Return of Derek Kellogg

[Juice Stand]

It's ok guys, Niles is entrenched in his opinion, he's not going to change it, and that's ok.

He'll say "Don't you remember him here as head coach?" and you'll say "He won't be the HC here. He'll be one of the assistants"
He'll say "yeah, but there's no indication that he's ever been good as an assistant before" and you'll say "but he had many successful years as an assistant under Larranaga and Calipari"
He'll say "yeah, but those guys are good coaches on their own. What value would he add?" and you'll say "he's an excellent recruiter. He recruited multiple NBA players, including Derrick Rose"
He'll say "yeah, but anybody can recruit for Cal. He won't be able to recruit here" and you'll say "he brought in Chaz and Dejon Jarreau (among others). The first guy brought us 3 straight postseason appearances, national ranking, and a sold out Mullins Center and the second guy helped bring Houston to a Final 4"
He'll say "yeah but..."

My only concern is the relationship between Bamford and DK. That was a messy breakup and seems like it would be an awkward reunion. Other than that, yes, I'm all in favor of bringing him back as an assistant and recruiter. That seems to be the level at which he excels, and I'd be happy with him doing it here.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

This is good if only for watching heads explode here on UMassHoops.

[69MG]

Let's face it, there is going to be a split over this. DK is such a hot topic almost everyone has an opinion and it's unlikely that people will be swayed to change it. My firm opinion is that unless Frank has more clout than we know, Bamford would never go along with this.

[DanaDingle3]

If this is true, and given it's public, gotta think Bamford's already on board.

Bringing DK back would be fantastic. He's a bridge to our history and the community. He's a player's coach, whereas Frank is not always. He also has a track record as a top recruiter.

[TheInsider]

DK is a great guy and has been a good assistant in the past. None of the current players played for him. So the only thing that would be weird is for us fans. Plus I'm sure DK wouldn't mind an opportunity to stick it to Bamford.

[Juice Stand]

This is good if only for watching heads explode here on UMassHoops.

Welcome back, and this is the correct take.

[PreecherJenkins]

I don't like it. I don't think he'd make the program better, and I don't think there's any value in him helping Frank "adjust".

most predictable post ever. What is DK's strength as a coach? GETTING PLAYERS. He does not have to worry about X and O's, does not have to go on the speaking tours, he has to go get players this is what he is good at. Plus if he is still here in a couple years we'll have the inside track at Max Kellogg!

[UMass1991]

Do you think that he’d make the program worse?

DK has a ton of passion and love for Amherst and UMass. You don’t really know what you had until you lost it - DK will give it his all and his recruiting skills will help.

And he was fired

But he wasn't fired for his recruiting ability. Bottom line is the guy loves the program and if he's humble enough to take a role as an assistant I would be thrilled to have him back.

Wasn’t there whispers of problems with DK’s last great class?

[PreecherJenkins]

It's ok guys, Niles is entrenched in his opinion, he's not going to change it, and that's ok.

He'll say "Don't you remember him here as head coach?" and you'll say "He won't be the HC here. He'll be one of the assistants"
He'll say "yeah, but there's no indication that he's ever been good as an assistant before" and you'll say "but he had many successful years as an assistant under Larranaga and Calipari"
He'll say "yeah, but those guys are good coaches on their own. What value would he add?" and you'll say "he's an excellent recruiter. He recruited multiple NBA players, including Derrick Rose"
He'll say "yeah, but anybody can recruit for Cal. He won't be able to recruit here" and you'll say "he brought in Chaz and Dejon Jarreau (among others). The first guy brought us 3 straight postseason appearances, national ranking, and a sold out Mullins Center and the second guy helped bring Houston to a Final 4"
He'll say "yeah but..."

My only concern is the relationship between Bamford and DK. That was a messy breakup and seems like it would be an awkward reunion. Other than that, yes, I'm all in favor of bringing him back as an assistant and recruiter. That seems to be the level at which he excels, and I'd be happy with him doing it here.

Juice- spot on, here is the thing we need to realize. The basketball program is Frank Martin's and he is the final decision maker for anything that makes us win more basketball games. Bamford can go sit in the first row and munch on his popcorn and waive his maroon and white pompoms and enjoy the ride.

[NilesGold]

Seems like there's some consensus among the pro-DK crowd that his value as an assistant is in his ability to recruit, and maybe secondarily as a UMass guy with good relationships to the community.

My opinion is that DK's recruiting ability is getting overvalued, especially his connections and sway with local/regional recruiting. No doubt, DK had some recruiting successes in his 9 seasons here. Maybe the success of Chaz, and the high rankings of the Vinson class (2009?) and the Jarreau class (2016?) are top of mind with some, but they're ignoring that DK had a penchant for getting players who often didn't live up to their rankings (we could have a long debate about the reasons)? As far as I can recall, DK never had substantial or sustained success recruiting the New England region in his time here, and by the end it became somewhat of a joke on here. I don't think you need to get all your players locally, but when you can't recruit locally, I find that to be a red flag. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but the guys at the HS/AAU level seemed to have shut the door on Kellogg.

Idk, I don't think DK would be a disastrous hire, it's just sort of meh for me. I was hoping for someone that can be a difference maker on the staff, maybe a top notch Xs and Os guy, or someone who could maybe even take over from Frank way down the line.

Whatever, time will tell I guess.

[PreecherJenkins]

Seems like there's some consensus among the pro-DK crowd that his value as an assistant is in his ability to recruit, and maybe secondarily as a UMass guy with good relationships to the community.

My opinion is that DK's recruiting ability is getting overvalued, especially his connections and sway with local/regional recruiting. No doubt, DK had some recruiting successes in his 9 seasons here. Maybe the success of Chaz, and the high rankings of the Vinson class (2009?) and the Jarreau class (2016?) are top of mind with some, but they're ignoring that DK had a penchant for getting players who often didn't live up to their rankings (we could have a long debate about the reasons)?

Idk, I don't think DK would be a disastrous hire, it's just sort of meh for me. I was just hoping for someone that can be a difference maker on the staff, maybe a top notch Xs and Os guy, or someone who could maybe even take over from Frank way down the line.

Niles, who are you bringing in on August 12th that is helping the program for this year?

Fair point on the players who did not work out, Darrly T, Hashim Bailey, Jordan Laguerre, Izzy F, Cylde Santee. Are you saying Seth Berger and Coleman who did not live up to hype? Donte Clark? Which players never lived up to the hype, having a hard time coming up with guys "living up to the hype"

#NSR

[NilesGold]

Niles, who are you bringing in on August 12th that is helping the program for this year?

Fair point on the players who did not work out, Darrly T, Hashim Bailey, Jordan Laguerre, Izzy F, Cylde Santee. Are you saying Seth Berger and Coleman who did not live up to hype? Donte Clark? Which players never lived up to the hype, having a hard time coming up with guys "living up to the hype"

I don't know who you bring in on 8/12, I just don't know enough about the pool of assistants who would be available. Could you get the prep coach who left NMH, poach Chris Lowe from Bona, promote Ricky Harris?

The list of guys who didn't live up to expectations seems extremely long, I'd definitely include Berger, Coleman, Baldwin, and Gresham. Clark is a maybe. I'll give Jarreau a pass just because he showed some promise and was only here a year. I'd say Lalanne and Pipkins lived up to hype, although Pipkins only played a season for DK.

[LS71]

Yeah he's an alum but I'm not sure I want him back. Can't help but think of Kelsey's hasty departure and what we read about DK's guys wanting to get paid as well as has his relationship with Gassnola, who was a shady character at best.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Wasn’t there whispers of problems with DK’s last great class?

I was wondering when someone would bring this up. If there is any legitimacy behind DK coming back as an Assistant (even simply a "lets give him a call and see what his interest would be"), then that should publicly put to rest those "rumors" of NCAA sanction shit that have been peddled here for years (and still) by a certain few. If those "rumors" had any validity, there's no way Bamford would allow FM to kick the tires on this.

[Jackson96]

I think the early returns indicate that getting players probably isn’t going to be a problem for Martin. That said, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a proven recruiter on staff (I say proven — I don’t think DK is the best recruiter in the world as some appear to think, but he has proven he can get guys) who has ties to the school that may fire up some of the fan base. Not to mention players seem to like DK and I think that’s a good thing for an assistant. It can be for a head coach but there’s a fine line there.

I do think the weirdest thing about this is how DK’s exit went down and the dynamics with Bamford, but if they can get past it and this happens, well then I won’t question it.

I was very curious who the new assistant might be — thought maybe it would be someone from the prep circuit — but if it’s DK I am good with it. Well except for all the back and forth it’s going to bring on the board. I was tired of that shit back when it was in real time.