Don't sign based on the coach alone!

Great advice. Thanks

Interesting point and probably very often it gets overlooked. My daughter didn't necessarily sign at her school specifically for the coach but when he left shortly there after, he was sadly missed.

nothing wrong with manhattan kansas!

I think it is complicated.

A kid who is choosing between Stanford, Clemson, Pepperdine, Georgia Tech, and Arizona State might be able to leave the coach out of the equation somewhat. Other kids, the coach in question may be their only opportunity to play at the next level because he is the only one that has shown interest.

Now that the two extremes have been outlined, it is hard for me to see how the coach still is not a big part of the equation. It seems the coach is the program in many cases. Lets try a mind experiment:

School A - great academics, great location, good looking girls, etc., but average to below average coach/program.

School B - average to below average on all the above but outstanding coach/program - known for getting kids to the next level.

I can easily see a kid choosing option B even though given the criteria of choosing soley on the coach has been violated. I think logically, it makes sense not to base the decision solely on the coach but I think it is hard not to do in actual practice for many kids.

Maybe an alternative way of framing the advice is that if you base your decision solely on the coach, be prepared to live with the consequences if the coach should happen to depart. In some cases, if the coach has recently signed a long term contract, has deep roots to a given school/community, those factors may help one making a reasoned decision about the coach. Interesting question none the less.

Some good thoughts CD.

Nit-picking on one point however, the example cited above (Huggins) did have a long-term contract. And in Wooden's case, he had what amounted to a lifetime contract (I would suppose). So I wouldn't place too much value in that one aspect.

Very true Justbaseball.
Kansas is feeling shock waves after Coach Huggins made his announcement.

While Manhattan isnt exactly a four star tourist resort, I can tell you there are worst towns to be in.
Us Kansans are mighty proud of our Manhattan and especially of K-State.

Your point about:

quote:

don't base your decision SOLELY on the coach.

is a good one!

My apologies to Kansas residents for any negative vibes on my part towards Manhattan, Kansas.

I've never been there, but they were a result of information supplied to me by a former resident of the 'other' university in Lawrence.

All is well Justbaseball!!

...and yes indeed,...Lawrence is an awesome town! One of my absolute favorites in Kansas!

Kinda like comparing Yuba City ( Manhattan ) and Sacramento ( Lawrence ),...biiiig difference in deed!

CD,
C'mon the rest I understand but a player passing up school A that has good looking girls?

It's all very simple....ask your son whether he would still want to go to this school if the day he walked on campus, he was told he could not play baseball any more. If he does, then that school works. If not, then reevaluate.

When my son chose his college (D3), the head coach was the largest factor in his decision. We even talked about it this way before he left for school: the only event that might make it seem like a bad decision was if the coach left, but that was NEVER going to happen. (He was an alumnus, well-connected in the community, etc.)

Of course, that's exactly what did happen - the coach resigned very unexpectedly for personal reasons, after the first game freshman year. What a shock to everyone, but especially the players. When that happens, the new coach usually brings in a fresh crop of "his" recruits and it can be a little more difficult for "leftover" players to find a spot on the roster. But my son has realized that he still did choose the right SCHOOL, and hopefully the baseball situation will work out well before he is done there, also.

I totally agree with you...DO NOT SIGN to play at a college based solely on the coach..They do move around and that is just part of the business. My son went out of state because he thought so much of the coach who recruited him and the coach left during the summer..We did not blame him as this was a very positive change for him and his family and he took the time to call my son and tell him rather than him having to find it out from the head coach...I ask my son to look at the academics at the school, the other coaches which for the most part has been a positive..Problem with my son is the school he is at is a military school so be leary of that and NEVER listen to a coach that promises you playing time..The coach that left did not do this but the head coach promised my son playing time which sent up a red flag to me.....

Positive thing,,we have met some great people in the players and their parents...Friendships that will last a lifetime.

Coaches leave for better moves or sometimes they or the school just needs to go in a different direction and you sure can't blame a coach for making a positive move for his family.

I do not think a school should make a kid stay and play at that school though if they want to leave when the person recruiting them leaves..Just my opinon..

quote:

Originally posted by Vickie Biagini:

I do not think a school should make a kid stay and play at that school though if they want to leave when the person recruiting them leaves..Just my opinon..

i have to disagree with you with the k-state specific case. I know it was not the kids fault the coach left but nonetheless, those players committed to kansas state not to coach huggins. kansas state would have lost top recruits and players in general had they let them go. A tough situation for both sides though

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Davis:

quote:

Originally posted by Vickie Biagini:
I do not think a school should make a kid stay and play at that school though if they want to leave when the person recruiting them leaves..Just my opinon..

i have to disagree with you with the k-state specific case. I know it was not the kids fault the coach left but nonetheless, those players committed to kansas state not to coach huggins. kansas state would have lost top recruits and players in general had they let them go. A tough situation for both sides though

Good response.

The NLI one signs is with the school, not the coach.
As many of you are witnessing, lots of movement right now in collge baseball for coaches. This happens every year.
I will be the first to admit that son chose his school (for baseball)to work with his pitching coach, but we knew he was not going anywhere the first year at least. We made sure he understood if the coach left, his obligation was with the school.
Things worked out well for him, but he would have been happy regardless, he chose to play where he did for the entire experience not just for baseball.

I understand that most of our son's base their decisions based on the baseball team, and sometimes do not consider all of what could or could not happen.

This is a great topic.

Despite being a few years old (July 9, 2000), the following transcript from ESPN’s Outside the Lines touches on this very subject.

The story however, has some irony. In the opening sequence, Kansas Head Basketball Coach Roy Williams declares his allegiance to his Jayhawk players and turns down the head coaching job at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina. Following the 2003 season, Williams bolts Kansas for the Tar Heel State.

“When Coaches Leave Players Behind.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/page2/tvlistings/show15transcript.html