Chris Mack in trouble...

[skyhops]

I think AH and I questioned his character and then were chastised by MM and others. He turned out to be a good coach and great recruiter much better than his prodigy Travis. The whole set up meeting of Dino was bizarre.

[muskieman]

I think AH and I questioned his character and then were chastised by MM and others. He turned out to be a good coach and great recruiter much better than his prodigy Travis. The whole set up meeting of Dino was bizarre.

I blame you for Chris leaving. He said you had rough hands.

[tacitus]

I remember many on this board questioning much more than Mack's character, though perhaps their impression of his character biased their opinion of his coaching, especially around the time of "zip 'em up". He was criticized for many of the same things as Travis, especially as pertains to controlling his players on the court (e.g., Lyons and Crawford).

There was no indication whatsoever that his career was headed down this path before he left X. On the contrary, his path seemed to be leading to a Final Four or more. There is little doubt in my mind that the culture at Louisville is at least 50% at fault... He left for the money (and perhaps a bit for his wife). And when the money is the biggest draw, you cannot cry when your benefactors get tired of you.

Anyways, I am beginning to think that leaving X comes with serious risks. You can earn a handsome living at a program that doesn't cut corners as it tries to slowly, but continuously, raise its ceiling. Or you can move on to a higher-risk, higher-reward blue-blood program funded and supported by a fanbase chasing some fleeting high from past glory. Prosser died prematurely of a heart attack at least partly due to the stress he was under trying to compete in the ACC. Matta seemed to be quickly headed to an NC and a hall-of-fame career at OSU, but his body couldn't keep up with the demands of recruiting and coaching and his last four years were freefalling. Miller may have dodged a legal bullet looking the other way on some sketchy recruiting tactics at Arizona. And now Mack may be headed back to coaching middle school girls for a few years as he parts Louisville in disgrace.

[pdxmuskie]

Mack wasn't a good coach and he and Travis have very similar styles. Mack did improve over the years and recruited very well. He had some talent that pulled him up. His style of letting the players do whatever they wished as long as they were the top players worked when those players were able to carry the team.

Had he been a good coach, X would have done better at least 4 years during his tenure. There was 1 season where X did better than expected. Usually the top couple players developed under Mack while most failed to achieve their potential. Bigs were often underutilized. Shot selection was poor and ball security was not top priority. Defense was also mediocre.

[longliveskip]

I remember many on this board questioning much more than Mack's character, though perhaps their impression of his character biased their opinion of his coaching, especially around the time of "zip 'em up". He was criticized for many of the same things as Travis, especially as pertains to controlling his players on the court (e.g., Lyons and Crawford).

There was no indication whatsoever that his career was headed down this path before he left X. On the contrary, his path seemed to be leading to a Final Four or more. There is little doubt in my mind that the culture at Louisville is at least 50% at fault... He left for the money (and perhaps a bit for his wife). And when the money is the biggest draw, you cannot cry when your benefactors get tired of you.

Anyways, I am beginning to think that leaving X comes with serious risks. You can earn a handsome living at a program that doesn't cut corners as it tries to slowly, but continuously, raise its ceiling. Or you can move on to a higher-risk, higher-reward blue-blood program funded and supported by a fanbase chasing some fleeting high from past glory. Prosser died prematurely of a heart attack at least partly due to the stress he was under trying to compete in the ACC. Matta seemed to be quickly headed to an NC and a hall-of-fame career at OSU, but his body couldn't keep up with the demands of recruiting and coaching and his last four years were freefalling. Miller may have dodged a legal bullet looking the other way on some sketchy recruiting tactics at Arizona. And now Mack may be headed back to coaching middle school girls for a few years as he parts Louisville in disgrace.

his girls are in HS now. just an fyi. pretty good volleyball players as well. they both play for one of the best programs and clubs in the state.

[longliveskip]

Mack wasn't a good coach and he and Travis have very similar styles. Mack did improve over the years and recruited very well. He had some talent that pulled him up. His style of letting the players do whatever they wished as long as they were the top players worked when those players were able to carry the team.

Had he been a good coach, X would have done better at least 4 years during his tenure. There was 1 season where X did better than expected. Usually the top couple players developed under Mack while most failed to achieve their potential. Bigs were often underutilized. Shot selection was poor and ball security was not top priority. Defense was also mediocre.

with all due respect, i have trouble reading past this line and trying to take anything else in the post seriously. the dude won 215 games at X. you don't do that by "not being a good coach". i'm sorry. that's just a horrendous take.

[skyhops]

He turned into a good coach and his players usually improved like Travis. He was a DB but many coaches are. Travis is not very respected among the college coaching circles, not surprising. He will probably succeed at the D2 level after Xavier.

[XavierBob]

Skyhops,
Serious question, I’ve had my issues with Steele, but how do you know he isn’t respected among the coaching fraternity ?

[skyhops]

My buddy is an AD at a prominent basketball HS in Cincy and he was at a dinner where three big time college coaches (I won't post names on here) were saying he was over his head in game time adjustments and was lucky to get the job. They said the program has taken a few steps back under him. I do hope that he turns things around and we make the tourney, but watching the offense stall with Scruggs and lack of ball movement and knock down shooters will probably put us back to NIT.

[Jesseandrippers]

My buddy is an AD at a prominent basketball HS in Cincy and he was at a dinner where three big time college coaches (I won't post names on here) were saying he was over his head in game time adjustments and was lucky to get the job. They said the program has taken a few steps back under him. I do hope that he turns things around and we make the tourney, but watching the offense stall with Scruggs and lack of ball movement and knock down shooters will probably put us back to NIT.

I have a cousin, who knows a guy who is a CYO coach, 6th grade. That coach went to lunch with a guy who played golf with an X fan. He says Steele is good.