Will it be Stallings?

[ohiobuck94]

Holbrook is on vacation this week. :)

Geiger Returns To Columbus: No Announcement Planned
Four Coaches Among Short List

UPDATED: 5:44 PM EDT July 1, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State Athletic Director Andy Geiger returned to Columbus after interviewing Vanderbilt men's basketball coach Kevin Stallings on Wednesday, according to published reports.




Geiger (pictured, right) was upbeat and candid about the interviewing process when he talked to NewsChannel 4 Thursday afternoon. However, he had little to say about the candidates.

"Well it's a university ... and folks go to school," Geiger said. "As we do with the recruitment of our coaches, we look for people that understand the context of athletics. We start with the best that we can do for the young people. That's the bottom line, and that's what we're working on."

The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Thursday that Stallings might have to wait until next week to find out whether he is the choice for the Buckeyes' next head coach.

Earlier reports had Ohio State reaching a decision by the end of this week, but OSU President Karen A. Holbrook is on vacation until next week. Holbrook was reportedly going to interview the choice for coach before an official decision is made, the newspaper reported.

 

[NoFanOfPro]

Whoever it is, I hope it's soon. I also hope they put a good team on the floor this year so we can hit recruiting hard next year.

 

[antosu]

I don't like this hire if it happens. I would support it if it happens but before last years sweet 16, Stallings was a below average coach even for Vandy. How does winning two Tourney games all of the sudden put you in contention for this job ? The same goes for Willis Wilson and the other lil scrubs AG is looking at.

AG could of had BK, Matta or Crean if he decided that this was there man and then went to get em. These guy's cant afford to get in a bad spot with there current universities by going through the interview process. I hope AG can pull a rabbit out of his hat like he did with JT. A diamond in the rough is the best we'll do here.

 

[NoFanOfPro]

The interview process could have been discreet, AG wasn't saying anything. If word leaked it was through them. They could have denied everything or say they have not been contacted and they were happy where they are. They chose to go public and say they were not interested in the job. Coach at OHIO STATE is a high pressure public position, if they can't handle the heat of an interview, they damn sure aren't gonna be happy being scrutinized by the fans and media on a regular basis.

Stallings or Wilson both want the job. I'll take either one. I will give'em a few years before I say they were a bad hire.

 

[jenkinswoody]

I have to admit that the idea of stallings bores me to death. I'll give him a chance, but im not excited about him.

Like antosu said maybe AG will find another diamond in the rough.....

 

[jlb1705]

I don't like this hire if it happens. I would support it if it happens but before last years sweet 16, Stallings was a below average coach even for Vandy. How does winning two Tourney games all of the sudden put you in contention for this job ?

Like I said earlier in another thread, Stallings did not come out of nowhere. He interviewed for the same job in '97 when he was the coach at Illinois State. Apparently, Stallings is thought of pretty highly by Geiger, and Stallings apparently did pretty well for himself in the interview back in '97. I think he'd be an excellent hire - I've watched his Vandy team take on Kentucky a few times, and Stallings seems to be a stellar tactician. I don't know how good of a recruiter he is, but he seems to have raised the talent level at Vandy, and working for a better program can only help.