Thursday check in

In Ferd’s article today it was mentioned that Dave has given Matlin four names to consider. Two names were Wong and Fisher. Still Matlin says that he will be making the call on the choice.

What about Hugh McCutcheon? I’m surprised I haven’t seen his named mentioned…

Get Real McCutcheon seems content In minneapolis cause his wife is from there, if Stanford couldn’t get him why would UH??
He has no hawaii ties either.

Matlin has no margin for error; he has to get the right guy the first time. If he doesn’t and then we have to replace the replacement, then a lot of luster will be off the program, as a result of which UH will fall further behind the big conferences.

One requirement of the new guy is to maintain UH’s position as one of the few (only?) non-Big 5 conference schools who can justifiably be mentioned with those schools. That means recruiting and then coaching. Of course, there are other required attributes.

My approach would be to define the required attributes, determine who best fits that bill, and then go out and get that person, no matter who it is or what it takes to get that person here. I would have a check in my pocket with carte blanche to put in the number. This is our sole crown jewel. What do you not do to protect it? What will deep-pocket supporters do to help UH if not protect the crown jewel?

After spending $$$$ on phony concerts, buyout/settlements, and other assorted mistakes, can we not spend a fraction of that to get the right guy? If the VB program goes into decline, what does that portend for the whole program?

Want to add Both Coach Rubio and Coach Fisher had hawaii girls on their 2016 roster. Although both Hawaii girls on Arizona were transfers.
As far as national team coaching, Rubio has never done any of that, While Fisher has coached the Pan American team ( b level USA national team) two summers in a row.

More than winning . You want someone who will treat the wahines right. No more Bolla’s.

Comment about Charlie Wade. He is currently between a rock and a hard place. How can he apply without betraying his guys. That’s why he said, there needs to be common interest.

I think some fans believe UH should go after foreign (x-Canada) recruits because UH no longer attracts top ten talent from the US, as the top tier programs do. Plus, if you see how Wade has recruited internationally on the men’s side, it makes some wonder why WVM doesn’t put more focus there. There are lots of female foreigners playing in the US. Why can’t UH get its share? It may be an easier sell for someone already inclined to play far from home to come to the sunny aloha state, as opposed to a kid wanting to stay close to home in the Midwest or on the west coast.

In my opinion, there is Sealy, and then there’s the rest. I would kidnap him if I had to.

16.If you put Fisher at UCLA, you would not see that much of a difference in the quality of the current Sealy led UCLA team.

how about kevin wong? he seems very knowledgeable and has the right temperament. he doesn’t have college coaching experience but he has the smarts and ability.

15. Thanks for making my argument that there are more important reasons, other than where someone is in her/his contract term, for making a move. However, I don’t agree with your speculation on Hambly, but that is mere speculation on my part.
17. Yes, you are one of those fans. BTW, I too am one of those fans.
21. This is news. To this point, your comments on the blog have reflected your personal opinion without mentioning someone has told you of the importance of the remaining contract term. If Sealy told you directly, then I defer completely. Otherwise, everything discussed, including my comment, is either hearsay or pure speculation. But that’s the fun part of this blog. Wouldn’t you agree?

Agree with pretty much everything that’s been said. LIke Stanford, UH’s hire will send a ripple through college volleyball.

23: Booth?! I didn’t think anything would get her to leave Creighton, she would be a candidate – she’s talented.

Here are my Vegas odds regarding the next UH WVB coach. For entertainment purposes only–I won’t be taking any wagers, sorry.

2-1: Dan Fisher. He’s got the Hawaii ties, collegiate head coaching and US national coaching resume, international and local recruiting success, won a championship in NAIA so he knows how to win, is at a good, but not traditionally great, program he has built that will propel him to a better job somewhere, affordable, and has warriorfan’s public endorsement. Also, Matlin’s two hires have been younger coaches (albeit assistants), so there may be a bias to go younger if all other factors are equal. No obvious negatives other than not being a woman, if that is even a criterion. But all of the obvious candidates are men. Not saying he is the number 1 choice, but the most likely hire.

3-1: Mike Sealy. Has the NCAA championship, former UH WVB assistant, very good recruiter in second toughest conference and most competitive geographic region, loves Hawaii, very good tactical skills, and has my public endorsement. Negatives are he will take a pay cut (Matlin isn’t paying a lot for new coaches and UH has a more limited budget than UCLA), he will go to a tougher recruiting situation, and has things rolling again at UCLA. IMO the best candidate who may turn down the job.

15-1: Scott Wong. UH ties and experience, but lacks the coaching success at Pepperdine. Young but unproven. If Shoji stays on for a few more years, Scott’s odds may improve. But not today.

25-1: Dave Rubio. Basically a poor man’s Sealy. Good second tier Pac-12 coach, has had past success in the tournament, but an overall inconsistent record. Good, long-time experience but Matlin may go younger. Has lost a lot of recruiting battles for top AZ talent, even to Florida. I think the train has already left the station.

30-1: Kevin Hambly. There is still time for Stanford to rectify its mistake and for UH to make one.

40-1: Reed Sunahara. Basically a poor man’s Dan Fisher. Good but inconsistent success at collegiate level, very good record with team USA. Hilo native. Just completed second year at WVU. Could be a dark horse candidate, very dark horse.

50-1: Dietre Collins-Parker. One of the most decorated Wahine ever. Checks the gender box. Mixed record at UNLV, very good record at Cornell, and so-so at SDSU. Concerns about her recruiting prowess and in-game tactics. Still revere her for helping to put UH WVB on the national stage.

60-1: Jennifer Petrie. San Diego coach has produced some great teams in the past few years. West coast is proximate to Hawaii. Another top female coach. No obvious Hawaii ties. May love living in San Diego so much that she won’t trade it for the 50th state.

75-1: Kirsten Booth. Creighton coach has the resume, 2x national coach of the year, don’t have any idea how she is still at Creighton, top female coach recruiting against Nebraska. No Hawaii ties, unfortunately.

100-1: Waldo. Biggest issue is that no one can find him.

500-1: Any former Wahine player without collegiate head coaching experience or significant collegiate assistant experience.

1,000-1: Barack Obama. Recently left his leadership position and is available. Has Hawaii ties. Issues with basketball-only experience and lack of coaching experience. Doesn’t help that his library is being planned for Chicago rather than Honolulu. But he would galvanize the masses.

1,500-1: Any ACC, SEC, Pac-12, Big-10, or Big-12 coach not mentioned below without Hawaii ties. Fewer resources, harder to recruit, doesn’t understand Hawaii. Probably a stepping stone move. No thanks.

5,000-1: Any ACC, SEC, Pac-12, Big-10, or Big-12 coach with a top 25 team but without Hawaii ties. Fewer resources, probably lower pay, harder to recruit, doesn’t understand Hawaii. Probably sees the job as too difficult or a step down. Really, no thanks.

10,000-1: Any child of Dave Shoji. Nuff said.

20,000-1: Charlie Wade. Supreme recruiter on men’s and women’s teams. Got things rolling with the UH men. Middling success at Pacific. Most importantly, won’t apply. But bettors never say never.

250,000-1. Brian Gimmillaro. Has the resume, but the game has passed LBSU by. Reviled by many in the UH fan base. I think Lucifer has a better shot at getting hired.

26. I think Lang Ping makes too much coaching the Chinese national team.

25. I enjoyed reading that rewrite good job lol

I remember when Fisher left the Warrior team to coach the Concordia womens team, I was upset because he was a big loss for the warriors, but I thought he could come back someday to replace Shoji, kind of cool that it might become reality.

Many of the proposed names are, in my opinion, too old. UH needs someone who will be around for many, many years. Program stability.

Everyone writes about why it would be hard to attract certain persons, but isn’t this job one of the most desirable in VB? Doesn’t the chance come to someone only once in a career? What would you do if, in your field, people approached you about a dream job that will be offered to you only once in your career? Sorry, I got a good recruiting class coming in. Sorry, I have 2 years left on my contract. If the UH job is a truly desirable one, no one, in my opinion, who is asked to have a serious conversation with Matlin will allow short term considerations to overrule career-long considerations.

I’m not in favor of breaking the bank, but this is one UH job in which money within reason should not be an object. UH and Shoji invested 40 years in this, so there is a 40 year investment and national reputation to protect. If we can’t get the best guy because UH would not pay him, then it better be because the guy asked for the moon and not because UH tried to get off cheaply.

29. Dan Fisher is 40, Scott Wong is 38. Sealy is 46. that’s not too old.
All three could stick around 20 plus years.

Obviously, from a qualification standpoint, only the best available will be considered, but I doubt that they will hire anyone without Hawaii ties or someone who’s long term residency in the islands will be a potential issue. If his hiring pattern continues, Matlin will hire close to the vest and heart with someone who will stay as long as possible because they consider it to be their dream place to be. Love and loyalty to Hawaii will play a huge role of consideration in my opinion.

#26: It’s not often that I read something that both informs me and makes me laugh! Great post — you made my day!