Answers:
He was successful at Charlotte before.
Although he had a couple of down years at the end, he concluded with a 19 win season. Toward the end of his last year, his team was projected to be an NCAA tournament team and would have been had it not been for the losing streak at the very end of the year. With four returning starters plus recruits and players being developed on the bench, who knows what the success would have been in the following year.
His next year could have been very special. It pains me to read the comments that people are making saying look how his time here ended. In my opinion, he was far from done.
Most coaches, including the great ones, generally have a few down years along the way. Have any of you noticed that we never talked about managing our expectations while Bobby Lutz was the coach? That started afterward.
Yes, being away from something can make you stronger. You can recharge and also realize how much you really enjoy it. He gained additional experience that he would not have gained otherwise.
The culture at Charlotte has now changed with the introduction of Mike Hill. Lutz and Hill could be an awesome combination. I see them as similar personalities with a deep desire to succeed. They are both competitors and winners.
Lutz has what it takes to succeed at âthisâ University. There have been many programs that feared playing Charlotte while he was the head coach here. Many left the arena with their tails tucked down between their legs.
Hill should at least interview Lutz to check the box. I think he would walk away being extremely impressed and have a tough time finding a better choice.
Lutz value. I think we will be hard-pressed to find a higher caliber coach for anywhere near the price we could get him for. Remember, we still have another coach to pay. Lutz will know when itâs time to go and can transition the program to a new coach. This eliminates the need to dismiss a coach, have them coach outside of a long-term contract, or risk losing players to transfer due to a sudden staff change. A transition would be much better for this program.
Interviewing Lutz and giving him serious consideration would go a long way with a tremendous number of loyal, committed Charlotte 49ers fans. I look around and do not see anywhere near the number of fans that I did in our fairly recent past. This would go a long way in winning back a lot of them⌠myself included. I personally have not left but Iâm nowhere near âAll Inâ like I have been in the past. I want to be.
Lutz surrounded by strong assistants that can recruit could turn this program around in short order. And, yes, there is plenty of evidence to support that.
There is nothing wrong with releasing a coach with the expectation of doing something better. However, there is something wrong with refusing to consider rekindling a relationship for all the right reasons and at the appropriate time to make our program better. We all have the same goals and objectives.
Lutz does not need to be the 20-year plan, or even the 10-year plan for this University. He can be the turnaround guy that could quickly return us to respectability. He could transition the program over to our next great coach at the right time. He could do it with class and dignity and be a long-time contributor to this University long after his retirement. We need that kind of blood circulating throughout this University. Not giving Lutz serious consideration would be a slap in the face to a significant % of our fan base.
Finally, Bobby Lutz is a winner! I know one thing about winners, they always finish strong. If this University is bold enough to give him a chance, just sit back and watch what happens. I, for one, will enjoy the ride and the return to respectability if we can find a way to make this happen.
