CBS Sports' Seth Davis: Mark Gottfried is the man to beat for the Utah job
by JazzyUte on Mar 25, 2011 2:09 PM MDT
in Basketball
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PrintAccording to a tweet from Seth Davis, Mark Gottfried could be the leading candidate to replace Jim Boylen at Utah.
Gottfried is the former head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide and has shown interest in the job since its opening a couple weeks ago. Currently, he's a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
If Gottfried is the man, he would seem to fit what Hill is looking for in a head coach.
He's a known recruiter, bringing in NBA talent to the Alabama program throughout his decade-long career there.
He's a winner, having won at both Murray State and Alabama. He was the first coach in program history to lead the Tide to the Elite Eight and a number one ranking during the 2003 season (which, coincidently, ended at the hands of the Utes here in Salt Lake City).
He's won at the Power Level. With Utah moving to the Pac-12, this is an important point because he's proven successful at a big-time college basketball conference (SEC regular season champions in 2005).
He's got almost a decade and a half of head coaching experience.
That isn't to say there aren't concerns about Gottfried, though. He had a couple lean years toward the end of his career in Tuscaloosa, which inevitably led to a strained relationship, and he's not known as an Xs and Os guy.
The latter point can be reconciled by his recruiting prowess. Jim Boylen was supposedly an Xs and Os coach and that really didn't help Utah all that much.
More impressively, at least in my opinion, is the fact he wants the job and would bring to Utah a far greater resume than any hire the program has made since Jack Gardner in the 1950s.
So Ute fans, would you approve of this hire?
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Potentially great hire!
I think that would be a good choice for the UTE’s! All the positive points would definitely be a welcome change! Let’s hope the rumors pan out! Like Gottfried’s history, and in a power conference similar to the PAC 12!
Good hire
I would certainy approve.
I think he would bring some great things to the table, and its someone who is proven.
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by BigBenSportsGuy on Mar 25, 2011 2:57 PM MDT reply actions
I actually like the fact that he has worked at ESPN
I’ve got to think that has some positive influence on media exposure and recruiting.
I keep accidentally eating my pets. Maybe I should get something less appetizing, like a cat instead of a Twinkie.
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He's definitely top 3 for me
I don’t have these 3 ranked in any particular order, but I was hoping for Tony Bennett, Gottfried or Lon Kruger. If only we could somehow land the Butler coach and be the envy of the land :)
There would be reason to be optimistic about this hire...
Yes, there are always questions and concerns, but if there’s such thing as a perfect candidate, they’ ain’t going to be coming to the U.
So, aside from the experience Mark has, my Pollyanna spin on it is that he’s both HUNGRY and EXPERIENCED.
Maybe he took Alabama for granted. Maybe he burned out. If his enthusiasm for the Utah gig is real, then maybe he’s had a “come to Jesus” and is ready to hit it hard @ the U. He realized the value and rarity of being a HC in a power conference, let alone at a “basketball school” (that last point is debatable today).
If he has real talent in recruiting, and can put together a kick-butt staff (which I hope would include one “Utah guy”—defined loosely) I think he could really hit the ground running. If it took him 10 years to burn out at ‘Bama, I’d take half that if he’s chugging at full steam at the U.
Add that to his assistant experience at UCLA, and we may have a close to a perfect hire as we’re going to get in Utah’s current state.
Nice points
I like the idea of having at least one good assistant who is a “Utah guy”.
Smug self-righteous judgment of others does not make you classy. Going out of your way to call people classless does not make you even classier.
by daedalus17 on Mar 25, 2011 5:48 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Don't like it but I don't know why
I can’t really give a good reason other than I not big fan of coaches that aren’t Xs and O guys, but Mark Gottfried just doesn’t sit too well with me.
exactly
He wins. He had a string of 5 straight years going to the NCAA tournament, and consistently took his team to some sort of post season. He may not be an X’s and O’s guy, but if we’re winning (in the Pac-12!) that won’t matter to most Ute fans.
I’d still prefer Trent Johnson, but it’s obvious (after two tries) he doesn’t want to be here, and I’d like this hire much more than Randy Bennett.
by applesanchez on Mar 26, 2011 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions
No chance in hades I'd go with a guy that isn't an X's and O's guy if I was Hill...
there is no way we can compete with the Pac-12 on talent alone. Get real folks! I would much rather get someone who can prove he can get ’er done with tier 2 and 3 talent THAT UNDERSTANDS THE GAME WELL. I agree 100% with “willouty” here.
The reason Majerus helped us reach new heights is because of his knowledge of the game, certainly not on talent alone. I don’t know Mark Gottfried from Mark McGuire but if he doesn’t know his X’s and O’s, I’m voting no. Apparently, he also likes dick.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DYacoqQmhg
Majerus also had a great eye for talent...
Xs and Os help, but if you don’t have the talent, you’re not going to win.
Boylen was an Xs and Os guy and he didn’t win because he struggled recruiting.
As SLC_Bruin put it, assistants can handle the Xs and Os.
If Gottfried had a poor record, I’d be in total agreement. But he’s a winner. He won at Murray State and won at Alabama. Is he going to make Utah great again? Debatable. But I think he’d make them consistent and good again. Right now, I’ll take it.
I whole heartedly approve!
and have been saying so on posts since I first saw his name pop up. Grab Gottried!
"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson
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