Former Iowa/Butler head coach joins staff at Miami

• fiction

  

  http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110614/SPT0103/306140008/Todd-Lickliter-join-Coles-staff-Miami?odyssey=nav|head
  
  Interesting development in Oxford, and a good hire for the RedHawks. No word, but could be some sort of head coach in waiting situation with Charlie Coles' age and health problems.
• dave

  Good signing, but he's pretty old himself.
• Azubuike24

  

  Iowa only went down hill after he was hired. It would be a good snag for a program like Miami, but lets not pretend like it's some sort of home run hire. Butler is a far better job, even when he was there it was better, and even though Charlie Coles doesn't have a ton of time left, he's going to be a VERY tough coach to replace, let alone improve upon.
• fiction

  

  Azubuike24;803239 wrote:Iowa only went down hill after he was hired. It would be a good snag for a program like Miami, but lets not pretend like it's some sort of home run hire. Butler is a far better job, even when he was there it was better, and even though Charlie Coles doesn't have a ton of time left, he's going to be a VERY tough coach to replace, let alone improve upon.

  
  For a program like Miami, I would say this is pretty close to a home run. The guy was National Coach of the Year in 2007. He didn't have great success in the Big Ten, but he's proven that he knows how to win at the mid-major level. Butler wasn't nearly the program when he took over in 2001 that it is today. He recruited about half of the starters from the past 2 national runners up teams. I don't know if he'll be the next Miami head man, but it's the type of place where he could coach until he retires. He's 56. Oxford is within a two hour drive of his hometown of Indianapolis, and he already knows and is known in the area recruiting-wise.
• centralbucksfan

  Iowa with Alford was not doing much. Licklighter didn't walk into a great situation. Personally, as a head coach, I don't think Licklighter has the "wow" factor to bring in recruits. But I think he is very good x and o guy. I think as an asst. he would be very good. If Jent doesn't give Matta a yes, look for Licklighter to bypass Miami and move onto OSU possibly.
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24;803239 wrote:Iowa only went down hill after he was hired. It would be a good snag for a program like Miami, but lets not pretend like it's some sort of home run hire. Butler is a far better job, even when he was there it was better, and even though Charlie Coles doesn't have a ton of time left, he's going to be a VERY tough coach to replace, let alone improve upon.

  
  Having been around Coles, I wouldnt' go too overboard with the compliments. His success to this day is quite amazing to me having talked with him and seen him in action.
• Azubuike24

  

  The guy has overachieved forever with smoke and mirrors. Now it is the MAC, but still. He's taken some bottom-feeding teams in-terms of talent and made them competitive, and taken some MAC average teams and made the NCAA Tournament. One thing that Coles HAS had is some great individual talents. I believe he's had the MAC player of the year like 4 times...Damon Frierson, Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Bramos...maybe I'm forgetting someone, who knows, but he's still had a good career.
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24;814033 wrote: I believe he's had the MAC player of the year like 4 times...Damon Frierson, Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Bramos...maybe I'm forgetting someone, who knows, but he's still had a good career.

  
  Ur forgetting one of the best MAC players of all time...Ron Harper. The guy was an amazing college player. Saw him put 46 vs Toledo in one of the best individual shows I have seen to date.
• Azubuike24

  

  Harper never played for Charlie Coles. Neither did Devin Davis, otherwise I would have included them. Still, in Coles' time at Miami he has turned out some great players and won the league a few times with far from the most talent.
• fiction

  

  Miami and Lickliter confirmed the hire today.
  
  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/06/todd-lickliter-miami-ohio-redhawks-assistant-coach-/1
• vball10set

  centralbucksfan;813130 wrote:Having been around Coles, I wouldnt' go too overboard with the compliments. His success to this day is quite amazing to me having talked with him and seen him in action.

  
  How's that? I spent quite a bit of time around him when he coached at Toledo CCHS, and then a little bit when he went down to Oxford. If you're going to make a statement like this, I'd sure like to hear your reasons.
  
  btw, to the poster who said Lickliter is old--56 is not considered old in coaching circles, especially in college...just sayin'
• Azubuike24

  

  I'm also interested in CBF's take on Coles. My family has a lot of ties to the Miami program (mostly football), but I've known quite a few people who know Coles quite well and he's pretty much regarded as an iconic figure in-terms of his coaching ability. I'd say the results of the basketball program, given what he's had to work with and sell, backs this up. What's the scoop you have that says otherwise CBF?