I'm now going along with thinking that UTEP has a "done deal" with a new basketball coach, and that man is likely Tim Floyd, who's been an honorary Miner since he left the coaching staff as Don Haskins' top recruiter in the 1980s.
Athletic Director Bob Stull, who's and expert at not tipping his hand, said " ... We will tell recruits to wait until they can talk to the new coach." Departed Coach Tony Barbee (to Auburn) had four freshmen ready to join the team next season. That was not a "tip of the hand," but perhaps it was a little bit of a tremor.
Here's what that quote likely means: The deal is about set with Floyd, who likely said he can bring some players in. He's always had nation-wide contacts. UTEP had no seniors on this season's team. Any new coach would want to have his own guys as soon as possible. The four new freshmen, not recruited by the new coach, would mean four Barabee guys would be around for four seasons, if they panned out as players and in the classroom, that is.
Ex-Miner, Texas A&M and Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie would be a good choice, too. Unlike Floyd, Gillispie's name is cropping up at other schools, including Houston and DePaul. If other ADs knew that Floyd was ready to return to college (he's been at Idaho, New Orleans, Iowa State, USC, plus the NBA), his name would be out there a lot more. It isn't. That could well mean that Floyd to UTEP is already a "done deal."
I believe Floyd is going to be the man for the job. Unlike a few others, I wouldn't mind Billy ball back in El Paso. Either one is a great fit.
Now it comes down to hashing out a contract. UTEP could conceivably pay more in base salary than it does now but that is not how business is done in college athletics. Take a good look at Barbee's Auburn contract. The school is only paying a base of just over 200,000. The rest is coming from boosters and incentives.
El Pasoans and former Miners need to step up and contribute to bump up coaches pay. The salary could include bonuses for sellouts and NCAA appearances. The boosters can foot the rest. Look at Oregon with Nike exec and T. Boone Pickens at OSU as examples.
Keep in mind that this may not keep a coach at UTEP for the long term. Texas A & M came in and swooped Billy G. away from us and then UK did the same to the Aggies. There's always a bigger fish in the pond and nobody is immune from having their coach wooed away by the big bucks.
Posted by: CLEOFITZWITZ | March 26, 2010 at 02:02 PM
If it is a "done deal" I don't think money is going to be the deciding factor with bringing in Coach Floyd. I can only assume but reports out of Louisiana when he was offered the ULL job earlier this year that it would be his last coaching job and money was a deciding factor. Now I know the money is important but if anyone would take a hometown discount it would be Floyd not to mention I believe he would stick around longer than Billy G. I wish we could pony up the dollars like Auburn, but come on you can't compare our boosters to those of the Pac 10 or SEC. I think Coach Floyd coming back to UTEP would be great. Let's just hope it is a done deal. Hoping we find out soon, Monday would be a nice start to the week if a deal if made.
Posted by: Pugapalooza | March 26, 2010 at 03:06 PM
I don't know how you can extrapolate it's a "done deal" (or with which coach) from what Stull said. You may have leanings one way or the other, but that quote is about the most ambiguous thing I've ever read. Everyone is a prognosticator and that's okay, but don't lure everyone in with "I know something you don't know" and then get your answers from a "Magic 8-Ball". You may be right, but it's just a hunch. Anything other than that is laughable. I would like to see Gillespie or Floyd here, they are both good fits, great coaches, good recruiters and know the town. Billy G will have to win some people over, but the same people who complain about him leaving seem to be the same ones who understand why Barbee left, which is complete hypocrisy. I was very upset when Gillespie left, but he is a great coach and I would rather have him for us than against us. As for Floyd, everybody loves the guy, but I hope his baggage doesn't effect us in the long run if he is hired. We may not get either guy, who knows. My "hunch" is we should find out who our new coach is sometime next week, it will be an interesting off season.
Posted by: Dave Williams | March 26, 2010 at 03:35 PM
Your lips to God's ears... I know a ton of folks who would welcome the sight of Floyd on the bench.
Posted by: Fattorini | March 26, 2010 at 03:47 PM
The more I think about Coach Floyd the more I like it. Quite frankly, I'm actually getting excited about it. I thought that Biily G would be cool, but after looking at the whole picture, I think Coach Floyd would be the better pick in the long run. Imagine learning from the Bear, leaving and being and being successful in your own right, and then coming back to where it all began. Move over Coach Price(or at least make some room and share), El Paso just got a new celebrity that will be loved for many years. I just hope that the UTEP community can somehow offer a competitive pay package for Coach Floyd. I’ll tell you guys one thing, the minute UTEP announces Mr. Floyd as the new Coach, I am going to buy season tickets. That’s how much faith I have in Coach Floyd and Bob Stull. By the way, El Paso is fortunate to have Bob Stull as athletic director; he is a true genius and a visionary for UTEP athletics. Hey Diana, name a building after Bob Stull!
Posted by: EW | March 26, 2010 at 03:48 PM
Dave, actually Muench isnt just assuming this. Most of the El Paso media has inside information from UTEP athletics and they have reported that they are very close to getting Tim Floyd. We can only hope.
Posted by: Prospero | March 26, 2010 at 03:52 PM
Tim Floyd YES Bill G NO we don't need a drunk in El Paso talking about Billy.
Posted by: Javier Garcia | March 26, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Bob Marlin going to ULL is a strange turn of events. With him being the second most winningest coach in Southland history (225-131 record), you'd think he'd be looking for a step up with this change. He was on many other school's short list, including UH and UTEP. Odd choice there.
If it turns out to be Tim Floyd, I'd be very happy that he chose UTEP. I'd be in line with EW getting my season tickets also. The selection of a good coach is paramont over all other aspects right now. I too trust that Bob Stull will make the right choice; he's done a good job so far. So I'll stay tuned to see what happens next.
Posted by: Lowercase Ray | March 26, 2010 at 05:22 PM
Whoah, Whoah, whoah, I just read that Tim Floyd is in Houston right now interviewing for their position! So IT CANT BE A DONE DEAL YET!
Posted by: Prospero | March 26, 2010 at 07:33 PM
Floyd will bring the NCAA watchdogs with him. Just what UTEP needs, a coach who has the NCAA on his back.
Why not get someone who doesn't have any issues following him around?
Posted by: The Watcher | March 26, 2010 at 09:55 PM
I vote Floyd. Upstart head coaches will either end up being fired or hired by a big name school within 5 years. Floyd has done it all, and if he wants the UTEP job, UTEP fans should be thrilled. Someone who will immediately know what Miner Basketball is all about. If we want to have the same coach for more than 5 years this is our best chance. But that's assuming he does want the job.
Posted by: Stahala | March 26, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Prospero, you don't have to believe me, but it is just a hunch on Joe's part. As you posted, Floyd HAS reportedly interviewed for the Houston job. Joe went out on a limb on this one. I like Joe, but he pulled a bait and switch. He may end up being right and that's great, but it's just his opinion. Please don't take it for more than what it is. It will be a major coup if we land Floyd or Gillespie...major coup! And how come EW and Lowercase haven't secured season tickets prior to this situation popping up? And Bob Stull being a genius? Really EW? He's done a good job, but genius is a bit overstated, don't you think? I think he will get a building named after him eventually, but I doubt there is any AD in the country that has had that honor while still actively working. Just my 2-cents. BTW, Houston is supposed to announce their new coach as early as today (Saturday)...let the nail biting begin!
Posted by: Dave Williams | March 27, 2010 at 12:24 AM
I for one, don't really give a rat's arse who the next UTEP BB coach is! I'm done hopping against hope in UTEP's basketball futility!
For decades, (four), I've been waiting for UTEP to field a winner, and it has not happened!
As soon as Barbee had a little bit of success, he quits and leaves!
Look at fotball coach, Price, another prima donna, loser!
Fuk Them, and loser UTEP, I'm done supporting a bunch of losers! Nothing will ever change here at UTEP!
Posted by: BOOGIEMAN | March 27, 2010 at 08:58 AM
BOOGIEMAN, you are the loser.
Posted by: Al "The Brain" | March 27, 2010 at 10:47 AM
UTEP fans are glad to be rid of you BOOGIEMAN, and don't come back.
Posted by: Stahala | March 27, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Exactly a REAL fan supports thru tick and thin... bye bye buddie boogie....... Go MINERS!!!!
Posted by: Escapista | March 27, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Bye Boogie! Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you! Go Miners!!!
Posted by: Miner Backer | March 27, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Munchie I remember when u gave bc holy hell every minute of the day. I know being highly critical sells newspapers but u did not give the man a chance. with Tim or bc money would not have to be the issue. they need to start over somewhere and utep is a good bb job to start over with. BTW, having no seniors is a positive not a negative. either one of them would love to have that whole team back. Little diferrent than when bc took the job and u wanted him to be great without the cupboard ever being filled. i have a good memory. :)
Posted by: jwsmith | March 27, 2010 at 07:16 PM
Friday, March 26, 2010
Brett Vito
University of Houston officials met with Billy Gillispie on Friday and were scheduled to meet with former Iowa State and Southern California coach Tim Floyd later in the day, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The school is looking to replace basketball coach Tom Penders, who resigned last week.
The source termed the meetings exploratory in order to gauge mutual interest.
Athletic director Mack Rhoades said the university hopes to hire a coach with a salary in the range of $500,000 annually. .
Posted by: peeps | March 28, 2010 at 12:57 PM
I doubt Gillispie would come back to UTEP - that would be an admission of failure on his part, and his ego is too big for that. Getting Floyd would be a feather in UTEP's cap, but if he comes, its for the love of UTEP/El Paso, and not for the money. Let's hope he has a big retirement fund already saved up from his previous jobs. Maybe he will figure he can make a legacy for himself here, just as Don Haskins did.
Posted by: John | March 28, 2010 at 04:47 PM
Tim Floyd
Will Be UTEP's next basketball coach
It's fate.
Posted by: LaTEEL | March 28, 2010 at 06:54 PM
If we get Tim Floyd back, he better get alot of respect and more money than UTEP has paid any BC in the past including Don Haskins. We should pay in the upper ranges for CUSA and that is considerably more than $300,000 that Tony Barbee was reported to have been paid.
Tim has been the head coach of two NBA teams and while he was at USC before the alleged scandal, he was rumored to be the successor to Phil Jackson for the Lakers.
This time last year (B4 the alleged scandal broke) he was offered the head basketball jobs at ARizona and Memphis to succeed two legends at those schools respectively. He turned both down.
He is from Hattisburg Miss. and went to college in Lousiana. While he was the coach at USC he spent most of his off time in Louisiana. He lives there now with his wife.
If we get him, we had better respect him and not blast his programs in the newspapers as some sports journaists do in this town.
Posted by: John C | March 28, 2010 at 07:26 PM
I agree with most of the posters and I hope that UTEP can make an attractive offer to any candidate that becomes coach of the miners. I still believe if money is a deciding factor that Billy will be the coach in Houston because they seem to have more money to spend. Floyd on the other hand would obviously want an attractive offer, but I don't think he is looking to break the bank if he decides to come to El Paso because if anyone knows UTEP can't pony up the dollars it's Floyd. I am pretty anxious to find out and I hope we find out early next week. I was hoping to find out more over the weekend but I guess we will have to wait. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions to end the season and start the offseason.
Posted by: Pugapalooza | March 28, 2010 at 08:26 PM
Get a young Turk, not some retread with an NCAA monkey on his back.
Posted by: dragen | March 28, 2010 at 09:29 PM
Alot of people are including Munch is overlooking the fact that Reggie Theus has indicated that he is interested in the UTEP job.
He currently is an assistant coach with the Minn. Timberwolfs and has as we all know experience at the Division 1 level with NMSU. In addition to this he has considerable experience as a player in the NBA and was an All-American at the collegiate level with Tark-the-shark at UNLV.
He also would be a good fit as he is familiar with the UTEP program and knows the El Paso Southewest.
Posted by: John C | March 28, 2010 at 11:51 PM