Assistant Coach Jackie Manuel is leaving to become an Asst @ UNC-W: Replacement?

[bbtds]

We are an NCAA Division I Institution and a member of the Horizon League Missouri Valley Conference as of July 1, 2017.

Note correction.

[VULB#62]

My guess is they are downgrading the basketball ops job a bit. From what I read below, this is a more classic BBO job. The previous Director position was specially created for the guy that Matt needed as a first year coach (the guy had a very good coaching resume).[/s]

Correction to my post just above. As of today Coach Zimba is still DBBO. But then, both Coach Warner (new Flagler HBBC) and Coach Manuel are still listed on the Valpo coaches roster     So it is possible that Coach Zimba may have also left and they are downgrading the position to "coordinator" --- OR --- he is still there and he may be getting some help.

[M]

Maybe he got promoted to the empty spot Manuel vacated.

[VU2014]

Oakland aside, have we heard rumblings of any new assistant coach options?

I haven't heard anything.

I was wondering the same thing. I'm not sure what to think. Fingers crossed they land the coach they want on staff. MLB has mentioned in the past that he prefers to hire "the next Head Coach" from within, so this next Assistant could become a potential replacement down the line. I've been very impressed with Coach Rags in the short time he's been with Valpo and Coach Gore has meant a lot to our program in his time here and got the promotion to associate head coach. It's probably premature to talk future replace if Coach Lottich were to leave us some day but I'm sure it's on ADs mind when it comes to hiring assistants and what the programs looks for in the hiring process.

Maybe they are waiting on someone to finish they're pro season playing and then take the job? Or maybe the guy they are hiring coaches AAU and doesn't want to officially take the job till after his teams season is finished? Maybe the guy they want is interviewing for other jobs still? I know Coach Lottich mentioned a lot of people applied for the job. Was hoping Paul was going to ask him for an update on his podcast, but it didn't get brought up.

[VU2014]

It's Been almost 2 months now since Coach Manuel left and still the positions hasn't been filled. Are we swinging and missing on landing the certain assistants we want?

Loyola just landed former Oakland assistant Drew Valentine who is seen as an up & coming assistant and potential future head coach. His brother is Denzel Valentine of the Bulls. Probably gets a little extra juice in the recruiting pitch saying your brother is an NBA player for the Bulls when he's in the market their recruiting.

https://twitter.com/RamblersMBB/status/873231014235131905

[VUGrad1314]

This is starting to worry me as well. Recruiting starts back up again in just over a month.I know it's been a busy offseason with scheduling and the conference change but we really need to get that position filled soon especially with the orientation\acclimation meetings with the MVC coming in July as well Now that the dust has settled with the conference move and the fanfare has died down, filling staff vacancies needs to be priority #1 these next 2-3 weeks.

[M]

I have a friend who applied. Who received an email several weeks ago that the job was filled. Not sure if they were being polite, since I saw it still listed at valpo.edu/hr or if it is already filled and just hasn't been announced for whatever reason.

[VUGrad1314]

I have a friend who applied. Who received an email several weeks ago that the job was filled. Not sure if they were being polite, since I saw it still listed at valpo.edu/hr or if it is already filled and just hasn't been announced for whatever reason.

That's very strange. Why wait to make that announcement? Afraid it would get buried amid all the press Valpo is getting for its move to the Valley? If that's the case then I would expect an announcement pertaining to this position sometime next week

[VU2014]

I'm curious if they'd actually delay the announcement of the hiring of an assistant coach to try and gain the news cycle (or get in the news cycle again when news die down). Maybe, but it seems odd to me that position has been open this long (even if the move to MVC took up a lot of time the last few months).

Would seem they'd want to fill the position as soon as possible. Maybe they already have? Would seem they may want to find a coach that "specializes in coaching the Forward position as that was what I believe Coach Powell & Coach Manuel played and probably had the most expertise in that position.

I wonder if Valpo would be interested in hiring Coach Emanuel Dildy? He played at Eastern Illinois and was an assistant at Loyola for a few years and just took a job at Mizzou last year but Mizzou fired head coach Kim Anderson a few months ago and they didn't retain Coach Dildy as far as I know. He's a Chicago native and has connections to the Chicago recruiting scene. He was a point guard in college. Maybe he doesn't fit the "Forward" specialist they may be looking for but I think he's known for being an excellent jump-shot mechanics coach. Would great if we could have him on staff.

https://twitter.com/MizzouHoops/status/776437093367107586

Just taking a look at some of these P5/Big East/even some A10 coaching staff they are really staff up with more then 3 main assistant coaches. Things like 'Director of Athletic Performance for Men's Basketball' and positions such as "assistant" to the Director of Basketball operations. They have these giant coaching staff with extra coaches under different job titles that allow them to get away with have more then just the 3 assistants and Director of Basketball Operations.

I wonder if Valpo's Basketball program is going add even more positions now that we've moved up into the next level of League. I'm not sure how big the typical staff in the MVC is. There was that opening for Coordinator of Men's Basketball Operations a few weeks ago. Does that mean that we'd be adding a position to the coaching staff? I forget what Luke Simons job title was here before he left with Bryce to Vandy but according to his coaching description it said, he served as Director of Scouting in his time at Valpo.

Valpo's Staff:
Head Coach: Matt Lottich
Associate Head Coach: Luke Gore
Assistant Coach: David Ragland
Assistant Coach: ?
Director of Basketball Operations: Joel Zimba (Just got married this past weekend. Congrats Coach!)
Coordinator of Men's Basketball Operations: ? (New Position?)
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Derek Bol
Grad Assistant (Manager?): ? (Austin Peters graduated)
Grad Assistant (Manager?): ? (Jacob Schoon graduated)

https://twitter.com/HoopDirt/status/868472921878081536
https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/861669450214514688

[VU2014]

Just thinking out loud. Do you think either former Butler Assistant Coaches Ryan Pedon & Terry Johnson would be interested the potentially still available assistant coaching position if Holtmann doesn't take them with to Ohio State or if they don't remain on the Butler Staff.

[Dave_2010]

Just thinking out loud. Do you think either former Butler Assistant Coaches Ryan Pedon & Terry Johnson would be interested the potentially still available assistant coaching position if Holtmann doesn't take them with to Ohio State or if they don't remain on the Butler Staff.

Pedon is a Columbus native and was key to Butler beating Ohio State to land a few Ohio guys recently, most notably 4* wing Kyle Young from Massillon (who is likely following Holtmann to OSU if Butler lets him out of his LOI). Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, and Eleven Warriors all say the only way he doesn't go to Buckeyes is if he gets Butler HC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vu72]

Just thinking out loud. Do you think either former Butler Assistant Coaches Ryan Pedon & Terry Johnson would be interested the potentially still available assistant coaching position if Holtmann doesn't take them with to Ohio State or if they don't remain on the Butler Staff.

Pedon is a Columbus native and was key to Butler beating Ohio State to land a few Ohio guys recently, most notably 4* wing Kyle Young from Massillon (who is likely following Holtmann to OSU if Butler lets him out of his LOI). Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, and Eleven Warriors all say the only way he doesn't go to Buckeyes is if he gets Butler HC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quot)



If this four star really does follow the coach to OSU the Butler faithful will flip out!  Pretty expected though.  Could be a transition year for the Bulldogs.

[VUGrad1314]

I think this could be a potential reason for the delay : the negotiations with other conferences  (such as the Summit League) as landing spots for men's tennis and swimming and diving I completely forgot about this piece of our realignment puzzle. With this important item of business concluded, I would expect all vacancies within the staff to be filled in short order. Been a busy offseason for our AD, and I , for one, appreciate the work he's done to elevate the profile of Valpo Athletics and give students, staff, alumni, and the community myriad reasons to be proud! Thanks ML!

http://www.thesummitleague.org/general/2016-17/releases/20170612lqb87e

[VUGrad1314]

Just thinking out loud. Do you think either former Butler Assistant Coaches Ryan Pedon & Terry Johnson would be interested the potentially still available assistant coaching position if Holtmann doesn't take them with to Ohio State or if they don't remain on the Butler Staff.

Pedon is already on his way to Columbus, as previously stated, and zero chance on Johnson to Valpo. From what I've read on him , he sounds like a lifer. He's been there a decade, seems to love his job, and is extremely well respected by the players. I only see three ways he leaves Butler: 1. He follows Holtmann to Columbus 2. He takes a job as a HC somewhere else or 3. He follows LaVall as an assistant  to his new job if and when a P5 school poaches him (possibly Michigan ).

[cornonthe]

Perhaps I missed something, but aren't they looking for basketball ops coach??? If that is the case, perhaps Joel Zimba is now Asst. Coach Zimba?!? Not sure if that was mentioned by someone else, if so, then ignore this...

[VU2014]

Perhaps I missed something, but aren't they looking for basketball ops coach??? If that is the case, perhaps Joel Zimba is now Asst. Coach Zimba?!? Not sure if that was mentioned by someone else, if so, then ignore this...

Listed as two different positions. Director of Basketball Operations & Coordinator of Men's Basketball Operations. I don't know if they are the same position. Maybe they did promote Joel.

I think this could be a potential reason for the delay : the negotiations with other conferences  (such as the Summit League) as landing spots for men's tennis and swimming and diving I completely forgot about this piece of our realignment puzzle. With this important item of business concluded, I would expect all vacancies within the staff to be filled in short order. Been a busy offseason for our AD, and I , for one, appreciate the work he's done to elevate the profile of Valpo Athletics and give students, staff, alumni, and the community myriad reasons to be proud! Thanks ML!

http://www.thesummitleague.org/general/2016-17/releases/20170612lqb87e

I doubt Coach Lottich would be wait on hiring an assistant coach because the Swimming/Diving & Tennis team were negotiating with the Summit League.

Maybe they wanted to wait on the official announcement.

[FieldGoodie05]

Perhaps I missed something, but aren't they looking for basketball ops coach??? If that is the case, perhaps Joel Zimba is now Asst. Coach Zimba?!? Not sure if that was mentioned by someone else, if so, then ignore this...

Listed as two different positions. Director of Basketball Operations & Coordinator of Men's Basketball Operations. I don't know if they are the same position. Maybe they did promote Joel.

I think this could be a potential reason for the delay : the negotiations with other conferences  (such as the Summit League) as landing spots for men's tennis and swimming and diving I completely forgot about this piece of our realignment puzzle. With this important item of business concluded, I would expect all vacancies within the staff to be filled in short order. Been a busy offseason for our AD, and I , for one, appreciate the work he's done to elevate the profile of Valpo Athletics and give students, staff, alumni, and the community myriad reasons to be proud! Thanks ML!

http://www.thesummitleague.org/general/2016-17/releases/20170612lqb87e

I doubt Coach Lottich would be wait on hiring an assistant coach because the Swimming/Diving & Tennis team were negotiating with the Summit League.

Maybe they wanted to wait on the official announcement.

I say it's his high school buddy currently at/leaving UWM because of coaching shake up.  Makes sense to make sure his house is in order before bringing him onboard or announcing the hire.

What a story they could share with recruits coming from the assistant who has life events that powerful to tell recruits.  "This is the character of Lottich...come join the family."  It's always better coming from someone besides Lottich.

[sliman]

Perhaps you've seen it by now, but I believe VUGrad1314's speculation will prove correct about Terry Johnson following Butler's announcement that Jordan is returning to the Bulldogs as HC.  Not good news for Milwaukee.

[VU2014]

Perhaps I missed something, but aren't they looking for basketball ops coach??? If that is the case, perhaps Joel Zimba is now Asst. Coach Zimba?!? Not sure if that was mentioned by someone else, if so, then ignore this...

Listed as two different positions. Director of Basketball Operations & Coordinator of Men's Basketball Operations. I don't know if they are the same position. Maybe they did promote Joel.

I think this could be a potential reason for the delay : the negotiations with other conferences  (such as the Summit League) as landing spots for men's tennis and swimming and diving I completely forgot about this piece of our realignment puzzle. With this important item of business concluded, I would expect all vacancies within the staff to be filled in short order. Been a busy offseason for our AD, and I , for one, appreciate the work he's done to elevate the profile of Valpo Athletics and give students, staff, alumni, and the community myriad reasons to be proud! Thanks ML!

http://www.thesummitleague.org/general/2016-17/releases/20170612lqb87e

I doubt Coach Lottich would be wait on hiring an assistant coach because the Swimming/Diving & Tennis team were negotiating with the Summit League.

Maybe they wanted to wait on the official announcement.

I say it's his high school buddy currently at/leaving UWM because of coaching shake up.  Makes sense to make sure his house is in order before bringing him onboard or announcing the hire.

What a story they could share with recruits coming from the assistant who has life events that powerful to tell recruits.  "This is the character of Lottich...come join the family."  It's always better coming from someone besides Lottich.

Todd Townsend would be great and Coach Lottich said he was his first call when he got the job to ask him to join the staff but I guess his wife is a lawyer a got a great new job in Milwaukee last season and that was a factor last time Lottich called him. Wondering if he'll stay on staff at UWM or if LaVall will try and bring him with him to Butler.

Sounds like Northwestern assistant Pat Baldwin is the front-runner for the UWM job.

[VUGrad1314]

Perhaps you've seen it by now, but I believe VUGrad1314's speculation will prove correct about Terry Johnson following Butler's announcement that Jordan is returning to the Bulldogs as HC.  Not good news for Milwaukee.

Confirmed. Butler's whole staff is following Holtmann to Ohio State. Boy, the terrible timing of Ohio State's decision to fire Matta has created a major mess and big headaches for multiple programs now. Only way to make things worse would be for Otzelberger to take the Milwaukee job and throw South Dakota State into turmoil as well with even less time to react than Butler and Milwaukee had. As Michael Caine said in "The Dark Knight" "Some men just want to watch the world burn."
http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/butler/2017/06/13/butler-losing-entire-coaching-staff-ohio-state/392193001/

[VU2014]

Not suggesting this is likely or he should be but would be cool to see Robbie Hummel join the Valpo Coaching Staff. I have absolutely zero clue about his coaching abilities or if he'd even be a fit.

Sounds like he's at a crossroads in his career right now.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-basketball-robbie-hummel-st-0621-20170620-story.html

https://twitter.com/PostTribSports/status/877351771450028032

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/fatherharry1/status/879103610554068992

(St. Louis, MO) – Changes are happening in the Missouri Valley Conference. Not only is Valparaiso replacing Wichita State, and Niko Medved is the newest coach at Drake, but there have been significant coaching hires. Assistant coaches are making their mark in the Valley.

We are just getting to know the coaching staff at Valpo, and Medved's staff is mostly new to us as well. After being hired at Drake, Medved's top priority was hiring a staff that would reflect his style and would build the culture he desires to produce in Des Moines.

.........

[VU2014]

Paul mentioned in his latest podcast that the assistant coaching position has been filled and that we should find out in the next week or so.

[Valpo29]

Good call VU2014