By now, most fans have heard about the resignation of Coach Tim LaKose so the SJSU women's basketball team is without a captain. It won't take much convincing that there is a longtime hex on SJSU hoops.
First, we're obviously not privy to the cause of the resignation but here's hoping LaKose is able to return to the coaching ranks when it is appropriate and he is ready to do so. He certainly demonstrated a major talent for getting his teams to play hard and be competitive in a very short period of time.
Second, who should be among the candidates considered for replacing him?
Archbishop Mitty High's Sue Phillips is a national known coaching figure, is involved in the AAU ranks (San Jose Cagers) and, most recently, was the head coach of the 2013 United States women's under-16 national team. Phillips was also the lead assistant at Cal in 2000 so the college coaching ranks wouldn't be completely new to her.
The biggest question would be does she desire to take on a new and different undertaking at this point in her life? Where her career is now has to be looking pretty good to her.
But at least she wouldn't have to move.
The other name that comes quickly to mind is Renee Jimenez, formerly the head coach at Cal State Monterey Bay. Her record there:
2009: 11-15, 6-14, 9th
2010: 18-9,14-8, 4th, CCAA Tournament
2011: 27-4, 20-2, 1st, NCAA Regional Semifinals
2012: 21-9, 15-7, 2nd, NCAA Regionals
2013: 20-9, 15-7, 3rd, NCAA Regional Semifinals
And this is a program with few, if any, scholarships to offer.
Jimenez interned with Tara VanDerveer at Stanford and also worked as an assistant at San Diego State so she has some DI experience.
In May, she resigned to take the head coach position at CSU San Bernardino. Here is her biography at that site.
Kevin, I know Renee and she's a stand-up person and a great coach. I don't think that she would leave her new program in a lurch by bolting to SJS at this time. She's at a very good D-II program and she'll probably be there at least 3 years. I expect that Renee will be a D1 coach after that. But her desire is to shepherd a D1 program that is already successful and built. I don't believe she has any desire for a reclamation project like SJS. She would naturally go to a place like SCU, UOP or Cal. I think her dream job is Stanford (whos' isn't?). SJS will have to look elsewhere for Tim's replacement.
ReplyDeleteThere is a guy from the West Coast named Jeff Harada who is now on the East Coast at Navy. They have won the last 3 Patriot League titles and have played in the the last 3 NCAA Tournaments. Before Navy he was the head coach at DII Hawaii Pacific University where he transformed a 2-win program (similar to SJSU) to conference champions in 3 years. I know most of his players were from California and he has tons of ties in the Bay Area. Would he be a possibility, especially at this time of year. Not sure if he would leave a top program like Navy at this time either though.
ReplyDeleteif you are talking about the Navy women's coach you have the wrong name. Stefanie Pemper is the women's coach.....west coast roots....TREMENDOUS coach...it's all academic now, however since SJSU has filled the job
DeleteAdrian Wiggins should be sought out. They should ride out the year with an interim and bringhm in to build the program
ReplyDelete