I've heard a lot of rumblings over the past year about a certain program not living up to expectations. I live in Minnesota, take a guess who it is. I truly believe any new coach needs six years in order to have a true evaluation as a head coach. There are way too many variables in building a program and I talk about a lot of them below.
Year 1 -
Recruiting - Lucky to get recruits and generally it's a last ditch effort to get decent kids. Put your small stamp on the program. Have to hit the local (if there are players) recruiting area hard and build relationships with local HS and AAU coaches. If there are young stud local players, have to start getting them on campus.
Playing - Hearing a different voice, sometimes success happens, especially with a veteran group.
Other - Building a staff, evaluate the current roster, and recruit (see above). Not to mention family situation, etc.
Year 2 -
Recruiting - Trying to figure out what you can and can't get in order to be successful. This class usually is an experiment. Continue to hit the local scene hard and get underclassmen to campus as many times as possible (this has to continue throughout your tenure).
Playing - Trying to figure out how to mesh current players with your recruits. If you win in Year 1, then expectations will be high and unrealistic.
Year 3 -
Recruiting - Truly figure out what you can get in order to be successful. This should be your statement class.
Playing - This year is tough. A lot of it depends on what the previous brought in for his/her last few classes. Those players aren't yours but they are upperclassmen and this is their third year playing under you. "Your players" are only freshmen and will take their lumps, especially in a high major conference.
Year 4 -
Recruiting - Another year of getting your guys that you know will be successful.
Playing - This is when you feel you can make a move in the standings. "Your guys" are in their second year and your first class is now upperclassmen. Might not win a ton of games, especially on the road but you will play a ton of close games. This is probably the last year with the previous coach's recruits even though they have played longer for you than the previous coach, you still didn't recruit them.
Year 5 -
Recruiting - This might be the year you go after that top tier recruit that can take you to the next level. All the same things from above.
Playing - Now "your guys" are upperclassmen. There is now no excuses for you not to win. They still aren't seniors but having a bunch of upperclassmen with experience win you games...at any level (unless they stink).
Year 6 -
Recruiting - All of the Above
Playing - This is your signature season. Your first true recruiting class are seniors and every single player on the roster was one you recruited. If you can't win in Year 6 I'm not sure you should have a job.
In closing, a coach needed six years to truly show their worth. Six years is void unless they violate NCAA rules or bring in players that continually are in the police blotter.
ATTENTION Gopher Fans - The last time the Men's Basketball team won, they cheated. The program has been a mess for years. Give Pitino some time because Tubby's last few recruiting classes were awful.
