Is it a given that Coach Keller is NOT leaving? Whenever you see an exodus of staff, it usually means they have the inside information. I hope I'm wrong.

If that is the case, they failed to tell the players, because many of them came back, and the new recruits stayed committed.

SFAXE93 said:

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If that is the case, they failed to tell the players, because many of them came back, and the new recruits stayed committed.

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Mason was big on the Tezeno recruting too... If these kids can bounce around why cant the coaches..Ivey will not let us down no matter what happens...

Sure anybody can go where they want, got to do what you've got to do.

I'm just saying players usually bolt if there is a coaching change.

Keller and Vanya only ones left.

It will be interesting to see who will be a part of the new coaching staff.

PurpleOut said:

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cboothe09 said:

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So we have lost Associate HC (UTEP), Assistant Coach (Georgia), Video Coordinator (Tyler Legacy), and Head Trainer (IMG Academy)...

That is a testament to not only our success, but the respect our program has at all levels...

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Chris Keith as well, our Director of Basketball Operations.

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Did we ever figure out what he's doing. Going into business right?

I'm just waiting on someone to break the news of Keller to replace Coach K at Duke.

Here are some assistants that are probably looking for that first head coaching job on the Division I level if Keller was to leave after this season.

KELLEN SAMPSON (HOUSTON)
ROSS HODGE (NORTH TEXAS)
BRETTE TANNER (ABILENE CHRISTIAN)
JAMES MILLER (NEW MEXICO STATE)

Yeah the only way Keller doesn't leave after next season is if he dramatically underperforms. At least we won't be as shocked as when BU left

SFAXE93 said:

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Here are some assistants that are probably looking for that first head coaching job on the Division I level if Keller was to leave after this season.

KELLEN SAMPSON (HOUSTON)
ROSS HODGE (NORTH TEXAS)
BRETTE TANNER (ABILENE CHRISTIAN)
JAMES MILLER (NEW MEXICO STATE)

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Kellen Sampson has already been promised the UH head job when his dad retires.

SFA_03 said:

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I'm just waiting on someone to break the news of Keller to replace Coach K at Duke.

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Coach K's head assistant has already been written in as the next HC at Duke. Hand-picked by Coach K.

Something kept nagging at me that someone else was out...

Sampson is HC in waiting at UH
Tanner is HC at ACU

I'm interested to see what hires we make. I figure there will be no shortage of applicants.

cboothe09 said:

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Sampson is HC in waiting at UH
Tanner is HC at ACU

I'm interested to see what hires we make. I figure there will be no shortage of applicants.

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Need to hire someone with some charisma that will be a magnet to the players. Recruiting is so vital to the program. I think that's where coach Mason excelled along with being a good coach.

No-look said:

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cboothe09 said:

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Sampson is HC in waiting at UH
Tanner is HC at ACU

I'm interested to see what hires we make. I figure there will be no shortage of applicants.

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Need to hire someone with some charisma that will be a magnet to the players. Recruiting is so vital to the program. I think that's where coach Mason excelled along with being a good coach.

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Yes this.. Mason was a stud recruiter that could relate with some of the top talent.. Some of the top talent isnt always easy to deal with either.. Mason is a magnet to the players and had good street cred in the basketball industry..I am pretty sure he doubled his salary if not triple..

Jai Lucas (Kentucky Asst.) John Lucas son and a ton of street cred on the different basketball circuits.. That is if Kyle just does really well and it is inevitable that he triple his salary.. I don't know maybe a few wealthier alumni will step up and do what they can to retain Keller as our MBB coach, if we are successful which I feel we will be.

We could afford 220K if Jai was our head coach next year.. I knew we couldnt pull an assistant from Kentucky and make him an assistant for our Lumberjacks.. We are just getting pencil whipped by the big boys right now.. We have many alumni that can step up and help us to stop getting pencil whipped but they just arent there yet I guess..

Could it be that the move to the new conference caused those in charge to make a decision that we needed an upgrade at all levels of our staff? From what I've been told, the Assistant Coach that left for UTEP is really good at developing post players. Why would we let him go when Nana and Calvin are raw but have tremendous potential? If that Coach wanted to leave, that's another set of questions. Did we offer to match the salary increase or let the door hit him in the rear? UTEP is not an upgrade over SFA. Regarding Coach Mason, he is considered to be a gem of a recruiter. He got us Posey and Tezeno. If it were just about salary, wouldn't we match it? Same reasoning for the other staff members.

My conclusion, albeit extremely controversial, is that Coach Keller and Ivey wanted an upgrade for our new conference or Keller is sitting on the fence about staying or seeking greener pastures. If Keller were to leave before the season started, would our prized recruits remain? Would Gavin, Roti, and David remain? TBD

Rev007 said:

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Could it be that the move to the new conference caused those in charge to make a decision that we needed an upgrade at all levels of our staff? From what I've been told, the Assistant Coach that left for UTEP is really good at developing post players. Why would we let him go when Nana and Calvin are raw but have tremendous potential? If that Coach wanted to leave, that's another set of questions. Did we offer to match the salary increase or let the door hit him in the rear? UTEP is not an upgrade over SFA. Regarding Coach Mason, he is considered to be a gem of a recruiter. He got us Posey and Tezeno. If it were just about salary, wouldn't we match it? Same reasoning for the other staff members.

My conclusion, albeit extremely controversial, is that Coach Keller and Ivey wanted an upgrade for our new conference or Keller is sitting on the fence about staying or seeking greener pastures. If Keller were to leave before the season started, would our prized recruits remain? Would Gavin, Roti, and David remain? TBD

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With all due respect, that is a mighty depressing post, Rev. You just ruined my day

Sorry SFA Jack Fanatic. It depresses me as well. I'm 100% behind our team and look forward to a great 2021-2022 season including a trip to Cancun. I hope I'm wrong about a possible exit by one of my all-time favorite SFA coaches.

Maybe living out here in LA (land of fruits and nuts and mask Nazis) has corrupted my thinking.

UTEP is an upgrade in many ways - mainly in assistant pay. Mason still has ambition and he's moving up. Keller has a lot of eggs in the basket for this year. It would be shocking if he left for a HC position at this point in the summer, so I don't think we have any worries about this year's (or last year's for that matter) seniors.

SFA athletics is taking a huge roll of the dice with the conference change. Is the WAC going to pay off with more revenue and exposure which will lead to better budgets downstream? Is that change coming in two to five years or is more like 10? How fast the WAC reorients the perception of the new additions is going to determine whether it's another Southland or not.

I don't foresee that it changes fast enough to keep Keller. It may help the next group of coaches. No donors are stepping up to match coaches from going to bigger schools, but maybe the WAC can help us draw another up and comer that will keep SFA on track.

Glad to assist in getting this forum heated up. Here's another possibility:

Coach K = Coach K, and Coach K = Duke Basketball, the first part of the equation changes in 2022 to Coach K = retired, but Coach K still equals Duke Basketball.

Rev I promise you Kyle isnt going anywhere this year...From what I have gotten is that all went on to better salaries $$.. I agree I dont think UTEP is an upgrade over us.. Coach Cox got a raise that doubled his salary..

I wish we could lock Coach K in for the next 10 years. Glad to hear Assistant Coach Cox got a big increase in salary. I hope Coach Mason got a big increase. However, something is going on. We will find out in time.

What worries me is the possibility of some players leaving early (That dam*** transfer rule!) due to Mason's departure (Posey and Tezeno in particular). Here's hoping they committed to the university and to the MBB program and not to a specific coach. If the Jacks have a very good year coming up, which I'm almost certain they will, the chances of them staying long term will be much, much better. And the new performance center when finished won't hurt either.