ACC Coaching Turnover

We’ve been talking for a while about the correlation between the recent deterioration of the quality of Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball and the weak set of coaches in the league.

With Gary Williams’ surprise retirement, the ACC lost one of the best coaches the conference will ever see; but, on the other hand, we lose a coach whose program had clearly stagnated and was not helping add to performance production for the conference’s national reputation.

Williams’ departure means that eight of the ACC’s twelve coaching jobs have turned over in the last three off-seasons and seven of those eight have happened in 2010 and 2011. WRAL summarized the list in this link

Since March of 2009 there have been eight head coaching changes in the ACC, an astonishing amount or turnover to take place in two years and a month.

Here’s how it all changed:

1. Tony Bennett, named head coach at UVA on March 31, 2009, replaced Dave Leiitao.
2. Steve Donahue, named head coach at BC on April 6, 2010, replaced Al Skinner.
3. Brad Brownell, named head coach at Clemson on April 13, 2010, replaced Oliver Purnell.
4. Jeff Bzdelik, named head coach at Wake Forest on April 13, 2010, replaced Dino Guadio.
5. Brian Gregory, named head coahc at GT on March 28, 2011, replaced Paul Hewitt.
6. Mark Gottfried, named head coach at NCSU on April 5, 2011, replaced Sidney Lowe.
7. Jim Larranaga, named head coach at Miami on April 22, 2011, replaced Frank Haith.
8. ???????? replaces Gary Williams at Maryland.

The Maryland transition will be interesting for all fans to watch – particularly for NC State fans – as the media will most surely proclaim Maryland a significantly better ‘program’ than NC State despite NC State’s better facilities; more attractive geographic location; similar academics; larger fan base and more successful tradition. I’m thinking that Maryland is like every other school in the ACC EXCEPT NC State — for some reason the media doesn’t seem to think that they ‘compete with Duke and UNC’ like NC State does.

I know that everyone is interested…but, a couple of our long time message board members posted the news yesterday, “Herb Sendek has withdrawn his name from consideration.” That was a good one.

We’re going to have more topical blogging coming your way…but, in the meantime, our message forums available here have dozens of current topics that would be of interest to you.

———-

Want to ask a football question to Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Chris Collinsworth and Howie Long?
You might even win a once in a lifetime trip. Just click here!

We appreciate all your help and hope to make Men’s Wearhouse a frequent sponsor of Big Lead Sports year round draft coverage.

About StateFans

'StateFansNation' is the shared profile used by any/all of the dozen or so authors that contribute to the blog. You may not always agree with us, but you will have little doubt about where we stand on most issues. Please follow us on Twitter and FaceBook

ACC Teams Coaching Carousel College Basketball

45 Responses to ACC Coaching Turnover

  1. MrPlywood 05/06/2011 at 7:15 PM #

    @ coach13 – I like your wishlist. Sounds reasonable to me.

    The nutty part of the media guys anointing MD as a better job is that it really comes down to coaching. Williams was better than Herb, Sid and Les combined. Gary’s the one who made the program hold a candle to the blues. Herb and Sid were not the guys to take State back to the promised land. Is Gott? Who knows, but I already feel better about the program than I have in a long time.

    If I were a coach looking for work, I would have much preferred to take on a job like State’s, where improvement is easier to achieve (at least in the short term) and expectations are low, rather try to follow an icon like Williams.

  2. packpride_ie94 05/06/2011 at 7:57 PM #

    Looking at the 7 most recent ACC coaching hires, I’d actually say that the majority of them represent upgrades. 3 of the 7 are almost a lock to improve their teams (Bennett > Leiitao, Larranaga > Haith, and Gottfried > Lowe). Brownell already looks to be building on Purnell’s success and moving them to the next level. And I’d say that Gregory has a better than 50% chance of improving GT’s situation.

    I’d love for Maryland to kill that trend with a Sendekian type hire and see Coach13’s scenario play out. But if they somehow pull in a big name, then I think one could argue the balance of coaching talent has actually improved a bit as a result of all the recent turnover.

  3. sundropdrinker13 05/06/2011 at 9:13 PM #

    “I agreed that GT would probablly not get a sexy hire due to the $$$ side of the issue but that State could/would get a proven coach or a great up-and-comer. Then we got Gott.”

    Gottfried IS a proven coach. Either you don’t know his resume, or you don’t believe it, or who knows. But he coached Alabama to #1, and reached the Elite 8. Just because we didn’t know who he was and was not on our radar does NOT mean he is unproven. He is VERY much proven. As long as he doesn’t burnout or whatever the hell happened there, we will be good for quite some time. Go get your beer back.

  4. mak4dpak 05/06/2011 at 10:21 PM #

    Saw S. Miller was a candidate for the UM job, and he turned us down. Wow! I would have to be a Miller hater if he did that to us.

  5. Wolfy__79 05/06/2011 at 10:25 PM #

    i like MG and all the new additions. i also am a big fan of ad DY making a nice splash on the road and talking up revenue points.

    i HATE maryland.. just like the unc’s… duke really isn’t a problem for me… k has earned my respect. gary williams is a bundle of sticks in my book.. sure, good coach.. but a prick none the less. see ya!!

    i’m on the fence about if they’ll land a big fish. why would wright or dixon..etc take a job like md.. i would say it’s equal to what they have right now? my bubble was burst in our search and i have to say that from a big name coaches perspective.. the NCSU job and md gig, are neck and neck to me.

    one thing i do think, it might be easier to follow lowe vs. williams. i don’t know much about the twerps school or facility, but i do know that geographic area is a dump.. i will believe you when you say the talent is THERE.. but who cares, recruits nowadays are not solely interested in WHERE they will play.. to me, they only care about the exposure they get for their “promising” careers.

    i’d also like to mention that is a W for DY.. she may not have out lasted him at md, but she is getting things going here whilst “sweaty gary” is “retiring” at a very good run at his alma mater.

    i’m no expert.. but i’m REALLY impressed with MG and his assistant coaches.. it’s very refreshing! as for Gary Williams.. i don’t really care for him.. but JOB WELL DONE! i hope you have a wonderful retirement!

  6. Wolfy__79 05/06/2011 at 10:29 PM #

    gt, bc, wake.. these guys really tanked!

    uva, clemson, miami.. good job.

    NCSU.. i like our hire.. i’d say we have the most promising hire so far.. brownell is a good one, but i see him taking off in 2-3 years tops.. cousin clem is just not ever going to do anything in bball. probably the same for miami.

  7. Wolfy__79 05/06/2011 at 10:36 PM #

    and..

    for all the praise that miami has or may get.. then i say, we hired an equally successful coach in Bobby Lutz as an ASSISTANT.. jes saying yawl, we done good!!

  8. Pack Mentality 05/07/2011 at 6:43 AM #

    The good thing about this coaching search is that we will know for sure which job is the better job…Md or NCSU. If they get the home run hits that we couldn’t land, there’s your answer. If they get a mid major or someone who isn’t clearly a home run, there’s your answer.

    There will be no gray area or room for argument. They will either clearly be the better job in coaches eyes or not (and that is really all that matters).

  9. Wulfpack 05/07/2011 at 9:25 AM #

    Overall, I’d have to say the ACC’s new hires are unimpressive. It could turn out well for a few teams, but I think the league has taken a big step back on the national stage. If Maryland is able to land a big fish (like Miller or Jay Wright), then this will certainly help things.

    Wake will be hiring a new coach next year. The Bzdelik hiring was one of the worst ones I have ever seen. He did absolutely nothing, aside from being Wellman’s friend, to deserve the hire. Larranaga will not be at Miami long and he will not be successful there. And if Bennett can’t get things going at UVa he could be in trouble in a year or two.

    I still don’t know quite what to make of our hire. The good news is, it’s K and Roy and then everyone else. In other words, the competition really isn’t that good anymore. We have an opportunity to move up the chain quickly. Of course, a miss here and a miss there and we are right where we’ve been. Losing Harrow really hurts. We’re not going to be very good this year.

  10. Wolfy__79 05/07/2011 at 12:10 PM #

    i’m not sold on uva’s coach at all.. he’s doing well with some nationally recognized recruits but his style of play looks somewhat familiar to this STATE fan… if his teams continue to try and win against unx/duke by defense alone and keep their pts/game average low.. he will not be successful in the ACC. you’ve got to at the very least avg +75 and really need to be in the 80’s.. in ACC play of course. unx will be +80 and duke will atleast be +75.. against good competition.. which the ACC hasn’t had much of lately. … this is one of my measuring sticks…

    i guess the same can be said of brownell….

  11. JT 05/07/2011 at 2:40 PM #

    I see Maryland and NCSU as similar programs. But this is a huge test, Gott vs. the new UM coach. I think the tables are gonna turn or at least become level again.

  12. JT 05/07/2011 at 2:42 PM #

    “for all the praise that miami has or may get.. then i say, we hired an equally successful coach in Bobby Lutz as an ASSISTANT.. jes saying yawl, we done good!!”
    spot on.

  13. NCMike 05/07/2011 at 5:25 PM #

    Wow…Sean Miller supposedly considering Maryland strongly. That would be a slap down !

  14. Wolfy__79 05/07/2011 at 6:53 PM #

    ^..yeap, it would be a shocker for me.. but i guess i shouldn’t be suprised? does md > arizona > NCSU?

  15. ADVENTUROO 05/07/2011 at 8:01 PM #

    Sources on ESPN say that Miller has the job, if he wants it. Will “think” about it. Wonder if he is pulling a “Butch” or a “Calapari”. If we thought the NCSU V. MD match-up had lost it’s draw, you let Miller sign up….now THAT will be a packed house.

    My wife, who has a great way of putting things into perspective says that if we continue to be dominated by a SM coached MD team, the there will be vacancies in the AD and the HC position at NCSU….

    She also added that this board would explode (meaning the server) if he accepts…

    Interesting turn of events….Wonder if old Gary has been stroking some folks and had a replacement waiting in the wings….now that would add FODDER to the DY V. GW conflict….

  16. sundropdrinker13 05/07/2011 at 10:14 PM #

    Read on ESPN board that Miller accepted the job and announcement will be Monday at 4pm.

  17. wolfpack2002 05/08/2011 at 12:49 AM #

    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6504485

    Miller signed an extension with Arizona, glad he “Caliparied” Maryland and not us… Feigned interest only to sign the extension!

  18. ADVENTUROO 05/08/2011 at 1:04 AM #

    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6504485&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

    As WP2002 said….this was only a Calipari moment.

    This is really great news for UNC Folks. If Seam Miller had been paid a bundle, then old Roy (I don’t care about the status and the money…but it’s the only measure that I have about how LOVED I am….) would have been asking for an increase. Roy is NOT going to be the third highest paid ACC coach….so the Rams Club will keep their dues at the same level…MAYBE!

  19. MrPlywood 05/08/2011 at 2:03 AM #

    “Miller signed an extension with Arizona, glad he “Caliparied” Maryland and not us…”

    Looks like Sean needed to flirt with two programs to get his raise…

  20. JaxPackMan 05/13/2011 at 9:20 PM #

    Speaking of coaching turnover, does anyone know where Lowe’s assistant’s ended up after he was let go? I assume Gottfried if cleaning house and bringing in his own people.

Leave a Reply