In Big East coaching accumen, there are 3 coaches that are clearly at the top tier, in terms of achievements, credentials and reputation — Calhoun, Pitino and Boeheim. I’d put them in that order, and some might switch Pitino and Calhoun, but that’s quibbling.
At the second tier, depending on your biases, metrics and what they did this week, there are five coaches: Jay Wright (‘Nova), John Beilein (WVU), John Thompson III (G-town), Tom Crean (Marq.) and Jamie Dixon. At this tier, partisan fans can debate who they would honestly prefer coaching their team without a clear answer. All have flaws and positives. Non-Big East biased college basketball fans might easily differ on the rankings of those coaches depending on what had happened in a particular season and what their particular favorite program needed.
As an example, right now in the thick of the NCAA, John Thompson looks like the best of the bunch with the upset over #2 seed Ohio St. Then it would be Wright and Beilein. How do think the perception was right after the Big East Tournament? At the end of the regular season? Opinion can shift quickly.
After that in the Big East you have the unproven — Wainwright (DePaul) and Roberts (St. John’s); the lackluster — Brey (ND) and Welsh (Providence); the just plain bad team — McCallum (USF); and then the (presumably) semi-open jobs — Rutgers, Seton Hall and Cinci.
The point is, Coach Dixon is one of the best coaches in the Big East. Heck, take a look at the coaches across the other 5 power conferences. The list is damn short as to coaches you could honestly say, “yes, I am sure that guy could come in here and do a better job.” How many of those coaches are long-term fixtures or at incredibly storied programs?
After that, you start reaching the guys you think might be able to do better. And if the metric is post-season success, there aren’t many who you can point to that have done it more than once — if that.
Hiring the coach who is doing a great job at a mid-major is no assurance. For every Bruce Pearl or Ben Howland there is a Ralph Willard or Gary Waters.
With that, Coach Dixon is considering an offer from Pitt.
Dixon and his agent are mulling over an offer Pitt officials have laid out in an effort to renegotiate his contract. Dixon has four years remaining on his current contract that pays him around $600,000 annually.
“I haven’t had time to look at it,” Dixon said last night. “We’ve been in discussions. That’s all I can really say about it.”
Dixon is being mentioned for several head coaching vacancies, most prominently at Arizona State. Arizona State athletic director Lisa Love is expected to formally ask Pitt athletic director Jeff Long for permission to interview Dixon this week. Long would not confirm or deny yesterday whether Love has sought permission.
Dixon said that he has not been contacted by Arizona State. Dixon’s agent, Dennis Coleman, could not be reached for comment.
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More than half of the coaches in the Big East Conference make more money than Dixon.
Arizona St. wants to move soon. They have some recruits who don’t want to come right now and even some promising players considering leaving.
Jeff Pendergraph says he will decide whether to return to Arizona State for his sophomore season after ASU hires a new basketball coach.
“I’m just waiting to see who they bring in,” Pendergraph said Monday in his first comments since Rob Evans was told March 10 that he would not be back as ASU’s coach for a ninth season.
Pendergraph, one of five players on the 2006 All-Pac-10 Freshman Team, said he talked to his mom about whether to go or stay last week during spring break.
How much of it is emotional outbursts, is never clear, but ASU can’t afford to have their talent level dip further. As a reflection of that, one of their top in-state recruits who is reconsidering is actually being asked to meet with the AD. He’s not requesting the meeting, the AD is.
One Arizona columnist called Dixon, the UConn of ASU AD Love’s hiring bracket.
Is there a risk that Dixon may not really be as good as he’s been the first 3 years? Or that Pitt will never get over the post-season hump with him? Of course. But there is no guarantee with anyone else. If Pitt is to keep building towards reaching consistent national prominence, there has to be a coach in place for more than 3 years at a time.
I think Dixon improved as a coach and a public communicator from last year to this year. The recruiting has been very good, and whether you want to give more of the credit to Associate Head Coach Barry Rohrssen, remember that it is still up to the head coach to close the deal.
Has Coach Dixon shown enough to merit a huge bump in salary and years? Maybe not, by some standards. The market, however, seems to indicate he has.
