Please explain to me the downside of conducting a thorough search that includes Nate…
And who gives a shit whether or not they are “Montana kids”?
As someone else pointed out, is Binford from Montana? Did Jud Heathcote have any prior connection to Montana? No.
This is a total non-factor to me, that is somehow EXTREMELY important to some Griz fans. I want the best coach talent period- regardless of their origin.
And if they also happen to have a connection here, then great.
I think Nate has earned a shot at the job. But to ignore the vast amount of coaching talent out there would be extremely shortsighted imo
gotgame75: I don't recognize a downside of conducting a national search. I've observed basketball coaching, and interviewed hundreds of coaches since my first interview in 1980 and concluded there are no specific, reliable personality "attributes" of an ideal, winning coach, though I thought Don Read came close (a lot of Griz football fans were perplexed when Read was hired!).
So here's my rationale for hiring Harris, Woolley, List, Anderson and Rebich:
1. -- They were asked to stabilize a program mid-season in the midst of extreme crisis... even to the point where some (maybe all) players were traumatized;
2. -- First, they had to gain the trust of players, which was probably a "counselor's" challenge & which also required getting Mack Konig to rejoin the team (I don't know if she quit, but do know she sat-out a game);
3. -- Next, they had to decide how to keep the existing system functional while gradually implementing changes they felt necessary. I saw the changes, initially on defense, and it's my opinion an emphasis on team defense is the main reason this team started to become competitive again;
4. -- Necessary changes in what had become a very stagnant offense under the previous head coach came slowly, but game-by-game we saw the players start to drive lanes with increasing confidence... tough to learn mid-season, but several players started to get the idea. Suddenly, these kids started realizing they had the right to attack the bucket on O.
5. -- Result? Two wins on Montana's road trip to PSU and an improving SAC squad. They started looking like a team. Wow. But there were still setbacks;
6. -- The team still lacked confidence and this is Reason #1 I believe Nate Harris should be head coach. Read every post-game interview on GoGriz and specifically read how POSITIVE Nate was about rebuilding hope, optimism and, finally confidence among the players. It's all there in black and white. Please take the time to read how Harris's extreme support about this team was based on trust and encouragement.
7. THEN: Reason #2... The GrizWBB game started to do a 180. This team became competitive first by a major turnabout in team defense. Defensive strides were paramount. They are clearly why Montana became competitive again. The best example is Montana's tourney dispatching of Idaho, a team that beat them twice in conf. play. Montana defense shut out Idaho's two guards, which neutralized Idaho's guarad-oriented drive & kick offense. BUT more importantly... something the previous coach was very poor at: in-game adjustments.
8. This, in my mind, reason #3 is the significant most important coaching factor in this team's dramatic improvement... IN-GAME-ADJUSTMENTS. Suddenly, Montana coaches were making adjustments in timeouts, at quarter breaks, and in other late-game strategies. Don't believe me? Last night's loss to the Bobcats shows at least 4 distinct strategic adjustments that turned what could have been a MSU blowout to a tense, fantastic game where the Griz played like they could win. MJ Bruno was most instrumental in the belief that the Griz could compete: she hounded Cat star Esmeralda Morales, who scored 25 of MSU's 58 points. Did MJ thus fail? No. When coaches made the specific challenge to MJ to hound Morales was exactly when Montana mounted its final comeback. The Cats were frazzled. Montana 's Dani Bartsch made the final trey to put the Griz ahead. Morales, during the final 5 minutes, did not touch the ball very often. The Cats were forced to go to other players. The final miss & make, unfortunately, was an errant miss that fell right into the hands of the Cat player who had an easy return for the winner.
9. These reasons are not ALL the reasons why I believe these coaches should be re-hired. There are more. However, these coaches were given the opportunity to turn things around, and to PROVE to Montana administrators and fans that they are qualified to remain as head coaches.
THESE, gotgame75, are the reasons why I believe the current staff of the Griz have proven, without a doubt, that they deserve the right to continue as this team's coaches.
------ Please be assured: I am not trash talking. Any decision to hire a new coach is, in some way, a toss of the dice. More than anything or anyone re: this situation, I believe MJ Bruno when she spoke so emotionally regarding Harris and staff. Her willingness to speak out is huge and... in the long run, is testament (and perhaps the most important reason) why this staff should be re-hired: They have already proven their worth as coaches. Drop the national search. Give these coaches a contract to sign.
candidate, a flaming-hot a__hole named Brian Holsinger. !!!
that Haslam has already been on the phone with lots of coaches for months for this potential gig. Call it a national search to check the box and do one, but he already has his list of 3-5 coaches including Nate. I hope Nate gets a fair shot.
