KFDM COOP Posted March 31, 2008 Report Posted March 31, 2008 Deciphering O'Neill and Rice If your antennae went up like ours when word leaked that Arizona interim coach Kevin O'Neill interviewed at Rice, then the following information should be of interest. As outlined here, O'Neill is embroiled in drama in Tuscon, where he had a handshake agreement with Arizona AD Jim Livengood to succeed Lute Olson whenever the 73-year-old Olson decided to retire. But Olson appears dead set against walking away from the program following his one-season hiatus, leaving the irascible and immutable O'Neill in a lurch. Furthermore, Arizona has made it abundantly clear that O'Neill is welcome to leave should he find employment elsewhere. How does this relate to CDC and Rice? Well, with his being squeezed out at Arizona, O'Neill, who coached at Northwestern among several other schools, has legitimate reason to come to Rice. And CDC would be doing Olson, who he adores, and Arizona, where he worked previously, a sizable favor to take O'Neill off their hands and rid them of a problem they should have seen from a mile away. What's in it for CDC? NCAA insiders believe CDC is positioning himself to succeed Livengood, who is in his early 60s and allegedly pondering retirement. Additionally, some found it odd when CDC selected Parker Executive Search over Eastman & Beaudine for the Rice coaching search considering it was Beaudine who brought both Todd Graham and CDC to South Main. Why Parker? Rumor has it that Parker will head the search to replace Livengood at Arizona. This doesn't mean O'Neill will succeed WTW, or that he is the leading candidate. But everyone linked thus far to the Rice vacancy, aside from O'Neill, fits the mold of up-and-coming assistant or successful head coach at a mid-major. And as V said, there are no coincidences, only the illusion of coincidences.
Bulldog92 Posted April 2, 2008 Report Posted April 2, 2008 There's a Houston native on that Arizona staff, also. Anyone heard of Josh Pastner? He'll be coaching somewhere soon, but I'm not sure Rice would look at him. They should. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up
Guest DickVitale Posted April 2, 2008 Report Posted April 2, 2008 Kevin O'Neill or Rodney Terry (UT asst) will get the Rice job. Josh Pastner may come here as an asst., if O'Neill gets it..Thats about it.
Bulldog92 Posted April 2, 2008 Report Posted April 2, 2008 Kevin O'Neill or Rodney Terry (UT asst) will get the Rice job. Josh Pastner may come here as an asst., if O'Neill gets it..Thats about it. I'm not sure why Pastner leave Arizona to be an assistant anywhere, let alone Rice. There's talk on the LSU boards about him being a candidate for that head coaching job. I'm not sure he's gonna get a shot in the SEC, but who knows?
Guest DickVitale Posted April 2, 2008 Report Posted April 2, 2008 Josh wants to come back to Texas...Rice would be good fit for him as an assistant and his dad (Hal Pastner, Houston Hoops Founder) WILL help him secure kids...
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