Who Replaces Gene?

[GoShockers89]

Offer has been made to Heefner. It is his to have or turn down. Really not an easy decision for someone that recruits Dallas area and is successful. Tough to leave that hotbed and expect to recruit it from out of state. Plus it is going take someone that can handle the spotlight.

Welp, if this is true we should know his answer by tomorrow.

[shox1989]

The Shox were 30-27 in 2009 and 11-7 in conference. Not much better than 30-30.

Last 5 years comparison:

Gene: 59.55% winning, 2 regionals (as auto bid), 0 super regionals. No regional finals.

Dan Heefner: 61.38% winning, 3 regionals (as at large), one super regional. Also, made regional final all three times.

Actually you are a little off on the DBU stats. DBU has only been to regionals twice in the last 5 years. Their first trip happened in 2008 (six years ago). If you go back 6 years, then you also have to include a super regional for WSU. In 2008 the Shox were one game away from Omaha. The six year numbers look a lot more even for the two teams. Both teams with one super regional and both with 3 ncaa tournament appearances. One difference WSU never finished tied for 6th and 7th place like Dallas Baptist did this year in the very weak WaC.

[TheReal3G]

2nd choice is Todd Butler if Heefner does not accept. I personally think Butler would be the bigger splash.

[shox1989]

2nd choice is Todd Butler if Heefner does not accept. I personally think Butler would be the bigger splash.

I would agree with that statement. While I still don't really see Butler as the "Big Time hire" (being an assistant) that BK talked about, I think it would definitely be a bigger splash. Arkansas has been to the CWS several times and they play in the SEC, known as the nation's best college baseball conference. A big difference from playing the 18th ranked WAC (and having your last team finished tied for 6th and 7th in that weak conference).

[GoShockers89]

Actually you are a little off on the DBU stats. DBU has only been to regionals twice in the last 5 years. Their first trip happened in 2008 (six years ago). If you go back 6 years, then you also have to include a super regional for WSU. In 2008 the Shox were one game away from Omaha. The six year numbers look a lot more even for the two teams. Both teams with one super regional and both with 3 ncaa tournament appearances. One difference WSU never finished tied for 6th and 7th place like Dallas Baptist did this year in the very weak WaC.

Heading into that 6 year period, one school had 25 regional appearances, 7 CWS appearances, top-notch facilities, a conference to provide automatic bids, top 20 coaching salaries, top 15 national attendance, and a premium national brand.

The other school had 0 regional appearances, poor facilities, no brand, no tradition, a shoestring budget, low salaries, higher academic standards, a strict religious mission, no other D1 sports, and non-existent attendance.


The coach at the latter had 3 teams worthy of at-large bids over those 6 years. The coach at the former had 1 team worthy of an at-large bid during that same period. Each reached a super regional. Who do ya think did a better job?

[ABC]

Actually you are a little off on the DBU stats. DBU has only been to regionals twice in the last 5 years. Their first trip happened in 2008 (six years ago). If you go back 6 years, then you also have to include a super regional for WSU. In 2008 the Shox were one game away from Omaha. The six year numbers look a lot more even for the two teams. Both teams with one super regional and both with 3 ncaa tournament appearances. One difference WSU never finished tied for 6th and 7th place like Dallas Baptist did this year in the very weak WaC.

WSU has not had an at-large resume in five years. DBU rec'd two at-large invites in the last five years as an independent.

Please list your alternatives.

[shox1989]

Heading into that 6 year period, one school had 25 regional appearances, 7 CWS appearances, top-notch facilities, a conference to provide automatic bids, top 20 coaching salaries, top 15 national attendance, and a premium national brand.

The other school had 0 regional appearances, poor facilities, no brand, no tradition, a shoestring budget, low salaries, higher academic standards, a strict religious mission, no other D1 sports, and non-existent attendance.


The coach at the latter had 3 teams worthy of at-large bids over those 6 years. The coach at the former had 1 team worthy of an at-large bid during that same period. Each reached a super regional. Who do ya think did a better job?

Somehow comparing Gene's worst 5 years to the new guys best 5 years is suppose to make us feel better about this hire. His best 5 years aren't much better and his MOST RECENT TEAM FINISHED TIED FOR 6TH AND 7TH IN THE 18TH RANKED CONFERENCE.-That is enough to get some people fired not promoted to an elite program!

[GoShockers89]

Somehow comparing Gene's worst 5 years to the new guys best 5 years is suppose to make us feel better about this hire. His best 5 years aren't much better and his MOST RECENT TEAM FINISHED TIED FOR 6TH AND 7TH IN THE 18TH RANKED CONFERENCE.-That is enough to get some people fired not promoted to an elite program!

If this were a race, Gene was driving a Camaro and got beaten by someone in a Yugo.

I bet the guy driving the Yugo could do wonders behind the wheel of that Camaro.

[ABC]

Somehow comparing Gene's worst 5 years to the new guys best 5 years is suppose to make us feel better about this hire. His best 5 years aren't much better and his MOST RECENT TEAM FINISHED TIED FOR 6TH AND 7TH IN THE 18TH RANKED CONFERENCE.-That is enough to get some people fired not promoted to an elite program!

Your choice would be who?

[SHOCKvalue]

Meh...

[shox1989]

Your choice would be who?

Ironically enough several people on this board have been saying for years that WSU needs to get rid of
Gene and that there would be a lot of great head coaches (including some BCS coaches) that would kill to take his place. I have expressed the concern that we could end up with a worse coach, maybe even the Mike Cohen of baseball. Now that the day I have been dreading has come, I am wondering where all of the great candidates are? Are we not getting them because they don't want BK? I don't know. But it isn't my job to find the new HC. I just have to believe that WSU can do better than the guy who finished tied for 6th and 7th in the 18th ranked conference last year? I would have a lot more confidence in Todd Butler based on his reputation at Arkansas. But based on the names I have heard or read on this board, I don't have a lot of confidence in who our next coach is going to be.

Which I said ironically was my big fear all along about when this day came. So far I am not reading much to help my confidence and make the night mare go away.

[GoShockers89]

I think Todd Butler would do a good job too. But have you looked at what he did at McNeese State, his only head coaching gig?

Decent returns. Nothing mindblowing. One automatic bid as a 4 seed followed by a 2 and Q.




If you keep looking for a non-retread who has been to the CWS multiple times in the last 5 years and is giving up a plush HC gig to come here, you will have a very long wait. There are about 5 programs in the country who can get those kind of guys. That doesn't mean our candidates are not excellent ones.

[SB Shock]

But based on the names I have heard or read on this board, I don't have a lot of confidence in who our next coach is going to be.

Not sure really why you care anyway. You have already said you won't be attending anymore games.

[GoShockers89]

Here are the coaches for this year's CWS and the jobs they held immediately before their current gig. For perspective:


Mike Fox (UNC)- NC Wesleyan HC
Pat Casey (Oregon State)- George Fox HC
Tracy Smith (Indiana)- Miami, OH HC (2 bids in 9 years)
Elliott Avent (NC State)- New Mexico State HC (0 bids in 8 years)
Dan McDonnell (Louisville)- Ole Miss Asst.
John Savage (UCLA)- UCI HC (1 bid in 3 years)
John Cohen (Mississippi State)- Kentucky HC (2 bids in 5 years)
Paul Mainieri (LSU)- Notre Dame HC (9 bids in 12 years, 1 CWS)



Mainieri is the only one of these that would have excited some on this board. And it took arguably the top baseball job in the country to lure him away.

I'd say the rest are doing pretty well without a pedigree.

[pogo]

I don't know if using Mike Cohen as an example is a good one. Yes he was a poor coach but he was the hand picked successor by the leaving Eddie Fogler. Obviously even someone that picks his own successor can screw it up big time much less the AD. Lets hope for great things and not piss and moan over worse case scenarios.