Jobs like Kentucky should be in the business of making coaching stars, not hiring them

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Kentucky hired Mark Pope to replace John Calipari. That should be fine.

No, really.

The optics, yes, are bad, when the school flogged its job in front of Dan Hurley and Scott Drew and a fistful of other higher-profile coaches, only to be told no. But Pope is a good coach who’s steered BYU to three top-20 KenPom finishes in five seasons in Provo. His offenses are fun and inventive and shoot a thousand 3s, and if everything is presented the right way it shouldn’t be hard to find talented players willing to try them out.

CL Brown: Mark Pope worthy of being UK coach despite lack of signature wins

But there is a more fundamental philosophical discussion around the decision to hire a coach with Pope’s resume. History suggests jobs like Kentucky should be in the business of making stars, not hiring them.

There are no perfect analogues in coach searching. Each job is its own challenge at the time it opens, with strengths and weaknesses distinct to the present climate and situation. Sticking with the current example, Kentucky right now is not the job it would have been half a decade ago, had the rumors about John Calipari’s interest in NBA jobs taken more serious form. It is certainly a different animal than when Calipari was hired in 2008.

Mar 20, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope talks with the media during the NCAA first round practice session at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Ironically, Kentucky poaching Calipari from Memphis — a move UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart might not have been completely sure of when he made it, depending upon which reports you believe — is the exception in this case.

For the most part, when big jobs have come open recently, they’ve gone to someone other than the perceived grand slam (or home run, or slam dunk, or insert sports metaphor here) hire.

Duke elevated Jon Scheyer. North Carolina promoted Hubert Davis. UCLA went with Mick Cronin. Villanova brought Kyle Neptune…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jobs-kentucky-business-making-coaching-155823619.html

Author : IndyStar | The Indianapolis Star

Publish date : 2024-04-12 15:58:23

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