Putting this season in perspective based on where we were on
Mar 3, 2024 11:03:15 GMT -6
shooting the J, gbbrl97, and 2 more like this
Post by thetulsawarrior on Mar 3, 2024 11:03:15 GMT -6
I wrote this last March in an effort to feel better about the dismal state of the Green Bay men's basketball program. I was depressed.
Last night I had a dream that I was being interviewed for the Green Bay men’s basketball head coaching position. Of the 358 Division One schools in the country, GB ranks second from the bottom the last time I checked. Their season record was 3-29.
The athletic director was a nice young man who clearly had a lot on his mind. I’m pretty sure this was just a courtesy interview and I didn’t have a real chance at the job since my only coaching experience was with students and journalists who were writing stories.
I was honest with the AD, even if I had experience coaching basketball, I’m not sure I’d take this job. He seemed hurt and said, “But what about Dick Bennett, Tod Kowalczyk and Brian Wardle, they all worked here. All of them are proven winners.”
Wanting to ease his pain I agreed that success was still possible despite the changing times with instant transfers, the lure of NIL money and the fact Green Bay was paying two former coaches to not work at the school.
Having conducted hundreds of job interviews from the position of potential employer and applicant, I decided to help him. “Let’s go over your list. I understand you have already begun talking to candidates.” He seemed to welcome the offer and acted as if a massive weight had been taken off his shoulders.
Taking a sip of my Mountain Dew I began asking questions. “So, how many serious candidates do you have?” The athletic director’s voice was a octave above what would be his normal range, “18 maybe 20 and I’ve done half a dozen second interviews already.” He seemed to be holding back so I pushed him. “Who is your dream coach?” Wiping a tear away he said, “The guy from Northwest Missouri, Ben McCollum, but what can I offer him, how can I compete with other school for a guy who has won multiple D2 titles?”
I told him to take a breathe and put down the knife he was holding to this throat.
“Who else are you talking to?” “There’s this broadcaster who was a pretty darn good college basketball player, his name is Doug Gottlieb, great personality but he’s never been even an assistant coach at a college.” As he started to reach for the knife again I motioned for him to put it down.
“Do you want to play it safe” I said. He grimaced and gritting his teeth he raised his voice and said, “There’s no safe choice and if I make a mistake my career is over.” Remembering my psychology classes and years of receiving quality therapy -- in a calm voice I assured him that he has what it takes to make a good decision.
“Let’s consider some other names of the people your have interviewed.” He told me he had given second interviews to a former GB assistant coach Jimmie Foster, former UWM coach Rob Jeter and John Tharp, a Sheboygan native who has had success on the D3 and D2 level. Another familiar name was Brian Barone. If I were picking a coach with the most interesting name, it would be Sundance Wicks who has the persona of Buzz Williams, Dick Vitale, and the poster child for Red Bull.
He seemed to want to say something else. Finally, he mentioned another name. “There’s this Ryan Thompson, he’s smart and young, coaching in the Black Hills, a small-town Wisconsin native.”
I asked the obvious question, “so what are you going to do?” Looking down at his cluttered desk with piles of resumes and the wrapper from a Big Mac he said. “I am going to pray, check my budget every half hour and start making offers. The first person to say yes will be the new coach.”
That’s when I woke up and put the dog out in the backyard.
Last night I had a dream that I was being interviewed for the Green Bay men’s basketball head coaching position. Of the 358 Division One schools in the country, GB ranks second from the bottom the last time I checked. Their season record was 3-29.
The athletic director was a nice young man who clearly had a lot on his mind. I’m pretty sure this was just a courtesy interview and I didn’t have a real chance at the job since my only coaching experience was with students and journalists who were writing stories.
I was honest with the AD, even if I had experience coaching basketball, I’m not sure I’d take this job. He seemed hurt and said, “But what about Dick Bennett, Tod Kowalczyk and Brian Wardle, they all worked here. All of them are proven winners.”
Wanting to ease his pain I agreed that success was still possible despite the changing times with instant transfers, the lure of NIL money and the fact Green Bay was paying two former coaches to not work at the school.
Having conducted hundreds of job interviews from the position of potential employer and applicant, I decided to help him. “Let’s go over your list. I understand you have already begun talking to candidates.” He seemed to welcome the offer and acted as if a massive weight had been taken off his shoulders.
Taking a sip of my Mountain Dew I began asking questions. “So, how many serious candidates do you have?” The athletic director’s voice was a octave above what would be his normal range, “18 maybe 20 and I’ve done half a dozen second interviews already.” He seemed to be holding back so I pushed him. “Who is your dream coach?” Wiping a tear away he said, “The guy from Northwest Missouri, Ben McCollum, but what can I offer him, how can I compete with other school for a guy who has won multiple D2 titles?”
I told him to take a breathe and put down the knife he was holding to this throat.
“Who else are you talking to?” “There’s this broadcaster who was a pretty darn good college basketball player, his name is Doug Gottlieb, great personality but he’s never been even an assistant coach at a college.” As he started to reach for the knife again I motioned for him to put it down.
“Do you want to play it safe” I said. He grimaced and gritting his teeth he raised his voice and said, “There’s no safe choice and if I make a mistake my career is over.” Remembering my psychology classes and years of receiving quality therapy -- in a calm voice I assured him that he has what it takes to make a good decision.
“Let’s consider some other names of the people your have interviewed.” He told me he had given second interviews to a former GB assistant coach Jimmie Foster, former UWM coach Rob Jeter and John Tharp, a Sheboygan native who has had success on the D3 and D2 level. Another familiar name was Brian Barone. If I were picking a coach with the most interesting name, it would be Sundance Wicks who has the persona of Buzz Williams, Dick Vitale, and the poster child for Red Bull.
He seemed to want to say something else. Finally, he mentioned another name. “There’s this Ryan Thompson, he’s smart and young, coaching in the Black Hills, a small-town Wisconsin native.”
I asked the obvious question, “so what are you going to do?” Looking down at his cluttered desk with piles of resumes and the wrapper from a Big Mac he said. “I am going to pray, check my budget every half hour and start making offers. The first person to say yes will be the new coach.”
That’s when I woke up and put the dog out in the backyard.