ESPN: Marquette has reached out to Ben Howland

[GoldenWarrior11]

I don't care if the new head coach is 78 or 18. If he graduates kids and wins, he is a winner in my book.

[micgoG'town]

I'd go after Smart and Marshall first, then Howland. Ideally I love to see Howland at DePaul after Smart or Marshall end up at Marquette.

[Burrito]

I think Marquette should get Howland (adds instant credibility) and when Depaul is looking to replace Purnell in a year or two, they should go after a younger coach (Masiello, Archie Miller, Wardle)

Is Marquette lacking in credibility?

Credibility comes from winning. Whichever coach is most likely to win games is the coach they should hire. Can't argue with Howland's record on that score. However, it's rare to see older coaches going somewhere to start over again and do what they did when they were younger. Older coaches who stay where they built their rep thrive, but not to much when they change jobs - unless their name is Larry Brown. Howland will be 57 in May. Not what I'd be looking for.

I am not saying Marquette is lacking in credibility. But Marquette is going to be spending big bucks on this new hire and should get someone with a proven track record. Masiello' background is somewhat similiar to Kevin Willard at Seton Hall
1) Assistant to Rick Pitino 2) Was succesfull as a head coach in the Metro Atlantic Conference (one at Iona the other at Manhattan). Willard's a pretty good coach but no one's expecting him to make a Sweet 16 anytime soon.

[Bill Marsh]

I think Marquette should get Howland (adds instant credibility) and when Depaul is looking to replace Purnell in a year or two, they should go after a younger coach (Masiello, Archie Miller, Wardle)

Is Marquette lacking in credibility?

Credibility comes from winning. Whichever coach is most likely to win games is the coach they should hire. Can't argue with Howland's record on that score. However, it's rare to see older coaches going somewhere to start over again and do what they did when they were younger. Older coaches who stay where they built their rep thrive, but not to much when they change jobs - unless their name is Larry Brown. Howland will be 57 in May. Not what I'd be looking for.

I am not saying Marquette is lacking in credibility. But Marquette is going to be spending big bucks on this new hire and should get someone with a proven track record. Masiello' background is somewhat similiar to Kevin Willard at Seton Hall
1) Assistant to Rick Pitino 2) Was succesfull as a head coach in the Metro Atlantic Conference (one at Iona the other at Manhattan). Willard's a pretty good coach but no one's expecting him to make a Sweet 16 anytime soon.

The reason no one's expecting Willard to go to a Sweet 16 next year is because of what he inherited, not because of his coaching. Frankly, I don't think anyone would be shocked if he did go to the Sweet 16 next year. He's bringing in one of the top recruiting classes in the country. He'll probably have The Hall positioned to do exactly that in 2 years.

Willard showed this year that he can match wits with the best coaches in the conference by pulling off one upset after another against teams with more talent than his. He beat both regular season champs Villanova at conference tournament champs PC (road). He beat Xavier twice and a far more talented Georgetown team twice.

If Marquette could get the same results out of a young coach as Seton Hall has out of Willard - bringing in stud recruits and beating the best teams in the conference - I think they should hire him in a heartbeat.

Hiring someone with a proven track record is safe, but it's basing the decision on a look in the rear view mirror rather than by being forward thinking. I know Masiello the best of the young candidates, so I'll comment on him as an example. When he took over the Manhattan program, it was in a shambles. He got immediate results, showing the biggest program turnaround in the country his first year. In his 2nd year, he took them to the conference finals despite losing his leading scorer, the leading returning scorer in the country, for the season. In his 3rd season, he won the conference championship and took them to the tournament for the first time in 10 years. At Louisville, he was voted the top assistant coach in the country because his recruiting success had become legendary. He has continued to recruit well at Manhattan.

Anyone who saw Masiello's teams play knows the guy can coach. Heck, all you had to do was to watch them play against Louisville knows he can coach. He's a proven recruiter. The only knock against him is that he's not a Chicago/Milwaukee guy. But Marquette has one of those right in their own backyard.

Moving forward, I'd much rather hire a Masiello, or a Wardle, or a Miller than a Howland. Their futures are in front of them and Marquette will get the best of what they have. Howland's career is largely behind him and there's nothing in what he's done that inspires confidence for me at this point.

As for how much money Marquette is throwing at their new coach, there's nothing that requires them to spend $2-3 million per year on the coach. Let them start out with someone cheaper and invest the savings for the future. If they could use that money to hire a proven coach in his 40's or even his early 50's, I'd agree with you. But I wouldn't be looking to hire someone in his late 50's on the rebound. This is not his dream job and you want someone who'll work at it like it's the best thing that's ever happened to him.

[falcon]

Regarding Masiello, read today that mentor Pitino is recommending that he take the S. Florida job.

[aughnanure]

I don't understand how this is possible. I was specifically told by Marquette fans that Howland was a retread and that a younger, more energetic coach like Brian Wardle was the way to go.

Not by this MU fan. Wardle wouldn't be bad....eventually. But let him get some actual success first.

Believe me, Marquette fans were freaking out that Wardle could be a possibility. Way waaaaay too unproven.

[aughnanure]

Howland has a great resume, but I'm still worried about why he got canned from UCLA. Players didn't seem to like him (according to reports) and he lost control of the team.

Or that LA is a recruiting mess. Players didn't like him? Oh, well they still won the Pac-12.

The single best statistical predictor for getting to a Final Four is having a coach who's been to one before.

[aughnanure]

If I was Marquette, I'd go younger. But what do I know?

Me too. Masiello.

Why younger? So they can eventually leave in 4-7 years? Marsiello is a Pitino guy, he wouldn't be loyal. This would be Howland final stop if he is successful.

And 56 isn't old for coaching by any measure. Marshall is 51 and everyone wants him.

[Jet915]

Some "insiders" in the muscoop board speculating that a hire is near and it will be an "impact" hire. Doc Rivers is supposedly involved in hiring. Likely announced Wednesday, some saying it's Smart.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=42932.0

[marquette]

Goose is a very reliable source. He's not 100%, but if he says it it is worth paying attention to.