Timing on making Hodge official?

El Paso Eagle · March 31, 2023

Jonnyeagle · March 31, 2023

Just a guess but maybe tomorrow or Monday?

ColoradoEagle · March 31, 2023

Given that a press conference wasn’t announced today, my guess would be mid to late next week for that. Announcement probably as soon as Monday or Tuesday.

greenminer · April 1, 2023

NT80 · April 1, 2023

4 hours ago, ColoradoEagle said:

Given that a press conference wasn’t announced today, my guess would be mid to late next week for that. Announcement probably as soon as Monday or Tuesday.

Contract probably has to be approved by the BOR. We know who it is, it's just not officially "official" yet.

Cooley · April 1, 2023

Count me as a “No” vote

Venson · April 1, 2023

3 hours ago, Cooley said:

Count me as a “No” vote

Is that a no on Hodge becoming HC? If so, why not him?

Cooley · April 1, 2023

3 hours ago, Venson said:

Is that a no on Hodge becoming HC? If so, why not him?

Why him?

So you end the season on National TV, highest profile for the school ever and nowhere in the AD’s statement did I read that there will be a national search for a replacement. Seems like we are just settling. What makes anyone feel that he will be successful? If other schools felt that he is the next hotshot coach, why did they not offer.

Quite frankly, I don’t won’t to see the exact same offense we saw the majority of the year. (Which lead to the lowest points allowed) We had a scrappy bunch of kids that played hard and bought in. McCasland turned out amazing results you can’t argue. He said that he was going to win and he did. The vast majority of fans, however, stayed home. I imagine in part, because of the style of ball. Don’t rip me, find out why.

So, we don’t feel, at this point in time, that there’s not better other prospects? Recruiting has been a mixed bag. Solid hits and too many misses. Again, they accomplished their goal so it’s hard to argue. I just think that we have finally reached a point where we can ascend the heights of an FAU and others. (Not status quo)

I guess I don’t know enough about this pending hire. SMU hired Tim Jankovich when Larry Brown stepped down. Jank was responsible for most of the recruits they brought in. SMU faltered. Tony Benford was a hot shoot assistant, known for recruiting. He’s still a top notch assistant.

Please help educate me on why this will be a great hire to take us much higher? I’ll happily get on board. Just not excited right now. Thanks for asking.

p_phelps · April 1, 2023

28 minutes ago, Cooley said:

Why him?

So you end the season on National TV, highest profile for the school ever and nowhere in the AD’s statement did I read that there will be a national search for a replacement. Seems like we are just settling. What makes anyone feel that he will be successful? If other schools felt that he is the next hotshot coach, why did they not offer.

Quite frankly, I don’t won’t to see the exact same offense we saw the majority of the year. (Which lead to the lowest points allowed) We had a scrappy bunch of kids that played hard and bought in. McCasland turned out amazing results you can’t argue. He said that he was going to win and he did. The vast majority of fans, however, stayed home. I imagine in part, because of the style of ball. Don’t rip me, find out why.

So, we don’t feel, at this point in time, that there’s not better other prospects? Recruiting has been a mixed bag. Solid hits and too many misses. Again, they accomplished their goal so it’s hard to argue. I just think that we have finally reached a point where we can ascend the heights of an FAU and others. (Not status quo)

I guess I don’t know enough about this pending hire. SMU hired Tim Jankovich when Larry Brown stepped down. Jank was responsible for most of the recruits they brought in. SMU faltered. Tony Benford was a hot shoot assistant, known for recruiting. He’s still a top notch assistant.

Please help educate me on why this will be a great hire to take us much higher? I’ll happily get on board. Just not excited right now. Thanks for asking.

He's won a national championship as a head coach before, has a .900 record. Back to back #1 defenses in the country. Knows the university, current players, good recruiter. What's not to like?

MeanGreen13 · April 1, 2023

56 minutes ago, Cooley said:

Why him?

So you end the season on National TV, highest profile for the school ever and nowhere in the AD’s statement did I read that there will be a national search for a replacement. Seems like we are just settling. What makes anyone feel that he will be successful? If other schools felt that he is the next hotshot coach, why did they not offer.

Quite frankly, I don’t won’t to see the exact same offense we saw the majority of the year. (Which lead to the lowest points allowed) We had a scrappy bunch of kids that played hard and bought in. McCasland turned out amazing results you can’t argue. He said that he was going to win and he did. The vast majority of fans, however, stayed home. I imagine in part, because of the style of ball. Don’t rip me, find out why.

So, we don’t feel, at this point in time, that there’s not better other prospects? Recruiting has been a mixed bag. Solid hits and too many misses. Again, they accomplished their goal so it’s hard to argue. I just think that we have finally reached a point where we can ascend the heights of an FAU and others. (Not status quo)

I guess I don’t know enough about this pending hire. SMU hired Tim Jankovich when Larry Brown stepped down. Jank was responsible for most of the recruits they brought in. SMU faltered. Tony Benford was a hot shoot assistant, known for recruiting. He’s still a top notch assistant.

Please help educate me on why this will be a great hire to take us much higher? I’ll happily get on board. Just not excited right now. Thanks for asking.

He has been a head coach on multiple levels before and has done very well. Also, he recruits many of our better underrated players from the lower levels. Lastly, he has been offered a couple jobs while an assistant here. I think he chose to stay here because he wanted this job and he should get it. I'm more concerned about the assistants that stay here versus those who go with Mac. Hodge seems to have good connections so I think we will be fine.

greenminer · April 1, 2023

I know the value of an open national search, and we should definitely consider others if they are there, but I feel like this is an opportunity that a lot of other programs would die to have. Hodge, IMO, is a hire that checks so many boxes. Hodge represents continuity. He already has a stellar background as a HC, excelling at every stop he's been on. His background as a D1 assistant is incredible, too. We have rarely been in this position and, honestly no, I do not feel like there are candidates anywhere out there right now that would excite me like Hodge would. Honestly, why not him? Because he doesn't have a HC background at the D1 level? We have overwhelming evidence that he succeeds everywhere he's gone, and I don't want to be the program that regrets not giving him a chance.

I feel better about this coaching transition (assuming its Hodge) than any other time, in any other sport, that we've had. Grant just won us an NIT championship and we've seen how much trust he had in Hodge. To my knowledge, a ton of quality programs really wanted Hodge on their staff, too.

Last thought: our AD has a history of making reactionary, or divergent hires. Hitting the reset button for every new coach because either 1) the previous coach and system was a failure, or 2) we think the new guy (with his different system) is going to be loyal. We finally have a chance for continuity, championship-level continuity, and I personally want it. I feel like this is a much more comfortable "continuity" hire than going from SL to Eric Morris in football. And I have this wild thought that Hodge CAN elevate this program even higher.

Per MGS.com, Hodge's career record as HC is 146-24. That's unreal. Better percentage than Grant's HC record.

Edited April 2, 2023 by greenminer

BleedingGreen · April 1, 2023

Reward of continued winning tradition over much risk . That is all.

MeanGreen13 · April 1, 2023

12 minutes ago, MeanGreen13 said:

I'm more concerned about the assistants that stay here versus those who go with Mac. Hodge seems to have good connections so I think we will be fine.

I hope we can keep Matt Braeuer here instead of him going to Tech.

greenminer · April 1, 2023

Caw Caw · April 1, 2023

1 hour ago, Cooley said:

Why him?

So you end the season on National TV, highest profile for the school ever and nowhere in the AD’s statement did I read that there will be a national search for a replacement. Seems like we are just settling. What makes anyone feel that he will be successful? If other schools felt that he is the next hotshot coach, why did they not offer.

Quite frankly, I don’t won’t to see the exact same offense we saw the majority of the year. (Which lead to the lowest points allowed) We had a scrappy bunch of kids that played hard and bought in. McCasland turned out amazing results you can’t argue. He said that he was going to win and he did. The vast majority of fans, however, stayed home. I imagine in part, because of the style of ball. Don’t rip me, find out why.

So, we don’t feel, at this point in time, that there’s not better other prospects? Recruiting has been a mixed bag. Solid hits and too many misses. Again, they accomplished their goal so it’s hard to argue. I just think that we have finally reached a point where we can ascend the heights of an FAU and others. (Not status quo)

I guess I don’t know enough about this pending hire. SMU hired Tim Jankovich when Larry Brown stepped down. Jank was responsible for most of the recruits they brought in. SMU faltered. Tony Benford was a hot shoot assistant, known for recruiting. He’s still a top notch assistant.

Please help educate me on why this will be a great hire to take us much higher? I’ll happily get on board. Just not excited right now. Thanks for asking.

Wren Baker said on his post NIT interview on the Green Room that as many offers as Mac had turned down, Hodge had turned down plenty of jobs at p5 schools for double the money.

meangreenfaninno · April 1, 2023

7 minutes ago, Caw Caw said:

Wren Baker said on his post NIT interview on the Green Room that as many offers as Mac had turned down, Hodge had turned down plenty of jobs at p5 schools for double the money.

But did he turn down head jobs?

southsideguy · April 1, 2023

Didn't Ark State want him?

southsideguy · April 1, 2023

I heard he sign a 5 year contract and now I hear we have to wait to it official from the BOR. I was wondering why I have not heard anything from him. Has he moved to his new office yet?

NT80 · April 1, 2023

1 hour ago, Cooley said:

Why him?

So you end the season on National TV, highest profile for the school ever and nowhere in the AD’s statement did I read that there will be a national search for a replacement. Seems like we are just settling. What makes anyone feel that he will be successful? If other schools felt that he is the next hotshot coach, why did they not offer.

Quite frankly, I don’t won’t to see the exact same offense we saw the majority of the year. (Which lead to the lowest points allowed) We had a scrappy bunch of kids that played hard and bought in. McCasland turned out amazing results you can’t argue. He said that he was going to win and he did. The vast majority of fans, however, stayed home. I imagine in part, because of the style of ball. Don’t rip me, find out why.

So, we don’t feel, at this point in time, that there’s not better other prospects? Recruiting has been a mixed bag. Solid hits and too many misses. Again, they accomplished their goal so it’s hard to argue. I just think that we have finally reached a point where we can ascend the heights of an FAU and others. (Not status quo)

I guess I don’t know enough about this pending hire. SMU hired Tim Jankovich when Larry Brown stepped down. Jank was responsible for most of the recruits they brought in. SMU faltered. Tony Benford was a hot shoot assistant, known for recruiting. He’s still a top notch assistant.

Please help educate me on why this will be a great hire to take us much higher? I’ll happily get on board. Just not excited right now. Thanks for asking.

You'd rather go the Smut route and hire an East Coast small school winning coach? = 10-22 in his first season.

Green Lantern · April 1, 2023

27 minutes ago, southsideguy said:

Didn't Ark State want him?

Yes

Glory to the Green · April 1, 2023

32 minutes ago, NT80 said:

You'd rather go the Smut route and hire an East Coast small school winning coach? = 10-22 in his first season.

For the record. I would not prefer this route.

If JM thinks Hodge is the guy, let’s do it. I’d rather a search, but JM hired Mac and Golding at ACU…he seems to know basketball. I’m good with it. Let’s keep the train rolling!

emmitt01 · April 1, 2023

2 hours ago, Cooley said:

Why him?

So you end the season on National TV, highest profile for the school ever and nowhere in the AD’s statement did I read that there will be a national search for a replacement. Seems like we are just settling. What makes anyone feel that he will be successful? If other schools felt that he is the next hotshot coach, why did they not offer.

Quite frankly, I don’t won’t to see the exact same offense we saw the majority of the year. (Which lead to the lowest points allowed) We had a scrappy bunch of kids that played hard and bought in. McCasland turned out amazing results you can’t argue. He said that he was going to win and he did. The vast majority of fans, however, stayed home. I imagine in part, because of the style of ball. Don’t rip me, find out why.

So, we don’t feel, at this point in time, that there’s not better other prospects? Recruiting has been a mixed bag. Solid hits and too many misses. Again, they accomplished their goal so it’s hard to argue. I just think that we have finally reached a point where we can ascend the heights of an FAU and others. (Not status quo)

I guess I don’t know enough about this pending hire. SMU hired Tim Jankovich when Larry Brown stepped down. Jank was responsible for most of the recruits they brought in. SMU faltered. Tony Benford was a hot shoot assistant, known for recruiting. He’s still a top notch assistant.

Please help educate me on why this will be a great hire to take us much higher? I’ll happily get on board. Just not excited right now. Thanks for asking.

I’m just gonna leave this right here…

meanrob · April 1, 2023

There’s no way I believe style of play drastically affected attendance. That would have to mean there are thousands of people out there who paid enough attention to figure out the style of play and then decided, “no thanks.”

Glory to the Green · April 1, 2023

11 minutes ago, meanrob said:

There’s no way I believe style of play drastically affected attendance. That would have to mean there are thousands of people out there who paid enough attention to figure out the style of play and then decided, “no thanks.”

Ha! Right. “Tournament wins, multiple championships, MVP’s, but the pace is too slow for me. I’d rather watch a high scoring loss.” There might be some fans with that view, but not many.

Caw Caw · April 1, 2023

12 minutes ago, meanrob said:

There’s no way I believe style of play drastically affected attendance. That would have to mean there are thousands of people out there who paid enough attention to figure out the style of play and then decided, “no thanks.”

I would say Benford had a greater affect on attendance than style of play. Second to benford, things are just different post covid and i think the AD is still figuring that out.