Molinari is N as assistant

Molinari is a great defensive coach and has been successful at many stops along the way as a Head Coach; his team just played at PBA this past season.  Also I saw the Leathernecks (1st in Summit) play against UNO the previous season. I've always felt that his guys play tough defensive-minded basketball and are very well-coached. This would be a great hire, IMHO.

Did he get let go? Why would he go from a head coach to assistant like that? Is being an assistant at a power conf. school better for his career than being a head coach at a mid-major?

This looks like a huge get if true. The older veteran who most likely won't be leave any time soon.

Did he get let go? Why would he go from a head coach to assistant like that? Is being an assistant at a power conf. school better for his career than being a head coach at a mid-major?

Yeah he is even a grad of Western Ill. so it might be kind of "ODD".. But he might be making a lot more here and can see where this program is headed. Could maybe see his name in the mix if Tim was to ever go somewhere else.

What would he bring recruiting wise? wouldn't you want someone younger from a higher conference school that has more aau ties?

Sounds like a really good defensive coach who has spent time in the Big Ten (three years at Minnesota), but honestly, at first blush I'm disappointed in the hire. I guess I was hoping for more of an up-and-comer and someone with strong recruiting ties. Maybe he has them and I'm in the dark here.

In Miles I trust!

Did he get let go? Why would he go from a head coach to assistant like that? Is being an assistant at a power conf. school better for his career than being a head coach at a mid-major?

33 yrs of experience would be a coaching advantage for Miles & Co.

 

Did he get let go? Why would he go from a head coach to assistant like that? Is being an assistant at a power conf. school better for his career than being a head coach at a mid-major?

 

33 yrs of experience would be a coaching advantage for Miles & Co.

 

I understand why Miles would want him. I'm curious why Molinari would want to make that move unless he's to the point where the demands of being a head coach and the prospects of landing a power conference job have passed him by.

Sounds like a really good defensive coach who has spent time in the Big Ten (three years at Minnesota), but honestly, at first blush I'm disappointed in the hire. I guess I was hoping for more of an up-and-comer and someone with strong recruiting ties. Maybe he has them and I'm in the dark here.

 

In Miles I trust!

Remember, a lot of us were underwhelmed by the Miles hire at first, too.

What would he bring recruiting wise? wouldn't you want someone younger from a higher conference school that has more aau ties?

We have Harriman and Hunter as the "recruiters" on the staff.  Craig Smith was Miles' go to guy on the bench and the two were on the same wave length in terms of game planning.  We need a balanced staff and Molinari will serve as Tim's right hand man on the bench and will also be very valuable in evaluating talent.  He has 30 plus years in the business and has also been a NBA scout, so he will be able to identify talent and project guys to the D1 level.  

 

What would he bring recruiting wise? wouldn't you want someone younger from a higher conference school that has more aau ties?

 

We have Harriman and Hunter as the "recruiters" on the staff.  Craig Smith was Miles' go to guy on the bench and the two were on the same wave length in terms of game planning.  We need a balanced staff and Molinari will serve as Tim's right hand man on the bench and will also be very valuable in evaluating talent.  He has 30 plus years in the business and has also been a NBA scout, so he will be able to identify talent and project guys to the D1 level.  

 

Good points, but Smith was a pretty savvy recruiter in his own right. I wouldn't underplay that.

It's time for Hunter to actually pull in a recruit in order to be one of our "recruiters."

He (Molinari) was an NBA scout for the raptors and miami heat a decade ago.

Also, was Ryan Miller our first choice for the assistant coaching job?

Molinari is certainly a well known name.  He's been around a long time.  And he's crossed paths with the Huskers a number of times including:
- As an assistant at DePaul when NU and DePaul met in the NIT semifinals in 1983
- A couple times as head coach at Northern Illinois.  One of the most unlikely match-ups was in '91 when they met in a rare non-conference lineup in February.  Both teams happened to be top 25 rated at the time.  What were the odds of that?
- As an assistant at Minnesota in 2004.
- As a head coach at W Illinois last November.

Interesting hire.  Tons of experience.  I'm anxious to hear what TM felt he needed on staff and why Molinari was their guy (if he is).  One thing that can't be overlooked - this guy probably knows every HS and AAU coach by name in the state of Illinois.

Here's a link to a Western Illinois pre-season press conference from last year.  

http://www.goleathernecks.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=12000&id=3090716&ATCLPID=&ATCLID=1437627&SPSID=49946&SPID=4947&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=12000

Do Miles & Molinari have a history together? We played someone in the non-con who helped NU with a self-scout or something after we played them, and I thought it was WIU because of some relationship between the coaches. Or the two coaches met before or after the game and discussed NU's strengths/weaknesses from a scouting perspective. Something like that. If this is the case, I can understand why Miles may want someone who is one the same wavelength as he is scouting/strategy wise, just as Smith was. I could be remembering that incorrectly though.

As far as why he'd leave, I'd guess being an assistant at NU is worth 50% to 75% more in salary versus being a head coach at WIU. And he may want to join a program that is going to make a deep NCAA run sometime soon.  Or he loves the Husker Power chant. Either way is good.

I seem to also remember that and I do believe you are correct.

That was came to my mind when I read the name in the tweet.

Here are some interesting tidbits from the 2012-13 season for Western Illinois: "the Leathernecks . . . committed less fouls per game than anyone else in NCAA Division I basketball" and "ranked second nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 52.6 points per game, while also ranking in the top 75 of six other categories." Nebrasketball might be able to learn a thing or two from Jim Molinari.

He and Jim are friends apparently so that's where the relationship is between them. Also Molinari made less than Smith did last year at WIU.

2 months ago

Tom CreanVerified account ‏@TomCrean

Jim Molinari is class, integrity and has a competitive spirit that makes him a great coach and a LEADER OF MEN. A true role model. Congrats.

https://twitter.com/TomCrean/status/430696297474318336

Here is are some interesting tidbits from the 2012-13 season for Western Illinois: "the Leathernecks . . . committed less fouls per game than anyone else in NCAA Division I basketball" and "ranked second nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 52.6 points per game, while also ranking in the top 75 of six other categories." Nebrasketball might be able to learn a thing or two from Jim Molinari.

Couldn't we just bring in Aaron Craft as a Grad Assistant to do that?

Here is some more information and other good stuff on Coach Molinari:

“Mo is masterful on the defensive end, . . . An excellent teacher, communicator. His attention to detail on the defensive end of the floor is phenomenal. His pack defense is about creating chaos, and playing out of that chaos, . . . His defense is about being relentless.”

That kind of stifling defense is a source of pride for the Leathernecks.

“I love playing defense, I love locking people up,” said junior guard Remy Roberts-Burnett. “Coach pretty much says defense is what’s going to get you in the game, what’s going to make the difference. That stuff, alone, got everybody into that mindset.”

“It has to be demoralizing,” said senior forward Adam Link. “Teams that are used to scoring in the 70s are scoring in the 40s or 50s, that has to take them out of their rhythm.”

“We want teams to take contested twos,” Molinari said. “Not threes. Not layups. So to do that, they have to buy in and work on it every day. . . . It is a grind playing against the Leathernecks, which is the way Molinari likes it. It is their identity.

“Everyone who is successful in life, whether it’s individuals or groups, has an identity,” Molinari said. “You have to get everyone to surrender, surrender to the group identity. Surrender is a bad word in war, but it’s a good word in basketball.

“If you’re good at defense, it’s very hard, a lot of it is behind the scenes. You’re not getting a lot of credit for it. I tell my guys if you can do that in life, you’re going to make it.”

After doing 20-30 minutes of some research on Molinari, I'm convinced this would be a home-run hire.  This guy is widely respected in the game by some big time coaches.    

Here is some more information and other good stuff on Coach Molinari:

“Mo is masterful on the defensive end, . . . An excellent teacher, communicator. His attention to detail on the defensive end of the floor is phenomenal. His pack defense is about creating chaos, and playing out of that chaos, . . . His defense is about being relentless.”

That kind of stifling defense is a source of pride for the Leathernecks.

“I love playing defense, I love locking people up,” said junior guard Remy Roberts-Burnett. “Coach pretty much says defense is what’s going to get you in the game, what’s going to make the difference. That stuff, alone, got everybody into that mindset.”

“It has to be demoralizing,” said senior forward Adam Link. “Teams that are used to scoring in the 70s are scoring in the 40s or 50s, that has to take them out of their rhythm.”

“We want teams to take contested twos,” Molinari said. “Not threes. Not layups. So to do that, they have to buy in and work on it every day. . . . It is a grind playing against the Leathernecks, which is the way Molinari likes it. It is their identity.

“Everyone who is successful in life, whether it’s individuals or groups, has an identity,” Molinari said. “You have to get everyone to surrender, surrender to the group identity. Surrender is a bad word in war, but it’s a good word in basketball.

“If you’re good at defense, it’s very hard, a lot of it is behind the scenes. You’re not getting a lot of credit for it. I tell my guys if you can do that in life, you’re going to make it.”

That post fired me up!

If this is the hire, this would be a very, very good hire.  I also have to believe that he will have contacts in Chicago and other Big Ten cities.

Seems like he'd be a good guy to have on the bench....but not as good of a recruiter as Smith.  

I'm still waiting for Kenya Hunter to deliver on the recruiting front.  We're paying him $230,000.  He needs to start brining in some players.