Coach Aston's staff

Someone on the Aggie board said that TJ Ford was hired by Aston; obviously, they could be getting him confused with Travis Mays.
 
That would be a helll of a hire if its true, I havent heard anything of the sort, but would be impressed because that is a national name that would really resonate with parents of recruits especially. If its not true, how could he be confused with travis mays? Although now a days nothing about aggie would surprise me.
 
well, it would be a paying job for TJ. Right now, iirc, he's a volunteer coach with the Toros.

Wonder why it's taking so long to name that third assistant, presumably the post coach, since Karen, Jalie & Travis all were guards.
 
With the announcements that Malone is headed to Illinois and Hughey is headd to Florida State, I think it's safe to assume that someone new will be brought in to fill that last assistant slot.

Honestly, I'm very surprised it's taken this long.
 
Does anyone else find it a little strange that Travis was named Assoc HC? I'm actually happy to have him back; he seems very well liked, and Karen has worked with him before and should obviously bring in staff that she trusts, and is comfortable with. So this isn't a criticism of the hire at all, but simply a question about his title. I always assumed the assoc title was usually given to someone who had made significant contributions to a program, often over a long period of time, or perhaps as an enticement to land a high profile, or highly regarded assistant who would be difficult to attract otherwise. For instance, new Vol coach Warlick was made an assoc HC in 2003, after being on the sidelines for 18 years and 6 national championships. Dailey at UCONN is also at assoc HC, and I think Aston's title was given during her first stint in recognition of her successful recruiting efforts. If you look at Travis' resume, he joined the Horns as asst after the FF season, and we didn't even make the tournament his last two seasons here. And LSU made the FF the season he joined their program, and the next three years made two 2nd round exits and missed the tourney altogether one year. And this is a program that had made 5 consecutive FF's immediately preceding that three-year stretch. I'm certainly not implying failure, or success for that matter can be laid at the feet of an assistant, just making the point that his resume' is hardly one you'd expect to result in an assoc HC offer or position. Even Demoss came in as an assistant and she had been Pat's top recruiter for years, and an SEC Coach of the Year in her own right prior to joining the Horns. And Barmore, who won an NCAA championship as a HC doesn't even have an assoc title at Baylor. And I was also wondering if his title might cause any trouble in attracting a higher profile asst to fill that final position, given that they might have to come in with a lesser title than Travis. Of course we could always offer someone else as assoc role if that's what it took to get the right person here; no reason you can't have two with the same title. But I do know a lot of people seem to think that final hire should have a bit of a "wow" factor, esp with the relative inexperience of the rest of the staff. Hopefully his title won't be an issue and perhaps there's someone who just wants to be at Texas, or in Austin, and/or who doesn't care one way of the other what their title is. Kind of like what happened when Demoss was hired, or in the latter case similar to Barmore's situation at Baylor. I've even wondered if we might bring in a high-profile coach, or even former HC (someone of the stature of a Barmore or JC...just using them as examples) for the final asst position, and then use the strength and conditioning role to hire a former post player, or someone who has experience on that front. That would give us both the "wow" factor and experience some are looking for, and a post coach, albeit not in the same position.
 
Well I think that naming him the Assoc. HC would have been the only way to get Travis back here. Also your proposed hiring scenario wouldnt work because whoever fills the strength and conditioning role doesnt get to interact during practice. I they're limited to 8 hrs a week and can not actively coach a player during practice which usually just includes a mid week workout and pregame and pre practice stretching. That wouldnt give them nearly enough on court time to be effective with our posts.
 
I didn't really know what the rules were regarding different positions, and the limits placed on certain staff with regards to player interaction. But I guess if they hired a high profile coach for that final position, in particular if it was a former HC, they would probably have enough experience with post players to make it work. And you're right, it could have been that Travis wouldn't agree to come back unless he was made an assoc HC, but I'm still not sure that justifies doing it. In particular if there are any other negative implications for giving him that title, or if it creates issues with regards to other possible hires. Of course that's something we would never hear about even if it occurred. Like I said I'm very happy to have him back as an assistant but don't think he deserved that particular title.
 
overseas the only title that means anything is Head Coach. Titles other than a specific position title are generally hung in order to attract a certain individual by evidencing a step-up the coaching ladder. Everyone knows it is just a game, but everyone plays it in order to get the coaches they want.
 
kinda of interesting that there is no job listing for that third assistant job at the UT site nor at another national site that lists coaching positions.
 
I don't think you read my full post, viper. Everyone knows there isn't a lot of difference btw an assoc and asst in most instances. In a few cases the former will take on additional responsibilities, as happened with Warlick when Summitt stepped back some this past season. But it's far from a meaningless distinction (otherwise we'd see it done a lot more often), but it risks becoming so when it's given for the wrong reasons. That was my point. It's generally a reward, or recognition for someone who has made significant or longterm contributions to a program. Or less often as an enticement for a high profile candidate you might not attract otherwise. And in Travis's case it won't make it any more likley he'd be considered for a HC role down the line. His record is still his record, regardless of current title. If we're successful in the years ahead, as I hope and expect us to be, then he might be given a shot somewhere, and the same is likely true for the other assistants in equal measure. The fact remains we've had other assistants who contributed more to the program, or that came in with much stronger resumes, and who didn't get that title. But like someone said he probably asked for it, or wouldn't agree to come on board otherwise. I just don't think it sets a very good precedent, that's all.
 
Im not impressed either, but I know exactly why this happened. Brianna Tucker the sophomore forward out of westbury will likey be the number 1 or 2 player in the nation her senior yr. And there's another D-1 prospect at guard as well. While I think she could've chosen better if she was going to the HS ranks, I understand the motives. If we land Tucker id call this a good move, if not well you know the drill. Think Damion Mckinley which KM hired to secure their long line of DFW elite kids, if we can get that type of result minus the NCAA violation l think we'd all call that a success
 
I cannot tell a lie...the British are in a whole heap of trouble if they ever show up on UT's schedule. After crossing the Potomac, getting across the Colorado River's gonna be a piece of cake for him.
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ahh, that's why the HS he said he worked at sounded so familiar. Met him tonight and he's very pleasant. Certainly looks like a S&C coach.
 
Obviously this is all about his AAU connections as a coach with DFW Elite, and relationship with Turner and probably others as well. Turner was at Westbury Christian, but transferred after her freshman year and played for Manvel this past season. And I think Jada Terry is also affiliated with DFW Elite, or has been anyway; I don't know where we stand with her, but if we're still in the running, perhaps he can help on that front as well. But no doubt A LOT of expectations with respect to certain recruits come with this hire; a HS asst coach isn't going to get a job like this otherwise. But if he can deliver the goods, then I would say it was a very smart move (and if not, well, he probably won't be here very long!)
 
I guess that's the game you have to play now in NCAA ball but I really hate it when I hear teams hired cOaches or family members of elite players to get that player to commit to them. It just seems dirty. But if we get the goods them what the hell do I know.
 
Not sure what to think of the newest hire.

If the highest position held has been an assistant coach at the girls high school level, it certainly leaves one scratching your head regarding experience.
 
Correction, I meant Turner. And he certainly brings "connections" to the table, the last two AAU programs he was affiliated with have won national Championships in the past 5 years. So with that being said, if he can deliver I would call this a success. And I dont know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it shows that the womens game is headed in the same direction as the mens. AAU and HS coaches get hired all the time to deliver kids. Look at Frank Martin in 2 years he went from AAU/HS coach to College asst To Head coach. That didnt work out too shabby for all involved.
 
For all on here who have graced us with the fact that they (personally) are not impressed with most of what's transpired - has it dawned on you that you're not the ones to be impressed?

Just saying - and maybe you need to give this some time to work itself out. And don't give me 'we've waited too long - or long enough'. That won't change the flow of the sands of time.
 
I'm thinking notavative meant that it's the potential recruits that need to be impressed with the coaching staff and putting a coach in place that has ties to potential recruits may indeed be impressive to those said recruits. But that's just a guess on my part.
 
Well, I would certainlly hope, and expect Washington's hire to help us with respect to several key recruits. As noted above, if that happens, it will have been a very smart move to bring him on board.
 
This is the place to discuss new staff members and what they bring or are perceived to bring to the table. Especially when they are not that known a commodity to posters. I have no question that Coach Washington is well known in the AAU and high school ranks. It's just that he is not a well known name to the public in the college game. So questions will be asked about why him and someone else.

He's certainly pleasant enough. Very gracious individual. I certainly hope that this hire pays big dividends on the recruiting trail. Especially in 2014 when, one: Texas will need to reload and two: when there will be so much talent in that class.
 
Re: ...but certainly discussing these types of changes - and others - is pretty much the point of forums like this.

Discussion, yes, but perhaps someone can explain how "I'm not impressed" in any way resembles discussion. And yes, the recruits and current players need to be impressed as well - otherwise there is absolutely no hope for the fans to feel the same way.
 
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