With Tubby Smith taking over for former head coach Josh Pastner at Memphis, the focus has finally shifted from the under achievement of Pastner’s regime towards the potential of the Smith era. Having turned around Texas Tech and keeping Minnesota afloat during his time there, Smith has landed at one of the best “mid-major” jobs in the country.
- Recruit, Recruit, Recruit: Being located in one of the South’s most talented recruiting grounds is one of the top reasons why Memphis is such a great job. In fact, for many, staying home with the Tigers is even more attractive of an option than going to the state’s flagship SEC program in Knoxville. Smith will need to find a way to keep the local talent home, including the five TN prospects ranked among the nation’s top 100 players in the 2017 and 2018 classes.
- Develop…: The thing about recruiting talent is that a coach still needs to find a way to develop that talent once it’s on campus. This is perhaps the biggest killer of the Pastner era, where it felt like no one ever truly got better during their time at Memphis.
- Mark the Calendar: Now situated in the same conference as UConn, Cincinnati, and SMU, Smith needs to set the standard by which Memphis is measured. Creating a real rivalry within the conference will help define this program moving forward–and we’d hope it’s with one of the three previously mentioned.
- Engage the Fan Base: Memphis has one of the most passionate and dedicated fan bases in America, regardless of conference affiliation. Finding a way to get this fan base once again truly engaged and excited about the future of the program will help ensure Smith has the support he needs moving forward.
- Embrace the Culture: Don’t run from the expectations at a program like this. You have famous alumni, big name former coaches, and tons of success to embrace upon your arrival as a new coach. Rather than trying to create your own program, use those culture factors to your advantage and build on them.
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