Shaka Smart to Marquette

[Gopher+RamFan]

Rice just hired Shaka's Associate Head Coach, Mike Rhoades. If Smart was leaving, Rhoades would be a top candidate to replace him. Rhoades would know if Shaka is leaving.

Rhoades was his chief recruiter too so maybe they split up the prospects.

The fringe top 100 PG from NJ told all recruiting suitors he was only interested in VCU (originally from Richmond) he's definitely not going to Rice.

Have a hard time seeing overall ESPN #42,77,97 leave for Rice as well. I'm sure one of the current freshman, who received little playing time, may leave with Rhoades, however.

Shaka has now had an assistant land a D1 coaching gig, for four straight years. He is 36.

[Burrito]

Two of Marquette's assistant coaches have left the team.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2-assistan ... ncaab.html

[Jet915]

Sounds like Marquette has hired a president (Lovell, chancellor of UWM), basketball coach I would expect to come soon.

[stever20]

Sounds like Marquette has hired a president (Lovell, chancellor of UWM), basketball coach I would expect to come soon.

Wasn't one of the candidates from there?

[notkirkcameron]

Sounds like Marquette has hired a president (Lovell, chancellor of UWM), basketball coach I would expect to come soon.

Agreed. Having a President in place certainly makes it easier to make other hires. Lovell is the first lay president in Marquette's 133-year history.

But what's floating around the rumor mill is noticing that the announcement of the President was originally supposed to take place in April. This has been a six-month-long process since Fr. Pilarz stepped down in September. Moving the announcement up to this week seems a little too coincidental. There are only three explanations I can think of for this.

1.) MU found their President and said "Meh. What the hell?"
2.) MU knew a coaching search was going to be difficult, if not impossible, or would send the wrong message about priorities if big money and attention was given to finding a basketball coach without a President in place.
3.) MU have a coach signed already, but the Board of Trustees asked to hold off on an announcement until they could announce the President first, in which case, I would not expect a coaching announcement until at least tomorrow so Lovell can have his day in the sun.

Wasn't one of the candidates from there?

No. Crazy people have been throwing out Rob Jeter's name, but I'd put his odds as very long. He doesn't seem to tick any of the boxes.

[Jet915]

Sounds like Marquette has hired a president (Lovell, chancellor of UWM), basketball coach I would expect to come soon.

Wasn't one of the candidates from there?

Yeah, alot of Marquette posters thought it would be the Law School Dean but I guess it sounds like they went in a different direction. The hiring of a president wasn't suppose to happen for a couple of months but you can see how getting a new basketball coach can change things .

[aughnanure]

Two of Marquette's assistant coaches have left the team.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2-assistan ... ncaab.html

Word was all asst coaches except for Wainwright were asked to clean out their offices Monday...

[ElDonBDon]

Two of Marquette's assistant coaches have left the team.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2-assistan ... ncaab.html

Word was all asst coaches except for Wainwright were asked to clean out their offices Monday...

I know coaches usually bring in their own, but where is Chew going to go? I mean can VTech afford him?

[aughnanure]

Two of Marquette's assistant coaches have left the team.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2-assistan ... ncaab.html

Word was all asst coaches except for Wainwright were asked to clean out their offices Monday...

I know coaches usually bring in their own, but where is Chew going to go? I mean can VTech afford him?

Don't know, they're all just gone. Literally were told to clean out offices by end of day.

[Bill Marsh]

Sounds like Marquette has hired a president (Lovell, chancellor of UWM), basketball coach I would expect to come soon.

When is he expected to begin his new position. I imagine that he has to give some kind of notice to UWM.