Name the next head coach (a GMUJim tribute album)

[ODUCoach]

And now, ESPN reports that he has agreed in principle with Buffalo, but that he hasn't signed anything and will still interview with DePaul.

 

[disgruntled]

And paying the $100k fee to use them.

And yet we all talk as if Brad Edwards is out combing the country for coaches. He's not.

He's waiting to get a phone call from the head hunters to tell him who he likes. All the while they are also repping a conference foe...and interviewing the same people.

If there's any truth to how I am hearing this process is working with Parker, ie Fordham and other similar schools they are repping....then I am pissed.

Parker "finds" Edwards for Mason, then Edwards turns around a gives a "kickback" back to Parker to hire them to find his basketball coach. Its a GD scam if you ask me.

I would take myself and any 4 of you off this board and could have come up with about the same list as Parker. BS BS BS.

Actually you all have already come up with the list. It is on this thread. Now all you need is a very hot blond to make video calls on skype to get the coaches to the interview (Phikapp has one of these). That's got to be an easy 100K no? X 10 schools, decent money for a few months work.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Parker is also responsible for things like background checks, so that we don't end up with a Steve Masiello situation.

 

[Pablo]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...ing-head-coaching-vacancies-college-athletics:

"Michael Plunkett, Parker's manager of technology, sits off to the side at a circular table, laptop at his disposal.

With the click of a mouse, he can access any coach you might want to hire, whether it be a head coach or an assistant.

And, with a few more clicks, he lays bare that coach's information -- his educational background and coaching background; his win/loss record annually and broken down by season; his salary, including bonuses, buyout clauses, shoe contracts and perks, such as country club memberships and car deals; whom he's coached with and whom he's coached for; his academic track record, including APR numbers; videos of him at news conferences or on the court during games; and news stories referencing any black marks he might have encountered during the course of his career, from NCAA issues to personal transgressions.

When a university signs a deal with Parker Executive Search, access to this database is the big draw. It's truly like a dating service, complete with a prospective coach's mug shot in the top left corner of the screen.

Also included in the firm's fee, which typically runs between $60,000 and $90,000, plus expenses, is what it believes is soup-to-nuts service, including:

• Handling all calls inquiring about the coaching vacancy

• Reviewing its database with search committee members and providing all members with a private log-in to access the database remotely

• Contacting coaches or agents to request interviews

• Arranging for travel and accommodations for candidates who will be interviewed

• Conducting public records searches -- credit, criminal and motor vehicle reports -- of all candidates

• Confirming academic degrees

• Receiving a signed statement from candidates confirming information and affirming that nothing else need be disclosed

• Negotiating a contract on behalf of the university

• Receiving signed terms of an agreement from the coaching candidate and all parties before the introductory news conference

The real meat, though, is the database, a veritable treasure trove of information. The profiles of more than 1,000 basketball coaches and 2,000 football coaches are a click away.

Plunkett and two interns constantly feed the beast, uploading media links and videos, as well as updating schedules and contract information.

'One year we had an athletic director walk in with two suitcases full of information,' said vice president Daniel Parker. 'He never opened it. We had it covered for him. They don't have time to sift through so much information. These searches go very quickly."'

 

[gmujim92]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...ing-head-coaching-vacancies-college-athletics:

"Michael Plunkett, Parker's manager of technology, sits off to the side at a circular table, laptop at his disposal.

With the click of a mouse, he can access any coach you might want to hire, whether it be a head coach or an assistant.

And, with a few more clicks, he lays bare that coach's information -- his educational background and coaching background; his win/loss record annually and broken down by season; his salary, including bonuses, buyout clauses, shoe contracts and perks, such as country club memberships and car deals; whom he's coached with and whom he's coached for; his academic track record, including APR numbers; videos of him at news conferences or on the court during games; and news stories referencing any black marks he might have encountered during the course of his career, from NCAA issues to personal transgressions.

When a university signs a deal with Parker Executive Search, access to this database is the big draw. It's truly like a dating service, complete with a prospective coach's mug shot in the top left corner of the screen.

Also included in the firm's fee, which typically runs between $60,000 and $90,000, plus expenses, is what it believes is soup-to-nuts service, including:

• Handling all calls inquiring about the coaching vacancy

• Reviewing its database with search committee members and providing all members with a private log-in to access the database remotely

• Contacting coaches or agents to request interviews

• Arranging for travel and accommodations for candidates who will be interviewed

• Conducting public records searches -- credit, criminal and motor vehicle reports -- of all candidates

• Confirming academic degrees

• Receiving a signed statement from candidates confirming information and affirming that nothing else need be disclosed

• Negotiating a contract on behalf of the university

• Receiving signed terms of an agreement from the coaching candidate and all parties before the introductory news conference

The real meat, though, is the database, a veritable treasure trove of information. The profiles of more than 1,000 basketball coaches and 2,000 football coaches are a click away.

Plunkett and two interns constantly feed the beast, uploading media links and videos, as well as updating schedules and contract information.

'One year we had an athletic director walk in with two suitcases full of information,' said vice president Daniel Parker. 'He never opened it. We had it covered for him. They don't have time to sift through so much information. These searches go very quickly."'

Or you can let Tom O'Connor handle it by himself.

 

[99 Patriot]

You think Hewitt's profile has "The Paul Hewitt" video attached to it? Wish Tom had seen that before hiring him.

 

[Walter]

Or you can let Tom O'Connor handle it by himself.

I am assuming O'Connor didn't think he needed help because he had his own college AD consulting company. O'Connor really did think he had made it all happen at Mason. And he could sell advice to others so they could make it happen too. Unfortunately for us he didn't realize he had nothing to do with it. It was all Larranaga.

 

[gmujim92]

I am assuming O'Connor didn't think he needed help because he had his own college AD consulting company. O'Connor really did think he had made it all happen at Mason. And he could sell advice to others so they could make it happen too. Unfortunately for us he didn't realize he had nothing to do with it. It was all Larranaga.

I sure hope TOC isn't using the Hewitt hire as any type of testimonial to the type of service his company will provide for its clients.

 

[wijg]

Good read about Parker, though, it sounded a little bit like their database is just information available on the Internet. They probably have it organized nicely and probably have interns searching constantly for the info, but we have Pablo and Gunnie that seem to be able to dig up every tidbit on the Internet.

This part stuck out to me:

"These searches go very quickly."

Not a criticism, because I am assuming some of our targets were still coaching over the last week, but, haven't we passed the "very quickly" point already?

 

[Pablo]

Not a criticism, because I am assuming some of our targets were still coaching over the last week, but, haven't we passed the "very quickly" point already?

See https://www.parkersearch.com/:

"We understand the sensitivity and urgency of finding a coach or sports executive. That’s why we complete most coach searches in 10 to 14 days and can complete executive searches in four to five weeks."

 

[GMUgemini]

Good read about Parker, though, it sounded a little bit like their database is just information available on the Internet. They probably have it organized nicely and probably have interns searching constantly for the info, but we have Pablo and Gunnie that seem to be able to dig up every tidbit on the Internet.

This part stuck out to me:

Not a criticism, because I am assuming some of our targets were still coaching over the last week, but, haven't we passed the "very quickly" point already?

I have a feeling Prohm will be our next coach

 

[gmujim92]

Just a guess, but I believe the reason it's taking some time is that Edwards is holding out until Murray State's season ends so he can at least make a real pitch to Prohm -- bring him to campus, show him the facilities, wine him and dine him, whole 9 yards.

In that case, it would only be a question if the other names mentioned get hired by other schools or are still available if Prohm takes a job elsewhere.

One way or another, I'd be surprised if we didn't know something within the next 2 weeks ... sooner if ODU does us a solid and beats Murray State tonight.

 

[mason2k1]

I have a feeling Prohm will be our next coach

grand slam if that happens

 

[Quentin Daniels]

I can't imagine one game having that much sway - I'm still rooting against Ol' Dirty.

 

[gmujim92]

The wild card in all of this is Alabama.

If they get Marshall, I could very easily see Wichita State throwing $1MM at Prohm. That would still be 3X his current salary and a step up to a top-10 program with nice facilities, crazy fans and seemingly limitless financial resources. Hard for us to compete with that.

If Marshall tells Alabama "no thanks," do they look for another "big name" to placate their boosters and fan base? Both Auburn and Miss. State dropped big dollars to hire name coaches -- SEC penis envy could be a factor.

Do they make a run at Rick Barnes if he's fired by Texas? Do they hire another promising young coach in La. Tech's Michael White, who is seen by many as just as much of a rising star as Prohm? Or do they hire Prohm?

So many dominoes still to fall...

 

[Walter]

Our backup Larranaga boys (Cherry or Caputo) will always be available. In the end, we will be okay with either. No use rushing this while Prohm is out there.

 

[dr. gunnie]

I'm pretty confident that the hold up at this point is our interest with Prohm, but I hope he isn't just doing this:

"When I was at Murray State, I did an interview for a job I didn't want because a high-powered search firm wanted me to," Cronin said. "The school wanted to interview me and I wasn't interested in the job, but I wanted to endear myself to the search firm. I thought it was better than pissing them off."

 

[Walter]

The wild card in all of this is Alabama.

If they get Marshall, I could very easily see Wichita State throwing $1MM at Prohm. That would still be 3X his current salary and a step up to a top-10 program with nice facilities, crazy fans and seemingly limitless financial resources. Hard for us to compete with that.

If Marshall tells Alabama "no thanks," do they look for another "big name" to placate their boosters and fan base? Both Auburn and Miss. State dropped big dollars to hire name coaches -- SEC penis envy could be a factor.

Do they make a run at Rick Barnes if he's fired by Texas? Do they hire another promising young coach in La. Tech's Michael White, who is seen by many as just as much of a rising star as Prohm? Or do they hire Prohm?

So many dominoes still to fall...

I think Underwood goes to WSU or Texas if either comes available.

 

[Walter]

I'm pretty confident that the hold up at this point is our interest with Prohm, but I hope he isn't just doing this:

"When I was at Murray State, I did an interview for a job I didn't want because a high-powered search firm wanted me to," Cronin said. "The school wanted to interview me and I wasn't interested in the job, but I wanted to endear myself to the search firm. I thought it was better than pissing them off."

My guess is Prohm wants out. He will take the best ticket out of the OVC. Hopefully, it is us.

 

[gmutom]

Jim, money aside, we have to hope that Prohm is looking to build a program rather than sustain one. There will be exponentially more pressure taking over a job like WSU than with ours.

Much like when Lonegran took over a crappy GW program, Prohm will have a grace period to bring in some of his own players and implement his own system. With WSU (and even Alabama to a lesser extent), he will have immense pressure to not only maintain what they have been doing but even take it to the next level.

We already suck, so there is nowhere to go but up.