Would Chris Collins Leave For Any Job Besides Duke?

[ExecutivePILE]

Interested to hear the opinion of Wildcat fans on this. From afar, I think that Collins is a big-time up and comer and I know his roots are out of Chicago and that rebuilding another strong academic power is about as good as it gets for Collins to position himself to eventually replace Coach K. I would guess that he is competing against Wojo/Marquette and potentially Bob Hurley/Arizona St. (amongst others) in the long run for the Duke job.

Is the consensus that Collins is a great fit at Northwestern? And if so, is there fear that Collins would jump at an attractive opportunity if it came across before Duke?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

There's always a chance a coach will leave, and I think Collins eventually will. But I don't think it will be any time soon. The truth is he has not yet accomplished enough here to garner the kind of offer that would tempt him, and he seems committed to seeing through the job he came for. That is, getting NU on the kind of footing where we can compete for an NCAA berth every year. I think he's here at least another 4-5 years.

 

[ExecutivePILE]

There's always a chance a coach will leave, and I think Collins eventually will. But I don't think it will be any time soon. The truth is he has not yet accomplished enough here to garner the kind of offer that would tempt him, and he seems committed to seeing through the job he came for. That is, getting NU on the kind of footing where we can compete for an NCAA berth every year. I think he's here at least another 4-5 years.

I would bet that Coach K has let it be known to his tree that they can NEVER take a job at another ACC school. Which will help you all retain Collins once he gets to the Tourney this year.

 

[NJCat83588]

I would bet that Coach K has let it be known to his tree that they can NEVER take a job at another ACC school. Which will help you all retain Collins once he gets to the Tourney this year.

I don't think NU has to worry about Collins leaving after this season because NU isn't going to make the NCAA tournament this year.

I do worry that Collins has underestimated just how hard it is to win at NU. Yes, he has improved recruiting dramatically, but only from the worst in the league to at best mid-pack. Still a pretty big hill to climb, hope he doesn't burn out.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

I would bet that Coach K has let it be known to his tree that they can NEVER take a job at another ACC school. Which will help you all retain Collins once he gets to the Tourney this year.

Brey is already competing with him in the ACC, but he might have taken the ND job before they were members of the ACC. Still, I doubt Coach K would ever make such a proclamation knowing that he could never enforce it, and it would make him seem like an insecure jerk.

 

[NJCat83588]

it would make him seem like an insecure jerk.

You mean, instead of just a jerk, as he already seems to be?

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

You mean, instead of just a jerk, as he already seems to be?

I've actually met Coach K on multiple occasions in the past. I can assure you, in my mind he is neither a insecure jerk or a jerk. In fact he is really a personable guy who will take time out to talk about many things with you other than basketball.

I don't know where all this comes from but I have a feeling it might be in some peoples deep seated dislike for his mentor, Bobby Knight. Maybe his success breeds this feeling in some of us. He is actually a really good guy.

 

[ExecutivePILE]

Brey is already competing with him in the ACC, but he might have taken the ND job before they were members of the ACC. Still, I doubt Coach K would ever make such a proclamation knowing that he could never enforce it, and it would make him seem like an insecure jerk.

Mike Brey has been at Notre Dame since Matt Doherty left in 2000, long before they joined the ACC in 2013-2014.

A Duke grad/huge fan from the area told me he was under the impression that Coach K had a private rule with his former captains/assistant coaches that they would never be welcomed back to Durham if they ever took a job in the ACC. Coach K (who I am actually huge fan of) is known for his controlling, sort of selfish, paranoid ways. It's part of his greatness. But he is not perfect.

 

[ExecutivePILE]

I've actually met Coach K on multiple occasions in the past. I can assure you, in my mind he is neither a insecure jerk or a jerk. In fact he is really a personable guy who will take time out to talk about many things with you other than basketball.

I don't know where all this comes from but I have a feeling it might be in some peoples deep seated dislike for his mentor, Bobby Knight. Maybe his success breeds this feeling in some of us. He is actually a really good guy.

I would agree that overall he is a really good guy and very personable. But when it comes to his relationships specifically with his inner circle, he is the DON and has a different set of rules.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

I think Collins is pretty dedicated to turning this NU program around, and he has a lot of reasons to stay (recruiting uptick, he's from the area along with the majority of his close family, etc.). I am confident he is going to be able to meet that goal, and I don't think he would leave before that is done.

Once he gets the program to an NCAA tournament and consistently in the hunt for it each year, then it will be interesting to see what happens. If Duke came calling, I am sure he would likely jump at it. However, it really comes down to the type of person he is and the goals that he has. Does he want to take over a program that was just led by a legend, is already well established, and the expectation is to compete for a national title year in and year out. Or does he want to try and do for a school (NU in this case) what Coach K did for Duke and turn a not so special program into a national power. Basically, become the Coach K of Northwestern.

I truly think that unless something happens where he has a negative turn with the administration or gets zero movement on facility upgrades in the coming years (which I think he will), then I don't think he would leave NU for any job other than Duke. And as I said, I think he would probably leave for Duke, but it really comes down to what is important for him. Because the reality is that while Duke is his alma mater and a national powerhouse, Northwestern is a great fit for him in a lot of ways both professionally and personally as well.

 

[hdhntr1]

I think Collins is pretty dedicated to turning this NU program around, and he has a lot of reasons to stay (recruiting uptick, he's from the area along with the majority of his close family, etc.). I am confident he is going to be able to meet that goal, and I don't think he would leave before that is done.

Once he gets the program to an NCAA tournament and consistently in the hunt for it each year, then it will be interesting to see what happens. If Duke came calling, I am sure he would likely jump at it. However, it really comes down to the type of person he is and the goals that he has. Does he want to take over a program that was just led by a legend, is already well established, and the expectation is to compete for a national title year in and year out. Or does he want to try and do for a school (NU in this case) what Coach K did for Duke and turn a not so special program into a national power. Basically, become the Coach K of Northwestern.

I truly think that unless something happens where he has a negative turn with the administration or gets zero movement on facility upgrades in the coming years (which I think he will), then I don't think he would leave NU for any job other than Duke. And as I said, I think he would probably leave for Duke, but it really comes down to what is important for him. Because the reality is that while Duke is his alma mater and a national powerhouse, Northwestern is a great fit for him in a lot of ways both professionally and personally as well.

Awfully hard to follow the legend.

 

[TejasCat]

I've actually met Coach K on multiple occasions in the past. I can assure you, in my mind he is neither a insecure jerk or a jerk. In fact he is really a personable guy who will take time out to talk about many things with you other than basketball.

I don't know where all this comes from but I have a feeling it might be in some peoples deep seated dislike for his mentor, Bobby Knight. Maybe his success breeds this feeling in some of us. He is actually a really good guy.

He skipped shaking hands with half of the Syracuse team after their 3rd straight loss last night. Classy.

 

[NJCat83588]

He skipped shaking hands with half of the Syracuse team after their 3rd straight loss last night. Classy.

Yep. That's why I think he's a jerk. He may be a great guy off the court, but he is a foul-mouthed whiner on it. He was pissed that they didn't call a shooting foul on the last possession and acted like a spoiled brat.

 

[MysticCat]

20 games into his third year and he doesn't have a single quality win all season!

Don't think he's on anybody's short list.

 

[EvanstonCat]

20 games into his third year and he doesn't have a single quality win all season!

Don't think he's on anybody's short list.

He's had some quality wins before and we're just in the first parts of this season. Give it a rest. If he was on the market, he'd surely be offered a job at a school better than Holy Cross.