Inside the Hall - Latest Comments in ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

tacojohn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:24:28 -0000

The post did:

"If the first couple of priorities fall through for the “blue ribbon” search committee, perhaps Barnes could get a look."

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

JamesHardy — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:01:58 -0000

Nothing personal...but this is a relief. Just not a big fan of Barnes. He might be a great guy which I'm sure he is, but not someone I envision driving the Hoosier Hummer H3 around B-town.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

JamesHardy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:58:08 -0000

I read somewhere (can't remember exactly where...but it was a legit media outlet) that his buyout was in the $500K range.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:03:41 -0000

Thanks for the info.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

TexasHoosier — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:28:07 -0000

Barnes is one of the best coaches in the country in my opinion. I just graduated from IU but grew up and now live back in Austin. We were close family friends to the Barnes' growing up and I know he is not leaving Texas. My dad (IU grad) saw him the other night out walking his dog and stopped to talk to him about the upcoming Big12 tourney and NCAA tourney. He then mentioned that IU was probably going to be calling his way about the new opening. Barnes said that IU already had come calling and he proceeded to go into a long explanation of why he has the best coaching job in the country. There is very little pressure on the basketball team here because clearly it is football country. Last year when Kentucky came to him about their coaching position, he got a nice offer from them which Barnes then turned to put the pressure back on UT. As a result, this year, every road game except A&M and Baylor were privately chartered on a plane. He's in total control of AD and the coaching position in Austin for a long while.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

Matt_J — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:29:34 -0000

I'll just add what I know of the Barnes situation.

I live in Durham, NC, and I hear all the time how badly NC State covets Rick Barnes. Now, last go 'round, NC State might have talked to Barnes...I'm not sure. They talked to everyone in the country about their coaching vacancy. I heard then that the timing wasn't right for Barnes, but that he would not have an issue coming back to the Carolinas to coach at what is sometimes termed a "basketball school". So, even though everything is nice and happy in Austin, there is a chance that Barnes can be lured away, so even though he's expensive, he might like the idea of being a big coach at a big school. Both of his big time gigs have been at "football schools" in Clemson and now Texas, so I wouldn't doubt that he'd love a chance to be the head guy at a basketball school like IU. Perhaps, also, he would prefer to buy a shirt that wasn't orange.

This is all conjecture based on what I know of the NC State situation. In fact, NC State fans already want to get him to come and replace the mess they have now. Granted, NC State might be a little easier to lure him away from Texas than Indiana would since he was born in North Carolina.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

Matt_J — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:22:30 -0000

Tony's probably still in Charlotte. I don't know WSU's travel schedule, but I'm sure that they didn't get on the plane last night to fly back. It'd be a couple of days before they head off to Wazzu.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

Matt_J — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:20:41 -0000

Also, Jay Wright's not in Philly. He's probably having a walk through right now with Villanova in Detroit.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:00:40 -0000

Then I'd assume they doubled that, since they double the rest. Still better than Miller's buyout!

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:58:45 -0000

He originally had like 50k until they redid his contract last year and were supposed to bump it up. Never heard how much though.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:51:07 -0000

Haven't read anything about it so it's either really small (not big enough to be a factor), or non-existent.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:48:55 -0000

Who said he'd be a backup candidate?

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

tacojohn — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:47:33 -0000

So let me get this straight. Rick Barnes loves his situation and makes a ton of money. He would need to be blown away to come to IU...

but he would be a backup candidate?

Personally, Barnes is one of those coaches you get in touch with and ask if he might be interested. "Hey Rick, just wanted to see if you might be interested, we understand, but you know, had to ask."

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:03:08 -0000

Anyone know how much Bennett's buyout is?

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:57:49 -0000

Wow I suck at typing.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:57:16 -0000

I know some people who know some people

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:52:11 -0000

Nah he would just try to shoot us down. But the super secret planes we got from Area 51 that Cuban paid for would kill them. In the mean time Isaiah is distractin Brnad's wife while visiting NCAA offices

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:52:08 -0000

Cool thanks. How do you even find that out?

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:51:48 -0000

Not a bad idea. I'd believe it.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:49:31 -0000

1.They made a list but nobody has ever seen it.
2. No idea just guessing what it is.
3. There ha been a couple rumors in the press that IU asaked permission to alk to a couple people.
4. No idea but hopefully soon.
5. Same as above

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

BrianK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:43:59 -0000

Dixons is from Boston and not sure abou Thad's.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

JerryCT — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:41:05 -0000

I heard Myles Brand scrambled his own fleet of F-16s to tail the committee, looking for more infractions

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:44 -0000

TONY BENNETT UPDATE:

Money talks

By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk is expecting the suitors to come calling. He isn't certain Indiana will make an effort, but he won't be surprised if the Hoosiers make a run at Washington State's most coveted asset: men's basketball coach Tony Bennett.

A year ago, after Bennett led the Cougars to a second-place Pac-10 finish, 26 wins and a second-round NCAA tournament appearance -- all after being picked to finish last in the league -- Sterk went on the offensive. He bumped Bennett's salary from a league-low $400,000 to $800,000 after Bennett was named the national coach of the year in his first season.

Thursday night, as the Cougars were being blown out by North Carolina in the East Regional semifinals, Sterk said he would make every effort to improve the program. He said he didn't anticipate Bennett asking for more money for himself but possibly for the assistants. The AD said he would do everything in his power to improve their salary situation.

Tony Bennett

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Was Thursday's loss the last game on the Wazzu sideline for the highly coveted Tony Bennett? The Cougs hope not.
Travel for the team out of remote Pullman, and especially for Bennett when he is recruiting, is also a major issue. Nearby Gonzaga takes charter planes for road trips, and Bulldogs coach Mark Few has said on a number of occasions how beneficial that is to their program. The Cougars desperately want the same to remain competitive.

Meanwhile, Bennett said after the loss to the Tar Heels that he purposely hasn't thought about other schools. He said he loves Pullman and understands there will be a retooling situation at hand with the departures of seniors Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. But it's clear that if Indiana were to call, he would have to listen, considering the stature of the job and his roots in the Midwest. Pac-10 competitor Cal could also make a run at Bennett. It would be hard for Bennett to move within the league, but Cal has always been an easier job than Washington State. Bennett doesn't expect to be courted by LSU, which is located in Baton Rouge, where his wife Laurel was raised.

Bennett said he's not chasing any jobs. Sterk said he wants to be as proactive as possible in order to keep his young coach.

As the clock wound down Thursday night, Sterk reflected on what the seniors and Bennett have meant to the university.

"Washington State was really, really down," Sterk said. "They all came here and made a difference and made 130,000 Cougar alumni care about basketball."

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:20 -0000

Beats me, someone on a forum has been and posts where the plane has been. It really doesn't meant much. Like I said Sampson was met in Houston, so it's tough to figure much from the location of the plane anyway. Just fun to think about.

Re: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

JerryCT — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:17 -0000

I contacted Homeland Security to assist us. Thought it might help.

Now I am on their WATCH LIST but our committee is not