Oh My . . . Jimmy Dykes hired as new U of A Women's Hoops coach

[Hawgon]

I do not think it is a great hire in terms of a top women's college coach, but I think it is a great hire in terms of name and something fresh.  Our last two were bigger name hires and did not turn out great.  I would say that there is no better sport to take a chance on a new face than women's basketball.  Not like it is bringing in a lot to the university.  Biggest news in Arkansas womens basketball in the last ten years, is this hire.

I think that I have absolutely detested women's basketball my entire life and what it looks like on the floor but this hire actually has me intrigued in paying attention to the Hogs next year.  I wonder how many others feel this way.  I did not even know this forum existed before now.

Women's basketball is great basketball if you like basketball.  I tend to think the coaches need to be better coaches than they do in men's basketball because they can't rely on raw talent as much.  They have to have fundamentally sound teams and they have to be really good at the X and O's and as tacticians. 

[cosmodrum]

Girls don't watch ESPN.

Hipsters and prom queens don't, but I imagine that female athletes do, especially ones that have the talent to play D1 ball.

[Pork Twain]

Women's basketball is great basketball if you like basketball.  I tend to think the coaches need to be better coaches than they do in men's basketball because they can't rely on raw talent as much.  They have to have fundamentally sound teams and they have to be really good at the X and O's and as tacticians. 

I love basketball and always have but would never call women's basketball great.

[Hawgon]

I love basketball and always have but would never call women's basketball great.

It is  better basketball than men's basketball was for a few years.  It is more fundamentally sound.  The tactics and coaching matchups matter more.

[Pork Twain]

It is  better basketball than men's basketball was for a few years.  It is more fundamentally sound.  The tactics and coaching matchups matter more.

That is a matter of opinion and unfortunately far more would prefer not to watch it even when it is not competing with any other sport.

[Kevin]

way to bring him home, mr long. seems to be a theme with the current hires

[baumsquad]

You're taking a reasonable approach.  You are remaining positive while acknowledging how "unorthodox" the hire is.

What is it though with the people who just drink the Kool-Aid no matter what and act like this is a great hire.  He might turn out to be a great coach, but it isn't a great hire.

exactly he may turn out great but NOT great hire and could turn out to be laughing stock

[tophawg19]

i know this . the womens basketball coaches are laughing at the hire . Even the head of the league says she is disappointed in it and that we didn't hire a proven coach who has earned the opportunity

[ricepig]

i know this . the womens basketball coaches are laughing at the hire . Even the head of the league says she is disappointed in it and that we didn't hire a proven coach who has earned the opportunity

We have a woman at the head of the SEC??...that's the only league we are in.

[Pork Twain]

i know this . the womens basketball coaches are laughing at the hire . Even the head of the league says she is disappointed in it and that we didn't hire a proven coach who has earned the opportunity

Interesting...

[ricepig]

Interesting...

What the head of the Women's Basketball Coaching Association said, was that she was disappointed a proven coach wasn't hired, but that she was for doing whatever it took to grow the game, and this hire could accomplish that. And yes, I'm paraphrasing her words.

[Pork Twain]

What the head of the Women's Basketball Coaching Association said, was that she was disappointed a proven coach wasn't hired, but that she was for doing whatever it took to grow the game, and this hire could accomplish that. And yes, I'm paraphrasing her words.

I figured he was partially full of crap and was using my hidden sarcasm as a false curiosity...

[hoglady]

Women's basketball is great basketball if you like basketball.  I tend to think the coaches need to be better coaches than they do in men's basketball because they can't rely on raw talent as much.  They have to have fundamentally sound teams and they have to be really good at the X and O's and as tacticians. 

I agree but sometimes there's just pure talent.
I was keeping score at one of the AAU tournaments years back and Shameka Christon just happened to be one of the players. I think she was 14 then playing 16 and under ball. There was no denying who the best player on the floor was. She was really something to see.

[avatar]

So we pass on a guy with a national title, some Final Fours, and a wife that still works here. We also pass on a coach that has more career wins than even Blair and he's right down the road.

Jeff failed to separate friendship from business and this is a stupid business decision.

tend to agree

[psycHOGlogist]

The competition Dykes had was the coaches at mid-major programs (Wichita State, TN-Martin, Albany) who have done well in the lower leagues and were looking to move up and, depending on who you believe, the WVU coach.

I strongly suspect that the WVU coach would have been very expensive to lure away from his home state.

We weren't going to get Blair.

[Porked Tongue]

Blair was NEVER going to return to coach.  He's content.

[bobcat ball]

i know this . the womens basketball coaches are laughing at the hire . Even the head of the league says she is disappointed in it and that we didn't hire a proven coach who has earned the opportunity

Who cares? I sure don't and I bet JL does either. And he shouldn't either. To many of you worry how others think and feel about Arkansas and what's done on the hill. Most of the ones you guys think care actually could care less.

[lc480]

Wonder if the the Uconn coach will complain about Louisiana tech hiring Tyler Summitt?
If Dykes is not good enough to be a head coach, what qualifications does Tyler have that are any better than Jimmy.?
I bet he will get a pass on his experience, because hes Pats boy.

[Hogtied85]

Personally hiring Jimmy Dykes is stroke of genius. Who cares if he hadn't coached in 20++ years. There have been plenty of coaches who have left winning programs to take over failing programs and have sucked in the process and as a result they were fired. These coaches by the way are apart of WBCA. So really the WBCA disapproval of Jimmy Dykes is laughable at best. I support Jimmy Dykes he will do a great job. People will be surprised. The results will speak for itself.

[Pork Twain]

i know this . the womens basketball coaches are laughing at the hire . Even the head of the league says she is disappointed in it and that we didn't hire a proven coach who has earned the opportunity

You don't know that but who cares if they are?  What are they going to do, beat us in a sold-out, packed arena of 50 people?

[Tim]

It shows that Jimmy wants to give back to his school and that is admirable.  As others have said, maybe this will rekindle interest in the women's program.

But, let's check back with this in about four years.  I'll bet he's back on espn doing games again.

Nailed it

[Tim]

Personally hiring Jimmy Dykes is stroke of genius. Who cares if he hadn't coached in 20++ years. There have been plenty of coaches who have left winning programs to take over failing programs and have sucked in the process and as a result they were fired. These coaches by the way are apart of WBCA. So really the WBCA disapproval of Jimmy Dykes is laughable at best. I support Jimmy Dykes he will do a great job. People will be surprised. The results will speak for itself.

Oh.

[flippinhogmana]

Oh.

Interesting to read back through all six pages of the thread and see who said what.  I am surprised to find that I didnt post about the hire a single time.  I recall that I had significant reservations at the time.  I guess not saying anything at all says how reserved I was or at least I would have given a polite 'welcome' post at least.

[Tim]

A. He can't be worse than Tom Collen

B. He can't recruit worse than Tom Collen

C. National name, knows his stuff.  Knows x's and o's.

D. Alum, proud supporter of the program.

E. Will do a fantastic job and will keep the in state talent at Arkansas.

Love the hire.

Wrong wrong wrong

[Tim]

Huge hire IMHO for 2 reasons

1. Unlike the previous women's Head coach, Dykes' name is known nation wide so when he steps into the homes of recruits, he'll get major league attention. He could very will get shots at recruits that Collins could only dream of getting a shot at.

2. He is great at x's and O's so the team will be more than fundamentally sound.

How would you have known he was great at Xs and Os?

[Mr. Porkleone]

I will predict a Sweet Sixteen appearance for our Lady Hoopsters within 3 years.

This game - like all sports up at the U of A - is 80% about recruiting and I feel Dykes' high profile from his ESPN work will open doors to a level of recruits that our ladies' program has never had access to.

That's funny.

[tophawg19]

couldn't tell them anything but some saw the writing on the wall

[LadybackBBFan]

I believe his national recognition did generate some interest and did initially help in recruiting.  However, his demeanor, attitude, aloofness, and coaching ruined any positive impact that he had.  Please no more out of the box hires.

[psycHOGlogist]

Interesting to read back through all six pages of the thread and see who said what.  I am surprised to find that I didnt post about the hire a single time.  I recall that I had significant reservations at the time.  I guess not saying anything at all says how reserved I was or at least I would have given a polite 'welcome' post at least.

Well, this thread started on the men's board and was migrated. There were other threads on the women's board -- at least that's my recollection. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯