With a salary of $93,180, Josh Pastner is making more than four times less than new UA assistant coach Kevin O’Neill.
So when Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie called and
invited Pastner to take a look, offering him a similar but much better paid post at Lexington, Pastner would have been crazy not to consider it.
Fortunately for Arizona, Pastner wasn’t worried about the money and said today he decided to turn down an offer from Gillispie. Money has never been a primary motivator for him—Pastner always figured that hard work and success would eventually get him to the head coaching job he wants.
His decision to stay signals that he does think there is at least as good a chance of him getting a head coaching job from Arizona as there is from Kentucky. That means he believes that UA will get better, maybe get to an Elite Eight or Final Four in the next year or two—because it’s the assistants and key recruiters from teams who get there that often get hired for first-time head coaching jobs.
It’s also a sign that Pastner is getting along with O’Neill and not fleeing any kind of power or ego struggle.
Pastner said he loves working with O’Neill. He said he believes UA can win another national championship.
His actions back those statements up.
— Robert 06/05/2007 09:25 AM #
— vegasallen 06/05/2007 11:32 AM #
— Sean 06/05/2007 02:00 PM #
— Sean 06/05/2007 02:06 PM #
What does Pastner bring? It seems to me that the program has been in decline over the last two years, so I am kind of curious as to what you are talking about.
— Robert 06/05/2007 03:12 PM #
Please, do tell, what has Pastner brought? What measuring stick are we using? Pac 10 Championships? Final Fours? I keep hearing on this Blog and in the Tucson media how great Pastner is, but over the last two seasons I have not seen results that would back up that the guy walks on water.
— Robert 06/05/2007 04:57 PM #
Although Lute Olson (and now, to some extent, Kevin O’Neill) are of course the primary draws for a recruit to play for UA, I’m not sure if Chase Budinger, Jerryd Bayless and Jordan Hill, among others, would have come without Pastner pulling all the right strings together. He struck up an especially valuable relationship with San Diego trainer Trent Suzuki (Budinger’s mentor) and appears to be well-liked and well-connected at all levels of recruiting.
On the court, as a big man coach, he’s at least on par for his work with Ivan Radenovic and Jordan Hill, I’d think. Channing Frye did much better than his high-school rating would have indicated, and the jury’s still out on Kirk Walters (who was not a highly rated recruit out of high school).
— Bruce Pascoe 06/05/2007 06:17 PM #
You should see what Kentucky fans are saying about the potential to get Pastner on this blog thread. Also of note is the mostly respectful tone when talking about the UA (except for a couple of digs about Tucson).
— Sean 06/05/2007 08:45 PM #
is a credit ti a program as he has
some virtues that are rare today.
Knowledge of the game, the ability
to relate to todays high school
players,strong recruiting ties and
loyality.
Thanks Josh
— Bob O 06/06/2007 06:08 AM #
Ok. I agree, that’s a fair analysis.
Also, if Kentucky wants him, that does says alot.
— Robert 06/06/2007 06:42 AM #
Bruce- Thanks for the balance to Robert’s usual negative thoughts.
— vegasallen 06/06/2007 12:22 PM #
Of course, Bruce had to do it for you.
One thing I would add to Bruce’s analysis, however, is that if the recruiting has been solid, why two bad seasons in a row? Hint, it starts at the top.
— Robert 06/06/2007 03:07 PM #
— simon 06/12/2007 12:59 PM #