At what point do we start to ask questions about Linder?

[LawPoke]

When the three Cali kids left - I knew it was a "them" problem.

When Barnhart and Reynolds left - I thought it was a "them" problem.

With Oden leaving - I am starting to wonder if there is a Linder problem.

I get that it is Linder's show and the players have to meet his expectations to play in his program. But where there is smoke, there is usually fire. We can pass this off as kids that just don't know how to work or play for a disciplinarian...but this is bordering on ridiculous.

 

[rich22]

When the three Cali kids left - I knew it was a "them" problem.

When Barnhart and Reynolds left - I thought it was a "them" problem.

With Oden leaving - I am starting to wonder if there is a Linder problem.

I get that it is Linder's show and the players have to meet his expectations to play in his program. But where there is smoke, there is usually fire. We can pass this off as kids that just don't know how to work or play for a disciplinarian...but this is bordering on ridiculous.

I am starting to think the same thing. I have loved Coach Linder but with Coach Wicks leaving after 3 years when he said this was his dream job is telling when added to all of the players leaving.

Now that I type this out though it seems very similar to the discussion we had on the Wrestling program and the Football program last offseason. Maybe its not the coaches? Not sure there is a quick solution to this problem. Maybe our hiring of disciplinarian coaches needs to change or maybe we wait a few years to see if this portal crap evens itself out? Not sure.

 

[Bryoming]

I hate to agree with this, but you're definitely right about there being plenty of smoke. Wicks leaving is another body on the pile of this awful season.

 

[LanderPoke]

When the three Cali kids left - I knew it was a "them" problem.

When Barnhart and Reynolds left - I thought it was a "them" problem.

With Oden leaving - I am starting to wonder if there is a Linder problem.

I get that it is Linder's show and the players have to meet his expectations to play in his program. But where there is smoke, there is usually fire. We can pass this off as kids that just don't know how to work or play for a disciplinarian...but this is bordering on ridiculous.

I am starting to think the same thing. I have loved Coach Linder but with Coach Wicks leaving after 3 years when he said this was his dream job is telling when added to all of the players leaving.

Now that I type this out though it seems very similar to the discussion we had on the Wrestling program and the Football program last offseason. Maybe its not the coaches? Not sure there is a quick solution to this problem. Maybe our hiring of disciplinarian coaches needs to change or maybe we wait a few years to see if this portal crap evens itself out? Not sure.

Three disciplinarian coaches. Bolh apparently changed and had fewer portal issues last year.

 

[MN_Poke]

It’s not like Wicks is taking a lateral or backward move. He has an opportunity to be a head coach. Good for him. Timing isn’t great for us but don’t overreact.

 

[Wyovanian]

JFC, Linder is the first HC at Wyoming that's had to deal with the transfer portal and NIL. The landscape of College Athletics has changed. To start dumping this stuff at Linder's door is seriously misguided. NO MW school can afford to start running coaches off after two or three years (as UNLV is learning), and with this being the nascent period for both the portal and NIL, it's going to require more patience than ever to find out what an HC is capable of (or not). Don't let SDPoke talk you onto the ledge...

 

[MN_Poke]

JFC, Linder is the first HC at Wyoming that's had to deal with the transfer portal and NIL. The landscape of College Athletics has changed. To start dumping this stuff at Linder's door is seriously misguided. NO MW school can afford to start running coaches off after two or three years (as UNLV is learning), and with this being the nascent period for both the portal and NIL, it's going to require more patience than ever to find out what an HC is capable of (or not). Don't let SDPoke talk you onto the ledge...

Well said. Last year we were afraid he was going to leave after a winning season. Now his coaching acumen is being questioned. Give him a chance.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Yea - I don't understand the tie of Wicks leaving. He was offered a D1 head coaching job likely with a significant pay increase. Why wouldn't he pursue that?

What will be interesting is if Reynolds and Oden end up at Green Bay with Coach Wicks...pretty close to their hometowns.

 

[LanderPoke]

Yea - I don't understand the tie of Wicks leaving. He was offered a D1 head coaching job likely with a significant pay increase. Why wouldn't he pursue that?

What will be interesting is if Reynolds and Oden end up at Green Bay with Coach Wicks...pretty close to their hometowns.

That would be pretty low of wicks

 

[Itsux2beaewe]

JFC, Linder is the first HC at Wyoming that's had to deal with the transfer portal and NIL. The landscape of College Athletics has changed. To start dumping this stuff at Linder's door is seriously misguided. NO MW school can afford to start running coaches off after two or three years (as UNLV is learning), and with this being the nascent period for both the portal and NIL, it's going to require more patience than ever to find out what an HC is capable of (or not). Don't let SDPoke talk you onto the ledge...

A voice of reason. Thank you!

 

[Itsux2beaewe]

Yea - I don't understand the tie of Wicks leaving. He was offered a D1 head coaching job likely with a significant pay increase. Why wouldn't he pursue that?

What will be interesting is if Reynolds and Oden end up at Green Bay with Coach Wicks...pretty close to their hometowns.

That would be pretty low of wicks

It would and I think Wicks has better character than creating a coup. I do think he loves UW and would intend to leave on good terms.

 

[bladerunnr]

When the three Cali kids left - I knew it was a "them" problem.

When Barnhart and Reynolds left - I thought it was a "them" problem.

With Oden leaving - I am starting to wonder if there is a Linder problem.

I get that it is Linder's show and the players have to meet his expectations to play in his program. But where there is smoke, there is usually fire. We can pass this off as kids that just don't know how to work or play for a disciplinarian...but this is bordering on ridiculous.

Oden has been in the program 3 years. He's probably looking at the prospects of another losing season and wants out. Understandable. All coaches swing and miss on recruits. I'm not going to judge Linder on who stays or leaves. Let's judge him on wins and losses. On that front, next year has to be better than this year. I don't care if Linder has to recruit a whole new team.

The talent level of this year's team was embarrassing. Terrible shooting, ill advised passes, and ball handling skills of a junior high team. If Linder is a disciplinarian, you sure couldn't see it by the play on the court.
Not only does next year's team have to be better, we need to see some recruits who are promising players for the future. If the bench is cluttered with Nate Barnhart types, then we know the future is very dim.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

Yea - I don't understand the tie of Wicks leaving. He was offered a D1 head coaching job likely with a significant pay increase. Why wouldn't he pursue that?

Absolutely agree. I don't know Wicks mindset but I have to imagine most college assistant coaches have the ultimate goal of being a head coach.

Someone else said something about why he would leave if Wyo is his dream job. I don't think an assistant at Wyo is the dream job, but maybe being the head guy at Wyo is. In the men's game that is very tough to do without being a head coach first. So while UW-GB might not be the ultimate goal, it puts him one step closer.

Every interaction I had with him was very positive. I think he's a genuinely good person and I wish him luck.

 

[Itsux2beaewe]

Yea - I don't understand the tie of Wicks leaving. He was offered a D1 head coaching job likely with a significant pay increase. Why wouldn't he pursue that?

Absolutely agree. I don't know Wicks mindset but I have to imagine most college assistant coaches have the ultimate goal of being a head coach.

Someone else said something about why he would leave if Wyo is his dream job. I don't think an assistant at Wyo is the dream job, but maybe being the head guy at Wyo is. In the men's game that is very tough to do without being a head coach first. So while UW-GB might not be the ultimate goal, it puts him one step closer.

Every interaction I had with him was very positive. I think he's a genuinely good person and I wish him luck.

As an FYI Sundance was a HC at Missouri Western. He actually paid his buyout of $15,000 out of his pocket to come to UW.

 

[Itsux2beaewe]

I don’t see a coach like Linder who has high expectations and wanting guys to not only practice but play hard as the problem. He came in last year and did more than most of us expected. He built a program around Ike and Maldo. Jeffries helped a lot. This was no doubt a difficult year. I stand behind and support him. I think he’s the right guy.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Absolutely agree. I don't know Wicks mindset but I have to imagine most college assistant coaches have the ultimate goal of being a head coach.

Someone else said something about why he would leave if Wyo is his dream job. I don't think an assistant at Wyo is the dream job, but maybe being the head guy at Wyo is. In the men's game that is very tough to do without being a head coach first. So while UW-GB might not be the ultimate goal, it puts him one step closer.

Every interaction I had with him was very positive. I think he's a genuinely good person and I wish him luck.

As an FYI Sundance was a HC at Missouri Western. He actually paid his buyout of $15,000 out of his pocket to come to UW.

Missouri Western is D2. And not even a ‘big’ D2 program. He probably doubled his salary when he came to Wyoming to be an assistant.

 

[Itsux2beaewe]

As an FYI Sundance was a HC at Missouri Western. He actually paid his buyout of $15,000 out of his pocket to come to UW.

Missouri Western is D2. And not even a ‘big’ D2 program. He probably doubled his salary when he came to Wyoming to be an assistant.

Possibly, I’m just stating he has had the college HC job.

 

[sandiegopoke]

I remember hearing similar things about Jim Brandenburg when I was attending. He was able to find players that would learn under him at Wyoming and had 3 NCAA trips. He went to San Diego State and failed. I think Linder's style matches the school, he just needs to find the players who he doesn't have to "coach effort." I now have a 15 (almost 16) year old who I am coaching effort to. It is exhausting.

 

[Bryoming]

Cody draws an allegory between Bohl's transfer troubles a year ago and Linder's this year. Speaks a lot to the thread title.

https://7220sports.com/column-when-it-comes-to-transfer-turmoil-truth-is-often-revealed/

 

[laxwyo]

It seems bad right now but losing a bunch of guys off the worst team in the league can be a blessing perhaps. Can really turn it around. Looks bad but can’t really judge it until after next season. Bohl exceeded expectations after losing a lot to portal.