Katz: Sendek most intriguing name who isn’t in trouble, NC State job one of the best in the country

ACC & Other Coaching Carousel18

I have been waiting for the national talking heads to push Herb Sendek for open coaching positions and believe it or not someone is stepping up to the plate:

From Andy Katz:

9. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune quoted Tubby Smith as saying he’s staying put at Minnesota. He should. He needs to continue to rebuild the Gophers. Meanwhile, the most intriguing name out there who isn’t in trouble is Arizona State’s Herb Sendek. Sendek left NC State before he was pushed out and landed at Arizona State. He’s certainly a coach who would be high on some lists because of his overall credibility.

It will be interesting to see what lists Sendek appears on. Of course, it makes you wonder why Sendek would leave the current “revival in Tempe” that he is leading especially with guys like Gary Parrish calling to tell you to pat yourself on the back for how well you are doing your job. He is a in perfect situation in the desert – Have a good team and the national guys call you a genius and have a bad team (4-14 in the Pac-10) and guys like Katz mention your “overall credibility” as opposed to your actual record.

Katz also mentions some schools that are likely to have openings(in addition to his discussion of the open position at Texas Tech):

7. This will be an interesting week at a number of schools, as athletic directors and presidents decide if buyouts are worth a change in direction. Decisions could be made on this front at Utah, Oklahoma, Arkansas, NC State, Georgia Tech, Providence and South Florida. If the funds can’t be found, that can help save a coach and his staff for another year. But it would behoove some to try to get out before there are more moves made.

Last week Katz had this to say about the NC State job and Tubby Smith:

• NC State coach Sidney Lowe had a brutal schedule in the ACC (Duke and Carolina twice), visited Wisconsin and Syracuse, played Georgetown and Arizona, dealt with an early injury to his best player, Tracy Smith, and had a recruiting class that wasn’t as consistent as advertised. But he’s no fool. He’s been in the NBA. He knows that the odds to save his job without an NCAA tournament appearance are against him at this juncture. If Lowe is out, a job that most in the coaching business consider one of the best will be on the open market.

• When I met with Tubby Smith in October, he was adamant that he liked his situation at Minnesota. This season has been a disaster with injuries (Al Nolen and Mo Walker) and a defection (Devoe Joseph). If any ACC job is open, would Smith bail and return to the Southeast? If he did, would he be bolting on the Gophers before building this program up to a consistent level? I’ll be very interested to see what develops in this situation.

I will give Katz’ props for sticking to the topic and sharing his opinions without ridiculous cheap shots throwing out ludicrous assertions like comparing Herb Sendek to Jamie Dixon. Remember Gary Parrish’s opinion that we wouldn’t be happy with Jamie Dixon because we weren’t happy with Herb Sendek? It sure would suck being ranked #3 in the country in front of Roy Williams and Coach K going into the conference tournament?

ACC & Other Coaching Carousel

18 Responses to Katz: Sendek most intriguing name who isn’t in trouble, NC State job one of the best in the country

  1. newt 03/07/2011 at 4:09 PM #

    So my guess is that Sendek is floating his name this year while he still has any “overall credibility” left. Unfortunately, I expect Sendek’s career to follow the Pat Kennedy path. Much more interested in following NC State’s next moves.

    Even though Sidney’s downfall was coaching defense, I think the next coach primarily will need to be able to recruit big-time players to have the kind of success we covet. That person could be a young and energetic master salesman, like Donovan was at Florida, or an established name, like Donovan is now. Just using him an as example, not saying it is him.

  2. bradleyb123 03/07/2011 at 4:10 PM #

    Sendek left NC State before he was pushed out and landed at Arizona State.

    They had to include this little tidbit, didn’t they. They can’t say Herb was fired, nor can they just tell the truth, that he left. They’re making an assumption here, and it’s one that is incorrect. Herb was not pushed out and he wasn’t going to BE pushed out. He had just been to his fifth consecutive NCAA tournament. What makes them think Lee Fowler was going to push him out???

    This stuff just gets more and more irritating. I’ll be happy when media folks are finally willing to mention Herb’s name WITHOUT also throwing in a jab at NC State.

  3. Lunatic Fringe 03/07/2011 at 4:33 PM #

    I consider it a step in the right direction since they at least state he wasn’t fired. I guess we will have to take it misconception at a time.

  4. Daily Update 03/07/2011 at 4:37 PM #

    So we are one of the best jobs and he is an intriguing name…everyone says we should always want Sendek back? I already blogged he should want his job back. Could it happen? I kid.

  5. Prowling Woofie 03/07/2011 at 4:52 PM #

    I agree, newt. I see Herbie going the way of Pat Kennedy, floating down through the ranks with diminishing return until no one wants him…

  6. JSRy2k 03/07/2011 at 5:11 PM #

    1. I said earlier this year to brace yourselves for one of the greatest wastes of a recruiting class ever, and dang if we didn’t pull it off w/ a 5-11 record 🙁

    2. Interesting how Lowe leaves the talent/depth (this year’s and last year’s classes combined) while Amato left us with a better program (facilities, fan interest). I know Amato brought in RW, but overall depth lost to attrition was atrocious. Like Amato, Sid also leaves behind something of value. Assuming next coach can successfully shift attitudes to his style, he has the talent to win immediately!

    Thanks, Coach Lowe, for loving NC State and being a stopgap until competent administration took the reigns. May your departure be respectful and classy on both ends.

  7. backnine 03/07/2011 at 5:16 PM #

    The national media needs to start letting Herb stand on his own. He’s not a puppy that needs constant protection and adoption efforts to find a good home. Let the man stand or fall on his own record. If another program wants to take that bet then they do so with eyes wide open. There’s a mountain of evidence as to what you get. The fact remains Herb has won no conference titles in 15 years of labor at big six conference schools. And the last five years have been in a conference experiencing historical lows in competition vs normal standards. Yet still, nothing. And now there are whispers that Herb is shopping for yet another destination. Careful Herb, lest you cultivate the reputation for “running away” when the heat is turned up.

  8. LKNpackfan 03/07/2011 at 5:32 PM #

    Sendek left NC State before he was pushed out and landed at Arizona State.
    This is actually true. There was a ton of unrest at the time. I have no issue with the wording. Granted, it didn’t need to be included in his write-up, but its fair enough.

    If Lowe is out, a job that most in the coaching business consider one of the best will be on the open market.
    Also true. Great of Katz is recognize and acknowledge it.

  9. packof81 03/07/2011 at 6:06 PM #

    “Meanwhile, the most intriguing name out there who isn’t in trouble is Arizona State’s Herb Sendek.”

    His record is worse than Lowe’s and he’s not in trouble? I guess Arizona State must really appreciate the intrigue.

    “He’s certainly a coach who would be high on some lists because of his overall credibility.”

    I can think of one list he’s high on because of his overall credibility, my $#%& list.

  10. Wolfman 9806 03/07/2011 at 6:06 PM #

    While I cringe everytime we still discuss Herb and have been vocal on this message board to let him go, even I have to admit that the national media loves him. Katz point is extremely contradictory. If he should be on the hot seat, then why in the world would he be a desirable candidate for another job?

    Glad to see that Katz sees NC State as a desirable jog. Please don’t screw this up Yow.

  11. MattN 03/07/2011 at 10:14 PM #

    The “revival in Tempe” is a complete failure. The fanbase there is already tired of weave’n’heave, scoring droughts, and massive player transfers. Sound familiar? All Herb has to his name is SEVEN NCAA appearances in his coaching career. How in the world is he still considered a credible coach? Zero regular season chamionships. Zero conference tournament championships. 18 years of head coaching. 7 NCAAs. That’t it.

    How is he still considered a “good coach”? How? Can he make a terrible program less terrible? Sure. That’s no better than at least half of current coaches in Div 1.

    I’m waiting for the nimrods that banned me at the ASU scout board to appologize, after it’s obvious everything I warned them about is 100% accurate, but I know I’ll be waiting a while…

  12. philliepacker 03/07/2011 at 11:10 PM #

    Herb is a stiff and a clown but he is no Sidney Lowe when it comes to being a coach. ^packof81 his record this year was worse than Sid’s only this year and Sid won 3 more league games

  13. MrPlywood 03/07/2011 at 11:44 PM #

    What’s the statute of limitations on mentioning a coach’s previous employer? I would think that 5 years would be plenty of time for HS to get acclimated in the desert and for talking heads to stop mentioning the guy in the middle of State’s games. I hope being on the second coach after his departure will do the trick.

    re: one of the best jobs in the market – I do hope that DY will present the coaching opportunity as just that – a great opportunity at a great school. Any coach worth his salt would jump at this chance.

  14. Pack1998 03/07/2011 at 11:56 PM #

    Quick . . . Pop Quiz:

    Q: Why would Katz make the state “If Lowe is out, a job that most in the coaching business consider one of the best will be on the open market.”

    A: Because he has talked to coaches and that is what he hears from them.

    Katz does his homework with the coaches.

    And men . . . no comments on Sendek. Good luck to the man. From a media perspective its hard to dislike the guy I’m sure. He works 24/7 and loves b-ball. No bad karma from me.

  15. mak4dpak 03/08/2011 at 7:34 AM #

    Can’t help but remember being in Atlanta for the ACC tournament a few years back, and watching us lose to Maryland. I said then and still say Sid can’t get it done, and recall a fan seated next to me, becoming angry and combative, defending Sid. So I wonder how how he feels now? Guess he might finally realize, like so many have, that no matter how much we love Sid, and the National Championship, he is not head coaching material. We have suffered thru 5 years of mediocrity, and it is time for a change.

  16. ms termeaner 03/08/2011 at 9:18 AM #

    Enough about Herb please,lets move on! I beleive most posted about herb to take the spotlight off of the fine job Sid was doing.
    Mercifully the end is near and we should move on from both Sid and herb.

  17. WolfOG 03/08/2011 at 12:00 PM #

    You know, I’d love to move on and never think about Herb again. Unfortunately, there is a significant faction of the basketball media who can’t mention his name (five years later) without “Unjustly run out of NC State” attached to it.

    I am really amazed as to the amount of media cover allowed this guy after 5 years of mediocrity at another school.

  18. PoppaJohn 03/08/2011 at 1:14 PM #

    Just listening to David Glenn – his sources tell him that barring a miracle this weekend, that Sid is definately gone as of Monday. He said this is not heresay, this is fact from credible insiders. He said that has been the case for weeks.

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