Missouri State to hire Paul Lusk

[Aargh]

The WSU experience includes bringing in Eddie Fogler (had been an asst. at UNC). He promptly left and WSU went econo and hired a less expensive assistant as HC (Mike Cohen). Cohen took WSU basketball to depths that SIU will not see under Lowery.

It was only after WSu started spending some money on basketball that they climbed out of the cellar. The higher dollar (but proven as HC) guys took WSU from the Valley cellar to a S16, and this year to a second-place finish in the MVC.

Looking at WSU's 20-year track record INCLUDES the period when WSU was hiring assistant coaches on the cheap. Using the 20-year WSU history as justification for hiring lower dollar coaches includes the period of time when WSU was absolutely burned by using that approach.

Hiring coaches with no HC experience is rolling the dice EVERY time. Sometimes it works. Then you're hiring again in 3 - 5 years. Sometimes it doesn't. Then you're hiring again in 3 - 5 years and you're hiring to a program requiring a major rebuild.

[valleychamp]

Hiring any coach is rolling the dice every time, regardless of HC experience.

Show me 10 coaches that got hired because of experience that were successful, and I'll show you 10 coaches that were hired with no experience and were also successful.

Its about being the right fit.

[BEELINE]

It amazes me that a few WSU fans keep trying to float the "you have to pay huge money to win mantra" when clearly a number of other Valley teams have had more success doing it different. Do you eventually have to pay a successful coach or risk losing them, of course; but paying huge money for success they had for someone else doesn't always equal success for you. Jacobson, Lowry, Martin, Painter, Davis all won MVC titles after being promoted or hired from assistant positions. Again, I don't think it's wrong to pay top dollar and hire an experienced guy, but it's certainly not the only way to build a program and have success.

[Aargh]

First, WSU's dismal results while hiring assistants for bottom dollar was used as proof that WSU's current philosophy of paying better doesn't work. Now, Painter and Lowery are used as examples of hiring assistants and winning MVC crowns. You're using SIU as an example of the SUCCESS of hiring assistants?

I've never said a school can't win by hiring assistants or that hiring an established coach ensures success. One bad hire can lead to a decade of rebuilding.

[valleychamp]

First, WSU's dismal results while hiring assistants for bottom dollar was used as proof that WSU's current philosophy of paying better doesn't work. Now, Painter and Lowery are used as examples of hiring assistants and winning MVC crowns. You're using SIU as an example of the SUCCESS of hiring assistants?

I've never said a school can't win by hiring assistants or that hiring an established coach ensures success. One bad hire can lead to a decade of rebuilding.

Right, and it all goes back the same thing. Hiring any coach is a risk, regardless of HC experience.

You have continually advocated for hiring away another HC, rather than promoting or hiring another assistant.