Could Joe C's search pass through Champaign, Ill?
Published: 3/30/2011 9:55 PM
Last Modified: 3/31/2011 12:23 AM
Believe it or not, I found a new name to toss into the Oklahoma coach search derby.
Bruce Weber.
A source confirmed Wednesday night that there appears to be mutual interest between OU and the 8-year Illinois coach. It's making a few rounds in the coach carousel industry.
It even made it back to Champaign very late Wednesday, when the St. Louis Post Dispatch reached Weber.
"Received interest calls from a few schools the last couple weeks," Weber wrote in a text message. "Other than that no real story or stories! Sorry!"
Why would OU have interest? Why might Weber return the interest? Let's see...
From this vantage point, Joe Castiglione appears to be missing on BCS conference-type targets. If he isn't getting Buzz Williams or Lon Kruger, Weber, at the very least, presents a more proven alternative to Wichita State's Gregg Marshall or North Texas' Johnny Jones.
Weber appears to be a tad uncomfortable at Illinois. In mid-February, when the Illini seemed destined to miss the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years, Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther was compelled to make a statement supporting Weber. He also hinted at staff changes, telling Illinois newspapers: "You can't be loyal to a fault."
Weber's best days with the Illini appear to be behind him. His resume includes seven 20-win seasons, Big Ten championships in 2004 and '05 and a national runner-up finish in '05, his second year after taking over for Bill Self. But the Illini have headed south more recently, finishing 16-19 in '08 and going 41-29 over the past two years.
There are other issues working against Weber. Guenther's contract expires this summer. The Illini play in half century-old Assembly Hall, where renovation plans have been reportedly delayed for some time.
At OU, the facilities are shinier, the administration is much more stable.
Weber would have to get used to the Big 12 Conference. Before arriving in Champaign, he coached Southern Illinois for five years, taking the Salukis to a pair of NCAA tournaments. Before SIU, he served under Gene Keady. Boy did he serve. Weber's stint on the Boilermakers' bench spanned from 1980-98.
That's not a bad guy to learn under.
As for guys learning under Weber...
Remember Jay Price? The Oklahoma City native who went to Kansas, worked under Larry Brown as a student manager, then spent a couple years on Billy Tubbs' OU staff in the early 90s? Been with Weber all eight years at Illinois. He probably still has some Oklahoma prep contacts.
Another Weber assistant is Jerrance Howard. He's an Illinois grad, but he spent two years as Billy Gillispie's administrative assistant at Texas A&M. He might knew a few people to call in Texas.
One more thing – Weber appears affordable. Looks like he makes $1.5 million per.
I'm thinking if Castiglione was serious, he could at least match that. And if he doesn't go much higher, this doesn't strike me as a Matt Painter/Mike Anderson money play situation. If Weber were to take, say, $1.7 or $1.8 back to Guenther, the AD just might tell him, "Better take it. And good luck."
Like I said, I hear we're at the "mutual interest" stage. But just for fun, and since most of the coach search news has been grim lately, let's see what happens.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
