I posted in another thread...but I have a thought on why things fell off and where he can improve things....
When Cal got back from the NBA...I think he learned quite a bit of what it took to do things at the top level. He failed in the NBA because of talent...and he tried to do too much like a college coach. He came back to college and learned how to delegate his duties. He could manage a program as CEO and get the right guys to run his staff. When he got to Kentucky the first few years...he had the right guys doing the right things...
-Rod Strickland was the admin guru. He was good working with Mitch. He understood a lot of outside things too.
-John Robic was the game-plan and strategy master. He watched film. He made sure Cal had all the information needed.
-Coach O was the recruiting closer. He identified the talent and knew who to get. He got the classes locked down early. He got the guys who were the right fit.
-Kenny Payne was the relationship master. He was in with guys like WWW. He could give Cal tough love and advice. He really understood the team chemistry and could communicate issues.
Cal's staff was a well oiled machine. Cal didn't have to micromanage one area...he could be a visionary. He had guys he trusted and they were all doing their jobs...but then he didn't replace them...which made him less prepared and has him spending time in areas he doesn't need...
-He lost Rod Strickland...which you saw his relationship with Mitch and the admin fell apart and hasn't been the same.
-Coach O left...Joel Justus couldn't close the deal. We always were scrambling at the last minute for the class to be finalized...guys weren't good fits. On and on...
-Robic left and you can see the game-planning isn't the same. We're less prepared. We don't adjust as well.
-Kenny Payne left and you can see the team chemistry has fallen off quite a bit...Cal doesn't connect as well and is more isolated.
You see that he finally had to go all in and get Coach O and Chin back to get the recruiting right...and as you see we've finally seem to be BACK to getting the guys we want and wrapped up sooner.
So now we have staff openings with KT Turner leaving along with us being able to have another assistant. Cal doesn't need a loyalist or a fresh body. He needs to get a "Basketball Benny" game-planning guru that is prepared and gives Cal all the information like Robic. Robic wasn't some genius, he just did his job and worked hard. We need someone that can connect with the kids and admin...a GM type role. Someone that's good with the kids.
Cal didn't get the Pitino type assistants that were future coaches, because Cal's not a micromanager like that...Cal was better when he delegated duties to guys who could do a specific thing very well.
When Cal got back from the NBA...I think he learned quite a bit of what it took to do things at the top level. He failed in the NBA because of talent...and he tried to do too much like a college coach. He came back to college and learned how to delegate his duties. He could manage a program as CEO and get the right guys to run his staff. When he got to Kentucky the first few years...he had the right guys doing the right things...
-Rod Strickland was the admin guru. He was good working with Mitch. He understood a lot of outside things too.
-John Robic was the game-plan and strategy master. He watched film. He made sure Cal had all the information needed.
-Coach O was the recruiting closer. He identified the talent and knew who to get. He got the classes locked down early. He got the guys who were the right fit.
-Kenny Payne was the relationship master. He was in with guys like WWW. He could give Cal tough love and advice. He really understood the team chemistry and could communicate issues.
Cal's staff was a well oiled machine. Cal didn't have to micromanage one area...he could be a visionary. He had guys he trusted and they were all doing their jobs...but then he didn't replace them...which made him less prepared and has him spending time in areas he doesn't need...
-He lost Rod Strickland...which you saw his relationship with Mitch and the admin fell apart and hasn't been the same.
-Coach O left...Joel Justus couldn't close the deal. We always were scrambling at the last minute for the class to be finalized...guys weren't good fits. On and on...
-Robic left and you can see the game-planning isn't the same. We're less prepared. We don't adjust as well.
-Kenny Payne left and you can see the team chemistry has fallen off quite a bit...Cal doesn't connect as well and is more isolated.
You see that he finally had to go all in and get Coach O and Chin back to get the recruiting right...and as you see we've finally seem to be BACK to getting the guys we want and wrapped up sooner.
So now we have staff openings with KT Turner leaving along with us being able to have another assistant. Cal doesn't need a loyalist or a fresh body. He needs to get a "Basketball Benny" game-planning guru that is prepared and gives Cal all the information like Robic. Robic wasn't some genius, he just did his job and worked hard. We need someone that can connect with the kids and admin...a GM type role. Someone that's good with the kids.
Cal didn't get the Pitino type assistants that were future coaches, because Cal's not a micromanager like that...Cal was better when he delegated duties to guys who could do a specific thing very well.
