BrentZ is saying it is almost definitely going to be Kennedy with a press conference on Monday. From what I understand he runs an uptempo offense with an in your face defense. I am good with that. Hopefully we can get some good recruiters in as assistants
Seems like a good hire. But you are right he needs to bring in top recruiters as assistants. Billy Clyde Gillispie hired Villanova basketball assistant coach Chris Walker as his first hire at Texas Tech and that was a homerun. Walker is a Houston native and a future head coach. If I were Billy Kennedy, the guy I would go after is Ulric Maligi from UH. He is going to be a star in the coach world. He is only 27 years old but he has been a full-time assitant coach since he was 22 years old. UH has there best recruiting class in like 10 years coming in this year and he is a key reason.
So I guess Byrne is now flying to Fargo to interview Jacobson as well so I guess it is not over. Kennedy is still supposed to be the favorite. After looking at both of their stats, they actually both seem to have "Turgeon" slow paced offenses. At this point, it doesn't matter which one they get. As long as Branch and Green stay solid and we get some recruiters that can do something decent for 2012 we'll be ok.
Wouldn't be all that excited about Kennedy but I refuse to ever criticize Byrne again since he went all out.
Spoiler http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/can-kennedy-surpass-expectations.html
Tidbits from the Kennedy PC Spoiler Gonna build defense. Going to recruit Texas and New Orleans; Im from New Orleans, NO now part of Texas. Not a fan of refs Goal is to win National Championships Coach Blair, what he did is tremendous. We need to be that next team to win a championship here. Talk about character, talent, winning the Big 12 championship. You win the Big 12, you're in position to win National Championships. Got a great family. Cant wait to embrace A&M. Gig 'Em How much has this changed since 91? A lot obviously. I think there were goats and cows. Now basketball facilities. Have the facilities here to do special things. Last 2 coaches had gone to basketball schools. Talk about A&M athletic program. From South Louisiana, I love football, college football. You see what happened at FLA and what they've done, it should happen here. Players around here, facilities, tradition, high academics, good fit. This needs to be athletic department school, not just football school. You're one of the haves now. You got to be one of the haves. What do you mean? Not a mid major. I recruited at Cal and some other places. Comes down to people, relationships, and good players. I'm with the haves though we have to compete with the haves too. You mentioned Turgeon left the team in good shape. Expectations next year? NCAA tournament a goal. I watched these teams play. I coached against Mark. I followed this program. We're expecting great things with this team. Met a few players and talked to a bunch last night. We should be good. About establishing leadership and getting my staff in so we can get on the same page. Elaborate on your style? I was fortunate to play for my step-father. We were taught the old school Frank (???) D. We'll try to pressure. On O, we want to score in the first 7 seconds of shot clock. Want quality shots. Get in the paint, if not that, shoot 3s in the corner. We'll be patient on O if we dont score in the first 7 secs. Hope that gives you an idea. All goes back to D. If you have good D, you have a chance to win. How long do you plan to stay? Byrne what do you plan to do to keep him? This is a destination job for me. I climbed the ladder different from others. I dont want to go anywhere. There is no Maryland or Kansas or anything like that. I'm from Louisiana. Family is close. I plan on retiring here. How far along are you on the staff? I've worked on it. I'll go after a couple guys, get us some guys who can recruit. I want people who are high character and can recruit to our level that we can recruit to. GOt one assistant at Murray St who I recommend. Steve Phrome is his name. If he doesnt get that job, he is coming with me. Relationship with Frank Hay? At SE LA, we won 2 championships. I wanted to get uncomfortable. Went to Miami to learn. Great experience to get to this level. What are your thoughts on you maybe getting a one and done player? I'll take a one and done player if it helps us win a national championship. Thats the world we're in now. Favorite memories 20 years ago? Did you expect to be back? Got an older daughter who is 20 who was born here. Alexandra Marie - A&M. (laughing) Learned what to do, what not to do. Learned about the integrity and what this school is about. Learned a lot. Prepared me for where I am now. Situation you're coming in to? Talk about opportunity to succeed immediately. Great time to be in the Big 12. We have what needs...24-9 last year. Good players back who won games, good guys. They have good character, they like being here, havent heard about anyone wanting to leave. That says alot about what kind of people they are and what kind of place this is. Greatest time for me to hit the league because I got the job. Talk about how things unfolded from your standpoint? Didnt know until yesterday. Was quick process. Bill was in Mexico he said. Was a whirlwind. Friday I was speaking in a clinic in Virginia to top assistants about how to get a job. I believe in strange things. Faith is huge with me. Got a call Friday, they wanted to talk and interview me Saturday. Interviewed, and now blessed to be here. Mentioned faith is huge to you. Can you elaborate? Thats who I am. God has blessed me in so many ways. Overcoming a lot of difficulties. I'm blessed. Thats how far I'll go into it right now. Bill (Byrne), a lot of people would say he was here before, what about his character? Take a look at his history. Everytime he made programs better. I liked him. We filed that away. You make the phone calls when you need to then. Relationship with Rockets and Spurs your last time here? Popovich and Buford came in. I was asked to scout games when they made the triangle(DAL-HOU-SA). I would sit at the Rockets game and scout. Was a way to make extra money. Made money to sit and watch Hakeem and David go head to head. Very close to Pops and RC Buford. Other coaches throughout the years you modeled your coaching after? My stepfather. Learned I wasnt a good player when I went to college. Learned D wins. Pete Newell, learned from him. Those are some of the best coaches from Xs and Os standpoint. All the coaches Ive worked for though, I learned something. Dont want to leave anyone out but cant remember them all. I would give most credit to my stepfather. Challenges when taking over? Got to make myself go slow. Byrne talked about Sherman and his advice was to go slow. I think that is important. Want to make sure the infrastructure inside is strong. Want to learn my players. Want to learn student assistants and trainers. Then I want to recruit. Got to get going. As I hire a staff, that will happen. Bill, feedback you got on Billy? Talked to a lot of people. Talked to our athletes. I want to complement our guys who are here. We met collectively. Our 2 incoming freshman have been outstanding. I stayed in contact with these guys. They have been steadfast that they are Aggies. Never talked about anything else except that. I had open conversation about who we were talking to. I made Dash the person who got back to the guys. They're a big part of it. I also got friends in the business. One told me, the Silent Assassin about Billy. He will kill you in recruiting and that you were getting one of the best coaches in the country. How does Reed compare to G. Rollie White? On the other side of the tracks and needs to stay there. Unbelievable facilities. I've been going through hallways, now looking at pictures, the improvements at Reed have made a big difference. Got to make the student body embrace it. Students can kick it into another level. How much easier is it that the fact A&M was founded on D. I give credit to the former coach and his staff. Makes it a smooth transition. If you dont play D in the B12, you dont make it. Talk about your philosophy nonconference? I liked the LSU series in Houston. I think thats good to play a rival team. I like sprinkling those games in the preseason. I want to be on TV. I want to be in tournaments on ESPN. I would like to play in something like that consistently.
Well he definitely said all of the right things at today's Press Conference. Love that he named his daughter with the initials A.M. since she was born in College Station. He hit the nail on the head that he needs to get some top notch recruiters in there as assistants. Given that his salary is significantly less than Turgeon's, he should have the $$$ to lure some top assistants away from other schools.
Yeah I like what I heard today too. Of course, actions(or shall I say winning) speaks louder than all the good we heard today.
Tamu hires top assistant/recruiter in the nation! Glynn cyprien of Memphis Per dash Harris twatter Dash5Harris S/O to my new Head Assistant Coach, Glen Cyprien! ... Man I been loving Coach Cyp since he was recruiting me at Arkansas! #blessed about 2 hours ago Also per cbssports.com
Turge leaving is getting better and better for A&M. Cyp is widely known as one of the best recruiters in the country and previously worked under BCG (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-recruiters081910) and several Big XII schools have tried to pull him away from Memphis recently and he turned them all down (including BCG who he was already an assistant under). We are paying big bucks for him and he is going to be one of the top paid assistants in the country. Another great video ... http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/1805/1281186?title=broadcast_local Looks like the other 2 assistant positions are also going to be filled with "#1 Assistant" type guys. Plan is for BK to cover the X's and O's and have 3 strong recruiters with AAU/Texas ties as assistants. Look for Prohm (BK's old #1 assistant who might get Murray State head gig), Alvin Brooks (UH Top assistant), and/or Reese (who has strong Texas HS/AAU ties and of course is the father of a very important 2012 recruit which may or may not help us).
Kennedy on 1560 this morning. Nothing really new that wasnt already said at his introductory PC. Spoiler (Talking about recruiting base): We will work the heck out of Houston/Dallas. Have to do a good job there first. We consider Louisiana now a part of Texas. We need more pros. We need guys who are 1-2 years and out players. Thats what wins big. (Thoughts on coming to a "football school"): This isnt a football school. This is Texas A&M University. Mean that with no disrespect. A lot of good programs here. I will embrace football like Donovan did at Florida. (Relationship with Spurs and how it started): Started 20 years ago here at A&M as an assistant. Developed relationship with RC Buford then. Scouted games for them in Houston and sent them back. Way to make extra money and learn what they're all about. Pop was there. Relationship went way back and we've maintained it over the years. (On going to a place where you are expected to win): We expect to be in NCAA tournament every year. These guys are used to being in it and know what it takes. We'll embrace that. My goal for this program is to win a National Championship. You do that by winning Big 12 championships and putting yourself into position in getting a good seed in the NCAA tournament. (Thoughts on perimeter shooting/threes): Gotta have guys that can shoot the ball. Need to make shots. Gotta have guys that can stretch the D and make tough shots. Need a guy who can make a play for himself and possibly others. Shooting important and we'll recruit guys who can shoot. (Most fond of when you were an assistant?): Traditions and people who believe in the integrity of the university. I love all the traditions: the Howdy's, the Gig ' Ems, the swaying back and forth. Strong tradition and people care about doing things the right way around here. (When talking about getting pros in here, a lot of coaches aint fond of that. What do you think about that?): Have to recruit the best guys you can get. (Thoughts on new Big 12?): I like it. True conference champion. Built on rivalries that will go on for a long time. Stronger conference and makes it fun. (Schedule and how difficult is it?): Not easy. Florida in Florida, a preseason classic in NYC, dont have it in front of me but we got tough preseason schedule but a good schedule. http://www.1560thegame.com/media/?p=4057
#1 high school recruit in the country Shabazz Muhommed will be using one of his official visits to visit Aggieland (has already done an unofficial) Gonna be a long shot like Kyrie Irving was, but getting the pub raises A&Ms brand profile in the bball world
BrentZwerneman Brent Zwerneman I interrupt this vacation to report a trusted insider has told me Bryan High's John Reese will round out Billy Kennedy's A&M staff. # Good week.
Shabazz stated on Twitter that A&M would be in the running for his entire recruitment. He also said yesterday that J-Mych Reese was on his team at a recent showcase. He said that it would be cool if they could play together in college. Go get 'em Billy!
J-Mike commits to the good guys per his brother on Facebook This is huge! Thank you for leaving Turge
