Jeff Long on the Hiring of Coach Dykes

[Hawgon]

So, there were six or seven CURRENT head coaches who interviewed for this job?  Oh, man this isn't going to turn out well.

[Hawgon]

I'm sure Jimmy Dykes gave a fantastic interview and I'm sure his PC was awesome.  I wouldn't expect anything different.  You know why?  Because he has spent the last decade in entertainment on television three nights a week during basketball season.  The guy should be the most polished interviewee and press conference giver in the country. 

But where is his body of work that says, or even indicates that he can do this job?

[ricepig]

So, there were six or seven CURRENT head coaches who interviewed for this job?  Oh, man this isn't going to turn out well.

Because??

[cosmodrum]

Because??

Because he doesn't want it to.

[bobcat ball]

Because he doesn't want it to.

Exactly!!!

[Ugly Uncle]

Jimmy is one of our own.  Sink or swim we are in the water with someone that knows us and understands us.

This is different than the HdN thing, because Jimmy actually is a REALLY good person.  He might just be a really good coach as well.

This may fail miserably, but it might just be a John McDonnell type hire.  I'm suddenly interested in our Women's program and I wasn't before.  I'm not more interested because I think we will suddenly be great, but because of the suspense of how it will turn out. 

[Mike Irwin]

There's no question from a media standpoint it's going to be one hell of a story. He'll either succeed or he won't but either way he'll get a lot more than just local coverage. The national guys will be here.

[VBMark]

I support the hire for two reasons: (1) I like Jimmy Dykes, and (2) I'll be more interested now than if we had hired anyone other than the coach from UConn.

That's the problem, you can't even name the UCONN coach without google.

[Fayettechill14]

I honestly don't care one bit, I'm just not so eaten up with the Jeff Long love that I can't see a ridiculous hire for what it is.

Then Jimmy has already done his job...he made you care, at least for today. Women's sports are all about people caring. Relevant programs are always good.

[870hogfan]

Then Jimmy has already done his job...he made you care, at least for today. Women's sports are all about people caring. Relevant programs are always good.

He probably can't even name a girl on the team. He is just on here just to whine and moan cause he hates Long.

[Pork Twain]

While nobody can name the top 5 women's basketball coaches, they all want to bitch about this hire.  It almost seems like they are just making up excuses to complain.  Hogville posters that complain just to complain are really sad.

[Wildhog]

While nobody can name the top 5 women's basketball coaches, they all want to bitch about this hire.  It almost seems like they are just making up excuses to complain.  Hogville posters that complain just to complain are really sad.

I just hate that we lost our ESPN cheerleader. 

Now it all falls to my favorite hippie, Bill Walton.

[Kevin]

Jimmy Dykes went after this job. Long said he was surprised when Dykes approached him about the job. He was the last candidate interviewed. Long said Dykes beat out six or seven current head coaches who were under consideration because he blew them away in the interview process.

Asked if he was taking a risk Long said, Every hire is a risk.

Dykes said he has been thinking about this job for a long time. He's spent a lot of time talking to current women's head coaches quizzing them about the challenges of coaching the women's game and the differences from the men's game.

mike, the veteran you are, please tell me you don't believe there was an interviewing process. once, dykes approached him, it was over.

not believing, 6 or 7 coaches.

[Inhogswetrust]

couldn't he have found those things in someone who has coached in the last quarter century

I hear John Calhoun is looking for a job.....................No wait....................Nevermind.

[Inhogswetrust]

At least John L. Smith WAS a football coach.

And that worked out beautifully huh.................................

When hiring coaches you have better odds at a casino.

[Inhogswetrust]

This is really pretty simple.

In fact, you can pretty much take it as a rule.

If a coaching candidate does not have an exemplary record as far as honesty, integrity, and character are concerned, Jeff Long isn't going to hire him at UA.

I'm not sure why that angers some people so much, but it is what it is. It won't change how Jeff Long operates his department.

Yep. The proverbial "lesson learned".

[Inhogswetrust]

Jimmy Dykes went after this job. Long said he was surprised when Dykes approached him about the job. He was the last candidate interviewed. Long said Dykes beat out six or seven current head coaches who were under consideration because he blew them away in the interview process.

Asked if he was taking a risk Long said, Every hire is a risk.

Dykes said he has been thinking about this job for a long time. He's spent a lot of time talking to current women's head coaches quizzing them about the challenges of coaching the women's game and the differences from the men's game.

Good post Mike.
Despite what everyone thinks about Resume's the interview matters a LOT and more than the Resume' in some instances. I've hired and fired people and would never hire someone based on what is ONLY on their Resume' paper.

How many times do I have to repeat "Hiring coaches is crap shoot".

[Inhogswetrust]

So, there were six or seven CURRENT head coaches who interviewed for this job?  Oh, man this isn't going to turn out well.

Perhaps you should request him to share the INTERVIEWS on video with you next time.

[Pork Twain]

Perhaps you should request him to share the INTERVIEWS on video with you next time.

Surely does take some of the fun out of posting when we agree.

[opineonswine]

You best not bet against Jimmy Dykes.  I'll bet he is wildly successful.  Some of you don't have a clue about him.  I suspect some of the hate is the Shiloh association whether you admit it or not.

He started girls cross country at Shiloh and won the state championship in year ONE.
Coached girls track at Shiloh and they were dominant in state...till he left.

I really don't understand how some of you people breathe...so much hate and negativity.  You all need a happy pill.

[jabberjawls]

Since you are so knowledgeable of Jimmy Dykes' accomplishments at Shiloh, how did he do coaching girls basketball at Shiloh?

[kaki]

That just shows you how little you actually know about women's basketball.

Every women's basketball coach in the country is now rooting for him to fall on his face just so everyone can see that you just plug anyone into a major college program and expect success because he "knows basketball".

The fact that they are threatened by the possibility that one of their jobs being taken by someone other than one of their fraternity, shouldn't be a big concern.  Like they were going to help whoever we hire recruit, coach etc.

No one knows whether we will be better off or worse off because of this hire, but it seems that some think constant negativity will help.  Kind of like those continually complaining about the practice facility.  After a certain point and the decision is made, seems that it should be time to get on board.  Hopefully we don't have fans who are hoping a bad result, just to be able to say "I told you so".  Sadly I think we have more than a few of those in our midst.

[Mike Irwin]

mike, the veteran you are, please tell me you don't believe there was an interviewing process. once, dykes approached him, it was over.

not believing, 6 or 7 coaches.

Yeah, I do believe it. I wouldn't have believed it if Dykes had been hired a few days after Colen was fired. But the job was open way too long for me to believe Long was just sitting around without a clue when suddenly Dykes popped up and, as you put it, it was over.

Also if Long were lying about interviewing several candidates somebody would talk. Long runs a tight ship but something like that would get out.

[tophawg19]

While nobody can name the top 5 women's basketball coaches, they all want to bitch about this hire.  It almost seems like they are just making up excuses to complain.  Hogville posters that complain just to complain are really sad.

and you don't care about the women's programs , your here to defend Long no matter what . top 5 is subject to speculation Geno A. , M. McGraw , S coales,  Kim Mulkey and Gary Blair would be my top coaches now . I think if Foley gets a break he might be listed among these one day . maybe in the conversation with Pat Summit, Jim Calhoun  and  Barrymore of LAtech

[tophawg19]

You best not bet against Jimmy Dykes.  I'll bet he is wildly successful.  Some of you don't have a clue about him.  I suspect some of the hate is the Shiloh association whether you admit it or not.

He started girls cross country at Shiloh and won the state championship in year ONE.
Coached girls track at Shiloh and they were dominant in state...till he left.

I really don't understand how some of you people breathe...so much hate and negativity.  You all need a happy pill.

So let's move him to women's track. Does he know basketball , Sure but so did Corliss and Sidney M . does he love the hogs , Sure and I think he will give his all , but if he fails it sets the program back even farther because no good coach will want the job. Most are laughing about the hire and how Arkansas thinks anyone can do it .  Even Nolan will tell you the women's game is tougher because your more limited in what you can do and 1 big player can dominate . it's more pure because they are looking for more basic offenses . they aren't focused on dunking so in many cases are better shooters . once you start watching it's addictive . it's more like 60's /70's mens game

[OldCoot]

And jimmy dykes WAS a basketball coach. And assisted a pretty good coach in Eddie Sutton he had to have learned something right? John L proved being directly involved isn't always a good thing. Dykes is prolly smarter then ole smiley.

This hire makes the John L. hire look fantastic.