Jim hayford

[Brent H.]

Hire him. He can coach. Kent is done. 7-6 with a SOS of 311? They aren’t keeping him because he’s owed $4.5M. They’ll find the money. He needs an extension after this year for recruiting. Nobody is going to sign with a coach that has 2 years remaining on his contract. WSU either fires him or extends him at the end of this year. I don’t see any possible way he gets extended.

Hayford is Ethridge type of coach. Knows his x’s and o’s and recruits to his system. Dollar couldn’t do anything at Seattle U and he could recruit. Hayford has accomplished more within a year and a half than Dollar ever did.

 

[SaveFerris]

I could see them going either way. If Chun can’t find a solid long-term answer then I don’t think he will just fire to hire his own guy.

I mentioned Hayford after Tony and then again after Bone and I don’t remember too many interested. Solid coach for sure. Watching UCLA go down to Liberty it just seems like programs have adopted too much of the Golden State model without the talent to support it. When Tony was here the conference was so much stronger. The quality of programs have fallen way off.

 

[FnuLnu]

Announced attendence for Seattle U for their biggest non UW home game opponent (WSU) in years (decades?) - 1,977.

Look familiar?

Free parking, decent weather, decent facility (ShoWare Center). And 50 to 60% of crowd were rooting for WSU.

Seattle U. didn't look like Don Monson's Idaho Vandals out there

 

[avabob1]

I am always curious when someone says a coach can recruit guys who fit his system. Is there some system that works well with short slow guys?

 

[Observer11]

I've been pimping Hayford for a long time. From an X&O's standpoint, he de-pantses Ernie and it's not even close. I've seen some crazy sets and OOB plays from Hayford that are like 3D chess moves. His guys get nice looks at the basket.

As for talent acquisition/"guys that fit his system" - he's had a deep pipeline into Australia and the Bay Area with a couple locals sprinkled in. His teams can flat out shoot it and have a bit of a 'tude on the boards/defensive end. Venky Jois was a bad bad man at EWU.

If somebody doesn't snatch him up before CEK's contract runs out, WSU would be very fortunate to get the guy.

BTW, Seattle U won on the road at Cal yesterday and are 12-3 for the year.

 

[Glad Cougar]

I am always curious when someone says a coach can recruit guys who fit his system. Is there some system that works well with short slow guys?

Princeton usually doesn't out-athletic anyone but consistently has winning records by plugging in certain types of players. That goes all the way back to Pete Carill days. On the flip slide, you could ask the question if a system that de-emphasizes defense and doesn't value such things as ball security or moving without the ball works even with size and athleticism. EK's "system" right now really requires recruiting at least equal talent as the rest of the conference. He hasn't shown the ability to get enough of that kind of athleticism or talent in 5 years. I can appreciate that other coaches at WSU have had the same kind of challenge. The question then becomes, if you can't recruit enough talent, do you keep trying to play the same kind of basketball and stick to your system?

Glad Cougar

 

[avabob1]

First, let me say I wasn't slamming the post or support for Hayford. He seems like a pretty good coach. Not sure why he would take the WSU job.

As for Princetons system, it works very well in the Ivy league, not a bastion of hoops talent. I know, they just beat ASU, but look at the level of success they have had over the years, and tell me that translates to high D1.

The Bennetts had a great system, but it only got us above 500 when we had at least 3 pro caliber players on our team.

 

[Brent H.]

First, let me say I wasn't slamming the post or support for Hayford. He seems like a pretty good coach. Not sure why he would take the WSU job.

As for Princetons system, it works very well in the Ivy league, not a bastion of hoops talent. I know, they just beat ASU, but look at the level of success they have had over the years, and tell me that translates to high D1.

The Bennetts had a great system, but it only got us above 500 when we had at least 3 pro caliber players on our team.

Hayford has been in Washington for 18 years. Coached 3 different programs. He might want a chance to coach at 3rd biggest basketball school in the state. I mean, he’s actually about coaching. EWU and Seattle U aren’t schools that are swimming in money, tradition and facilities.

 

[avabob1]

Remember the old joke about the guy who wouldnt join and club that would have him? Not sure I want any coach that would take our job right now.

 

[jourdand]

The way things are going there might be more than a few coaches available after this year with PAC 12 experience. Lol. If there is a mass firing among PAC 12 schools and we don’t try to pick up one of the casualties, WSU would probably be way down the list for the available coaches.

 

[avabob1]

We can probably get Alford! He has certainly proven he can do less with more. Maybe he can do more with less

 

[ElComanche]

There will be zero movement in Pullman

 

[Observer11]

There will be zero movement in Pullman

Not this year. Maybe not even next.

But unless Ernie can get to the tourney during that time, he’s done. No way Chun extends him.

 

[SaveFerris]

Hayford should have

Not this year. Maybe not even next.

But unless Ernie can get to the tourney during that time, he’s done. No way Chun extends him.

The extensions are done but unless we can really upgrade I can see why we would just stand pat and wait it out.

We had 2 shots at Hayford. He hasn't moved around too much and has only been at SU for 2 seasons. Would be a quick move relative to his history in coaching.

 

[ElComanche]

As Observer says possibly in two years from now.If Kent was let go then say goodby to Elleby and other recruits. Heyford is not a dynamo and he will have to recruit his type of players. i do not think that fans would be happy if he was hired.It is just nit happening no matter how many times you bring it up Forget it maybe next year if the cougs are not in a Tournament then it may develop wings.

 

[jourdand]

I had the opertunity to fly on a private jet to the Alamo bowl but had other obligations. The person who’s jet it was has expressed extreme displeasure in our basketball situation. He as of yet hasn’t been a Kent hater but if the big donors like him start to express anti Kent sentiment, Chun will have no choice. There are two sides to every coin, we can’t afford to buy out Kent’s contract but we also can’t afford to loose huge donations and allow the program to sink any lower.

 

[SaveFerris]

I had the opertunity to fly on a private jet to the Alamo bowl but had other obligations. The person who’s jet it was has expressed extreme displeasure in our basketball situation. He as of yet hasn’t been a Kent hater but if the big donors like him start to express anti Kent sentiment, Chun will have no choice. There are two sides to every coin, we can’t afford to buy out Kent’s contract but we also can’t afford to loose huge donations and allow the program to sink any lower.

What Chun has to somehow do is convince these type of donors with deeper pockets to invest in the program. Put up the dollars necessary for a charter. Make headway on the funds needed for a practice facility. Kent's bad but you have to wonder whether Chun's hands will be tied trying to convince another coach to come to WSU. There's always someone but with those changes we would hopefully improve the candidate pool.

 

[kougkurt]

I had the opertunity to fly on a private jet to the Alamo bowl but had other obligations. The person who’s jet it was has expressed extreme displeasure in our basketball situation. He as of yet hasn’t been a Kent hater but if the big donors like him start to express anti Kent sentiment, Chun will have no choice. There are two sides to every coin, we can’t afford to buy out Kent’s contract but we also can’t afford to loose huge donations and allow the program to sink any lower.

Gotta cancel those obligations

 

[jourdand]

It’s a very tricky situation. Option one Keep Kent and try to upgrade the program. Option two dump Kent hope the new hire can generate enough interest and energy to start turning the program around. Or option three line up the necessary upgrade money fire Kent and use the promise of program investment to lure a coaching candidate. Number three is the most likely to succeed but with the lack of interest in the program it is also the least likely to happen. We have reached new levels of disinterest in our basketball program people just don’t care to watch or support the product WSU is putting on the floor.

 

[jourdand]

Passing on that opertunity was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, made harder by all the tweets and post by the group but just couldn’t make it work! Probably going to regret it for a long long time lol

 

[ElComanche]

Somehow the "huge donations" have not happened to the basketball program If leach leaves then we will see how these well heeled boosters step up

 

[avabob1]

This team could spproach 500 in conference and not draw 2000 at home. Hard to see why any deep pocket donors would want to throw money at a sport nobody seems to care about, win or lose.

 

[7ICoug]

This team could spproach 500 in conference and not draw 2000 at home. Hard to see why any deep pocket donors would want to throw money at a sport nobody seems to care about, win or lose.

Clear to me that no one is throwing money at Kent, nor should be ever get an extension of any kind. Spend the money on sports where we are doing well or have a chance. Going to take a huge in flow before a dollar does go to basketball. Quite frankly us old pharts will never again see good Cougar basketball.

 

[ElComanche]

They threw money at baseball. Coug baseball is horrible and no one really cares about the team or the sport.

 

[Observer11]

They threw money at baseball. Coug baseball is horrible and no one really cares about the team or the sport.

Bobo's players are very passionate about Cougar baseball and reaching the stage in life where they can write big checks to the AD. Most were also Moos' era/drinking pal while students at WSU - so, just like his basketball buddy hire, $$$ got directed to Bill's homeys.

 

[ElComanche]

Who cares? Baseball is a dying sport and they average about 100 fans a game. To give them a new stadium is/was sheer folly.If it was permissible the cougs should drop baseball in my opinion

 

[COUGinNCW]

Who cares? Baseball is a dying sport and they average about 100 fans a game. To give them a new stadium is/was sheer folly.If it was permissible the cougs should drop baseball in my opinion

They aren’t building a new stadium. It’s a baseball clubhouse. Think FOB only much smaller and all the funds were raised with donations. I’ll catch an an inning or 2 every now and again in the spring on TV and there are more fans there than a lot of basketball games when the weather is nice. March when it’s raining and or cold - not so much.

 

[ElComanche]

Hogwash,Its a total waste of money. Oh those math majors at Boise state! Anyway the PAC 12 s average basball attendance in 2017 was 1195 per game. WSU s average attendance was 469 in the year 2017. When a basketball game draws 1000 people there are guffaws and snide comments When a baseball game draws 1000 attendance there are cheers ,toasts and talk about the exciting game and fan enthusiasm. A friend of mine who is a baseball fanatic told me "it s a thinkning man s game." Unbelievably boring i told him is what i thought of that. The PAC 12 should drop baseball as a mandatory league requirement to help manage tight budgets.

 

[kougkurt]

Hogwash,Its a total waste of money. Oh those math majors at Boise state! Anyway the PAC 12 s average basball attendance in 2017 was 1195 per game. WSU s average attendance was 469 in the year 2017. When a basketball game draws 1000 people there are guffaws and snide comments When a baseball game draws 1000 attendance there are cheers ,toasts and talk about the exciting game and fan enthusiasm. A friend of mine who is a baseball fanatic told me "it s a thinkning man s game." Unbelievably boring i told him is what i thought of that. The PAC 12 should drop baseball as a mandatory league requirement to help manage tight budgets.

What % of capacity is it though

 

[Glad Cougar]

Hogwash,Its a total waste of money. Oh those math majors at Boise state! Anyway the PAC 12 s average basball attendance in 2017 was 1195 per game. WSU s average attendance was 469 in the year 2017. When a basketball game draws 1000 people there are guffaws and snide comments When a baseball game draws 1000 attendance there are cheers ,toasts and talk about the exciting game and fan enthusiasm. A friend of mine who is a baseball fanatic told me "it s a thinkning man s game." Unbelievably boring i told him is what i thought of that. The PAC 12 should drop baseball as a mandatory league requirement to help manage tight budgets.

If the funds raised for the baseball clubhouse all come from donations made by ex-players and others who want their money to go to baseball, why should anyone care? They like baseball and have the right to support the program. Your preference to eliminate the sport means nothing. By the way, I don't believe baseball is a mandatory Pac-12 sport. Colorado doesn't have a program. Oregon, for years, didn't have a program. My love for Cougar baseball goes back to when I was a play-by-play announcer as a student on one of Bobo's NCAA teams. I also am a dad of a former college baseball player. Doesn't mean everyone else needs to like baseball, but I don't advocate eliminating any sports at WSU.

You like Ernie Kent-style basketball, I like Cougar baseball (and baseball, in general). We both should be able to support and enjoy what we like.

Glad Cougar

 

[7ICoug]

If the funds raised for the baseball clubhouse all come from donations made by ex-players and others who want their money to go to baseball, why should anyone care? They like baseball and have the right to support the program. Your preference to eliminate the sport means nothing. By the way, I don't believe baseball is a mandatory Pac-12 sport. Colorado doesn't have a program. Oregon, for years, didn't have a program. My love for Cougar baseball goes back to when I was a play-by-play announcer as a student on one of Bobo's NCAA teams. I also am a dad of a former college baseball player. Doesn't mean everyone else needs to like baseball, but I don't advocate eliminating any sports at WSU.

You like Ernie Kent-style basketball, I like Cougar baseball (and baseball, in general). We both should be able to support and enjoy what we like.

Glad Cougar

I agree, spent many a nice day watching baseball. Actually you don't really think that anyone supports Cougar Basketball do you? The EK can do no wrong hasn't sent in his 100,000 for sure.

 

[jourdand]

If the donations are coming into the baseball program to upgrade the facilities doesn’t that alone show there is more interest in the program. Where are the basketball donations?

 

[Loyal Coug]

They threw money at baseball. Coug baseball is horrible and no one really cares about the team or the sport.

Who cares? Baseball is a dying sport and they average about 100 fans a game. To give them a new stadium is/was sheer folly.If it was permissible the cougs should drop baseball in my opinion

Hogwash,Its a total waste of money. Oh those math majors at Boise state! Anyway the PAC 12 s average basball attendance in 2017 was 1195 per game. WSU s average attendance was 469 in the year 2017. .

Donors are throwing money at Baseball. Presumably former players like Olerud, Sele, Hatteberg, etc. Who's throwing $ at Basketball? When is Chun going to announce the million dollar donation from Klay Thompson?

So do the Cougs average 100 fans or 469? A bit of a change in your numbers when you bothered to look at them.

Also, I pulled the 2017 schedule (link below) and according to that we averaged 983 per game in 2017. Where did you get your 469 from? Same place as the 100 fans?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.si...ments/2018/2/10/2018_Baseball_Media_Guide.pdf

And Baseball attendance suffers from early season cold-as-hell series, plus late season series after school is out.

 

[CougDave]

It must really rankle EL C that baseball boosters could raise $10 million in private funds for a clubhouse - and this coming when the team hasn't been very good. I doubt if basketball boosters could even raise $10,000 right now. Heck even when they had their sweet sixteen season they had a big fund raising drive and only raised about $1 million.

By the way I doubt if Bill Moos spent five minutes trying to raise funds for baseball. This was all accomplished by coaches, boosters, and former players. Of course it looks like Bill didn't spend much time fund raising for any sport.

As an aside on baseball, I think the clock is going to start ticking on Marty Lees if he has another bad season in his third year. He may not last to enjoy the benefits of the new clubhouse. Funny thing is that his record is still better than Ernie Kent's and the league is far tougher in baseball than it is in hoops. He just doesn't have the benefit of a huge contract to prevent his removal.