Or maybe a Big Ten paycheck/prestige to attract the attention of ADs for a future head coaching gig. Or the opportunity to work for a program that actually made it to the tournament in the past decade nevertheless all the way to the National Championship game.

Even if Moser/Calhoun didn't make changes, I'm sure these guys would have still left. You don't pass those opportunities up. LU is (for better or worse right now) a mid-major with four winning seasons in 25 years. Being an assistant here is not exactly being with the Lakers. Hopefully in the near future, PM can turn this program into one so successful that jumping to NU or Memphis would be seen as lateral moves.

I hope players don't come to LU solely because of one assistant coach. And I hope Moser has enough control over the staff where we recruit kids he wants to play. It would be a real dark mark on his management record if the crew was running the ship.

But anyways, best of luck to Armon and Jason (as long as NU doesn't play us that is)!

[/quote]

If we start losing recruits and players...my hunch is that PM will not be the man to finish the turnaround. I know that losing Gates and Gardner is not his fault, personally; however, ADs fire other people before they take personal responsibility.

The bolded is true, and maybe we lose a recruit in the short term. However, I don't think players will transfer because 2 assistants left. It's a tough loss, but it shouldn't have the effect of a total regime change.

Also, considering we only have one scholarship currently available (and that might be picked up by Jared Drew soon) and one scholarship after next season (Kody Williams), we might be tight on recruiting for a while. And if a current player does transfer, it will have more to do with playing time-which the assistants don't decide. And would open up a scholly for perhaps a better player...or at the least a player that has more of a chance at contributing than the outgoing player.

Jared Drew? The St. Louis transfer?

If that's who you're talking about, that would be nice. I'm not sure if this story/discussion has been posted on Ramblermania before, but would he be eligible to play for us right away? I know he was redshirted at St. Louis...

Yes, I think it has its own thread. We're one of his finalists, although he hasn't made a decision yet. And as for his eligibility, whoever picks him up will petition the NCAA to get him to play right away. So it's a big IF on whether the kid plays next year.

I am always a glass half full guy ...so, did Porter hire both of the assistants who are leaving? If so, maybe it speaks well to his ability to evaluate and attract assistant coaching talent. Good managers generally have succession plans ... hopefully Porter has a plan in place given the high level of coaching turnover. It is just unfortunate to have two happen at once!

The emerging narrative on Ramblermania about the mass exodus of the assistant coaches seems to consist of these themes: 1. It is in one sense a good thing because it reflects favorably on the high caliber of the staff Moser hired; 2. It is the unavoidable result of the high cost of living in Chicago; 3. It's roots predate the Moser/Calhoun era when the athletic department was a neglected orphan of the university. 4. It is just the nature of the coaching profession for assistants to seek better opportunities; it happens everywhere.

All of these themes have an element of truth to them, but they all ignore the role Moser's relationship with the assistants may have played in their deciding to seek other opportunities.

I don't claim to know what that relationship was, but just looking at the rate at which Moser is burning through assistants (5 in 2 years), I've got to think there may be a problem.

One problem may be the perception of a lack of loyalty in the basketball program. Moser was ruthless in purging unwanted players from the roster, and he didn't hesitate to throw Rodell Davis overboard to make room for Rick Malnati.

I have got to think that these actions communicate the message that it's every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost, and that might explain why Moser's assistants seem so eager to leave for greener pastures.

The simplest explanation is probably right: Assistant coaches want to move up and earn more money.

Here's the resume of Daniyal Robinson, who was mentioned in the ESPN.com story as a likely addition to the staff:

2010-13 (?) Houston, assistant coach
2008-10 Iowa State, assistant coach
2007-08 UALR, assistant coach
2003-07 Illinois State, assistant coach
2000-03 UALR, administrative assistant

If you add Loyola in 2013, that's six stops in 14 years.

_________________
MBB Scholarship Chart

The only first-hand knowledge I have about Moser's relationship with his assistants was from watching the open practice last year.

I don't know if all practices were conducted the same way, but at the open practice Moser was the only coach who opened his mouth. The assistants were stationed like tin soldiers around the court and stood silent the entire practice; the only time they moved was to retrieve an errant ball that came their way.

From my perspective, it was dehumanizing to watch the assistants in what was apparently their assigned role as silent observers and disciples of the master.

I may have come away with an entirely wrong impression, but if that was the way things worked the entire year, I would want out of there too if I was an assistant.