I don't think that people are praying that he leaves, personally, I think he's a good guy. Passionate and intense, but a good guy. That said, when he was hired at Wichita State, Shocker fans either knew, or should have known that Wichita State would either be a stepping stone or where his career took a setback. The same goes for Martin, Jacobson and Jankovich. As for Jank, it appears his career is in a bit of a stall. That is the nature of the beast.
as for when Marshall leaves, well, he has been very cautious his entire career, so if offered the Tennessee job, he just might turn it down if everything isn't perfect, who knows? A very good read about Gregg Marshall was written when he was at Winthrop, it is very telling: http://thebullspen.com/index.php?topic=31906.0
What I took from it is that Gregg is always looking to adevance up, that he will not move laterally or upwards if the money isn't much more than at his present position and also, but he does want to coach in a BCS conference and the South is his home. It also gives a little window as to why Suellenthrop hasn't said a peep, because Marshall refuses to discuss any of his potential career moves with anyone in the press and Suellenthrop wouldn't talk if he couldn't confirm it.
Here is an excerpt:
At the time, "it was all new to me," Marshall said. "Tennessee flies me to meet them on a private jet. It was the first time I'd ever been on a private jet. I couldn't believe it. They had these great chairs, papers for me to read. Then my cell phone rings. I had forgotten to turn it off. So I quickly turn it off, and the pilot leans back, and I'm thinking that he's going to yell at me, that I just put us all at risk. He said, 'Don't worry about it. Talk all you want to.' "
He talked to American, Middle Tennessee and South Alabama, among others. At the time, he was eager to tell reporters he was interviewing. Now, he plays it cooler, offering nothing other than a "no comment" when speculating on his future.
"I think he was looking to conquer the world, make it to the SEC or NBA in a giant leap right away," Kresse said. "I think he was looking to go right to a major conference school, an ACC or SEC-type school. I don't think he understood that you probably have to take an intermediate stop, at a higher midmajor."
If his desire to skip an intermediate job was rooted in ego in the past, it is now rooted in maturity. Marshall realizes Winthrop is a good job, and not one to leave lightly. Most of the traditional stepping-stone leagues are in the Midwest, making a job there a considerable risk for a slight increase in pay.
"I'd also be moving to an area of the country I'm not familiar with," Marshall said. "Why put myself in that position?"
Despite his track record, which includes success at every stop, Marshall is aware of how quickly things can change. What he leaves unsaid is how critical his judgment has to be on his next move.
If things went poorly for four seasons at Tennessee, he would have made enough money to put his children (and likely his children's children) through college. If things went equally poorly at an upper midmajor program, he would be scrambling for an assistant coaching position that likely would not pay half what he currently makes.