Bilzz

Maybe leverage was the wrong word choice. But if you have one candidate who has clearly indicated he would take the job and another that has said he's interested, but you're not sure if you actually have a shot to land him, firing Ford Sunday provides clarity. The "second" coach would need to seriously engage or you formalize a handshake agreement with the "first" coach and announce as soon as his team gets bounced from the tournament.

If the two names that are being bandied about as finalists are true, it actually does makes sense to formally open it up ASAP. If you have one candidate who has already indicated that he would accept the job if offered and the other you're not sure whether or not is using the job as leverage for a P5 job, you open it up and make the latter candidate sh*t or get off the pot.

I've heard they're down to two finalists, but Holtman wasn't one of the two I heard.

Gibson came back because he got a bag. Parker was not in position to cash in substantially last year. He will be next year. SLU will have to pony-up to keep him.

I don't think the current team is all that relevant. Anytime there is a coaching change the assumption will be that most of the roster will leave. If you can convince Gibby, Parker, and Ezewiro to return, a new coach bring in a few of their top players at their last stop, and hits gets a solid committment or two in the transfer portal and you'd be in the top couple of the A-10 for next year. Mack is clearly in my Tier-1 along with Moser and Wade. I like DeVries, McCollum, Schertz, but if you can get a guy of Mack/Moser/Wade's caliber, along with the commitment of resources it would take to land them (NIL money, salary, etc..), I don't think you can pass on that for an up-and-comer.

This is objectively false. Ahearn is very interested in the SLU job.

I think success in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons is probably one of the most important factors in selecting a new coach. Given the new landscape, I think we shoot for someone who has had success in the new framework.

Yeah, personally, I don't quite agree with this. Mine is more along these lines with the names you mentioned: Tier 1: Mack, Moser, Wade Tier 2: Holtmann, Schertz, McCollum Tier 3: DeVries, Petino Tier 4: Kerns, Enfield, Kelsey, Wardle Tier 5: Ahearn Tier 6: Crean, Weber, Ford, Cuonzo, Etc.. Mack, Moser, & Wade would make SLU instantly relevant nationally. If you can get one, you don't pass them up.

There's already mutual interest between SLU and Schertz.

Yeah. I really don't like the idea of Weber. My #1 criteria for a hire would be success in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. We need someone who understands how to be successful in the NIL and transfer portal landscape.

Take with a grain of salt, but I did talk to a local sports reporter with ties to boosters about the coaching search. Haven't read the whole thread so excuse me if some of this is already posted. Ford is a goner. SLU has reached out to Weber, Ahearn, DeVries, & Schertz. Weber wants the job badly and is pushing for it. SLU also reached out to Sprinkle, but he wasn't interested. Doesn't think Mack/Wade/Holtmann/Moser have much legs to them. All will probably take P5 jobs. I'm not an "insider" by any means, just have a pre-existing relationship with the reporter and we talk on occasion. He gives me stuff he hears, but can't report.

The question in the back of the mind for all decisions this year is that with a lame-duck-ish HC, every player on the roster will have the ability to transfer come March when/if Ford gets canned. You could be saving the two years for his next school.

I mean dad is worth ~$45 million. When SLU signed LHJ, I thought it was a charity spot, but as good as he was last year, maybe it was LH keeping an extra schollie open for a 13th man. Lord knows SLU could use another big with all the 2x transfer waivers being denied the last couple days.

I mean, IN THEORY, SLU's not necessarily out of scholarships because LHJ could go back to being a walk-on, right? When is it actually determined whether or not someone is a walk-on or counts towards the scholarship limit?

I don't disagree, but I'm just pointing out the problem with the idea that we should "play the kids" and not worry about having a significant, veteran big on the roster. You likely lose all of those freshmen bigs after your coach gets fired at the end of the season. Dandridge is probably SLU's only remaining shot to get to a 22+ win season. Even with him, it would take a lot of luck.

The problem is, you go 17-18, Ford gets fired and all those Freshman run to the portal after the season.

I'm basically there too. He's probably the only way this team has the ability to overperform expectations this year, though. I mean if Ezewiro doesn't get a waiver (and there's nothing indicating he will), SLU's ****ed at the post this year. I don't think we can argue that any of the frosh bigs can come in and be an impact option.

Yeah. I think you need to assume spots 10-13 are going to leave every year, but the transfer pool will start to cool next year when they start denying the second time waivers. If Ford gets fired, everyone leaves.

If you don't win this year Ford gets fired and all those freshman enter the transfer portal, though.

WPB heavily hinting on Twitter that we may have landed Dandridge.

I don't think talent was ever the question with that one.

That is pretty much what the source I spoke to last week said.

Like I said, take it for what its worth, but I know the guy is close to the program and he was correct on the international guy we landed today. Not saying anything will or won't happen, just wanted to pass along what I was told.

FWIW, I spoke to someone close to the program last week who told me the international player Frank was talking about was from Serbia. He said the deal should've been wrapped up that day. I asked about Dandridge and he said SLU has offered a lot of NIL money. He said the coaching staff doesn't believe anyone else will touch the amount of NIL SLU offered, but they think he may be delaying his decision to see if anyone else comes in and offers more. He wouldn't say anything was likely, but he did say the coaching staff believes SLU has presented far and away the best NIL offer Dandridge received. I'm not an insider or anything, so take it with a grain of salt, but the source said SLU is not out on Dandridge. I wasn't going to post anything unless the Serbian thing actually materialized.