**Editor's note, this episode of Cardinal CounTree with Matt Vassar was recorded prior to Stanford's announcement on Friday that Jerod Haase will be the new head basketball coach.
In this edition of Cardinal CounTree, Matt Vassar comments on the firing of Johnny Dawkins and how he was never really the right fit for Stanford. He talks about the possibility of Jerod Haase being the next head coach, and covers a former Stanford coach being inducted into the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Finally, he wraps up the show previewing the big women's basketball game tonight as Stanford takes on No. 1 seed Notre Dame in the Sweet Sixteen.
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Comments
Dawkins was a basketball genius?
Nope. Uh-uh. No way.
This wasn’t a fit issue. It wasn’t a cultural issue. He just wasn’t a good coach. He didn’t get the most out of his players, or get them to play consistently. That’s a coaching problem. He was plagued by injuries year after year after year. Generally that’s a coaching problem. He didn’t seem to hire good staff underneath him. Again, a coaching problem. The only thing he seemed to do well is recruiting (thankfully, because we have a full cupboard for our new coach), but I suspect that was at least partly a product of students wanting to come to Stanford, more than wanting to play for Dawkins.
Harbaugh came into our football program from a different culture. And what did he do? He changed the football culture to suit his style, to make them win. Don’t get me wrong, Shaw is fantastic, but we ultimately have Harbaugh to thank for our football turnaround. One thing Harbaugh is responsible for: getting people excited about Stanford football. Dawkins, on the other hand, doesn’t get even his players excited for Stanford basketball.
It’s very kind-hearted of you to blame Dawkins’s lack of success on his poor fit. But he had eight years to adapt the program to his style and approach, and he achieved little more than disappointing longtime fans. That sustained mediocrity isn’t a fit issue. It’s a Dawkins issue. Eight years worth of statistical evidence proves it: the man’s not a basketball genius. I certainly wish him well with his new program, but I’m amazed at how quickly he’s found another job, given his resume. I’m just glad he’s no longer our problem.
OK, Jerod Haase, we’re all ready to see what you can do.
By StanWho? on 03.25.16 1:23pm