign


Justwar:: How do you feel about Scott Rigot as a recruiter?

Dave Telep:: Don't know much about Rigot.


Several posters making comments about Rigot
Dave Telep:: Scott Rigot has a very good reputation in the business. Very good. I just don't know him well enough personally to report back one way or the other. You don't ascend to assistant at UK without some
serious credentials.

[kentubbybasketball]

Bailey, thanks for the compliments. Tubby has a great defensive mind, but I think without Hobbs the defense would suffer a bit. I don't think Hanson is coaching in Hobbs' shadow tho. There is enough limelight for all three assistants here, and from what I've read, Rigot may not be too fond of UK's limelight. Hanson needs to be groomed into becoming a head coach. He's probably got a few more years here, which is fine by me, because he helps with recruiting and the big men. Hanson needs some grooming, much like Pitino is doing with Coach Willard at Louisville right now. They should be terrific head coaches in time (Hanson and Willard), but they need to learn a few more things about coaching, and they've got two guys in Tubby and Pitino that could help them land jobs.

Of course, you've gotta have a credentials in order to be a coach at UK, but if I'm not mistaken Rigot and Tubby may go back to when both were assistants at South Carolina. Rigot is known for recruiting foreigners, much like Scott Drew is at Baylor.

[whah]

imho, it often seems like Tubby will go after an old friend, before he goes and gets the best guy for the job.
case in point, tino went out and got one of the best recruiting coordinaters in the country. and thats how Tubby should do. ya know, the best for the best....

[Bailey]

I agree with you Whah. Tubbys ties to Hobbs and Rigot speaks for itself.
I can't see where Rigot has contributed to our success. To me Tubby and Hanson have carried the burden. A good example is this last recruiting class. We needed a star Power Forward. We went zero for what 6 or 7 then had to get a JC player in desperation. On top of that recruits knew that there was a good chance for playing time.
How often do you see a NC, Duke or UK recruit JUCO players? Not very often.
I can see where Tubby, Hobbs and Hanson contribute but Rigot IMO has done nothing to earn his salary.
Bailey

[golfnsr]

bailey said:

I agree with you Whah. Tubbys ties to Hobbs and Rigot speaks for itself.
I can't see where Rigot has contributed to our success. To me Tubby and Hanson have carried the burden. A good example is this last recruiting class. We needed a star Power Forward. We went zero for what 6 or 7 then had to get a JC player in desperation. On top of that recruits knew that there was a good chance for playing time.
How often do you see a NC, Duke or UK recruit JUCO players? Not very often.
I can see where Tubby, Hobbs and Hanson contribute but Rigot IMO has done nothing to earn his salary.
Bailey

Bailey, I agree with you about Rigot and I'll raise you one more in that I believe that Hobbs has outlived his usefulness.

Both Tubby and Hobbs lean very strongly to the defensive side of the game and I believe that Tubby needs a good, dynamic, young offensive assistant that the players and recruits will be drawn to.

Hanson already gives us some presence there but I believe Hobbs is overkill and Tubby could improve his offense and recruiting connections with the right replacement.

[Bailey]

I totally agree Golf.
Bailey

[cathouse]

I can see Hobbs going to a mid-major I don't think anyone else is ready, man we need a good offense asst. coach.

[whah]

guys I totally agree, our offense could be sooo much better. however, I dont see Tubby changing a bit.
one thing I do remember bout hobbs, one year, I think hakins senior year, Tubby claimed he let hobbs run the defense. It was so more effecient than the ball line defense we see every year.
It looked like we were attacking on defense, and swarming the ball.
However Ive not seen it since. other than that, I think hobbs gives us little, and rigot gives us less.

[BlueCat]

Are Tubby's assistant coaches worthy of promotion? I think so.

Of course Hobbs has been there and done that, so you know that some school would love to have him. I think that he isn't going anywhere partially for the fact that he has been there. The pressure he's under now isn't even close to the scrutiny he'd have as a head coach again.

I agree he needs to go. I never did care that much for him.

Hanson will make a good mid major coach IMO.

Rigot; I don't know.