Where did Jeff go?
He’s moved to a new location. Check him out on the new blogging platform and let him know what you think.
Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2009 > February > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUGA basketball can win titles, if AD hires right coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In his four and a half years as Georgia’s athletic director, Damon Evans has hired a women’s golf coach, a women’s soccer coach and a women’s volleyball coach.
I’m sure they’re all very fine people, and one day I might even know their names.
This isn’t to short-change anything that Evans has accomplished during his tenure. Georgia has one of the premier athletic departments in the nation. It scores high in the campus version of mind-body-spirit: facilities- fundraising-wins. Evans is a significant reason why.
But his resume has a blank page.
Fair or unfair, an athletics director often is judged by the success of the football and/or basketball coaches he hires. Evans didn’t hire Mark Richt or Dennis Felton (though he had input on the Felton hiring, whom he just fired). That’s not a knock on him. It’s just circumstances.
Florida’s Jeremy Foley probably has excelled in areas most people don’t realize. All most us know is, he’s the guy who hired Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan. For that, we view him as Zeus.
“Not to discount any of the hires we’ve made here,” Evans said Tuesday, “but I understand the magnitude of this.”
Firing Felton was not a sudden thought. The belief is that Evans planned to do so 11 months ago. Then the Bulldogs went on that improbable run in the SEC tournament, and Evans really had no choice but to hope there would be some sort of carryover. There wasn’t.
To realize where this is going, you need to understand something about Evans. Basketball is one of his passions. He was the MVP of high school team and might’ve played it in college, except that, well, no D-1 school was offering a scholarship.
When he was the associate A.D. under Vince Dooley, Evans and other coaches often played pickup basketball games. One of the players in those games, swim coach Jack Bauerle, joked: “I tried never to argue with him because I sensed one day he might be my boss. He’s a pretty competitive guy. Even though those games were just for fun, they weren’t leisurely. If Damon ever lost, he’d say, ‘OK, we’re doing this one again.’ “
Evans was a wide receiver at Georgia. But the basketball team’s struggles always have gnawed at him, particularly with the rise of programs at Florida and Tennessee.
“I’ve been thinking about building Georgia basketball for a long, long time — ever since I first got here,” he said. “We’ve had a few good stints, but that’s not enough. I’m looking at things from a business standpoint. When you stand back, you ask: What is not living up to its potential? What can give us more visibility and create more excitement on campus? Basketball hasn’t allowed us to do that.”
Evans said he wants a coach who has experience running a major program. He wants someone who understands how athletics and academics work together. Finally, he wants someone “who can get out there and recruit players and bring some talent to the university.”
I can think of a lot of reasons why Bobby Knight is a bad fit in Athens, but there’s a big one right there: Not a lot of top recruits want to play for him. It’s the primary reason his teams failed to win an NCAA tournament game in nine of his last 13 seasons. (And do you want a 68-year-old, to say nothing of an obstinate, ticking time bomb, when you’re trying to establish long-term success?)
How high are Evans’ expectations?
“I want to win championships,” he said. “I think we have to awake the sleeping giant.”
It’s an attitude that’s long overdue. Evans pushed for the new training facility adjacent to Stegeman Coliseum, and said of criticism of the arena: “When you lose, people look for excuses why.”
He’s right. Guess what, folks: Sanford Stadium is no palace. Neither are half the college basketball arenas in the country. If games sell out, it’s because of the product. It doesn’t matter if the place looks like a cow pen. Have you been to Cameron Indoor Stadium?
There is only one excuse for losing at Georgia: hiring the wrong coach. That’s where Evans comes. That’s where he’ll be judged.
Permalink | Comments (45) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
Services »
Comments
By Dawg Since Birth
February 3, 2009 9:44 PM | Link to this
Been saying EVERYTHING you just said for years!!!! Quit blaming STUFF…..start winning games…recruit the state of Georgia…it works in ALL 3 MAJOR SPORTS…there are SOOOO many GREAT athletes in this state in FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, and BASEBALL…We WILL make the right decision!!!!
By the way…season ticket holder in ALL 3 sports…there are people just like me who LOVE the UGA ATHLETIC PROGRAM (not just football)!!!!!
Go Dawgs!
By Bryan G.
February 3, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
Great points Jeff. Duke’s stadium is a dump, but they keep winning. Not every school has a great arena like UNC does.
Harrick did more harm than good but did show we can win with the right coach.
By Elevator from Decatur
February 3, 2009 10:15 PM | Link to this
Hire Bobby Knight !
By Bob
February 3, 2009 10:34 PM | Link to this
Quality work, Schultz.
By ddrdawg
February 3, 2009 10:36 PM | Link to this
Did you say Sanford Stadium is no palace? It is one of the icons of collegiate football. Nobody sees the suites or the bathrooms of the facility they see 90,000 plus screaming and wearing red and black(out). That’s what makes the atmosphere. There is no atmosphere at Stegeman. Maybe that’s because the lack of talent on the team or heart. We need a coach that will make the atmosphere right in the arena. Yes Cameron is no palace either but those students wait in line just to be on that floor to add to the aura of the building. It is something that can’t happen overnight but was well on it’s way with Tubby Smith. I do not think that he will leave Minnesota but we definitely need a figurehead of that magnitude. The talent level is too great in the state for us not to at least have an above average program. But I disagree when you say that the facility is not part of the problem. I hate seeing a game much less being at a game in that building. It is a joke.
By Ben
February 3, 2009 10:44 PM | Link to this
Good article Jeff. There is simply no excuse for the state of hoops at the state’s flagship school. There are something like 8 or 9 players from the state that have made the jump to the NBA in the last 5 years (maybe more). None of them chose UGA. I agree with Evans statement of “awaking the sleeping giant”. I truly believe UGA hoops can be like what Florida football used to be; a good program that just needed the right coach to take it to the next level (Spurrier). Please Damon, back up the Brinks truck to Anthony Grant’s house.
By Ben
February 3, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this
ddrdawg, way to miss his whole point.
By The Coliseum is Fine
February 3, 2009 11:00 PM | Link to this
Right on, Damon.
When we have a winner, the Coliseum’s supposed shortcomings magically disappear. It rocks.
Don’t hire the Dinosaur. UGa’s brief eras of basketball success did not result from going that route and we sure don’t need to go that way now. Give us an up and comer.
By Joe
February 3, 2009 11:06 PM | Link to this
There were far more players that wanted to play for Coach knight than those who chose to go elsewhere. He was not only highly respected by most of his players for his teaching and coaching basketball, he was also respected by most of the student body at IU. Yes, he was passionate about his winning ballgames but he also insisted his players go to class and graduate. He expected and demanded more of them on and off the court and years later, most of the players for him would look back and recognize how he had made a positive difference in their lives. Georgia might not do better hiring someone else other than hire Coach Knight, but could do a whole lot worse if they pick some one else.
He would bring instant positive interest, attention, and respect to the Georgia program. He is older and wiser but still would bring the fire needed to jump start the UGA basketball program. Standing room only at not only home games but his presence would fill empty seats whereever UGA played. Good for the SEC teams pocketbooks.
By UGA1996
February 3, 2009 11:30 PM | Link to this
The sky is the limit for UGA basketball.
Make the right hire and we will leave UF and Tenn in the dust.
There is no reason why we shouldn’t be winning big here at UGA!
By Ken
February 3, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this
My son is a small D1 prospect and I would PAY for him to go to UGA and be a walk-on if Bobby Knight is hired. Just because a beat writer says no, doesn’t mean a thing. We need to build a winner by hiring a winner and like it or not, Coach Knight is not only a winner, he makes his players winners in the game of life.
By AfroDawg
February 4, 2009 12:07 AM | Link to this
Damon Evans, please bring in coach Knight along with a capable young assistant that can segue into the head spot in 2-4 years. We also need players in the worst way, there are a couple of recent signees that won’t ever develop into SEC caliber talent, even when they’re seniors, I blame Felton for that. The greatest coach in the world can’t win with suspect talent, I’m just saying.
By THWG
February 4, 2009 1:32 AM | Link to this
Silly mutt fans…
You spend all afternoon ranting on the Tech blogs, asking why on earth us Tech fans believe that top recruits should choose our “sub-par” football program over yours. Well, now that we are discussing basketball, it’s my turn.
Why on earth do you all believe that top recruits should choose your comatose basketball program? So they can always be overshadowed on campus by whoever the quarterback may be at the time?
By JR
February 4, 2009 4:58 AM | Link to this
If you’re a great high school basketball player in Ga and you are recruited from Duke, NC, Kansas, or Ga. Where do you go? HMMMMMM? Come on what are we thinking? Hire a big time winner, pay him the bucks, and sit back and watch what happens. May take a couple of recruiting classes but the players will come. We will be competitive in the SEC and on a national level. Now how about some suggestions and not a 68 year old coach who kids don’t want to play for. Jr
By hop
February 4, 2009 6:59 AM | Link to this
Lets be real jeff, the athletic program was great before mr.evans was the head guy. the department has for years been a big money maker because vince was a very good manager of the money and some would say he was not right cheap!
this is the first major event for damon evans since he replaced vince dooley, so it is going to be interesting to see how he does.
my worry is that dr.adams is still there in the foreground as well and he was also there when jim harrack was hired and even suggested that he be considered.
we all know what happen after that.
By Florida Dawg
February 4, 2009 7:53 AM | Link to this
To THWG…..I think Florida has proven that BOTH big time basketball and football players CAN co-exist and be successful. No?
By leland
February 4, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this
Dr. JS—the new coach needs to know the rules real good like double dribble so he can teach the players how to play real and stuff. And the side lines. Tell Evans I said that. Your pal, Leland
By Forrest Gump
February 4, 2009 9:11 AM | Link to this
Let’s revisit Harrick. He was not a finalist for the coaching job, nor was he recommended by Dooley. Harrick was Adams’ long-time pal, in spite of the fact that Harrick turned in false travel vouchers in his previous job and was known to bend the rules. Adams admits Tony Cole on his presidential prerogative, perhaps against Harrick’s advice. Tony had the distinction of being kicked out of a prep school in less than one day, and there was nothing in his background to indicate UGA would be any different. So, Cole gets charged with rape, and the whole program collapses as a national joke. Adams then points fingers at everyone but himself, pulls the team from the tournament, and calls the police when team members want to talk to him. Anyone who has been around the University knows Adams’ Stalinist style of management and politics. Damon Evans does exactly as he is told. Adams is not about to have anything to do with Bobby Knight. Georgia may find a good coach, but whomever he is, he will be Adams’ man, unless of course, he fails, then Evans will take the blame.
By Jeff Schultz
February 4, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this
DrDawg: There’s a big difference between an icon and a palace. I’m not ripping Sanford Stadium, just using it to illustrate a point. It’s not a stadium with shiny chrome and glass with a ton of luxury amenities – but people who fill it every Saturday don’t care about that. That’s my point. … Joe: I agree you could do worse than hire Bob Knight. But you also could do a lot better. … JS
By Greg
February 4, 2009 9:19 AM | Link to this
Cameron Indoor Stadium is a cow pen..yes…just like Fenway Park or Wrigley Field…they are iconic and historic landmarks of their sports…Georgia basketball will NEVER have this so they better have a great place to play because they will always suck.
By Jeff Schultz
February 4, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this
Greg: I’ve been to Wrigley and Fenway several times. Love them. But like Cameron, they are iconic and historic … cowpens.
By Rabun Dawg
February 4, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this
Jeff, I think your article was right on! I do not know whether or not UGA is a sleeping giant or not in Bball, but certainly this program has been dormant for a while. Get some young up and commer(whoever that may be), get some of the in state talent to Athens, and ,yes, we could be in the “mix” in the SEC. Billy D. was a great hire for UF, and look all of a sudden what Horn is doing at USC. If Mr. Evans does not get the ‘right guy” now, we will still be in the shadow of GT. in state and looking up at UF.,UT., UK.,etc.Coach Knight, I don’t see as the answer in the long run! Quick fix, then what?
By Black Out Bob
February 4, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this
Jeff, Great article! The Steg is the least of our worries! I have been to just about all of the great arenas/stadiums and most of them are what they are in the physical sense. What makes a great site is the action on the court and the juice from the fans. Glad to hear Evans is looking at this hire with such thought. I agree that this progam is a sleeping giant.
By Rabun Dawg
February 4, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this
Jeff, as a follow-up, Stegman is not really the main problem, having the “right” coach and putting a quality product on the floor solves most of the problems. Look no further than Cameron. UT with their palace, suffered for a while until Pearl came there, and the same for UF, O’connell Center is no palace either,but look what Billy D. did! That old place, Stegman, could really “rock” with a decent team as it did a while back when Tubby was there. And, like it or not, Harrick’s teams brought excitement as well. Let’s don’t blame all of UGA’s problems on the arena, most of us don’t need a Rupp Arena or a “Dean Dome” to be successful!
By Michael
February 4, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this
Thank you Jeff. I have long said that the problem is not the building, but the product on the floor of said building. I know that if we put a good team out there, the Steg can and will be a great home court advantage. And once we can consistently put a good team on the floor, then maybe we can think about spending the money to build a new arena. Right now it’s just a waste of a ton of money.
By Vance
February 4, 2009 11:57 AM | Link to this
UGA needs a Great Hire Like USC got with Horn! They have a great new areana that seats 18,000 and with Horn they are set for the future in a way UGA needs to be.
By Whopper Dawg
February 4, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this
Jeff,
Bulls eye. Get a good coach and everything else is there to take the program where Evans wants to take it. You can’t dispute that. I would say for right now, Knight has some attractions for the next two to three years, but your time bomb analogy is correct.
The Whopper
By bali
February 4, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
i agree that hiring a new coach is number 1 in Georgia s hopefull success in Basketball. I have never had the opportunity to visit Cameron Indoor stadium, but I have sat through basketball games at stegmen hall during rodeo and cattle show season.The smell is worse than the current state of Basketball at UGAOf course that was back in the late 1970s. today with all the upgrades that have been made Iam sure the smell no longer lingers
By Just out of curiousity
February 4, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this
Just out of curiousity, since there seem to be so many Dawg faithful on here, did I not read awhile back that the Lady GymDogs gymnastics coach got a whole lot of grief over pushing her Christian views on her gymnasts?
And if it is true, isn’t the same coach pushing these Christian views the one the AJC just reported as living with a man who is married to another woman?
So when you have 9 national titles, things like that don’t matter?
By Joey
February 4, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this
Call Tubby.
By StAugDAwg
February 4, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this
Hey Just out of curiousity,
That was the cheerleading coach that pushed the Christian views, not Youclan - who is the gymnastic’s coach.
By Brendan
February 4, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this
I’d have to agree with Schultz. UGA can do a lot better than Bobby Knight. He’ll bring baggage. It’ll be tough to recruit. And is Knight really the upper echelon coach that people say he is?? And what’s he gonna cost?
I suppose, at the end of the day, if Bobby Knight is the best you can get, you take him. But, hopefully, the day is long and the list of candidates is plentiful.
Go Thrashers!!
By Thanks for clearing that up
February 4, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
Thanks for clearing that up StAugDawg. Apologies to Youclan.
By Bill
February 4, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
Mr. Evans, Please no to Bobby. I would love to see a young Coach like Evans wants get the job:* 1.Brad Stevens-Butler 2. Antony Grant-VCU 3. Sam Mitchell.*
I believe UGA will pick the right one this time.
By Ron Roberts
February 4, 2009 11:21 PM | Link to this
New arenas haven’t won conference or NCAA titles at NC State, South Carolina or Virginia, either. Stegeman’s not the problem. In fact, when a talented home team’s playing before an excited, sold-out crowd, it’s one of the better college on-campus venues.
That just doesn’t happen often enough.
Oh, and I’ll disagree with you on one opinion, only Jeff…
…Sanford Stadium is a palace. There aren’t but a handful of football stadiums at the D-1 level that measure up to Sanford.
By Jack Mantle
February 5, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this
The difference between the right coach and the almost right coach is like the difference between the mascot and the cheerleaders. (mark twain)
By TommyP
February 5, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
Always like your articles…
1) Anthony Grant: He has to be our #1 choice right now. He’s young, energetic, hard worker, GREAT recruiter (as evidenced by his Florida days) and has shown he can win on the floor with VCU. Put him in Athens and then watch him tap into the Atlanta talent-base and you’ll see incredible results.
2) Mike Anderson: Love this guy. His teams play hard and play up-tempo basketball. He coached under Nolan Richardson for years and then took UAB to 3 straight NCAA’s, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Now he has Mizzou playing light’s out.
3) Tubby: What could have been can now be answered if Tubby returns. Athens never stopped loving Tubby.
4) Knight: I’m sure there’s another young coaching prospect out there that might be a good hire but in hiring Knight you get instant national exposure, ESPN appearances, a full house each home game, and you’ll see good basketball. People poo-pooing what he did at Texas Tech are not giving him enough credit. Were they great? No. But they were good immediately when he got there after years of terrible.
By Richard Johnson
February 5, 2009 2:21 PM | Link to this
Off topic, but I hope Tennessee’s classless new infant gets his a$$ handed to him in every SEC game for five years until he is canned.
Read.
Knoxville, Tenn. — Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin accused Florida coach Urban Meyer of violating recruiting rules in pursuing wide receiver prospect Nu’Keese Richardson.
WVLT-TV reported that Kiffin told a group of fans at a signing day breakfast celebration Thursday morning that Meyer phoned Richardson while the recruit was making his official visit to Tennessee recently.
Richardson, a Pahokee, Fla, native, signed with the Volunteers on Tuesday, despite having indicated he would sign with the Gators.
Kiffin told the crowd, “I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn’t get him.”
Tennessee spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter told The Associated Press the school would not file an official complaint to the NCAA.
A Florida team spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
By DawginLex
February 5, 2009 3:35 PM | Link to this
Tubby kept the in state talent in Minnesota. That’s why his recruiting class is rated high.
Same can be done in GA. Look how many players from GA have gone elsewhere and become superstars. Just at Kentucky!
A high profile coach is needed.
By Terrible Truth
February 5, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this
I hope Damon makes it a clean sweep and shows grease head Andy Landers the door too. Right after Pat Summitt varnishes the floor (again) with him would be a good time.
By Delusional Dawgs
February 5, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this
The reason so many Ga kids don’t go to Uga is that they don’t want to play in the SEC where BB is second fiddle (except Ky.) That will never change. Uga will never keep these kids from leaving or from signing with Tech, which plays in a better league and has eons more tradition than Uga. That said, they can do much better than they have.
By Mac
February 5, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this
Basketball is second fiddle in the SEC, but Florida won the national title in 2006 and 2007. SEC basketball is not chopped liver.
By Reality Check
February 9, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this
Okay, so as a Tech fan is it my duty to suddenly say that the ACC is way better than the SEC even though our team has something to be desired? So this really sounds like UGA football. UGA had a nice time living through LSU when football season came through and Tech got beat. Hmmm…
Thoughts?
Comments?
By Kyle
February 11, 2009 11:41 PM | Link to this
Tubby Tubby Tubby!
By dan
February 16, 2009 3:03 PM | Link to this
I attended UGA during the Harrick/Tony Cole fiasco, and UGA basketball has been irrelavant ever since. Not long after that, came the whole Vince Dooley Michael Adams war. Adams has weathered both of those storms, and if anyone thinks he wants to add more drama to his tenure then you’re crazy. That’s why I don’t think Bobby Knight will be hired. Great coach, excellent basketball mind. But just not a good fit for UGA. I’m also impressed that Evans let Felton go. It shows that he’s not going to put up with blowout losses to Florida. Hopefully they’ll find someone great.