Eric Olen?

[Masked_rebel]

If he hadn't spent 1 season here, are we even talking about him as a potentialcandidate... no
So ask yourself, why now, who is pushing his name to the AD, why is he being considered higher than the 5-10 other coaches that are available this cycle...

 

[bcvegaspt2]

If he hadn't spent 1 season here, are we even talking about him as a potentialcandidate... no
So ask yourself, why now, who is pushing his name to the AD, why is he being considered higher than the 5-10 other coaches that are available this cycle...

Cough. Cough.
Lon
Cough. Cough.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

Hartman would be your typical UNLV gag job when it comes to basketball hires. Hire him and we can pick up this “who will be our new coach conversation” in another 3 seasons.

 

[Rebel1986]

All the things people are sayubg about Hartman you could say about Dutcher. Except Hartman has been a part of really good seasons at multiple stops.
A lot goes into to being an assistant coach. Some things are beyond control.
I think Hartman is a good candidate. Not at the top of the list, but top assistants at big programs go on to become big time head coaches at better programs than ours.
UNLV is not special, not anymore. You dont have to be a special type of dude to be successful here. We need to stop thinking that way.
All we need is a good coach and let him do what he does best.
I like Hartman more than say Eric Olen. He has 2 good years and 3 really bad years. He is somehow superior to Russ Turner hmhwo has been more successful in the same conference for longer. Even this magical season for UCSD was o by 1 game better than Irvine.
I put Hartman on the same level of some of these other coaches.
I think I all have potential to do well. I just hope whoever it is, that we don't just bicker and bicker about all of the flaws trying to break the man down and then wonder why Noone wants to watch his team play. Wow the most popular "fan" site just constantly talks about why we shouldn't watch this team?
We won't hire an grand slam or a home run. Our program is not a good enough job for that right now. We should hope to find a guy that can be successful enough to take a better job and then the next guy will have more potential to do the same.

I say we should continue to look at UNLV as special. The AD looked for a football coach both times that would first get UNLV to the top of the MWC and then top 25, and now one to bump the team up the next level. I think the basketball hire should be looked at the same way. In for a penny, in for a pound!

 

[rebel5280]

You have to ask if Hartman and it’s a big “if” is saying all the right things to Harper, why has it taken 30 freaking years for someone to hear them? Lol

As someone else here on Rebelnet said there is an “A” list and then there is an “F” list for candidates and Hartman is near the latter, not because he is a bad guy and not because he is a bad assistant, it’s because he is not a HC with any kind of track record.

Look I hope this is all a moot point but if another assistant is hired here, it will be empty seats, recruits that underwhelm and UNLV basketball continuing to be a laughing stock!

 

[bcvegaspt2]

I want Noodles!

 

[Rosegreen1]

If he hadn't spent 1 season here, are we even talking about him as a potentialcandidate... no
So ask yourself, why now, who is pushing his name to the AD, why is he being considered higher than the 5-10 other coaches that are available this cycle...

Why do you assume Harper is in his office and people are pushing names to him?

Does anyone consider that Harper and Hartman are familiar enough with one another that Harper called him? We don’t know that Hartman is the top choice either, everyone is freaking out because there’s not enough information out there to gauge which way Harper is going.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Why do you assume Harper is in his office and people are pushing names to him?

Does anyone consider that Harper and Hartman are familiar enough with one another that Harper called him?

Because that's exactly what happens in an ADs office when there is a job opening.

 

[rebneck]

I like the fact that Harp plays it close to the vest, as there are interests to protect on both sides of the equation. The only problem with lack of information is that it creates a void, and people tend to fill that void with well-thought out opinions, desires, or rubbish. As many have said, Harp's football hires have earned him some benefit of the doubt here. I'm just gonna chill and trust the process to play out as it should. It will conclude soon enough and we'll be fine.

 

[rebel5280]

I like the fact that Harp plays it close to the vest, as there are interests to protect on both sides of the equation. The only problem with lack of information is that it creates a void, and people tend to fill that void with well-thought out opinions, desires, or rubbish. As many have said, Harp's football hires have earned him some benefit of the doubt here. I'm just gonna chill and trust the process to play out as it should. It will conclude soon enough and we'll be fine.

Good idea!

 

[Rosegreen1]

Because that's exactly what happens in an ADs office when there is a job opening.

Except the LVRJ has said they are friends, when your friends you don’t need anyone pushing your name. Lon’s not involved here.

 

[lvrebalum2012]

Except the LVRJ has said they are friends, when your friends you don’t need anyone pushing your name. Lon’s not involved here.

Ok sure 👌

 

[Rebel77fl2]

Couple things, Olen’s bad years are when UCSD was transitioning to D1, hard to recruit when you can’t go to the tournament.

Hartman has been an assistant but really worked his way up the assistant ranks, he was at places like Rice, La-laf, Columbia for 20 years. The staff at Columbia had Kyle Smith, Todd Golden and Hartman. It wasn’t until the success there that he was able to move to larger D1 jobs. So it appears he was happy to work his way up as an assistant and not just jump to any HC job. There could be many reasons for that, assistant jobs are usually more stable (if you find a good coach), maybe he felt he had more to learn, maybe he felt liked he could connect with kids more as an assistant. Just being an assistant should not disqualify but sure previous head coaching experience is better for other candidates.

With the success of Calhoun and other former D2 coaches across the country, I think Olen might be the better choice between these two. Probably more solid and less downside risk. However, I think Hartman might have the higher upside but for sure much riskier.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Except the LVRJ has said they are friends, when your friends you don’t need anyone pushing your name. Lon’s not involved here.

The RJ also published a story that said we didn't have the money for a buyout...

 

[rebel5280]

The RJ also published a story that said we didn't have the money for a buyout...

And also a crappy half-baked list of potential candidates that nobody on rebelnet would publish! Lol

 

[Couev]

I think the only thing that could make Hartman palatable to me is if he came with some big recruits and a really connected staff. But even then I'd know it was the hire of last resort. My heart tells me his connection to Krugs got him an interview, but it would be a weird hire considering what Harp usually wants for his head coaches.

 

[rebel5280]

I think the only thing that could make Hartman palatable to me is if he came with some big recruits and a really connected staff. But even then I'd know it was the hire of last resort. My heart tells me his connection to Krugs got him an interview, but it would be a weird hire considering what Harp usually wants for his head coaches.

I like this part of your post because you would not be able to shake the feeling that the elder Kruger’s finger prints all over a move like this!

 

[Rosegreen1]

Couple things, Olen’s bad years are when UCSD was transitioning to D1, hard to recruit when you can’t go to the tournament.

Hartman has been an assistant but really worked his way up the assistant ranks, he was at places like Rice, La-laf, Columbia for 20 years. The staff at Columbia had Kyle Smith, Todd Golden and Hartman. It wasn’t until the success there that he was able to move to larger D1 jobs. So it appears he was happy to work his way up as an assistant and not just jump to any HC job. There could be many reasons for that, assistant jobs are usually more stable (if you find a good coach), maybe he felt he had more to learn, maybe he felt liked he could connect with kids more as an assistant. Just being an assistant should not disqualify but sure previous head coaching experience is better for other candidates.

With the success of Calhoun and other former D2 coaches across the country, I think Olen might be the better choice between these two. Probably more solid and less downside risk. However, I think Hartman might have the higher upside but for sure much riskier.

I think more than just resume, it’s how a candidate presents their vision for the program to Harper. You have to be able to sell the fans and donors on your vision for the program. Nobody is going to give a rats rear end what you did at UC San Diego or Arkansas State.

It’s got to be the same vibe as Chris Beard when he was officially hired, he laid out a vision and hit the ground running with staffing etc.

 

[WarthogRebel]

All the things people are sayubg about Hartman you could say about Dutcher. Except Hartman has been a part of really good seasons at multiple stops.
A lot goes into to being an assistant coach. Some things are beyond control.
I think Hartman is a good candidate. Not at the top of the list, but top assistants at big programs go on to become big time head coaches at better programs than ours.
UNLV is not special, not anymore. You dont have to be a special type of dude to be successful here. We need to stop thinking that way.
All we need is a good coach and let him do what he does best.
I like Hartman more than say Eric Olen. He has 2 good years and 3 really bad years. He is somehow superior to Russ Turner hmhwo has been more successful in the same conference for longer. Even this magical season for UCSD was o by 1 game better than Irvine.
I put Hartman on the same level of some of these other coaches.
I think I all have potential to do well. I just hope whoever it is, that we don't just bicker and bicker about all of the flaws trying to break the man down and then wonder why Noone wants to watch his team play. Wow the most popular "fan" site just constantly talks about why we shouldn't watch this team?
We won't hire an grand slam or a home run. Our program is not a good enough job for that right now. We should hope to find a guy that can be successful enough to take a better job and then the next guy will have more potential to do the same.

It appears Hartman holds the active record for being an assistant without ever holding a head coach position anywhere. He's still six years away from the all time record of 35 years. ( Bernie Fine - Syracuse ). Something isn't right. We don't need to be the one's who take a chance on him.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

It appears Hartman holds the active record for being an assistant without ever holding a head coach position anywhere. He's still six years away from the all time record of 35 years. ( Bernie Fine - Syracuse ). Something isn't right. We don't need to be the one's who take a chance on him.

Oh but you forget this is UNLV where we are smarter than everyone else. Take a coach from high school and make him a college head coach, yes because we are smarter than everyone else. Take a coach from New Mexico that no one wants, why? Because we are smarter than everyone else. Take an assistant coach who is clearly unqualified but is the son of a former coach because we are smarter than everyone else. So now we have an assistant coach who started his career when everyone used aol to go online why not, we are smarter than everyone else.

 

[unlove]

I think the only thing that could make Hartman palatable to me is if he came with some big recruits and a really connected staff. But even then I'd know it was the hire of last resort. My heart tells me his connection to Krugs got him an interview, but it would be a weird hire considering what Harp usually wants for his head coaches.

We’re all speculating here but this strikes me as the most plausible explanation for reports of Hartman being in the mix. Existing relationship. Krugar connection. But I’d be surprised if Harp went this direction based not only on his words but his previous hires. Just not his M.O. The only potential constraint I am aware of on his coaching search is budgetary. Regents and folks in Carson City are watching due to the overall athletic budget deficit. Beyond that however it seems he has the discretion to do his job so I still expect a coach hire with previous HC experience.

 

[Masked_rebel]

We’re all speculating here but this strikes me as the most plausible explanation for reports of Hartman being in the mix. Existing relationship. Krugar connection. But I’d be surprised if Harp went this direction based not only on his words but his previous hires. Just not his M.O. The only potential constraint I am aware of on his coaching search is budgetary. Regents and folks in Carson City are watching due to the overall athletic budget deficit. Beyond that however it seems he has the discretion to do his job so I still expect a coach hire with previous HC experience.

Regents don't matter for coaching or athletics. They changed that power after the Chris Beard fiasco. ADs and university president's are responsible for hiring of athletic coaches, with university president's having to be the ones hiring over 200k contracts. Regents just have a say over the university president's hiring and University overall budget so they can look all they want if we spend millions of dollars on a coach.

 

[rebel5280]

The concern about the budget shortfall was posted here on this board repeatedly. Too many here posted firing Kevin was not feasible and those who posted that were wrong! He got canned and the buyout will be taken care of and the hire of a new coach will take place. Stop beating the dead horse about the money!

As stated by the post above, none of us really know and can only guess about the money situation due to the fact that none of us are at the table.

Let’s leave the money talk to those who are in the know because according to several here, we didn’t have the money to move on from Kevin but we did!

 

[Rosegreen1]

The concern about the budget shortfall was posted here on this board repeatedly. too many here posted firing Kevin was not feasible and those who posted that were wrong, he got canned and the buyout will be taken care of and the hire of a new coach will take place. Stop beating the dead horse about the money!

As stated by the post above, none of us really know and can only guess about the money situation due to the fact that none of us are at the table.

Let’s leave the money talk to those who are in the know because according to several here, we didn’t have the money to move on from Kevin but we did!

Admittedly I thought it was very unlikely Harper would shitcan CKK given all the stories planted in the local rags about being unable to pay Mullen after 2 years, CKKs buyout, athletic department deficits etc.

Clearly it was all a coordinated hit job on unlv, I didn’t think it was possible given the totality of the football hires cost, how cheap the basketball program has been over the years etc.


That being said, I do not think Hartman gets the job on budget issues, I do not think that’s a factor but what I do think is a factor is how established coaches feel about the rebuilding of unlv. Is it too much of an ask? Attendance is averaging 4-5k now and zero excitement in the program.

Whoever has the best plan to reignite the program will get the job. Only one sorting that out is Harper, and we’ll be happy with whoever it is, I think.

 

[rebel5280]

I understand the hesitation to hire an “assistant” because it is a different role being the head coach, you oversee everything and not just responsible for a few things. Harper had an interesting quote right after Odom left, one that seemed to be a direct reference to Marion in that a head coach wears many hats and a coordinator is just wearing one hat. You can’t put a value on experience in running a program vs just an offense.

I also understand running big west/southern conference/summit league program is not the same thing as running the UNLV program. So either way, there’s some risk involved for Harper if he cannot land a Keatts or Crean.

Though again, we don’t know what’s being said in phone conversations and interviews. Hartman could be hitting all the right notes and has a detailed plan for UNLV. We simply do not know.

Who cares if he is!

Why has it taken 30 years for him to convince someone he is the man for the job, answer that?

If Harper hires this assistant, it will tarnish his otherwise sterling reputation a lot! If it goes the way it has in the past when we hired a similar guy who was a recruiter (Rice) it was 4 years of a guy who could get talent here but could not coach them to do anything in conference, in the conference tournament or the NCAA’s so four more years!

We need much more now than your favorite personal recruiter guy!

If Hartman happens to quote someone else on this board… “it will be yet another UNLV choke job coaching hire” and basketball will continue to have 5K at games and need to win 3 in March until further notice!

 

[Masked_rebel]

Who cares if he is!

Why has it taken 30 years for him to convince someone he is the man for the job, answer that?

If Harper hires this assistant, it will tarnish his otherwise sterling reputation a lot! If it goes the way it has in the past when we hired a similar guy who was a recruiter (Rice) it was 4 years of a guy who could get talent here but could not coach them to do anything in conference, in the conference tournament or the NCAA’s so four more years!

We need much more now than your favorite personal recruiter guy!

If Hartman happens , to quote someone else on this board, it will be yet another UNLV choke job coaching hire!

Yeah, I definitely see it as a tarnishing his current record with coaching hires. It might also speak to greater issues within the Athletics department with regards to finances. Hartman might have a "vision" but so does every coach being hired, infact Kevin had one as well. Hiring an assistant would be cheaper with 0 buyout.

 

[dcut03]

Dutcher was an assistant for Fisher at Michigan and SDSU for years. He knew the culture and the program inside and out. Hartman has been a journeyman. Apples and oranges.

Can we stop making excuses for mediocre hires...

Dutcher was second fiddle to one coach. Hartman has elevated multiple programs and has been a AHC in multiple stops.
You think Golden and USF showed this ability to win at this level before Florida?
Again, it can be hard to know how much an assistant does if they are only under one coach.
I agree it is easier to keep things going like Dutcher did at SDSU and he went further than Fischer ever did.
But main point is that if you can elevate multiple programs under multiple coaches vs just one? I think that is more impressive. It brings more validity that of their impact.

 

[rebel5280]

Yeah, I definitely see it as a tarnishing his current record with coaching hires. It might also speak to greater issues within the Athletics department with regards to finances. Hartman might have a "vision" but so does every coach being hired, infact Kevin had one as well. Hiring an assistant would be cheaper with 0 buyout.

You may be right!

If this was the case and he fired Kevin with no plan, it definitely drops Harper in my opinion because it makes him look like every other AD we have had who did not have a plan when they made a move? I thought he made the move with someone in mind but I guess I might have been wrong. This is par for the course here regardless.

If it is Hartman, I think that will be a huge mistake and stain Harper’s resume a bit.
Oh well I guess we can buckle up for more recruits like Victor Iococa and David Mu-whatever his name was, I don’t remember because they sucked!

 

[rebel5280]

Dutcher was second fiddle to one coach. Hartman has elevated multiple programs and has been a AHC in multiple stops.
You think Golden and USF showed this ability to win at this level before Florida?
Again, it can be hard to know how much an assistant does if they are only under one coach.
I agree it is easier to keep things going like Dutcher did at SDSU and he went further than Fischer ever did.
But main point is that if you can elevate multiple programs under multiple coaches vs just one? I think that is more impressive. It brings more validity that of their impact.

Golden was not an assistant for 30 years! Lol

 

[dcut03]

You may be right!

If this was the case and he fired Kevin with no plan, it definitely drops Harper in my opinion because it makes him look like every other AD we have had who did not have a plan when they made a move? I thought he made the move with someone in mind but I guess I might have been wrong. This is par for the course here regardless.

If it is Hartman, I think that will be a huge mistake and stain Harper’s resume a bit.
Oh well I guess we can buckle up for more recruits like Victor Iococa and David Mu-whatever his name was, I don’t remember because they sucked!

Weren't just saying that we should trust Harper?
Except if he hires Hartman?
I'm still in your original camp. Let Harp do his thing.
I dont put too much in the fact that Hartman has worked himself up the chain. Just because he hasn't been a HC doesn't mean he has never been offered. I dont if he has or not, but neither do any of us.
Just the one bullet point of being the AHC at Florida is a pretty good point on his resume. They had a great year and just played a tough game. They are officially having their best year in a long time.
Then you see he helped take a completely different program to a final four? I think that means something.
I would put him below the unattainables (Bennett, Wright, etc) and below a guy like Crean, but on par with the lower level head coaches

 

[Rebel77fl2]

Just the one bullet point of being the AHC at Florida is a pretty good point on his resume. They had a great year and just played a tough game. They are officially having their best year in a long time.
Then you see he helped take a completely different program to a final four? I think that means something.

What other program? OU went to the final four a few months prior to Hartman joining.

 

[rebel5280]

Weren't just saying that we should trust Harper?
Except if he hires Hartman?
I'm still in your original camp. Let Harp do his thing.
I dont put too much in the fact that Hartman has worked himself up the chain. Just because he hasn't been a HC doesn't mean he has never been offered. I dont if he has or not, but neither do any of us.
Just the one bullet point of being the AHC at Florida is a pretty good point on his resume. They had a great year and just played a tough game. They are officially having their best year in a long time.
Then you see he helped take a completely different program to a final four? I think that means something.
I would put him below the unattainables (Bennett, Wright, etc) and below a guy like Crean, but on par with the lower level head coaches

Correct!

If he hires an assistant when there are other current or former HC options out there right now then that will give me pause on erecting the Harper statue at the TM! He went through 25 names per the report in the newspaper the other day and you mean to tell me Hartman is the one out of all those guys, you have got to be kidding me!

Harper hired a former HC in football and it seems that shows it was the right course of action by the results with Odom. Now “if” he does hire your boy, he would be taking the usual approach UNLV AD’s take instead of being the maverick AD I assumed he was.

Your guy Hartman, if hired, would be a mistake, in my opinion.. period!

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

Correct!

If he hires an assistant when there are other current or former HC options out there right now then that will give me pause on erecting the Harper statue at the TM! He went through 25 names per the report in the newspaper the other day and you mean to tell me Hartman is the one out of all those guys, you have got to be kidding me!

Harper hired a former HC in football and it seems that shows it was the right course of action by the results with Odom. Now “if” he does hire your boy, he would be taking the usual approach UNLV AD’s take instead of being the maverick AD I assumed he was.

Your guy Hartman, if hired, would be a mistake, in my opinion.. period!

Assistants don’t turn down head coaching jobs there is a reason he is not a head coach but we do have a hell of a good record in hiring head coaches no one else wants for the job so I am sure it will work out. 😐

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

I believe that is the plan, and I’m not totally disagreeing that a HC is to be considered first before Hartman. I don’t know how many times I have to point that out but I’m just saying there’s some relationship there between Harper and Hartman. Harper knows him well, obviously wouldn’t be having talks otherwise.

Discussing anything with him is like.

Do you like apples?

Yes, but like bananas better.

OH! YOU HATE APPLES!

Didn't say that, I just said I prefer bananas.

APPLE HATER!

Again Apples are fine prefer bananas..

THERE YOU GO SLANDERING APPLES AGAIN!!!

And round and round and round it goes.

 

[rebel5280]

Assistants don’t turn down head coaching jobs there is a reason he is not a head coach but we do have a hell of a good record in hiring head coaches no one else wants for the job so I am sure it will work out. 😐

I would love to know why a guy who is in coaching stays an assistant for so long without at least an attempt at being the man somewhere? There are red flags with Hartman and the fact that the Krugers are behind this gives me even more pause… what’s the plan? Does Hartman rehire Kevin as an assistant and by doing so reveal the circus that UNLV really is! Lol

 

[Rebel77fl2]

Assistants don’t turn down head coaching jobs there is a reason he is not a head coach but we do have a hell of a good record in hiring head coaches no one else wants for the job so I am sure it will work out. 😐

Serious question, how many jobs has he applied for in the past? A Florida assistant just got the Campbell job, seems like Hartman could have had that if he wanted it. I think he probably applied for Rice when Pera got it (Pera being from Rhoades staff). I think he probably applied for McNeese when Wade got it and Buffalo after Oats left but beyond that I don’t know. I am sure there are others but he doesn’t seem to be a guy who was applying every off season. I doubt he leaves UNLV if Golden doesn’t get the UF job.

This is a good article from his hometown paper on him.

Grand Island's Carlin Hartman takes a step closer to top job with new Florida gig | Local Sports | niagara-gazette.com

 

[RebelSoldat]

Dutcher was second fiddle to one coach. Hartman has elevated multiple programs and has been a AHC in multiple stops.
You think Golden and USF showed this ability to win at this level before Florida?
Again, it can be hard to know how much an assistant does if they are only under one coach.
I agree it is easier to keep things going like Dutcher did at SDSU and he went further than Fischer ever did.
But main point is that if you can elevate multiple programs under multiple coaches vs just one? I think that is more impressive. It brings more validity that of their impact.

What programs has he elevated?

 

[rebel5280]

Serious question, how many jobs has he applied for in the past? A Florida assistant just got the Campbell job, seems like Hartman could have had that if he wanted it. I think he probably applied for Rice when Pera got it (Pera being from Rhoades staff). I think he probably applied for McNeese when Wade got it and Buffalo after Oats left but beyond that I don’t know. I am sure there are others but he doesn’t seem to be a guy who was applying every off season. I doubt he leaves UNLV if Golden doesn’t get the UF job.

This is a good article from his hometown paper on him.

Grand Island's Carlin Hartman takes a step closer to top job with new Florida gig | Local Sports | niagara-gazette.com

I assume recruiting was on his resume when he interviewed at Buffalo?

Being the Head Coach is more than just recruiting?
See “you know who” here back in 2011 but yet we are supposed to forget that this type of guy who was a UNLV alum by the way didn’t work here?

Becoming a Head Coach would be a step up and this would be his first time in the big chair which screams learning on the job and that has not worked here.

A current or former HC would only be changing zip codes but be up and running day 1 not having to get up to speed? We don’t have time for a guy learning on the job with coaching, hiring and on top of all that seeing if his X’s and O’s pass muster. Hartman would be implementing his head coaching chops for the first time, Olen or Hodgson would be stepping in having already done that elsewhere.. big difference!

 

[Masked_rebel]

Texas fired its coach this morning and turned around and hired the replacement less than 4 hours later... I get it's Texas and they've got $$$ to just throw around, but Texas has fired it's last 2 coaches after only 2 years and was basically going to fire Shaka Smart so he took the Marquette job...

 

[rebel5280]

Texas fired its coach this morning and turned around and hired the replacement less than 4 hours later... I get it's Texas and they've got $$$ to just throw around, but Texas has fired it's last 2 coaches after only 2 years and was basically going to fire Shaka Smart so he took the Marquette job...

True they have money but it’s painfully obvious they had a plan before they fired the coach!

I hoped Harper had a plan too but hiring Hartman shows that’s not the case. You don’t change from a working method of operation in hiring football coaches to hiring assistants in basketball when there is so much evidence that shows that’s hasn’t worked here!