In this final installment of the series, we’re pulling back the curtain for a "Behind the Scenes" look under the hood of Coaching Madness. Below is the complete data set for all 51 candidates, breaking down their raw scores across our five core metrics: Win Record ($25\%$), Recruiting ($20\%$), Program Building ($20\%$), Readiness ($20\%$), and Star Power ($15\%$). This is the engine that drove our entire simulation, offering a transparent look at how we calculated the Quality Scores and Targetability of every name on the list and an explanation, of sorts, as to how the final result may have differed from our expectations. To me, this process tells a sort of cautionary tale about how over analysis can lead you in the wrong direction. This method opened my eyes to how decision makers may get off track on some of the hires they make by bringing too much data, too many external factors into the decisions they make. I don't think this list landed exactly where I would want it to because, frankly, data just doesn't have all the answers.
| Candidate | Current Role | Category | Win Record (25%) | Recruiting (20%) | Program Builder (20%) | Readiness (20%) | Star Power (15%) | Weighted Score | Lure % | Targetability SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIER 1: TOP TARGETS | ||||||||||
| Bob Richey | HC Furman | Lower HC | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8.3 | 40 | 6.64 |
| Travis DeCuire | HC Montana | ODU Tie | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7.5 | 40 | 6.0 |
| Matt Langel | HC Colgate | Lower HC | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7.95 | 40 | 6.36 |
| John Becker | HC Vermont | Lower HC | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7.95 | 17 | 2.7 |
| Pat Skerry | HC Towson | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7.45 | 40 | 5.96 |
| Russ Turner | HC UC Irvine | Lower HC | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.1 | 17 | 2.41 |
| Candidate | Current Role | Category | Win Record (25%) | Recruiting (20%) | Program Builder (20%) | Readiness (20%) | Star Power (15%) | Weighted Score | Lure % | Targetability SCORE |
| TIER 2: HIGH-UPSIDE ASSISTANTS | ||||||||||
| Luke Murray | AC UConn | Rising Asst | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8.0 | 40 | 6.4 |
| Justin Gainey | AHC Tennessee | Rising Asst | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.4 | 40 | 5.92 |
| Joel Justus | AHC Ohio State | Rising Asst | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7.05 | 65 | 9.17 |
| Kenya Hunter | AC Texas | Rising Asst | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7.05 | 40 | 5.64 |
| Griff Aldrich | AC UVA | Rising Asst | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6.85 | 65 | 8.91 |
| Terry Johnson | AC Purdue | Rising Asst | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6.7 | 40 | 5.36 |
| Bino Ranson | AC St. Joe's | Rising Asst | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6.25 | 65 | 8.13 |
| TIER 3: SOLID OPTIONS | ||||||||||
| Candidate | Current Role | Category | Win Record (25%) | Recruiting (20%) | Program Builder (20%) | Readiness (20%) | Star Power (15%) | Weighted Score | Lure % | Targetability SCORE |
| Brian Earl | HC William & Mary | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.05 | 40 | 5.64 |
| Darrin Horn | HC Northern Kentucky | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7.25 | 65 | 9.43 |
| Dustin Kerns | HC App State | Lower HC | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7.5 | 40 | 6.0 |
| Steve Forbes | HC Wake Forest | Reset HC | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7.65 | 65 | 9.95 |
| Wes Miller | HC Cincinnati | Reset HC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.85 | 40 | 5.48 |
| Speedy Claxton | HC Hofstra | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.0 | 40 | 5.6 |
| Dr. Brett Reed | HC Lehigh | Lower HC | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6.7 | 40 | 5.36 |
| Gerry McNamara | HC Siena | Lower HC | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6.55 | 40 | 5.24 |
| Corey Gipson | HC Austin Peay | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.85 | 65 | 8.91 |
| Dave Smart | HC Pacific | Lower HC | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6.95 | 40 | 5.56 |
| Kevin Keatts | HC NC State | Reset HC | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.2 | 17 | 2.45 |
| Takayo Siddle | HC UNCW | Lower HC | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6.05 | 65 | 7.87 |
| Tim Koenig | HC Fairmont State | DII HC | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6.4 | 80 | 10.24 |
| TIER 4: DEEP CUTS & CONNECTION HIRES | ||||||||||
| Candidate | Current Role | Category | Win Record (25%) | Recruiting (20%) | Program Builder (20%) | Readiness (20%) | Star Power (15%) | Weighted Score | Lure % | Targetability SCORE |
| Drew Williamson | AC Miami | Connection | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6.05 | 65 | 7.87 |
| Robert Jones | HC Norfolk State | Local HC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6.7 | 65 | 8.71 |
| Bobby Hurley | HC Arizona State | Reset HC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.0 | 17 | 2.38 |
| Michael Huger | AC Temple | Connection | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5.85 | 65 | 7.61 |
| Kevin Nickelberry | AC FSU | Connection | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5.05 | 65 | 6.57 |
| Jim Crutchfield | HC Nova Southeastern | DII HC | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6.7 | 65 | 8.71 |
| Easton Bazzoli | HC Gannon | DII HC | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5.05 | 80 | 8.08 |
| John Krikorian | HC CNU | DIII HC | 9 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 7.0 | 65 | 9.1 |
| Bill Coen | HC Northeastern | Lower HC | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6.5 | 40 | 5.2 |
| TIER 5: OTHER ASSISTANTS TO MONITOR | ||||||||||
| Candidate | Current Role | Category | Win Record (25%) | Recruiting (20%) | Program Builder (20%) | Readiness (20%) | Star Power (15%) | Weighted Score | Lure % | Targetability SCORE |
| Adam Cohen | AC Texas | Rising Asst | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6.05 | 40 | 4.84 |
| Ulric Maligi | AC Texas | Rising Asst | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6.05 | 40 | 4.84 |
| Neill Berry | AC Marquette | Rising Asst | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6.05 | 40 | 4.84 |
| Nevada Smith | AC Marquette | Rising Asst | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5.85 | 40 | 4.68 |
| Jamal Brunt | AC Richmond | Connection | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5.05 | 65 | 6.57 |
| Jeremy Shulman | HC UT Martin | Lower HC | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6.15 | 40 | 4.92 |
| Steve Curran | AC St. Bonaventure | Rising Asst | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5.7 | 65 | 7.41 |
| Brad Frederick | AC UNC | Rising Asst | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.45 | 40 | 5.16 |
| Kareem Richardson | AC NC State | Rising Asst | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5.85 | 40 | 4.68 |
| Peter Thomas | AC Richmond | Rising Asst | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4.85 | 65 | 6.31 |
| Jason Shay | AC Wake Forest | Rising Asst | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5.85 | 40 | 4.68 |
| TIER 6: MORE JONESES | ||||||||||
| Candidate | Current Role | Category | Win Record (25%) | Recruiting (20%) | Program Builder (20%) | Readiness (20%) | Star Power (15%) | Weighted Score | Lure % | Targetability SCORE |
| James Jones | HC Yale | Lower HC | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7.7 | 17 | 2.62 |
| Donnie Jones | HC Stetson | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.05 | 40 | 5.64 |
| Mike Jones | HC UNC Greensboro | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7.05 | 40 | 5.64 |
| Joe Jones | HC Boston University | Lower HC | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.65 | 40 | 5.32 |
| Johnny Jones | HC Texas Southern | Lower HC | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.85 | 40 | 5.48 |