I buried this in the Top 5 prospects thread and it did not get any response. Maybe none is warranted, and it is just a bad take on my part (it would not be my first). Here is my personal hot take for today on Weber and a potential successor.
I believe that Craig Smith, HC at Utah St., is likely near the very top of Gene Taylor's coaching list. I don't have any inside information to support this assertion, BUT he seems to be a fairly obvious candidate: they know each other, they are both close with Tim Miles, he is a cultural fit, and his coaching success is impressive.
Smith's Utah State Aggies beat AP#5 San Diego St. on Saturday to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament. This is Smith's 3rd title (1 Reg Season, 2 tournaments) in 2 seasons at Utah St. In the 5 years prior to Smith's arrival the Aggies never finished better than 4th in the regular season and only once made the semifinals of the Conference Tournament. Smith is winning at a level that gets peoples attention, especially athletic directors of major conference schools that need a basketball coach. If Smith is the #1 name on Taylor's board does his success (and potential of being hired elsewhere) force Taylor to accelerate discussions of removing Weber?
I have always been a Weber supporter (except for in the weeks directly after the Foster Exodus). I generally like him and think he is a good coach, but he is 63 years old, we are rebuilding, and Smith seems like a very strong candidate. If Taylor decided to make this move I don't think I would be upset. However, I don't really support terminating Weber and then going through a long coaching search. Making a move now is all predicated on Taylor believing that Smith (or some other obvious choice?) is "the guy" and we need to act now to get him. As an AD It is not very often that you have the opportunity to hire somebody in demand that you are familiar with.
I believe that Craig Smith, HC at Utah St., is likely near the very top of Gene Taylor's coaching list. I don't have any inside information to support this assertion, BUT he seems to be a fairly obvious candidate: they know each other, they are both close with Tim Miles, he is a cultural fit, and his coaching success is impressive.
Smith's Utah State Aggies beat AP#5 San Diego St. on Saturday to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament. This is Smith's 3rd title (1 Reg Season, 2 tournaments) in 2 seasons at Utah St. In the 5 years prior to Smith's arrival the Aggies never finished better than 4th in the regular season and only once made the semifinals of the Conference Tournament. Smith is winning at a level that gets peoples attention, especially athletic directors of major conference schools that need a basketball coach. If Smith is the #1 name on Taylor's board does his success (and potential of being hired elsewhere) force Taylor to accelerate discussions of removing Weber?
I have always been a Weber supporter (except for in the weeks directly after the Foster Exodus). I generally like him and think he is a good coach, but he is 63 years old, we are rebuilding, and Smith seems like a very strong candidate. If Taylor decided to make this move I don't think I would be upset. However, I don't really support terminating Weber and then going through a long coaching search. Making a move now is all predicated on Taylor believing that Smith (or some other obvious choice?) is "the guy" and we need to act now to get him. As an AD It is not very often that you have the opportunity to hire somebody in demand that you are familiar with.
