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Jim Sterk historical reference
Posted on: August 11, 2016 at 10:07:31 CT
FIJItiger MU
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Not sure what, if anything, this tells us about how things will play out at MU and how Sterk will react this time but it is at least worth noting.
When Sterk became Washington State’s AD he inherited Paul Graham as a basketball coach. He allowed him to coach 3 seasons under him before eventually firing him following the 2002-03 season. Graham went 31-79 overall, and 9-63 in PAC10 conference games during his tenure. Only once did he top 10 wins in a season and finished with back to back 20 loss campaigns. In his final season they avged 2,310 in attendance, a slight bump from the program worst of 2,292 in attendance they had avged the year before. Graham was let go with 1 year remaining on his contract, with Washington State agreeing to buy out the remainder.
"The decision is based upon the last four years ... the overall picture of the basketball program," Sterk said.
In his search for a replacement, Sterk reached out to former Washington State coaches for input and suggestions (including Kelvin Sampson). He said he planed to hire someone “that is a great fit,” preferably someone who has head coaching experience. Connections to the Northwest won’t be mandatory, but will be considered a plus.
“We think someone can come in and build upon what has been done in the past, and the players that we have here,” Sterk said. “We have the opportunity for success in men’s basketball. We have shown it in our other sports. ... We want men’s basketball ... to be competitive in the Pac-10 and to be competitive nationally.”
“I’m going to look for a person that has a desire to be at Washington State University, someone who understand the culture, who understands the Northwest,” Sterk said.
Asked how long it would take to turn the men’s basketball program around, Sterk said it would be “sooner rather than longer.”
Eventually that search resulted in the hire of Dick Bennett, a legend in the state of Wisconsin, who had retired after last being the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. Both Oregon State and Washington had tried to offer Bennett their job openings after the prior season only to have them turn them down. He was known for an emphasis on defense and a deep knowledge of the game. He brought his son Tony Bennett with him on his staff, who eventually inherited the position from him.
“Dick Bennett is an extremely great fit for Pullman, Washington State University and the Cougar men's basketball program,' Sterk said. 'He has a proven record of building programs and taking them to the next level. He is respected by his peers, and most importantly, he is an even better person than he is a coach.”
ESPN college basketball analyst Andy Katz stated, “In the coaching community, Dick Bennett will bring instant credibility.”
“I am primarily back as a basketball coach because I missed the association with the players,' Bennett said. 'I was treated extremely well throughout the interview process. I took it step-by-step and in the end found myself eager to be at Washington State University.”
When Sterk became Washington State’s AD he inherited Paul Graham as a basketball coach. He allowed him to coach 3 seasons under him before eventually firing him following the 2002-03 season. Graham went 31-79 overall, and 9-63 in PAC10 conference games during his tenure. Only once did he top 10 wins in a season and finished with back to back 20 loss campaigns. In his final season they avged 2,310 in attendance, a slight bump from the program worst of 2,292 in attendance they had avged the year before. Graham was let go with 1 year remaining on his contract, with Washington State agreeing to buy out the remainder.
"The decision is based upon the last four years ... the overall picture of the basketball program," Sterk said.
In his search for a replacement, Sterk reached out to former Washington State coaches for input and suggestions (including Kelvin Sampson). He said he planed to hire someone “that is a great fit,” preferably someone who has head coaching experience. Connections to the Northwest won’t be mandatory, but will be considered a plus.
“We think someone can come in and build upon what has been done in the past, and the players that we have here,” Sterk said. “We have the opportunity for success in men’s basketball. We have shown it in our other sports. ... We want men’s basketball ... to be competitive in the Pac-10 and to be competitive nationally.”
“I’m going to look for a person that has a desire to be at Washington State University, someone who understand the culture, who understands the Northwest,” Sterk said.
Asked how long it would take to turn the men’s basketball program around, Sterk said it would be “sooner rather than longer.”
Eventually that search resulted in the hire of Dick Bennett, a legend in the state of Wisconsin, who had retired after last being the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. Both Oregon State and Washington had tried to offer Bennett their job openings after the prior season only to have them turn them down. He was known for an emphasis on defense and a deep knowledge of the game. He brought his son Tony Bennett with him on his staff, who eventually inherited the position from him.
“Dick Bennett is an extremely great fit for Pullman, Washington State University and the Cougar men's basketball program,' Sterk said. 'He has a proven record of building programs and taking them to the next level. He is respected by his peers, and most importantly, he is an even better person than he is a coach.”
ESPN college basketball analyst Andy Katz stated, “In the coaching community, Dick Bennett will bring instant credibility.”
“I am primarily back as a basketball coach because I missed the association with the players,' Bennett said. 'I was treated extremely well throughout the interview process. I took it step-by-step and in the end found myself eager to be at Washington State University.”
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Jim Sterk historical reference - FIJItiger MU - 8/11 10:07:31