OT: Stan Heath new basketball coach at EMU
I wasn't aware Rob Murphy, Eastern Michigan's basketball coach for the past 10 years had left to be President & GM of the Pistons' (soon to be renamed) G League affiliate, the Drive, and that there was an opening.
It has been filled by local guy Stan Heath, formerly of Arkansas and South Florida (and most recently a G League coach for the Magic).
I hope he has success, because it would be nice to have another good basketball team in the area to go watch live someday. I'm not saying I expect the days of George Gervin to return, but Earl Boykins or Grant Long would be nice.
Trivia note: if the name sounds familiar, you are a) old and b) he was one of the names thrown around when Amaker left. Eventually, John Beilein was hired, but that's not who mgoblog expected (or wanted!). I would say, things worked out well for us.
http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/coaching-profiles-name-guys.html
Don't really care about EMU, but plus 1 for the link to the 2007 coaching-search post! That was a fun read.
No kidding. Particularly interesting:
[Tubby] Smith would be an outstanding option if he comes free.
Instead, he was hired by Minnesota just THREE DAYS after this blog post and... did not live up to the too-lofty expectations of the gophers. I wonder if it would've been different at Michigan.
On the other hand:
As noted, Beilein has an enormous 2.5 to 3 million dollar buyout. Could Michigan pay the buyout, pay Amaker's buyout, pay for Beilein, and turn Crisler into something other than a derelict lean-to in the eye of a hurricane of public opinion? Probably not.
Glad our intrepid author was wholly wrong about this bit. Beilein was one of the best things to ever happen to Michigan basketball.
Tubby Smith: "A Lloyd Carr-like presence with unquestioned dignity, integrity and success."
Ayup.
Heath is an EMU alum. There were also reports that Saddi Washington was a candidate for the job so this is good for us on that end.
Good landing spot for him, good hire for EMU. EMU alum (as someone else mentioned) and also a CC alum.
He's still young enough that he can have a good 10-15 year run there. He's not a great Power 5 level coach as Arkansas proved, but he can be successful in the MAC.
How fast things change:
Jamie Dixon, Pitt. Why on earth would he leave Pitt? Michigan would be a lateral move for him.
Weird piece of trivia, Jim Harbaugh attended EMU's upset of Duke in the 1996 NCAA tourney, the game was at the RCA Dome when he was quarterback of the Colts.
Hope he reunites with Yooper, Darren Sorenson (St. Ignace). Sorenson coached with Heath at Arkansas and was a coach at Oakland.
Just FYI - not renamed, a completely different team. The Grand Rapids Drive will still exist. Pistons are just ending their affiliation. (The Drive wanted to stay in GR and the Pistons want a team on the east side of the state.)
Oh, I didn't know that -- thanks!
Hopefully there will be enough fans to support the team in GR once their affiliation with the Piston ends.
Will Heath bar losing at EMU?
The Earl Boykins and Grant Long era was fantastic basketball.
If I were an "Eagle" alum (still sounds odd to hear that) I wouldn't be too inspired by this. Heath had a lightning-in-a-bottle season with Kent State long ago with a future All-Pro NFL tight end (whose name most people will know) playing a prominent role.
That probably got him hired at Arkansas. There's no clear trend there or at this next stop (South Florida).
He was an Izzo assistant long ago. I suppose that would matter to some people.
He just won a G League championship for what it’s worth. The team appeared well coached in the few games that I watched.
Came here to post that last point. He was an assistant under izzo when they went to 3 straight Final Fours, winning the National title in 2000.
My only memory of his playing career is when EMU played Michigan. He was sent in during garbage time and got a technical for failing in to check in at the desk. Wish him well, and I always root for the Eagles when it doesn't concern M.
Eventually, John Beilein was hired, but that's not who mgoblog expected (or wanted!).
People here love storytelling. (There are posters who insist that Juwan Howard was an unpopular hire despite the evidence to the contrary.)
Actually it was clear from the start that Beilein was a high priority for Bill Martin and it was a smooth hiring process, nothing like what happened in football later that year. I can't find the post announcing it but aside from a few people worried about recruiting, most of the MGoCommunity was excited by the hire (and Brian was over the moon).
I should have been clear. When I said "mgoblog" I was referring directly to that post, and the owner of mgoblog, Brian. He strongly preferred another candidate, and did not expect Beilein.
Well then, "Peanut Butter Jelly with a Baseball Bat'' to you for that!
April 12th, 2021 at 10:21 PM ^
I swear I remember Brian saying that Beilein's ceiling here was Sweet Sixteen. Am I making that up?
I do believe he said something like that, but coming off a decade in the wilderness, that was viewed as a positive.
George Gervin--Iceman. Never knew he was an EMU alum.
I had a very enjoyable conversation with some total strangers in San Antonio about how much they loved Iceman.
It is amazing what you can discuss for 20min with a total stranger. With beer.
April 12th, 2021 at 10:05 PM ^
As I recall, he's been all over the state of Michigan as an assistant over the years - Hillsdale and Wayne State, as well as Michigan State. It is always rather neat to watch guys come back home like this.
April 12th, 2021 at 10:35 PM ^
Seems like a really good hire for Eastern.
Local knowledge and performed pretty well in major conferences as a head coach.
On a somewhat note and observation...I’m surprised Western hasn’t kicked the tires on Saddi.