Whiz interviews for coaching position...

Men's basketball: Coach candidate touts his credentials

John Whisenant said he doesn't know more about his candidacy status for the Lobos men's basketball job after his two-hour interview Thursday with Athletics Director Paul Krebs.

What he does know is he has a plan to vault University of New Mexico hoops back to its winning standard.

That involves energy, a nine-player rotation and, of course, "94 feet of hell" on defense.

"I teach getting up and down, diving for loose balls, keeping pressure going, high energy level, then as soon as we get a turnover or they score, we keep the attack going," said Whisenant, 62, who is vying to replace Ritchie McKay. "We don't want to slow down or let the opponents rest."

Whisenant, the current general manager for the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA, seems ready to sell his credentials at any turn.

Considering he's never been a head coach of a college basketball program, this isn't a curious thing.

But a cult following of UNM boosters are rooting for Whisenant, who can identify with Albuquerque because of his days as Norm Ellenberger's assistant in the Õ70s. Whisenant still has a home in Albuquerque...

"My best guess is I'm the first of several who will be interviewed," Whisenant said. "I don't know more than when I went in there. All the right questions were asked, and I felt I responded to all the questions well. They need to find the right guy. Obviously I feel I'm the right guy."

Um... great. First we lose him as a coach... now we face losing him as the GM as well.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's the next logical step if he wants an NBA job. He'll have to deal with Reggie Theus, though.
 
Well lets hope he takes care of all our Monarch business first:rolleyes: ...then he can move on to bigger jobs that no doubt pays more. After all isn't that why he's no longer the Monarch coach? $$$talks thats what makes the world such a playground. I wish him the best, should he get a head coaching job.
 
For me, it makes sense because he would be able to move back to NM full-time.

However, I wonder if he really wants all the headaches of being the head coach of a college team. That job is far more difficult and time-consuming than GM-ing in the W. Just the recruiting alone is miserable.
 
Monarchs beat writer talked to Whiz on Saturday....he's downplaying the likelihood that he'll get the job, but confirming his interest and the fact that there is a faction of Lobos fans rallying on his behalf.

The ol' college try once again?


The thing that caught my eye was that in the Alb. paper, they mentioned he met with NM folks at the Palms in Vegas...I also see too, that the MWC tourneys are in Vegas, and Whiz may have been in town scouting somebody there. (Its a stretch, and I completely acknowledge my reach ;))

So it may not be so bleak after all, perhaps...maybe... We'l know in about a week I guess...which will PERFECTLY get us freaking ready for the draft if he goes...oh yeah, and as mentioned previously by someone...signing our captains. gawd....(happy place...go to happy place MBF)
 
For me, it makes sense because he would be able to move back to NM full-time.

However, I wonder if he really wants all the headaches of being the head coach of a college team. That job is far more difficult and time-consuming than GM-ing in the W. Just the recruiting alone is miserable.

We kinda posed this question during the interviewing he did with the Kings. Do you really want an 82 game, year round schedule - if a 34 game schedule is wearing you down...the answer seemed to be yes there. I too have a hard time seeing him wanting to have the hassles of NCAA life...but...once a coach, always a coach? Despite his protesting, he still seemed ready to come back to the M's bench if they hadn't dickered over money.
 
Does Whisnant even want to stay in the WNBA or women's basketball. Because for the last two years, haee has been linked to two separate men's coaching jobs. And if coaching is in his blood, why is he not coaching the Monarchs.:confused:
 

And of course, there's also the $$$ ;)


He said pretty straight up that money is the reason he pushed away the negotiation table and down from the M's bench.

I think he's been pretty consistent in his motivations to do what he does. Maloofs call him to Sac from NM to run their WNBA team when Reynolds was ready to step down, they tap him to take over on the bench when the team goes sideways in 03. They call him to interview for the hc job with Kings because they trust him and think he can do the job, he's getting the tap on the shoulder at UNM because of the same reasons. Hell, go back to how he got involved with the Maloof family when they owned the Rockets. Whiz listens. He's flattered by the vindication his success with the Monarchs has given him as a coach with a system. Who wouldn't be?

If I was hugging that second trophy that somehow got away or left in Detroit, would the fact that we're being pillaged or potentially pillaged like this be bugging me like this? Eh, maybe not...but I'm not hugging a second trophy and so now I'm majorly bugged (G rated word for my frame of mind) until this blows over one way or another and resolution happens with the status of our team captains.
 

Well if that is the case, why is he in Sacramento to begin with. There is no money in the WNBA!!! And according to those in the know, this guy is a millionaire in real estate. So why is he fooling around with us little people in the "W". I am assuming his love of basketball is greater than his love of money.

According to Gutierrez's article in the Bee on Sunday, Whisnant does not think he will be selected. If he is not selected, then at least for this season he needs to sit down and shut up because this team does not need the "Whisnant distraction" that they had last year. And if he is trolling for another gig, then after this season he needs to resign and go find his pot of gold.:mad:
 
I think he came here in the first place because he was asked to. I think he interviewed for the Kings job because he was asked to. I think he talked to the folks at UNM because he was asked to. That doesn't equal trolling. If he was truly in it for the money, absolutely he wouldn't have even moved from New Mexico to come run the Monarchs side of MSE and definitely wouldn't have taken both jobs. He's not hurting for money. But money does in some ways equal respect and validation for work done and your body of work as a whole. As the man says, he's flattered by the interest and belief demonstrated by the jobs he's been asked to either take or interview for.

If he were truly trolling he would have left a long time ago, a big pot of money the likes of which he has made in real estate or could make on the NBA sideline or at a DI program isn't going to fall into his lap anytime soon in the W.

With that said..if UNM wants him, I want them to make a damn decision now and take him so this franchise can get ready for the draft and commence to signing its remaining free agents.
 
With all of that said, he fuels speculation by interviewing for positions of interest, regardless if he is being looked at or he is looking. I understand wanting better jobs, we all do. But this just lets me know that as soon as the right job comes along, he is gone. It seems like he kicked himself upstairs, because it would be easier to leave the organization from behind a desk than from out on the floor. There is no reason why he should not be the Monarchs coach in 2007. Unless he wants to leave period.
 
Posted this on another boad but....

I guess I will post it here too.

As a Monarchs fan and STH, I am really trying to see this from Whiz's point of view. I really am... I want to see the reasons for this and not be irked. When you meet him, he is hard not to like.

But I have never really gotten over the Kings thing last season.

I was terribly bothered by that whole "Being in the running for the Kings Job" right smack dab in the middle of our season. And yes to some degree makes me feel leery of Male candidates taking WNBA job for resume builders.

Now I have been told differently from other STH's but from what I remembered, Reasons Whiz may step down would be

1) Health...Whiz thought the WNBA season was too grueling and wanted to just be the GM, unless he found a suitable replacement.

But as mentioned, If 34 games is too grueling how are you gonna make it with 82?

2) Sick parents and having more family time...
Unfortunately Both of his parents died last year... And yeah it takes time to get over that. It took me some time so I understand that.

So he wants more time with the family, then considers the UNM job.

That don't make a whole lot of sense. Not to mention he is in his early 60's. How long does he think he can keep a schedule like that? It is different when you are Bobby Knight and you have been doing it for a long time. But Whiz would have to build the program from the ground up, and last I checked WNBA success doesn't have all that much street cred. So he will have his work cut out for him.

So I guess it is for the Money... Which I totally get. Most College Coaches make excellent money and if they have any decent skills should have longevity.

I just feel really jerked around. What this league needs more than anything is stability and commitment. Committed owners, committed coaches and committed front offices.


This type of inconsistency just stinks to High Hell. And it will not improve the product on the court. I know he is considered by some to be this basketball genius And he might be... I just don't see it. He runs a great defense, but his offense leaves little to be desired. A Genius could have done something with that. And Besides the Williams move to compensate for the Buesher Loss, what has he done as a GM?

Nicole Powell was virtually handed to him, Kristen Haynie was a gift From SFO, and she is still developing. The 06 draft was Meh... of Course he was a little distracted then too. And Now we will need that 2nd round draft pick and we don't have it. We are going Count on a rookie to back up Nicole, or GOD No Kim Smith. Puleeezzzeee.


IMHO If he wants to go, then Step. Quit Dicking around about it. And every action he has taken indicates that he wants to go. I want to wish Whiz luck but I can't. What I wish he would do is make up his mind. And stop sending mixed messages about his commitment to the League and to the Monarchs.
 
With all of that said, he fuels speculation by interviewing for positions of interest, regardless if he is being looked at or he is looking. I understand wanting better jobs, we all do. But this just lets me know that as soon as the right job comes along, he is gone. It seems like he kicked himself upstairs, because it would be easier to leave the organization from behind a desk than from out on the floor. There is no reason why he should not be the Monarchs coach in 2007. Unless he wants to leave period.

That UNM job just became available a couple of weeks ago...and I'm sure its one of many that will be available this college offseason, or would be available next season or was available all the time he's been in Sacramento. How many has he interviewed for in the time he's been here? How many has he interviewed for since he stuck with the GM job and stepped down as coach of the Monarchs? Unless I missed something, Whiz was pretty content with that GM job until UNM called him. I don't believe he called them beating down their door. We'da heard about it by now if he has. His MSE bosses interviewed him for the Kings job, he did not knock on their door for it. If he was content to go do something else, I might go back to NM and sit on my butt and count the money that came in from the real estate stuff I did, if I were him. If I really could give a crap about the W. Take it for what it is and what he says his motives are. I don't get why if the guy interviews somewhere he has ties because people call him, that he gets accused of not giving a damn about the Monarchs and is trolling around for jobs. The guy has been out scouting for the draft the last few weeks, and I suspect that's why he was in Las Vegas when he met with the UNM AD. If he didn't care, he's got enough coaches on staff to handle that for him.
 
I just feel really jerked around. What this league needs more than anything is stability and commitment. Committed owners, committed coaches and committed front offices.......

........IMHO If he wants to go, then Step. Quit Dicking around about it. And every action he has taken indicates that he wants to go. I want to wish Whiz luck but I can't. What I wish he would do is make up his mind. And stop sending mixed messages about his commitment to the League and to the Monarchs.

Completely 100 and 50 percent agree with this statement.
 
Now I have been told differently from other STH's but from what I remembered, Reasons Whiz may step down would be

1) Health...Whiz thought the WNBA season was too grueling and wanted to just be the GM, unless he found a suitable replacement.

But as mentioned, If 34 games is too grueling how are you gonna make it with 82?
So I guess it is for the Money... Which I totally get. Most College Coaches make excellent money and if they have any decent skills should have longevity.
First, my understanding for the reason he is no longer coach of the monarchs, is Whiz and the Maloofs could not agree on a contract...he wanted more money than they were offering.

Second, where does the 82 games come from? College seasons aren't 82 games. Unless you count the post-season, not even half of 82 games.
 
If Whiz goes he goes. If he were soooooo uncommitted to this league he could have left already. He could have never come here in the first place. The man moved from New Mexico when the Maloofs asked him to come run the Monarchs after Reynolds decided to step down (someone who also left to go work for the Kings side of the organization- are we mad at him too?). That was his big crime apparently...deciding to set foot into the WNBA. If he hadn't have done that, he would be a ok right now is what I'm surmising....or...he could have first stepped a foot into the college ranks, or aau ranks and then come here and then he'd be a ok right now...or would he just be flittering between gigs and being indecisive? How long does the committment need to be before he's deemed to have been committed to this franchise and the women who played for him?

But let me take a step back and ask the broader question...where exactly is his demonstration of non committment to the W as a league or to the Monarchs as a franchise? Because he interviewed for a job when his bosses asked him to? Really? Is that it? How do you tell your bosses "no" how do you turn that opportunity down? I blame the timing of the Kings daliance squarely on the Maloofs, they knew long before they finally pulled the plug I would think, that Adelman was essentially walking a razor wire. They chose when to do that, and I also believe they did not wake up one day in April/May and say, gee, where is our coaching option going to come from? Oh wait, we have one down the hall polishing off a trophy. Let's ask him. You think they REALLLLLY only saw Whiz as an option once the Monarchs season started? But I dont think that would have mattered it seems that no matter when Whiz was considered for the job it would have been a signal of his non committment. You're being validated as a coach. Give me the name of one single WNBA coach right now who would have said no to that. Laimbeer doesn't count, he's been linked to more jobs NBA and NCAA than Whiz has. Whiz has been linked to two jobs in the nearly four years that he's been here and those two are recent. Where are all the others that show a pattern of dissatifaction or looking elsewhere?

Whiz gave his explanation for stepping off the Monarchs sideline. He was very clear about that. He never said health, he never said family. WE said that. What he had said was that he didn't intend to get into coaching in the first place, are we sorry he did? Should he have stuck with that decision too? He wasn't sure if he wanted to stick around and coach long term...but he came back every year. Are we sorry that he did that, didn't stick to his original committment to just GM?

I hate that he's not on the bench, and definitely hate that he might be gone to New Mexico. But I'll be damned if I'm going to play revisionist and act like his tenure here was immaterial and didn't matter. Nicole Powell was handed to him. Really? Tangela Smith was a pretty nice player to fork over for someone handed to you. I thought we got a nice pair of young players in 2006, oh...that we even GOT two players in the draft was pretty nifty. He netted a 2nd first round pick for Chantelle Anderson...the same Chantelle Anderson who barely got minutes here. I guess that was just handed to him as well. He just sat on his butt all offseason collecting paychecks with his feet kicked up on his desk waiting for the phone to ring for a job interview somewhere else.

And we need that second round draft pick in a shallow draft why? Give me a player we need or could use who would be available in the 2nd round who would be better than the options we currently have on the roster? Smith and Dorrell did not get minutes..and certainly didn't get the type of minutes that Newton got. And with Maiga here, Smith wasn't going to get the minutes either, with Maiga being the better defender on the wing. We maybe can use the first round pick but what need to we have for the 2nd? Williams is better potentially long term than whoever we would have drafted in the low second round. Wash there. We weren't keeping Maiga or Buescher the minute they signed offer sheets. So let that go and stop putting the blame solely on Whiz. Whiz replaced one, had apparently an idea of how to replace the other.

And this second round pick we need so badly now, won't be on the roster next year, pretty damn sure of that with a deeper draft and picks in all 3 rounds. So why give something up of value for a college rental. Unless we're begging out of roster spots for next year. If we need a backup 3 who is not currently on the roster, we better find one who cost less than Buescher or Maiga-Ba would have...and if they got the deals they got...who is out there who is going to cost less long term? In the Bee last week, Whiz told us why he made the decisions he made...they were long term decisions with the FAs he's going to need to sign next year. That's a committed GM. Does it mean he's going to be here forever...no...it means the man isn't just sitting around looking at the classifieds or studying his retirement portfolio. Which is struck me as the direction this thread is headed.

If he's going to New Mexico, we'll know as soon as the AD makes a hiring decision. If you want Whiz gone so as to not have to put up with other people wanting him (lets say its not even a NBA or NCAA team, what other franchises out there might want him as a GM or coach *cough* NY Liberty*cough*) Would that be better? if he was recognized for his ability to GM or coach, if he stayed in this league? Or is he chained here until we say its an appropriate time for him to go. I think we saw what happened when that is the case (see: Van Chancellor). When exactly can he leave. Four years is a mighty long time to me, for a league that's 11 years old.
 
First, my understanding for the reason he is no longer coach of the monarchs, is Whiz and the Maloofs could not agree on a contract...he wanted more money than they were offering.

Second, where does the 82 games come from? College seasons aren't 82 games. Unless you count the post-season, not even half of 82 games.


Sorry for the confusion I was refering to when he was offered the Kings Job. It all seems to run together for me sometimes.
As For MBF...
My short response is that for me, it always seems like we never know if he is coming or going. 2004 he had the lung thing when he was coughing up blood. He mentioned then how much of a Toll the season had on him. Had people wondering if he would come back.
I don't remember anything in 05. Although I think his mother was getting sick then and he may have mention something about wanting more time with family.
06- The Kings job, mother's death, lots of distractions.

We all go thru tough bits in our lives. So I am not blaming him for the events that happened in his life. I like the guy, respect alot of what he has done for this franchise. But when someone constantly eludes to leaving, it gets kinda old for me.

Yes The Maloofs could have and should have Shown Whiz the Money.

He stepped down because he didn't get it. Found us a really nice replacement. Kudos to him for doing the right thing. I realize that success breeds interest in a lot of different venues. And I do not begrude him that. But it seems like he is jumping at every opportunity to leave.

And that is my point about commitment. If the money isn't right here and he still feels the coaching bug, go do that. New Mexico is as good a place as any. But the constant is he staying/is he leaving is tiresome to me.

Should he leave we will lose a good GM, but it is not life or franchise altering. But I would like to have someone who plans to stay around, and right now that is not the impression I am vibing from him.

It is my opinion, right or wrong...
 
I would hate to see Whiz leave, 'cuz he's done so much for the team.

But if he does leave, the obvious question is...who should the Monarchs hire to become the next G.M.?
 
I too think the "Should I Stay or Should I Go" act could wear thin. But it is better that it is coming from upstairs than on the bench.

All I ask is that if Whisnant does not get the New Mexico job, that as a man he would make the commitment to the Monarchs for this season. I know that is alot to ask considering that college jobs come vacant while the WNBA season is in gear. And if he does have the itch to coach and believes he can get a gig, leave right now. My thing is leaving in the middle of the season for another job where ever. To me there is no honor in that. I can not fault him for wanting to go somewhere else, but i will if it is done with bad timing.

As far as who would replace him if he left, I have no idea.
 
That's my whole point....He doesn't seem to HAVE the itch to coach somewhere else. Other WNBA vacancies have come open, other GM positions have come open, other NBA vacancies have come open, other NCAA men's AND women's vacancies have come open since he's been here. AND since he's proven himself to be successful wearing either hats. How many jobs has he interviewed for? And what was the impetus for the interview? And what sort of tie does he have to the places or people who've asked him to come? Answers: twice, he was approached, and HUGE ties. That's all I'm asking us to consider. He's not scowering the globe looking for another gig. If he was, I'm sure the man would have left already. I keep tossing out a word here...validation. Tell me honestly here...Adelman [or insert name of Kings coach fans don't hate or start threads about firing] takes the Kings to the NBA Finals, wins once and is in position to go back to back...think he's having to ask for fair compensation scalable to his league? That's another question I like to ask myself for giggles and see what I think the answer is. But its Whiz who has the light of non-commitment shone on him.

If we're going to ask that we not deal with the "should I or shouldn't I" mentality...our center has had spent the last couple of seasons: demanding to be traded, retiring, not retiring, contemplating retiring, unsure about retirement, will let us know when she's ready about retiring. We have had a helluva lot more certainty in our front office than we do at our starting center position. (And btw...she's still not signed...and I believe its because she still has not decided) But its Whiz who gets raked over the coals. I'm not saying anyone should be chastised for wanting things other than what we think they should want, I just am making the comparison since I find it interesting.
 
Well Since it came up...



I think the situation with Yo and Whiz are apples and oranges.

I wont revisit the Whiz thing. But In Yo's case there are some differences.

She asked to be traded because the team she knew was being blown up, and she saw the window of winning a Championship closing. That is somewhat understandable.

She has also been playing on one leg for the last few years too. It is somewhat reasonable for her to say I want to see if my body can hold up to the WNBA Schedule.

Now I have heard that she may not want to break in a new Coach at this stage of her career. Or that she doesn't want diminished Minutes. These are understandable but not reasonable reasons to hold up negotiations IMO.

For me this is a **** or get off the pot Scenario.

The reality is 1) We have a new Coach and Jen-nay is her own person. 2) This team is in transition. New Go-To players are gonna need to be found, because 3) She ain't playin in 2008.

I am sure she is more than clear on these issues. Money isn't the issue cause, she was gonna get paid what she was gonna get paid anywhere. This team will be competitive. So I don't get the hesitation.

Yes, I am gonna play one more year. No I am not.
Seems simple to me... And the Maybe She Is/Maybe She Isn't with Yo gets tiresome for me as well.

And since I am on a roll with Stepping on sacred Cows...

I don't believe this team would have been in that much peril if Yo chose to retire. Contrary to popular Belief. But the fact that we have made no Off-season moves waiting on her decision does somewhat compromise us now. We lost 2 key role players and it will put a lot of pressure on our starters to stay on the floor and healthy. And while this class doesn't have Block-Buster Depth, a 2nd round draft pick could have netted a nice inexpensive complimentary piece. A 1st rounder is suppose to be better than a complimentary piece.

I know most of us (Myself Included) are excited about the 08 and 09 classes; however, I am operating under the assumption that we will still be drafting late. We should get an excellent player(s) in that draft but no guarantee they are Blockbusters either. IMO the reason why The Monarchs have been successful is that we have really good talent coupled with great complimentary pieces. We took a big hit in that this year. And I would liked to have seen Whiz be more aggressive in finding more complimentary pieces. Not thrilled with some of the pieces we have left right now.

For the record I think Yo wants another crack at getting that championship back. She should have retired a back to back champ and I think that is eating at her. Again Just My opinion based on nothing I have read or heard.

Finally, I get the impression that because I have been critical of Whiz that ya'll don't think I respect or appreciate what he has done for the M's. Not true. While it is my belief that anyone should have been able to put together what he did, most didn't. Whiz did... He made the most of his opportunity, he put together a great collection of players and I am very appreciative of the work he has done. I would think that would go without saying. But apparently Criticism needs to be quantified.

Sorry about the Thread Drift...

Back to our regularly scheduled Posting.




 
Looks Like Whisnant Will Stay Put For Now

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2807516&type=story

UNM reportedly working on deal for Iowa's Alford[/SIZE]
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com


Iowa's Steve Alford and New Mexico are working out the final details of a contract, and unless there is an unexpected impasse, he will be named the next head coach of the Lobos at a Friday news conference, multiple sources told ESPN.com Wednesday. New Mexico zeroed in on Alford within the past two weeks while also waiting to talk to Winthrop's Gregg Marshall whose team was playing in the NCAA Tournament. But according to multiple sources, UNM told Marshall on Tuesday that they were going with another candidate.

The courtship of Alford started in large part because new UNM president, David Schmidly, was formerly at Texas Tech, home of Alford's college coach, Bob Knight.

According to sources, the Lobos see landing a Big Ten coach to replace the outgoing Ritchie McKay as a major coup. Alford won two Big Ten tournament titles and took the Hawkeyes to the NCAAs three times -- in 2001, 2005 and '06 -- while also winning the 1987 national title as a player at Indiana.

Alford has been at Iowa for eight seasons after leading Missouri State (then Southwest Missouri State) to the Sweet 16 in 1999.

Alford has a 152-106 record in eight seasons at Iowa, and is under contract through 2011.
Sources close to Alford said he was looking for a new challenge after going through some tense seasons in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have had some issues off the court, notably Pierre Pierce's legal troubles during Alford's tenure. Once the Hawkeyes' leading scorer, Pierce was charged with assault in 2002 and then in 2005 sentenced to prison for a slew of charges involving an incident with a former girlfriend.

Sources said Alford was looking for a school that is passionate about basketball first and foremost after being at a football-first school. UNM athletic director Paul Krebs has pledged to make the Lobos a national program, bumping up the coach's salary more than $500,000 in an attempt to get it closer to Alford's nearly $1 million deal with Iowa.

Alford coached the Hawkeyes to a 17-14 record this season, and a 9-7 record in the Big Ten, tied with NCAA-bound teams Illinois and Purdue for fourth place. The Hawkeyes, though, weren't invited to the NIT.

The Lobos went to one NCAA Tournament under McKay, losing in the first round in 2005. The Lobos' NCAA history is brief as Dave Bliss took the Lobos to seven appearances from 1991-99. Prior to Bliss, the Lobos made only three other appearances in the Dance in their history. Krebs would be banking on Alford bringing the Lobos back into contention for a bid on a regular basis.
The Lobos are hoping, even though Alford had received negative attention when the Hawkeyes struggled, that Lobos fans will embrace a national name in the sport to lead the program.
 
Back
Top