Mike Neighbors Officially Named new UA Women's Basketball Coach(Merged)

[psycHOGlogist]

Let's see what happens.

[hawg1221]

Alex, can you repeat the question?

[jackflash]

we may get turned by some. I can understand that. But Mr Long I hope you swing for the fence here

[Porked Tongue]

I think it'll be Monday.

[ricepig]

I think it'll be Monday.

[flippinhogmana]

I think it'll be Monday.

that is my gut feeling as well.

[psycHOGlogist]

I have no inside information, but this is a pretty cool article about our most-widely-speculated-about candidate.

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-basketball/inside-the-wacky-world-of-mike-neighbors-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-uws-coach/

Sounds like a character, and the tidbit about practice time is interesting. Wondering if that would translate to a team that needed a lot more instructional time (though I guess he only started that mid-season). Just thought it was interesting enough to share.

[Porked Tongue]

I'll add this:

His daughter attends the U of A.

His son is a freshmen in the Rogers School District.

[hoglady]

Don't ya'll think it would be hard to leave what he's built at Washington??

[Mr. Porkleone]

I'll add this:

His daughter attends the U of A.

His son is a freshmen in the Rogers School District.

Mike Neighbors. No brainer Porked

[BWS]

https://twitter.com/KennyKallina/status/846048258803814400

[Porked Tongue]

Don't ya'll think it would be hard to leave what he's built at Washington??

I think the answer to these type of questions is always "yes" to some degree.

But most college coaches tend to have goals above their current spot.

Just a lot of seemingly good reasons to leave:
1. Arguably just peeked out there and loses the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history.
2. Two kids are here and his family still in Greenwood.
3. Wanted this job before but now had the pedigree.
4. Has a contract "out".

It's never done until it's done and sometimes not even then.  But seemingly this has every indication externally and internally.

[Porked Tongue]

Mike Neighbors. No brainer Porked

I don't think I was trying to disguise it.

[Mr. Porkleone]

I don't think I was trying to disguise it.

I no.  I meant no offense. It'll be a great hire

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

Don't ya'll think it would be hard to leave what he's built at Washington??

Probably for just any job.  Home and family have a strong pull.  Jeff Long has a good history of pulling other P5 coaches that were established and successful.  Mike Neighbors situation has some similarities to Mike Anderson.  If Jeff Long has targeted Neighbors I wouldn't bet against him.

[Porked Tongue]

https://twitter.com/KennyKallina/status/846048258803814400

Though we need a good coach, this is a ridiculous amount of money for a negative revenue sport.   I realize we need to pay well to get good hires but this is a little much in my eyes.  Maybe later based on performance but not up front.  Sell some tickets first. 

Just my opinion and not meant to upset the viewing audience.

[Ericcartman]

I think the answer to these type of questions is always "yes" to some degree.

But most college coaches tend to have goals above their current spot.

Just a lot of seemingly good reasons to leave:
1. Arguably just peeked out there and loses the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history.
2. Two kids are here and his family still in Greenwood.
3. Wanted this job before but now had the pedigree.
4. Has a contract "out".

It's never done until it's done and sometimes not even then.  But seemingly this has every indication externally and internally.

#4 Has a contract out?

[psycHOGlogist]

Hard to interpret what "nearly" means. But here was the info on Schaefer's contract extension in 2015:

"His new, four-year contract pays Schaefer $625,000 in 2015-16 and averages $662,500 annually, not including incentives."

Sounds like we are in the ball park.

[tophawg19]

Though we need a good coach, this is a ridiculous amount of money for a negative revenue sport.   I realize we need to pay well to get good hires but this is a little much in my eyes.  Maybe later based on performance but not up front.  Sell some tickets first. 

Just my opinion and not meant to upset the viewing audience.

you pay to win.Winning puts butts in the seats . And big names coaches , draw big name recruits which leads to wins . Wins draw fans , big boosters and sponsors . Money well spent if he gets us to the tourney regularly

[Porked Tongue]

Hard to interpret what "nearly" means. But here was the info on Schaefer's contract extension in 2015:

"His new, four-year contract pays Schaefer $625,000 in 2015-16 and averages $662,500 annually, not including incentives."

Sounds like we are in the ball park.

So he earned his way to that figure.

We're starting above that.

I'm in for escalating it later but he's being prepaid.  You know if he performs, then he will get a bump as well.  That bump is deserved.

you pay to win.Winning puts butts in the seats . And big names coaches , draw big name recruits which leads to wins . Wins draw fans , big boosters and sponsors . Money well spent if he gets us to the tourney regularly

That's a big "if."  Pay good on front and as success come then reward him.

I'm good with reward clauses.  That's earned.

I've got faith he can do it but you're paying for performance that hasn't occurred.

[tophawg19]

you want a final 4 coach , you pay final 4 money. you have to make it worth it for those to come

[psycHOGlogist]

So he earned his way to that figure.

Eh, I'll grant you that in part. He was certainly successful, but that was before they even made a Sweet 16. But yes, he had clearly made strides.

you want a final 4 coach , you pay final 4 money. you have to make it worth it for those to come

And that's the truth. Now, I seriously HOPE we're not paying that for someone who isn't Neighbors or Schaeffer or that ilk. (And I know we're talking about Neighbors.)

[Porked Tongue]

you want a final 4 coach , you pay final 4 money. you have to make it worth it for those to come

Agree if that level of success occurs here.  But if it doesn't, what do you do next time?  Pay even more?

In my world, that's backward.   Pay him really well to get him here and put incentives in the contract.   Attendance, SEC standing, Final 4 and more earn extra payouts.  Then it leads to a bigger contract.  Given his starting salary(if true), he's just a widely successful season away from $1M for a sport that will never return a profit.

You and I just disagree.  That's okay.

[Ericcartman]

So he earned his way to that figure.

We're starting above that.

I'm in for escalating it later but he's being prepaid.  You know if he performs, then he will get a bump as well.  That bump is deserved.


That's a big "if."  Pay good on front and as success come then reward him.

I'm good with reward clauses.  That's earned.

I've got faith he can do it but you're paying for performance that hasn't occurred.

Yes, he started at 275,000. The problem now days is the buy out. School protect their investments.

[ricepig]

Agree if that level of success occurs here.  But if it doesn't, what do you do next time?  Pay even more?

In my world, that's backward.   Pay him really well to get him here and put incentives in the contract.   Attendance, SEC standing, Final 4 and more earn extra payouts.  Then it leads to a bigger contract.  Given his starting salary(if true), he's just a widely successful season away from $1M for a sport that will never return a profit.

You and I just disagree.  That's okay.

It's just SEC funny money, anyway.

[Porked Tongue]

It's just SEC funny money, anyway.

Which obviously is a part of the issue.  We're treating it like going to the casino with a tax refund.

[Ericcartman]

Which obviously is a part of the issue.  We're treating it like going to the casino with a tax refund.

The casino with a tax refund is the quote of the day! Awesome.

[psycHOGlogist]

There is some interesting coaching gossip in this periscope video from two self-styled WBB blogger/commenters. (Skip ahead to about the 30 minute mark to get to the coaching discussion - they're just breaking down the Sweet 16 games before that.)

https://twitter.com/InsiderExposure/status/845813462399930368

No information about their credibility or actual knowledge, but the gist is:

1) Stricklin apparently gave Hammon a fairly low-ball offer to coach at UF (below Schaeffer's salary, anyway), not what she was expecting.

2) The other UF candidates were/are Charlotte Smith (Elon) and Cam Newbauer (Belmont), who would be more likely to accept the low-ish offer. 

3) Cordoza at Temple is the leading candidate at USC, but USC doesn't want to pay her even what she makes at Temple (wow, if true)

4) At the almost very end of the video (like 45 minute mark), they get to Arkansas. And they think it's going to be Neighbors if we break out the checkbook.

Long video, with apologies.

[hog63]

If we don't hear anything within the next 48 hrs or so it will not be done until after the Final 4. They dont like for you to step on the Final 4's toes with an announcement.

[GoPigs69]

If we don't hear anything within the next 48 hrs or so it will not be done until after the Final 4. They dont like for you to step on the Final 4's toes with an announcement.

Who is they?

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

Who is they?

The faction of the Illuminati that runs the NCAA.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

The fact that a good WBB can't pay for themselves is a bit of a stretch.  If he or she can incrementally bring in 3000 fans per year to home games, and if each of those fans accounts for a mere $20 in additional revenue be it through a ticket purchase, donations, concessions or other ways that $60,000 in additional revenue per game x 15 games is $900,000.  Attendance has fallen so low here that it may take a coach time to prove to the fans he can bring an exciting brand and consistent winner but hiring a coach that has done it before helps bridge that credibility gap faster.

I guarantee Coach Vic is generating revenue in excess of his salary at MSU, and after this Final 4 run they will get a boost in season ticket sales, and donations that will help fund/justify the raise he will get to stay at MSU.

[The_Bionic_Pig]

Link: http://www.arkansasfight.com/2014/3/26/5526838/could-mike-neighbors-be-the-next-head-coach-of-the-ladybacks-arkansas-razorbacks-womens-basketball

[Peter Porker]

Link: http://www.arkansasfight.com/2014/3/26/5526838/could-mike-neighbors-be-the-next-head-coach-of-the-ladybacks-arkansas-razorbacks-womens-basketball

That's an old link.

[NWAHog479]

He would be down-grading to come here as bad as that hurts to say...

[riccoar]

Your not going to boost the program by hiring an up and comer.  An up and comer is not going to retain talent here or convince talent to come here.  A coach with Neighbors resume builds excitement in players here, recruits considering, and gets people's believing that the university cares about making the women's team a serious contender.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

Your not going to boost the program by hiring an up and comer.  An up and comer is not going to retain talent here or convince talent to come here.  A coach with Neighbors resume builds excitement in players here, recruits considering, and gets people's believing that the university cares about making the women's team a serious contender.

Yeah this is why I think JL is going to go all out to get Neighbors.  An up and comer that is already an HC will probably still need $400 k minimum to come here due to the shape of the program, so in looking at what Neighbors will get the don't think of it in terms of total salary but what is the additional $'s to get MN and is it worth it.  If it's $800,000 total then you have to ask yourself is he worth the additional $400k.  I'd say yes.  The experiment failed and now he has to go all out to show the U cares just as much about Women's sports. 

WBB is really the missing piece to having all around competitive programs at the UofA, and WBB is the highest profile women's collegiate sport. 

Track:  Check
Soccer: Check
Gymnastics: Check
Softball:  Getting There
Golf:  Check
Tennis Check

He lands a coach like Neighbors and MN does what his resume suggests then women's sports at the UofA will be rocking and rolling year round, and that is great for fans and the University.

[psycHOGlogist]

If we don't hear anything within the next 48 hrs or so it will not be done until after the Final 4. They dont like for you to step on the Final 4's toes with an announcement.

Interesting. Makes sense, from a marketing perspective. Could be 3 or 4 hires announced in short succession (us, Florida, USC Trojans, and Wichita State). Will be interesting to see who gets what done when.

[Boss Hog in the Arkansas]

If anyone deserves a shot, its Joe Foley. He UALR program is more respected than the UofA program smh

[The_Iceman]

Mike Neighbors
- 4 seasons at Washington
- 98 and 40 record overall
- 2016 Final 4
- 2017 Sweet 16
- Strong Arkansas ties

Go get him!

[BRHogfan]

Classic Hogville linking to an article from 3 years ago when we hired Jimmy Dykes....

[jjdlc]

Classic Hogville linking to an article from 3 years ago when we hired Jimmy Dykes....

Regardless, Neighbors seems to be one of the primary targets to be our next coach.  Been nice if they would have pulled the trigger on Neighbors back then.  I have no ill will for Dykes, but the deck was stacked against him.

[RaisinHog]

I think neighbors is the guy .. kid here in hi school .. family in the state ...He has said it was his dream job .. book it

[NWAHog479]

If anyone deserves a shot, its Joe Foley. He UALR program is more respected than the UofA program smh

Joe Foley would be the best hire they could possibly make, I just don't think Joe wants to leave UALR. Love how he can go an entire season without calling a timeout. Saw he gave his coach of the year trophy to the App State coach, he's a class act.

[RaisinHog]

Joe Foley would be the best hire they could possibly make, I just don't think Joe wants to leave UALR. Love how he can go an entire season without calling a timeout. Saw he gave his coach of the year trophy to the App State coach, he's a class act.

I for one would take a guy who has been too the final 4 in the past two years over .. foley . Sorry

[Porked Tongue]

The Head Coach salary is not the only expense. 

Probably two asst's make 100+.  Then there are other expenses. 

Math just isn't there.  I agree with potential but I believe we price ourselves out of getting even on could be the one women's sport that makes money. Instead, it hemorrhages money. 

[JOKERHOG]

I hope Jeff Long is proving the baylor coach a place to land after all of their problems.  Kim Mulkey should be our target but I doubt Long and pull it off

[psycHOGlogist]

The Head Coach salary is not the only expense. 

Probably two asst's make 100+.  Then there are other expenses. 

Math just isn't there.  I agree with potential but I believe we price ourselves out of getting even on could be the one women's sport that makes money. Instead, it hemorrhages money. 

So, are you saying that the Neighbors ship has sailed? Not sure if you're just picking up the conversation that started above or making an informed comment about negotiations. Don't mean to sound dense.

[Porked Tongue]

Strictly my viewpoint.

Not saying anything has changed.

[psycHOGlogist]

Strictly my viewpoint.

Not saying anything has changed.

Thanks for clarifying!