MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CCIW ALUM]

Steve Schafer no longer being considered at Augie

[Gregory Sager]

Todd Kelly, 5th man in Augustana search, CCIW ties

Yes, a lot of us are familiar with Todd. He played for Millikin and was an assistant coach at North Central prior to taking the head coaching job at Illinois Tech. He did fine work with building up the Scarlet Hawks program after the school had discontinued the sport following the 2008-09 season and then revived it three years later. A year after the reinstatement of men's basketball, IIT hired Joe Hakes to run the athletic department, and he then hired Kelly to run the newly-reborn men's hoops program.

However, Todd just handed over the IIT job to his assistant a little over a month ago. He's moved with his family to Texas and calls himself "semi-retired from coaching."

Then again, people are allowed to change their minds, so perhaps he's changed his. I'm not saying anything definitive on his behalf.

Todd's father, Wilbon Kelly, played for Augie for three seasons in the early '70s.

[Viking Mike]

Is it just me, or does it seem like the decision on the new Augie coach is taking forever!   

Are there any updates that anyone has heard?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Is it just me, or does it seem like the decision on the new Augie coach is taking forever!   

Are there any updates that anyone has heard?

Greg Giovanine announced his retirement about a month after Dave Hixon announced his at Amherst ... Amherst just announced their new hire today.

It feels slow because nothing else is going on right now.

Giovanine announced his retirement ... a month ago! I don't know that many searches that are done and dusted in just four weeks - unless they had someone lined up already.

[WUPHF]

If you are anything like me, the Covid-19 crisis has warped the space-time continuum and everything seems like it happened both yesterday and years ago.  It must be interesting handling the interview process entirely online.

[Viking Mike]

Yeah, I know realistically that the search has not been going on that long.  It must just be the anxiety about who they may choose,
                             and that nothing else in the sports world is going on right now!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

If you are anything like me, the Covid-19 crisis has warped the space-time continuum and everything seems like it happened both yesterday and years ago.  It must be interesting handling the interview process entirely online.

And considering the applicant pool is likely more sparse than any other year AND the applicants likely can't visit campus, either.

Zoom/phone calls have already been part of the early process when it comes to job searches, but usually the end is much more personal and such. That has been removed ... and that dynamic is fascinating.

[Titan Q]

Is it just me, or does it seem like the decision on the new Augie coach is taking forever!   

Are there any updates that anyone has heard?

I cannot confirm this at all, but someone told me today they heard the final 2 is:

* Todd Kelly - https://www.illinoistechathletics.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/kelly_todd?view=bio

* Duffy Conroy - https://latechsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/duffy-conroy/1698

Again, just something I heard.  I'd be surprised if Kent Dernbach (La Crosse) isn't in the final two.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

If Dernbach was still interested ... Larry Anderson was a finalist for both the WashU and Amherst positions, but I'm not exactly sure he stayed in the mix by the time a final decision was made at either location.

[Titan Q]

Is it just me, or does it seem like the decision on the new Augie coach is taking forever!   

Are there any updates that anyone has heard?

I cannot confirm this at all, but someone told me today they heard the final 2 is:

* Todd Kelly - https://www.illinoistechathletics.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/kelly_todd?view=bio

* Duffy Conroy - https://latechsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/duffy-conroy/1698

Again, just something I heard.  I'd be surprised if Kent Dernbach (La Crosse) isn't in the final two.

Correction from a solid source - 4 finalists will be visiting campus soon.

Todd Kelly has definitely been in the mix.  I can't confirm if he is one of the 4 finalists, but I assume he is.

[Titan Q]

My best guess at who the 4 finalists are:

* Duffy Conroy, D1 La. Tech (asst) - https://latechsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/duffy-conroy/1698

* Kent Dernbach, UW-La Crosse - https://uwlathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/kent-dernbach/1238

* Todd Kelly, formerly Illinois Tech - https://www.illinoistechathletics.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/kelly_todd?view=bio

* Jim Thomas, Downers Grove North HS

To stress, I cannot confirm those.  Just adding up what I am hearing from various people.

I'm told the 4 finalists will be on campus next week on 4 different days (Monday through Thursday).

[Titan Q]

My best guess at who the 4 finalists are:

* Duffy Conroy, D1 La. Tech (asst) - https://latechsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/duffy-conroy/1698

* Kent Dernbach, UW-La Crosse - https://uwlathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/kent-dernbach/1238

* Todd Kelly, formerly Illinois Tech - https://www.illinoistechathletics.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/kelly_todd?view=bio

* Jim Thomas, Downers Grove North HS

To stress, I cannot confirm those.  Just adding up what I am hearing from various people.

I'm told the 4 finalists will be on campus next week on 4 different days (Monday through Thursday).

Duffy Conroy is not in the final 4...confirmed.

[Titan Q]

I'm putting my money on Jim Thomas for the Augie job.

[augie77]

I have no clue, but why do you think it's Thomas?

[Titan Q]

I have no clue, but why do you think it's Thomas?

I also have no clue.

But...

* Great relationships in the suburban Chicago basketball scene - would seem to walk in with the ability to recruit that key area.
* Augie grad.
* Well respected coach.

Clearly they have strong options here.  I think a tie, if there is a tie, would go to an Augie guy?