Kevin Keatts Hired

By now, everyone in the SFN community is aware that Kevin Keatts is our new men’s basketball head coach.

Obviously, only time will reveal if Keatts proves a great hire. But today — without being privy to the details — the optics on this suggest Keatts is a solid hire.

If nothing else, credit Yow with the efficient hiring of one of our three realistic targets — Archie, Wade, Keatts (we were always priced out of Marshall) — within 24 hours of him being available. Moreover, the hire has been universally praised nationally, which is important to shifting the perception of our program towards the positive.

All indications suggest (for whatever the reasons) Archie was not interested, and Wade would meet with his alma mater if they’re ready to replace Brownell. So Keatts was hired quickly and drama-free before he could meet with any number of others — LSU or Illinois, for instance.

Contrast that to the previous searches in 2006 and 2011, both of which dragged into April and ended, after public spurnings, with the hiring of coaches not even on our target list, and a general negative perception nationally about the state of our program. Also consider the many moving pieces that begin in earnest as teams are eliminated this weekend — any of which could have impacted a result.

But I will admit, there’s a part of me that will miss the too-familiar dumpster fire of a tragedy that could’ve been with a protracted coaching search ending with Seth Greenburg or Dan Dakich.

About LRM

Charter member of the Lunatic Fringe and a fan, loyal to a fault.

Coaches Kevin Keatts

Home Forums Kevin Keatts Hired

Viewing 25 posts - 76 through 100 (of 161 total)
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  • #121518
    ancsu87
    Participant

    Winning the presser is easy. I’d like to see a good in game coach, making strategic adjustments. Gott was a C- at best and regularly out coached by the likes of Roy or K. I’m not sure about this pressing defense thing, sounds like a gimmick, I’d rather see a coach with a real defensive system that can just shut people down. And can we get back to recruiting top shooters? Feels like that stat has regularly dropped. If he can keep all eligible in the fold this is a 7 seed team at worst.

    A C- for in game adjustment? Try a F-.

    #121519
    JeremyH
    Participant

    Winning the presser is easy. I’d like to see a good in game coach, making strategic adjustments. Gott was a C- at best and regularly out coached by the likes of Roy or K. I’m not sure about this pressing defense thing, sounds like a gimmick, I’d rather see a coach with a real defensive system that can just shut people down. And can we get back to recruiting top shooters? Feels like that stat has regularly dropped. If he can keep all eligible in the fold this is a 7 seed team at worst.

    A C- for in game adjustment? Try a F-.

    AL? (After Lutz), sure F it is.

    #121520
    tractor57
    Participant

    As with any hire we have to wait a bit and see. I think all in all not a bad hire. Maybe not my dream candidate but back in the day neither was V. That turned out decently. So we wait once again. We are closer to getting out of the muck than we have been since the V days. That does not mean we will but we have a better chance.

    #121521
    McCallum
    Participant

    Lover boy an F-?

    Try a G-?

    McCallum

    #121527
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    Factoids of the AM…

    Wee Willie Wade (Doogie Houser clone) of VCU had a $1 Million BO from VCU.

    WWW turned down a 6 Year @ $2 Million Deal with his Alma Mater, Clemson.

    Clemson announced AFTER THAT….”we are Confident that we will be successful with Coach Brownell”.

    LSU has hired WWW for 6 Years. No $$’s leaked. Jones, the EX LSU was making $1.5 Million.

    LSU’s “Insiders” (a nice formal article) had a basket of coaches from Gregg Marshall on down to some East TN or Middle Upper Valley U folks. The Salary Range was $5 Million down to one of Sean’s Assistants at $250 (which is LESS than we paid our EXISTING Assistants…we are around $325 or so). Keatts WAS on that list also.

    Seems like 6 YEARS is NOW the NORM.

    I LIKE WHAT WE DID….especially since the “High Class Escorts” had certain standards for their clientele that we OBVIOUSLY did not meet….

    #121529
    Rick
    Keymaster

    I heard on the radio Alford from UCLA is paid $2.5M.

    #121530
    albunde55
    Participant

    Just happy Wade is at LSU. He would have hurt State as coach of Clemson!

    “This is my happy Face”

    #121536
    ryebread
    Participant

    Quick thoughts:
    – I agree with Tau that more teams are said to play an up tempo attacking style than who actually do it. Even Louisville packs it back in a zone and slows down the offense. The last ACC team outside of UNC to really push it was Maryland when Gary had them going to final fours.
    – If we do top out at consistent 5 seeds, then I’m fine with that. It would put us back in the top 25, which is basically the program meeting expectations based on its inputs. It has been a long time since we did that and I would like to get there before worrying about whether we can over achieve.
    – I would have been fine with Wade at Clemson. He honestly didn’t scare me in that role. I’d be surprised if they actually surpassed Purnell’s results. I think LSU is a better job than Clemson. There’s typically enough talent around the state of Louisiana to win big if one can keep them home and being the only game in town will help with that.
    – If that scenarios with Wade played out that way, then Clemson dodged a bullet. Brownell is a dead man walking, but Clemson is better knowing just how excited Wade was about coaching there.

    #121537
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    Rick,

    Probably about as close as you can get. Several published reports are in the $2.6 range. Interesting….

    In 2016, Alford GAVE BACK a contract extension. He (Gottfried GOTT 2 years) received a 1 year “Automatic” for a Sweet 16 Appearance in 2013/14. The 2015/16 season, per Alford….Was NOT up to UCLA Standards.

    So, he “Gave it Back”. THAT is class…

    #121539
    Daniel_Simpson_Day
    Participant

    I’ve been mulling over the process and hire over the past few days. Still can’t believe we did not get Miller and the only reasonable explanation is that the NCSU/HS divorce cut Miller so deep he does not want to return to his alma mater to be the head basketball coach. On the surface this seems really odd, however once you think about it, I suppose it’s pretty reasonable. We always hear how many players sign up to play for a coach and not a school. Miller’s allegiance is apparently to Sendek and not NCSU. I don’t like it, but I understand and I harbor no ill will against the guy.

    Also, I love how everyone else is willing to freely spend the Murphy family’s money.

    #121540
    Rick
    Keymaster

    Rick,

    Probably about as close as you can get. Several published reports are in the $2.6 range. Interesting….

    In 2016, Alford GAVE BACK a contract extension. He (Gottfried GOTT 2 years) received a 1 year “Automatic” for a Sweet 16 Appearance in 2013/14. The 2015/16 season, per Alford….Was NOT up to UCLA Standards.

    So, he “Gave it Back”. THAT is class…

    He caught a lot of grief for his one bad season which is why I would be shocked if he did not end up at Indiana.

    #121561
    BKwolf
    Participant

    Former VA tech coach James Johnson expected to join Keatts’ staff. Is Miami’s director of basketball operations and was a college teammate of Keatts per Giglio.

    #121605
    ryebread
    Participant

    Johnson was supposedly a great (and great recruiting) assistant. He was good enough to push Greenburg out for and then was the person that could hold recruits to their commitment. Given his ties to the area, it would make a lot of sense.

    #121699
    redwolf21
    Participant

    Re: Will Wade… It was a good move staying away. Apparently he was not well liked by players or administrators at VCU. On the sidelines, his handling of late-game situations was questionable at best.
    Will KK prove to be a better choice? Hope so.

    #121706
    cardiacpackattack22
    Participant

    I love the hire, and am excited about the new blood.
    However, I did see this in the USA Today yesterday. I wonder if this came up in the interview with Yow and Co.Also, how involved, if any, was he in the issue.

    “Keatts, now the head coach at NC State, told NCAA investigators that “everybody assumed everybody was doing the right thing.” Jones, the interim head coach at California, told the NCAA he “did not feel he was responsible for monitoring any other staff members’ compliance with NCAA rules.”

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2017/03/23/university-louisville-releases-ncaa-investigation-reply-documents/99405808/

    #121708
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    CardiacPackAttack22,

    Thanks for that post. I think you OUGHT to make a Forum all its on for it. I have read (OK, more than a little) about what went on at Louisville, PRIOR to K2 being a factor in your future.

    If you substitute Coach Roy Williams for Pitino and then change the SHOULD HAVE entities to “Academics”, then UNC would be facing the SAME LOIC issues that Pitino is apparently “IN FOR”.

    NOW…the reason I think this should be a separate (Keymaster??? your call) thread is the recent “spoutings” of Coach Williams.

    OK…this is POLITICAL…to a certain extent.

    The NCAA is flexing its “Political Muscles” and has warned NC and TX that they will NOT get any future venues due to the HB2 issues. Some are saying that the NCAA is actually “Blackmailing” the states (and others) to further a political agenda….

    Matters NOT that more than 70% of NC citizens SUPPORT HB2 and a similar majority in TX want the same passed….but the NCAA, IMHO, is totally overstepping it’s jurisdiction. Might point out that Indiana has a Religious Freedom bill that NC has been trying to pass….wonder WHY Religious Freedom in Indiana is OK and separate sex bathrooms in NC is NOT.

    Bottom line….the Paranoid person that I am would NOT, EVER, EVER, E>V>E>R connect the dots and assume that ORW has been told to “FLOUT his DISLIKE for HB2” and that will “Enhance UNC’s position” with regard to The Great Unpleasantness….

    Wonder….WONDER…..W>O>N>D>E>R?

    The LOIC overtones in the USA article sure would, if I were Bubba Cunningham, make me try to play ANY card that I had. ORW is easy to wind up and go out and spout off.

    Remember “Running Man”, the movie. ORW reminds me of Dustin Hoffman’s character….Counts Cards like a whiz…just can’t buy a coke at a convenience mart….

    EOR….

    PS…I do not have ANY concerns about Coach Keatts….

    #121711
    ChemE79a
    Participant

    Since you brought it up: Care to cite your your source for 70% of NC favors HB2? Every poll I have seen shows a much smaller number. Also, if that much of NC favors HB2 how the heck did our former governor lose in a year when Trump carried NC.

    #121712
    Zaphod
    Participant

    Yes…every poll I’ve seen say a good solid 50%+ oppose HB2, and around 35% support it.

    #121714
    Daniel_Simpson_Day
    Participant

    I don’t know what’s worse, the people who invent ‘alternative’ facts to drive the narrative that suits them or the people that engage and debate them 😉
    I mean Jesus H. Christ, the guy doesn’t know the difference between Rain Man and Running Man

    #121715
    eas
    Participant
    #121716
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    I don’t know what’s worse, the people who invent ‘alternative’ facts to drive the narrative that suits them or the people that engage and debate them ?
    I mean Jesus H. Christ, the guy doesn’t know the difference between Rain Man and Running Man

    And THAT is the only reason his post stays.

    “Is it safe? ”

    -The Marathon Man-

    #121717
    MP
    Participant

    I mean Jesus H. Christ, the guy doesn’t know the difference between Rain Man and Running Man

    Kudos to you for actually reading that far down.

    #121719
    PapaJohn
    Participant

    Funny that no one has mentioned the similarity between Keatts resume and Sendek’s.
    Both highly thought of Patino assistants, both successful 3 year HC at one mid level school. Keatts fared a little better in his league, Herb finished 3rd, 2nd, and first his three years. However his one trip to the NCAAT he beat AZ, and took UVA to OT, before losing.
    The only real difference is Herb did only one year as HS asst coach, Keatts did 10 at the helm of a major HS.
    Interesting coincidence.

    #121721
    rthomas44
    Participant

    I am waiting to see what recruits K2 can find at this late date. That will tell alot.

    #121722
    Daniel_Simpson_Day
    Participant

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