Walter Offutt

[cubird]

Apparently, Coach P doesn't think it''s appropriate to discuss some personnel issues on a radio talk show. It's naive to think that the media has not ask the question.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Apparently, Coach P doesn't think it''s appropriate to discuss some personnel issues on a radio talk show. It's naive to think that the media has not ask the question.

Part of the reason head coaches get paid the big bucks is to answer the tough questions. The radio team essentially works for ISU, so it’s not likely they would be given permission to ask.

If Pedon has a player arrested like other coaches have, he’s going to get asked about it. Perhaps not by a local newspaper’s MBB beatwriter, but someone else is likely to ask.

It appears the local newspaper’s beatwriter has blocked people for calmly inquiring if any follow-up was asked to Pedon regarding his cryptic response to the Offutt situation. Perhaps the favored seating the local beatwriter complained for was the payoff for not asking.

We’ll know more in a few days. I hope I’m wrong and he’s back and ready to start helping the team, but I wouldn’t bet on him being back yet nor on our bench in 23-24.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Happy Walt Offutt? Day! To those that celebrate. As all have said whatever is going on I hope he and family are doing well and have a healthy child. If he’s back let’s go! If not best wishes on future endeavors.

 

[Adunk33]

Redbirds Host Flames to Finish Two-Game Homestand - Illinois State University Athletics

The Illinois State Redbirds, fresh off of a win over MVC-leading Southern Illinois, close out its two game homestand on Wednesday night when the team hosts the UIC

goredbirds.com

The “Baby Birds” section is not in tomorrows game notes. It previously read, “Illinois State Assistant Basketball Coach, Walter Offutt, and his wife Nicole are the proud parents of a healthy baby boy. We wish Coach Offutt and his family the best. Current Men's Basketball Chief of Staff, Mike Mastroianni, will cover the assistant basketball coach role while Coach Offutt is on parental leave.”

 

[BirdGrad2011]

In unsurprising news there is zero mention in Benson’s article today.

 

[Redbird222]

In unsurprising news there is zero mention in Benson’s article today.

How were you even able to read it? Did have to sign in with your alter ego?

 

[BirdGrad2011]

How were you even able to read it? Did have to sign in with your alter ego?

I have my Twitter burner and a paywall blocker.

 

[Bird Friend]

I'm just wondering; what we're folks expecting on Offut? Honestly, I'm curious. I wasn't expecting anything, so I guess my expectations were met.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

I'm just wondering; what we're folks expecting on Offut? Honestly, I'm curious. I wasn't expecting anything, so I guess my expectations were met.

Expected a welcome back or one of those really brief press releases. It will be extremely weird to just pretend nothing ever happened and go about business as usual.

 

[SlackBooDom]

There's so much silence on this that I think it is an ISU Administration / Brennan and lawyers thing over something basketball-related. I would anticipate a pre-written statement tonight from Pedon that says they wish Walt well and he won't be back and no one will ever really know the truth.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

There's so much silence on this that I think it is an ISU Administration / Brennan and lawyers thing over something basketball-related. I would anticipate a pre-written statement tonight from Pedon that says they wish Walt well and he won't be back and no one will ever really know the truth.

Perfectly fine. Just give us a he’s back or he’s gone. All I want or we are entitled to.

 

[Bird Friend]

Expected a welcome back or one of those really brief press releases. It will be extremely weird to just pretend nothing ever happened and go about business as usual.

Maybe nothing has happened?

 

[Bird Friend]

Perfectly fine. Just give us a he’s back or he’s gone. All I want or we are entitled to.

Technically, we’re legally entitled to exactly what we’ve been given. Just sayin’.

 

[Bird Friend]

There's so much silence on this that I think it is an ISU Administration / Brennan and lawyers thing over something basketball-related. I would anticipate a pre-written statement tonight from Pedon that says they wish Walt well and he won't be back and no one will ever really know the truth.

So you think he’s gone?

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Maybe nothing has happened?

His leave is over. Either he’s back or he’s not.

 

[SlackBooDom]

So you think he’s gone?

I find it fairly odd a coach accepted his highest level assistant job and moved his family, was engaged on social media regularly, actively recruiting on the road, and at workouts/practice and then out of the blue stopped doing all of those things never to be heard from again. If it was a leave for a child, you can do 75%+ of your recruiting on social media and you can retweet/engage with posts about the team you’re coaching. Those things did not take place. I think if it was anything normal then your head coach and boss wouldn’t answer the beat writer as if you haven’t spoken to each other. Pedon didn’t even know the date he would return. Brennan hasn’t addressed it. Pedon won’t. I think he’s long gone already and that’s over and we lost a full season of having a high-level assistant and replaced him with a 24-year old former high school assistant. However you look at it, this hurt the program.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Technically, we’re legally entitled to exactly what we’ve been given. Just sayin’.

As taxpayers, Illinois citizens are entitled to be aware if someone is receiving unequal* (corrected) benefits. You could even face a Title IX violation claim if a men’s team is providing someone with benefits they are not entitled to and it is determined to be unequal treatment.

Offutt likely has a 1-year contract; however, that contract would require him to perform his duties or else there would be an immediate termination. So ISU would probably want to address that even if they don’t particularly care to.

If Offutt is on the bench tonight, great. He can help towards future goals. I would still put money on him not being here in 2023-24. There is too much about this that doesn’t pass the smell test.

 

[jwa123]

Well…. just in case there will be an opening on the coaching staff, I think Brick should put his golf clubs away and get back to central Illinois.

 

[Bird Friend]

So maybe there is something going on . . . Offut not on bench. Here's Benson's response when pressed:

 

[DougSutton]

So maybe there is something going on . . . Offut not on bench. Here's Benson's response when pressed:

It's been pretty obvious that something is up. I don't need to know the details but it is unfortunate that we haven't had a full, fully engaged staff this year. It makes the job of the rest of the staff that much harder in scouting, preparation, mentoring, individual skills training, and more. Benson's reply implies he knows enough to know something is up and has been told to hold on until coach Pedon or the AD is ready to make an official announcement.

Things happen, that's part of life. I have no judgment toward coach Offutt at all and wish him and his family the very best.