Richie Riley turned us down

slcagg · Post by **slcagg** » April 5th, 2021, 7:54 pm

Apparently turned down an offer from us. Either way I am happy with either candidate.

https://247sports.com/college/utah-stat ... 163708759/

AggieFBObsession · Post by **AggieFBObsession** » April 5th, 2021, 7:58 pm

Wasn't a good fit for him personally. That's ok. We got our man.

Roy McAvoy · Post by **Roy McAvoy** » April 5th, 2021, 8:02 pm

Makes sense to me. With the transfers and his reputation Riley is perfectly positioned to get a big time offer after next season. I can see why he didnt want to mess that up.

bluegrouse · Post by **bluegrouse** » April 5th, 2021, 8:03 pm

His team is loaded for next year with several new commits very recently. I’m sure that played a big role.

Winning Team · Post by **Winning Team** » April 5th, 2021, 8:04 pm

I’m actually kind of glad. I think he would have tried to bring over all that talent and win immediately and then leave.

stang · Post by **stang** » April 5th, 2021, 8:15 pm

I think Riley is a good coach and would have done well here. I just don't personally love the Mussleman approach of building a program around transfers. You can definitely win like that, and I see nothing wrong with filling needs with transfers here and there, I just enjoy having guys around for 3 or 4 years and watching them develop and grow.

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 5th, 2021, 8:25 pm

stang wrote: ↑
April 5th, 2021, 8:15 pm
I think Riley is a good coach and would have done well here. I just don't personally love the Mussleman approach of building a program around transfers. You can definitely win like that, and I see nothing wrong with filling needs with transfers here and there, I just enjoy having guys around for 3 or 4 years and watching them develop and grow.

Agreed. You also can get too many egos in the bunch. One sad little extinguisher can tell you all about it.

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 5th, 2021, 8:27 pm

Kind of low class to leak this out no?

Roy McAvoy · Post by **Roy McAvoy** » April 5th, 2021, 8:29 pm

hipsterdoofus21 wrote: ↑
April 5th, 2021, 8:27 pm
Kind of low class to leak this out no?

If Smith had turned down Utah & it was leaked we would’ve been all over it.

cval · Post by **cval** » April 5th, 2021, 8:30 pm

Why is this important to talk about at all. Don’t care.

ineptimusprime · Post by **ineptimusprime** » April 5th, 2021, 8:31 pm

I think we ended up with the better coach with a better resume. No doubt Riley can recruit. I would have been happy with either, but am glad it ended up how it did.

I am totally cool with grad transfers, but I prefer the ones that killed it from smaller conference schools with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove to P5 washouts.

Marco Anthony excepted, of course.

LarryTheAggie · Post by **LarryTheAggie** » April 5th, 2021, 8:33 pm

Roy McAvoy wrote: ↑
April 5th, 2021, 8:29 pm

hipsterdoofus21 wrote: ↑
April 5th, 2021, 8:27 pm
Kind of low class to leak this out no?
If Smith had turned down Utah & it was leaked we would’ve been all over it.

Yes but only because the U Harlan was an idiot and told everyone who his targets were. If Harlan wants to make his failed pitches public that's his own fault.

Imakeitrain · Post by **Imakeitrain** » April 5th, 2021, 8:35 pm

I don’t understand why you offer someone if they are likely to turn you down. Although I understand that both parties are vetting each other- a qualification should be really excited and have a sting desire for the job.

stang · Post by **stang** » April 5th, 2021, 8:53 pm

I've interviewed for and been chosen for jobs before, then decided that the fit wasn't right and turned them down. It's not a big deal, I imagine Riley probably had genuine interest then just did what he felt was best. USU got a good coach. No harm done.

CaptainChaos · Post by **CaptainChaos** » April 5th, 2021, 9:37 pm

hipsterdoofus21 wrote:Kind of low class to leak this out no?

I agree he’s a dweeb

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 5th, 2021, 9:40 pm

JH kept his interviews classified to protect the interviewees. Seems like they could’ve extended the same courtesy to him.

ViAggie · Post by **ViAggie** » April 5th, 2021, 9:48 pm

I stand corrected.

BLUERUFiO · Post by **BLUERUFiO** » April 5th, 2021, 9:56 pm

Richie has motivation to say that he turned us down in order to make him even sexier next year for a P5 school. But, it could still be true... no clue. Glad we got Odom instead so that's cool

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » April 5th, 2021, 10:54 pm

He listened to the offer, and decided it wouldn't work right now. With a one month old baby at home, it's not too surprising he didn't want to uproot his family and move cross country. Just like we'd hope our coach would let us and his recruits know he's staying, Riley did what he thought was best for his program.

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 6th, 2021, 3:52 am

jimbo wrote: ↑
April 5th, 2021, 10:54 pm
He listened to the offer, and decided it wouldn't work right now. With a one month old baby at home, it's not too surprising he didn't want to uproot his family and move cross country. Just like we'd hope our coach would let us and his recruits know he's staying, Riley did what he thought was best for his program.

I agree and I think he’ll cash in next year with a P5 offer for more money anyway. I just think leaking your decision from a confidential interview is poor form.

Pacobag · Post by **Pacobag** » April 6th, 2021, 7:50 am

Are we certain he got an official offer and turned it down? I’m just speculating until someone confirms otherwise but maybe he felt he wasn’t the first choice and decided to reject USU before USU rejected him. Would it give him future leverage or save face?

utaggies · Post by **utaggies** » April 6th, 2021, 8:15 am

I don’t understand why this is an issue for anyone, regardless of whether it is true or not. He considered the offer overnight. Looked at his family’s circumstance and the timing of things. Considered the geographic and cultural change. Mulled over his short-term prospects at USU vis-a-vis staying in his current job and likely decided he could get a better gig by waiting a year or two

Our insecurities as Aggie fans is a constant source of amazement to me.

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 6th, 2021, 9:51 am

utaggies wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 8:15 am
I don’t understand why this is an issue for anyone, regardless of whether it is true or not. He considered the offer overnight. Looked at his family’s circumstance and the timing of things. Considered the geographic and cultural change. Mulled over his short-term prospects at USU vis-a-vis staying in his current job and likely decided he could get a better gig by waiting a year or two

Our insecurities as Aggie fans is a constant source of amazement to me.

It's not about insecurity. I don't want Odom to feel like second fiddle.

BiocatAg · Post by **BiocatAg** » April 6th, 2021, 9:56 am

Pacobag wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 7:50 am
Are we certain he got an official offer and turned it down? I’m just speculating until someone confirms otherwise but maybe he felt he wasn’t the first choice and decided to reject USU before USU rejected him. Would it give him future leverage or save face?

This is what I was wondering. I'm not sure we'll ever know if there was an official offer, or if he decided to pull out of the process before Hartwell made his final decision. Either way, I'm optimistic about the Odom hire. You never know how things will turn out, but I think Odom has a high chance of success at USU.

3rdGenAggie · Post by **3rdGenAggie** » April 6th, 2021, 10:53 am

I'm not in a field that lends itself to big egos as much as college basketball, but I couldn't care less if I was the second choice for a job. Someone else turning it down is my gain.

MarioWest · Post by **MarioWest** » April 6th, 2021, 11:01 am

The "leak" could have been mutual. From Riley's side, it shows that he was in demand, but it also shows that USU wanted to hire a black coach. It doesn't really have anything to do with USU, but, nationwide, there's generally an unfair perception of the state of Utah as lily white. Look at LeBron's recent comments regarding the all-star draft. Or, closer to home, Musselman's wife's comments after the fire extinguisher incident.

Is any of this nonsense fair? Of course not. But the reality is that it's positive press for USU to be linked to a black head coach. IMO, it clearly outweighs any negativity from Riley passing on the job.

Aggie formerly in Hawaii · Post by **Aggie formerly in Hawaii** » April 6th, 2021, 11:12 am

Ok, not that big of a deal and it isn't the first time. Wasn't Tommy Lloyd the first choice a few years ago? Wasn't Tommy Connors the first choice 6 years ago? Mick Cronin was about ucla's 9th choice and in year 2 they are in the final four. Sometimes the first choice doesn't mean the best choice.

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 6th, 2021, 11:33 am

MarioWest wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 11:01 am
The "leak" could have been mutual. From Riley's side, it shows that he was in demand, but it also shows that USU wanted to hire a black coach. It doesn't really have anything to do with USU, but, nationwide, there's generally an unfair perception of the state of Utah as lily white. Look at LeBron's recent comments regarding the all-star draft. Or, closer to home, Musselman's wife's comments after the fire extinguisher incident.

Is any of this nonsense fair? Of course not. But the reality is that it's positive press for USU to be linked to a black head coach. IMO, it clearly outweighs any negativity from Riley passing on the job.

Yeah, I guess that’s true. Hadn’t thought of it that way.
I concede the point.

Aggie84025 · Post by **Aggie84025** » April 6th, 2021, 11:45 am

The only thing that matters is we got a solid coach that was offered the job and accepted it. Riley would have been a really good option, but for whatever reason it did not work out. There is no harm in that. This is why you interview several candidates and find the best available option. I am under the assumption that for most jobs there can be multiple people that would do well. I am all in on Odom and expect that he will do really well at USU.

Post by **AGinNEIowa** » April 6th, 2021, 11:52 am

hipsterdoofus21 wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 9:51 am

utaggies wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 8:15 am
I don’t understand why this is an issue for anyone, regardless of whether it is true or not. He considered the offer overnight. Looked at his family’s circumstance and the timing of things. Considered the geographic and cultural change. Mulled over his short-term prospects at USU vis-a-vis staying in his current job and likely decided he could get a better gig by waiting a year or two

Our insecurities as Aggie fans is a constant source of amazement to me.
It's not about insecurity. I don't want Odom to feel like second fiddle.

It's not about insecurity. I'm just insecure about how Odom might feel.

FIFY

hipsterdoofus21 · Post by **hipsterdoofus21** » April 6th, 2021, 11:58 am

AGinNEIowa wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 11:52 am

hipsterdoofus21 wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 9:51 am

utaggies wrote: ↑
April 6th, 2021, 8:15 am
I don’t understand why this is an issue for anyone, regardless of whether it is true or not. He considered the offer overnight. Looked at his family’s circumstance and the timing of things. Considered the geographic and cultural change. Mulled over his short-term prospects at USU vis-a-vis staying in his current job and likely decided he could get a better gig by waiting a year or two

Our insecurities as Aggie fans is a constant source of amazement to me.
It's not about insecurity. I don't want Odom to feel like second fiddle.
It's not about insecurity. I'm just insecure about how Odom might feel.

FIFY

It’s not about insecurity. I’m just feel threatened when someone mansplains my insecurities.

USU78 · Post by **USU78** » April 6th, 2021, 12:09 pm

CaptainChaos wrote: ↑
April 5th, 2021, 9:37 pm

hipsterdoofus21 wrote:Kind of low class to leak this out no?
I agree he’s a dweeb

Aw, let him pretend he's all that.

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