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Candidates to Replace LE back in 2003

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cyclone13

Well-Known Member
Apr 7, 2009
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Since a lot of us are talking about LE, I think it’ll be interesting to imagine how things will turn out if someone else than WM ended up getting the job:

Here are the 4 top candidates to replace Eustachy according to Iowa State Daily that time:

Creighton coach Dana Altman, Wyoming coach Steve McClain, Fresno State coach Ray Lopes, Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Jeff Lebo, and ISU assistant Wayne Morgan. Altman and Lopes removed themselves from consideration before interviewing. McClain was interviewed but didn't get the job.

Here's where they are now:
Dana Altman: still at Creighton. People say that he likes to stay as big fish in a small pond. Since 2003 until end of last season: 134-65, 4 NIT and 2 NCAA. NCAA and NIT appearances ended in either 1st or 2nd round, 1 regular season championship

Steve McClain: fired from Wyoming in 2006. Now an associate HC at CU

Ray Lopes: resigned from his position at Fresno State in 2005 based on his involvement in NCAA rules violations in the recruiting process. Now assistant coach with U of Idaho Vandals.

Jeff Lebo: now at…..Auburn after leaving UTC after 2003-2004 season. Record at Auburn: 81-76 with 1 NIT appearance.

Interesting, isn't it ?
 
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cyclone13 said:
Since a lot of us are talking about LE, I think it’ll be interesting to imagine how things will turn out if someone else than WM ended up getting the job:

Here are the 4 top candidates to replace Eustachy according to Iowa State Daily that time:

Creighton coach Dana Altman, Wyoming coach Steve McClain, Fresno State coach Ray Lopes, Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Jeff Lebo, and ISU assistant Wayne Morgan. Altman and Lopes removed themselves from consideration before interviewing. McClain was interviewed but didn't get the job.

Here's where they are now:
Dana Altman: still at Creighton. People say that he likes to stay as big fish in a small pond. Since 2003 until end of last season: 134-65, 4 NIT and 2 NCAA. NCAA and NIT appearances ended in either 1st or 2nd round, 1 regular season championship

Steve McClain: fired from Wyoming in 2006. Now an associate HC at CU

Ray Lopes: resigned from his position at Fresno State in 2005 based on his involvement in NCAA rules violations in the recruiting process. Now assistant coach with U of Idaho Vandals.

Jeff Lebo: now at…..Auburn after leaving UTC after 2003-2004 season. Record at Auburn: 81-76 with 1 NIT appearance.

Interesting, isn't it ?
Click to expand...

I believe that Lebo made the NCAAs in his 5th season at Auburn. I was reading about him a couple of weeks ago and saw just that.
 
Not exactly great company. But that was BVDV for you...

Altman would have been good. But in hindsight, I would take Wayne Morgan over those other 3.
 
I don't know about Altman. He didn't do much at K-State and seemed a little afraid to step back into the big time when he backed out at Arkansas. I'm really not confident he would have done much at ISU.
 
kg-cyclone said:
Altman also left for Arkansas, then returned to Creighton...Hard to say why.
Click to expand...

He actually left very briefly - announcing he'd take Arkansas job and changed his mind 24 hours later. It's more like Billy Donovan's Florida-Magic flip-flop
 
kg-cyclone said:
Altman also left for Arkansas, then returned to Creighton...Hard to say why.
Click to expand...

The Soooooo Pig Cheer...... it Creeped him out.

Also, after getting hammered at K-State, he decided it is much easier to win in the Valley and not worried about getting fired every other year. :eek:
 
This is/was a pathetic list. Being a few years removed from back to back championships, a rapid fanbase, decent tradition....coming off a scandal or no scandal this list is pathetic and should have included some real up and coming names and maybe a few quality established coach. I mean you telling me we could land Johnny Orr a few years from a championship game in the early 80's but we couldn't land someone of his caliber after what LE and Floyd AND Orr accomplished? BVD himself is who set us back 10 years.

Losing LE didn't set us back 10 years....not going out and finding a quality 'long haul' coach did.
 
mustangcy said:
This is/was a pathetic list. Being a few years removed from back to back championships, a rapid fanbase, decent tradition....coming off a scandal or no scandal this list is pathetic and should have included some real up and coming names and maybe a few quality established coach. I mean you telling me we could land Johnny Orr a few years from a championship game in the early 80's but we couldn't land someone of his caliber after what LE and Floyd AND Orr accomplished? BVD himself is who set us back 10 years.

Losing LE didn't set us back 10 years....not going out and finding a quality 'long haul' coach did.
Click to expand...

You know, come to think of it, that's a real good point. We really aimed low with that list.

Wasn't Rob Jeter from UW-Milwaukee the front-runner for a while, at least media-wise? Or was that after Morgan?
 
I think WM did fine. Couldnt coach all that well but if you get a bunch of talent on the floor then you can win games.
 
CycloneErik said:
You know, come to think of it, that's a real good point. We really aimed low with that list.

Wasn't Rob Jeter from UW-Milwaukee the front-runner for a while, at least media-wise? Or was that after Morgan?
Click to expand...

ya jeter was after wayne
 
mustangcy said:
This is/was a pathetic list. Being a few years removed from back to back championships, a rapid fanbase, decent tradition....coming off a scandal or no scandal this list is pathetic and should have included some real up and coming names and maybe a few quality established coach. I mean you telling me we could land Johnny Orr a few years from a championship game in the early 80's but we couldn't land someone of his caliber after what LE and Floyd AND Orr accomplished? BVD himself is who set us back 10 years.

Losing LE didn't set us back 10 years....not going out and finding a quality 'long haul' coach did.
Click to expand...

Agreed with you, Buddy. I expected a much better list.
BTW, Jeff Lebo refused the job. Here's the link for everyone from Iowa State Daily
Roller coaster summer for men's basketball
 
Jeter and McDermott were the only ones who officially interviewed in 2006 right? Maybe JP talked to more people than that...

McDermott was a good hire at the time. He could have had the K-State or Missouri jobs or waited a year and had the Iowa job.
 
Hmm, very good post OP. I am one that has advocated for getting rid of McD and bringing in a new regime, but this has put things in perspective a bit. I think we may over-estimate who would want to come to Iowa State, and the state of Iowa State basketball was certianly better after LE then it is now.
 
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