Some thoughts on the imminent hiring

[Guest BasketBull.]

ESPN/Cats

• South Florida, according to a source close to the situation, was close to locking up former Marquette, Tennessee and Toronto Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill but a hiccup occurred in the process Saturday. The hiccup could be another candidate and the O'Neill hire is now not a slam dunk. South Florida did interview former Arkansas coach Stan Heath last week, too.

   

   

Okay, so let's say that we can trust ESPN and Cats, that means that something good (better) happened during the dance with O'neill.

And maybe some of you don't like him so much (O'Neill), but for me, I think he looks better on paper than some of the names that have been connected with us since this whole thing started -hey, the man has NBA experiece. I'd take NBA over weak mid-major any day of the week.

Anyway, I think this is good news for USF! We know that our AD met with Heath, and perhaps John Pelphrey, in the last couple of days (and probably other possible candidates...).

Whatever stopped/stalled the O'neill deal, I think it's gotta be better!  8-)

I'm keeping my fingers crosses... Keep the faith, Bulls!

[South_Florida_Flip]

I just hope that Heath is still in play and our #1 candidate. Not sure about O'Neill.

[bulls96go]

in DW we trust...maybe?

[Held_AccountaBull]

not hiring heath would be a mistake

[Ferdinand the Bull]

  Don't you think that $$$ will have a lot to do with it?  DW may prefer Heath  but they are all in Atlanta and who knows what is going on. A good place and time for a coach like Heath to negotiate with several schools at one time.

[USFMikeB]

not hiring heath would be a mistake

Perhaps Heath doesn't want to come here?  Egads, you folks have no concept of what is going on.  Heath just got unexpectedly fired.  Ya think that perhaps he might want to review all his options before he makes a decision? :

[Cubanbull]

How could NOT hiring Heath be a mistake,IF he does NOT want to come to USF. Some of you make it sound like he is gun ho and ready to come on down and it is just up to DW to get him.

[South_Florida_Flip]

Heath did say that he has an interest in the job and I have not seen him linked to any of the high profile jobs out there (Iowa, Michigan, Colorado (Kentucky is not an option for him)), so if he is still interested in coming here, then we had better hire him. It was reported that he met with DW a second time, so hopefully that went well.

[usfgrad84]

let's not forget that Heath is supposed to get something like $900,000 as a buyout of his contract.  If i were in his shoes I wouldn't jump at the first job that comes up unless it is what I really want.  Just because we may be the only school from a big conference to offer this year doesn't necessarily mean he NEEDS to take the job.  He can afford to sit out a year and se what develops next year at this time.

let's hope he is interested enough in the challenge of building this program and if Woolard wants him at USF that we can put a good enough foot forward to land him.  If not, we'll get someone else that WANTS to be here.

[Triple B]

Let's not overlook one detail in all this. DW has head basketball coaching experience. Could we possibly have an Isiah Thomas type scenario in our near future?