Thought I'd start a thread on our assistants. Does Porter take anyone like Matt Gordon? Who will Valentine fill the spots with? I think a lot of people here think he should have a former head coach as #2. Interestingly enough, I don't think Mullins has anyone like that on his staff so it doesn't always happen.

Gordon has been with Porter for a long time, before Loyola, so I would be surprised if he didn’t follow him to Norman. Jevon Mamon went with Mullins to SIU, but I have no clue whether he’d leave there to come back, or would even want to. Valentine supposedly has a ton of connections, which isn’t surprising given his background and his brother, so it will be interesting to see who comes in.

Reading the tea leaves of Twitter reactions last night and this morning, I’m encouraged even more than I thought I would be.

It is an interesting question.

What about Kimbrough? He is an experienced assistant coach...but I wonder if he feels looked over after not getting a shot at the top spot. You don't head a lot about him.

What about Custer? A link to the 2018 team. Someone who can also connect with players and recruits. Wonder if he gets a promotion and can see a future here.

I do think someone with head coaching experience would be valuable in the #2 seat. Martelli has done wonders for Juwan Howard's development as a coach in Ann Arbor. Wonder what the budget is.....Lansing would be so great in that role.

Could see London to Assistant, Custer to DOBO.

If Kimbrough or Gordon leave, then there would still be openings.

How shitty would it be for Indiana State if we hired Lansing as an Associate HC making equal or more what he made at ISU?

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MBB Scholarship Chart

I think that would be nice.

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Let's go Braden!

That would be amazing. And they would deserve the salt that they would feel.

Lansing as an assistant coach would make me forget about Porter leaving.

Kimbrough should be promoted to Associate coach, Dokubo to Assistant and Custer to Basketball Operations
That would leave Drew two slots to fill as he choses.
Gives us continuity and yet he has freedom to do what he needs to do.

Did not mean to leave out Matt Gordon. He is a class person and has been with Porter since ISU. I would be shocked if he was not
Oklahoma bound.

I don't want to see anyone give up on playing before they're ready, but Ben Richardson would be a great candidate to fill a support role if he's interested.

An outside the box option for a former head coach to be an assistant is Paul Weir. He was just fired from New Mexico, but was formerly a successful assistant and head coach at New Mexico St. He has some midwest ties (grew up in Toronto, assistant at Iowa). I don't think it will come together for a variety of reasons, but he's worth a phone call.

If we’re throwing out past players who Drew Valentine knows, I’ll toss in Carson Shanks. Big Fudge has been paying his dues in the coaching ranks in DII Minnesota-Duluth, and if you follow him on Twitter he clearly loved his time with the Ramblers.

But this we’ll be Coach Valentine’s decision, and I trust he’ll have a good staff.