Coaching Search List the 2015 edition . . .

[Globetrotter]

The reality is we would never hire Buffalos top assistant. We can get bigger than Downwy. Just hiring someone because he's here and a nice guy is a bad idea.

[Flipper]

c'mon...there's more to his resume than "nice guy" and "already here".

[Class of 61]

The reality is we would never hire Buffalos top assistant. We can get bigger than Downwy. Just hiring someone because he's here and a nice guy is a bad idea.

Dont think you understood my point. I'm not talking about hiring a UB asst....just that Hurley got one HECK of a raise, that might become a " guidline" for future MAC head coaches.

[Globetrotter]

I understood. I was saying that we wouldn't think to hire the top assistant off the best team in the Mac when another option is the top assistant off one of the best teams in the big ten

[Rollo83]

I hate the Boals idea. Was never impressed with him at Akron or OSU. I hate the Geno Ford idea even more. Why would we go after a guy that Bradley just fired? Does that make him a hot commodity? Don't throw up his Kent State years, because he was just one in a long line of coaches that lived off Gary Waters' work there.

Just like with Jans, give me an assistant coach I've never heard of who's been part of a winning program and is respected in the coaching circles as the next up and coming head coaching candidate. That doesn't describe any of the names that have been mentioned for this job so far by the media or people on this board. Kingston got it right once, he can do it again.

[Falconwriter]

I hate the Boals idea. Was never impressed with him at Akron or OSU. I hate the Geno Ford idea even more. Why would we go after a guy that Bradley just fired? Does that make him a hot commodity? Don't throw up his Kent State years, because he was just one in a long line of coaches that lived off Gary Waters' work there.

Just like with Jans, give me an assistant coach I've never heard of who's been part of a winning program and is respected in the coaching circles as the next up and coming head coaching candidate. That doesn't describe any of the names that have been mentioned for this job so far by the media or people on this board. Kingston got it right once, he can do it again.

First of all, Kingston did NOT get it right. If he had, we'd still have a coach. Hiring a guy who turns out to have such a huge character flaw that he embarrasses himself and the university is NOT getting it right.

As for which coaches are considered "hot" and ready to take that next step: articles in SI last year and Bleacher Report (CBS) this year included many of the names being bandied about here, including Boals. So you don't have to be impressed with him; there are people who actually have researched this topic and believe he's one of the top assistants in the country.

[OptionQB]

Using anything from Bleacher Report as the basis of your argument is as laughable as hoping "Christopher" makes the right call.

We get it ... You like Boals, Just as many of us or more DO NOT. For all of your "research" you have yet to name one player that Boals has taken and made better as a Buckeye. Post play has been their Achilles' heel for several years (since Oden).

The point to all of this there's no exact method to follow.

We've tried the "top B1G assistant" ... Five yrs were very solid, then Morgantown, then we fell off a cliff and transferred as many ppl out as anyone.

We've tried the "retread" route. Most were pleased and didn't think we could pull someone of Orr's "experience."

After two solid years the next four got progressively worse.

Then Jans comes along, adds a few JUCOs, becomes the demanding coach that players typically prefer (at least short term) and BOOM 21 wins.

The players may change but at some point, the hoop is still 10 ft high and w free throw 15 feet.

Mark Downey knows basketball and has won A LOT ... EVERYWHERE he's been and DEVELOPED over 40 guys into professionals all over the world. I'll take my chances with THAT GUY all day.

Did Jans have an issue PRIOR to BG? That's the question everyone is trying to figure out. It's not the basis for hiring someone but I can almost guarantee one of the questions this time around will be "when does your family plan on joining you here if you accept this job?"

We have a guy who is 204-103 as a HEAD COACH and his family is ALREADY here. That same guy took FOUR different teams to their version of the NCAA tournament in 10 years.

[Rollo83]

I hate the Boals idea. Was never impressed with him at Akron or OSU. I hate the Geno Ford idea even more. Why would we go after a guy that Bradley just fired? Does that make him a hot commodity? Don't throw up his Kent State years, because he was just one in a long line of coaches that lived off Gary Waters' work there.

Just like with Jans, give me an assistant coach I've never heard of who's been part of a winning program and is respected in the coaching circles as the next up and coming head coaching candidate. That doesn't describe any of the names that have been mentioned for this job so far by the media or people on this board. Kingston got it right once, he can do it again.

First of all, Kingston did NOT get it right. If he had, we'd still have a coach. Hiring a guy who turns out to have such a huge character flaw that he embarrasses himself and the university is NOT getting it right.

As for which coaches are considered "hot" and ready to take that next step: articles in SI last year and Bleacher Report (CBS) this year included many of the names being bandied about here, including Boals. So you don't have to be impressed with him; there are people who actually have researched this topic and believe he's one of the top assistants in the country.

My reference to Kingston "getting it right" was purely from a basketball product on the floor perspective. Can't argue with what Jans did with the team this year. Now, he turned out to be a knucklehead off the court with behavior that the University couldn't put up with. Should we have seen that coming? Maybe? But if you have ever hired anyone in your life, and I've hired many, you never really know what you are getting totally until they are in the job. I'd take another chance on a Chris Jans-type in a heart beat without the off the court problems.

As to Boals, you're right. My evaluation of Boals isn't rooted in hours and hours of film study of the teams he has coached. But, I sat right next to the bench at many of his Marshall and Akron games...within earshot. My gut tells me he isn't the most brilliant game tactician. We need someone who will lead a program and not just be a counselor at a Big Man camp. Now he may turn out to be the next John Wooden, but I never got a good feeling watching him during games. Just my two cents...

[Falconwriter]

I hate the Boals idea. Was never impressed with him at Akron or OSU. I hate the Geno Ford idea even more. Why would we go after a guy that Bradley just fired? Does that make him a hot commodity? Don't throw up his Kent State years, because he was just one in a long line of coaches that lived off Gary Waters' work there.

Just like with Jans, give me an assistant coach I've never heard of who's been part of a winning program and is respected in the coaching circles as the next up and coming head coaching candidate. That doesn't describe any of the names that have been mentioned for this job so far by the media or people on this board. Kingston got it right once, he can do it again.

First of all, Kingston did NOT get it right. If he had, we'd still have a coach. Hiring a guy who turns out to have such a huge character flaw that he embarrasses himself and the university is NOT getting it right.

As for which coaches are considered "hot" and ready to take that next step: articles in SI last year and Bleacher Report (CBS) this year included many of the names being bandied about here, including Boals. So you don't have to be impressed with him; there are people who actually have researched this topic and believe he's one of the top assistants in the country.

My reference to Kingston "getting it right" was purely from a basketball product on the floor perspective. Can't argue with what Jans did with the team this year. Now, he turned out to be a knucklehead off the court with behavior that the University couldn't put up with. Should we have seen that coming? Maybe? But if you have ever hired anyone in your life, and I've hired many, you never really know what you are getting totally until they are in the job. I'd take another chance on a Chris Jans-type in a heart beat without the off the court problems.

As to Boals, you're right. My evaluation of Boals isn't rooted in hours and hours of film study of the teams he has coached. But, I sat right next to the bench at many of his Marshall and Akron games...within earshot. My gut tells me he isn't the most brilliant game tactician. We need someone who will lead a program and not just be a counselor at a Big Man camp. Now he may turn out to be the next John Wooden, but I never got a good feeling watching him during games. Just my two cents...

Fair enough (on your gut after watching him), but I'd say if the folks in coaching circles believe he (Boals) is ready to be a successful head coach, then I'm going to take their word for it, since they are more of an expert than I am.

As for who BG hires: I honestly don't care. I do like Boals, but I just want someone who will be a winner right away. Assuming the players Jans brought in and signed don't all bail, there should be enough talent to take that next step.

And as for his coaching this past season: Yes, BG got to 21 wins. But the most disturbing part of the entire season was the fact that BG had an East title in their sights and right there for the taking. All they had to do was close strong AT HOME. And they ended up losing something like 4 games on their own court as the season wound down.

You could easily argue a better coach could have closed the deal and not had his team fold (at home no less) as this one did.

[Rollo83]

I hate the Boals idea. Was never impressed with him at Akron or OSU. I hate the Geno Ford idea even more. Why would we go after a guy that Bradley just fired? Does that make him a hot commodity? Don't throw up his Kent State years, because he was just one in a long line of coaches that lived off Gary Waters' work there.

Just like with Jans, give me an assistant coach I've never heard of who's been part of a winning program and is respected in the coaching circles as the next up and coming head coaching candidate. That doesn't describe any of the names that have been mentioned for this job so far by the media or people on this board. Kingston got it right once, he can do it again.

First of all, Kingston did NOT get it right. If he had, we'd still have a coach. Hiring a guy who turns out to have such a huge character flaw that he embarrasses himself and the university is NOT getting it right.

As for which coaches are considered "hot" and ready to take that next step: articles in SI last year and Bleacher Report (CBS) this year included many of the names being bandied about here, including Boals. So you don't have to be impressed with him; there are people who actually have researched this topic and believe he's one of the top assistants in the country.

My reference to Kingston "getting it right" was purely from a basketball product on the floor perspective. Can't argue with what Jans did with the team this year. Now, he turned out to be a knucklehead off the court with behavior that the University couldn't put up with. Should we have seen that coming? Maybe? But if you have ever hired anyone in your life, and I've hired many, you never really know what you are getting totally until they are in the job. I'd take another chance on a Chris Jans-type in a heart beat without the off the court problems.

As to Boals, you're right. My evaluation of Boals isn't rooted in hours and hours of film study of the teams he has coached. But, I sat right next to the bench at many of his Marshall and Akron games...within earshot. My gut tells me he isn't the most brilliant game tactician. We need someone who will lead a program and not just be a counselor at a Big Man camp. Now he may turn out to be the next John Wooden, but I never got a good feeling watching him during games. Just my two cents...

Fair enough (on your gut after watching him), but I'd say if the folks in coaching circles believe he (Boals) is ready to be a successful head coach, then I'm going to take their word for it, since they are more of an expert than I am.

As for who BG hires: I honestly don't care. I do like Boals, but I just want someone who will be a winner right away. Assuming the players Jans brought in and signed don't all bail, there should be enough talent to take that next step.

And as for his coaching this past season: Yes, BG got to 21 wins. But the most disturbing part of the entire season was the fact that BG had an East title in their sights and right there for the taking. All they had to do was close strong AT HOME. And they ended up losing something like 4 games on their own court as the season wound down.

You could easily argue a better coach could have closed the deal and not had his team fold (at home no less) as this one did.

The collapse at the end of the season was disappointing for sure. But you can hardly blame Jans for that. Hell, he got them there and that's quite an accomplishment in my book. I think the collapse was just an example of team that had never tasted success before and played in meaningful games late in the year. The kids didn't have any prior experiences like that to draw upon. That was not their fault or Jans. That's what makes last week's events so devastating. Jans had begun to change the culture on the court and teach this program how to win. Now, we start all over again.

[Flipper]

They didn't win the tile because (drumroll) they weren't a championship team. They didn't have the extra gear to close it out. I don't think you can blame the HC for turning a bad team into a contender that falls short. You congratulate him for getting them that close.

Do your due diligence...nut I'm warming up to the idea with sticking with Downey since he's had success at smaller schools as a HC and he's familiar wit the roster and incoming signees. I really do not want to see the program have to grant releases to guys who signed to play with jans and have other options bolt on us. It's too late to find quality kids to fill the gaps and we cannot afford another s**t season. No guarantee that they'll stay wit Downey...but the odds are likely better that they do.

[Hdog]

I was halfway joking, but the reality is that Downey is the head assistant of a mid major program that finished among the top half in one of the top mid major conferences in the country (at least it was this past year). BGSU was ranked in the "Mid Major Top 25" Poll for at least parts of the season. I'm not saying Downey is absolutely the answer but let's not just brush him aside because he only spent one year here at BGSU. He has a tremendous pedigree and is at least a finalist for another D1 job currently. So it seems there's something to it.

Very well said! Downey is the best choice to continue the success from this past season. He is an outstanding individual.
Let's hope we don't have to start over. Talons Up!

OK - I'm all in on Downey. All things considered, it appears to be both the safe hire, and the right hire. I like his resume [what he's done and where he's done it]. Based on his past, I think he would work his butt off to finish the process of re-building the basketball program here. He's basically had a year long job interview. If all things re-check-out from his past, then Kingston should just pull the trigger.

I noticed the Downey coach bio has been updated to put the 2014-15 BGSU Basketball accomplishments under his tenure as past tense, ie : "In his first year on the Falcons’ coaching staff in 2014-15, the Falcons posted an overall record of 21-12 and a record of 11-7 in MAC play on the year." Also, it credits him for helping Richaun Holmes achieve his various honors this past season.

There has been no new news since Friday. Don't let UALR take him!

[Class of 61]

Don't normally follow twitter stuff, but I happened to see one from Downey that says " one door closes, another opens. God's plan, not mine". Anybody know what this refers to?

[Flipper]

God is generally considered to be the creator of the universe...unless you're an atheist. He is all seeing, all powerful, all knowing and always present. Some view him as an angry deity bent on punishing man for his transgressions. Others view him as a benevolent father who seeks to welcome us into his eternal kingdom once we depart this mortal coil

[CrazyFan]

God is generally considered to be the creator of the universe...unless you're an atheist.

And God was the person that decided if we won or lost, how our offense was ran and how our team was coached from 2007 to 2014. With God be the Glory.........................