Did we really just fire Gene Stephenson?

[Cdizzle]

I know this has been said many times when discussing this topic, but I like to repeat it just for ADDB's sake (not that he's reading...). WHY NOT BOTH?!?!

I question whether either Hoop or Mark would be interested in playing second fiddle. Hire whoever you think is the best guy to lead the program than give him the freedom to build his staff they way he wants to. We don't need any more AD's picking the assistants for our head coaches.

I love the idea of more than one of these guys, but agree that you need to pick a HC and let him do his thing however he wants. There is just a part of me that hopes 'his thing' is to go get another legacy guy with relevant experience.

[1972Shocker]

I love the idea of more than one of these guys, but agree that you need to pick a HC and let him do his thing however he wants. There is just a part of me that hopes 'his thing' is to go get another legacy guy with relevant experience.

I would love to see that as well but it has to happen organically. And it might. However, I don't see Kevin Hooper being interested in being an assistant at the College Level.

[WuShock16]

I wonder if the Dallas Baptist coach would be interested now that he doesn't have to have Brent as a pitching coach and since WSU will now be in The American.

As much as I'd love to see Hooper as head coach, I'm not so sure Darron will simply go with the hometown hero. He might, but it's not a given.

[Cdizzle]

I wonder if the Dallas Baptist coach would be interested now that he doesn't have to have Brent as a pitching coach and since WSU will now be in The American.

As much as I'd love to see Hooper as head coach, I'm not so sure Darron will simply go with the hometown hero. He might, but it's not a given.

If ADDB can go out and get a guy with a great resume, power to him. A small part of me will probably still wish Hoop was given a shot, but I could get over that real quick.

But if your pool of candidates leaves you paying $340k for somebody with a career sub-.500 record, I think we could do a lot better giving the homegrown guy the shot.

[RoyalShock]

If the boosters are telling ADDB they'd like to see Hooper or Standiford take over the program, I'm not sure he'd have much choice should one or both be interested. As much as I'm sure ADDB would like to make his own hire, starting off by disappointing those who will probably pay a portion of HCTB's buyout isn't a good idea.

Of course, I'm assuming there are still boosters with influence.

[DUShock]

@RoyalShock: i think that we all believe that your assumption is correct. The "gold rule", he/she who has the gold makes the rules.

[1972Shocker]

Of course, I'm assuming there are still boosters with influence.

Not only with influence (= money) but a willingness to spend a good chunk of their influence.

And that may well be what it will take in light of the buyout of Jody Adams this year, whatever that amounted to, and the cost of moving to and living in the AAC as discussed in this Eagle article.

[William]

I've heard that Wedge would accept the offer to coach our shox

[OregonShocker]

I've heard that Wedge would accept the offer to coach our shox

Really?! What's he been doing since his stroke? I enjoyed seeing him in Seattle.

[1972Shocker]

Really?! What's he been doing since his stroke? I enjoyed seeing him in Seattle.

He did return to managing Seattle after his stroke in 2013 but declined the Mariners' offer to return in 2014. He is now a player development advisor with the Blue Jays.

No reason I am aware of that he could not return to an on the field position if he wanted to. If you think he is the right guy you have nothing to lose by asking.

In the summer of 2016 just prior to his promotion to permanent AD status Darron Boatright spent part of the summer with Brent Kemnitz, now working in athletic develpment at WSU, addressing concerns about the baseball program with former Shockers such as Charlie O'Brien and Eric Wedge.

So clearly the issues with the baseball program are and have been on ADDB's radar and Eric Wedge is at least somewhat in the loop. Whether or not Wedge would be interested in stepping in is hard to say.

[OregonShocker]

If he's interested, I think he'd be in the top 5 candidates. He'd tie in "old" and "new"; he's obviously a great manager. I just don't know if collegiate HC has aspects that appeal or deter him; recruiting, fund raising, etc. Wikipedia says he lives on Mercer Island in Seattle (that's where Bill Gates lives, fyi; home of the so-called "Microsoft millionaires"); may be hard to leave that!

[1972Shocker]

If he's interested, I think he'd be in the top 5 candidates. He'd tie in "old" and "new"; he's obviously a great manager. I just don't know if collegiate HC has aspects that appeal or deter him; recruiting, fund raising, etc. Wikipedia says he lives on Mercer Island in Seattle (that's where Bill Gates lives, fyi; home of the so-called "Microsoft millionaires"); may be hard to leave that!

I would be a bit surprised if Wedge was the guy but you never know. Wedge clearly has leadership skills in spades. In addition to the recruiting, fund raising, etc. a college head coach has to be a teacher of the game and a maker of men. A pro manager has to be a good game strategist and a manager of egos. Not that Eric couldn't make the transition to college coach but it is different and, of course, as you point out does he really want to.

Personally I see Kevin Hooper's experiences and personality as a really good fit as a college coach. What is he doing now. He is teaching the game. As an Independent league manager he had to go out and find players as well.

Mark Standiford certainly has done a very good job at Tabor. Whether or not that success can be transferred from the NAIA level to the D-1 level is kind of a question mark but at least Mark has shown he can lead a team to great success winning 71% of his games in 9 years at Tabor (77% over the last 4 years). Right there he has a more substantial resume of winning leadership and coaching than did Todd Butler.

[shocker3]

I would be a bit surprised if Wedge was the guy but you never know. Wedge clearly has leadership skills in spades. In addition to the recruiting, fund raising, etc. a college head coach has to be a teacher of the game and a maker of men. A pro manager has to be a good game strategist and a manager of egos. Not that Eric couldn't make the transition to college coach but it is different and, of course, as you point out does he really want to.

Personally I see Kevin Hooper's experiences and personality as a really good fit as a college coach. What is he doing now. He is teaching the game. As an Independent league manager he had to go out and find players as well.

Mark Standiford certainly has done a very good job at Tabor. Whether or not that success can be transferred from the NAIA level to the D-1 level is kind of a question mark but at least Mark has shown he can lead a team to great success winning 71% of his games in 9 years at Tabor (77% over the last 4 years). Right there he has a more substantial resume of winning leadership and coaching than did Todd Butler.

Any of those guys would make a good choice in my opinion. Another possibility might be PJ Forbes. I am not sure what he is doing these days, but he has a lot of minor league coaching experience.

[Shockerman]

It has to be Mark or Hoop to heal the fractured fan base. Hooper lives in San Diego, maybe he doesn't want the gig anymore. My guess is Mark would be the lead candidate considering his connection in the recruiting scene and actual college head coach experience. The new guy has to be more than a salesman though as that is basically what we have now. Butler is a stand up guy, the kind of coach you want your kids to play for and can recruit well. He just can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag and pull the right string on a player to bring out his full potential. Love it or hate it, Gene was an average coach that had an exceptional talent for pushing guys to the limit and sometimes beyond. Unfortunately, that technique doesn't work with the soft hearted millennial set.

[SHOCKvalue]

It has to be Mark or Hoop to heal the fractured fan base. Hooper lives in San Diego, maybe he doesn't want the gig anymore. My guess is Mark would be the lead candidate considering his connection in the recruiting scene and actual college head coach experience. The new guy has to be more than a salesman though as that is basically what we have now. Butler is a stand up guy, the kind of coach you want your kids to play for and can recruit well. He just can coach his way out of a wet paper bag.

Word has always been that Hoop kept his home here, and his family has stayed around. He just currently has the lifestyle similar to say a congressman.