Wellman Mans Up
If any of you were feeling guilty about writing or saying something that might have gotten Dino Gaudio relieved of his duties as head basketball coach at Wake Forest, you can rest easy.
The man who made that decision, Ron Wellman, said he made it without the help of our peanut gallery, talk radio or the denizens of the message boards.
His answer came in response to the question of how much the amplified times had to do with Gaudio being showed the door after a three-year coaching record of 61-31 and two straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. I mentioned what I’ve wondered about here, if some of the game’s greatest coaches, could have survived their turbulent early years at their current schools if they had been faced with the scrutiny today’s coaches are under.
“I don’t want to blame this on the internet or talk radio,’’ Wellman said. “I have not read the boards. I have no idea, quite frankly, what the board chatter is. I have not been on the boards in years. I couldn’t get on the boards. And that’s purposeful. This decision had nothing to do with that.
“Is this a different time? Certainly. When you look at college basketball today, it’s different than it was 20 or 30 years ago. College basketball is evolving into a post-season type of scenario. The regular season is important, and it’s exciting, but it positions you for the post-season as well. So in my mind, there’s more emphasis upon the post-season than at any time in the history of college basketball. It’s always been important. But it seems as though there is an escalation of its importance with each year.’‘
The factors for that, Wellman said, are many.
“You look at TV and every game in the post-season is televised,’’ Wellman said. “In the past that might not have been the scenario. The money involved with it. Post-season becomes very important financially to your program, and to your conference. I think it’s a trickle down from the NBA too. They point to the post-season.
“While we may or may not like that trend, it is a reality. We can’t live in a cocoon where we’re not recognizing that the reality of this enterprise is.’‘
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By Dan Collins on 04/07/2010 (8:33 pm)
Comments
I was surprised after last year’s contract extension and the Texas win, but also pleased by Wellman’s decision. I don’t have a problem with emphasis on the post-season. It’s the same emphasis in all sports. Without a doubt, the salad days of Wake basketball in my lifetime were the ‘95 and ‘96 teams which both won the ACC Tournament and went to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 respectively. Yes, those teams had Tim Duncan, but other great players like Chris Paul and Josh Howard have been through the program and not had the same post season success with the Prosser-Gaudio style of basketball.
I hope Wellman had a chance to discreetly speak to Brad Stevens. His Butler team was very impressive with two and three star recruits big schools didn’t want making it to the championship game with tough, hard nosed defense and smart play. I hope Stevens is on Wellman’s short list!
Andy on 04/08/2010 (1:16 pm)
Well, I’m not feeling guilty about what i said about Dino. Yes, I wanted Dino gone but I just dont feel he is ready to be a head coach. He is a great recruiter but he doesn’t disipline his players enought to play like a team and i didn’t see the point of wake playing our big men on the three point line every game.
Price Blissit on 04/08/2010 (12:23 pm)
Duke ‘80 vs. Wake ‘10
In terms of a coaching search situation, how different is Wake in 2010 from Duke in 1980? Yes, the game is different and there’s not a Coach K type around every collegial corner, but I think it’s a fair question.
Personally, I don’t see why we couldn’t land somebody who would see playing in the same state/conf. as Duke and UNC as a positive, not a negative (remember coaches have egos and like challenges & attention). And given WFU’s many non-basketball attributes and the fact that it’s proven that top talent can be recruited there, why wouldn’t that somebody want to stay for a long time?
I eagerly await your Wake take.
BL on 04/08/2010 (11:14 am)
Dan - do you think any of this has to do with the (some would say) likely expansion of the NCAA tournament? Wellman is as “plugged in” to that process as anyone, isn’t he? It seems to me that if the tournament field is about to be expanded to 96, and Wellman knows this, he might feel the need to go ahead and make a coaching change now, rather than wait until basing such a decision on post-season performance becomes harder b/c having a “decent” postseason becomes easier. In other words, maybe Wellman is seizing the moment here, even where some might consider it a bit premature, because he knows it’s easier to justify a change now than it will be later?
Bryan on 04/08/2010 (8:53 am)
Dan,
Will Ron Wellman be using a consulting firm to assist the coaching search? It doesn’t seem like he is the type of individual who would be interested in delegate such a significant responsibility, but the use of search firms seems to be a growing trend these days.
What do you suppose are some of the key questions that Wellman will ask prospective candidates for the job? Obviously Coach Gaudio was fired because his team’s tended to diminish as the season progressed. But to diagnose why this occurred in order to hire an individual who will reverse that trend will require quite a bit of thought and analysis.
DC on 04/08/2010 (8:36 am)
Wellman is one of the best AD’s in the nation. I was surprised by the firing. However, if Wellman felt it was time, he probably has a much better handle on the situation then the rest of us. He will get a quality coach…his record on hires speaks for itself.
Breakaway on 04/08/2010 (8:26 am)
nice reporting Dan. I hope getting a new coach is better than giving Dino time learn to win in the postseason. thanks for keeping us updated.
steve on 04/07/2010 (9:51 pm)
Ron Wellman reminds me of some of our politicians…in total denial that he does not read the blogs etc…but covertly reads them late @ night.
If U believe his assertion, then I have some swamp land in the Francis Marion Forest in the Lowcountry of SC I would like to sell you!
Mr. Wellman made an astute business decision that needed to be completed. If it is not working and bringing in revenue a change must be made. And he did!!!
Bet he also has a new hire that will be announced within a fortnight.
Saw a post on the Charlotte Observer from a NCSU fan who wished the State A.D. had the chutzpah of Mr. Wellman…
Tom on 04/07/2010 (9:06 pm)
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