Fire Muller...now!

[Commit2theBird]

Moving on from Muller appears to be inevitable. He’s still under contract for 2022, 2023, and 2024. I believe there’s an early termination agreement where ISU would owe him $500K per season. I’d be curious to know how long payments could be deferred. Could we “Bobby Bonilla” the $1.5M, and pay it out over 15 years? Brennan and Co. have their work cut out for them, but to judge him for Lyon’s leftovers isn’t right in my opinion. Viewing the $1.5M as a sunk cost, thus retaining Muller beyond this season will do more damage to the program in the long run.

 

[DWRedbird]

Just a question, but doesn’t getting rid of Muller now at least give the next coach (if he’s hired before the season is over) a little more time to target recruits…as opposed to making a change after the season?
Seems to me like the uncertainty of the next coach would be a liability.
Lastly, why not give T Willis a shot?

I think firing Muller now (or during the season) wouldn't give us a great candidate pool to choose from. More than likely we end up with Jones as the interim head coach, and wouldn't start the search until after the season anyways.

As for Tony. I like him, and I think he would provide good insight across the board, but I'd like to see him serve as a true assistant before he gets a shot anywhere. When we get a new coach, I want someone with experience, that isn't just cutting their teeth at ISU.

 

[FriscoBird90]

Assuming there is little or no improvement over the next few months, my guess is the AD will use this season as a time to quietly approach the president as to how he plans to move forward with a change, put together a list of potential candidates, and figure a way to stretch out the payments on the remainder of Muller's contract. The department has reached the tipping point at which it can no longer afford NOT to make a change at the end of this season. Muller will be gone soon after the Valley tournament has concluded. This 10-year arrangement with a fantastic former player and student and loyal alum has more than ran its course.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Waiting until the end of the season is perfectly fine. If we lose on Thursday again he needs to be fired by tip-off of the first Friday game.

 

[SgtHulka]

Just a question, but doesn’t getting rid of Muller now at least give the next coach (if he’s hired before the season is over) a little more time to target recruits…as opposed to making a change after the season?
Seems to me like the uncertainty of the next coach would be a liability.
Lastly, why not give T Willis a shot?

Are we really going to jump immediately back onto the "lets hire a former Redbird" bandwagon? Can we please not?

 

[TBS_20]

Wh have truly played well 1 out of the last 23 years. Why would we hire a redbird?

 

[ISUBird]

Since I'm sure everyone is wondering, ISU has dropped the 8th most spots in NET since the beginning of the season. 37 spots. 202 > 239.

 

[MadBird]

I would like the new coach to have a little higher profile than Tony.

Bob Donewald’s replacement:

Bob Bender (Bloomington High School Grad) played in two Final Fours 1976 Indiana 1978 Duke (Only player to play on two different teams in the Final Four)
Was an Assistant Coach under Coach K on three Final Four teams 1986, 88, 89

Kevin Stallings played on the Purdue 1980 Final four team.
Was an assistant at Purdue under Gene Keady 1982-88
Was an assistant at Kansas under Roy Williams 1988-1993 including the 1988 National Championship team.

Tom Richardson’s hire was the beginning of the Redbird basketball downfall.

Actually, Kevin Stallings' last year was the beginning of the downfall: 16-15, 7-11 and seventh place in the MVC. And we tend to forget Richardson was 21-9 his second year and made the NIT. It was year 4 he totally bottomed out. His career win% is just slightly worse than Bender's - Bender was 60-57, 51%, Richardson 56-64, 47%. Richardson wins one more game per season, he's basically same as Bender.

But, I totally agree, our sights should be set higher than a great Redbird player, Tony Wills. Hell, there are capable qualified former Redbirds out there if that's important. Not sure it should be, this time. How do we feel about Yaklich right now, has the shine rubbed off him? Just curious what others think - I'd rather have him than Coach Dan, but not sure if we could do better or not.

 

[isuquinndog]

If we hire an alum to be head coach again, I may scream.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Actually, Kevin Stallings' last year was the beginning of the downfall: 16-15, 7-11 and seventh place in the MVC. And we tend to forget Richardson was 21-9 his second year and made the NIT. It was year 4 he totally bottomed out. His career win% is just slightly worse than Bender's - Bender was 60-57, 51%, Richardson 56-64, 47%. Richardson wins one more game per season, he's basically same as Bender.

But, I totally agree, our sights should be set higher than a great Redbird player, Tony Wills. Hell, there are capable qualified former Redbirds out there if that's important. Not sure it should be, this time. How do we feel about Yaklich right now, has the shine rubbed off him? Just curious what others think - I'd rather have him than Coach Dan, but not sure if we could do better or not.

I wouldn’t consider Stalling’s last year (98-99) as a downfall. Stalling’s lost Rico, Dan, Jamar, Skip, and Steve Hansell off the 97-98 team. So that in itself would cause a down year. But had Rico returned, the Redbirds would still have competed for the conference championship.
1999-2000 started the downfall. Richardson was promoted to Head Coach replacing Stallings, Sean Riley opted to bypass his final year of eligibility to focus on his medical career, and Victor Williams started what would become a tradition of player’s transferring out of Illinois State for greener pastures when he transferred to Oklahoma St. Victor Williams, Eric Bush (was so excited to see Eric Bush in a Redbird uniform, but never happened), Justin Dentmon (we know what happened), Nic Moore, McIntosh, Hawkins, & DJ to name a few. And let’s not forget the shafting the NCAA gave Tarise!
Bender (Indiana & Duke) and Stallings (Purdue) could sell their playing careers. Bender (Duke) and Stallings (Purdue & Kansas) could sell their coaching careers. That’s the blueprint I would like to use for selling coming to Illinois State when our next Head Coach is out speaking to a high school recruit. Even the Assistant Coaches Bender (Billy King/Duke) and Stallings (King Rice/North Carolina) had on their staff had names they could sell.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

If we hire an alum to be head coach again, I may scream.

Yak was the only one I’d consider and so far he isn’t setting the world on fire at UIC. I’m sure he’ll wind up better than Dan, but no shot I’m dipping my toes in that water yet.

 

[Adunk33]

Bender (Indiana & Duke) and Stallings (Purdue) could sell their playing careers. Bender (Duke) and Stallings (Purdue & Kansas) could sell their coaching careers. That’s the blueprint I would like to use for selling coming to Illinois State when our next Head Coach is out speaking to a high school recruit. Even the Assistant Coaches Bender (Billy King/Duke) and Stallings (King Rice/North Carolina) had on their staff had names they could sell.

To your last point, I think that was the hope with Brian Reese, it just never came to fruition. I don't think kids find as much value in where the guys outside of maybe the HC played. We've become a "what have you done for me lately." No 18 year old outside of maybe North Carolina has heard of Brian Reese.

The Yak conversation is interesting. I think he's going to be a very successful coach. I wouldn't put too much on his early record. He got the job in spring 2020 when the world was completely shut down. No time to really work with players over the summer or build those relationships. He's brought in some really talented transfers but we'll need to see how he develops talent. He does have a win over Valpo, but have also lost all of their games (But Loyola) by 10 or less, which could suggest they were in it until around the 4 min mark or so when teams usually pull away. I only watched UIC's game against Loyola....the Blers were just a lot better. Yak has relationships in the Chicago land area but the up tick of Loyola and DePaul playing better is going to make it hard for him to land local talent.

I've spent some time in thought about the next guy who comes in. There's really two routes: A long time assistant coach that either never got a head job or had one early in his career without much success (Rob Judson-type), or a younger guy hoping to take his first step up the ladder that is young enough to connect with players (Valentine at Loyola, though I do think Drew will take them into the Big East within 5 years). If it happens this year, which still feels unlikely due to the $$$ attached, gotta think a call is made to Turgeon. Will it be answered? Probably not. He'll get to pick from the available jobs.

 

[FriscoBird90]

Seems the formula for a greater degree of success that has worked for ISU in the past is to hire a top assistant coach from a top shelf basketball program that currently has a well regarded/successful head coach at or near the top of his profession. Donewald came from Bobby Knight, Bender from Coach K, and Stallings from Roy Williams. Now the two questions are: 1) Does ISU have the coin to be able to pay such a candidate? 2) If the answer to question #1 is "yes," is ISU an attractive enough job to draw the interest of candidates with those types of resumes and upward projections to their career paths?

 

[Birdman85]

Muller is only here because of the 1.2 he is owed. I have heard that directly from people involved. He will be gone after this year. Remember Brennan has Gonzaga ties.

 

[MadBird]

I wouldn’t consider Stalling’s last year (98-99) as a downfall. Stalling’s lost Rico, Dan, Jamar, Skip, and Steve Hansell off the 97-98 team. So that in itself would cause a down year. But had Rico returned, the Redbirds would still have competed for the conference championship.
1999-2000 started the downfall. Richardson was promoted to Head Coach replacing Stallings, Sean Riley opted to bypass his final year of eligibility to focus on his medical career, and Victor Williams started what would become a tradition of player’s transferring out of Illinois State for greener pastures when he transferred to Oklahoma St. Victor Williams, Eric Bush (was so excited to see Eric Bush in a Redbird uniform, but never happened), Justin Dentmon (we know what happened), Nic Moore, McIntosh, Hawkins, & DJ to name a few. And let’s not forget the shafting the NCAA gave Tarise!
Bender (Indiana & Duke) and Stallings (Purdue) could sell their playing careers. Bender (Duke) and Stallings (Purdue & Kansas) could sell their coaching careers. That’s the blueprint I would like to use for selling coming to Illinois State when our next Head Coach is out speaking to a high school recruit. Even the Assistant Coaches Bender (Billy King/Duke) and Stallings (King Rice/North Carolina) had on their staff had names they could sell.

Well, I'm just sayin' it was on the downward trend when Richardson got the gig. Main starters in 98-99 were SO Tarise, SR Watkins, JR. Riley, FR Williams. JR Murdock, SR Cartmill, JR Tyrone Brown, and JR Ryan Crowley all started a dozen games or more (Cartmill 11). You could argue the cupboard wasn't bare, and if you think it was, like lots of folks argue with Coach Dan that's on Stallings. But I'm not arguing Richardson was a great coach, maybe he was before or after ISU, but not when he was here. Other than the one year, not much to show.

 

[SgtHulka]

Well, I'm just sayin' it was on the downward trend when Richardson got the gig. Main starters in 98-99 were SO Tarise, SR Watkins, JR. Riley, FR Williams. JR Murdock, SR Cartmill, JR Tyrone Brown, and JR Ryan Crowley all started a dozen games or more (Cartmill 11). You could argue the cupboard wasn't bare, and if you think it was, like lots of folks argue with Coach Dan that's on Stallings. But I'm not arguing Richardson was a great coach, maybe he was before or after ISU, but not when he was here. Other than the one year, not much to show.

We were a couple of LD knees away from staying afloat

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Well, I'm just sayin' it was on the downward trend when Richardson got the gig. Main starters in 98-99 were SO Tarise, SR Watkins, JR. Riley, FR Williams. JR Murdock, SR Cartmill, JR Tyrone Brown, and JR Ryan Crowley all started a dozen games or more (Cartmill 11). You could argue the cupboard wasn't bare, and if you think it was, like lots of folks argue with Coach Dan that's on Stallings. But I'm not arguing Richardson was a great coach, maybe he was before or after ISU, but not when he was here. Other than the one year, not much to show.

Team Stalling’s left Richardson was talented. Victor Williams transferring to Oklahoma St. and Sean Riley both opted out after Stallings left.

 

[birdsflyhigh]

Longtime Redbird fan here, and I would have current WIU HC Rob Jeter here in a heartbeat. If you can win big at WIU then that is somewhat of a miracle. The Leathernecks are currently 8-2 and have looked very good. They have a great shot at making the dance.

Jeter is a Midwestern guy with a lot of contacts and success wherever he's coached. Also think he would be very interested in resurrecting ISU hoops.

Hope Jeter's name is near the top of the hiring process.

Go you Redbirds!

 

[MadBird]

Longtime Redbird fan here, and I would have current WIU HC Rob Jeter here in a heartbeat. If you can win big at WIU then that is somewhat of a miracle. The Leathernecks are currently 8-2 and have looked very good. They have a great shot at making the dance.

Jeter is a Midwestern guy with a lot of contacts and success wherever he's coached. Also think he would be very interested in resurrecting ISU hoops.

Hope Jeter's name is near the top of the hiring process.

Go you Redbirds!

Interesting suggestion. Not sure Rob's resume would impress all the people he would need to impress, but he's sure paid his dues, been around some, and learned from one of the best, Bo Ryan. His record at Milwaukee was pretty decent, and his dismissal was questionable. I'd be inclined to take him.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Muller is only here because of the 1.2 he is owed. I have heard that directly from people involved. He will be gone after this year. Remember Brennan has Gonzaga ties.

I would love a certain Gonzaga assistant that played for a National Championship and also has a dad that we may know.