Depaul looking for a new coach

[MU88]

For some reason, I don't think Drew would take the job. I also don't get the feeling the Hurley would take the job, either. DePaul has tried high major coaches (Kennedy and Purnell), a mid-major coach (Jerry) and an assistant (DL), all to no avail. The one thing in common is that none of those guys appear to have been DePaul's first choice. I believe that DePaul needs a personality to build the interest level in the program up, along with a guy who is going to recruit the type of kid that DePaul needs to be successful. DePaul is a commuter college with a ton of part time students in the middle of a major city. They are not Marquette or Georgetown or Villanova. They need to take inner city kids and maybe some academic risks. When DePaul wins, they get kids Q, Lance Williams, etc. They started losing when guys like Sam Cassell were refused entry into the school. Joey paid for it. They relaxed the criteria for Fat Pat and started winning again. Upped it for DL and talent level started decreasing. So, he ends up skipping town. In keep with the higher academic standards the school wanted, JW recruited the suburbs, and the talent fell further. I don't think Purnell appreciated how far the school has fallen in the mind of Chicagoans.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

DePaul needs their version of what Tom Crean was for Marquette. I don't think Crean would go there himself, though he would be a good fit and isn't too old, but someone who can energize the students and fanbase, recruit at a fairly high level, and win. Right now, DePaul is clearly not a trendy name, so they need someone who, like Crean, can spot the three-star studs that others overlook (like Wade and Oladipo).

That's why I think JLP may be more of a problem in this search than a problem-solver. She may have missed top targets, but ultimately settled on two coaches that couldn't succeed in Wainwright and Purnell. I don't believe she will get the Bryce Drew, Bobby Hurley, or other young, energetic type of coach the program needs. If they do go with someone young, it will likely be someone who hasn't proven they can succeed like Rod Strickland, Mark Aguirre, or Tyrone Corbin. Maybe they could work, but that just feels like settling on someone who will take the job because of their DePaul roots. More likely, it ends up being another retread with the best case scenario being a guy like Ben Howland who other programs have been avoiding like he has Ebola.

[MU/Panther]

How about Ben Howland?

[MUBasketball]

Don't let Drew turn it down. Sweeten the pot. Regardless, if he turns it down, fine. But I think he should be their top choice. Fits all the criteria.

Not sure why he would turn it down anyway. His brother left Valpo to take over at Baylor after the Patrick Dennehy/Carlton Dotson/Dave Bliss mess.

[MUBasketball]

How about Ben Howland?

As others have noted, if he's so eager to get into coaching, why does he still not have a job? Plus, no ties to the midwest at all. Getting up there in age. That SI piece on his UCLA tenure probably isn't helping his cause.

[MU/Panther]

Hard for me to get juiced about anyone of the Drews.

[Litehouse]

Are there any bigger jobs Bryce Drew would have his eye on? Maybe Indiana? Would he rather stick around Valpo for another year or two to have a shot at IU if Crean moves on?

[MU88]

Don't let Drew turn it down. Sweeten the pot. Regardless, if he turns it down, fine. But I think he should be their top choice. Fits all the criteria.

Not sure why he would turn it down anyway. His brother left Valpo to take over at Baylor after the Patrick Dennehy/Carlton Dotson/Dave Bliss mess.

Homer had other opportunities too. In fact, he took at least one other job, but backed out and ended up staying at Valpo. Scott left Valpo for Baylor, but he has stayed there for years, despite being mentioned with a number of job openings. Waco isn't exactly paradise and he could earn more other places. And yet, he stays at Baylor. So, I don't think Drew is going to leaving for anywhere, unless everything is in place to win.

Crean would be a bad fit at DePaul. I don't think he would have as much recruiting success there as he did at MU and Indiana. DePaul is more like Iowa State than Indiana in terms of the types of player it needs to recruit. Crean doesn't recruit that kind of player. TJ Otzelberer would be a good choice. He pretty much recruited most of the Iowa State roster, before leaving to coach at Washington. He is a midwest guy with lots of recruiting connections in the midwest and at Jucos. But, I don't get the impression DePaul wants to build a program like Iowa State (transfers, JUCOs and academic risks), they want to be like Villanova and Georgetown. Trouble is, DePaul is a school that seriously considered offering associate's degrees just a few short years ago. It is not a preeminent academic institution. It is a big commuter college and it needs to recruit accordingly.

[DCwarrior]

Are there any bigger jobs Bryce Drew would have his eye on? Maybe Indiana? Would he rather stick around Valpo for another year or two to have a shot at IU if Crean moves on?

That was my thought. He would certainly be on their short list of candidates when Crean leaves (likely after next year unless they really improve and have no more off-court issues). He could also be in line for the Purdue job if Painter jumps ship this off-season.

[Goose85]

Are there any bigger jobs Bryce Drew would have his eye on? Maybe Indiana? Would he rather stick around Valpo for another year or two to have a shot at IU if Crean moves on?

Just look at Tom Crean / Mike Davis at Indiana. If I'm Bryce Drew I pick DePaul over Indiana.

Indiana makes the NCAA tourney this year, but the season is still not up to par (despite a much harder conference schedule than most). Multiple Indiana fans give crap to Crean's kid at his own game. Adults giving crap to the coaches kid who is just trying to play ball. That's ridiculous, but that is life at Indiana.

At DePaul, make the NCAA tourney and you are big news. Build a contender in the Big East and you are a big dog in Chicago.

I'm more a city guy, so I also give more weight to living in a city over a college town. Live in Chicago and coach DePaul where you would be honored for making the tourney, or live in Bloomington Indiana, and get crap even in some years where you make the NCAA tourney and were ranked during the season.