staff

So NOW Reveno's last scholarship player has left the program. Sorry to see him go. Will the new assistant also be a big-man specialist?

NoPoNeighbor wrote:So NOW Reveno's last scholarship player has left the program. Sorry to see him go. Will the new assistant also be a big-man specialist?

I probably could have been more clear in my report of Kramer leaving....it's a family related leave of absence for the 2018-19 season.  The current expectation is he'll return for next season, but of course anything can change between now and then.

Someone has been selected as an "interim" assistant, and is going through all the HR vetting now....I have no idea who it is (but I did make a recommendation   ).

DoubleDipper wrote:Someone has been selected as an "interim" assistant, and is going through all the HR vetting now....I have no idea who it is (but I did make a recommendation   ).

Sorry, I'm too busy. I'll have to yell my suggestions from my seat.

Best wishes for whatever situation the Knutsons are dealing with.

I'm glad to hear that Coach Knutson is still in the fold, AND that UP and Coach Porter are the kind of employer and boss that make it possible for staff members to take extended leave to prioritize family and personal matters.

NoPoNeighbor wrote:I'm glad to hear that Coach Knutson is still in the fold, AND that UP and Coach Porter are the kind of employer and boss that make it possible for staff members to take extended leave to prioritize family and personal matters.

Hear, hear!

Best wishes to Kramer.

DoubleDipper wrote:Someone has been selected as an "interim" assistant, and is going through all the HR vetting now....I have no idea who it is (but I did make a recommendation   ).

Was this your recommendation, DD?

Bob Cantu @coachbobcantu wrote:We welcome @coachgev to the Portland Pilot coaching staff as an interim Asst coach. He was a head coach at Portland St for 8 years. He brings over 20 yrs of experience in the Pacific Northwest..... #impactplayer

Geving scooped up a few former-Pilots on the transfer market, and now UP has scooped him up, at least for this season.

Pretty sure Tyler was teaching a university level business law course and was looking for a way to get back into coaching after his dismissal at PSU.

The unknown was if his PSU contract had ended, and apparently he had signed a three-year extension in 2015 that ran through the 2018 season.

I'm really excited about his addition...he's a very good experienced coach and an even nicer guy.  I think his head coaching record at PSU is better than any UP coach has had....at least in my memory.  

Hmm, I didn't think it would be a name I'd actually heard of before. Figured they'd bring in a younger guy looking for a start and hope for a good fit there, but this is a pleasant surprise.

Seems like a good hire! I remember Coach Reveno having positive things to say about him over the years.

Spending quality time at home with his wife and new-born daughter, Kramer tells me he will NOT be returning to coach at UP....and if does return to coaching, it's unlikely it will be at the college level due to the time it takes him away from his family.

While playing professionally in England Kramer met and married the love of his life, and his priorities are in order.

An excellent player and coach, and a helluva great guy in every way, Kramer will certainly be missed by the players and all who know him around the UP campus.

From Novemeber 7, 2017:

DoubleDipper wrote:But the Georgia Tech program is also in some turmoil due to the self-reporting of impermissible benefits that resulted in the indefinite suspension of 2 players, but now we're hearing that Ron Bell, a longtime friend of Tech coach Josh Pastner, is alleging the program wasn’t fully truthful with what it reported to the NCAA....that there's actually more to the story.
https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2017/11/7/16617592/georgia-tech-josh-pastner-recruiting-violation-birthday

Hmm, do you suppose Rev could end up as the (interim) head coach of the Ramblin' Wreck?

And now, even after the self-reporting by Georgia Tech, the NCAA is apparently coming down hard with a Level 1 violation...and the GT booster, Bell, is still a big part of it.

This may not affect Rev directly, but it certainly have some indirect consequences...

https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/ncaa-finds-high-level-recruiting-violations-georgia-tech/bH8sHFDA76ORVP9czFgd3I/

There’s a nationwide corruption scandal ongoing and the NCAA hits P5 minnow Georgia Tech with a Level 1 violation over a $300 strip club visit and two flights to Arizona.

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2019/6/7/mens-basketball-chris-buchanan-promoted-to-assistant-coach.aspx

I do not see this as a strong voice who will challenge the head coach.

A different opinion, from the voice of the Pilots:

Jason Swygard @FANswag wrote:
Replying to @PortlandPilots @cb_buchanan15
Well deserved. This guy sleeps less than I do. Looking forward to another season with you. You get the first postgame interview.

IMO, this is a good hire for a number of reasons, but primarily because,

A. It continues to make the (assistant) DOBO position desirable for the future and it's a positive move to hire someone from within the program who has earned the trust of the players and staff;

B. Chris has proven he's clearly driven to make the team better through his hard work and long hours on the recruiting trail this past couple of months as he tracked down grad-transfers and JUCO players.  He may not have the experience or contacts of Coach Cantu, but he's hungry to succeed and does have experience evaluating prospects.

C. He will reportedly be instrumental in the development of the players...a much needed quality on this staff going forward.

Malcolm Porter wrote:@cb_buchanan15 works harder than anyone I know congrats my guy!!! Let’s work!!!

Just six years ago at Peninsula College in Port Angeles:

Hey guys, I have been a reader of the forum for years but I just recently decided to make an account!
I really like the Buchanan hire especially when looking at all of the endorsements he has received from many of his peers on Twitter. Additionally, I think he is exactly the young, hungry type of coach that the pilots should be looking to bring in.

During our conversation this week I learned that, except for recreation league ball, Kramer Knutson has stepped away from basketball and is now a realtor with Keller Williams in Tempe, Arizona.

If you or someone you know is looking for a home in the Phoenix area, text Kramer at 480-205-6507 or email him at kramerknutson.kwrealty.com

Said goodbye to Coach Bob Cantu and his family yesterday as they left Portland for their new home in Lawrence, Kansas.

Bob has accepted a position as an advisor/consultant on Coach Bill Self's coaching staff at the University of Kansas.

Nice to not only see him land on his feet, but also to get back to a high major program that was a #4 seed in last season's NCAA Tournament and is looking to be a contender for the National Championship...

DoubleDipper wrote:Bob has accepted a position as an advisor/consultant on Coach Bill Self's coaching staff at the University of Kansas.

Coach Self has won or shared at least 14 Big 12 titles in his 16 seasons at KU and has been to the Final Four three times...while Coach Porter was an excellent NBA player and a fan favorite, I'm told.

Maybe there's a life lesson to be learned here: Getting fired is not the end of the world, and can be a very positive move! Rock Chalk!

Question, is UP still paying Coach Cantu even though he's employed by KU?

The Pilots, in the bottom 10% of the 353 Division 1 schools, fire their assistant coach, who lands a job with a school in the top 2%.  I've never been much for math, but does that add up?

bullwinkle wrote:The Pilots, in the bottom 10% of the 353 Division 1 schools, fire their assistant coach, who lands a job with a school in the top 2%.  I've never been much for math, but does that add up?

It doesn't seem to me that he's an actual assistant, more of an advisor, so its not exactly the same role. Especially considering that Coach Cantu appeared to be the top assistant for the Pilots last season.
That being said it doesn't surprise me that someone with Coach Cantu's background and experience would be coveted by top schools.

StudentPilot wrote:Question, is UP still paying Coach Cantu even though he's employed by KU?

Yes...I was told he has no offset clause in his multi-year contract with UP.

Apparently Porter's guaranteed contract ends in April 2021, and Cantu's guaranteed contract ends in June 2021.

You might recall that Mike Burns was originally part of Porter's staff, but besides being disenchanted with life at UP after about a month, he was offered a better paying position at Boise State under old friend Leon Rice...Cantu replaced Burns.

Hmmm.  I know nothing specific about this situation... but the Pilots fired a coach that (1) still has to be paid out for two years, and (2) was deemed good enough to be hired by Bill Self and Kansas?  

So, Coaches Cantu and Knutson were replaced by the Team's DBO and the guy fired by PSU...

PilotNut wrote: So, Coaches Cantu and Knutson were replaced by the Team's DBO and the guy fired by PSU...

Was it ever made clear whether Kramer was forced out or left by his own choice? Just curious because that seemed to conclude in very open ended fashion.

SoCal_Pilot wrote:Was it ever made clear whether Kramer was forced out or left by his own choice? Just curious because that seemed to conclude in very open ended fashion.

You might recall that Kramer took a leave of absence to be with his wife during a difficult pregnancy, and then six months ago, after his daughter was born, he realized the amount of time away from home that was required of a D1 coach was more than he was willing to give.

Kramer is open to being a high school coach, or possibly even an assistant at a D3 school (no scholarships and very little recruiting), but for now he's excited to be a husband, dad, and realtor in the Phoenix area.

Kramer is well respected and well liked by coaches at various levels, and I personally think he'll ease back into basketball someday, but not now.

PilotNut wrote:So, Coaches Cantu and Knutson were replaced by the Team's DBO and the guy fired by PSU...

Actually, the team's assistant DOBO...

I was very pleased with the hiring of Tyler Geving (ex-PSU) last fall, and the recent hiring of Chris Buchanan (former A-DOBO), as both have strengths that are complimentary to a staff that also includes Ben Johnson.

It's my observation that Geving is able to "get through" to Porter, a guy who apparently listens to very few, and Buchanan brings a youthful eagerness and enthusiasm that has been sorely missing from both the team and staff.

Both Geving and Buchanan also have experience that Porter lacks...specifically, over 20 years as college coach including eight as a head coach (Geving) and college player talent scouting (Buchanan).

If all three assistant coaches don't play a bigger role this coming season than in the past, it will only because Porter doesn't listen to them.  All three assistants have the mutual respect of the players and each other, and that alone should result in better team performance/competitiveness this coming season...if the team is not competitive, that falls directly on Coach Porter, not the assistants!!