MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Next Man Up]

North Park conducting additional follow-up phone interviews this week with finalists who were on campus last week.

North Central conducting phone interviews this week to select finalists from the applicants who made the first cut. On campus finalist interviews next week.

Looks like the new Head Coach @ NPU will be Sean Smith who has been Head Assistant at Wisconsin Lutheran for the last 3 years. Prior to that he was a high school coach. He played college ball at Trinity International University from 2013-2017.
He might find the going a little tougher in the CCIW than the NACC.

[Gregory Sager]

It's true. Sean Smith has been hired as the tenth head coach in North Park varsity men's basketball history.

I'm very surprised. This strikes me as being very much a hire from out of left field. But I'm determined to keep an open mind. Just because he wasn't on my radar doesn't mean that he can't get the job done.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

It's true. Sean Smith has been hired as the tenth head coach in North Park varsity men's basketball history.

I'm very surprised. This strikes me as being very much a hire from out of left field. But I'm determined to keep an open mind. Just because he wasn't on my radar doesn't mean that he can't get the job done.

So they hired a guy who has by my quick research/recollection the following attributes in comparison to other hires in the CCIW in the past two decades or so:
1) YOUNGEST HC hired (26ish yrs old)
2) LEAST amount of college coaching experience (3)
3) tied for LEAST amount of college HC experience (0)
4) tied for LEAST amount of CCIW playing or coaching experience (0)

You can probably get away with one or maybe two of these attributes and be successful...but ALL 4? No chance.  ESPECIALLY at what everyone would agree is probably a job that is one of the 2 or 3 toughest jobs in the league.

Greg, if you characterized the 1994 job search for NPC men's basketball as "lacking quality applicants" (which resulted in the "worst hire in program history" - your characterization!), how could you possibly characterize this process?  Please tell me the top 3 or 4 candidates fell thru!

The ONLY thing I can think of is that Jack Surridge (former women's HC coach/AD and husband of current NPU President Mary Surridge) played the role of "King Maker" behind the scenes with his connections to WLC and made this hire happen.  It's entirely possible that the NPU AD was told who to hire... IF this happened any other way (meaning this result occurred organically thru a standard hiring process), I'd seriously consider filing charges of "Crimes Against the Game of Basketball" with the current AD as the defendant.  Two hires with NO HC experience in THIS league? In the CCIW's flagship sport? You may want to consider entering the transfer portal in order to explore your possibilities for future success during the winter season for the remainder of this decade.

[markerickson]

NPU=Snafu U

[Next Man Up]

At least four of what I believe were 5 finalists for the NPU Head Coach had NO previous head coaching experience. I'm sorry I have no info on who the possible 5th guy was if there were indeed 5. However, even if so, chances are exceedingly high that none of the finalists were able to present this particular attribute as evidence of their possible superiority for the position.
However, I'm finding some interesting info concerning the experience of one of the 4-5 that, if considered, seems odd that it didn't result in a different choice.
Remember, nobody who populates these environs knows as much about NPU athletics as Greg Sager, and he stated that the choice seems to him to be "a hire out of left field." More later..........

[Next Man Up]

It's true. Sean Smith has been hired as the tenth head coach in North Park varsity men's basketball history.

I'm very surprised. This strikes me as being very much a hire from out of left field. But I'm determined to keep an open mind. Just because he wasn't on my radar doesn't mean that he can't get the job done.

The ONLY thing I can think of is that Jack Surridge (former women's HC coach/AD and husband of current NPU President Mary Surridge) played the role of "King Maker" behind the scenes with his connections to WLC and made this hire happen.  It's entirely possible that the NPU AD was told who to hire... IF this happened any other way (meaning this result occurred organically thru a standard hiring process), I'd seriously consider filing charges of "Crimes Against the Game of Basketball" with the current AD as the defendant.  Two hires with NO HC experience in THIS league? In the CCIW's flagship sport? You may want to consider entering the transfer portal in order to explore your possibilities for future success during the winter season for the remainder of this decade.

*But before you file any charges against the AD, consider that the AD's voice could well not have been the one that carried the most weight in the decision making process.*

Most, if not all, schools nowadays have the position of Vice President in charge of Athletics. Often this person is also VP of Enrollment Management. So, while it would seem like the AD would be closest to the actions of the day to day activities and operations of the basketball team (or ANY of the athletic teams), any school might, for whatever God known reason, place more value on the opinion of VP as opposed to the AD. This, even though the person occupying that position may have a more complete knowledge and understanding of the complexities of a head coaching position other than actual recruiting/coaching/personal relationship talents. So, one candidate might be the best coach, but another might be the best administrator, have a past working relationship with the VP, or even be willing to take the position for less money. Accordingly, if these, or any number of things besides actual coaching acumen, are in sum total more important to the VP, the order from that position might come down to the AD to hire someone other than who the AD feels is the best choice.

[deepthroat]

I have often wondered how successful a program would be if it crowdsourced its hires.

[Next Man Up]

It's true. Sean Smith has been hired as the tenth head coach in North Park varsity men's basketball history.

I'm very surprised. This strikes me as being very much a hire from out of left field. But I'm determined to keep an open mind. Just because he wasn't on my radar doesn't mean that he can't get the job done.

So they hired a guy who has by my quick research/recollection the following attributes in comparison to other hires in the CCIW in the past two decades or so:
1) YOUNGEST HC hired (26ish yrs old)
2) LEAST amount of college coaching experience (3)
3) tied for LEAST amount of college HC experience (0)
4) tied for LEAST amount of CCIW playing or coaching experience (0)

As I said, I know nothing of whoever was likely the fifth candidate. HOWEVER,
I don't believe any of the finalists had HEAD coaching (#3) experience. But, it seems there was one non-hire who was likely the OLDEST (#1) of the group, had the MOST overall coaching (#2) experience, including the MOST (and only) CCIW coaching (#4) experience!   

[itsnotmeitsyou]

At least four of what I believe were 5 finalists for the NPU Head Coach had NO previous head coaching experience. I'm sorry I have no info on who the possible 5th guy was if there were indeed 5. However, even if so, chances are exceedingly high that none of the finalists were able to present this particular attribute as evidence of their possible superiority for the position.
However, I'm finding some interesting info concerning the experience of one of the 4-5 that, if considered, seems odd that it didn't result in a different choice.
Remember, nobody who populates these environs knows as much about NPU athletics as Greg Sager, and he stated that the choice seems to him to be "a hire out of left field." More later..........

Always a sign of good leadership when you decide to make a coaching change, with no particular candidate in mind, go thru the process and end up with a coach possessing exponentially less qualifications than the person he replaced. 

Looks like Vegas has set the Over/Under on number of times that the NPU Vikings will finish 7th or higher in CCIW league play during the remainder of the decade at: .5    I'm taking the Under.

[mr_b]

Here is the press release on Sean Smith, North Park's new head coach.  I wish him all the best as he steps up for his first opportunity as head coach.

[PauldingLightUP]

Wheaton (always early) has posted its 22-23 schedule:

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2022-23

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I know he lacks experience, but he seems like a strong candidate.

[robertgoulet]

At least four of what I believe were 5 finalists for the NPU Head Coach had NO previous head coaching experience. I'm sorry I have no info on who the possible 5th guy was if there were indeed 5. However, even if so, chances are exceedingly high that none of the finalists were able to present this particular attribute as evidence of their possible superiority for the position.
However, I'm finding some interesting info concerning the experience of one of the 4-5 that, if considered, seems odd that it didn't result in a different choice.
Remember, nobody who populates these environs knows as much about NPU athletics as Greg Sager, and he stated that the choice seems to him to be "a hire out of left field." More later..........

You should be a consultant for schools looking for HC's. You seem to be an expert.
Always a sign of good leadership when you decide to make a coaching change, with no particular candidate in mind, go thru the process and end up with a coach possessing exponentially less qualifications than the person he replaced. 

Looks like Vegas has set the Over/Under on number of times that the NPU Vikings will finish 7th or higher in CCIW league play during the remainder of the decade at: .5    I'm taking the Under.

[mr_b]

I know he lacks experience, but he seems like a strong candidate.

It's always a steep learning curve for assistant/associate coaches who move up to the top rung; this is definitely the case in the CCIW.  He was also the recruiting coordinator at WLC, which was probably a big reason for his hire.  It looks like he will be a good mission fit as well.   

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I know he lacks experience, but he seems like a strong candidate.

It's always a steep learning curve for assistant/associate coaches who move up to the top rung; this is definitely the case in the CCIW.  He was also the recruiting coordinator at WLC, which was probably a big reason for his hire.  It looks like he will be a good mission fit as well.   

I think his leadership qualities are probably off the charts, as well.  If you look at his playing career: three year captain, team went from 5 wins his freshman year to 30 his senior season.  He won a bunch of character awards.  I've got no skin in the game, of course, but I'm intrigued to see what he can do.