**2025 Iowa Offseason & Coaching Search Thread***

[LifelongHawk]

Alford took Directional Missouri State to the sweet 16* and won multiple D3 titles at Manchester. Yes, he was a splash hire.

Was very impressive run, played slow against Pearls' frenetic press at UWM, then pressed and played fast against a Bo Ryan type team.

 

[Kerky]

Trying to find it, but I became sold after seeing the interview regarding the type of player he looks for and doesn't want moody etc. He has top notch coaching chops and we will see how he can recruit guys that are willing to fit his mold and work hard in this new NIL era.

 

[MikeyJoe]

People look at the Lick hire with hindsight. I don’t think people realized how much he was riding on Steven‘s coattails at Butler - it was perceived to be a pretty good hire for Iowa at the time.

In general coaching hires are crapshoot - but about as objectively as you can look at this one he seems like a really good coach.

 

[snips]

honestly can't think of anyone better that we could have realistically hired
this is awesome

 

[Fletch]

Devries would’ve been better, but McCollum is the absolute best available.

McCollum is a home run.

 

[Revolver]

People look at the Lick hire with hindsight. I don’t think people realized how much he was riding on Steven‘s coattails at Butler - it was perceived to be a pretty good hire for Iowa at the time.

In general coaching hires are crapshoot - but about as objectively as you can look at this one he seems like a really good coach.

It was looked at as a good hire, but I don’t think people were this excited about Lick.

 

[snips]

a home run with a bat flip and a slow, slow trot round the bases....

 

[Kerky]

McCollum is a home run.

Just look at Indiana fanbase reaction. They wanted Mac over Devries right?

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I just hope they don’t pay Stirtz too much.

Hopefully enough to at least buy a new driver

 

[Uff Da]

Seems like a good hire. Iowa basketball might never reach any great level, but, at least Fran is finally gone. Hope is a good thing, there was none with Fran.
Seems a big jump in a few seasons and might be the "hot" coach, but, move on quickly if it doesn't work out.

 

[Debit One]

 

[OlePeep]

I like him as a defender. Not like he is a must, but he’s there already.

If he can be coached into a defender/rebounder role I think he can be really useful

 

[AZmessDAWG]

If he can be coached into a defender/rebounder role I think he can be really useful

I guess I’m going off how lost he looked on defense, but you could say that abt any player on a Fran coached team I suppose.

 

[Harbinger]

Beth:

 

[OlePeep]

I guess I’m going off how lost he looked on defense, but you could say that abt any player on a Fran coached team I suppose.

I’m just going off how he was the only guy on the team who could, well, jump

 

[champion_thedrinker]

The fact that a guy like this also will have the ability to assemble a roster as he sees fit, to a certain extent, leaves me very optimistic about the situation.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

The most exciting thing about this hire, IMO, is it seems that Iowa is far less likely to be soft as shit in the coming years. That would be a welcome sight.

 

[ivan_drago]

McCollum is a home run.

ok? I didn’t say otherwise

 

[brantshawks]

Flipside is a good coach has never been less important. It's all about the players you can buy.

 

[Jim Tebow]

Traore was an AWFUL defender last year. Has the physical tools. But never in position. Constantly leaving his feet. Getting blown by on the reg. Would be a good experiment to see how he plays under a BM as opposed to Fran.

 

[Jim Tebow]

Flipside is a good coach has never been less important. It's all about the players you can buy.

Signed, KU boosters.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

Flipside is a good coach has never been less important. It's all about the players you can buy.

I agree with this, but if you are a school like Iowa and can't compete to that level, it helps to have a team that is tough as hell and can defend.

I've always been high on Fran just because the offensive game seemed to make the season entertaining, notwithstanding post-season results, but obviously the last couple years were abysmal and it was time for a change. I think everyone is ready for a different strategy, even if it is more (gulp) Wisconsin like.

 

[Stu Beagle]

not really. The blue bloods still get the best players they just have to pay for them legally now

 

[Revolver]

I guess I’m going off how lost he looked on defense, but you could say that abt any player on a Fran coached team I suppose.

I agree. He is long and athletic. I would like to see what he can do with a defensive-minded coach.

 

[Hawkstrat]

I would like Tadjo to stick around. Just from the few minutes he got, he seems like a player that would benefit from a defensive first coach. If he can defend without fouling, I don't see why he couldn't be a rebound/defend/dunk guy.

 

[Fletch]

ok? I didn’t say otherwise

He’s better than DeVries.

 

[Revolver]

I would like Tadjo to stick around. Just from the few minutes he got, he seems like a player that would benefit from a defensive first coach. If he can defend without fouling, I don't see why he couldn't be a rebound/defend/dunk guy.

Doesn’t hurt especially after what McCollum said about depth being overrated. If they suck, they won’t play.

 

[Alan Lomax]

If everything we’re hearing is accurate, Big Dick Beth did a good job with this one. A respectful dismissal of the long tenured coach, a substantial increase to NIL, and then landing one of the most sought after candidates in the field in about a week’s time after the position opened.

She lost out on her first choice to a blue blood, but that was out of her control for the most part.

That Beth is good at her job.

 

[Brownzy]

McCollum would have benched Freeman in the preseason until he dropped 20 pounds and stopped acting like a vagina all the time. Maybe.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

Now Leistikow and Kakert are pumping the brakes.

 

[Hawkstrat]

Leistikow is just mad that it might take a little attention away from the women's game.

 

[gohawkeyes811]

Now Leistikow and Kakert are pumping the brakes.

I assume they are doing this so they can get some eyes on them when they confirm the hire.

 

[CurdMan]

Now Leistikow and Kakert are pumping the brakes.

Chad is always conservative and likely hearing from people on UI side that it isn’t completely done yet.

Kakert will fire any shot he can at Eickholt, especially when David puts something out before Kakert does.

 

[ivan_drago]

Kakert is a bitch with no sources.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

Ahh the politics of local Iowa beat reporting.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

What’s Trilly sayin

 

[MikeyJoe]

Kakert’s position is basically that news isn’t ready to be reported until the UI issues a press release.

 

[Revolver]

Sounds like WVU got Calhoun.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

Kakert’s position is basically that news isn’t ready to be reported until the UI issues a press release.

Man he enjoys being cucked by national reporters.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Kakert’s position is basically that news isn’t ready to be reported until the UI issues a press release.

That’s ok as long as you know about it 2 weeks beforehand and make sure you report that you did in fact possess this knowledge prior

 

[snips]

 

[douglasbader]

Tom Kakert really really really hates Eickholdt.

 

[newsbreaker]

That’s ok as long as you know about it 2 weeks beforehand and make sure you report that you did in fact possess this knowledge prior

He deserves credit. He’s doesn’t report anything, repeats official press releases, and gets people to support his family by getting people to pay for the privilege of kind of being around someone who says they knew everything early, whether they actually did or not. It’s a hell of a grift.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I would like Tadjo to stick around. Just from the few minutes he got, he seems like a player that would benefit from a defensive first coach. If he can defend without fouling, I don't see why he couldn't be a rebound/defend/dunk guy.

I agree. I want to see how he develops with a coach that's going to teach him

 

[douglasbader]

Now Leistikow and Kakert are pumping the brakes.

Where?

 

[LifelongHawk]

Their cars, duh

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

Where?

Kakert is posting on 24/7. Where do you think?

 

[douglasbader]

Kakert is posting on 24/7. Where do you think?

He is? That would be weird for him to post on the forums of his direct competition.

 

[Fletch]

Wikipedia page updated as done deal

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]