Topic: Daily Mail: Recruiting trail is a ‘never-ending’ grind for college coaches

[ZackUSAF82]

by Chuck McGill
Daily Mail sports writer

Editor's note: This is the first part of a three-part series on the life of a college basketball coach. This writer spent two days on the road with Marshall University men's basketball Coach Tom Herrion. Here is what transpired:

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Along the wall of an old, muggy gym at Morgantown High School, Tom Herrion sits in a white plastic chair.

He alternates taking swigs from the Starbucks cup - probably the largest size available - in his left hand and punching the keys of the Blackberry that is glued to his right.

He claims he snuck in a couple hours of sleep overnight. I think he's lying.

"Sleep is overrated," he says.

It's early Friday morning - the final day of a 10-day evaluation period where coaches zigzag across the country hoping to unearth a hidden gem or two in the umpteen summer AAU basketball tournaments.

Link: http://dailymail.com/Sports/chuckmcgill/201107171355

[whf]

Now talk about a guy who has the candle burning at both ends.................hope he stays healthy and wins a lot of games here at MU>

[Marshallguy04]

Now talk about a guy who has the candle burning at both ends.................hope he stays healthy and wins a lot of games here at MU>

The fans on this board dont want him. They want D'Antoni and expect Herrion to bolt as soon as he can for any job because they have a tremendous lack of faith in Marshall.

[Apollo]

I don't know where you get your info from but I love the guy and hope he stays for a long long while. I've heard the same from man many Herd fans as well.

[Daherdboy]

I, also, am a big Herrion fan.

He has the drive and desire, along with the personality to get the big recruit and get the
best out of them on the court (as I've seen so far in his 1st year at MU).

I would be happy if he stayed here until he retires (probably won't happen), knowing that
the results would be many league championships and NCAA appearances.....not to mention
wins over "you know who.....the one's name we don't mention.....dare I say it....'Voldemort'....
no 'wv who'.   :)

Herrion is a "keeper" and Hamrick hit the nail on the head when he hired him.

[Buffalo Bop]

"We all respect that we chose this profession and no one outside understands what we do and how tough it is," Herrion said. "Everybody sees 32 games a year and television games and big crowds, but we know, as coaches, what we all have to invest in this."

This article has been is a real eye-opener; that's way too much travel for me.

Mcgill does a fine job of providing us a glimpse inside the hectic world of a major college coach.

[richmondherdfan]

I have a couple friends who are D1 assistant coaches and its a tough life. Unless you're the head coach making good money, your hourly rate is very low. In season, you're looking at 80hr weeks at minimum, and then in the offseason you're traveling to every nook and cranny in the country looking for talent. Maybe only a handful of weeks during the year you're working a typical 8am-5pm.

I would estimate if you're an assistant coach, say making $80k/yr, you're probably making $17-$20/hr when it comes down to it. Coaching sounds glamourous, but you gotta really love the game to work that much and have that much time away from your family.

[ChuckMcGill]

Glad y'all like this. Two more -- plus a running diary in my blog -- coming this week.

[luvherd]

We wanted D'Antoni years ago (before he ever coached the Suns) but we are glad to now have Tom.  Jeez.

[IM4DHERD]

I think comments about D'Antoni are less about D'Antoni and more about the situation surrounding the Jirsa hire and a particular person who would not return calls made on D'Antoni's behalf.  I seriously doubt that any more than 2% of MU fans are unhappy with Herrion.

[wvmafia]

Now talk about a guy who has the candle burning at both ends.................hope he stays healthy and wins a lot of games here at MU>

Where his dedication is VERY admirable, he's not at all alone.  If you spend any time on the AAU circuit, you see some zombie-like coaches.  The last time I saw John Pelphrey back in September, he looked like death warmed over. 

Are coaching salaries justified?  You can argue no, but VERY few professions require the kind of time that college coaches spend working!  At the Greenbrier Coaches Tour stop, my sons and I talked to Doc for about 5 minutes and there is NO DOUBT that he felt like he was doing his job a disservice by being there.  Do we need the money raised?  Yes!  But Doc gave the impression that he was doing something wrong by not being at the facility or on the recruiting trail!

[Garbanjo]

Herrion is the man. If we have the type of season I think we are going to have in B-Ball, Hamrick is gonna have to drum up some cash.............

[richmondherdfan]

agreed Garbanjo- Hopefully that is the case, b/c we haven't had this situation in bball in some time. DJ wasn't justified in getting a big raise, Jirsa stunk, and we couldnt have kept Donovan if we wanted too.

When that Providence rumor was floating around, I thought to myself that if Herrion can somehow get us to the NCAA tourney this year, he could get a much better job than Providence next year.

[biggreenarms]

Herrion's a bull dog and dedicated to find good talent that's been untapped. I for one am glad he's here and want no other. He's on a mission to put Marshall on the map in the NCAA tourney and I think we're all going to see that happen.

GO HERD!

[wvmafia]

Herrion's a bull dog and dedicated to find good talent that's been untapped. I for one am glad he's here and want no other. He's on a mission to put Marshall on the map in the NCAA tourney and I think KNOW we're all going to see that happen THIS SEASON!.

GO HERD!

You really screwed that post up BGA...I fixed it for you!   ;D

[jdherd]

I love Herrion and I can understand if the right job would come along  he would leave but I think he would like to see what he can build here. Marshall fans can really shake the foundation of the Cam and if we give him that kind of support along with his success he will really embrace Marshall and make a career here. If that becomes the case Hamrick will get the money to pay him. jmo

[biggreenarms]

ENUFF SAID...

[Marshallguy04]

I only post about him like that because during the season and year, anything even remotely close to a head coaching job and suddenly everyone automatically assumed he would leave. If Herrion's name was briefly mentioned it was all over it seemed,
"Well if Herrion goes, then I'm happy. I'm happy because we can get D'Antoni!"

I forgot what person decided to start a thread titled something along the lines of,
"If Herrion does leave..."
Totally out of the blue and it about drove me to the point of wanting to murder him.


I think Herrion's going to stay a while. I think he'll have a good thing going here and it'll be tough for him to leave. As I've said before, you don't need all the money in the world if you're a legend in your town. Griese and others on that Michigan team have real royal treatment when they're in town.
Pruett had tons of cool perks of being the coach at Marshall...I wouldn't doubt Herrion would get similiar, if not better, perks ifhe stayed and made Marshall successful again.

[wasbarryb]

I’m not expecting him to stay or leave. I’m expecting to enjoy his stay however long it may be.

If the right team came calling I expect him to leave. By that I mean UCLA, Notre Dame, Pitt, or a handful of other really big name schools. Face it they have so much more money and prestige the guy would be nuts not to take it. For that to happen Herrion is going to have to have been very successful here.

On the other hand I don’t think Herrion is here with finding the next stepping stone as his primary goal (like Donivan & Jones). He’s here building a program, not a one or two season team, but one that’s going to succeed year in and year out. And the better Hamrick is at rewarding success the better the chances are we’ll keep him unless the really big dogs come calling.

Any way it goes I think we win and I’m looking forward to Herrion’s Herd, however long it lasts.