What happens to college hoops coaches who can't win a conference game?
As DePaul fans might be aware, the Blue Demons have one more chance to erase the goose egg in their Big East win column. DePaul (8-22, 0-17) travels to Georgetown (15-13, 6-11) on Saturday.
Since Jerry Wainwright's job security seems to be a topic that might have been mentioned once upon a time somewhere in the DePaul Fan Universe, I thought I'd see what other major-conference schools have done after they've put up an 0-fer in the conference win column.
I scoured the last 25 years for the following conferences: ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, SEC, PAC-10, A-10, Conference USA, Mountain West and the WAC. The only thing I couldn't find were complete old-timey Southwest Conference standings before the league blended with the Big Eight in the mid-1990s.
What did I find? As time has marched on, schools have had less and less patience with a coach who can't win a league game. In reverse chronological order, here's the list.
2007-08
Jay John, Oregon State (6th year)
Fired in January en route to a 6-25, 0-18 season.
Craig Robinson (a.k.a. the First Brother-In-Law) took over and has the Beavers at 13-15, 7-10.
2007-08
Willis Wilson, Rice (16th year)
Fired at conclusion of 3-27, 0-16 season.
Ben Braun has the Owls at 9-20, 4-11.
2007-08
Tim Miles, Colorado State (1st year)
Since he was in his first year, Miles' AD stayed the course after a 7-25, 0-16 season.
CSU is now 9-21, 4-12.
2003-04
Melvin Watkins, Texas A&M (6th year)
Fired after a 7-21, 0-16 season.
Billy Gillispie took over and went 19-9, 8-8 and went to the NIT.
1999-2000
Kevin O'Neill, Northwestern (3rd year)
Quit shortly before Labor Day and left for the NBA after a 5-25, 0-16 season.
1999-2000
Steve Fisher, San Diego State (1st year)
Since he was in his first year, Fisher stayed to rebuild after a 5-23, 0-14 season.
Fisher is now in his 10th year with the Aztecs.
1998-99
Harry Miller, Baylor (5th year)
Fired after 6-24, 0-16 season.
1996-97
Roger Reid, BYU (8th year)
Fired early in 1-25, 0-16 season after weird incident where he told Duke recruit Chris Burgess he let the Latter-Day Saints down by not picking BYU.
1993-94
Leonard Hamilton, Miami (4th year)
Stayed on-board for five more years after a 7-20, 0-18 season in Big East.
He went 15-13, 8-8 and earned an NIT berth the next season.
I could keep going and mention how Northwestern kept Bill Foster for a few years after an 0-18 season in 1990-91 -- and that Texas Tech kept Gerald Myers for one more year after he put up a 0-16 season in 1989-90 -- but you get the general idea.
Basically, history says that Jerry Wainwright should hope DePaul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto views him as a Leonard Hamilton-like figure. There's more than one way in which Jerry does not resemble Mr. Hamilton.
LW
Lindsey, but to be honest, playing a G'Town team with an over all 15-13, and 6-11 in Conf. would have been a weak, but OK record for DePaul, this season. We are regrouping, and do have many new faces.
But, the difference between a 6-11 G'town and DePaul is measured in light years. We are so far behind and not even competitive to a 6 win team. And, no one can convince me that it is the players, being too young, or still learning. We have shown NO player development, cohesiveness, team chemistry, or progress. For JLP to point to these areas as our effort for this year is laughable. It shows her lack of understanding of what it takes to build a program.
I ask her, show me one, just one player who has developed beyond the level they came in with. I just don't see it.
And, playing is a system that doesn't even resemble a major College scheme exposes our weaknesses to the max.
I don't know what it will take for her to realize this, but we, the DePaul faithful, are yearning for her to act and begging for her to be the AD that a School in a Major College Conference needs to have.
All of the accolades she may have received have been negated by her parroting the too young, or lost Wilson excuses. Jeanie, you have lost face with the Alum.
You have a chance to regain it. So, please do it. This little exercise of yours has been a complete flop. It's time to play with the big boys. And, this method is not working.
...if there is a new DePaul coach, it won't be Steve Lavin. Of that I am confident.
Of course, I also thought the Demons would go with another Leitao-esque top assistant when it came time to hire in '05, so my vibe might not be trustworthy.
LW
There you Go !! That's what I'm talking about. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. Your next article should be on who the next coach for DPU should be. Steve Lavin your table is ready.
LW..good blog. I guess history shows if you are not in your first year for the most part, it's see ya...please inform JLP of your findings..THANK YOU
Ill echo the previous comments...this is something a lot of people have been looking for and wondering, "Well what does happen to most 0fer coaches?" I think we have our answer and will see what happens come April.
Good Stuff
LW,
First, thanks for the post back to me a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get a chance to respond, but I do appreciate it.
But this was some nice research, and we obviously see a trend on what happenst to 0'for coaches in the country. Leonard Hamilton was the exception, however he coached at a football school, so he's not the primary sport and focus, so you can somewhat slip that past people. At DePaul, basketball is "the sport", and the focus of what few fans they do have left.
I could go on-and-on about what I think about Jerry Wainwright the coach, but quite simply they should not have digressed by Year 4. Poor coaching and poor recruiting are the big problems. Sure Jeannie can say that he is a great coach, but what do they numbers say? People can say he's an excellent recruiter, then tell me why he always seems to have scholarships in the spring period when the talent is few and far between? It's mis-management on the court and on the recruiting trail. All faults of Jerry as a coach. As a person, he's great...but the last time I checked, "nice guy" isn't a requirement of being a successful basketball coach.
I guess we will all know what will happen in these next two weeks.
Maybe depaul should just fire all there assistants and bring in some new assistants with local ties.
(EDIT BY LW: I probably should have been more viligant earlier, but we're not going to name-call other posters.)
Dennis Gates would be a steal for depaul if they could some how get him on board, great inner city backround and very connected in the aau scene (ANOTHER EDIT). Next hire for me would be to find out who i got to hire from the mac irvin fire to make them happy, they have just about everybody who is somebody on the summer circuit, again not some suburbanite kid who belongs on the fencing team.