CC: James Jones
I mean, why not?! He is 60, winningest coach in Yale’s history and just took down the SEC tournament champs.He is a coach for the Olympic team as well
He wouldn’t be intimidated by academic standards. Not so sure about NIL… Discuss
He's got a great voice too.
Before every game he can say "This is Michigan".
LeBron also refers to him as one of his favorite teammates of all time.
James Jones and the perfect job: At Yale, head coach James Jones has been the embodiment of success. He's won or shared six Ivy League regular-season championships. He's reached the NCAA tournament four times. Now he has a win over a good Auburn team and his second trip to the second round. Two years ago, Jones signed an extension that will keep him at the school through 2031. He's 60 years old and despite his success, he only talks about his love for Yale. In an era when many coaches seem to constantly search for the next move, the idea of finding the right job is overlooked. Yet, Jones seems to want to be at Yale forever. It's the perfect marriage and it has paid off with another huge postseason win. -- Myron Medcalf
If he was like 50 years old I would at least interview him. He is to old but otherwise has had some success albeit at an Ivy League school. At least it is better then the terrible ideas people have had earlier
I am loving this SEC meltdown. Now 1-5. Yale and Oakland putting the smack down on those boys.
It just means more when the SEC - SUCks.
I used to love rooting for the Big 10 in all non-conference games and especially in the tournament... Sadly I've lost much of that rooting interest after all the BS that went down during "signgate" :(
Me too, but I can take joy in the failures of SEC and B1G teams now.
Totally agree. Fuck the Big Ten and EVERY other program in it.
I uh... we are kinda "in it" at the moment.
March 23rd, 2024 at 10:29 AM ^
I think we are more "out of it".
Agreed. I'm indifferent towards the SEC, really. I'm sorta jealous of how they run things, really. You wouldn't see the SEC actively go after one of its members and attempt to sabotage them.
March 23rd, 2024 at 11:07 AM ^
You wouldn't see the SEC actively go after one of its members if they robbed a children's hospital.
I lost my interest in doing so years ago when I found fans of other B1G teams, primarily MSU and OSU who would hate on UM when playing in post-season games even against SEC teams. I may occasionally cheer on a B1G team but I do not do so out of care about the conference any longer, even more so since signgate.
Did he score more than 15 points in the first half? Okay, he’s on the list.
If he brings Bez MBang with him, I’m down. Think of the MGoNIL possibilities
The MGo Friday Pos MBang, Sponsored by Bez MBang. Has a nice ring to it.
Certainly would prefer his player development skills over Coach Cal
So every Underdog winning coach in the Tournament is a candidate.
Great.
Their teams made the tournament ✅
And scored an upset in the tournament ✅
I have no problem with every underdog winner being a candidate.
Seems random and unwise to consider candidates solely for winning a weak conference and winning a single game in the tournament.
You’re effectively saying that he should be a candidate because 13-18 Brown missed two free throws to ice the game and Yale made a last second jumper to win th Ivy League and make the tournament… Brown makes those free throws, Yale doesn’t even make the tournament and you never hear this guy’s name brought up.
We’re really sitting here talking about a future doctor or lawyer missing a couple free throws determining who our coaching candidates are.
Fate…
I respectfully disagree - although you articulated a very excellent point. I think one should at least be considered with the above two credentials. Success in the tournament often comes down to a little luck. Sometimes you need a little luck just to make the tournament. It’s skill to be in the position (making the tournament) and being in position in a close game again (scoring a massive upset against superior competition). It doesn’t mean you blindly offer them the job - but to consider them just based on these two criteria is quite reasonable. Adding the fact that Yale’s coach has a long wining track record and is an Olympic coach just further enhances the resume. The candidate pool should start out very wide if there is no Harbaugh or Beilein out there. (Although there technically is a Beilein)
Is it also skill to be in position to lose your conference championship to a 13-18 team in the first place? It’s incredibly short-sighted to sit there and evaluate someone’s candidacy on the outcome of single games.
Either he’s a candidate for his whole body of work, or he’s not. Winning a random game or two isn’t relevant to coaching ability or running a program
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:08 PM ^
You don’t make the tournament based on a single random game or two. Making the tournament is a huge part of any coach’s body of work. And, winning huge single games cannot be understated in college bball.
I do agree that candidacy should be based on the whole body of work. Yet, the single most important job in college bball is to make the tournament and have success there. That is the key aspect to a successful body of work in this sport.
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:16 PM ^
Literally just have to win your conference. Which 13-18 Brown was also in position to do and WOULD have done if not for missing those two free throws and a last second shot by Yale. So yeah, it absolutely can come down to winning a single random game or two.
So, by your logic, had Brown won that game to go 14-17 and upset someone in the tournament, that would be enough to consider their coach for the Michigan job… you see how ridiculous that sounds?
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:31 PM ^
But…
Brown lost. And didn’t make the tournament. And definitely didn’t pull off a massive upset. They went 0 for 2 on the criteria above. That’s not near as close as you are indicating. By my logic, they didn’t check either box to consider their coach. Don’t set up a straw man argument - it’s unbecoming.
But Yale? Yeah, they checked both boxes. I want to consider that coach. By the way, super impressive composure and demeanor from their coach during and after the game!
I don’t obsess over the hypothetical Ivy championship that almost occurred like you seem to. However, given your obsession with the missed Brown free throws, you must then look at the second part of the hypothetical, which would involve the biggest upset of all time. I’d like to see 14-17 Brown beat #1 seed Houston (which is who they would face). That would check both boxes, and hell yes I would want to at least consider the coach who pulls off the single biggest upset in college bball history!
March 23rd, 2024 at 12:51 AM ^
So again, you want to ignore the entire body of work based on the outcome of a select few individual games… yeah that’s ridiculous. A coach with a losing record would be a candidate in your eyes because of the outcome of two games.
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:34 PM ^
Johnny, you are being a reductionist and overly pedantic. Sports in general is a confluence of preparation and luck. So the fact that a little luck put the guy on the radar is absolutely acceptable. But this guy is the winningest coach at Yale, is an Olympic coach. Has a history of consistently being at the top of his conference and his team played with skill and savvy. I’m not saying we should offer him the job but he is far from a “one lucky win because a future lawyer missed a free throw” type candidate. Aka…”this isn’t Milli Vanilli”
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:19 PM ^
Hence why I said “Either he’s a candidate for his whole body of work, or he’s not.”
The original comment was that he made the tournament and won a game so he should be a candidate. That’s an absolutely insane way to evaluate coaching candidates. He quite literally said he’s fine with every coach with an upset win being a candidate. Ridiculous
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:35 PM ^
I touched a nerve Johnny - and what hurts the most is that my logic is sound.
March 23rd, 2024 at 12:33 AM ^
Your logic isn’t sound at all. Brown could have easily fit your criteria with a losing record. You didn’t touch a nerve at all, it’s just a ridiculous take.
March 23rd, 2024 at 12:37 AM ^
IF, Brown won (which they didn’t, Johnny) AND, IF they upset Houston (which they never would, Johnny)
0 for 2 Johnny
March 23rd, 2024 at 12:52 AM ^
Yes because it’s the hypothetical based on the criteria that you set out. Make the tournament, pull an upset. That’s enough to be a candidate in your eyes, regardless of the entire body of work
I forget Beilein's tournament results immediately before Michigan hired him but didn't I read yesterday that he lost in that preceding tournament?
He won the NIT.
Sweet 16 the year before.
Beilein didn't make the tournament the year before we hired him ...but he and West Virgina* won the NIT.
*iykyk
Beilein far exceeded the above criteria
He wouldn’t be able to bring any transfers with him, as Yale credits won’t be accepted by LSA.
Yale, after losing to lowly Brown in the regular season, needed a buzzer-beater to beat Brown by one point in the IVy league tournament final. They were very lucky also that Brown missed two free throws seconds before the winning basket.
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:10 PM ^
The thing about Brown is that yes, they were 12-17 -- but having won 6 straight games at that point, including having knocked off the three 20-win Ivy league teams (Cornell and Yale in the regular season, Princeton in the Ivy Semis), they were actually a very tough out, playing as well as any mid major in the country.
Free throws, though. That part is accurate.
Hoiberg off the list. Not permitted to get boat raced and be under consideration. Those are the rules, I didn’t make them.
CC: Buzz Williams. Has won everywhere he’s coached.
If NIL wasn’t a thing, maybe he’s worth a call. But he won’t know a damn thing about how to navigate that world.
Well neither does Michigan basketball so they are perfect match lol
Didn’t he lead a cult that all killed themselves?
a) hard to coach where you’re dead
b) don’t think I want that kind of culture leading our basketball team
Amazing reference/response. Well done sir.
Nobody's drinking the Gatorade if we hire him.
Thanks, man. I was waiting for this reference.
I love him. Give the guy a look.