Bob Richey

[Fessor]

Niko with his work cut out for him at CSU that's for sure

Can't think of anything I care about less.

[gman]

I am afraid we will not be able to keep him. There are already several coaches that have been let go at bigger schools. I am not sure he will be back next year which would be devastating. I would say it's 50/50 at best.

And this is based on what evidence other than there have been multiple P5 coaches let go...which happens every year?

This season drew a lot of attention to FU and CBR. They will be coming for him for sure. FU has shown no ability to keep hot coaches in football or basketball.

It’s been a while since we had a “hot” coach in either sport. Coach Richey has changed that.

[fufanatic]

Can you imagine a mid-major school losing two head coaches in a row without either leading the team to the NCAAs? That would be stunning and remarkable. I hope BR - unlike NM - wants to finish the job before moving on.

[tya1]

I have not been more high on any coach Furman has ever had in any sport. I would vote for him for President of the School. That he can coach basketball is an added plus. Seriously, a guy who is a great life coach as well as basketball coach.

Totally agree!! We need to send Niko a thank you note for leaving!

Niko deserves plenty of thanks for doing a terrific job revitalizing the program.

This season drew a lot of attention to FU and CBR. They will be coming for him for sure. FU has shown no ability to keep hot coaches in football or basketball.

Dick Sheridan and Bobby Johnson each left after eight years as head coach and after making the national championship game. If BR leaves after eight years, multiple SoCon titles, and a Final Four appearance I suppose we will have to deal with it.

[apaladin]

I am afraid we will not be able to keep him. There are already several coaches that have been let go at bigger schools. I am not sure he will be back next year which would be devastating. I would say it's 50/50 at best.

And this is based on what evidence other than there have been multiple P5 coaches let go...which happens every year?

This season drew a lot of attention to FU and CBR. They will be coming for him for sure. FU has shown no ability to keep hot coaches in football or basketball.

It’s been a while since we had a “hot” coach in either sport. Coach Richey has changed that.

Wasn't really talking about head coaches exclusively. Didn't we lose both football coordinators this year?

[purplehorse]

I give Niko credit for revitalizing the basketball program. Unfortunately that is in part negated by the timing of his departure.

[DungeonRealm]

Bob Richey 48–19 (.716)

That includes the Saint Peter's CIT semifinal game

[ksummerlin]

Richey gets it. Furman doesn't have enough local alumni to sustain a true mid-major contender year after year. We need the larger Greenville community to think of Furman as 'our local team' -- at least in basketball. We will never reach that level in football because of Clemson and to a lesser degree SC. But basketball in this area is wide open.

This year is a step in that direction. We just need to follow though and build on this year.

[cavedweller2]

I see BR as Basketball Dabo at Clemson. If they are smart enough to hire him.

[FUBeAR]

I am afraid we will not be able to keep him. There are already several coaches that have been let go at bigger schools. I am not sure he will be back next year which would be devastating. I would say it's 50/50 at best.

And this is based on what evidence other than there have been multiple P5 coaches let go...which happens every year?

This season drew a lot of attention to FU and CBR. They will be coming for him for sure. FU has shown no ability to keep hot coaches in football or basketball.

It’s been a while since we had a “hot” coach in either sport. Coach Richey has changed that.

LeeAnn thinks Coach Hendrix is pretty hot. So do a lot of knowledgeable College Football peeps.

[purplehorse]

I see BR as Basketball Dabo at Clemson. If they are smart enough to hire him.

I just see BR at Furman for a long time. The grass is not always greener at a bigger school. I cannot imagine the joy and pleasure of putting Furman on the basketball map. Now that would be quite a story!

[edwards555]

My guess is it will turn on a couple of things. First it would make little sense to go to a school that is not a member of a 2 bid conference-power 5, big east, aac, maybe mwc-many of these jobs pay 1.5-3mil. However, maybe even more important what is Furman and the conference going to do to help him make the program better-things like assistant salaries, Timmons improvements both construction and operationally television contracts that show socon schools on at least a regional level? I think that they like Greenville and things would not have to be equal but if we keep winning 20 games a year the time will come.

[soconjohn]

Clemson is one of the toughest jobs in the country...They haven't won consistently since Purnell, but he even struggled...Rick Barnes and Cliff Ellis were successful there as well, but Clemson is just a stepping stone to bigger basketball-oriented and dedicated programs for coaches these days...That rock can be slippery, however, as you could get trapped, similar to a coach like Brad Brownell has currently...It's harder now more than ever given Clemson's football success...All Clemson can offer is more money...They can't offer comfort and they aren't necessarily going to offer support for hiring a younger coach to give him the tools for success like Furman can...BR could go there, however, he can also do better than that job...If he leaves at some point or whenever he does, he needs to go to a place that has a potential of basketball future and the administrative support in place to make that a reality.

[Mr. Taggart]

Richey gets it. Furman doesn't have enough local alumni to sustain a true mid-major contender year after year. We need the larger Greenville community to think of Furman as 'our local team' -- at least in basketball. We will never reach that level in football because of Clemson and to a lesser degree SC. But basketball in this area is wide open.

This year is a step in that direction. We just need to follow though and build on this year.

This is one of Mike Young's big successes at Wofford -- they have huge local support. Same with Forbes at ETSU.

[Fessor]

I see BR as Basketball Dabo at Clemson. If they are smart enough to hire him.

I just see BR at Furman for a long time. The grass is not always greener at a bigger school. I cannot imagine the joy and pleasure of putting Furman on the basketball map. Now that would be quite a story!

You have to narrow the money difference.

We don't need to pay 1 million; you can be very comfortable in G’ville on $500K, but he's not there. He's half that.

If he wants to stay, you have to take the money out of it to the extent you can. He ultimately needs to be in the $500K range. That takes the Drakes of the World out of the equation and it makes the seven figure jobs, with the high expectations/pressure/ and stiff league competition less attractive.

The question then becomes: how badly do you want him to stay (i.e., how many digits are you willing to add to that FU athletics check you write)? The money has to come from somewhere.

Bob resonates with me, as they say, and the second longest running passion in my life is FU BB. I'll gladly up what I give.