Bad Timing...Baldwin Gone

hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
37,206
1,064
113
Wonder who the replacement will be? The downside of having solid assistants
 

Gocatsgo2003

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2006
46,609
2,972
78
I know he will be missed, but let's be happy for him and wish him the best in his new job. Congratulations, Pat.

I'm a Northwestern fan. Baldwin leaving sucks for NU, both because he's a good coach and has ties to some top prospects (including his own son).
 

lou v

All-Conference
Staff member
Aug 27, 2004
17,519
1,959
98

First of all, we should be happy for good old No. 23. He just helped lead his alma mater to the Promised Land. It's the perfect time to take a head coaching job. He's ready.

I don't think it's that bad for NU, either. Collins will land a good assistant, I'm sure. How many guys have a better coaching network than he does? Plus, having an assistant get a head job is a positive for NU in the long run. It makes an assistant job that much more attractive. It's also the mark of having a successful program.

It's too bad it happened on the day that THT is in Campus, but it was going to happen sooner or later. He certainly wasn't going to be around for four more years until his son graduated from high school.
 

rwhitney014

Sophomore
Dec 5, 2007
5,246
180
27
Congrats to Pat, who undoubtedly will remain purple at heart while he's up the road in MKE.

Stinks for our own acute recruiting purposes, but I do agree with Lou on some of the upside it could represent. Now it's an opportunity to bring someone else into the fold as well to help take that next step.

Also, screw Ohio State. It's always their fault.
 

olsh

Sophomore
Oct 6, 2001
3,553
159
63
Congrats to Coach Baldwin. Two people I was most happy for this year were Pat and Dave Eanet. Dave just for the sheer anguish of being such a great voice of the Cats for so many years (and being a great guy) ... and Pat for being such a great ambassador of the Purple since his playing days. I'm sure it was truly special for him to be part of what happened last year. I wish him the best in his first HC gig and best of luck in anything he does.

Now let's get Coach TH back in Purple where he belongs.
 

TheC

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
19,092
1,164
62
This is good for NU. Pat needs to go out and get head coaching experience so that he can come back to NU when Coach Collins gets hired away to the Cavs by Lebron.
 

SmellyCat

Junior
May 29, 2001
7,290
340
83
I am THRILLED for my all-time favorite Wildcat hoopster. I'll be sad to see him go, but he earned a nice opportunity and I wish nothing but the best for him.
 
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winnetkat1

Redshirt
May 29, 2001
277
11
0

Sorry to hear it, but congratulations Pat!
I thought I saw him in the NU crowd from some of the TV shots. I'll admit to wondering at the time whether that meant the bridge is not burned.

Hardy's team was playing in the NIT, but he still found a day to fly out to SLC to root for the Wildcats and chat with fans like us at the Thursday after-party. His blood still runs purple!
 

Kelly_32_rivals

All-American
Dec 12, 2004
9,832
5,443
0
I'm happy for Coach Baldwin. I've had the opportunity to talk to him a couple of times and you can tell that he's a good man.

Anxious to see who comes next. It's a great thing when your program has enough to success that your assistant coaches start getting looks. Coach Gates will make a really good head coach sooner than later.
 

Alvious

Junior
Sep 6, 2010
2,629
340
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Just heard a local Milwaukee radio host talking about Baldwin, saying he was part of the 'Well-respected Northwestern basketball program, which has made huge strides the last few years".
 

NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,326
1,500
113
Just heard a local Milwaukee radio host talking about Baldwin, saying he was part of the 'Well-respected Northwestern basketball program, which has made huge strides the last few years".

"Well-respected Northwestern Basketball program".......words I'd never thought I'd read in a single sentence.......I can die a happy man now.
 

EvanstonCat

Senior
May 29, 2001
50,759
762
73
Congrats to Coach Baldwin. Two people I was most happy for this year were Pat and Dave Eanet. Dave just for the sheer anguish of being such a great voice of the Cats for so many years (and being a great guy) ... and Pat for being such a great ambassador of the Purple since his playing days. I'm sure it was truly special for him to be part of what happened last year. I wish him the best in his first HC gig and best of luck in anything he does.

Now let's get Coach TH back in Purple where he belongs.

Congrats to Pat.

I'll bet anything that Collins remains inside the family on this one. It's the Duke way. If not Hardy, who else could be a candidate? Jitim? I suppose things may be different now than when he joined - in that he and Gates and James are all NU guys now, so maybe he goes outside. If not an NU guy, then it'll be a Duke guy though.
 

rwhitney014

Sophomore
Dec 5, 2007
5,246
180
27
Congrats to Pat.

I'll bet anything that Collins remains inside the family on this one. It's the Duke way. If not Hardy, who else could be a candidate? Jitim? I suppose things may be different now than when he joined - in that he and Gates and James are all NU guys now, so maybe he goes outside. If not an NU guy, then it'll be a Duke guy though.

I could see a call to Billy Donlon as well, given the story we heard between those two last year. I'm not sure if there are unwritten rules between interconference assistant coaching, though.
 

Napcat

Redshirt
Nov 23, 2016
200
5
18
Congrats to Coach Baldwin on well deserved hire, will now available Greg Paulus' name will be in replacement mix?
 

Sec_112

Sophomore
Jun 17, 2001
6,598
194
63
Good call, Saluki. Paulus is free agent now, right?

This hire will be interesting. Does CC want a guy he's familiar with? Is he looking for an NU guy? Maybe he wants a Chicago guy?
 

CappyNU

Junior
Mar 2, 2004
5,151
316
83
Good call, Saluki. Paulus is free agent now, right?

This hire will be interesting. Does CC want a guy he's familiar with? Is he looking for an NU guy? Maybe he wants a Chicago guy?
Ugh, I do not want to have to cheer for a team that employs Paulus, there has to be anyone else to be an assistant.
 

purplejustice

Redshirt
Jan 2, 2006
1,074
43
48
Baldwin is a class act and I am pleased to see him land a head coaching job. A credit to him and to Collins. I wish him lots of luck. I will miss watching his son compete at an area high school. I saw him play a couple of times at FAAM. I am sure CC will keep him on his radar.
 

purplebirder

Redshirt
May 29, 2001
326
9
18
Teddy G. reports in today's Chicago Trib that Chris Collins would like to hire Michigan assistant Billy Donlon
 

FeliSilvestris

Redshirt
Oct 21, 2004
3,493
22
0
Ugh, I do not want to have to cheer for a team that employs Paulus, there has to be anyone else to be an assistant.
What's wrong with Paulus? CCC should know him VERY well. If CCC brings him on board, Paulus should be completely "clean".
Apparently he is already HC-material(<---), at the (strong) mid-major level (which is about the level that PB had).
 

Deeringfish

All-Conference
Jun 23, 2008
21,018
1,288
63
What an amazing story. Would be great if these three could be reunited!
From the feel good perspective I agree but at some point it also seems like a little bit narrow. I think there is some value in having a more diverse leadership team. These two are like two peas in a pod.
 

Gocatsgo2003

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2006
46,609
2,972
78
From the feel good perspective I agree but at some point it also seems like a little bit narrow. I think there is some value in having a more diverse leadership team. These two are like two peas in a pod.

And seem to be two damn good basketball coaches. You think Gates is just going to rest on his laurels?
 

Napcat

Redshirt
Nov 23, 2016
200
5
18
Great article on Donlon from high school, sounds like he would be a perfect fit.