What’s next?
Iowa left the Big Ten Tournament today with more questions than answers.
Gary Barta’s silence concerning the future of coach Todd Lickliter speaks volumes, coming from a director of athletics who less than a month ago was saying that Lickliter would return as coach next season and that the future was headed in the right direction.
Patience — something Hawkeye fans have learned about as Iowa’s offense has worked throughout Lickliter’s three seasons — will be important.
Don’t expect any announcement about Lickliter’s future to come from Barta until sometime next week. Functions surrounding the Big Ten tourney will occupy Barta through Saturday night and other scheduling issues will likely push a meeting between athletic director and coach deeper into next week.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
Athletic directors are defined by the hires they make. Barta hired one of the hottest coaches in the country three years ago when he signed Lickliter to a seven-year contract shortly after the Butler coach had been named the Division I national coach of the year.
Barta’s predecessor, Bob Bowlsby, did the same when he signed Steve Alford nearly a decade earlier.
Barta needs to proceed with caution in this situation. Lickliter’s buyout will cost Iowa $2.4 million. That must weighed against the cost of declining fan interest in a program that once filled Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
How much is Iowa willing to pay a new coach?
Would a third-straight hire from the mid-major level ignite any passion among the Iowa fan base that has been less-than thrilled with the results of the last two coaches?
Would an assistant at a BCS school make sense?
And in the end, how would any decision impact the players who are in the program or who have signed letters of intent? Remember, Cully Payne signed with Iowa a year ago after being let out of his signed letter following a coaching change at Alabama. The look of Iowa’s highest-rated recruiting class in a decade could change depending on if a change is made or if the wrong hire is made?
There’s a lot on the line. It’s worth not rushing into anything.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:44 am
As a four-year D-III player, captain of my team from 1969-70, and a city league player for 30 years thereafter, I consider myself a student of the game. Lickliter is a great bench coach. I played on a bunch of losing teams and I know what chemistry and confidence–and physical talent–are all about.
It would be crazy for Barta to sack him, not only because of the financial implications for the university that Steve points out (at this point in economic history), but because of the further disruption in the program that would create. You cannot hold Lickliter responsible for Iowa’s horrible performance this season. He has a very solid D-1 record as a nationally recognized coach. He’s in his third year. Practically every experienced player left. He has a team that is being led by freshmen! They desperately need inside players to keep defenses honest for their shooters (there are plenty) and to enforce on defense. He has to have at least one more year to see what recruiting looks like.
Back off people who know nothing about basketball.
KAH
March 15th, 2010 at 7:06 am
Maybe they left becouse of the program. Maybe you should go back to school Karl. Everyone has a opinion including you. I say start over, 3 years in, the team should be moving forward not backward. Attendance is down becouse the state of this team. I have season tickets, attended each game and was sicked worse with each lose.
March 16th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Watch for it: Lickliter will be the third coach in a row to be a highly successful post-Iowa coach.
March 17th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Iowa should never have fired Dr.Tom, Alford is at New Mexico. Watch for it:OUT EARLY