2021 Coaching Carousel

[Jacob Johnson]

She has a very solid resume and the great thing for me having Vic as the Head Coach is that I trust his decisions. I dare say, Vic wants to win more than any of us in this forum. He’s been pretty darn successful at it to this point. I suspect we’ll look back on this as one of his best decisions.

This is a homerun hire imo. Her resume is very impressive and seems like she is able to build strong relationships with everyone around her just based on her social media. Also a plus she's very active on social media and post players development on Instagram

 

[flash34]

For sure knows the west coast recruiting so that is a plus. No Texas ties so that is a minus. Somebody help me...........other than Vic......who is out Texas HS connection coach? Perhaps Vic feels that recruiting the west coast is a need.

 

[justabbfan]

Good hire. From what I have read, Vic is very particular about adding people to his staff, especially coaches, and looks at much more than the person’s coaching experience. Coach Phillips apparently met his hiring criteria. So let’s hit the ground running and get this team ready for the upcoming season. Hook’em.

 

[LutherIsMyDog]

Well, after Arizona's season, Adia Barnes lost two of her assistant coaches to Mississippi State and Oregon, respectively, to lateral positions, I believe. She hired replacements from USC and Cal. Arizona just doesn't pay well.

So, if Arizona announced her hiring on April 21, and Johnnie's vacancy occurred since late March / early April, it doesn't sound like Phillips was Vic's first choice; there's really no other way to spin it.

Arizona Hires April Phillips & Erin Grant as Assistant Coaches - University of Arizona Athletics

The quotes below stood out to me from the Arizona press release. We need to fortify our recruiting muscle so hopefully, Phillips will prove to be an ace recruiter. There are two top 5 players from California in the 2023 class, Judea Watkins (6'0 G) and Breya Cunningham (6'4" C). If we can get visits from either of them, I'll chalk it up to Phillips' connections in California that got them interested in Texas.

"When we needed to hire another assistant coach, April was the first person that came to mind," Barnes said. "I know her, I trust her, and we have a very good relationship. April and I both chose Arizona twice and we are thrilled to have her back a second time. She is the best recruiter on the west coast and one of the best in the country, but she is much more than just a recruiter. April is a very talented coach with a great basketball mind, and she is going to take us to another level."

During her time at Arizona, she helped sign a class that consisted of Helena Pueyo, one of Arizona's top three-point shooters and defenders on the team. She also worked with the posts in her year at Arizona, helping guide the development of Cate Reese who was a three-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-Freshman Team.

Prior to her first stint at Arizona, Phillips spent three seasons at Loyola Marymount, including the last two as the program's associate head coach. As the Lions' recruiting coordinator, Phillips helped land two of the top recruiting classes in program history and was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 in both 2017 and 2018.

 

[flash34]

I am particularly sensitive to “not being first choice”. I wasn’t my wife’s first choice......not sure exactly sure what choice I was....but glad she picked me. 43 years tomorrow. Sometimes that’s better. Welcome April.

 

[brnkj]

Finally... no more guessing! THIS hire is exactly why I didn't make any of my wild speculations public. Looking forward to seeing more from the new players and coaches. Welcome aboard, coach!

 

[512HornsUp]

I am particularly sensitive to “not being first choice”. I wasn’t my wife’s first choice......not sure exactly sure what choice I was....but glad she picked me. 43 years tomorrow. Sometimes that’s better. Welcome April.

Well said! That made me legit LOL

 

[longhorn47]

Well said! That made me legit LOL

Happy Anniversary!

 

[Ellis21d]

Johnnie Harris made $300,000 annually. Be interesting to see what April Phillips will be getting and the bump she got from leaving Arizona? She's coming with some tremendous credentials.

 

[DFW_Horn]

Johnnie Harris made $300,000 annually. Be interesting to see what April Phillips will be getting and the bump she got from leaving Arizona? She's coming with some tremendous credentials.

Johnnie was the ‘senior’ associate head coach so I doubt Phillips or McEntire get more than $200K but it could be close. From last year:
New Texas associate head coach Johnnie Harris will receive a base salary of $300,000 in Austin. Texas is set to pay associate head coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett $210,000 while assistant coach Elena Lovato makes $170,000.

 

[utfannforlife]

Johnnie was the ‘senior’ associate head coach so I doubt Phillips or McEntire get more than $200K but it could be close. From last year:
New Texas associate head coach Johnnie Harris will receive a base salary of $300,000 in Austin. Texas is set to pay associate head coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett $210,000 while assistant coach Elena Lovato makes $170,000.

You would flip some of those numbers. I expect DJ to bump up to 250-270 while April will make in the low 190’s mid twos. Calamity in the 150 range

 

[DFW_Horn]

There are two top 5 players from California in the 2023 class, Judea Watkins (6'0 G) and Breya Cunningham (6'4" C). If we can get visits from either of them, I'll chalk it up to Phillips' connections in California that got them interested in Texas.

Re: Cunningham, Jamie Carey visited LJCD (Breya's HS) a couple of years ago specifically to see her so she's familiar with Texas. As to Watkins, maybe Imani can put in a good word for the Longhorns (same HS - Windward).

 

[DFW_Horn]

Bad timing for Adia Barnes to be looking for a replacement assistant though she probably has a few candidates in mind considering she did just hire 2 in April:

Now, the Wildcats must replace her — and fast. The UA posted a job opening for the vacant position on Tuesday, with a target fill date of Monday, June 21 — six days later.

Barnes is in Puerto Rico, where she is assisting Team USA as part of the 2021 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup tournament.

 

[DFW_Horn]

Coaches yes but I think there are 2 open support staff positions:

• Video Coordinator (Dom Dillingham became the Director of Player Development) and I don’t think Kristen Grant (new Director of Video & Recruting Digital Services) would cover those duties.
• Grad Manager/Assistant now that Jazz Holmes is the Coordinator of Player Development.

From the Coaches Directory this morning:
Ryan Yablonsky, Graduate Manager, Women's Basketball

Yablonsky was a practice player as well as a student manager for WBB last season.

 

[DFW_Horn]

 

[512HornsUp]

What a promotion!! I hope she succeeds in SoCal! PVille represent!!

 

[justabbfan]

Well, that's interesting. I thought sure Nneka was coming back to Texas. Best of luck to her in her new position.

 

[jusme828]

Wow! She must have gotten an offer she couldn't refuse after saying she was taking a break from basketball. Happy for her!!

 

[CreakyHorn]

I like what she said at the end, that you can't coach every player the same. Sounds like she, as a coach, is wanting to establish a coaching relationship with each player based on their personality.

 

[CreakyHorn]

So, I've kind of lost track. Do we have a full staff, or are there positions that still need to be filled?

 

[DFW_Horn]

So, I've kind of lost track. Do we have a full staff, or are there positions that still need to be filled?

Unless they folded the duties under Kristen Grant (Director, Video and Recruiting Digital Services), Vic doesn’t have a Video Coordinator.

 

[BBV_Horn]

She fits right in with the archaic bigotry and hatred perpetuated at Baylor against the LGBTQ community.....in other words, she’s a self avowed out in the open bigot!!!

For those who hit the “disagree” icon, you should read what she has OPENLY said about LGBTQ persons, she is very homophobic!!

 

[DFW_Horn]

Looks like the carousel music is about to start up again. Florida Gators head coach based on Twitter speculation. Terrible timing.

 

[xdxmmxchxxl]

Cam Newbauer would only be let go if it was something not basketball related, especially with the timing. Don’t buy into “Twitter speculation” too much. I hope it isn’t him. I liked watching them this past season; they have gotten much more competitive over the past few years.

 

[DFW_Horn]

Cam Newbauer would only be let go if it was something not basketball related, especially with the timing. Don’t buy into “Twitter speculation” too much. I hope it isn’t him. I liked watching them this past season; they have gotten much more competitive over the past few years.

I know not to put too much stock into Twitter grumblings - just passing along the program being mentioned most. I agree that it would have to be a significant off-court issue considering they just gave him a contract extension last month through April of 2025. It could literally be any SEC program outside of South Carolina (Dawn is untouchable outside of a Woody Hayes type incident), LSU (they knew what they were getting when they hired her) and Tennessee (Harper just got an extension yesterday).

 

[BALL IS LIFE]

I know not to put too much stock into Twitter grumblings - just passing along the program being mentioned most. I agree that it would have to be a significant off-court issue considering they just gave him a contract extension last month through April of 2025. It could literally be any SEC program outside of South Carolina (Dawn is untouchable outside of a Woody Hayes type incident), LSU (they knew what they were getting when they hired her) and Tennessee (Harper just got an extension yesterday).

The two Twitter sites you referenced have usually been pretty accurate in the past. The Florida boards are now reporting that Lavender Briggs, their leading scorer, who is from the state of Utah, has now entered the transfer portal. There is definitely some smoke in the air.

 

[LutherIsMyDog]

The two Twitter sites you referenced have usually been pretty accurate in the past. The Florida boards are now reporting that Lavender Briggs, their leading scorer, who is from the state of Utah, has now entered the transfer portal. There is definitely some smoke in the air.

It won't take long for a 6'1" Wing who averages about 20 ppg to find a great home.

 

[Jacob Johnson]

The two Twitter sites you referenced have usually been pretty accurate in the past. The Florida boards are now reporting that Lavender Briggs, their leading scorer, who is from the state of Utah, has now entered the transfer portal. There is definitely some smoke in the air.

She just began to follow the Baylor coach and vice versa. Texas needs to get her to that pool party on the 31st of July like they are doing with some other recruits. It's basically a recruiting event for all Texas sports.

 

[Bobcat]

She just began to follow the Baylor coach and vice versa. Texas needs to get her to that pool party on the 31st of July like they are doing with some other recruits. It's basically a recruiting event for all Texas sports.

With our abundance of guards, do you think we go after her??? Her stats and size are impressive.

 

[BALL IS LIFE]

With our abundance of guards, do you think we go after her??? Her stats and size are impressive.

I think you have to. She's a proven scorer. She can give you between 20-40 on any given night.