West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Scrub]

Aaron Huffman - Long time WLU assistant under Ben and Crutch. Former HC at D3 Bethany College back in the day.

Huffman seems like a really good dude and has been really loyal to the program for a long time. But remember, Huffman also has a doctorate and a full-time teaching gig at the University. The basketball coaching thing is his "side hustle." If he's smart, he'll stick with that arrangement. Tenured faculty positions (assuming his is one of those--don't know the specifics of his employment) are much more stable in the long run than coaching gigs.

[Chuck Norris]

If he does go to "Ewwy Pooey," I wonder which players he will take with him? Wouldn't take many players to follow him before we get VERY thin.

Good question. I’d have to think he’s taking a few to help get things started.

WV MetroNews is reporting that it is in fact a done deal.

[IUPHawks24]

Right. Someone like Lamberti would certainly do better here if he had a plug-and-play roster. He hasn't necessarily shown the ability to build a successful Crutch-ball team at Coker. They score a lot but don't win as much down there. If he had to build from scratch (that is, if Howlett took guys with him), I wonder if Lamberti is up to the task.

Don't underestimate how impactful Howlett was as a recruiter (both as Crutch's recruiter and as his own).

Now Fee, on the other hand, showed the ability to build from scratch right out of the gate.

Fee isn’t taking the job. Not even worth discussing.

[Columbuseer]

Right. Someone like Lamberti would certainly do better here if he had a plug-and-play roster. He hasn't necessarily shown the ability to build a successful Crutch-ball team at Coker. They score a lot but don't win as much down there. If he had to build from scratch (that is, if Howlett took guys with him), I wonder if Lamberti is up to the task.

Don't underestimate how impactful Howlett was as a recruiter (both as Crutch's recruiter and as his own).

Now Fee, on the other hand, showed the ability to build from scratch right out of the gate.

Check coker's record before lamberti. It was horrendous. He also was in a completely new recruiting area. In 2 years he turned them around. First year he beat Lincoln Memorial. He has strong ties to the wlu area. He was named one of top 30 assistant coaches under 30 while at wlu. Hope he is interested. Hope wlu moves quickly as the recruiting vultures will start circling our players.

[Columbuseer]

Right. Someone like Lamberti would certainly do better here if he had a plug-and-play roster. He hasn't necessarily shown the ability to build a successful Crutch-ball team at Coker. They score a lot but don't win as much down there. If he had to build from scratch (that is, if Howlett took guys with him), I wonder if Lamberti is up to the task.

Don't underestimate how impactful Howlett was as a recruiter (both as Crutch's recruiter and as his own).

Now Fee, on the other hand, showed the ability to build from scratch right out of the gate.

Check coker's record before lamberti. It was horrendous. He also was in a completely new recruiting area. In 2 years he turned them around. First year he beat Lincoln Memorial. He has strong ties to the wlu area. He was named one of top 30 assistant coaches under 30 while at wlu. Hope he is interested. Hope wlu moves quickly as the recruiting vultures will start circling our players.

[Columbuseer]

Hope they give ben time. Due to the player abuse allegations against the former coach that led to his dismissal, 11 iu indy players had entered the portal. There is no team remaining there.

[boatcapt]

Hope they give ben time. Due to the player abuse allegations against the former coach that led to his dismissal, 11 iu indy players had entered the portal. There is no team remaining there.

That's not a good thing on so many levels for WLU. The easiest way to build a team on short notice is to raid your old team and this includes inbound recruits/transfers with zero ties to WLU. I could see us losing 6 or 7 players.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Hope they give ben time. Due to the player abuse allegations against the former coach that led to his dismissal, 11 iu indy players had entered the portal. There is no team remaining there.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about Ben.

I'd put your current team under lock and key.

The recruiting season is by and large over. There's still guys out there but the quickest transition for Ben would be ... you know.

[boatcapt]

Huffman seems like a really good dude and has been really loyal to the program for a long time. But remember, Huffman also has a doctorate and a full-time teaching gig at the University. The basketball coaching thing is his "side hustle." If he's smart, he'll stick with that arrangement. Tenured faculty positions (assuming his is one of those--don't know the specifics of his employment) are much more stable in the long run than coaching gigs.

All true. But given his experience, he needs to be considered. Don't know were he is reference retiring from teaching, but if he's eligible, "falling" into a HC gig at one of the top DII programs for a few years might be enticing. He wouldn't even have to move!

My top 5 in order of preference:

1. Lamberti
2. Monteroso
3. Fee (yea, I know, he ain't coming)
4. Huffman
5. Hoehn (see 3, but for another reason)

[Columbuseer]

If I were you I wouldn't worry about Ben.

I'd put your current team under lock and key.

The recruiting season is by and large over. There's still guys out there but the quickest transition for Ben would be ... you know.

All of the roster is fair game for any team now. A Coach's departure allows them to enter portal. Hope Lamberti is interested and the AD moves quickly.

[boatcapt]

If I were you I wouldn't worry about Ben.

I'd put your current team under lock and key.

The recruiting season is by and large over. There's still guys out there but the quickest transition for Ben would be ... you know.

We might see the return of a 2013 style WLU roster...Two "can't shoot" PG's that can distribute the he11 out of the ball...6 or 7 spot up 3 point shooters...a few wings that can jump out of the gym but "struggle" beyond 15 ft from the basket...a couple of bigs that focus on rebounding, running the floor and defense.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

All true. But given his experience, he needs to be considered. Don't know were he is reference retiring from teaching, but if he's eligible, "falling" into a HC gig at one of the top DII programs for a few years might be enticing. He wouldn't even have to move!

My top 5 in order of preference:

1. Lamberti
2. Monteroso
3. Fee (yea, I know, he ain't coming)
4. Huffman
5. Hoehn (see 3, but for another reason)

I wouldn't be shocked if Run Fudala sniffs around. Luke Dyer is his top assistant.

They are running a hybrid version of what WL does.

Fudala is on the rise. They'd have made the NCAA Tournament (in their second year of existence) had they been eligible (D2 Probationary).

[boatcapt]

All of the roster is fair game for any team now. A Coach's departure allows them to enter portal. Hope Lamberti is interested and the AD moves quickly.

I think the actual NCAA transfer portal closed for the year at the end of April.

[Columbuseer]

I think the actual NCAA transfer portal closed for the year at the end of April.

Exception is if a coach leaves.

[boatcapt]

I wouldn't be shocked if Run Fudala sniffs around. Luke Dyer is his top assistant.

They are running a hybrid version of what WL does.

Fudala is on the rise. They'd have made the NCAA Tournament (in their second year of existence) had they been eligible (D2 Probationary).

Fudala would be outside of the Crutch Coaching Tree. If we are going outside of the tree, there are many options.