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Pat Dye Field => Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum => Topic started by: Buzz Killington on March 12, 2010, 03:11:43 PM

Title: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Buzz Killington on March 12, 2010, 03:11:43 PM
http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2010/03/jeff_lebo_is_out_as_auburn_bas.html (http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2010/03/jeff_lebo_is_out_as_auburn_bas.html)

Jeff Lebo is out as Auburn basketball coach
By Charles Goldberg -- The Birmingham News
March 12, 2010, 1:35PM

Jeff Lebo is out as Auburn's basketball coach, according to people familiar with the decision-making process, The Birmingham News is reporting Friday.

Lebo's six-year run with the Tigers ended Thursday night in the SEC Tournament with a 78-69 loss to Florida. Lebo's Auburn record was 96-93 overall, including a 35-61 league mark. The Tigers were 15-17 this year.

He has three years remaining on his contract. His buyout is $1.5 million.

Lebo had two winning seasons in six years, and just one in the SEC.

Lebo enjoyed his best season just last year. The Tigers went 24-12 -- matching the second-most wins in school history -- and 10-6 in the SEC. But there was little follow through this season, even with four seniors in the starting lineup.

The Tigers went 6-10 in the SEC, and, worse, finished 9-6 against non-conference opponents. Central Florida and Sam Houston State beat Auburn for their first-ever wins against an SEC school. Troy beat Auburn for the first time in 11 tries.

Lebo had more success at first two coaching stops. He was 74-42 in four seasons at Tennessee Tech and 40-20 in two seasons at Chattanooga.

Lebo replaced Cliff Ellis at Auburn before the 2004-05 season, but was hurt when several of Ellis' top players left. His first Auburn team finished 14-17. That was followed by records of 12-16, 17-15, 14-16, 24-12 and 15-17.

Another coach will take the Tigers into the new $90-million Auburn Arena next year.

Jeff Lebo at Auburn
Year            Overall  SEC   
2004-05       14-17      4-12
2005-06       12-16      4-12
2006-07       17-15      7-9
2007-08       14-16      4-12
2008-09       24-12      10-6
2009-10       15-17      6-10
---------------------------------------
Total           96-93    35-61
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Saniflush on March 12, 2010, 03:12:55 PM
It just moved.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUsweetheart on March 12, 2010, 03:28:06 PM
Halledamnlujah.....
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AWK on March 12, 2010, 03:29:39 PM
Now maybe we can have an offense.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Snaggletiger on March 12, 2010, 03:32:15 PM
Word has it that Jacobs is interviewing Franklin The Governor Williams this afternoon.  Sonny Smith endorses him whole-heartedly.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Lurking Tiger on March 12, 2010, 03:32:37 PM
When I heard this on da skreets, this is the same thread title that came to mind.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: War Eagle!!! on March 12, 2010, 03:44:51 PM
Word has it that Jacobs is interviewing Franklin The Governor Williams this afternoon.  Sonny Smith endorses him whole-heartedly.

Did you get this from the skreets?

If so...I believe this shit! I have no clue how he would do. I would rather someone come in that had experience personally, but who knows. It seems to me that we should be able to get some mid-major coach in here that has had some success to open up the new arena.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: chinook on March 12, 2010, 03:46:49 PM
jay jacobs is still an underlying issue. 
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Saniflush on March 12, 2010, 03:47:20 PM
It seems to me that we should be able to get some mid-major coach in here that has had some success to open up the new arena.


Wasn't that what Lebo was supposed to be?
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUChizad on March 12, 2010, 03:56:19 PM
They need to listen to Sir Charles's input this time.

If not just let him be the coach.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUsweetheart on March 12, 2010, 04:05:31 PM
They need to listen to Sir Charles's input this time.

If not just let him be the coach.

Thank you.
Could kill him for some of the shit that comes out of his mouth about Auburn....but he would have an amazing AND immediate effect on recruiting.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: War Eagle!!! on March 12, 2010, 04:21:14 PM

Wasn't that what Lebo was supposed to be?

He was pretty green too
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Aubie16 on March 12, 2010, 04:33:56 PM
jay jacobs is still an underlying issue. 

How so?
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Aubie16 on March 12, 2010, 04:37:37 PM

Wasn't that what Lebo was supposed to be?

Well he came from Tennessee-Chattanooga. I'm not sure if they qualify has mid-major.

Anyways...My top two are:
1. Scott Drew
2. Tony Barbee
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUTiger1 on March 12, 2010, 05:53:13 PM
Well he came from Tennessee-Chattanooga. I'm not sure if they qualify has mid-major.

Anyways...My top two are:
1. Scott Drew
2. Tony Barbee

Not bad.  I also like Brad Stevens.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Saniflush on March 13, 2010, 06:22:08 AM
Quote
March 12, 2010

Dear Auburn Family,

As most of you know by now, Coach Jeff Lebo will not return as head basketball coach at Auburn University.

I met with Coach Lebo earlier today and informed him that the time had come to move Auburn's basketball program in a new direction. As I shared with Coach Lebo, we deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best. Coach Lebo has shown the utmost character, integrity and professionalism throughout his tenure at Auburn. He is and always will be a member of the Auburn Family.

While this was a difficult decision, our goals have not been met. Our basketball program has not made the progress we had all hoped it would make. Auburn ranks 11th out of 12 teams in both total wins and conference wins in the Southeastern Conference over the past six years. We have failed to reach the NCAA tournament each of the past six years, and we have reached the NIT only once. We know that Auburn can compete at a higher level in basketball, because we have done so in the past.

Our top goals as a department are winning and graduating our student-athletes. My responsibility is doing what is necessary to give our student-athletes the best chance to compete at the highest level. That is why a change was made.

While we always will remember and appreciate what Coach Lebo has done for Auburn, we must now turn our attention to the future of Auburn basketball. We will immediately begin the search for a new head coach to lead our program.

We will conduct a deliberate and thorough search driven by what is best for our student-athletes and our basketball program. Rumor and speculation will be rampant in the coming days. As in past searches, much if not most of what you may read or hear will be wrong. We will not refute rumors or comment on who will or won't be considered or who has or hasn't been interviewed. Our sole goal is to find the right man for Auburn.

Judging by recent searches at other schools, this process is more likely to take weeks than days. Rest assured that we are committed to finding a head coach who is the best fit for our team, this department, the Auburn Family and the community. We will find a coach with character and integrity who will always represent Auburn with class and who will energize our basketball program.

The new Auburn Arena demonstrates our commitment to basketball and our belief that we can compete for SEC championships and be a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament. The arena will help us in recruiting, it will give our new coach and our team a better home-court advantage and it will vastly improve the game-day experience for the Auburn Family.

There is no doubt in my mind that the future of Auburn basketball is bright. The Auburn Spirit is as strong as I have ever seen it, and the Auburn Family is as united as it has ever been. Let's continue to pull in the same direction. While we are certain to have our own opinions about how to achieve it, I am confident that we all share the same goal-to make Auburn the best that it can be.

I want to thank all of you for your support of Auburn University and Auburn Athletics. We ask for your patience as we move ahead in the coming days and weeks.

 

God Bless and War Eagle!

Jay Jacobs
Director of Athletics
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Jumbo on March 13, 2010, 07:49:54 AM

Now I feel a lot better.  :blink:
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Godfather on March 13, 2010, 09:53:14 AM
Chuck "Rifleman" Person....reasons why front page.

www.tigersx.com (http://www.tigersx.com)
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Jumbo on March 13, 2010, 10:01:36 AM
Mike Anderson or Tony Barbee are on my wish list.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: GenNormanSwinekopf on March 13, 2010, 04:03:09 PM
Auburn needs a coach who made a name for himself on the SEC courts as a player and understands SEC basketball;  someone who was an impact player for one of the most storied programs in NCAA history and understands the fan culture.

His name is John Pelphrey.

Please, I beg you...hire John Pelphrey so I can take off the  :bag:.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUChizad on March 13, 2010, 05:59:53 PM
Mike Anderson or Tony Barbee are on my wish list.
Chuck "Rifleman" Person....reasons why front page.

www.tigersx.com (http://www.tigersx.com)
Yes & Yes.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUChizad on March 14, 2010, 07:57:32 PM
Yes & Yes.
These are the only three candidates I've seen mentioned in blogs, etc.

Any of them would be awesome hires, IMO.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Saniflush on March 15, 2010, 07:04:35 AM
Auburn needs a coach who made a name for himself on the SEC courts as a player and understands SEC basketball;  someone who was an impact player for one of the most storied programs in NCAA history and understands the fan culture.

His name is John Pelphrey.

Please, I beg you...hire John Pelphrey so I can take off the  :bag:.

You will keep Pelphrey and like it.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: AUChizad on March 15, 2010, 10:29:53 AM
http://www.trackemtigers.com/2010/3/15/1372840/whos-on-deck (http://www.trackemtigers.com/2010/3/15/1372840/whos-on-deck)

Quote
(http://cdn3.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/308608/40448_cusa_houston_utep_basketball.jpg)
UTEP coach Tony Barbee is expected to be a prime target of Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs

Friday's firing of Auburn basketball coach Jeff Lebo barely made headlines across the world of college basketball. And that perhaps sums up best while it was inevitable that Auburn was going to make a change. Kudos to athletic director Jay Jacobs for not making Lebo sweat out the weekend and listen to rampant speculation about his future. He's one of the finest individuals to ever represent Auburn and Jacobs treated him that way.

Now the attention turns to the coaching search. This is unquestionably the most important non-football hire in the history of the Auburn Athletic Department. There are 92 million reasons why Jacobs must get this one right. He threaded the needle with Gene Chizik and will need to be just as adept this time around. Basketball success at Auburn has been about as elusive as bingo night at Victoryland.

So who tops the list?  Listen to fans and it's simple: Write a fat check today and hire Missouri's Mike Anderson. If it were only that easy. Many Auburn fans still view Anderson as the one who got away back in 2004.

The former UAB coach was a fan favorite for the job six years ago before crossing wires with Auburn's former president and athletic department officials. Depending on who you talk with, the chances of Anderson listening to University officials again range from slim to none. You'll remember he spurned a lucrative offer from Georgia last year, instead signing a seven-year contract extension at Missouri. Even with those odds, look for Jacobs to take one more swing at the Birmingham native.

Here are some other names being prominently thrown around in Auburn circles...

Chuck Person - The former Auburn legend and current Los Angeles Lakers assistant is a popular choice among former players. His lack of head coaching experience and no college degree may be too much to overcome.

Sam Mitchell - The 2007 NBA Coach of the Year for the Toronto Raptors and Columbus, Georgia native knows the area well and is said to be interested in the job. He spent 11 seasons playing in the NBA and at one point was traded from the Timberwolves to the Pacers for Chuck Person. Small world.

Tony Barbee - The UTEP head coach is getting a lot of ink in recent days in connection with the Auburn job. His Miners lost to Houston in the Conference USA Championship Game Saturday, but is still heading to the Big Dance with a 25-6 regular season record. A John Calipari disciple, Barbee has no ties to the Deep South and that could be a liability. However, he's credited with being one of the nation's top recruiters.

Chris Mooney - Something of a long shot, the Richmond Spider head coach led his team to a 26-8 regular season record and lost to Temple in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game yesterday. A Princeton graduate, Mooney is viewed as one of the top young coaches in America. However, his lack of ties to the South may be a knockout.

Chris Collins - The son of NBA coach Doug Collins, the younger Collins serves as Mike Krzyzewski's top assistant at Duke. A four year player at Duke, Collins was team captain his senior year and was named second team All-ACC. Prior to returning to Durham in 2000, he served three years as an assistant at Seton Hall. Lack of head coaching experience could again be a factor.

Travis Ford - The former Kentucky star and current Oklahoma State head coach is widely regarded as one of the top young coaches in America. After turning around the UMass program in 2007, Ford left for Stillwater, where he's won more than 20 games in each of his first two seasons.

Jacobs has set no timetable for when a replacement will be hired. Obviously, if he's going to interview candidates who are in the NCAA Tournament, it could be late March or early April before someone's in place. The list is sure to grow bigger in the coming days. We'll keep you updated.

Hadn't heard Sam Mitchell's name thrown out there til now, but that would be a slam dunk hire for sure.

He's #1 on my wishlist as of now.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Godfather on March 15, 2010, 01:16:15 PM
http://www.trackemtigers.com/2010/3/15/1372840/whos-on-deck (http://www.trackemtigers.com/2010/3/15/1372840/whos-on-deck)

Hadn't heard Sam Mitchell's name thrown out there til now, but that would be a slam dunk hire for sure.

He's #1 on my wishlist as of now.
You need to start reading the front page.

http://www.tigersx.com/basketball/au-hoops-several-names-emerge-as-top-candidates/ (http://www.tigersx.com/basketball/au-hoops-several-names-emerge-as-top-candidates/)
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Buzz Killington on March 15, 2010, 01:35:33 PM
You need to start reading the front page.

http://www.tigersx.com/basketball/au-hoops-several-names-emerge-as-top-candidates/ (http://www.tigersx.com/basketball/au-hoops-several-names-emerge-as-top-candidates/)
I like your skreet's style.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Saniflush on March 15, 2010, 02:12:02 PM
http://www.trackemtigers.com/2010/3/15/1372840/whos-on-deck (http://www.trackemtigers.com/2010/3/15/1372840/whos-on-deck)

Hadn't heard Sam Mitchell's name thrown out there til now, but that would be a slam dunk hire for sure.

He's #1 on my wishlist as of now.

Ok what is the deal?  Is he wearing a boutonniere or an easy button?
 
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: wesfau2 on March 15, 2010, 03:14:50 PM
Ok what is the deal?  Is he wearing a boutonniere or an easy button?
 

He's showin his skreet kred.  Dude's a Blood.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Jumbo on March 15, 2010, 03:18:26 PM
You need to start reading the front page.

http://www.tigersx.com/basketball/au-hoops-several-names-emerge-as-top-candidates/ (http://www.tigersx.com/basketball/au-hoops-several-names-emerge-as-top-candidates/)
Show off.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Saniflush on March 15, 2010, 03:38:06 PM
He's showin his skreet kred.  Dude's a Blood.

He's got my vote then.  Gotta think we would finally get physical in the paint.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: wesfau2 on March 15, 2010, 03:40:49 PM
He's got my vote then.  Gotta think we would finally get physical in the paint.

Throwin 'bows and droppin hos.
Title: Re: Ding Dong, the witch is dead
Post by: Aubie16 on March 25, 2010, 12:37:18 PM

Anyways...My top two are:
1. Scott Drew
2. Tony Barbee

 :we:

I am in a great mood today.