Phelps Fired (was 'How Hot Is Phelps' Seat?)

by **DUBulldog** » March 11th, 2013, 10:56 am

Lots of speculation in the Des Moines media.....a media that usually treats Drake like a red-headed stepchild. DM Register columnist says Phelps deserves one more year

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130307/SPORTS0204/130307057/1097/SPORTS0204/Bryce-Miller-Drake-s-Mark-Phelps-deserves-another-season Fan comments don't support columnist.

Beat writer stays neutral, but questions whether he'll be back.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130309/SPORTS0204/303090051/1097/What-s-next-Drake-coach-Mark-Phelps-

Sportscaster says Phelps must go....

http://whotv.com/2013/03/11/bugging-andy-not-happening-for-mark-phelps/

**Sponsor**

by **MVCfans** » March 11th, 2013, 11:00 am

DUb and I discussed this briefly between games in STL. I think he's back. We'll see.

by **DUBulldog** » March 11th, 2013, 11:04 am

MVCfans wrote:DUb and I discussed this briefly between games in STL. I think he's back. We'll see.

My gut feeling is that he's gone. If we don't here anything by the end of this week, I'll assume he's staying.

by **unipanther99** » March 11th, 2013, 11:06 am

How hot is the pressure on Hatfield-Club from senior university officials? I'm guessing they usually stay fairly hands off at Drake, but if it starts to hurt fundraising they would have to be concerned.

by **getreal4** » March 11th, 2013, 11:14 am

AD with no basketball resources other than her old cronies at ASU. Need an AD with some legit basketball contacts.

by **DUBulldog** » March 11th, 2013, 11:21 am

unipanther99 wrote:How hot is the pressure on Hatfield-Club from senior university officials? I'm guessing they usually stay fairly hands off at Drake, but if it starts to hurt fundraising they would have to be concerned.

Don't know about fundraising, but attendance is way down since Phelps took over....I'm sure they notice that. Phelps was hired by the current AD, but she has fired other coaches that she hired. I know the two (Phelps and the AD) are on very friendly terms, but she's feeling a lot of pressure from fans. If Phelps stays, I can see a very large decrease in ticket sales, and Drake is already last in the league in attendance.

by **DoubleJayAlum** » March 11th, 2013, 11:25 am

Ironically, if Phelps is fired, I'd think he would be a hot commodity as an assistant. The guy can recruit. Can't coach, but can certainly recruit.

If he is canned, I'd expect two Creighton assistants would be pretty interested in the job and be pretty well suited for it. Darian Devries is an Iowa native, UNI grad, was Dana's top x & O assistant and still recruits Iowa for CU. We all know about Steve Merfeld. If either of them were to get the job, I wouldn't mind Phelps as an assistant on Creighton's staff.

by **CaseyGarrisonforPrez** » March 11th, 2013, 12:05 pm

I think he needs to go. I have a buddy who is a medium range booster at Old Dominion and he said that there was some type of booster function in the Hampton Roads area last week and somebody asked Dr. Selig about Phelps being a candidate for the open ODU job and he said that Selig couldn't suppress a chuckle. Phelps has a bad, bad name on the East Coast. Not even a great reputation at his alma mater.

Can him Drake. Make a serious run at Scott Sutton. He will listen if the money is right.

by **DUBulldog** » March 11th, 2013, 12:52 pm

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:Phelps has a bad, bad name on the East Coast.

Can you elaborate on that, Casey?

by **BCPanther** » March 11th, 2013, 12:55 pm

DUBulldog wrote:
CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:Phelps has a bad, bad name on the East Coast.

Can you elaborate on that, Casey?

No he can't. He pulled it out of his ass...