Gilbert Search Firm: Replacing Stan Heath

To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t planning on firing up the search firm this cycle. Alas, it appears the success of Miami (OH) has upped expectations in the MAC. As two Michigan mid majors have opened. If you have followed in past years. The methodology remains the same. Analyze the job and what it will take to win. Then a slew of candidates. Followed by a final recommendation.

Is Eastern Michigan a Good Job?

Conventional wisdom and recent results would say no. Three of the four coaches hired in 21st century have left with a losing record. Rob Murphy was just barely over .500 when he left for a job in the G-League. All jobs need to be viewed in the ever-changing current college landscape. How good is the NIL and booster support? I don’t think anyone truly knows. It seemingly has become the new “facilities” or “money to hire a good coaching staff” bogeyman in negotiations. See Kelvin Sampson recently pleading poor to get increased financial commitment.

When you look at the roster, I would be surprised if the NIL is nonexistent. It’s a talented group. Some transferred in from other schools. I doubt they did it for free. Furthermore, perhaps I’m showing my age here. But I grew up watching Earl Boykins, the Thomas twins, and Marcus Kennedy. It’s been a long time, but the right coach can win here.

If you disagree with that assessment, I present to you Chris Creighton. If you think the basketball history is bleak. It pales in comparison to the historical futility on the gridiron. Creighton, a completely off the radar small college coach has built a consistent winner in Ypsilanti.

Eastern has good facilities and of the three directional MAC schools in Michigan. It is located in the most fertile recruiting area. The right person can win here. You most likely are not getting a sitting Division I head coach or Power Five assistant to make the jump. The overall assessment though… It’s an ok job that should still generate interest.

The Creighton Category

With aforementioned success of Chris Creighton on the football side. I think it is appropriate to look for a basketball coach who fits this mold. A successful, small college, no frills head coach.

Steve Hettinga (Head Coach Lake Superior St) If one holds that Ypsilanti is a difficult place to win. I would raise you with Sault St Marie. The all-time winningest head coach at Lake Superior St has built something special at the Division II level. He already recruits the Ypsilanti area well. Recent success was spurred by a group of players from nearby Ann Arbor Huron. He is a Michigan native with ties and stops all over state. Got an early start in coaching, so he has a ton of head coaching experience and is not yet 60. This would be equivalent to Central Michigan’s recent hire of Andy Bronkema (Ferris St)

I honestly don’t see a downside… but would he leave? Has essentially a lifetime contract with added administrative responsibilities in recent years. Is Eastern the type of job that would make him give up a near “Mark Few” like status in the Upper Peninsula? I’m not convinced, but I think you have to make the call.

Ryan Cottingham (Head Coach Spring Arbor) Tom Izzo, Andy Bronkema, and Kim Elders. What is that list? Active head coaches in Michigan that have won a national championship. Cottingham is the fourth name on that list. The other three are not leaving. Might Cottingham consider it?

The resume is virtually identical to Hettinga’s. All-time winningest head coach at his alma mater with administrative roles in the past. Just at a smaller level. Would not be a major move geographically and would have both eyes open about the challenge in jumping up in competition.

It takes two to tango. Would he want this challenge at this point in his career? Would Eastern take the chance on a NAIA head coach? I’m skeptical on both fronts. However, I’ve long held that “ball is ball”. If you are a good enough coach to win a national championship. You can do it anywhere. Certainly, fits the Chris Creighton mold in a variety of ways.

The Mitten Men

With the challenges of this job. Michigan ties are essential. You need to know your way around the state. I don’t think anyone from the Izzo or Dusty May tree would leave this time around. Things are going too well at the moment. The pay gap in salary is getting more pronounced every year with the well financed blue bloods. So, what does that leave?

Cornell Mann (Head Coach Grand Valley St) After a slow start, is now winning at the Division II school that produced Brian Kelly on the gridiron. I place him in a different category than Hettinga because of his Division I bona fides. Has spent virtually his entire career in Division I. When he took the Grand Valley job. The rumor mill was churning hard that the Lakers would be making the jump to Division I.

That hasn’t happened yet. Does that make him more likely to jump at a Division I opportunity? Nobody on this list will have deeper Michigan recruiting and MAC ties. Has been an assistant coach on successful staffs at both Western and Central Michigan. Has also been an assistant on other staffs such as Missouri, Iowa St, and Dayton. For the longest time, the only thing that was missing from the resume was head coaching experience. That demerit has now been successfully addressed.

Nate Schmidt (Assistant Coach Iowa St) Won’t overcomplicate things here. A Ypsilanti native who is on one of hottest staffs in the nation (JR Blount just got the San Diego job) Those are pretty glaring opening bullet points on a resume. If he wants the job, not sure if anyone can top that. However, staff members leaving Ames might open up more opportunities

Furthermore, while he is a native of the area. Has been gone quite a while and does not have any MAC experience. Outside of a brief Macari Moore foray. Hasn’t appeared to recruit the area much in prior stops. Did help Nate Oats win a high school state championship at Romulus. I’m not convinced he would leave. It would definitely make for good copy and a nice press conference.

Eric Haut (Assistant Coach Utah St) Lansing native with a wealth of major college and MAC experience. Played on the 2002 Kent St Elite Eight squad. Spent much of his early career coaching at his alma mater as well. Has moved up the ranks with stops at Northern Kentucky and TCU. Things are rolling pretty good in Logan. That could go either way. If he wants to follow a red hot Jerrod Calhoun to a bigger stop, he might be reluctant to leave. Furthermore, he might stick around to see if he can get the top job at a Utah St program that probably wants some stability.

And about that Elit Eight experience. Anyone remember who the head coach of that team was? None other, than Stan Heath. I don’t think that is a deal breaker, but definitely interesting. Like Schimdt, has been away from Michigan for a significant chunk of time. In that time, hasn’t recruited the area hard.

Justin Ingram (Assistant Coach Toledo) You know who recruits Michigan hard? This long time Toledo assistant. The former Lansing Waverly and Rocket standout might be ready to move over to the big chair. As stated, not sure anyone (in state included) recruits Michigan better. Dad is a long time legendary coach at Lansing Community College. Sisters played at Michigan and Grand Valley St respectively.

Consequently, few are currently more connected to the Michigan grassroots scene. It’s more than just connections though. Absolutely grinds in recruiting. Can’t think of a Division I assistant that I see more often out on the road. The resume isn’t as varied as other candidates on this list (mainly Toledo) But if the combination of MAC and Michigan ties are desired, that could be overcame.

LaDontae Henton (Assistant Coach Georgetown) If Eastern Michigan wanted to match their colors and go the “green” route. The former Lansing Eastern star is an intriguing name with a short resume. However, that short resume comes with ample experience in the Big East conference. I was told he was a major factor in Trey McKenney’s recruitment.

If the goal is to get an assistant from a power school to jump. The recent Georgetown struggles might make him more apt to leave. That might cut both ways and cause hesitancy in Ypsilanti as well. Is five years of coaching experience enough to tackle this difficult job?

Hassan Nizam (Assistant Coach Cal St-Fullerton) Another assistant coach with deep Michigan grassroots ties. Was on a meteoric rise in the coaching ranks before the Tony Barbee Central Michigan staff was dismissed. Has successful head coaching experience on his resume at the JUCO level. Former coach with The Family on the famed EYBL circuit.

Has continued to recruit Michigan in his brief time on the West Coast. Still quite young. Like Ingram is a real grinder on the recruiting trail. Has already coached a handful of players on the current roster in AAU basketball. You don’t hire a coach based on one player. However, as a Dearborn Fordson alum. You would think his hire could encourage leading scorer Mohammad Habhad to think twice before bouncing in the portal. While sharing the same high school, he also initially recruited the standout 6-9 sophomore to Central Michigan.

Recommendation

Start with the Chris Creighton category. As the recent history shows. The “inside the box” hires aren’t working. See if Hettinga or Cottingham are interested. If they are not (strong possibility) Move onto to someone with head coaching experience. If you look at the list, that is Cornell Mann and Hassan Nizam. Then onto to group three. That sounds like a slight, but the candidates in group three are very strong as well.