If you were the AD, who would you interview and ultimately hire?

[xuphan]

My list

1: Travis Steele. Great recruiting ties and most likely means we keep the current squad together.
2: Ashley Howard. Xavier ties and a great recruiter. Recruiting is huge in college basketball these days.
3: Kevin Boyle. Montvede coach who I believe would bring a lot of big time players with his connection. Pretty good coach too.
4: John Groce. Xavier ties and someone who I think would stay long term.
5: Pat Kelsey. Xavier ties though I was hoping he would have more success than he has at Winthrop.

I would hire either Steele or Howard based on the interview and pitch on recruiting. To get Xavier to the next level, we need to recruit better. Based on what each coach said about their recruiting strategy, I'd go with the best strategy.

[waggy]

Penn State coach Pat Chambers. I'd at least find out if he's interested.

[Muskie]

My list

1: Travis Steele. Great recruiting ties and most likely means we keep the current squad together.
2: Ashley Howard. Xavier ties and a great recruiter. Recruiting is huge in college basketball these days.
3: Kevin Boyle. Montvede coach who I believe would bring a lot of big time players with his connection. Pretty good coach too.
4: John Groce. Xavier ties and someone who I think would stay long term.
5: Pat Kelsey. Xavier ties though I was hoping he would have more success than he has at Winthrop.

I would hire either Steele or Howard based on the interview and pitch on recruiting. To get Xavier to the next level, we need to recruit better. Based on what each coach said about their recruiting strategy, I'd go with the best strategy.

Are you only considering candidates with ties to X?

[Lamont Sanford]

What about Bob Hurley Sr? He's got some free time now that St Patricks closed.

I like the Kevin Boyle idea too, but maybe for an assistant job.

[Cheesehead]

Steele

[kellernr]

If you want to keep the roster intact go with Steele.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[American X]

Lane Kiffin

[Muskie in dayton]

If you want to keep the roster intact go with Steele.

Very true, but X has to hire based on what is best long-term. That may be Steele, I don’t know. I’m just saying we can’t base a hiring decision on what keeps the most players/recruits here next season.

[Caveat]

Very true, but X has to hire based on what is best long-term. That may be Steele, I don’t know. I’m just saying we can’t base a hiring decision on what keeps the most players/recruits here next season.

The best thing for long-term success is usually continued success.

Going into a multi-year rebuild is something a lot of programs don't really emerge from.

[Xville]

The best thing for long-term success is usually continued success.

Going into a multi-year rebuild is something a lot of programs don't really emerge from.

You only have to look to the matta Miller transition to realize that this is simply not true. It's very easy in college basketball to rebuild with the right coach.

[Caveat]

You only have to look to the matta Miller transition to realize that this is simply not true. It's very easy in college basketball to rebuild with the right coach.

Rebuilding at the A10 level is entirely different than rebuilding at a Big East level.

Not just different planets, different galaxies.

[BandAid]

I'd interview:

1. Steele - X Assistant
2. Kelsey - Winthrop Head
3. Howard - Nova Assistant
4. Oats - Buffalo Head
5. Brannen - NKU Head
6. Moser - Loyola Head
7. Miller - Arizona Head

Top 5 are those I'd definitely try to interview, the other two are dependent on time and how much of a sh*t-lord I wanna be.

And I'd probably end up hiring Steele.

[Caveat]

I'd ask permission to interview Mick Cronin.

Not because I want him as head coach, but just to watch Bearcat Banter melt down at the thought.

[GetUp5]

John Groce would be a very... gross hire.

I can't imagine Christopher will look at anyone very seriously outside of Steele and Sean Miller.

John Brannen? Eh, ok, has had success at NKU but really? Over Steele?

Pat Kelsey? He's had a pedestrian coaching career at Winthrop. Why would that change at Xavier?

I think the bottom line is this.. Any coaching candidate is going to have to give Christopher a reason to bypass a guy that has been waiting in the wings for 9 years AND buck the Xavier trend of hiring from within. A lot of the guys that are being listed (especially a freakin' high school coach, c'mon man) don't come close to doing that.. outside of Sean Miller.

[Xville]

Rebuilding at the A10 level is entirely different than rebuilding at a Big East level.

Not just different planets, different galaxies.

Ok.....Mizzou

took one whole season after Kim Anderson left.

Kentucky after Billy G
Unc after Matt Doherty

I know Kentucky and UNC are blue bloods and its a bit easier for them because of brand. However, thats part of my point...Xavier has built their brand up enough at this point in my opinion.

These are just off the top of my head im sure there are tons more if I really looked.

[atljar]

John Groce would be a very... gross hire.

I can't imagine Christopher will look at anyone very seriously outside of Steele and Sean Miller.

John Brannen? Eh, ok, has had success at NKU but really? Over Steele?

Pat Kelsey? He's had a pedestrian coaching career at Winthrop. Why would that change at Xavier?

I think the bottom line is this.. Any coaching candidate is going to have to give Christopher a reason to bypass a guy that has been waiting in the wings for 9 years AND buck the Xavier trend of hiring from within. A lot of the guys that are being listed (especially a freakin' high school coach, c'mon man) don't come close to doing that.. outside of Sean Miller.

Id love to have Miller back, but Daugherty @ the Enquirer reporting "Sean Miller has expressed interest. I’ve been told Xavier won’t talk to him" Bummer

[Xville]

Id love to have Miller back, but Daugherty @ the Enquirer reporting "Sean Miller has expressed interest. I’ve been told Xavier won’t talk to him" Bummer

I can't believe that you wouldn't at least talk to the guy. What is the harm in seeing what he has to say?

[dubbledxu]

id interview Steele, Brennan, Matta, Miller, and Nova's guy Ashley.

Id seriously interview them all. And then id do whatever I could to hire miller. Id use the Ashley interview to find out why the hell we can ever beat them (and id wait until after the FF to do it).

[drudy23]

Most people would love to have Miller back because he's the best coach out of the bunch.

We're also fans and don't have to worry about the integrity of the institution. Zero chance they hire him, or perhaps even talk to him. But I'd welcome him back. Whatever.

[Xavier2015]

Kenny Payne....uk asst. coach

[JTG]

Most people would love to have Miller back because he's the best coach out of the bunch.

We're also fans and don't have to worry about the integrity of the institution. Zero chance they hire him, or perhaps even talk to him. But I'd welcome him back. Whatever.

Plus being in a cold climate like Cincinnati, Miller wouldn't sweat nearly as much.

[GetUp5]

Id love to have Miller back, but Daugherty @ the Enquirer reporting "Sean Miller has expressed interest. I’ve been told Xavier won’t talk to him" Bummer

I'll go ahead and trust the other sources I've heard over Paul freakin' Daughtery.

[GetUp5]

Really though... think this through...

Imagine Greg Christoper sitting down to tell Travis Steele, who just invested 9 years of his life during one of the most successful runs of Xavier basketball that you're going to hire.... Pat Kelsey.. or John Brannen.. or Porter Moser. It doesn't make any sense.

If Sean isn't an option, hire Steele today.

[Xville]

Really though... think this through...

Imagine Greg Christoper sitting down to tell Travis Steele, who just invested 9 years of his life during one of the most successful runs of Xavier basketball that you're going to hire.... Pat Kelsey.. or John Brannen.. or Porter Moser. It doesn't make any sense.

If Sean isn't an option, hire Steele today.

Agreed. If it's not Miller, Matta or hell greg Marshall or someone in this fashion, then why bother? Just hire Steele and have the press conference at 4 today

[XU_Lou]

Yes, Kenny Payne should be in the conversation. James Posey should also be given some consideration. What about Steve Lavin - seems to really like XU. Kelsey - no way - just doesn't have the track record.

[xudash]

If any of you haven't taken the opportunity to watch Greg's full presser, I strongly suggest you do.

You should come away feeling good about knowing that the guy who is driving the process has a firm grip on how to do that.

Secondly, though we may all have our preferences or ideas on who should be ordained here, I do believe the process will lead us to the right guy.

With that noted, as I suggested in the other thread about who the new coach should be, I personally feel like Steele will end up with the job should he demonstrate that he has the charisma and leadership skills that the job demands. It's one thing to be technically competent at something. It's another to be that and a person with whom others want to invest a key part of their lives.

My hope is that we really make this a win by supporting Steele with highly paid, very impactful assistants. We have the funding to pull that off. Get creative and build a powerful team around him. Again, this assumes that Steele is fully vetted and deemed to be the guy to power the program forward.

Thank God we're fans of Xavier. We seem to know a thing or two about how to transition coaching staffs.

[OTRMUSKIE]

The no way on Kelsey is mind boggling. The guy took over a Winthrop job that wasn’t very good. After Marshall left that program struggled all but one year. Kelsey has done a damn good job down there. Also when we did hire Matta did we have a bunch of juniors that didn’t want to sit out a year?

[RoseyMuskie]

1. STEELE
2. Miller
3. Brannen
4. Oats

I capitalize Steele, because the more I think about it, it's the right move.
-Roster continuity likely
-Strong recruiter
-X/Os +
-Loyalty to X over the past few years (I think he's paid his dues)

And most importantly, as long as Xavier continues in the fashion it has been operating with promoting lead assistants, it will be a desirable spot for assistant coaches. And a strong staff will lead to continued relevance. There's a reason X has been the program it has been over the last 25+ years.

[AviatorX]

1. STEELE
2. Miller
3. Brannen
4. Oats

I capitalize Steele, because the more I think about it, it's the right move.
-Roster continuity likely
-Strong recruiter
-X/Os +
-Loyalty to X over the past few years (I think he's paid his dues)

And most importantly, as long as Xavier continues in the fashion it has been operating with promoting lead assistants, it will be a desirable spot for assistant coaches. And a strong staff will lead to continued relevance. There's a reason X has been the program it has been over the last 25+ years.

Great post. I like this point a lot. It’s a good point that an assistant spot at X is very attractive. No doubt in my mind Steele can put together a great staff.

If that happens, the recruiting fire power in the area is insane.

[boozehound]

The no way on Kelsey is mind boggling. The guy took over a Winthrop job that wasn’t very good. After Marshall left that program struggled all but one year. Kelsey has done a damn good job down there. Also when we did hire Matta did we have a bunch of juniors that didn’t want to sit out a year?

His record in the Big South conference is 68-36 for .654 winning percentage over the past 6 seasons with 1 NCAA appearance.

[Caveat]

The no way on Kelsey is mind boggling. The guy took over a Winthrop job that wasn’t very good. After Marshall left that program struggled all but one year. Kelsey has done a damn good job down there. Also when we did hire Matta did we have a bunch of juniors that didn’t want to sit out a year?

If we’re going outside the building to hire an outsider, I expect more than 1 NCAA app in a weak conference.

[GetUp5]

The no way on Kelsey is mind boggling. The guy took over a Winthrop job that wasn’t very good. After Marshall left that program struggled all but one year. Kelsey has done a damn good job down there. Also when we did hire Matta did we have a bunch of juniors that didn’t want to sit out a year?

I think Kelsey's performance at Winthrop is #3 on the list of priorities when talking about him for the X job. I am firmly in the "no way" camp.

#1 - Travis Steele has been the Associate HC for 9 seasons. An outside candidate would need to do something to trump that experience AND give Greg Christoper a reason to risk losing the entire roster to even be considered. What has Kelsey done? 6 seasons at Winthrop with a good record, 1 NCAA appearance and 0 NCAA wins. No thanks.

#2 - Pat Kelsey "retired" from Xavier out of the blue. Then became the coach at Winthrop before strangely backing out of the UMass job last year. There's clearly something off about both instances.

#3 - He has been an above average coach at Winthrop.

[SM#24]

If we’re going outside the building to hire an outsider, I expect more than 1 NCAA app in a weak conference.

Especially with what I think is the "flagship" program of the conference (maybe I'm jaded by the Marshall years, but other than UNC-Asheville, I would expect Winthrop to be at or very near the top every year).