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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 20, 2006
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As if there really was any before, O'Neill has no chance what-so-ever to return as the assistant coach. Olson has hired a replacement. Russ Pennell is a former ASU Asst. Coach, and has a lot of recruiting ties to The Valley. Could be a great move... but I'm curious to know more. Either way it can't be anyworse than what happened last season (combination of KO and Olson's LOA).
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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Technically he hasn't been hired yet. That announcement is still a week and a half off.
I think this move is a disappointing sign of the state of the program, or maybe of college basketball in general. Has Olson ever had to use the "hire a high school kid's coach to secure his recruitment" move to get players, especially those from Arizona, to join his program? Maybe the addition is in the sincere and immediate interests of the program, but the rational part of me says that this is a recruiting hire, which kind of worries me as a fan of the program.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006
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AZCATS
You're making the assumption that Olson hired Pennell to get one of his club players and that is his only real value. Is that pure speculation or do you know something the rest of us don't? I would think if Olson really wanted the kid, and that was the only criteria he was using to select an assistant, then he probably would have hired the kids' high school coach or even his Dad. On top of that Olson's contract expires before this kid would suit up for the U. Maybe Pennell was selected becuase he's a good coach. I'm not buying your theory. The rational part of me says that Olson hired the guy becuase he likes him and think he's a good coach. Of course, given that Olson also pulled the trigger on O'niell, I can understand a certain amount of angst.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 20, 2006
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AZCatsFan: The guy isn't just a high school coach. He's got a lot of experience at the College level and has been running specialist camps for the past several years. The way the article was written certainly makes it seem as though this might have been a recruiting move. But the talent that has been coming out of Phoenix in recent years, and from my understanding that program, tells me this guy isn't just an iconic assistant like Miles Simon.
Although, I am still pretty skeptical. Olson has not been doing a very good job with his hiring of assistants in recent years. The last one I agree with based upon track record is Josh Pastner. Outside of that, it appears rather worthless aside from having a pair of puppets and a dodo bird on the sidelines.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 19, 2007
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Keep in mind that Lute's days at Arizona are numbered (roughly 730 or so). I can't imagine a coach of any caliber, even HOF, could lure in an assistant who today was hire-able as a head coach. Since Lute's successor (who will be hired through a national search, dammit) will likely clean house when he arrives, this hire actually makes sense because it potentially gives Pennell a springboard to something else bigger and better when he's let go in 2010, and it gives Lute more recruiting power and someone who knows some X's and O's. I like it.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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The last three assistants Olson hired were Reggie Geary, Miles Simon and Kevin O'Neill. I think that all three hires were made to improve and help with recruiting, although O'Neill was supposed to instill a strong defensive presence. He dismissed O'Neill and Jim Rosborough, both of which are more seasoned in coaching and college experience. Pennell might bring a coaching background -- it didn't really blow me away when I read it -- but it's easy to see the recruiting implications of the hire. Matt Carlino is no new name to dedicated Arizona fans. And even though Olson's contract runs out before Carlino goes to college, Olson stated today on the radio that he planned to coach, with hope, for at least three years past that point. I think that part of it is Olson liking the addition to the staff, and the other part is him wanting to secure Carlino's commitment. Maybe Olson feels the need to secure his borders with the growing ASU program. It might not be a bad hire, but the apparent motives behind it are a sign of state of the program. That's just the way I see it. Maybe I need to be more optimistic.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 20, 2007
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My two cents...
Overall, I feel Pennell is (will be) a solid hire. He's highly regarded by others in the coaching ranks and has had several opportunities to coach in college (one to be a head coach at a DII school), but turned them all down. Take that for what it's worth, but I think the assessments and opinions of his coaching peers are worth a lot. He has had success at the college level and it's pretty impressive when you consider the teams. Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Arizona State had limited success before he joined those programs AND since he left, but while he was there, they did very well. Oklahoma State tied Kansas for the league championship in 1990-1991, won the preseason NIT in 1991 and went to two Sweet 16s. During his run at Ole Miss, they won the SEC, went to consecutive NCAA tournaments and reached #10 in the national polls. In his three years at ASU - and we all know how few postseason tournaments they've been to in the last twenty years - They went to the NCAA tournament once and the NIT twice.
His hire will definitely help with Carlino and Johnson (Nick, another Arizona target), but here's the other reason I like it... After ASU lost Phelps to Drake, they started talking to Pennell about their opening. If Pennell had ended up at ASU, he could have brought Carlino and Johnson with him (same situation as last year with Harden).
The one thing that confuses me a little is that Pennell is known primarily as an offense-minded coach, but he's replacing KO who was brought in to restore some toughness on defense. However, I expect that we'll see more coaching moves in the coming days and that could help in terms of maintaining balance. I think we may see Miles go and another assistant hired very quickly.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 20, 2007
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The staff is going to look MUCH different next year (and in the coming years), but I think it will also be much, much better. I'm encouraged by what they're doing, but hope that they can get it all done quickly to minimize the impact on recruiting. If negative recruiting based on Olson's age and impending contract expiration wasn't enough, coaches are already starting to point to instability in the coaching staff as another reason to shy away from Arizona. Although Pennell's locked up, they need to make the other change(s) quickly.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 19, 2006
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Before I start blasting the blessed on, let preface this by stating the following: I am a huuuge UofA fan. I am a huuuggggeee Lute fan and consider him one of my personal heroes', and a man that has provided me with great personal joy and heartbreak thru his coaching career. I went to the first game ever played at McKale, (some pack of traveling gypsies Snowden brought in) died in the Ben Lindsey year, and was reborn by Lute. I grew up a block from the U, live and die with the red and blue ....... but....
Lute will not hire a successor. Hie ego will not allow it. He tried it, I think, with O'Neill, but we all see how everyone associated with last year failed. Horribly. Lute, Kevin and Liven as a whole utterly failed the Univ and all parties. That was an ugly, dirty affair, whose end game has yet to be played. Lute will not allow another episode to sully his rep, as is his right. Maybe Pastner, but even then????? It for sure isn't Simon or Pennell or Geary.
Look at the Pac-10 and the type of coaches who have been hired and have been successful, primarily USC and UCLA and WSU. Look at the brand of ball they play, the coaching mentality. I fear that Lute's 'push the ball and outscore' brand is passé' in these new times. It'll still be fun, it'll still entertain the fogies at gametime but it'll be tough to win without the elite talent. He's always got by with great 2's and 3's but name the last great big guy he ever had? Frye and Woods were passable and in the league, BrianBisonWilliamDele was a | |
