Director of Athletics Jerry Kill holds press conference to discuss Men's Basketball program
03/11/2019 | 4:58:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Director of Athletics Jerry Kill held a press conference on Monday afternoon to discuss the Saluki men's basketball program, the departure of head coach Barry Hinson, and the search for the next head coach.
Watch on YouTube
On former head coach Barry Hinson.
He was very gracious for the opportunity he was given here at the University and by the people of Southern Illinois. I just want to emphasize that he's handled himself in a first-class manner through this. You cannot forget the things he's done here that's helped the University out. We will honor Coach Hinson's contract. It's the right thing to do. We will always operate in a first-class manner here. Barry was very well-respected in the conference. (Commissioner) Doug Elgin told me as I walked out of the arena, he grabbed me and Barry and said, 'you've been a great ambassador of the league.' Coach (Ben Jacobson) of Northern Iowa came in and talked to him and said the same thing. When we came back to the hotel, he walked through the hotel and people were clapping and some were crying. I think the people do appreciate the job he's done.
On how he will conduct the search process.
We've already started the search process. I will not be using a search firm. I don't feel like we need to do that. First of all, they cost a lot of money and I feel like that's what they pay the athletic director to do. I will be traveling throughout the country visiting with candidates. It will be kept very quiet because a lot of the candidates are still coaching. Two or three of my administrators will be involved, but at the end of the day, it will be my decision. I have a lot of work to do. The chancellor has given me the green light to go do what I need to do, which I'm very appreciative of him putting his faith in me that I can get the job done.
On what he's looking for in the next coach.
It's about the fit. Sometimes, a guy gets out of the fit zone and he's not very successful. That's the key element I'm looking for, the right fit for Southern Illinois. The right fit is number one. Number two, I want a disciplined ball club. Number three, tough.
On his timeframe for hiring a coach.
The timetable is as quick as we can do our research and get somebody hired. I'd like to do it as fast as we can. We'll just see how that process goes. I'd like to be able to name a head coach as early as next week, but we'll just have to see. There's a lot of things that go into that. We don't want to waste any time.
On who has contacted current players and signed recruits to update them on the situation.
Coach Kill did. I approached our kids right after the game on the bus. I talked to the kids that are going to be here next year. I talked about how important it was that they stick together, we'd move this process along quickly, we will be in touch with them all the time.
On the status of the assistant coaches and who will oversee the program until a coach is hired.
I talked to them this morning. They will continue to work through this process. There may be a coach that comes in, I know when I was coaching, a lot of people will want to keep somebody to find out where the bodies are buried so to speak, or they may want to bring all their (own) people in. That's going to be their choice. In the meantime, our guys have a contract until April. (Associate AD) Jeff Jones will be looking over (the program). Jeff will do a good job. He's got as good a relationship with the players as anybody. He's been with them on the road.
On if he expects players to wait until the a new coach is hired before considering transferring.
Knowing kids the way I do, and I do know our team pretty well, I have a good relationship with our team, I think that's always the case when you hire a new coach. They're going to wait to see who you hire. That was my case with Minnesota players. I'm sure they were waiting to see who they hired as to whether they were going to stay or not.
On if he maintains a short list of coaches, just in case.
In football, I had a great assistant in Tracy Claeys. If Tracy Claeys left, I had a lineup of who I'm going to look at and possibly hire. Same thing here. If we have a compliance officer leave, I've got a plan exactly who I would look at. I'm always prepared. Right now I'm gathering information, working very rapidly, visiting with people I feel we need to be visiting with. When you have a plan and you're prepared, it moves the process along faster. I go around the country, I've been to a lot of places, so if I see somebody good I write them down. This is who I like and I always keep it in my drawer. I'm not one that likes to wait around.
On whether he considered making a mid-season coaching change.
How many people have you seen do that in college basketball? Unless somebody gets an NCAA violation or something like that (it doesn't happen). Did I talk with Barry, did I talk with the staff? Yes. Was I going to fire them? No. Did I talk to them about what we needed to do to get better? I did. That's my job. Barry and the staff responded very well to it and were appreciative of it. Communication between the AD and the coaches is very important.
On whether he has a preference for candidates who have previous experience coaching or playing at SIU.
I think you consider that and everything else. I'm looking from Power Five to Missouri Valley to ex-head coaches. There's a large survey, we're breaking it down as we speak. I'm not going to interview 14 people, but I think I'm getting closer to where I know what we need to do and where we need to go.
On the importance of this search.
There isn't one sport in here that isn't going to tell you that basketball is the king-pin around here and we have to make that king-pin go. We're going to do what it takes to make that king-pin go. As far as the search goes, it's no different. The people we've hired, I've handled the same way. You go out and get the best. So far, I think we've proven with my team, we've went out and gotten the best. Let's face it, this is the most important hire we'll make.
On the importance of a speedy process.
People are going to move quick, and a lot of them are going to move a lot quicker because of the transfer rule. That affects everybody and nobody knows how that's going to go. You want to make sure you get things established, and who knows what's going to happen in basketball with all of the FBI investigations that are starting to come out. My prediction is there's going to be a lot of jobs open. If that's the case, you better get out there early and get after it.
On the importance of previous head coaching experience.
I think a lot of it is the roots you've been brought up into. I was a Division II coach when I came in here. I know people thought that was crazy and why did we hire this guy, I don't even know who he is. When I went to Minnesota, they had FireJerryKill.com on before I even got the job. Is there some value to head coaching? Of course there is, because you've been through the ranks, but at the same time, you can't be a head coach if you never get the chance. I just want the best coach. I want a ball coach. I'm not worried about who's winning the press conference. I want a great basketball coach. It's got to be the fit, from the Midwest, somebody I trust dearly, because at the end of the day, it's going to be either I screwed up or I made the right decision. I'm going to make sure we make the right decision.
On his budget to hire the head coach.
We're going to be a Division I program. We're not going to be a Division II program, we're not going to act like we're a IAA program, we're not going to act like we're going to get this coach for the lowest money. We've worked very hard at raising money and we're going to go out and compete. What that level of money is I can't tell you. I know what the market value is in the Valley. I even know some of the private school's money. I think if you look at me since I've been here, I don't think I've pulled any punches with what I've done. We're not going to do anything less with the basketball program and we'll do more because the bottom line is, we're the front porch of the University and we have to win at basketball and put 6-to-8,000 in (SIU Arena). I want it full. To get it full you gotta win. I can't put a dollar figure on it, but we will compete.
On if he will ask former Salukis for their opinions?
Certainly I will. I don't want to mention names and put them in a bad spot but I've talked to a lot of people that have been here, a lot of people that haven't been here. Do I lean a little bit toward people I know and trust? Certainly. In basketball, everybody knows everybody. It's a tight fraternity, just like football. I've gotten a lot of emails. This job is a good job and people know it's a good job. That's a good thing.
Watch on YouTube
On former head coach Barry Hinson.
He was very gracious for the opportunity he was given here at the University and by the people of Southern Illinois. I just want to emphasize that he's handled himself in a first-class manner through this. You cannot forget the things he's done here that's helped the University out. We will honor Coach Hinson's contract. It's the right thing to do. We will always operate in a first-class manner here. Barry was very well-respected in the conference. (Commissioner) Doug Elgin told me as I walked out of the arena, he grabbed me and Barry and said, 'you've been a great ambassador of the league.' Coach (Ben Jacobson) of Northern Iowa came in and talked to him and said the same thing. When we came back to the hotel, he walked through the hotel and people were clapping and some were crying. I think the people do appreciate the job he's done.
On how he will conduct the search process.
We've already started the search process. I will not be using a search firm. I don't feel like we need to do that. First of all, they cost a lot of money and I feel like that's what they pay the athletic director to do. I will be traveling throughout the country visiting with candidates. It will be kept very quiet because a lot of the candidates are still coaching. Two or three of my administrators will be involved, but at the end of the day, it will be my decision. I have a lot of work to do. The chancellor has given me the green light to go do what I need to do, which I'm very appreciative of him putting his faith in me that I can get the job done.
On what he's looking for in the next coach.
It's about the fit. Sometimes, a guy gets out of the fit zone and he's not very successful. That's the key element I'm looking for, the right fit for Southern Illinois. The right fit is number one. Number two, I want a disciplined ball club. Number three, tough.
On his timeframe for hiring a coach.
The timetable is as quick as we can do our research and get somebody hired. I'd like to do it as fast as we can. We'll just see how that process goes. I'd like to be able to name a head coach as early as next week, but we'll just have to see. There's a lot of things that go into that. We don't want to waste any time.
On who has contacted current players and signed recruits to update them on the situation.
Coach Kill did. I approached our kids right after the game on the bus. I talked to the kids that are going to be here next year. I talked about how important it was that they stick together, we'd move this process along quickly, we will be in touch with them all the time.
On the status of the assistant coaches and who will oversee the program until a coach is hired.
I talked to them this morning. They will continue to work through this process. There may be a coach that comes in, I know when I was coaching, a lot of people will want to keep somebody to find out where the bodies are buried so to speak, or they may want to bring all their (own) people in. That's going to be their choice. In the meantime, our guys have a contract until April. (Associate AD) Jeff Jones will be looking over (the program). Jeff will do a good job. He's got as good a relationship with the players as anybody. He's been with them on the road.
On if he expects players to wait until the a new coach is hired before considering transferring.
Knowing kids the way I do, and I do know our team pretty well, I have a good relationship with our team, I think that's always the case when you hire a new coach. They're going to wait to see who you hire. That was my case with Minnesota players. I'm sure they were waiting to see who they hired as to whether they were going to stay or not.
On if he maintains a short list of coaches, just in case.
In football, I had a great assistant in Tracy Claeys. If Tracy Claeys left, I had a lineup of who I'm going to look at and possibly hire. Same thing here. If we have a compliance officer leave, I've got a plan exactly who I would look at. I'm always prepared. Right now I'm gathering information, working very rapidly, visiting with people I feel we need to be visiting with. When you have a plan and you're prepared, it moves the process along faster. I go around the country, I've been to a lot of places, so if I see somebody good I write them down. This is who I like and I always keep it in my drawer. I'm not one that likes to wait around.
On whether he considered making a mid-season coaching change.
How many people have you seen do that in college basketball? Unless somebody gets an NCAA violation or something like that (it doesn't happen). Did I talk with Barry, did I talk with the staff? Yes. Was I going to fire them? No. Did I talk to them about what we needed to do to get better? I did. That's my job. Barry and the staff responded very well to it and were appreciative of it. Communication between the AD and the coaches is very important.
On whether he has a preference for candidates who have previous experience coaching or playing at SIU.
I think you consider that and everything else. I'm looking from Power Five to Missouri Valley to ex-head coaches. There's a large survey, we're breaking it down as we speak. I'm not going to interview 14 people, but I think I'm getting closer to where I know what we need to do and where we need to go.
On the importance of this search.
There isn't one sport in here that isn't going to tell you that basketball is the king-pin around here and we have to make that king-pin go. We're going to do what it takes to make that king-pin go. As far as the search goes, it's no different. The people we've hired, I've handled the same way. You go out and get the best. So far, I think we've proven with my team, we've went out and gotten the best. Let's face it, this is the most important hire we'll make.
On the importance of a speedy process.
People are going to move quick, and a lot of them are going to move a lot quicker because of the transfer rule. That affects everybody and nobody knows how that's going to go. You want to make sure you get things established, and who knows what's going to happen in basketball with all of the FBI investigations that are starting to come out. My prediction is there's going to be a lot of jobs open. If that's the case, you better get out there early and get after it.
On the importance of previous head coaching experience.
I think a lot of it is the roots you've been brought up into. I was a Division II coach when I came in here. I know people thought that was crazy and why did we hire this guy, I don't even know who he is. When I went to Minnesota, they had FireJerryKill.com on before I even got the job. Is there some value to head coaching? Of course there is, because you've been through the ranks, but at the same time, you can't be a head coach if you never get the chance. I just want the best coach. I want a ball coach. I'm not worried about who's winning the press conference. I want a great basketball coach. It's got to be the fit, from the Midwest, somebody I trust dearly, because at the end of the day, it's going to be either I screwed up or I made the right decision. I'm going to make sure we make the right decision.
On his budget to hire the head coach.
We're going to be a Division I program. We're not going to be a Division II program, we're not going to act like we're a IAA program, we're not going to act like we're going to get this coach for the lowest money. We've worked very hard at raising money and we're going to go out and compete. What that level of money is I can't tell you. I know what the market value is in the Valley. I even know some of the private school's money. I think if you look at me since I've been here, I don't think I've pulled any punches with what I've done. We're not going to do anything less with the basketball program and we'll do more because the bottom line is, we're the front porch of the University and we have to win at basketball and put 6-to-8,000 in (SIU Arena). I want it full. To get it full you gotta win. I can't put a dollar figure on it, but we will compete.
On if he will ask former Salukis for their opinions?
Certainly I will. I don't want to mention names and put them in a bad spot but I've talked to a lot of people that have been here, a lot of people that haven't been here. Do I lean a little bit toward people I know and trust? Certainly. In basketball, everybody knows everybody. It's a tight fraternity, just like football. I've gotten a lot of emails. This job is a good job and people know it's a good job. That's a good thing.
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