Comments

While I’m sorry for Dino (due to his connection with Skip), I am proud of Wellman for doing what he feels is necessary to improve our team. Dino did have a good overall record but Feb-March and the post-season record was very poor.

I have complete trust that Wellman will find the right fit for us.

Ken Green on 04/08/2010 (10:54 pm)

WHILE THIS COMES AS A SURPRISE I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE DINO IS SINGLE HANDEDLY ONE OF THE WORST RECRUITS EVER FIRST OF ALL HE LET THE BEST CENTER FROM WINSTON GET AWAY (REGGIE JOHNSON) AND THE BEST ALL AROUND POINT GAURD TO COME THROUGH WINSTON SALEM SINCE CP (MIKE GRACE) SO I WOULD SAY IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO GO AND TO MAKE IT SO BAD MIKE GRACE WAS AT TABOR WITH CJ HARRIS WHO MADE THE BEST BACKCOURT TO EVER PLAY IN WINSTON SALEM PLUS THE FACT THAT HE HAD ALL THAT TRUST IN NON SCORING LD WILLIAMS AND KEPT ARI STEWART ON THE BENCH NOW GO OUT AND GET TUBBY SMITH TO TURN THIS PROGRAM AROUND

Brian on 04/08/2010 (10:42 pm)

while I hate to see anyone fired with Gaudio’s record, it is important to remember, if WFU is going to compete in the ACC and further into the NCAA we must have a winning team.  In the past several years, it seems that our season ends along February.

I go back to Hemic, Murdock and those guys from Wake Forest.  I can remember well seeing the Wake gym packed with 5000 students and supporters.  I remember in 1964 when we were in the final four losing to Ohio State beating UCLA for 3rd. (I think I am right about that!)

While Wellman made a tough decision, I support him and his reationale and wish all deacons well, right now the remaining players and the incoming players.

GO DEACS

patrick on 04/08/2010 (8:54 pm)

Dan, It think he needs to bring in Billy Kennedy of Murray State. Murray State had Butler beat ,but a lucky break for Butler let them get in the Sweet Sixteen ;then we saw what happen later what happen with Butler they almost beat Duke for the Championship.
I believe his father Coach in the ACC at Florida St. He can get him cheap and he make his player play hard and fast the whole game or they will sit; he plays NO favorites.
Dino can go to UNCC and Coach against his buddies in the A10.
Kennedy looks like the right fit.

Coach Howie on 04/08/2010 (8:26 pm)

I applaud the move.  One thing nobody has mentioned but was going through my mind during Butler’s run was why not Wake?  Similar size school, both private, Butler in a weaker conference, but Butler has had much more NCAA success of late, including spanking the Deacs a few years back.  I would think if Wellman was undecided before, watching Butler probably made up his mind for him.  Just my $.02.

Charles on 04/08/2010 (8:10 pm)

Dan,

I think you have sort of alluded to this in your column, but do you believe Wake fans and Wellman have “unrealistic expectations?”

We haven’t made the final four in over 40 years. We haven’t advanced to the sweet 16, since the Duncan era. As much as I hate to admit it, we aren’t a Duke or Carolina. Just wondering what your take is on 1) whether you think deep runs in the tournament every year are somewhat unrealistic (seemed what Wellman is looking for) and 2) what incentive a new coach has in coming to Wake

Aaron on 04/08/2010 (6:05 pm)

Take Stevens off the list… (per the indystar)
The 33-year-old basketball coach, who took the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament championship game, has agreed to a new 12-year contract that extends through the 2021-22 season, according to an announcement

Paul on 04/08/2010 (5:50 pm)

Now I’m an even bigger fan of Wellman than I was before I read this blog!  What a great answer to your question Dan!  I remember meeting Skip Prosser at an alumni event in Lexington before the season tipped off when Wake had the great Chris Paul team.
  He told the story about the importanance of making the NCAA Tournament and asked a lady what would happen if he didn’t make it…she said “See ya coach!”  Here was a guy with a Final Four caliber team and he’s talking about simply making the tournament!  Another alum was talking about the pressure and high expectations.
  If you don’t shoot for winning the national title or an ACC title and think you can do it, no one else will believe it either…the coaches, the players, the alumni…anybody!
  As a friend of mine once said, “if you don’t shoot for the moon, you won’t get a piece of the cheese”.
  Duke was basically in the same position as Wake 30 years ago. 
  There’s no reason Wake can’t have similar success if Wellman finds the right coach.
  I hope whoever the next coach is will stop the practice of fans rushing the court every time the Deacs win at home against Duke or UNC.
  To shoot for championships, let’s act like we’ve been there.
  As a fan, when we have teams like we’ve had the last few years, I expect we should beat ANY conference or non-conference foe at home!
  We have to lose the mind set of simply beating UNC or Duke during the regular season makes our season.
  Clearly Wellman isn’t satisfied with that mindset.
  I say good for you Ron!

Andy on 04/08/2010 (5:42 pm)

Ditto all those comments about Wellman’s leadership. I think he realizes how difficult it is to re-build a program in this day and time…and probably saw the demise of the programs coming. To all those who defend Dino, yeah he was a great recruiter but the team play concept especially offensively was just abysmal. They should never have been selected for the tournament…maybe it was more due to Wellman’s presence on the Basketball Committee than to Wake’s performance.

Now for a prediction, I suspect he didn’t come back from Indianapolis empty-handed. Something tells me this search is going to be over “sooner rather than later.”

I would like to think we could do as well as Virginia did last year….that team actually played pretty well after Landesburg departed, a sign of the great team concept they will play up there for years to come.  Now for those of you who doubt Wellman’s ability and judgment…compare his choice for basketball coach one year from now with that of the one the Clemson AD will eventually make…believe me and we will be pretty happy with AD Wellman.

pensive1 on 04/08/2010 (4:39 pm)

I have followed WFU basketball for many years.I have been through the good and bad.The past two seasons,for me,was the play of the team.By that I mean that it seemed that they were playing “back yard,play lot baketball.” To me,Gaudio had no control over these players during the game.I think Dino is a wonderful assistant coach and recruiter but needs more experience in the role of head coach.I feel Mr. Wellman made the right choice. I hope that he does a nationwide search for a new coach and a new staff.I wish all the best for Coach Gaudio.

Al on 04/08/2010 (3:29 pm)

Great comments Country, good we have this forum to catch up on the latest developments…

Once this settles down, it would behoove you and maybe Lenox to do a live chat…

I like Ron Wellman. He sees a problem and makes the attempt to make corrections. Definitely the sign of a true leader.

The prerequisites any coaching candidates may be interested in could be remedied by contacting Jim Grobe for his opine.
Boston College just improved their program by hiring the Cornell coach. Of course UVA has Mr. Bennett (hired last year) and Clemson also has their sights on Brad Stevens. The new coach will have a good recruiting base to work with and the support of the community.

Just keep this blog smoking as we anxiously wait for updates!

Tom on 04/08/2010 (2:43 pm)

While I am saddened by the dismissal of Dino, I think Ron Wellman’s assessment of the late season and postseason performances of Dino’s teams matched the assessment of many fans.  I trust that Ron made a thoughtful decision in dismissing Dino and will be equally thoughtful in the replacement process.  I think all Wake fans want someone who can take us to the next level.  I believe Ron is very capable of selecting someone who can make that happen.

Steve on 04/08/2010 (2:24 pm)

“If the candidate doesn’t want to (coach) a championship-caliber program, or doesn’t believe that Wake Forest can be a championship-caliber program, then that’s not a good match for us. We want someone who is absolutely convinced that that’s where Wake Forest belongs and has the ability to take us there.”  -Wellman

I think this is primarily the reason for the move.  Notwithstanding all his great qualities, which were many and which I don’t deny, Dino’s comments about our few ugly losses and late-season collapses were always denials and downplays, as if what the team was doing was “good enough.”  That was what irked me most - that it seemed like he was satisfied - and maybe it was just a mistake of expression on his part; maybe he really was fired up inside and just felt he couldn’t express it.  But I didn’t get that impression, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Wellman had a similar view of Dino’s weak-sounding excuses.  There was definitely a lack of communication between Wellman and Dino, given Dino’s shock at the news.

I think we had great seasons and on his record Dino should have been retained.  But a coach should always want more, should always believe that a team can do better and achieve greatness.  I just didn’t get this sense from Dino.

On the other hand, the notion that Wake belongs at the top of college basketball might be an inflated, myopic sense of Wake’s place on the national stage.  I guess time will tell, but I can’t blame Wellman for swinging for the fences.  Why else play the game?

08Grad on 04/08/2010 (2:19 pm)

I know that Brad Stevens is the media darling at this moment, but I hope it will be either Tubby Smith or Scott Drew of Baylor, because they have established their credentials over a longer period of time.  My gut tells me it will be a coach from a mid-major team that is barely on the radar, but who has built a solid resume…kind of like a football coach Wellman hired a few years back that has been pretty successful here.

Breakaway on 04/08/2010 (2:17 pm)