HemiEd
04-14-2007, 08:03 AM
http://www.kansas.com/240/story/44325.html
Winthrop's Marshall meets Schaus, players
BY PAUL SUELLENTROP AND BOB LUTZ
The Wichita Eagle
Associated Press
Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall has led the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament seven times in nine seasons. Marshall was in Wichita on Friday to meet with Wichita State athletic director Jim Schaus and the members of the basketball team. Winthrop basketball coach Gregg Marshall stood in the Koch Arena locker room and addressed Wichita State's players for about 20 minutes Friday afternoon.
He soon may address the Shockers as their coach. Marshall, according to a report by CBSSportsline.com, is poised to accept WSU's contract offer.
However, a source in the WSU athletic department said the report of a salary that "could approach nearly $1 million" is too high.
WSU president Don Beggs and athletic director Jim Schaus did not return multiple messages seeking comment. Marshall did not return a message left on his cell phone.
Marshall, according to the report, will give WSU an answer within 24 hours starting Friday afternoon. The report said he will take the job "barring a last-minute change of plans."
According to the Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald, Marshall was expected to return to Rock Hill today. Marshall and wife, Lynn, flew to Wichita on a private jet provided by Wichita State. Marshall toured Koch Arena with Schaus on Friday.
WSU paid Turgeon, who left for Texas A&M this week after seven seasons, $750,000 in his final year at WSU. He received a raise from $460,000 after taking the Shockers to the Missouri Valley Conference title and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.
Marshall, 44, earns $225,000 at Winthrop. A contract extension in the works may bump him up to $300,000-$400,000. He is 194-83 in nine seasons. His 2007 team went 29-5, 14-0 in the Big South, and defeated Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.
Friday, he met with WSU's returning players on a cold and rainy day. He told them he watched the Shockers on TV, and he impressed them with his enthusiasm and sincere interest in the job. The WSU players in the meeting said Marshall did not mention a job offer.
"My impression was really good," WSU junior Matt Braeuer said. "He told us he doesn't have a magic potion to win games. He believes in the old-school kind of way -- blood, sweat and tears. Those are the words he used."
Marshall owns a reputation as a charismatic coach and a sharp dresser who favors pin-striped suits.
"You can tell he has a way with words," WSU junior Lance Harris said.
After hearing Marshall, the Shockers are ready to move on from the disheartening loss of Turgeon and find a new coach to follow.
"Obviously, it was good," Braeuer said. "As players, we haven't really talked about it much yet because nothing is official. Hopefully it will be because we all like him."
Recruits on hold -- Junior college forward Ramon Clemente and Dallas Spruce High guard Kevin Busby-Hayden visited Wichita State last weekend, unaware of Texas A&M's seduction of Turgeon.
Both liked WSU. Both were close to committing. Now both are undecided.
Clemente, from Paris (Texas) College, said he likes enough about WSU that he will listen to the next coach. He and WSU junior P.J. Couisnard are sending text messages as the coaching situation plays out.
"P.J.' s cool," Clemente said. "As long as I've got someone like that on my page, I'm good. Maybe if they get a good coach, it could happen."
Clemente said his cell phone rang with calls from coaches so much over the weekend he took the battery out. He may visit Syracuse.
When WSU hires a coach, he wants to meet him and decide if it's a good fit.
"The athletic director (Schaus) told me to keep my head on straight and be patient," Clemente said. "Wichita State was my No. 1 pick before. Now I don't have a No. 1 pick."
Spruce High coach Lyndon Love said Busby-Hayden will visit Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this weekend and wants to make a decision by Wednesday. He, too, liked WSU enough to listen to the new coach.
"He was really interested," Love said. "This kind of puts a cloud on everything. He was ready to commit."
Busby-Hayden was named to the Class 4A All-Region team and All-Area second team by the Dallas Morning News. He averaged around 15 points a game.
"He can really shoot," Love said. "He's just tough to guard."
Winthrop's Marshall meets Schaus, players
BY PAUL SUELLENTROP AND BOB LUTZ
The Wichita Eagle
Associated Press
Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall has led the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament seven times in nine seasons. Marshall was in Wichita on Friday to meet with Wichita State athletic director Jim Schaus and the members of the basketball team. Winthrop basketball coach Gregg Marshall stood in the Koch Arena locker room and addressed Wichita State's players for about 20 minutes Friday afternoon.
He soon may address the Shockers as their coach. Marshall, according to a report by CBSSportsline.com, is poised to accept WSU's contract offer.
However, a source in the WSU athletic department said the report of a salary that "could approach nearly $1 million" is too high.
WSU president Don Beggs and athletic director Jim Schaus did not return multiple messages seeking comment. Marshall did not return a message left on his cell phone.
Marshall, according to the report, will give WSU an answer within 24 hours starting Friday afternoon. The report said he will take the job "barring a last-minute change of plans."
According to the Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald, Marshall was expected to return to Rock Hill today. Marshall and wife, Lynn, flew to Wichita on a private jet provided by Wichita State. Marshall toured Koch Arena with Schaus on Friday.
WSU paid Turgeon, who left for Texas A&M this week after seven seasons, $750,000 in his final year at WSU. He received a raise from $460,000 after taking the Shockers to the Missouri Valley Conference title and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.
Marshall, 44, earns $225,000 at Winthrop. A contract extension in the works may bump him up to $300,000-$400,000. He is 194-83 in nine seasons. His 2007 team went 29-5, 14-0 in the Big South, and defeated Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.
Friday, he met with WSU's returning players on a cold and rainy day. He told them he watched the Shockers on TV, and he impressed them with his enthusiasm and sincere interest in the job. The WSU players in the meeting said Marshall did not mention a job offer.
"My impression was really good," WSU junior Matt Braeuer said. "He told us he doesn't have a magic potion to win games. He believes in the old-school kind of way -- blood, sweat and tears. Those are the words he used."
Marshall owns a reputation as a charismatic coach and a sharp dresser who favors pin-striped suits.
"You can tell he has a way with words," WSU junior Lance Harris said.
After hearing Marshall, the Shockers are ready to move on from the disheartening loss of Turgeon and find a new coach to follow.
"Obviously, it was good," Braeuer said. "As players, we haven't really talked about it much yet because nothing is official. Hopefully it will be because we all like him."
Recruits on hold -- Junior college forward Ramon Clemente and Dallas Spruce High guard Kevin Busby-Hayden visited Wichita State last weekend, unaware of Texas A&M's seduction of Turgeon.
Both liked WSU. Both were close to committing. Now both are undecided.
Clemente, from Paris (Texas) College, said he likes enough about WSU that he will listen to the next coach. He and WSU junior P.J. Couisnard are sending text messages as the coaching situation plays out.
"P.J.' s cool," Clemente said. "As long as I've got someone like that on my page, I'm good. Maybe if they get a good coach, it could happen."
Clemente said his cell phone rang with calls from coaches so much over the weekend he took the battery out. He may visit Syracuse.
When WSU hires a coach, he wants to meet him and decide if it's a good fit.
"The athletic director (Schaus) told me to keep my head on straight and be patient," Clemente said. "Wichita State was my No. 1 pick before. Now I don't have a No. 1 pick."
Spruce High coach Lyndon Love said Busby-Hayden will visit Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this weekend and wants to make a decision by Wednesday. He, too, liked WSU enough to listen to the new coach.
"He was really interested," Love said. "This kind of puts a cloud on everything. He was ready to commit."
Busby-Hayden was named to the Class 4A All-Region team and All-Area second team by the Dallas Morning News. He averaged around 15 points a game.
"He can really shoot," Love said. "He's just tough to guard."