Which basketball coaching job is the most desirable long term? (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

Let's say all of these jobs were open to a college coach, which one would be the most appealing job to have, taking into consideration the game itself, the money, tradition, and job security.

Duke

Kentucky

North Carolina

L A Lakers

Boston Celtics

NY Knicks

 

[dparker713]

Celtics - Rondo is a nice start

Lakers - gets a ding for the new/muddled ownership plus having no talent

NC - best chance for a truly stable job, but I like cities

Duke - might be unsustainable without Coach K

Kentucky - crazy expectations

Knicks - Dolan

 

[Doctor Detroit]

None of the pro jobs

 

[xulf]

Duke

 

[gump]

Any of the 3 college jobs, but I went with UNC because it's fanbase is in the middle of the other two size-wise and I think it's more easily sustainable there than Duke.

 

[Da Guru]

If you are successful...any of them.

 

[TLEF316]

Duke is easily the least desirable on this list in terms of college jobs.

If "long term" means I'm guaranteed not to get fired for 5 years (key in the case of LA because I need to know I get at least 2 or 3 years after Kobe is gone) , I'm going with.....

Lakers

Celtics

Kentucky

UNC

Duke

Knicks

 

[JohnnyU]

I would rank them as follows:

Kentucky

Duke

UNC

Celtics

Lakers

Knicks

I personally don't see any pro job I would take over any of those 3 college jobs. The NBA isn't as popular as the college game and I would think coaching college kids is a lot more rewarding than coaching pro players. Let's put it this way, if the star pro player doesn't like you, then you don't get to coach his team. The owner / gm will take the side of the star player 100 out 100 times. That by itself tells me that a college job at one of those 3 traditional powerhouse programs is a much better job than any NBA coaching job could ever be.

 

[xulf]

Duke is easily the least desirable on this list in terms of college jobs.

If "long term" means I'm guaranteed not to get fired for 5 years (key in the case of LA because I need to know I get at least 2 or 3 years after Kobe is gone) , I'm going with.....

Lakers

Celtics

Kentucky

UNC

Duke

Knicks

Dukes name alone will draw talent and buy you a few years.

 

[Juxtatarot]

No top pro coach switches to college by choice. That should tell you something.

 

[JohnnyU]

No top pro coach switches to college by choice. That should tell you something.

I think it's a different type of coach altogether. The pro coach doesn't coach as much IMO as the college coach and he has to understand how to just let them play their game instead of trying to do too much. You know, just like Pitino tried to do in Boston.

 

[17seconds]

Duke? The bulk of their legacy is under Coach K and you'd be following him. My last choice.

I'd say Lakers. Because 1) it's a legendary pro team, 2) not quite the hot seat of NYC or Boston because of east coast fans and media.

 

[dparker713]

I would rank them as follows:

Kentucky

Duke

UNC

Celtics

Lakers

Knicks

I personally don't see any pro job I would take over any of those 3 college jobs. The NBA isn't as popular as the college game and I would think coaching college kids is a lot more rewarding than coaching pro players. Let's put it this way, if the star pro player doesn't like you, then you don't get to coach his team. The owner / gm will take the side of the star player 100 out 100 times. That by itself tells me that a college job at one of those 3 traditional powerhouse programs is a much better job than any NBA coaching job could ever be.

Sure, jobs are more secure in college, atleast somewhat. However, if you fail in the NBA, your career prospects are likely better than if you fail at a top college program. Tubby Smith had to go all the way down to Minnesota - and he won a national championship. Doherty sunk all the way to Florida Atlantic. Pro guys can be in the mix for other pro jobs and will always find someplace to land in the college ranks if they want.

 

[Juxtatarot]

No top pro coach switches to college by choice. That should tell you something.

I think it's a different type of coach altogether. The pro coach doesn't coach as much IMO as the college coach and he has to understand how to just let them play their game instead of trying to do too much. You know, just like Pitino tried to do in Boston.

I don't think Popovich and Thibodeau would agree.

 

[Eephus]

Comparing pro and college coaching is like apples and pears. Larry Brown is the only person with championships in both disciplines but the "long term" in the poll question disqualifies him from weighing in. There have been a few others like Jack Ramsay (RIP) and Chuck Daly (RIP) who graduated from successful college coaches at small programs. Maybe Brad Stevens (still alive as of the end of the regular season) will join them someday. But the guys who went from high profile college gigs to the NBA have generally failed. Very few pro coaches have moved in the other direction.

Mayor Hoiberg seems to be a hot name this off-season.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Kentucky - crazy expectations, but crazy resources too

UNC - high expectations, high resources

Duke - will be very difficult to follow Coach K, and will be difficult to continue to attract kids who value a Duke education, and can play at a high level. But, of the three college jobs, might be the lowest expectations from an AD, hence potential for longer gig with lower results.

Knicks - maybe Jackson can entice FAs, and run interference from Dolan

Celtics - passionate fan base, if you can deliver. East does not have much in the way, once you get beyond MIami

Lakers - dysfunctional ownership, aging/injured former star player, been passed by Clippers as team in LA, too proud to realize they are no longer relevant and will burn through coaches, as if that's the reason....

 

[jon_mx]

I kind of think the UCLA job is a pretty good one. Great legacy and a great recruiting base without a lot of competition. Probably the easiest place to win and at least have some moderate tourny success without too much pressure to win it all.

 

[randall146]

I'm a Duke and Celt fans, but . . .

UNC - Resources, tradition, UNC name recruits for itself, good recruiting pool, passionate fan base, unlikely to turn on a coach quickly

UK - Same as UNC, but coach on a shorter leash

Duke - Program more tied to Coach K than UNC and UK are tied to Roy or Cal, success will be more difficult to sustain, will be harder to recruit if not immediately successful, and somewhat lesser recruiting pool due to supposedly higher standards

I see all the NBA programs as basically the same, other than how desirable each it to free agents, so for me they rank

LAL

Knicks

Celts

 

[Hooper31]

Kansas

 

[AAABatteries]

It came down to Carolina or Kentucky for me. I'd rather live in Chapel Hill than Lexington.

I agree with others about not wanting to follow Coach K and not 100% certain it's sustainable once he's gone.

Pros don't interest me. Season is WAY too long and it's really tough to win in the NBA consistently without a superstar (or two). Not to mention - college coeds!

 

[otello]

You got the Knicks, and chicks....

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I kind of think the UCLA job is a pretty good one. Great legacy and a great recruiting base without a lot of competition. Probably the easiest place to win and at least have some moderate tourny success without too much pressure to win it all.

Yeah I think I'd pick UCLA over UK, Duke, or UNC. Just not having to deal with completely crazy fans is a plus, and the weather is better.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Celtics have a ton of first round picks over the next few years due to some trades, primarily with Brooklyn.

College jobs these days are a grind as recruiting is such a huge factor in your success. If you are lucky enough to get a top prospect, enjoy the one year you get out of him before they go pro. Plus you have to deal with the NCAA and all of those rules.

 

[Tom Hagen]

I would rank them as follows:

Kentucky

Duke

UNC

Celtics

Lakers

Knicks

I personally don't see any pro job I would take over any of those 3 college jobs. The NBA isn't as popular as the college game and I would think coaching college kids is a lot more rewarding than coaching pro players. Let's put it this way, if the star pro player doesn't like you, then you don't get to coach his team. The owner / gm will take the side of the star player 100 out 100 times. That by itself tells me that a college job at one of those 3 traditional powerhouse programs is a much better job than any NBA coaching job could ever be.

On the other hand, NBA coaches don't have to go into people's living rooms begging high school kids to come play for them, only to start over the next year when the kid leaves after one season.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Celtics have a ton of first round picks over the next few years due to some trades, primarily with Brooklyn.

College jobs these days are a grind as recruiting is such a huge factor in your success. If you are lucky enough to get a top prospect, enjoy the one year you get out of him before they go pro. Plus you have to deal with the NCAA and all of those rules.

Pro jobs are all win now basically with very few exceptions (Stevens being one of them). Stevens could have not made the NCAA tourney for ten years at Butler and he would have never been fired. NBA has tons of travel, pro athletes who have certain needs, and constant pressure from the fans and owner. You can have an off year in the NCAA, if you have good players in the pros and you aren't winning, you're done.

 

[AAABatteries]

Nice pole by the way - results are very close. I think there's a genuine split on whether the NBA or College is better. The big thing to me is 30-35 games >>>> 80-100 games. And all that travel would get old.

 

[BobbyLayne]

This seems about right, but I think the college game offers the chance to turn around a bad team quicker. Of course, your studs will leave after a year or two, so it's never ending.

1. Duke (11 votes [21.15%] - View)
2. North Carolina (11 votes [21.15%] - View)
   
   
3. 
   Kentucky (11 votes [21.15%] - View)
   
   
4. L A Lakers (11 votes [21.15%] - View)
   

 

[Sinn Fein]

I don't understand why anyone would vote for the Lakers - its a terrible gig right now, and there are no quick turnarounds in the NBA.

List of Laker coaches since 1981*:

Riley

Dunleavy

Pfund

Harris

Rambis

Jackson

Tomjanovich

Hamblen

Brown

D'Antoni

Out of that list, you have two greats in Riley and Jackson, and then a bunch of meh

*not including interim coaches

Then you have to consider the current roster - which is terrible, an ownership situation that is no longer one of the league's best, a "star" player in Kobe who is difficult, at best, to work with, and who is injured and aging, the team is no longer a FA destination - no matter what kind of cap space they have. They are 5-6 years away from being relevant again, and that assumes they make smart decisions from now until then.

And while the Lakers toil in mediocrity, the Clippers will be under new ownership, and will be the team in LA

 

[AAABatteries]

I think the appeal of the Lakers is that it's 1. the Lakers 2. Los Angeles 3. Showtime

I'm not sure anybody is picking LA based on their current team setup.

 

[pollardsvision]

I hate to go against my alma mater, but I'd pick Kentucky over UNC.

There's not much to separate the jobs, really, so honestly being next to Keeneland and not far from Churchill would make a slight difference for me.

Another very slight difference I think is the added stability of the SEC. I think the ACC is plenty stable, but there is some potential there for some conference turmoil, small as it may be, that just doesn't exist for the SEC.

I'd probably take UCLA as well.

I think you have to take a shorter view of the pro jobs, and consider current roster, cap flexibility, and current ownership/management.

Right now, it goes BOS, LAL, NYK.

In couple years, when (hopefully) Kobe's on the way out, another coach or 2 has been fired, some big FA's might be coming available (if LA has any cap space still), it goes to the top of this list. Little Buss makes everything less desirable though.

For this question, I'm going:

Kentucky

UNC

BOS

LAL

NYK

Duke

 

[Thorpe]

Knicks are the top job. You aren't following a legend like some of the other places, and the owner has very deep pockets. Once the bad salaries are off the books an a year or two, you will be able to build a winner.

Lakers are the next best job, but I would not want to coach an aging Kobe, and the Lakers management has not been good for a while.

Celtics - basketball is Boston's 3rd or 4th favorite sport.

The college jobs - I would rather sign my superstar players to a 5 year deal than have to rely on a different set of freshmen every year.

 

[Short Corner]

Given the current status of each club, I would go

NYK

BOS

LAL

 

[whoknew]

Nice pole by the way - results are very close. I think there's a genuine split on whether the NBA or College is better. The big thing to me is 30-35 games >>>> 80-100 games. And all that travel would get old.

I'd take that over recruiting any day. Recruiting would be terrible.

 

[gump]

Nice pole by the way - results are very close. I think there's a genuine split on whether the NBA or College is better. The big thing to me is 30-35 games >>>> 80-100 games. And all that travel would get old.

I'd take that over recruiting any day. Recruiting would be terrible.

That's where the personality differences come in...many coaches love recruiting.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I don't understand why anyone would vote for the Lakers - its a terrible gig right now, and there are no quick turnarounds in the NBA.

Players will come to LA. The Kobe era will end in the next year or two. I think Gasol's contract comes off the books too as well as Nash after next year. They will end up with Love and another star I'm sure.

 

[timschochet]

Lakers easily #1. The only comparable job in America is manager of the New York Yankees. None of the others are really close.

 

[Short Corner]

I don't understand why anyone would vote for the Lakers - its a terrible gig right now, and there are no quick turnarounds in the NBA.

Players will come to LA. The Kobe era will end in the next year or two. I think Gasol's contract comes off the books too as well as Nash after next year. They will end up with Love and another star I'm sure.

The problem is they have no cap flexibility either. They will be basically playing with a hard cap.

 

[B-Deep]

When was the last time an NBA coach stuck around with a team for 25 years

 

[BobbyLayne]

When was the last time an NBA coach stuck around with a team for 25 years

Jerry Sloan has been retired 3 years.

Five years is a helluva run for any NBA coach. 8-10 years [ETA: w/ the same team] puts you in rarefied air.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I don't understand why anyone would vote for the Lakers - its a terrible gig right now, and there are no quick turnarounds in the NBA.

Players will come to LA. The Kobe era will end in the next year or two. I think Gasol's contract comes off the books too as well as Nash after next year. They will end up with Love and another star I'm sure.

The problem is they have no cap flexibility either. They will be basically playing with a hard cap.

Won't all the bad contracts be off the books in 2 years? Nash, Pau, Kobe and who else?

 

[Eephus]

When was the last time an NBA coach stuck around with a team for 25 years

College coaching is the way to go if longevity is your goal. The career path on the pro side is to coach for a while, move to the front office or broadcasting for a while, rinse, repeat.

 

[B-Deep]

When was the last time an NBA coach stuck around with a team for 25 years

College coaching is the way to go if longevity is your goal. The career path on the pro side is to coach for a while, move to the front office or broadcasting for a while, rinse, repeat.

I agree, though sloan was a good call

when the title said "long term" i think that it is easier to stay long term at a college than the pros. Either place you obviously have to be successful, but it seem longevity is on the ncaa side. If nothing else you cannot have a player run you out, which we know can happen in the nba.

 

[B-Deep]

Boeheim has been at 'cuse 37 years, holy crap. I knew it was forever, but that number is just ####### huge

 

[Short Corner]

I don't understand why anyone would vote for the Lakers - its a terrible gig right now, and there are no quick turnarounds in the NBA.

Players will come to LA. The Kobe era will end in the next year or two. I think Gasol's contract comes off the books too as well as Nash after next year. They will end up with Love and another star I'm sure.

The problem is they have no cap flexibility either. They will be basically playing with a hard cap.

Won't all the bad contracts be off the books in 2 years? Nash, Pau, Kobe and who else?

Nope, that's it. The problem is that is ALL of the contracts.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Lakers easily #1. The only comparable job in America is manager of the New York Yankees. None of the others are really close.

Do you really believe this, or were your hands just randomly hitting keys?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Which one makes the most money?

 

[jon_mx]

Lakers easily #1. The only comparable job in America is manager of the New York Yankees. None of the others are really close.

Do you really believe this, or were your hands just randomly hitting keys?

You have to understand Tim's man-crush on Kobe.

 

[FUBAR]

I would rank them as follows:

Kentucky

Duke

UNC

Celtics

Lakers

Knicks

I personally don't see any pro job I would take over any of those 3 college jobs. The NBA isn't as popular as the college game and I would think coaching college kids is a lot more rewarding than coaching pro players. Let's put it this way, if the star pro player doesn't like you, then you don't get to coach his team. The owner / gm will take the side of the star player 100 out 100 times. That by itself tells me that a college job at one of those 3 traditional powerhouse programs is a much better job than any NBA coaching job could ever be.

Agreed. Although I'd take UNC and Kansas over Duke.

 

[Short Corner]

Lakers easily #1. The only comparable job in America is manager of the New York Yankees. None of the others are really close.

Do you really believe this, or were your hands just randomly hitting keys?

You have to understand Tim's man-crush on Kobe rapists.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

I think UNC and KY are the best two out of that group. Virtually no questions about being able to recruit and compete every year.

After that I'd probably look at Duke, but my guess is that it's going to be harder to maintain their success after Coach K.

None of the three NBA jobs is particularly appealing at the moment as all three are looking at various stages of rebuilding in the immediate future.