So yeah, we know. The season isn’t over and Gottfried is still the coach (update: He’s been fired), but we watched another 2nd half of poor basketball last night and with all the rumors swirling, I think this thing has a pretty clear ending. We know you don’t want to read ‘what went wrong against UNC.’ Shoot, it’s the same stuff that went wrong in their first loss against Creighton or the loss against Miami. So instead, we want to write what you are likely here to read. A first glance as some potential hires for the POSSIBLE upcoming coaching search. Here we go.
Archie Miller (Dayton) This is a no brainer. To be honest, I believe if Archie was having a bad year then the ‘fire Gottfried’ call would not have been quite as loud. However, Miller is having a great year, is tied for first in the A-10 and most likely making a move after the season. State donors and fans all realize that the time is now or never on Miller, which is likely what started the ball rolling on moving away from Gottfried despite a track record that may have at least bought him another year.
Either way, Miller would be a homerun hire for State. Would he be the best hire? I don’t know. He would certainly unite the fan base and he certainly would bring more of a structured atmosphere around the program. He is an up and comer who is on everyone’s radar. Which brings us to…
Would he come? Good question. He is an alumnus. His wife’s family lives about 1.5 hours outside Raleigh. Those are the plusses. We know his dream job is OSU and Thad Matta is having a bad season, but will they fire him? I doubt it. If that job were to open then Archie would take it. That’s pretty much the bottom line. Now, aside from that scenario, would he think about coming to NC State. We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s certainly not off the table if the Wolfpack open up their pocketbook and pay him out (offer the guy $3.5 mil and make him turn you down.)
Will Wade (VCU) If Archie is your 1A then Wade is your 1B. Honestly, Wade might be the better get of the two, but with Archie being from NC State and having connections I think fans know that he’d understand the situation of NC State better than Wade. Honestly though, does that matter? Wade is a hard-ass, no-nonsense, tell is like it is kind of guy and he’s only 34 years old. He’s the one tied with Archie for 1st place in the A-10. This is only his second year at VCU and he’s having a ton of success, but would he jump to the ACC? I’m not so sure. This is a very confident coach who likes where he is at and seems self-assured that there will be big time jobs waiting for him when he’s ready to make the jump. Is NC State that jump? I don’t think a guy like Wade is necessarily looking at NC State and hoping they offer him something, but a move to the ACC would be a step up and again, if NC State makes Wade a HUGE offer he can’t refuse, they just might be able to pry him away from VCU. Take a look at some of Wade’s greatest hits.
Gregg Marshall
Marshall has always been on the Wolfpack fan’s radar. He won at Winthrop and then took the Wichita State job where he has been for the past 9 years. He has taken them to 5 straight NCAA tournaments and is well on his way to another as he sits at 14-1 (1st place) in the MVC conference. Marshall is a key candidate for the Pack because he’s likely ready to try his hand against the big dogs in the ACC. Marshall is a competitor. He’s a very fiery, very passionate coach who would fit well with the NC State fanbase. The guy has a chip on his shoulder, he has been overlooked and all he does is keep on winning (oh and he hate’s Jeff Goodman so that’s a plus)
So what’s the catch? Money. Marshall is making over $ 3million. That is a ton for the head coach of Wichita State. But what does that show you? Wichita State has no business paying their coach $3.3 million, but they did and they are now a powerhouse in their conference. If NC State would just stop trying to find a bargain and open their wallet up, then they might get the right guy here. If you want to compete with the top teams in the nation, then you need to offer a top-line salary to your next coach. Show Marshall the money and there’s a good chance you could pry him.
As you can see in this clip, Marshall isn’t necessarily interested in much else than the business of basketball. He isn’t interested in Jeff Goodman’s take that people don’t like his personality. He’s an outsider that nobody gets. Well, guess what. NC State is also an outsider that nobody gets and if you want a guy who isn’t scared one bit of standing up to Roy and K, then Marshall is your man. Marshall has won and won big everywhere he’s been. You want a winner? Offer Gregg.
Chris Holtmann (Butler) Lots of talk around Holtman right now. He stepped in for head coach Brandon Miller a few years ago when he was forced to take a medical leave. Holtmann was the top assistant and moved to the HC slot. Now, he’s done a pretty good job there and he’d be a nice hire, however. I think Hottmann is probably your 4th or 5th best option at this point. Sure, he’s taken a Butler program to two consecutive tournaments in his first two years, but NC State is a different animal. Coaching at NC State means much tougher competition, attracting a different type of player, etc. Could Hotlmann do it, I think so. Would he be a major upgrade to our program. Probably. Would he come to NC State? I think that is big thing with Holtmann. I think he would. With his name seemingly floating around out of nowhere, I wonder if his agent or his people aren’t the ones floating it. Maybe I’m wrong and he plays it safe and stays at Butler. I mean, he is a top 25 team and 2nd in the Big East, but maybe he wants to get paid. He’s only making about $1 mil, so a offer for $2.5 might get him if Butler doesn’t re-up.
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In part 2 we’ll look at another group including: Chris Mack (Xavier), Greg Mcdermott (Creighton), Kevin Keatts (UNCW) and Tom Crean (Indiana)
I will say this. I’ve questioned a lot of Yow’s decisions but I have to give her this… she listens to fans when they are fed up. Her office was getting tons of emails calling for Gott’s head and she responded. Maybe not as quickly as I liked but she acted.
Wolfer96
7 years ago
When the new coach is hired, if he has to clean house and start Corchianni Jr at PG next season I will support that. We need a coach that kids will respect and also kids that are coachable and play their asses off for their coach.
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Here’s hoping we get it right this time and choose a real winner. As always I am willing to give the next guy 4 seasons to prove himself. Just want to see progress each season, some decent defense, and disciplined basketball. If the next guy can build the team with 3&4 stars and be kicking ass by year 3/4 I could live with that too. Nothing worse than losing with 5 stars.
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Well it’s official. Gott is axed. I don’t hate Gott but I never liked his hiring. It felt like Yow either struck out on the big names, pissed off a couple of coaches then was forced to settle on a guy who was fired from his previous job. Not a recipe for success.
Wolfer96
7 years ago
I heard we screwed up with Marshall during a previous coaching search so he may not be interested. Otherwise I think he would make a good candidate. He’s a fiery guy and his guys play disciplined basketball.
I still like McDermott and Holtman. That game we played against Creighton, we were totally and completely outcoached. Holtman is the guy you want if you like the young up and comer.
McDermott’s utter failure at Iowa State in what was an otherwise stable and successful program concerns me. Not to mention he hasn’t had great success at Creighton since his son graduated, although they are definitely looking good this year. Holtmann, though, appears to be great and his time at Gardner-Webb at least gives him some link to the region.
Yeah I may lean more towards Holtmann myself. He unexpectedly became headcoach at Butler and really took full advantage of the situation. He’s young and likely has that energy needed at a program like State where the kids don’t appear to be buying in.
McDermott is such a long shot anyways. But Holtmann, IMO, is a true target. I just think this time around NC State needs a guy who mirrors the personality of the fan base. The softer, friendlier approach didn’t translate well for Herb Sendek despite putting together some pretty nice seasons. I think they need to put a huge package together and throw it at Arch, Wade and Marshall.
To me, those are your top 3 guys. You basically ask them what its going to take to get them here and you match it. After that then you go to your second tier. I think Keatts is your last option, but I hear he WILL take it.
With McDermott, he has a track record of improving programs at the lower levels (see Wayne State & Northern Iowa) but has struggled at times in the big leagues. But when he has talent he wins. Maybe it’s just a matter of pairing him up with good recruiters.
Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.
This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.
O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.
He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.
NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).
Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.
ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.
Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.
Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.
Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.
Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.
Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)
At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.
Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.
NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts and the beloved DJ Burns were both Siren Sounders for the Canes this evening, with Carolina defeating the Islanders 6-3, winning the Round 1 series 4-1.
Me: Were you nervous?
Kevin Keatts: No! I just won nine elimination games in the NCAA Tournament!
I will say this. I’ve questioned a lot of Yow’s decisions but I have to give her this… she listens to fans when they are fed up. Her office was getting tons of emails calling for Gott’s head and she responded. Maybe not as quickly as I liked but she acted.
When the new coach is hired, if he has to clean house and start Corchianni Jr at PG next season I will support that. We need a coach that kids will respect and also kids that are coachable and play their asses off for their coach.
Here’s hoping we get it right this time and choose a real winner. As always I am willing to give the next guy 4 seasons to prove himself. Just want to see progress each season, some decent defense, and disciplined basketball. If the next guy can build the team with 3&4 stars and be kicking ass by year 3/4 I could live with that too. Nothing worse than losing with 5 stars.
Well it’s official. Gott is axed. I don’t hate Gott but I never liked his hiring. It felt like Yow either struck out on the big names, pissed off a couple of coaches then was forced to settle on a guy who was fired from his previous job. Not a recipe for success.
I heard we screwed up with Marshall during a previous coaching search so he may not be interested. Otherwise I think he would make a good candidate. He’s a fiery guy and his guys play disciplined basketball.
I still like McDermott and Holtman. That game we played against Creighton, we were totally and completely outcoached. Holtman is the guy you want if you like the young up and comer.
McDermott’s utter failure at Iowa State in what was an otherwise stable and successful program concerns me. Not to mention he hasn’t had great success at Creighton since his son graduated, although they are definitely looking good this year. Holtmann, though, appears to be great and his time at Gardner-Webb at least gives him some link to the region.
Yeah I may lean more towards Holtmann myself. He unexpectedly became headcoach at Butler and really took full advantage of the situation. He’s young and likely has that energy needed at a program like State where the kids don’t appear to be buying in.
McDermott is such a long shot anyways. But Holtmann, IMO, is a true target. I just think this time around NC State needs a guy who mirrors the personality of the fan base. The softer, friendlier approach didn’t translate well for Herb Sendek despite putting together some pretty nice seasons. I think they need to put a huge package together and throw it at Arch, Wade and Marshall.
To me, those are your top 3 guys. You basically ask them what its going to take to get them here and you match it. After that then you go to your second tier. I think Keatts is your last option, but I hear he WILL take it.
A 3 year resume at Wilmington? I don’t know.
Is McDermott a long shot? I thought he was only making a Mil a year currently?
With McDermott, he has a track record of improving programs at the lower levels (see Wayne State & Northern Iowa) but has struggled at times in the big leagues. But when he has talent he wins. Maybe it’s just a matter of pairing him up with good recruiters.