Just when you thought Missouri was going to make us forget about the Mike Anderson era, they went one better. They now have charged all fans with trying to learn about the new coach, Frank Haith.
Some task, one that none of us were ready for. All of the so-called real candidates that we thought would qualify for the job decided the job was not as good as we think it is. Athletic Director Mike Alden had to scramble..
Enter Frank Haith. Yes, it’s come to this.
I have to admit that it took three to maybe four phone calls for someone to enlighten me about Coach Haith, as he was not to be confused with John Thompson or “Big House” Gaines. But after hearing about him, I thought, what a find, but will Mizzou fans give him a chance?
Considering it’s Mizzou, I am concerned, to say the least.
It’s not like Mizzou basketball is steeped in tradition. Never won a championship, nor a Final Four appearance to their credit, getting to the second weekend of the tournament and archrival Kansas has been hard to beat. With all that on their plate to chew on, why not, they decided to go out and hire Frank Haith.
You have to wonder why Missouri is not a more attractive program, but then again, I am not sure if I can take the media recommendations like Kevin Stallings, Steve Alford and the other fair-headed sons that we always seem to hear of first.
A breath of fresh air? Sure, but will Mizzou inhale coach Haith?
There is something for everyone to dislike about this hiring. Haith has a mediocre coaching record, he is not well-known in this part of the country and, yes, he is African-American. While the latter should not be as much of a barrier and create resentment like in the past, the fact that Mike Anderson kept everyone honest would make you think the fans may cut him some slack.
One could only hope.
It will be a challenge, as some in these parts only think that guys who went to a certain high school can win, let alone save the rest of the free world. It may be a six-year deal for Haith but he might want to get a few wins in the bank early to see year four.
The scouting report is that Haith is about building character and getting his kids to graduate. In this day and age, that means a lot.
Alden under scrutiny
The other person who is on a hotter seat than Haith is Mike Alden. The most successful athletic director in the history of the school has not been this scrutinized for a move on his watch since the Quin Snyder fiasco.
If not for the courage of a few of the Missouri curators at the time to keep him, Mike Anderson would have never set foot on campus. This hire came from left field, as no one really knew about the new Mizzou coach. If this thing does not work early, Alden will hear about and hear it loud.
Alden’s hiring record has been a good one. His hiring of Gary Pinkel brought more money and exposure to the program than at any other time in Mizzou’s history. The non-revenue-generating sports have all been competitive, as well as finding a spot in post-season play in their respective sports. As for facilities, all have been upgraded to the level where they can play with anyone anywhere.
Above all, Alden has found a way to do something that had never been done in the 100-plus years of Missouri athletics: he has now hired two African Americans on his watch. There is something to be said for that, not to mention his efforts to reconnect with the African-American communities throughout the state.
