Boss Hodge Rumors heating up…..

[meangreen11]

[meangreen11]

[DeepGreen]

Someone may have already answered this question;  did we even make a counteroffer to keep Hodge?

I'm sure the money offered Hodge was big in his decision.  I just wonder if the fact that the UNT Coliseum was used for a banquet rather than an important NIT home basketball game sealed the deal for his decision.  I mean, we may not have made a counteroffer to keep Hodge.  Maybe Veto will get the "skinny".

[UNTLifer]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:18 PM, DeepGreen said:

Someone may have already answered this question;  did we even make a counteroffer to keep Hodge?

I'm sure the money offered Hodge was big in his decision.  I just wonder if the fact that the UNT Coliseum was used for a banquet rather than an important NIT home basketball game sealed the deal for his decision.  I mean, we may not have made a counteroffer to keep Hodge.  Maybe Veto will get the "skinny".

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I was sent a DM from someone yesterday and they stated that Hodge would be crazy to stay if offered because it was a LOT of money.  Hope it is worth it.

Anyone know what the buyout was?

[rjm]

$3 million x=$15 million.

UNT says "well give you $900k. Do we have a deal?

smh

[meangreen11]

[rjm]

How does Dusty May know him? I don't see anywhere they worked together. Same for Scott Drew?

Edited Wednesday at 10:48 PM by rjm

[Jonnyeagle]

[NorthTexasWeLove]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:46 PM, Jonnyeagle said:

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Go ahead. Let the assistants run the show. 

[Coltonw83]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:46 PM, rjm said:

How does Dusty May know him? I don't see anywhere they worked together. Same for Scott Drew?

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Is it that crazy for a rival coach to speak well of someone they competed against frequently? FAU head coach vs. second in command of the UNT team who was praised for being responsible for our defense throughout his time here.

[rjm]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:52 PM, Coltonw83 said:

Is it that crazy for a rival coach to speak well of someone they competed against frequently? FAU head coach vs. second in command of the UNT team who was praised for being responsible for our defense throughout his time here.

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Not crazy. I had forgotten about the old FAU. SMH

[rjm]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:49 PM, NorthTexasWeLove said:

Go ahead. Let the assistants run the show. 

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Right up until the new coach is hired.  None are ready to be head coach at this level. 

[Coltonw83]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:55 PM, rjm said:

Not crazy. I had forgotten about the old FAU. SMH

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Ahh, no worries lol. Yeah, he led that FAU team that made it to the final 4 then was hired to be Michigan's head coach. Michigan's current best player Vlad Goldin (who my wife hated and actively rooted against when we played them) went with em. 

[meaniegreenie]

  On 3/26/2025 at 9:09 PM, NorthTexasWeLove said:

For us, it has 100% been system. We often have lesser than in personnel in comparison to our opponents. Our system and players buy in is what allowed the system to successful. 

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And it's what made watching this team so enjoyable for me. 

I realize I'm in the minority of folks that would prefer to watch an NBA all-star game for the entire season, but I like watching good basketball, executed by players that are enjoyable to to watch and that are good young men that represent my university well. 

[Jonnyeagle]

 

[rjm]

I think it's highly unlikely that the new head coach will play at such a slow pace.

And if it's not Cross I don't know.

This guy maybe?  Only 2 years d1 experience though.

Luke Barnwell is in his second season with the Texas Tech men's basketball program as an assistant coach for Grant McCasland after recording an impressive 224-39 record in 10 seasons at Sunrise Christian Academy. He was named the 2021 and 2022 Naismith High School Boys Coach of the Year and led Sunrise Christian to the 2022 National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Championship.

Barnwell helped to lead the Red Raiders to the 2024 NCAA Tournament and a 23-win season in his first year. Tech finished tied for third in the Big 12 standings and advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Big 12 Championship. 

He had spent the last eight seasons leading the Sunrise Christian Elite team where he compiled a 178-28 record competing against the elite basketball programs in the nation. Barnwell led SCA to five consecutive GEICO Nationals and has coached over 75 NCAA Division I players and worked with six NBA players. His team was ranked No. 1 throughout the 2022 season and won the inaugural NIBC. The program once again advanced to the final four of the GEICO High School National Tournament in 2023 with an upset of the top seed. He coached NBA players Kennedy Chandler, Kendall Brown, Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji and helped train Buddy Hield and Ron Baker.

“Coach Barnwell has great head coaching experience and has recruited and coached some of the best players around the world,” McCasland said. “He’s got great basketball feel but his ability to relate to players is what separates him. We are thrilled to have him part of our coaching staff.”

Barnwell began his time at SCA as the head coach of the post-grad basketball team where he led the program to a 41-13 record from 2012-15. He earned Midwest Prep Coach of the Year in 2015 and would help 13 players advance to NCAA Division I programs.

Additionally, Barnwell gained coaching experience within the Mokan Nike Elite program where he was the head coach of Mokan 17U Select in 2014 and Mokan 15U Elite in 2015. He also assisted Mokan programs from 2016-18.

An Emporia, Kansas native, Barnwell played college basketball at Newman University and Emporia State before beginning his coaching career as a student assistant. He graduated from Newman University with a bachelor’s in Sports Communications with an emphasis in coaching.  

Edited Thursday at 12:37 AM by rjm

[greenminer]

  On 3/26/2025 at 10:43 PM, rjm said:

$3 million x=$15 million.

UNT says "well give you $900k. Do we have a deal?

smh

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The department has lost the base's faith.  I think the point is, they would have like to have seen Jared and Co just try.  But they didn't.  So, even though it Ross staying here was never going to be a reality, it's still not a good look to sit on our hands and just give up.

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 3/26/2025 at 11:50 PM, greenminer said:

The department has lost the base's faith.  I think the point is, they would have like to have seen Jared and Co just try.  But they didn't.  So, even though it Ross staying here was never going to be a reality, it's still not a good look to sit on our hands and just give up.

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You would have been happier if they acted like they could go head-to-head with a Big 12 school. So, is it the appearance that you're more worried about the actual reality?

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 3/26/2025 at 7:39 PM, GMGGWBG said:

Agreed.  I am watching Big 12 and WVU content and they are reporting that Hodge told them he is sticking with his team til the end of this run.  They are impressed with is LOYALTY.  Even though they want him right away. 

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It surprises me (well, with our fan base, it probably shouldn't) that so many are all too happy to support players moving on for a better deal but don't seem to support Coach Hodge.

[greenminer]

  On 3/26/2025 at 11:54 PM, El Paso Eagle said:

You would have been happier if they acted like they could go head-to-head with a Big 12 school. So, is it the appearance that you're more worried about the actual reality?

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I think, at this point and in the view of most, Jared can't do anything right.

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 3/27/2025 at 12:03 AM, greenminer said:

I think, at this point and in the view of most, Jared can't do anything right.

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I think the whole luncheon thing was a slap in Jared's face as much as anything by the university's president. He wanted to let Jared understand that he was in charge of everything.

Edited Thursday at 12:05 AM by El Paso Eagle

[greenminer]

  On 3/27/2025 at 12:04 AM, El Paso Eagle said:

I think the whole luncheon thing was a slap in Jared's face as much as anything by the university's president.

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Yeah, and the blame-and-shame board gmg.com board still finds a way to pin this on Jared.

[El Paso Eagle]

  On 3/27/2025 at 12:06 AM, greenminer said:

Yeah, and the blame-and-shame board gmg.com board still finds a way to pin this on Jared.

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Great point. Anyone who thinks that he did not try and make something happen to have the game in Denton is, as you say, a "blame and shame" fan.

[NM Green]

I am so unimpressed by Harrison Adelson. 

Win it all UNT. GMG

[GoMeanGreen1999]

  On 3/26/2025 at 6:51 PM, untjim1995 said:

I think Hodge is getting some credit for helping those GMac teams become what they got to...i suspect that even with just 2 years of being a head coach, he's shown everyone that he can recruit a brand new team and have that team buy in to his defense-first program.

Personally, I think Wren hit a home run here for WVU. And he probably got him cheaper than he thought he would have to spend as Hodge knew what was going on behind the scenes here with a leadership that absolutely didn't care about the sport and an AD who was impotent to stop them from using the Super Pit the way they wanted to. 

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Couldn't agree more.  I think he will thrive there.  A little over 3 million a season with the resources that WVA has over here, I can't blame him.  Hats off to all of the hard work he put in here.  Until we make a serious move towards basketball, this will be our future.