re: TurnkeyZRG - not super concerned. A pre-emptive disclaimer would have helped optics (and not knowing or anticipating to do so is it's own issue).
But collegiate sports is a small world & executive-level headhunting is a smaller one. I would be immensely surprised if J. Gates was willing to risk any credibility to get anyone hired. Does a pre-exisitng relationship with the search VP help a candidacy? Sure; how could it not. But ultimately the principal makes the call.
We all been in situations where we know someone in the candidate pool (for better or worse). Trying to push a candidate who wouldn't otherwise be getting interest is a 50/50 proposition (at best). Backfires (spectacularly) more often than it works.
I'll admit that the hiring didn't inspire me at first. But I am beginning to think this is a situation of the coach we want vs the coach we need.
What we *don't* want:
- Assistant or Mid-Major coach looking for first big payday or feather in cap.
- Somebody who will show good recruiting talent & team improvement then immediately jump to a better situation.
- Somebody who wants to build a team in a way that won’t work at UW(ie, with tons of NIL money. Analogy of Anderson trying to get a bunch of juco transfers that couldn't qualify academically no matter how hard they massaged the transcript)
An aside on NIL… yes, I wish that UW would put more resources to WBB. And I can appreciate that there needs to be SOME sort of foundation or you're just burning $$$. So you need somebody who is willing to build without huge NIL resources so that the foundation is there.
Pingeton doesn't need this job or this mess. She's been a well paid coach for 15 years, living in a great college town. Broadcast for the SEC network for a year & then do whatever... consult, coach at Long Beach State until retirement, stay in broadcasting. My read on the situation - she doesn't need Wisconsin, but she's choosing Wisconsin. And I like that.
She can run a major program. Has had success. Sure concerns about downturn warranted. Has recruited the heck out of Missouri. More good players from MO on the Mizzou team than I have ever seen of WI kids on the Badgers.
Well said (as always). Sad (seemingly also as always).
re: TurnkeyZRG - not super concerned. A pre-emptive disclaimer would have helped optics (and not knowing or anticipating to do so is it's own issue).
But collegiate sports is a small world & executive-level headhunting is a smaller one. I would be immensely surprised if J. Gates was willing to risk any credibility to get anyone hired. Does a pre-exisitng relationship with the search VP help a candidacy? Sure; how could it not. But ultimately the principal makes the call.
We all been in situations where we know someone in the candidate pool (for better or worse). Trying to push a candidate who wouldn't otherwise be getting interest is a 50/50 proposition (at best). Backfires (spectacularly) more often than it works.
I'll admit that the hiring didn't inspire me at first. But I am beginning to think this is a situation of the coach we want vs the coach we need.
What we *don't* want:
- Assistant or Mid-Major coach looking for first big payday or feather in cap.
- Somebody who will show good recruiting talent & team improvement then immediately jump to a better situation.
- Somebody who wants to build a team in a way that won’t work at UW(ie, with tons of NIL money. Analogy of Anderson trying to get a bunch of juco transfers that couldn't qualify academically no matter how hard they massaged the transcript)
An aside on NIL… yes, I wish that UW would put more resources to WBB. And I can appreciate that there needs to be SOME sort of foundation or you're just burning $$$. So you need somebody who is willing to build without huge NIL resources so that the foundation is there.
Pingeton doesn't need this job or this mess. She's been a well paid coach for 15 years, living in a great college town. Broadcast for the SEC network for a year & then do whatever... consult, coach at Long Beach State until retirement, stay in broadcasting. My read on the situation - she doesn't need Wisconsin, but she's choosing Wisconsin. And I like that.
She can run a major program. Has had success. Sure concerns about downturn warranted. Has recruited the heck out of Missouri. More good players from MO on the Mizzou team than I have ever seen of WI kids on the Badgers.
I think she will surprise us.