Miami's Charlie Coles retires after 16 seasons

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per AP/ESPN........






Charlie Coles retires after 16 seasons


Miami of Ohio coach Charlie Coles says he is retiring after 16 seasons at the school.

Coles announced his decision after the RedHawks lost 60-53 at Toledo on Monday night in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament. Miami went 9-21 and 5-11 in the MAC this season.

Coles finishes with a 263-224 record at Miami for the most wins in school history. He also spent six seasons at Central Michigan and has an overall record of 355-308.

Athletic director Brad Bates called Coles "an iconic figure in the history of Miami University as a student, athlete, server, leader, mentor and coach."

The RedHawks reached the postseason seven times during Cole's tenure, including making it to the final 16 of the NCAA tournament in 1999.





http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7650622/charlie-coles-retires-16-seasons-miami-ohio

[wkrq59]

A sad day for college basketball but long overdue for Charlie. He is one of the best men I've ever known and I'd have hated to see him die while coaching, even though he would have loved it.:);):D

[smileyy]

So who's most responsible for the decline of Miami basketball? I remember them being competitive in the MAC for a long time. Was it Coles, or the rest of the administration that de-emphasized competitive basketball>

[TUclutch]

So who's most responsible for the decline of Miami basketball? I remember them being competitive in the MAC for a long time. Was it Coles, or the rest of the administration that de-emphasized competitive basketball>

Coles doesn't like recruiting. Thats the problem

[XUOWNSUC]

Let's get him on Xavier's bench next season - a la Gene Keady (St. John's).

[bleedXblue]

Not a bad idea although Cahrlie is likely set in his ways and I dont know how well Mack and Coles philosophies match.

[Pablo's Brother]

Kelsey?

[xavierj]

Kelsey?

I give that about a 1% of happening. Miami is not going to go after a guy who retired from coaching at 37 for a year. Not saying Pat is not a good coach who could do a decent job at Miami but the guy quit coaching for 1 reason or another and Miami is going to want a guy that they know is committed 100% to coaching and improving the program. With what is or was going on with Pat creates some doubt. They will go another route. I could see the Boals guy from Ohio State being an option, Jamie Henderson and even possibly James Whitford who had spent some time in Oxford.

[gladdenguy]

Kelsey has more than a 1% chance.

[XUOWNSUC]

Not a bad idea although Cahrlie is likely set in his ways and I dont know how well Mack and Coles philosophies match.

I'm actually serious about this. Charlie's players always seemed well-coached and disciplined. Just imagine what he could do with all the new guys we have coming in next year. Heck, I wouldn't announce anything or make things official till the fall - that way he could have the whole to summer to work with our new guys. It would so fast forward their development (which we desparately need next year).

Too bad it won't happen.

Bring Coles to Xavier (a la Gene Keady/St. John's)!

[xavierj]

I think Charie Coles was a great guy but was he really that great of a coach? He went to 3 NCAA tournaments in 16 years at Miami and never won an NCAA tourney game without Walley Szczerbiak. In fact he also went to the NIT twice and once to the CBI and never won a game in those tournaments either.

[DC Muskie]

When I read that Coles had retired, I quickly came onto this board to see how quickly Xavier fans would hope that Coles will join Mack on the bench.

Around 7:45 this morning. Xavier fans never disappoint!

[drudy23]

Guess we'll find out if the Kelsey rumors are true.

I think many have "heard" Coles will retire this year, and Kelsey will replace him. Well, Coles just retired....

And for those who say they won't look at a guy who is not committed to coaching, I'm sure there was a lot of "spin" about the reasons for his exit. Likely not the whole story.

[DC Muskie]

I think sometimes people forget that Lavin and Keady worked together and have a longtime friendship.

But hey what a great example to bring up Coles to Xavier!

YEAH!

[XUOWNSUC]

Xavier fans never disappoint!

I'm glad I didn't disappoint you!

[Titanxman04]

I'm glad I didn't disappoint you!

Must be a nice feeling. I disappoint people all the time.

[SpectorJersey]

When I read that Coles had retired, I quickly came onto this board to see how quickly Xavier fans would hope that Coles will join Mack on the bench.

Around 7:45 this morning. Xavier fans never disappoint!

Ha, was thinking the same thing. Not going to happen. My favorite was the Bobby Knight suggestion.

[GoMuskies]

Not sure how Coles can get the position Denny Crum has already filled.

[DC Muskie]

I'm glad I didn't disappoint you!

I hope you know I'm just busting balls on this.

Maybe we could get Jim Boeheim. He might not have a job after this season.

[Kahns Krazy]

So who's most responsible for the decline of Miami basketball? I remember them being competitive in the MAC for a long time. Was it Coles, or the rest of the administration that de-emphasized competitive basketball>

Ben Roethlisberger.



Kelsey?


I'd be amazed if Kelsey does not at least interview for this position.

[smileyy]

Ben Roethlisberger.


I'm wondering if you're serious about this -- that is, if Miami decided to focus more on football than basketball.

Or was that tongue in cheek? (<censored> in <censored>? head in pavement? this is Ben Roethlisberger after all)

[Xman95]

With the announcement of Chuck Coles retiring, Miami is already averaging more PPG!

Actually, I'm a big fan of Chuck Coles. He's the type of guy I would absolutely welcome as an assitant on Xavier's coaching staff. It can be boring as hell, but his teams usually focus on fundamentals and execution. He never had a ton of talent (in part because of the system), but the man knows the game.

Here's a look at Chuck in some of his younger days:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YzwQHFZh3mg/TxbbIxOa1BI/AAAAAAAACFo/uV2NY333gHI/s1600/young+evil+genius.png

http://media.mlive.com/sagsports_impact/photo/9420841-large.jpg

[Xman95]

So who's most responsible for the decline of Miami basketball? I remember them being competitive in the MAC for a long time. Was it Coles, or the rest of the administration that de-emphasized competitive basketball>


Ben Roethlisberger.

Man, that guy will f--k anything!

[X-band '01]

Ben Roethlisberger.



Add Rico Blasi and the Miami hockey program - they get more exposure on CBS Sports network for their hockey program (which includes a NCAA finals appearance) during the course of the year than their basketball program does.

To be fair to Miami, the MAC itself sucks ox balls compared to other mid-major conferences like the Missouri Valley, WAC, Sun Belt, etc.

[xavierj]

[QUOTE=Xman95;329063]With the announcement of Chuck Coles retiring, Miami is already averaging more PPG!

Actually, I'm a big fan of Chuck Coles. He's the type of guy I would absolutely welcome as an assitant on Xavier's coaching staff. It can be boring as hell, but his teams usually focus on fundamentals and execution. He never had a ton of talent (in part because of the system), but the man knows the game.

Charlie's teams were good when had talent (Wally) and very mediocre to poor when he did not. Guy had an awful record against the local teams and he only won 3 Mac regular season titles in his 16 years there. With his success he would have lasted about 4 years at Xavier.
Frankly he was very overrated and was at Miami a good 8 years too long.

[Kahns Krazy]

I'm wondering if you're serious about this -- that is, if Miami decided to focus more on football than basketball.

Or was that tongue in cheek? (<censored> in <censored>? head in pavement? this is Ben Roethlisberger after all)


Add Rico Blasi and the Miami hockey program - they get more exposure on CBS Sports network for their hockey program (which includes a NCAA finals appearance) during the course of the year than their basketball program does.

To be fair to Miami, the MAC itself sucks ox balls compared to other mid-major conferences like the Missouri Valley, WAC, Sun Belt, etc.

X band makes a good point. What is fact is the Miami has sunk a ton of money into upgrades at Yeager Stadium, millions on a new, state-of-the-art hockey arena, and the only new thing at Millet is a semi-permanent tarp that covers the seats in the upper level.

[xavierj]

Miami was averaging about 4100 fans a game 10 years ago and the last few years it has been at or under 2000 a game. When that happens you have problems and changes need to be made.

[Juice]

X band makes a good point. What is fact is the Miami has sunk a ton of money into upgrades at Yeager Stadium, millions on a new, state-of-the-art hockey arena, and the only new thing at Millet is a semi-permanent tarp that covers the seats in the upper level.

Does anyone else besides me wonder why Miami sinks so much money into football? What gain do they get from it? At most they win the MAC, which is like being the tallest midget. Hockey I can understand because they are good, have nice facilities, and can compete with the best programs in the country. It's an impossible fight in football, while in basketball there are tons of examples of non-BCS conference teams building strong programs.

[xubrew]

When I read that Coles had retired, I quickly came onto this board to see how quickly Xavier fans would hope that Coles will join Mack on the bench.

Around 7:45 this morning. Xavier fans never disappoint!

When I read that Coles had retired, I quickly came onto this board to see how quickly DC Muskie would react to how quickly Xavier fans would hope that Coles will join Mack on the bench.

It's later in the afternoon, but DC Muske never dissapionts!!!


My only question is this...how will this effect such a big, bitter and great rivarly??

[xavierj]

When I read that Coles had retired, I quickly came onto this board to see how quickly DC Muskie would react to how quickly Xavier fans would hope that Coles will join Mack on the bench.

It's later in the afternoon, but DC Muske never dissapionts!!!


My only question is this...how will this effect such a big, bitter and great rivarly??

Hopefully Xavier will feel like they don't have to go to Oxford anymore where no one even knows the game is being played except for Xavier fans. Nothing good can come out of playing at Millett unless you need a cure for insomnia.

[DC Muskie]

My only question is this...how will this effect such a big, bitter and great rivarly??

I think the rivalry remains. And Coles coming over to coach with us, well that will only turn up the heat in this rivalry. So much heat you ship in Five Guy Burgers and eat 'em up.

[wkrq59]

In fact, Miami never has been a basketball power long before many of you were born. There have been some great players there, Charlie (never Chuck) Coles, Wayne Embry, Ron Harper, Wally Szczerbiak but never really fantastic teams except for Wally's.
Darrell Hedric used to complain that getting the students to a basketball game was one of the hardest things about the basketball program. He had to create a special section in the end zones for the students to generate excitement with Harper there.
There are several reasons for Miami's problems with basketball. They include:
*The football emphasis. Miami always has and probably always will be football school. Cradle of coaches and all that. Charlie Coles and the program collaterally got more focus and publicity for his heart attacks than his basketball victories.
*It is very hard to recruit to Miami for several reasons and contrary to the notion that Charlie hated recruiting, he simply did not have the budget for it. Not that he ever went gaga over recruiting.
*Location location, location. Miami is anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes depending on traffic from the nearest airport. Conference rules prohibit flying anywhere to regular-season games so bus trips to Buffalo and Central Michigan are nightmares. Hell, when the men had to share a bus with the women there were gigantic problems.
*Location severely effects recruiting, especially of inner-city kids from places like The Hill in Pittsburgh and others in New York City, Chicago, St. Louis and elsewhere. The campus is very white bread and there are regulations about cars on campus etc. Try biking to Cincinnati, 35 miles away.
*The Mid-American Conference is not exactly a basketball oriented league. It is an old-time college football conference where basketball is something that once was and today is little more than an off-season nicety. Consider the cities, towns , burgs: Oxford, Mt.Pleasant Mi, Akron, Ypsilanti, Muncie, Toledo, Athens, DeKalb, Kalamazoo, Kent, Bowling Green, and Philadelphia for football only. Except for Buffalo, Toledo and of course Philly, where is the lure?
*Combine league, sites, although beautiful in some cases small campuses, football, hockey and baseball focuses within the schools themselves and hard to reach locales you have one tough chore.
*Finally, you have the Miami students, who over the years have proved they would rather enjoy in-dorm or sorority house or in season, on golf fairways and greens coitus than watch basketball game in theater seats in Millett Hall. Visiting teams from this area, X, UC and Dayton often bring more fans that does Miami to a home game.
So, how attractive is that coaching job? Moderately but not very. :eek::p:D

[SpectorJersey]

Charlie Coles, snort!!! I'm hoping there's room for Phil fu**ing Jackson on Mack's bench

[bleedXblue]

Not sure how Coles can get the position Denny Crum has already filled.

Denny Crum, someone did mention his name...classic !

[bleedXblue]

Kelsey at Miami would be a great fit.

It would be a great first job.

I dont think he's a shoe in, however if Miami overlooks him they would be foolish.

[joe titan]

IIR, Kelsey was recruited (maybe even committed) to Miami when he was at Elder until then Miami Coach Wright took job at Wyoming and convinced Kelsey to go west.

[xavierj]

I don't know though. I think pat has his eyes set on either the Kentucky job or even the heat. He has skills and Miami would be a waste of time.