From The Couch – Southwell and Diarra and Wooldridge (Oh My!)
“Sources: Kansas State’s Bruce Weber is expected to hire former Wildcats’ star Shane Southwell as an assistant coach. Southwell was previously at Robert Morris.” Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports, Twitter, March 28, 2020.
JM: Rothstein’s report was correct. Southwell replaces Brad Korn, who left to become the head coach at Southeast Missouri State. I found it interesting that the “national” reporter got the scoop before any of the local guys did. This happens all the time with the professional sports teams in town as well.
“’We are excited to welcome Shane back to K-State,’ K-State head coach Bruce Weber said in a release. ‘It’s always a proud moment for a coach when one of your former players not only goes into the coaching profession, but also puts the hard work and commitment necessary to being good at it. As a player, you knew Shane had the drive and personality to be an excellent coach. He just has a great feel and IQ for the game of basketball. It is always good to have a former player on your staff who not only can relate to the current players, but also has a special pride for K-State.’”…Ryan Black, Manhattan Mercury, March 31st, 2020
JM: This reads like a LinkedIn recommendation. It’s not a bad thing, but that’s what it reminded me of!
“Q: What kind of advantage is it for you to having played at K-State and now recruiting players to K-State?
‘It’s a huge advantage. It’s one thing to sell a program, but another to sell a program that you personally have grown and developed in yourself. For me, it’s really, really important and a special, special situation because who can best tell the story of a program than someone has been through it.'”…Shane Southwell, kstatesports.com, March 31, 2020.
JM: Solid answer. Does he have any recruiting ties? I don’t know the answer to that. It’s a serious question that I have. I believe every time you have an opening on your coaching staff that you should hire a coach with strong recruiting ties. I’m not sure that they did that here.
“It’s been a great privilege to have worked with an athletic director who understands the core values of being a student-athlete,” (Riverside City College President Greg) Anderson said in a statement. “The amazing performances of our athletic teams are beyond compare, but that must be accompanied with success in the classroom. A.D. Wooldridge embodies these values.”..Brian Robin, The Press-Enterprise, March 30, 2020
JM: Jim Wooldride retired as athletic director at Riverside City College after five years there. Their programs won four state titles under his watch, the latest being the football program last fall.
“A week after announcing plans to transfer away from Kansas State and finish his college career elsewhere, the junior guard has selected a landing spot. Next season, he will play for Virginia Tech, where he will reunite with former K-State assistant coach Chester Frazier.”…Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle, March 31, 2020
JM: I was wondering why Cartier Diarra would choose Virginia Tech. The tie to former K-State assistant coach Chester Frazier is the answer.
