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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-17-2013, 06:45 PM:

He has been offered the assistant coach position and has accepted his alma mater schools offer. Good luck to him in his new job at DePaul.

Rod Strickland is leaving the University of Kentucky basketball staff for a job with DePaul University, his alma mater. Reports came out earlier today that Strickland was interested in the job, now the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting it’s a done deal. He will be an assistant coach under Oliver Purnell at the school where he averaged 20 points and earned First Team All-American honors as a junior in 1987.

Link

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 04-17-2013, 07:43 PM:

Well, there must be more to this story than meets the eye. I find it unlikely that DePaul could beat his current salary as assistant to Calipari, and if they did, I think Cal would counter-offer to keep him. And returning to your alma mater might have some emotional draw, but leaving the chance to coach next year's team?

Not worth it.

If this was an 'associate head coach' job, or if he was promised the inside track to become the head coach within a few years, then OK. Otherwise, this smells of something not-so-normal just under the surface.

Strickland was a key part of the coaching staff, and certainly was the man for getting our point guards up to speed. And up to this year, he has done a remarkable job of preening our point guards for the NBA -- Wall, Bledsoe, Knight, Teague... all drafted and doing well. Harrow? Not so much.

Perhaps Cal didn't like the job he did with Harrow? Maybe there is still bad feelings about his DUI?

Or, maybe I am reading too much into this.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-17-2013, 09:16 PM:

DePaul is a good fit for Strickland and will give him a better chance to be a head coach. He knows the Chicago area and would bet DePaul will have him recruiting the area hard. DePaul hasn't had a winning season in years and they will be moving into the Big East conference. I am sure they are looking for Strickland to give them a boost in helping their guard play and recruiting. Good luck to him and it's good to see him trying to improve his position in the coaching field.

Posted by uncSUCKS (Member # 2148) on 04-17-2013, 10:09 PM:

I'm hearing Derek Anderson or Ron Mercer might fill his spot

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 04-18-2013, 06:43 AM:

Ray Meyers is the only coach ever to have any success at DePaul and that was only for a limited number of years. It seems that the top talent from Chicago always ends up playing somewhere else, normally out of the state of Illinois.

DePaul have been a member of the Big East for several years now but have had little to no success in that league. Oliver Purnell, formerly of Clemson, is their head coach and he has had very little success at either Clemson or DePaul. Aren't they going with the Catholic schools who just left the Big East to form their own league along with Georgetown, Marquette etc.

Strickland was a special assistant to Coach Cal but was not listed as a member of his coaching staff and apparently had limited coaching duties because of that status. That is probably why he is leaving UK for a school where he can be on the bench assisting in the sideline coaching duties and working with players in practice.

[ 04-18-2013, 07:26 AM: Message edited by: SCWC ]

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 04-18-2013, 10:16 AM:

I believe you got most of the facts SCWC. Ever since his DUI he hasn't been able to do what he wants to do. This will put him back into real coaching. Wish him good luck.