While I would like to have seen him stay because I think he had this team moving in the right direction with many of things he was doing, I can't blame the guy for leaving. Most of us would if we were in his shoes.
I don't think JC ever thought he would get the chance to coach at a high level like this after the train wreck that was TCU. I say that because I think many people will say he lied in his press conference, and that we thought he was here forever. I would say at the time that was very true, and this opportunity seems to have come out of no where. JC was a good hire because he fit the Solich mold....bad luck seems to have cost us JC. If he doesn't get this job....he may be here for a long time.
+1
Funny thing is probably 100% of the people here would do exctly the same thing as JC. I agree that this opportunity was unexpected and he would have been an idiot to not consider it. For those who keep criticizing him .... he didn't go looking for a job. BC came and contacted him. They obviously saw things in his coaching ability that they liked. And among that is the fact he won 25 games with a squad that was hobbled with injuries much of the year. I'm one who is not embarassed or upset that we've had our last 2 bball coaches presented with bigger, better and more lucrative opportunities. It actually speaks rather well for our program and the success we've had. So it happened after 2 years in Athens. Would you be upset if it happened next year? Would an extra year make a difference? None of us know all the details but most people in life aspire to climb the ladder as high as they can, whether in the corporate world, athletics or any other area.
Nothing wrong with this opinion. My only problem is don't mislead people. Don't say what a great job this is. It isn't a great job, it's a great stepping stone. Don't say you wanna take it to the next level, when really what you want is to coach at a school that already is at the next level. Don't leave the impression with the AD that hired you that you'll be in it for the long haul.
In fact, as I stated in another thread, make the following statement at your opening press conference. "I'm honored to be the coach at Ohio University. This school, this team and these fans can rest assured that my staff and I will work our collective tails off to make this the best era ever for Ohio basketball. But I also know you will respect my honesty when I say that as much as I look forward to this job, our location, our conference affiliation and other factors make it impossible to make this a perennial top 25 program. As most people do, I have goals in life. I eventually want to have the opportunity to coach a program that has a realistic chance of winning consistently on a national level. Should an opportunity come to do so while I am coaching here, I owe it to myself and my family to give it serious consideration, and if circumstances warrant, to take advantage of it." I would wholeheartedly support such honesty.