Porter is Gone…Now What and Who’s Next?

GoPilots19 wrote:https://twitter.com/willmaup/status/1374053015137579010?s=20
Can always count on the Spokane based take to be a damp blanket


Edit: After the 1st tweet he then defended the job against those calling it a downgrade serves me right for being reactionary haha

Shantay Legans is leaving Cheney.

Eastern Washington’s successful men’s basketball coach has accepted the same position at the University of Portland, the 39-year-old confirmed, on the heels of the Eagles’ third NCAA Tournament appearance.

Nearly 48 hours after No. 3 seed Kansas erased a double-digit, second-half deficit to beat No. 14 seed EWU 93-84 on Saturday in Indianapolis, Legans broke the news to his team in a Monday morning meeting.

Legans replaces former Portland Trail Blazers star and ex-NBA head coach Terry Porter, who was fired after posting a 43-103 mark in five seasons.

The Pilots – a West Coast Conference member with the likes of NCAA Tournament regulars Gonzaga, BYU and Saint Mary’s – haven’t had a winning season in conference play since the 2009-2010 season.

Portland hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 1996.

Legans, who has helped develop four Big Sky Conference MVPs in five seasons, believes he can attract similar under-the-radar talent to Portland and turn the Pilots into a winner.

The former California point guard’s wide-open, 3-point-heavy system helped EWU reach three straight Big Sky Conference Tournament championship games, win a conference regular-season title in 2020 and reach this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Legans won 60 of his 82 games against Big Sky Conference opponents. He was formerly an assistant under Jim Hayford before Hayford left EWU for Seattle University in 2017.

This story is developing

bdaddy wrote: DD also alluded to the idea that Legans might be able to convince the Groves brothers to follow him to UP. I’d be VERY interested if there is anything to that.

StudentPilot wrote:Just landed back in Portland after a week in PR, anything going on??

Congratulations to Shantay Legans and UP for getting it done...and thank you PilotNation for perhaps planting the seed.

From what I've read here, Coach Legans seems to be the type of coach the guys will want to play for.

It will be interesting to see how many transfers UP can snag and how many of the UP players who are already in the transfer portal Legans and his staff will say goodbye to.

Nothing "official" from the university yet?  

"My family and I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity at the University of Portland," Legans said. "Through the process, I had a chance to get to know Scott, Jason and Father Mark, as well as members of the Board of Regents, and get a feel for their vision for the future of the UP men's basketball program. Not only did our philosophies and values align, but I could feel the university's support and commitment to winning in every conversation. That made my family and I feel very comfortable, and it became very clear to us how special a place Portland is, both the university and the community as a whole. This place has massive potential, and I am so incredibly honored and humbled to have been chosen to lead the Pilots into the next chapter. We are going to win here, and I can't wait to get to Portland and get to work!"

Pooh Jeter wrote:Shantay's presence in the Pacific Northwest right now is incredible. He turned Eastern Washington into a big-time winning program, and I know he will do the same at Portland. I'm thrilled to welcome Shantay to the Pilot Family. Let's go!"

"My family and I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity at the University of Portland," Legans said. "Through the process, I had a chance to get to know Scott, Jason and Father Mark, as well as members of the Board of Regents, and get a feel for their vision for the future of the UP men's basketball program. Not only did our philosophies and values align, but I could feel the university's support and commitment to winning in every conversation. "

EWU athletic director Lynn Hickey said Legans is a big loss for the program.

“He’s one of the best young coaches in America and we are sad to lose him,” Hickey said. “He had to do what is best for himself and his family. He’s a million-dollar coach.”

The former California point guard’s wide-open, 3-point-heavy system helped EWU reach three straight Big Sky Conference Tournament championship games, win a conference regular-season title in 2020 and reach this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Legans won 60 of his 82 games against Big Sky Conference opponents. He was formerly an assistant under Jim Hayford before Hayford left EWU for Seattle University in 2017.

Legans had one remaining year left on his contract. Hickey said an extension was discussed last summer.

Multiple sources have told The Spokesman-Review that EWU associate head coach David Riley, a former Whitworth standout, is applying for Legans’ former post.

“We have a great internal candidate (Riley), but obviously my phone has been blowing up today.

EWU returns nearly its entire roster from its NCAA Tournament team next season, including Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player Tanner Groves.

“I am completely happy for (Legans),” Groves said. “He has shifted the program around. It was an honor and blessing to play for him. It sounds like it’s the right situation for him. Sad to see him go, but happy for him.”

Groves hopes the Eagles make an in-house hire.

“I would definitely think (Riley) should be the No. 1 guy,” Groves said. “He has worked hard, and I think he deserves it.”

“I am completely happy for (Legans),” Groves said. “He has shifted the program around. It was an honor and blessing to play for him. It sounds like it’s the right situation for him. Sad to see him go, but happy for him.”

Groves hopes the Eagles make an in-house hire.

“I would definitely think (Riley) should be the No. 1 guy,” Groves said. “He has worked hard, and I think he deserves it.”

mikemac65 wrote:It will be great to be able to cheer for Pilot basketball again!

In his 12 years in Cheney as an assistant and head coach, Legans built a lot of relationships in the area. He was a hard guy not to like. And he also built his reputation as a coach, building on Jim Hayford’s foundation and taking Eastern to Big Sky title games, the NCAA tourney and individual heights – four conference MVPs in five seasons – never before seen.

With all the issues Eastern Washington is facing currently, with all the challenges the school’s lack of resources presents, his leaving seemed inevitable. But why jump to one of the worst jobs in the West Coast Conference?

Look, let’s be clear. We’re not doubting Legans here. We’re doubting the viability of basketball success at the University of Portland.

If Eastern has problems, most of them money and facility related, then Portland has just as many. At least in Cheney and the Big Sky, Legans has the opportunity to win the conference title and the ensuing NCAA berth every year. At Portland?

Let’s count the WCC programs with more. And by that, we mean more of everything, from money to admissions to reputation to history to, heck, the opportunity to be successful. There is Gonzaga. BYU. Saint Mary’s. Pepperdine. USF. Heck, maybe even Loyola Marymount and Pacific these days. Even USD has San Diego for goodness sakes. Santa Clara can point to Steve Nash. Where does that leave Portland? Looking up.

Can Legans overcome the obstacles? Yes, he can. But unless the Pilots relax their admission standards, upgrade their facilities, improve the budget – things it really didn’t do for Portland NBA legend Terry Porter – and do all of that on the heels of a pandemic-induced financial downturn, Legans will be going into battle with the conference’s smallest arsenal.

It sure seems he could have done better. Much better.

Whatever Portland is paying him, and it is reportedly much more than he was earning in Cheney, Legans will earn it. No one will work harder. If he can’t make the school successful, I’m not sure anyone I’ve met could. He’ll find under-the-radar recruits, coach them up, put them in a system in which they can thrive and may still be battling to finish in the top half of the conference – if the school gives him the time to succeed.

Honestly, we’re rooting for Legans. He’s a good human being in a profession that needs as many as it can get. His task ahead won’t be easy. He is obviously betting on himself (and I wouldn’t bet against him), which is admirable. If it pays off, it will pay off big. And that’s something everyone who has interacted with Legans over his years in Cheney is hoping will happen.

If Eastern has problems, most of them money and facility related, then Portland has just as many.

“Why not?” was a theme with Legans in his meetings with Leykam and the Portland administration before being hired. Legans compiled a four-year record of 75-49 at Eastern Washington, directed the Eagles to just their third-ever NCAA tournament bid this season and forged a Big Sky record of 53-20 for a winning percentage of .726 that is second-best all-time in the conference among coaches with at least four seasons.

By contract, the Pilots have resided for years in the basement of the West Coast Conference, which not only features national No. 1-ranked Gonzaga but also Saint Mary’s and BYU, both fairly regular visitors to the NCAA tournament.

The Pilots, who were 1-42 in WCC play the past three seasons, have lost their past 29 games over six seasons against Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and BYU.

This will be a tough job. Legans says some coaches he spoke with advised him against taking the assignment, but others believe it’s a place that can have success: Great city, excellent university, success in other sports on campus in a city that embraces hoops.

“Why can’t we beat these top schools?” Legans said. “What’s the difference between Portland, GU, Saint Mary’s, Pepperdine, BYU? There’s not a big difference?

“Obviously, Spokane and Gonzaga have been great. Why can’t we build a team, build a roster to be that good? That’s what you play for.

“I want to go and beat these teams. Is it going to be a tall task? I believe so. But I’m up for the challenge . . . I’m not tall, though.”

At 5-foot-10, he’s really no shorter than Gonzaga coach Mark Few, so on that front he’s pretty much even.

Now Legans and Portland begin the steep climb to get an eye-to-eye view with Gonzaga and the other top WCC teams in every other aspect.

Sound Voltex wrote:https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/mar/23/grip-sports-marchs-many-and-outs-leave-us-exhauste/

Sour grapes

DoubleDipper wrote:Seems like Tanner Groves and I agree, he should stay at EWU and Coach Riley should move up to the top job.

DoubleDipper wrote:1. Shantay Legans (Eastern Washington HC)
2. Mike Magpayo (Cal Riverside Interim HC)

Angela Lento, Vice President of the CollegeInsider.com wrote:Dealing with the pandemic, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of athletics at UC Riverside, Mike Magpayo led the program to an historic season.

Coach Magpayo’s attention to detail and leadership are second to none. He’s a star in the profession.