Richardson would accept KSU job if offered...

[michigancat]

Damn, that would be awesome.  He wants to win National Titles.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/sports/other_sports/13920835.htm


Melvin Watkins is the interim coach at Missouri. The "interim" tag is relevant because Watkins, who was fired as the coach at Texas A&M in 2004, has the desire to coach again but won't be granted that opportunity in Columbia.

Why? If you believe Nolan Richardson, it's because Watkins _ like Richardson, the former coach at Arkansas _ is black. Richardson is convinced that once black coaches are fired, as he was in Fayetteville in March 2002, they are deemed unhirable.

"Look throughout history _ we don't resurface at all," said Richardson, who won a national championship in 1994.

Perhaps a better reason the 64-year-old Richardson hasn't coached anything besides Panama's national team was because he sued Arkansas for wrongful termination. There's no question the man can do the job _ he took the Razorbacks to the Final Four three times, not to mention his success at the junior-college level and Tulsa.

He wants to sit on the bench again, but not as an assistant. The reason any of this has come to light is because the Big 12 will likely have a couple of openings in the near future, and Watkins is currently keeping one warm. But Richardson wouldn't have done what Watkins did _ join Quin Snyder's staff in 2004 -- in order to get back to where he thinks he belongs.

"Look at my credentials," Richardson said. "I'm a pioneer.... For me to work as an assistant for young kid makes no sense. At my age, am I supposed to start at the bottom and work my way back up?"

He's keeping his fingers crossed for Watkins, who said Monday he wasn't sure of his plans.

"Some of those things I haven't spent much time trying to figure out," Watkins said. "I'm trying to figure out how to win ballgames.... But I want to get back in the game."

Richardson is certain. If an opening should arise _ especially in the Big 12, somewhere, he says, he can win another national championship _ he'd be interested. But, as of last week, he hadn't heard from any schools, resigning him to reality.

"I never retired _ they retired me," Richardson said.

[JavaCat]

Please, gawd no. Hey Nolan, you're not resurfacing because you're old and you whine and complain about everything that you think has wronged you. Melvin Watkins hasn't resurfaced in a head coaching position because he sucked ass at Texas A&M. Props to him though for not whining and bitching about it and taking an assistant position to get back in the game. Maybe if Richardson had done that he would have a head coaching job and he could prove his skeptics wrong. Instead of believing you're bigger than the system, sack it up and move on with your life.

[ksu_FAN]

Rusty that article didn't help the Richardson cause IMO.  For him to bring out the race card with Watkins is rediculous.  Watkins had a worse record than Wooly in the same amount of time at aTm.  All Nolan had to do is look at the records, neither Watkins or Wooly will get a head coaching job b/c they both were afforded plenty of patience at BCS schools and failed. 

[michigancat]

Please, gawd no. Hey Nolan, you're not resurfacing because you're old and you whine and complain about everything that you think has wronged you. Melvin Watkins hasn't resurfaced in a head coaching position because he sucked ass at Texas A&M. Props to him though for not whining and bitching about it and taking an assistant position to get back in the game. Maybe if Richardson had done that he would have a head coaching job and he could prove his skeptics wrong. Instead of believing you're bigger than the system, sack it up and move on with your life.

I'm letting this one slide only because of your avatar.

Rusty that article didn't help the Richardson cause IMO. For him to bring out the race card with Watkins is rediculous. Watkins had a worse record than Wooly in the same amount of time at aTm. All Nolan had to do is look at the records, neither Watkins or Wooly will get a head coaching job b/c they both were afforded plenty of patience at BCS schools and failed.

To be honest, Richardson really hasn't done anything to help his cause since he got fired.  He would have been better off to whine about Tom Penders getting second and third chances.  THAT is ridiculous.

[Dan Rydell]

Let's hire Nolan.  We'd instantly have a coach with more final fours than anyone in the Big XII except Texas Tech.  Imagine the matchups--Nolan against Bobby.  Nolan against Bill.  Nolan against Kelvin. 

[fatty fat fat]

HIRE HIM NOW FOR GOD SAKE!

You will not find a better coach.

[michigancat]

He would be the only coach interviewed that would talk about a National Title.

Unfortunately, we're impressed by things like three-ring binders, being a nice guy,  and really strong desire to be in Manhattan forever...not National Championships.

[ksu_FAN]

Howard Schnellenberger talked about National Titles when OU hired him.

[michigancat]

Howard Schnellenberger talked about National Titles when OU hired him.

I'll bet Bob Stoops talked about it more.

[ksu_FAN]

Yeah, I'm comparing Schellenberger and Richardson, though its flawed b/c they are different sports.  However, both were older coaches and both had national titles in their past.  Schellenberger went on to fail miserable to resurect a down program with a great tradition, don't know if the same would happen here with Richardson.  I'm just saying hiring Richardson would not necessarily be a slam dunk for K-State to immediately get back to national prominance.  Granted, his past makes him intriguing.  Maybe, maybe not. 

I also think his recent past and comments like the one above would be used against him in recruiting.  Granted, it might not make a difference, but no doubt he only gives fuel to future coaches to use against him by saying stuff like that and the comments he's made in the past about graduating players.

[michigancat]

Yeah, I'm comparing Schellenberger and Richardson, though its flawed b/c they are different sports.  However, both were older coaches and both had national titles in their past.  Schellenberger went on to fail miserable to resurect a down program with a great tradition, don't know if the same would happen here with Richardson.  I'm just saying hiring Richardson would not necessarily be a slam dunk for K-State to immediately get back to national prominance.  Granted, his past makes him intriguing.  Maybe, maybe not. 

I also think his recent past and comments like the one above would be used against him in recruiting.  Granted, it might not make a difference, but no doubt he only gives fuel to future coaches to use against him by saying stuff like that and the comments he's made in the past about graduating players.

It's tough for me to consider Schnellenberger a miserable failure when he was only there for one season.

A better comparison would have been Billy Tubbs at tcu.  He did a pretty decent job down there...not spectacular, but solid.  If we could get five years or six years out of Nolan similar to what Billy did at tcu, it would be a good hire, IMO.

2001-02      Billy Tubbs      16-15     .516      
2000-01    Billy Tubbs    20-11    .645    
1999-00    Billy Tubbs    18-14    .562    
1998-99    Billy Tubbs    21-11    .656    
1997-98    Billy Tubbs    27-6    .818    
1996-97    Billy Tubbs    22-13    .629    
1995-96    Billy Tubbs    16-14    .533      Forfeit win: Purdue
1994-95    Billy Tubbs    16-11    .593    
1993-94    Moe Iba    7-20    .259    
1992-93    Moe Iba    6-22    .214    
1991-92    Moe Iba    23-11    .676    
1990-91    Moe Iba    18-10    .643    

[ksu_FAN]

Sites like NCAA stats are a saviour for stat nerds like us.

[michigancat]

Sites like NCAA stats are a saviour for stat nerds like us.

That site is beyond awesome.  It took me like five seconds to eliminate Scott Edgar from consideration over a month ago.

[opcat]

Richardson or Huggins would be fine ! 

[sys]

i don't care for richardson's coaching style.  and him publicly claiming watkins should even be considered for the MU job makes me question his sanity.  but frankly, sanity isn't the most important attribute a coach can have, and richardson has proven he is a good enough coach to win many more games than he loses.  so, i certainly wouldn't take richardson over a huggins/majerus/kruger type.  but if it comes down to a lowery vs. richardson decision, choosing lowery would be pure fool's gold.