Two new SEC coaches…
Posted by hoopsknowitall on May 28, 2008
In case some of you have been living in a hole, in a cave, with a giant rock blocking the entrance, on Mars, with your hands over your eyes and thumbs in your ears – John Brady from LSU was let go after this [miserable] season and Dave Odom of South Carolina “retired” after a simlarly terrible year.
Replacing Brady around mid-April was Trent Johnson, coming from Stanford’s Sweet Sixteen (28-8) squad this past season. Johnson was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year this past season, has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament four years, and coached previously at Nevada, where he also saw a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Johnson was a finalist for this year’s Skip Prosser Man of the Year award, and is noted for his impressive management of his players off the court.
Taking over for the Gamecocks is Darrin Horn, another Sweet 16 participant, this one from Western Kentucky. Horn put together a ridiculous 111-48 record at WKU, including this year’s school-record-tying 29 wins and just 7 losses. Horn also posted three straight 20+ win seasons, the first WKU coach to ever manage that feat. Horn is known for a high-intensity tempo and pressure defense.
Both coaches are excellent choices and great catches. Each seem to bring a large amount of success with them wherever they go – although the Southeastern Conference is a lot tougher to win in. We’ll see just how great the two can function in the SEC.
AK said
The Pac-10 is relatively comparable to the SEC, I think, in quality of teams. They are both very competitive. The Sun Belt, however, is considerably easier. But I have faith in Horn and I think he will do well at SC.
hoopsknowitall said
I might give the edge to the Pac-10 right now…the SEC has some proving to do after last season.
You’re right about the Sun Belt, absolutely. However, lots of smaller-conference coaches excell in the bigtime. It was a risk, sure, but sometimes it takes a risk to profit.
I do think both coaches will do well, but only time will really tell.
Thanks for the comment!