From what I hear, the biggest issue for Raridon and Tharp (beyond personal/family situations even) is staffing.  Dennie Bridges is too cheap to provide a full-time assistant coach, like most successful programs have.  Tharp has one at Lawrence, Raridon at NCC.  In the CCIW there is John Baines at Elmhurst, Tom Jesse at Augustana, etc.  (Guys that have other duties at the school, but mainly are the basketball asst coach.)  I think everyone but IWU has one.

At IWU you get Dennis Martel, the head baseball coach, as your assistant.  Martel does not recruit and he even has to miss playoff games because by that time he has to coach his baseball team.  IWU has the two good volunteer guys in Steinbrook and Hudson, but they are just that - volunteer.

Now, I have heard all along that down deep Bridges was learning towards hiring someone with green blood who would stay forever (Rose or Baines), but the simple fact is that Bridges lost Raridon and Tharp because of his refusal to get with the times and give IWU a full-time assistant.  You'd think the "best job in Division 3" (Bridges' words) would merit a full-time asst, right? 

We'll see how IWU competes as the years go on.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/05/10/sports/doc4461612ed5f98465992860.txt

"I am not pursuing the Illinois Wesleyan job," said Raridon, who declined additional comment.

Well, I am definitely a lot closer to IWU and IWU people than I am Augustana nowadays.   If that makes me an "IWU person", sign me up for the old people bus and get me my green sweater!!

Back to IWU chat --

The suggestion that the IWU job pays $40K is nuts.  $62 sounds close, I had heard closer to $70K.

Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 09, 2006, 11:34:41 AM

Quote from: PointSpecial on May 09, 2006, 10:05:41 AM
To give you an example of the type of conversation over the last week...

I as offered the job, but I turned it down because I don't like the color green.  So the position is still open.   ... even though there have been rumors that just about EVERY top candidate has both accepted the job and already moved to Bloomington.

Maybe, it really isn't easy being green.

Maybe the sun doesn't really rise and set in Bloomington, I.L.

What is interesting Dennis - and I am more guilty than anyone about this - is that ALL of the discussion on the IWU coaching search has come from non-IWU people.  Scroll back on this board since the news of Trost's departure, and there has barely been a peep from the IWU camp.  Outside of Titan Q's Pantagraph link recently and mention of Bridges heading to Lincoln, NE, the IWU fans have really been quiet.

Those of us non Titans around the CCIW like to pin all of the IWU talk on the IWU fans, yet it appears even when they are not around there is a lot of interest in an IWU issue.   I guess the rest of us need to get a life.

diehardfan, I think your numbers are off.  I'm quite sure Harris makes well more that $50K as I know the IWU and Augie jobs pay quite a bit more than that (somewhere between $60-70K).

Most here would probaby be surprised to know that the IWU job pays just about the same as the Lawrence job.  I know I was surprised when I recently heard what IWU pays. 

If Tharp is offered to job, his decision will not be about money, but rather about where he wants to work, raise a family, etc.  A decision to change jobs, especially one that requires moving away from family, friends, and what has become "home", is not easy for any of us.  That is why I feel in the end, Tharp will decide to stay in Appleton.  Just my gut feel.  He has a great thing going up there.

Consistent with what has already been posted here, I have heard that Todd Raridon removed his name from consideration for the IWU job.  After his trip to Bloomington Tuesday, NCC officials met at length with him and he withdrew from the IWU running on Friday - word is a pay raise for his troubles (gas must have been expensive for that Bloomington trip).  Not a big surprise to any here probably.  Raridon has a good thing going at NCC, a school with an athletic dept/basketball program on the rise.  Then there is the issue of his son at NCC, his wife has a good teaching job in Naperville - not sure taking the IWU job made a ton of sense.

Sounds like it is coming down to Ron Rose and John Tharp, with John Baines still in the picture.  Hearing that Lawrence is having similiar conversations with Tharp that NCC had with Raridon, hoping he will stay.   If IWU can get Tharp, my guess is they will hire him, but it is not a lock they can get him.

Grey Giovanine is very good friends with Ron Rose.  They were assistants together at Wichita State.  Giovanine speaks very highly of Rose as does the guy Rose worked for at Olivet Nazarene, Ralph Hodge.

What I am hearing on the IWU job is that things are neck and neck between John Tharp and Todd Raridon. 

Todd Raridon's son Mitchell is a freshman at North Central and a member of the basketball team.  If Raridon gets the IWU job and Mitchell wants to transfer to IWU to play for his dad, would Mitchell have to sit out a year per CCIW rules?  Has there ever been an exception made to that rule?  It would seem this would be a very unique situation that might call for one.

Quote from: Cardsfan4life on April 29, 2006, 10:31:28 PM
What can I say? I got inside information.

Raridon's interview in Bloomington is Tuesday.  Tharp is tomorrow.  Rose was Friday, and Baines is Thursday.

Down to the 4 interviewees at IWU:

John Baines (Elmhurst, Asst)
Todd Raridon (North Central)
Ron Rose (Bloomington H.S.)
John Tharp (Lawrence)

The IWU posting says Masters is preferred:

http://ncaa.thetask.com/market/jobs/basketball/index.php

Illinois Wesleyan University is seeking applicants for the position of men's Head Basketball Coach. Illinois Wesleyan competes in the CCIW conference. This is a full-time non-tenure faculty position reporting to the Athletic Director. This position will manage all aspects of a successful NCAA Div.III men's basketball program. This job includes minimal physical education teaching. Qualified candidates should possess a bachelor's degree, with a master's degree preferred. Candidates should have an athletics philosophy compatible with a Div III liberal arts university with selective academic standards and a demonstrated commitment to diversity. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Interested applicants send cover letter, resume, and reference list (including phone numbers) to Dennie Bridges, Athletic Director, Illinois Wesleyan University, P.O Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900 -- e-mail dbridges@iwu.edu – Fax 309 556-3484. The search will continue until the position is filled. Illinois Wesleyan is an equal opportunity employer.[/i]

Also interesting that two current Big Ten coaches are references for two IWU candidates: Bo Ryan (John Tharp) and Bruce Weber (Jay Price).

One of my info. sources on the IWU situation recently sniffed me out and shut me off!  Found a new one though and I am back in business.


Sounds like two Big Ten assistants put in for the IWU job:

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/price_jay00.html

http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/foster_todd00.html