No one has yet answered my question that I've posted on this thread a couple of times: How would Phillips be able to hit the ground running recruiting in our region, since his whole career has been in the upper Great Lakes region? Wisconsin, etc. It reads like he's a very good coach with a great personality, but IMO we need someone who can be highly competitive recruiting Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
While Kelsey is another fine coach, is from Cincinnati, has a X connection, and is also connected with "the Man" Skip Prosser, I would also ask whether his long tenure at southern schools has eroded his recruiting ties in Ohio? I know he has a couple Ohio guys on his roster at Winthrop, but it's a question worth asking.
Both these guys are fine coaches with electric personalities. Both know how to promote and they get involved in doing it. My only reservation would be recruiting in our region.
Anyone care to address these questions of mine?
Kelsey still seems to have really good ties to Ohio, I don't think his time at Winthrop has changed that. As you mentioned, they have two Ohio players on the roster including Josh Davenport who was pretty highly recruited and had reported offers from both us and Kent State.
As for Phillips, he seems to hit the Great Lakes area the hardest, but he did go out of his pipeline area to grab his best player Taylor Braun, who is from Oregon. I'm sure assistant coaches will help him get used to the area, but does it really matter where our players come from? Maurice Ndour, DJ Cooper, and Leon Williams don't think it does.