Grambling has set a series of interviews to fill the open men’s basketball coaching position.
After a number of months with an interim coach in Bobby Washington, it’s certainly time to make a decision.
But those interviews are happening this week — and, quite incredibly, some are scheduled within the next few hours: On National signing day for basketball prospects.
You wonder how that’s slowing things for Washington (pictured above), who has done yeoman’s work in securing a trio of commitments through this uncertain time — not to mention helping a tragedy-torn team to knock off Jackson State, the heavily favored No. 1 seed in this year’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament. (Those commits are Raschard Boatner, all-conference at Panola College in Carthage, Texas; Brandon Wilson, a preseason All-American at Jones County Community College in Ellisville, Miss.; and Joshua Upchurch, who averaged 12.2 points a game this season at Baton Rouge Community College.)
But you wonder, too, how this interview process — all by phone — appears to those on the outside looking in. How are candidates viewing a university that is so tone deaf to the larger worries of a basketball coach on this day — first of which is, you know, signing somebody?
Finally, you wonder what kids, and their parents, are feeling about a university that is still in the midst of deciding on a coach, and on the very day you are supposed to be signing.
I’m hearing that nine candidates, including Washington, are part of a surprisingly robust group of finalists. Typically, we see a list, especially this many months after the season, narrowed to three to five coaches.
As for that list, Texas Southern assistant and Los Angeles Lakers alum Nick Van Exel is apparently among them — and may be the frontrunner, according to the Street Committee. Other rumored prospects include Southeastern Louisiana’s Roman Banks, Lamar’s Tic Price (who’s been mentioned in previous searches to fill this GSU job) and Herb Sendek, who has a connection back to athletic director Lin Dawson’s home state of North Carolina.
Washington, by the way, is one of the coaching prospects who will be calling in — even though he’s on the same campus as Dawson. And I’m hearing that talk is set to take place today.
Hopefully Grambling’s next great big man, should he decide to sign with the program, will be OK with his call going straight to voice mail.
–
Follow us on the Web –
TheDerisoReport on Facebook
TheDerisoReport on Twitter
TheDerisoReport on YouTube
Van Exel, a man with no collegiate experience
Roman Banks, a throw-in because of his ties to a board member
you got to be kidding
I will be surprised if it's not Coach Washington…hope the decision (late already) doesn't cost us any recruits. Time to build this program back.
This is the most LAME EXCUSE for doing your job that can be done at a University. I am sorry but The people we have in charge of our Athlethic Department should be ashamed of the job they are doing and accepting MONEY for this. I would not want to be a part of such A SLOPPY DISPLAY of work. If this is the axample of there work then we may as well not have anybody in that position.
Does anyone find it interesting that Nick Van Exel listed his houston home on the R/E market on 3/26/2010? Just food for thought….
Bobby Washington has proven his commitment to Grambling State and their basketball program. I hope Grambling does not make another bad decision. Van Exel has no coaching experience. Bobby Washington has earned a shot at the permenant position and should be named the Head Men's Basketball Coach.
Nick is throwing names out….Sendek is the PAC 10 Coach of the Year at Arizona State so why would he leave PAC 10 for Grambling? lol…
Price or Banks are nowhere in the mix also….
just speculation..Van Exel was a volunteer coach at TSU
The perfect coach for grambling would be VINCE GRAYSON…FORMER PLAYER UNDER AARON JAMES NOW A HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH IN HOUSTON WITH A TON OF RECRUITING TIES TO THE HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS…..ALSO CAN BRING FUNDRASING AND DONATION FROM FORMER GMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRGRAM BACK ON THE MAP….A PROVEN WINNER…HAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN TEXAS 4AAAA LEVEL…..OFFERS MORE RECRUITABILITY FOR TALENT THAN MICHEAL LYONS…..GIVE HIM A SHOT GMEN……
In my opinion the job should go to Coach Washington. He did a good with what he had.I hope we can retain those players who have made a commitment.
@joe, re: 'Nick is throwing names out; … just speculation':
Good catch. If only I had made it clear that these were rumors, many put forward by the Street Committee.
Wait, I did.
Lin Dawson should have started this process when SWAC play was over. He would have had a coach in place to recruit now. Coach Washington may be the man I don't think he can do any worse. Nick Van Exel? Please!
The perfect coach for grambling would be VINCE GRAYSON…FORMER PLAYER UNDER AARON JAMES NOW A HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH IN HOUSTON WITH A TON OF RECRUITING TIES TO THE HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS…..ALSO CAN BRING FUNDRASING AND DONATION FROM FORMER GMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRGRAM BACK ON THE MAP….A PROVEN WINNER…HAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN TEXAS 4AAAA LEVEL…..OFFERS MORE RECRUITABILITY FOR TALENT THAN MICHEAL LYONS…..GIVE HIM A SHOT GMEN……
We need Bernard Griffith, former assistant coach Dallas Mavericks, National Championship Head Coach at St. Augustine Highschool New Orleans La.
The perfect coach for grambling would be VINCE GRAYSON…FORMER PLAYER UNDER AARON JAMES NOW A HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH IN HOUSTON WITH A TON OF RECRUITING TIES TO THE HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS…..ALSO CAN BRING FUNDRASING AND DONATION FROM FORMER GMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRGRAM BACK ON THE MAP….A PROVEN WINNER…HAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN TEXAS 4AAAA LEVEL…..OFFERS MORE RECRUITABILITY FOR TALENT THAN MICHEAL LYONS…..GIVE HIM A SHOT GMEN……
The perfect coach for grambling would be VINCE GRAYSON…FORMER PLAYER UNDER AARON JAMES NOW A HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH IN HOUSTON WITH A TON OF RECRUITING TIES TO THE HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS…..ALSO CAN BRING FUNDRASING AND DONATION FROM FORMER GMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRGRAM BACK ON THE MAP….A PROVEN WINNER…HAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN TEXAS 4AAAA LEVEL…..OFFERS MORE RECRUITABILITY FOR TALENT THAN MICHEAL LYONS…..GIVE HIM A SHOT GMEN……