SLU's New Coach: Play by Play

If you have been trying to follow the SLU, Soderberg, Majerus madness recently, you may think you are in a middle school full of gossip. Well...that is probably a good way to describe it.

The last time Billikens nation was in the tizzy it is in now was when Tommie Liddell's recruitment fell into jeopardy with the UNLV, street agent fiasco. If Billikens.com traffic is any indication, Tuesday the web site had six times its average. There have been over 2300 posts since Brad was let go by the university. Things to say the least have been a little nuts.

This will be my attempt to filter out the madness and update people on where we are now. The only facts are specifically stated as so. The rest is speculation by the media and posters. It is up to you to choose what you believe.

Monday
Salt Lake Tribune reports that Rick Majerus plans to make his decision today according to his agent - Source

Bernie reports that who pays for cell phones is another issue. He backs off the statement some that moving to the MVC was a demand - Source

Sunday
Bernie reports that Majerus made a list of demands/requests to SLU, including they join the MVC - Source

Earl Austin and others on SportsPlus confirm a list of demands was made. They mentioned Chartered Flights and Assistant Coaches salaries - Source

Saturday
Fox Sports reports that Majerus is in St. Louis - Source

PD Reports Biondi and Majerus have met. He wants the next 24-48 hours to decide if he wants to return to coaching - Source

Friday
Tom Timmeran Blogs:

• School hoping to get everything done by next week regarding the coach. (Steve note, from Romar to Soderberg took 9 days. April 3, 2002 to April 12, 2002 See Source)
  
• Biondi and Levick are to speak at the St. Louis Press Club Thursday about the Arena. This was scheduled prior to this week though.


• Sometime Friday - Angres Thorpe, the interim coach, flew to Chicago to meet with recruit Marcus Relphorde about staying at SLU, and said he’s willing to wait and see who gets the job.

Friday, 3:45pm - Bernie reported that Biondi and Majerus have spoken three times - Source

Friday, 11:30am - McGraw Milhaven reported on 550 that Majerus will be on campus today. - Source

Friday, 10:38am - Frank Cusamano and Rammer report that Majerus has spoken to Biondi twice and has looked at tapes. Chaifetz and Majerus simply couldn't schedule a meeting yesterday. - Source

Below is everything up until Friday.

I will break down the following into 3 types of analysis
1) Only Official News
2) The extremes of where the speculation has gone
3) What I believe is the current situation

Official News
1) Brad Soderberg was informed he was to be replaced by the University on Tuesday - Source
2) Angres Thorpe was made the interim head coach - Source
3) Saint Louis University has hired Eastman & Baudine Inc to assist them with their coaching search. - Source

General Trend of Speculation

• From a reputable source, the team was pulled out of class at 9:15 on Tuesday and informed of what had happened by the coaching staff. There was supposed to be another meeting at 12:30, but I don’t know of any report regarding this. - Source


• There is some speculation that Biondi kept Levick completely out of the loop regarding this until it happened. - Source
  
• Some think that Biondi was pressured by a large donor or booster, specifically Chaifetz, to fire Brad. Dough Geottlieb has even speculated that an additional $8 million for the arena was on the table to do this. - Source
  
• Saint Louis University Spokesman Jeff Fowler has categorically denied that Chaifetz is involved - Source
  
• Following this, it was posted on Billikens.com by a reputable source that that former Utah Coach and ESPN Announcer Rick Majerus was to be on SLU’s Campus Thursday - Source
  
• Frank Cusamano the same night said that Biondi had contacted Majerus - Source
  
• On Thursday, Cusamano apparently said on his radio show that Chaifetz was planning to meet with Majerus in Chicago - Source
  
• Bernie reported on his forum that Majerus was looking at SLU video tape and was in touch with Biondi - Source


• By the end of the day a girl supposedly from the University News reported that SLU stated Chaifetz had no involvement at all - Source


• Other speculation comes from Kevin Slaten who said that Levick met with former Virginia coach Pete Gillen during the season - Source

This is what Steve thinks happened before Friday

I believe the team was pulled out of class at 9:15 as reported, and the news was shared. The release from SLU was posted very shortly after it was announced on Billikens.com. There was intense speculation of what was going on, but I think the person that provided the best insight was Rich Grawer in a KFNS interview when he described how he was fired. It sounds very much like the current situation.

Tom Timmerman’s blog post on Thursday night is too conservative. I believe Rick Majerus has been contacted. Bernie and Frank have both reported it multiple times. Longtime Billikens.com poster kevinfootes also hearing that it has happened makes me believe it more because he does not post that sort of speculation often. This coupled with another reputable poster stating that SLU expects to have a coach next week makes me inclined to say that SLU already knows who they want. Is that Majerus? If I had to bet, I would say yes. Will SLU get him? I would be less inclined to bet on that one. Majerus has nothing to lose by toying with SLU.

Biondi was likely behind the firing. I do not know whether or not boosters were involved. However, in college sports it is doubtful a decision like this is made without them. I cannot say with confidence that it is Chaifetz. I do think recruiting is what cost Brad his job. Not because of the players he put on the floor, but I think no fall recruits, a struggling spring signing period, and little positive news about the 2008 class gave Biondi the reason to do it.

As for the timing, initially I thought it was silly, but if Biondi pulls a rabbit out of his hat, it will be called the most genius move ever.

Right now, we have the only coaching opening. If we want someone like Majerus, there is no one to outbid us right now. If SLU were to get into a Majerus bidding war in March, we would have paid much more for him or likely not even had got him. We then would have probably gotten a coach of Brad Soderberg or Brian Gregory caliber.

My prediction:

Nothing substantial will be announced until Tuesday of next week. Over the weekend, a coach will be flown into St. Louis, and this will be leaked by SLU in some way (it will make it onto Billikens.com somehow). Over the weekend, this coach will meet with the players, and Biondi will offer him a substantial contract. If the coach signs, Thorpe will be retained and there will be at least one high priced assistant hired.

If Biondi messes this up, SLU basketball could really become a joke. The next week will determine SLU’s next four years.

I would also like to note the following.

While I have heard many things both positive and negative about Brad Soderberg from players, coaches, media personalities, and an assortment of individuals, he has been nothing but a genuinely kind person to me. He seems to be a stand up individual, and I feel for him and his family. Most of all, I think one disappointing thing that has been overlooked is the effect on Brad and Kramer. As a father, I am certain that Brad would love to do nothing more than coach his boy. He may still get to do that, but it is a lot less likely. If anything, I think that is what will stick with the Soderberg family more than anything. I wish them all the best.