I had forgotten Jack Hartman fell off pace so badly his last 4 seasons. He had 2 sub 500 seasons, one season of 16-14 and one season 14-14 otherwise , 12-16, 14-15. his league record was 4-10, 5-9, 5-9 and 4-10
I don't know why I bring this up, other than the historical significance and the reverence he gets, he is such an icon at K State, I had forgotten the slide he went on. Of course Lon took over and the program rebounded pretty well for a few years and on into Dana Altman.
I also felt like K State moved on a little too fast from Dana Altman. Holy cow, he was 13-15 (3-11), 16-14 (5-9), 19-11 (7-7) and 20-14 (4-10), I realize his league record struggled he did make the final 4 of the NIT, second round of the NIT and an NCAA appearance. but his overall record was moving in the right direction even though his league record struggled. It seems we should have stuck with him a little longer.
However, I would have to believe the fear then is the same fear we have right now. The program might be headed the wrong direction and maybe it was/is , but holding out another year with Altman, would have been no worse than what we went through in the 90's and into the early 2000's with the coaching hires we made. On top of that I feel like Dana Altman has had a decent career since he left K State.
In the end I don't think moving on from Altman was the right thing back then, sure that is clearer with 20-20 hindsight, but lets not repeat history if we don't have to. I for one am rooting for Weber not because of Weber per se, but because in the long run it is the best thing for K State basketball if he can be successful here so we don't have to go through the turmoil of another HC change and a tough recruiting season because of that change. I would rather make a coaching because a really good coach has decided to retire or move on, than because we hit the panic button too soon.
I don't know why I bring this up, other than the historical significance and the reverence he gets, he is such an icon at K State, I had forgotten the slide he went on. Of course Lon took over and the program rebounded pretty well for a few years and on into Dana Altman.
I also felt like K State moved on a little too fast from Dana Altman. Holy cow, he was 13-15 (3-11), 16-14 (5-9), 19-11 (7-7) and 20-14 (4-10), I realize his league record struggled he did make the final 4 of the NIT, second round of the NIT and an NCAA appearance. but his overall record was moving in the right direction even though his league record struggled. It seems we should have stuck with him a little longer.
However, I would have to believe the fear then is the same fear we have right now. The program might be headed the wrong direction and maybe it was/is , but holding out another year with Altman, would have been no worse than what we went through in the 90's and into the early 2000's with the coaching hires we made. On top of that I feel like Dana Altman has had a decent career since he left K State.
In the end I don't think moving on from Altman was the right thing back then, sure that is clearer with 20-20 hindsight, but lets not repeat history if we don't have to. I for one am rooting for Weber not because of Weber per se, but because in the long run it is the best thing for K State basketball if he can be successful here so we don't have to go through the turmoil of another HC change and a tough recruiting season because of that change. I would rather make a coaching because a really good coach has decided to retire or move on, than because we hit the panic button too soon.
