Reports now coming out...Mullins to SIU

[freddycat68]

I don't think Nagy is probably going to jump for 450.

Seeing as how he already makes $500k, I think that's a pretty safe bet.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a "proven D1 winner" available for $450k, unless you mean the likes of...Barry Hinson.

Touche. Here was my thinking on this: when BU canned Geno, the two best guys we were looking at were Wardle and Nagy (who then was at S. Dakota State). Apologies--I did not realize he was making 500K at WSU, but in any event, BU could have had him back then for 450. In fact BU got a top Horizon coach, Wardle, for 450. (He's now making over 600, but there's obviously a reason for that). That to me is where SIU should be: in the hunt for coaches like that, and there are plenty of them around. Obviously interviews and background checks are crucial; you don't want to get stuck with a Geno Ford, and it wouldn't have taken much back then for the BU admin to see he was a "players' coach" who was not suited to the Valley. Anyway, again, we'll see. I hope Mullins is a stud. The Valley needs a strong SIU.

[tribecalledquest]

I don't think Nagy is probably going to jump for 450.

Seeing as how he already makes $500k, I think that's a pretty safe bet.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a "proven D1 winner" available for $450k, unless you mean the likes of...Barry Hinson.

Touche. Here was my thinking on this: when BU canned Geno, the two best guys we were looking at were Wardle and Nagy (who then was at S. Dakota State). Apologies--I did not realize he was making 500K at WSU, but in any event, BU could have had him back then for 450. In fact BU got a top Horizon coach, Wardle, for 450. (He's now making over 600, but there's obviously a reason for that). That to me is where SIU should be: in the hunt for coaches like that, and there are plenty of them around. Obviously interviews and background checks are crucial; you don't want to get stuck with a Geno Ford, and it wouldn't have taken much back then for the BU admin to see he was a "players' coach" who was not suited to the Valley. Anyway, again, we'll see. I hope Mullins is a stud. The Valley needs a strong SIU.

Geno would have been a solid fit at a state school like ISU, SIU or Missouri State. Had nothing to do with his fit in the Valley. He was a bad fit for Bradley at that time. Speaking of him, he got the Stony Brook job full time today. Good for him.

[austinsaluki]

I don't think Nagy is probably going to jump for 450.

Seeing as how he already makes $500k, I think that's a pretty safe bet.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a "proven D1 winner" available for $450k, unless you mean the likes of...Barry Hinson.

Touche. Here was my thinking on this: when BU canned Geno, the two best guys we were looking at were Wardle and Nagy (who then was at S. Dakota State). Apologies--I did not realize he was making 500K at WSU, but in any event, BU could have had him back then for 450. In fact BU got a top Horizon coach, Wardle, for 450. (He's now making over 600, but there's obviously a reason for that). That to me is where SIU should be: in the hunt for coaches like that, and there are plenty of them around. Obviously interviews and background checks are crucial; you don't want to get stuck with a Geno Ford, and it wouldn't have taken much back then for the BU admin to see he was a "players' coach" who was not suited to the Valley. Anyway, again, we'll see. I hope Mullins is a stud. The Valley needs a strong SIU.

Fair enough.

I do see your point; I just think any hire is a crap shoot. Bryan Mullins might fall on his face, but so might any other coach hired, however much a proven winner he has been elsewhere. Geno Ford is a good example, and for that matter, I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking back in January that Wardle might have been too. You just never know, but I'm glad SIU picked a guy who is guaranteed to energize the fan base, which is something that is desperately needed. A "safe" hire wouldn't have done that, or at least not the extent the Mullins hire already has.

On a side note: I think SIU fans will be patient with Mullins. They know he's a new coach, and they know what he's up against.

[tribecalledquest]

Fair enough.

I do see your point; I just think any hire is a crap shoot. Bryan Mullins might fall on his face, but so might any other coach hired, however much a proven winner he has been elsewhere. Geno Ford is a good example, and for that matter, I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking back in January that Wardle might have been too. You just never know, but I'm glad SIU picked a guy who is guaranteed to energize the fan base, which is something that is desperately needed. A "safe" hire wouldn't have done that, or at least not the extent the Mullins hire already has.

On a side note: I think SIU fans will be patient with Mullins. They know he's a new coach, and they know what he's up against.

Good point. If there were a tried and true formula for hiring coaches it would have been used by now. So much luck is involved in all of this. That's a hard thing to swallow but very much the truth.

[SalukiWorld]

The irony is, Loyola probably paid for a lot of Mullins' contract with their Final Four run last year. All I can tell you is Saluki fans are excited for the first time in nearly a decade and he's going to be given a nice leash to build his own team.

[Dawgbit]

$475k. That's WAY more than I expected SIU to pay.

Why? Lowery was paid $700k to tank the program.

Was Lowery paid $700k in his first year as head coach?

Yes

[Dawgbit]

Mullins was the de facto coach who took the Salukis to the Sweet Sixteen while Lowery was still there. And that is the truth.The program totally went to hell when Bryan graduated. He is also super smart. I don't know many people who proficiencied calculus. He is a very hard worker, and there is the IL Wolves connection. Stay tuned.