This is for the cart-ahead-of-the-horse crowd in local college basketball.
You know who you are — the ones who already have Doc Sadler out at Nebraska and former Creighton coach Dana Altman from Wilber, Neb., who now is at Oregon, installed as the replacement.
Maybe a few facts will slow the idea that Altman, a friend of Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne, is 100 percent destined to live in Lincoln.
If NU makes a change, it will owe Sadler about $3.4 million in a departure fee. In finding a new coach with any sort of name, the Huskers will have to start paying a lot closer to $1.5 million a year than the current $900,000.
What could be a deal-breaker with Altman is his buyout at Oregon.
If Altman would be hired at Nebraska before April 26, he would owe Oregon $1.8 million. If a hiring came after April 26, the buyout is still $1.5 million.
That much extra money in a potential new hire might keep Altman out of the picture because neither he nor Nebraska might want to write that check.
Sorry for temporarily interrupting the wild speculation with some facts.
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Nope. He wont work either. This years results for Oregon don’t seem too impressive. Dont know about his recruiting. Maybe you can comment about the recruiting success. When he was at Creighton, he didnt really recruit the level of talent needed to be competitive – year in and year out – in a BCS conference like the Big 12 or Big 10. Part of that may be academics (?), dont know. Just cause he is from NE doesnt mean he will be successful building a top half, Big 10 team.
I agree, Tom. I like Sadler and Altman as good people and ‘solid’ coaches, but not guys that can step it at place like NU and turn things around. I’d like to see a big time hire, but based on TO’s track record of hiring coaches, we’ll end up with someone who has no previous HC experience.
Coach Osborne had no head coaching experience when he took over at Nebraska.
actaully he is doing very well in his second season at oregon 10 -5 in pac12 20 or 21 wins still has few more games left and if had good run in pac12 tourn will make march madness
I like pizza!
I don’t believe you- prove it.
Please say No. Not much of a Dana fan. We need someone with some Pizzaz. I know he is a good X’s and O’s guy and a great BB mind, I just don’t think he would be the answer.
Bring Bruce Pearl here, he’ll get it done. Just hope he keep it clean.
+1
Other than he can’t engage in ANY recruiting activies until August 2014 per his NCAA show cause order and that to hire him Nebraska would have to go before the NCAA to show why we think it’s such a great idea.
Even if T.O. were to hire a new coach, fans had better be patient. Rebuilding takes time. Using Indiana as an example, they finally brought in a good coach, Tom Crean, who could also recruit like heck. Of course, he had the benefit of the Indiana brand to recruit to. Even so, it took several years to finally start seeing the fruits of his efforts. If Nebraska brings in a big-time coach, and that would be a very big ‘if’, it’s still going to take years to put all the pieces together to develop a consistently tough and winning program that can compete in the top half of the Big Ten. Whether we stick with Doc or shell out some major $$ to upgrade, we better be patient and support whoever is the coach and whoever suits up to play.
WRONG.. Look at Mizzou, they couldn’t recruit squat… BUT with the right coach, NOW look at Mizzou in Basketball. Lucky to be in the top 50. NOW in the top 10.. On the coaches 1st year. NU just needs a solid coaching staff… FB, BB, Baseball, NU keeps on being the BIG BREAK for coaching staffs with NADA for experience.
Joey good point on the MIZZ coach. i don’t know much about them, but being a first year coach did he step into a spot that the old coach recruited well for him. I wonder how Mizz will be in a couple of years when the present coach has his own players. I kind of look at Mike Anderson he looked like a great coach with VanPelts players…..I also DO NOT want Altman he would just be another bad hire. Give me some young up and comer presently sitting next to KU coach, Duke, NC, UCONN, SYR, etc
Uhhhh…Missouri has been a consistent tournament participant since the mid-70s (they’ve been in 2/3rds of the time since 1976). They made the big dance three years in a row prior to Haith’s arrival. In 2009, they won the Big 12 and made the Elite 8 as a 3 seed. Not saying Mizzou isn’t having a great year (they are), but you are WAY overstating their turnaround.
Indiana’s turnaround was slow because the program was decimated by the Kelvin Sampson tornado. Huggy Bear turned around K State in one off season. It doesn’t take much time if you’re willing to hold your nose. I’d love to see us get Pearl, it won’t happen. His show-cause hasn’t expired, and even if it had TO would probably feel physically sick sitting in the same room with him.
Huggins certainly did have an impact on K-State in a year’s time. It was amazing how he was able to recruit such talent to Manhattan, Kansas. Certainly it was due to his stellar coaching credentials and the great facilities at K-State. I can’t fathom any other way he could have pulled it off.
Do you think that Gregg Marshal from Wichita State would possibly take a step down and come to Nebraska?
If its all about money,then we are in for more disappointing seasons ahead.How much do we lose by playing in our own building that’s half full or less.Somebody needs to be coaching that can run an uptempo offense.When the house is on fire you call the fire department ASAP.There is allot of smoke coming out of Lincoln,and TO needs to put the fire out, what it costs should not be an issue.
Please say it aint so! Why would we want a Creighton throw-away in Altman. Nebraska can do MUCH better! Also no coaches from Mo Valley need apply…we don’t need another Collier. I don’t understand why we would want to be Creighton when we’re in the B1G. Altman?? Rediculous!!
Being Creighton would be a couple steps up and at least a start.
Creighton has Mo Valley talent. That won’t work in the B1G. CU is good this year and would finish top 5 in B1G. Most years though they’d be bottom half dwellers. If NU doesn’t want any better than that they should just keep Sadler.
And Creighton will be even better next year.
Yeah and maybe next year they won’t choke away a NCAA berth….
Get a griop. Do you really think someone like Altman would be dumb enough to try to win in the Big 10 with “Mo Valley talent”? He had Mo Valley talent at Creighton because Creighton is in the MO VALLEY! It’s not rocket science. Check his recruiting at Oregon. It’s been pretty darn solid so far. Use your brain.
I agree with your comment EZ. Dana Altman is not a “splash hire.” What he did for the JaySkers is impressive however if Nebraska wants to compete in basketball, now is the time (practice facility, new arena). Can’t believe how many have forgotten Altman’s trainwreck of a stint at Kansas State.
Recently commenting on, as I recall, the offensive strategy of his team Doc said: “I ain’t stupid!” When it comes to personal finance I think Doc is a friggen genius. If and when he leaves Lincoln, he’s leaving as a millionaire.
I’m just wondering if anyone could please list the reasons a high level recruit would come to Nebraska to play basketball. Maybe it’s not Doc or Barry. Maybe it’s the university’s commitment to basketball. Perhaps Barf or Chatel or Sipple could put some actual facts into an article. Like where we rank with regard to facilities, assistant coach salaries, access to a University plane for recruiting, (ever try to get to 3 different recruits on the last day of an access period flying commercial), weather, african american student population, basketball tradition, etc. Last guy who was able to get players here was Danny and anyone who knows anything knows how that was done. Prior to the new practice facility that just opened and the planned arena why exactly would you come here to play ball if you were a stud player?
I understand your point, NU has as good of facilities as us, but doesn’t pay $ to get top assistants. I mean look at what we’ve done in Austin over the last 2 years. I also have roughly 15,20 private planes from past Alums that I can use. That little dude that coaches basketball WITH THE CHEWED UP EAR also has the same access to the private planes, however Augie is no longer allowed to fly on private planes… he was breakig into the liquor cabinets to often. I can understand why kids from areas like Dallas, Houston,Miami, Los Angeles wouldn’t want to go to a cold weather state like NU, But I highly doubt any school in America has a high population of African American students, or a population within the city. Not sure why you feel Africans would be needed on a campus to support athletics maybe you can educate me on that ? As for Black American Students I think Omaha, Lincoln has a community that could suit culture diversity and has supported those communities. Not sure though how you feel Africans could help. Not many good Fball, or Bball players have come from Africa.
AA”K”FinTexas: The facilities that NU will have in a year or so (along with new practice facilities) will surpass UT. Just saying!
Really disgraceful ending to the season, as it is very apparent from the actions, body language,comments and effort, that the team and coach have pretty much called it quits and Doc should not be allowed to finish out the season, after seeing such a lack of effort and cohesion these last few games. A real embarrassment to the whole athletic department with the way so many things have been handled these last few years. From the whole Pederson/ Callahan disaster, to the really disgusting way Solich was let go, to Mike Anderson destroying a very strong baseball program, not even being able to make the Big 12 tourney for 3 straight years, even though he only had to finish 8th to qualify [out of 10 teams], to the never ending underachieving and disappoinment of the basketball program, to the ridiculous and very financially damaging awarding of extensions and raises to Doc and Callahan before both of their final year disasters.Throw in 10 years of what would have to be called less than acceptable results from the football team and the leadership at Nebraska seems to have been more than a bit lacking overall of late. Erstad seems like a good move, but basketball is decades past needing a big shot in the arm from someone who has some idea about building a program. Hopefully someone is paying attention to the apathy seen on so many levels lately, and can get these programs that have been spinning their wheels for so long, on the right track, because quite frankly we have been embarrassed way too often these last few years in the major men’s sports.
Richardson, Spencer, Ubel sure as hell haven’t quit on Doc. And by the way, the season is isn’t over. Still got @Minnesota and the B1G Tournament
Bring back Danny Nee. WE NEED NEEbraska ball back! He was the best and never should have been released. While we are at it, can we also bring Frankie Solich back….
Danny Nee is the head coach at the US Merchant Marine Academy. Someone would have to pony up $300 to buy out his present contract.
Too bad we can’t bring back John Wooden, but when you die you really die.
Nee yes. But you only need to remember the Mac conference title game to see why Frank Solich should not be a head coach at NU.
Go find an assistant coach from North Carolina or another powerhouse school to replace our lackluster coach. It worked for Kansas and Mizzou. We need someone who can pull in talent. We have just as many scholarships as other schools. Why can’t we be successful?
Having two coaches in a row who couldn’t recruit or even coach that well hasn’t helped. No tradition. The new facilities will help, but the new arena is still another season in the future. At least the recruits can see the shell going up. Something has to break the existing mold. Like whats-his-name from Lincoln Southwest that chose to sub at Tejas rather than start at NU for 3 or 4 years. If you lose a tradeoff like that, that demonstrates how tough a sell it is to recruit at NU!
Plus, Hill’s final two were Texas and Creighton.
IT IS TIME TO COME TO GRIPS WITH OUR SITUATION. DO WE WANT TO COMPETE IN BASKETBALL FOR A CONFERENCE TITLE, AND NCAA WINS? OF COURSE WE DO. BRINGING BACK OLD NAMES WONT WORK. THROWING DARTS AT UP AND COMING YOUNG COACHES IS A BIG RISK AND TAKES A LOT OF TIME. GET OUT THE CHECKBOOKS AND GO HARD AFTER COACH HUGGINS AT WEST VIRGINIA. SURE IT IS A LONG SHOT, BUT ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET AND WATCH INSTANT RESULTS. THIS GUY CAN COACH AND MOST OF ALL ATTRACTS TOP LEVEL RECRUITS. I KNOW HE IS AT HIS ALMA MATER, BUT AT LEAST MAKE A SOLID ATTEMPT TO SIGN A TOP LEVEL COACH. A LOT OF YOUNG PLAYERS ARE WATCHING OUR NEXT MOVE.
Now you’re just being ridiculous…. Why would we stoop that low and hire Bob Huggins? Some things are more important than winning basketball games. Have some respect man!!!
Tom will never and should never hire that scum. I look forward to paying a great coach than can bring us back to getting NCAA tourney bids but we will never be NC title contenders without a sleaze ball coach that I do not want.
If TO picks up a proven big school D1 coach that has an offensive tilt and good recruiting record I would support whomever he brings in. If that is not in the offing then I would hope that Doug Stewart the assistant head coach at Oregon State would get an interview. He looks like the exact type of guy that could turn this program around. An offensive mind and a great recruiter. He’s young and hungry to prove himself at the helm. He could be around at NU for decades instead of 7-10 years and then retire as some of the coaches that are being named as a potential replace for NU would be doing, all too soon. Mainly I want an experienced guy but a man no older than 45. An offensive minded coach that has shown in major conferences to have coached good defense as well and great recruiting. Doug Stewart has that track record and would not likely turn away at a deal of 1million per year. Dana is now older, even if he turned the program around, he’d be gone in 10 years or so and we would be starting the process again. I really believe that Danny Nee taught me something. That to recruit top players to NU, we have to let them know that we are going to put a premium on scoring points. That way top players will be able to look good for the NBA scouts and will get the added advantage of being on the Big Ten Network for exposure purposes. That would bring the recruits in to see Lincoln and be blown away by the new facilities and arena. I believe that’s the approach we need to take into the future.
Ditto, best post on this subject.
Certainly some interesting potential choices for a new coach thrown out by Lee this week. Bob brings up some really interesting points in his comments. Remember, TO was allowed to let Frank Solich be named as his successor as football coach; a decision I still to this day don’t believe Bill Byrne supported.
My concern is who would be Doc’s replacement if he were not retained? Who can Nebraska really expect to get to come here; considering the current state of the basketball program? New facilities do not guarantee a winning and successful program. Nebraska needs to understand what the price tag is really going to be to build a competitive BB program and are they really willing to put a 100% commitment to that. I seriously don’t see them anywhere near that point at this time.
it will take time just be patient every school that changed conferences had a tough time (except husker volleyball) and key injuries dont help either so give doc a break the B1G is way stronger then texas conference
IM off to work GBR
Good points. Doc still needs to go.
Lee, How many times can you beat a dead horse?? Altman is not coming back for the dead end job formerly known as Nebrasketball. This is the no mans land of coaching and its a folly you continue to perputrate that any coach with a brain is going to take this job. Someone will get this job but is not the list of pipedream candidates you continue to drool over. Call Derrin Hansen he might might be interested and thats as good as it gets folks.
Get Scott Spinelli. He’s a good recruiter, he’ll be a rookie coach that will not come with a huge pricetag (Osborne alone would like that), and then get Danny Nee, who’s been practically begging to come back to be a fund-raiser, to head that aspect– that would effectively jump start this BB zombie. Nee would be able to help recruit himself. And before anybody laughs at that, Mr Nee took the NU basketball clampett wagon to the NCAA’s 5 times– and won a conference title– IN BASKETBALL. We haven’t even had a sniff of that around here since he left. Altman and Pearl are not good for this program for various reasons, and I cannot see how Doc stays another year.
Scott Spinelli is not going to the N U
Big recruiter: Yes, Head Coaching Experience: NO
did murray st. extend their coaches contract?
Better poney up. How much would the university lose if no one showed up at games next year? Sadler has lost the fans and any enthusiasm or momentum. Losing Gesell, relying on JUCO’s and now getting destroyed every game with little of that “sadler effort” from the players. NU needs a change.
With the new facilities going up we need new life and energy to capitalize on it. Altman wouldn’t be a bad canidate and 1.5 mil shouldn’t be a decinding factor if that’s who we want.
Maybe you can pony up but it wont be enough to get a REASONABLE coach to Lincoln. Its a dead end job deal with it.
Altman is not coming here nor should we want him. Good guy like Doc is but he isnt going to bring the talent in that we need. We need a guy like Marshall from wichita state or a big time recruiter form a top program Get someone who can recruit and bring in a good assistant coach who can teach and recruit as well. HAVE to get a young recruiter to go along with the new practice facility and arena. Altman is NOT the guy to do that. TO worries the heck out of me that he can make a good hire as well, he goes for the safe hire and probably someone he knows.
Perhaps Tom should call Roy Williams. One he could get it done and two he could be the only coach to win a NC in three different conferences. And win it in the three toughest conferences. That would keep Nebraska viable for fifty years.
Don’t normally respond, but……. Roy Williams has coached in 2 major conferences and won NC in only 1, the ACC. Williams is at his home and ideal job.
A prior post talked about KST and that they didn’t have history until Huggins coached. Actually prior to 1988, they had more success than Kansas.
Gregg Williams is a great option to coach at NU.
Guys… you missed it!!! Nebraska will never be on the radar in B’Ball because there is no local talent and no way to bring quality talent to Lincoln from places with local talent. So forget it…
Let Doc run out his string and then hire the most successful mid-level coach available for similar money and just go to B’ball games to see who’s on the other team. Nebraska is a one sport pony… ride football, go to the new digs and look around, then go to the spring game, and repeat the process. End of story.
I think Yori should get the job………..
Why would anyone want Dana Altman to come to Nebraska? Is this really the best we can do? (Vomitting)