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March 27, 2008

Oh, Joy. Dixon Rumors

Filed under: Coaches,Dixon,Hire/Fire,Money,Rumors — Chas @ 2:10 pm

‘Tis the season. The coaching carousel is in motion and it is time for speculation, wishlists and rumors. In a sign of both the job Jamie Dixon has done at Pitt and the increased reputation of the program, there are only a couple places where Dixon’s name is being bandied about.

West Coast roots issue seem to be the driving thing for any Cal rumors.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who’s from Southern California and might feel like he has taken the Panthers as far as they can go (which is the Sweet 16 — that’s be OK with Old Blues).

Telling is that there is not even a hint that the whole West Coast thing would be enough to even pretend that would be enough to get him to look at Oregon State. Really, the Cal thing seems very unlikely since it wouldn’t even be a lateral move. I don’t take that one very seriously. And really, Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s seems like the best choice there.
The one that has to be watched, though, is Indiana.

But the best job available is still Indiana, where the names most regularly mentioned as potential replacements are Washington State’s Tony Bennett, Xavier’s Sean Miller and Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl.

Two other names making the rounds here at the East Regional: Pitt’s Jamie Dixon and Texas’ Rick Barnes.

Tony Bennett seems like the best fit, but I could also see Miller being their guy. Rick Barnes has no incentive to leave Texas. Fertile recruiting, lots of money and not as much pressure. I don’t see Dixon as their pick, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they sought him out to talk.
Understand, though, that while Indiana fans are more polite and not nearly as outwardly insane, they have similar delusions like Kentucky. IU fans are setting their fantasies on getting Billy Donovan from Florida.

This will be going on for a while — unfortunately.

UPDATE (3:15): For what it’s worth, Andy Katz at ESPN.com (Insider subs) doubts Dixon would leave.

Pitt’s Jamie Dixon will be mentioned for jobs at Cal and Indiana, but all indications are that Dixon enjoys living in Pittsburgh and has a strong fondness for the school and all that it has done for him. I don’t expect him to leave.

So, there’s that.





Hypothetical Question to all the folks here…

If Dixon did leave would you want Sean Miller?

If he came down to having a choice btw Pitt and Indiana do you think he would have some hometown bias?

How is he as a recruiter? Would he be better than Dixon (which IMO is his only subpar quality)

Just curious cause IMHO I think he would be great if Dixon did bolt…but that doesn’t mean I want Dixon to leave.

DaveD

Comment by DaveD 03.27.08 @ 2:59 pm

if dixon leaves, and only if dixon leaves, I WANT SEAN MILLER. he’s obviously been great for the Xavier program, and although I’m betting Pitt gets better talent than Xavier, he’s been making the most out of it. he almost beat Ohio St in the tournament last year if it wasnt for a Mike Conley prayer of a 3ptr.

Comment by matt in orlando 03.27.08 @ 3:32 pm

I only see him moving for a top spot in the Pac 10 and probably only a California school. That means UCLA, Standford or USC. Perhaps Arizona — but the whole Olson/O’Neil situation would seem to indicate that it won’t be available.
I don’t see the immediate allure of Indiana. The Hoosiers are losing Gordon and White. They’ll get quality players, but those are big pieces of the puzzle.
I would consider Indiana a step down from Pitt at the moment, but with some serious history and a rabid fan base. The Hoosier program is a sleeping giant.

Comment by Dave in Orlando 03.27.08 @ 3:53 pm

Seems as though the relationship between Dixon and the AD office improved when Long left and Pederson was hired – at least that’s what the Pederson puff pieces were saying when he was hired. Ridding yourself of a hated boss can be a big motivator for looking for a new job – Ed Pastilong, I’m lookin’ at you. Dixon has already done that without having to do anything.

Yeah, he could totally leave tonight anyway, but I think the AD situation helps Pitt quite a bit in this instance.

Comment by Brian of Brooklyn 03.27.08 @ 6:28 pm

If Dixon left, Miller would want Pitt and Pitt would want Miller. But seeing as Katz is friends with Dixon, I’m guessing it’s not going to happen.

Comment by Mark 03.27.08 @ 10:28 pm

Just to take the hypothetical a step further… What if Dixon left, and Miller said no. What about Mike Rice? I know he is green as a head coach, but so was Dixon. He seems to know the recruiting game and did wonders at Bobby Mo this year.

Comment by jec 03.28.08 @ 11:04 am

I went to Indiana for grad school after Pitt for undergrad and I can tell you this: that job is HORRID. They ran Mike Davis out of town for being black, the arena may be fun for the locals, but no recruits are going to be enticed by a decaying cement block. And the tradition is LONG in the rear-view mirror. This will be their FOURTH coach since Bob Knight. They’ve been to a Final Four, but even that was three coaches ago. And Bloomington is a COMPLETE HELLHOLE. Seriously. Don’t ever go there.

Comment by Maz 03.28.08 @ 4:56 pm

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