Looks like Orr is the guy....

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:41 am

HoopsFan wrote:The first time I ever heard of Louis Orr was that he WANTED this job. I don't know, maybe because it's a stop between his home area and his wife's home area. Maybe because he misses the country.

I get the sense that this could be it. He's from Cincinnati, his wife is from Ypsilanti -- something they made a point of noting in the release.

They may have family that is now a car ride away. It may be a big relief to live in Bowling Green rather than the sprawl of New Jersey.

Check out this quote from the release:

"My family and I are very excited about this new chapter in our life," said Orr. "We have a unique opportunity to do what we love and at the same time share this with those who are closest to us. It is the perfect situation...

And, look, after his years in the NBA and his past two coaching jobs -- he might be feeling somewhat financially secure. I see a guy who may be thinking at the back of his mind about settling down a little bit.

Note this quote, for instance:

"When you see that there have been just three coaches in 30 years, it shows that this must be a special place," said Orr.

The fact that he noticed that -- and it is pretty remarkable -- suggests he might be thinking longer term about this job than other options frequently available to us.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:16 am

I agree with Schad. What happens if he did want it?

Something which may be missing in all this quantitative bullsh!t is the possible connection between Orr and Dakich.

I wonder if they knew eachother and Orr knew the table was set here with a great bunch of hardworking kids. I'm not certain, but I wonder about this possibility.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:14 am

Rollo83 wrote:Bottom line is four MAC head coaching positions were filled and he was without a job. Not once did his name surface during those searches.

First, Eastern filled their opening on 3/30/2005, while Orr was still coaching at Seton Hall.

Second, Ball St filled their opening on 4/4/2006. Orr was fired at Seton Hall on 3/24/2006. So Ball St was certainly identifying candidates before Orr was even available. And Orr had just been fired. Do you think he was expecting to be looking for a job? I doubt he was ready to jump into the pool at the first opening he saw.

Third, Central MI filled their opening 7/29/2006. That program was in complete disarray. There was no chance they were going to be able to lure a former Big East coach of the year to go to Mt. Pleasant to try and straighten out that mess. I mean look how long it took for them to get Ziegler to take the job? Almost five months after the season ended.

Fourth, NIU just came open this year. Orr has stated several times already that he is happy to be back in Ohio to be close to his family (Cincinnati) and his wife's family (Ypsilanti). Dekalb is certainly much farther to both those places than Bowling Green. So Orr probably picked BG over NIU when both had openings.

And don't forget my point earlier. He probably just wanted to take a step back and enjoy a year off. Here is a quote from today's Toledo Blade: "Orr said over the past year he has been "weighing options and spending quality time with my family," especially his 14-year-old son, Chauncey.
"I was able to really support him and his endeavors, and just kind of take a break and step back for a minute," Orr said."

Sounds to me he knew exactly what he was doing is singling out the BG opening over all the others. So quit whining about the others MAC schools not wanting him.

factman · Post by **factman** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:47 am

I have seen the time (3:30pm) but not the place. They are usually at the Alumni Center. Is this one?

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 10:25 am

One note on Zeigler. Jay Smith didn't resign at the normal time--it was a good deal after the end of the season, so saying it took them five months isn't a fair picture.

And, Zeigler was a good choice for them.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 10:37 am

factman wrote:I have seen the time (3:30pm) but not the place. They are usually at the Alumni Center. Is this one?

SkyBank Room (201) of the Union

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:04 am

orangeandbrown wrote:One note on Zeigler. Jay Smith didn't resign at the normal time--it was a good deal after the end of the season, so saying it took them five months isn't a fair picture.

And, Zeigler was a good choice for them.

Thanks for the correction. I thought there was something else going on there. But none the less, plenty of reasons for Orr to not be interested in that opening.

(Jay Smith resigned on May 11. So it did take them over two months to find a coach.)

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:13 pm

Warthog wrote:
Rollo83 wrote:Bottom line is four MAC head coaching positions were filled and he was without a job. Not once did his name surface during those searches.
First, Eastern filled their opening on 3/30/2005, while Orr was still coaching at Seton Hall.

Second, Ball St filled their opening on 4/4/2006. Orr was fired at Seton Hall on 3/24/2006. So Ball St was certainly identifying candidates before Orr was even available. And Orr had just been fired. Do you think he was expecting to be looking for a job? I doubt he was ready to jump into the pool at the first opening he saw.

Third, Central MI filled their opening 7/29/2006. That program was in complete disarray. There was no chance they were going to be able to lure a former Big East coach of the year to go to Mt. Pleasant to try and straighten out that mess. I mean look how long it took for them to get Ziegler to take the job? Almost five months after the season ended.

Fourth, NIU just came open this year. Orr has stated several times already that he is happy to be back in Ohio to be close to his family (Cincinnati) and his wife's family (Ypsilanti). Dekalb is certainly much farther to both those places than Bowling Green. So Orr probably picked BG over NIU when both had openings.

And don't forget my point earlier. He probably just wanted to take a step back and enjoy a year off. Here is a quote from today's Toledo Blade: "Orr said over the past year he has been "weighing options and spending quality time with my family," especially his 14-year-old son, Chauncey.
"I was able to really support him and his endeavors, and just kind of take a break and step back for a minute," Orr said."

Sounds to me he knew exactly what he was doing is singling out the BG opening over all the others. So quit whining about the others MAC schools not wanting him.

Thank you Warthog. I regret that you had to go to so much effort to explain the situation in such detail. Rollo, you can now kindly take your seat.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:41 pm

I don't care if Louis Orr was turned down the job coaching for Notre Dame Academy's JV team.

He is our coach now, he has a track record of success, he sounds like a great guy, and for the first time in about 4 years I'm genuinely excited about BG hoops.

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:39 pm

hammb wrote:I don't care if Louis Orr was turned down the job coaching for Notre Dame Academy's JV team.

He is our coach now, he has a track record of success, he sounds like a great guy, and for the first time in about 4 years I'm genuinely excited about BG hoops.

I echo this sentiment.....sans the 4 years..I get excited before every year and around recruiting time....speaking of....I hope Orr is out on the road tomorrow.

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:57 pm

Hey, I am excited as the next guy that we have reason to be optimistic about Falcon Basketball again. Anything to change up the directions we have been going in the last few years. Hell, we were all excited when Moe Ankey got the football job...and how did that work out?

I am just trying to temper our enthusiasm a little so we keep expectations in check a bit. Orr wouldn't have been my choice but now that he's here I stand behind my team completely. I hope Coach Orr turns this program around and gets us to that place we haven't been since the 60's...the NCAA Tournament.

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:57 pm

hammb wrote:I don't care if Louis Orr was turned down the job coaching for Notre Dame Academy's JV team.

He is our coach now, he has a track record of success, he sounds like a great guy, and for the first time in about 4 years I'm genuinely excited about BG hoops.

Yup, yup, yup, and yup.

San Diego Falcon · Post by **San Diego Falcon** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:47 pm

I am just trying to temper our enthusiasm a little so we keep expectations in check a bit.

I don't think untempered enthusiasm has been a problem around here lately. In fact, we could probably use quite a bit of it.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:16 pm

From Maureen's blog (and where is Grant to shill the Blade!?!?!):

Orr's base salary is 160K, the highest paid coach at BG, just ahead of Brandon.

Marschall is recovering, Bland is gone, Knight should be eligible.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 2/-1/RSS14

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:40 pm

Rollo83 wrote:
I am just trying to temper our enthusiasm a little so we keep expectations in check a bit. Orr wouldn't have been my choice but now that he's here I stand behind my team completely. I hope Coach Orr turns this program around and gets us to that place we haven't been since the 60's...the NCAA Tournament.

With all due respect - and I really don't mean this question to be pejorative in nature - but how is it a fan's responsibility to "temper expectations?" I just don't understand the impetus for this type of statement. With as little as we have had to look forward to over the past few years, I just don't get it is all.

Looks like Orr is the guy....

Where is the press conference?

Re: Where is the press conference?