The idea of hiring first time coaches isn’t new, though we’ve certainly seen it quite a bit recently. With Alabama hiring Avery Johnson this week, the Crimson Tide jumped on the bandwagon.
Of course, Johnson has coaching experience in the NBA, including head gigs with Dallas and Brooklyn, though he was fired from both positions.
Based on Hoiberg/Ollie/Krystkowiak success, Avery Johnson hire should work. We’ll know which direction recruiting will go by makeup of staff
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 5, 2015
What makes less sense- hiring Avery Johnson or paying him $3m when there was no competition for his services? #Bama
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) April 5, 2015
This has been a great few weeks for SEC hoops. Barnes, Howland, now Avery Johnson coming into the league. Way to step it up.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) April 5, 2015
Unlike the acclaim that has followed many of the recent SEC hires like Bruce Pearl, Rick Barnes and Ben Howland, public reception of the Johnson hire has largely been mixed. For some, his lack of experience at the college level is a red-flag, despite the recent success of coaches like Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State. For others, there is very much a wait-and-see approach as he fills out his staff. Either way, Johnson is another name that makes the SEC a much more entertaining conference to follow. Just take a look at the personalities that we have now at ‘Bama, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Auburn and South Carolina.
Saban: “Avery Johnson is part of our family now…He’s going to be in my basketball league but I’m going to play the point.”
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) April 8, 2015
