|
Post by tnp101 on Dec 19, 2006 10:27:45 GMT -5
I think the success of Nebraska's team this year was due to Lee Maes. He has helped build Cal before departing for Nebraska. I think it's time for someone to give him a head coaching job and see how much he can do as a head coach.
|
|
|
Post by Keystonekid on Dec 19, 2006 10:34:26 GMT -5
I think Lee would make a great head coach, and has done great at Nebraska, but giving him credit for Nebraska's success is outrageous. If you look at Nebraska pre Lee and post Lee there is no difference. This was a top 5 program for 15 years prior to his arrival.
|
|
|
Post by SaltNPepper on Dec 19, 2006 10:50:30 GMT -5
I too agree that Lee Maes was an important part of the success of the Huskers this year; but not the reason for their success. I like his passion and think he could make an excellent head coach. I think he is in a good position right now to be able to wait for the right head coaching offer (if that's what he wants) with a good school and a good opportunity for him to be successful. Whether that is this year or in a couple of years.
(OK, I correct my spelling error - I really should have know better in the first place.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2006 11:00:12 GMT -5
Actually since Craig Skinner's departure our blocking has not been near as strong, especially this year. Skinner's speciality was middle blocking. It could also be a personel issue, not just coaching. I was told that he(Maes) doesn't have an advanced degree which would limit his ability to go other places.
|
|
|
Post by Phaedrus on Dec 19, 2006 11:29:40 GMT -5
Lee is a fantastic technician and trainer, not too many of those in this world. I think Cook brought him in to replace Craig for that purpose. I think Lee still needs to serve his apprenticeship for a few year and perhaps get his masters degree, although I really don't see that as a hinderance at his level of achievement.
|
|
|
Post by BearClause on Dec 19, 2006 11:36:51 GMT -5
Actually since Craig Skinner's departure our blocking has not been near as strong, especially this year. Skinner's speciality was middle blocking. It could also be a personel issue, not just coaching. I was told that he(Maes) doesn't have an advanced degree which would limit his ability to go other places. Again - it's Lee Maes. I know it's already been corrected (sort of). We had a lot of fun with him every time his name was discussed regarding openings (Rice and UNLV come to mind). He'd give a look of mock indignance if his job seeking was brought up. I really don't think an advanced degree really matters all that much. I don't think half the Pac-10 head coaches have an advanced degree, although most have extensive experience.
|
|
|
Post by gobigred on Dec 19, 2006 11:53:45 GMT -5
I think this year showed an infinite level of improvement in Nebraska's back row play. I don't know for sure but have heard from other people that that is Lee's influence. If that is the case, then I think a ton of credit goes to him. We won this title because of our back row play in my opinion. Last year's 6-2 hurt us defensively, and Washington exposed that. This year's 5-1, with an underrated Busboom at libero made us a pretty good back row team. Combine that with our blocking, which was still there, just not leading the country, and we were a great defensive team.
This is also why I don't want us going back to the 6-2 next year. Again, I think it will hurt us defensively. I like having a libero back there, and I think Rachel Schwartz can develop into a great one.
|
|
|
Post by ugsba on Dec 19, 2006 15:09:47 GMT -5
I am proud to say that I know Lee well, porfessionally and personally. He is an outstanding candidate for any head coaching position. He has been courted many, many times while he was at Cal and since he has been at Nebraska for a head coaching post. I am sure he is just waiting for the right fit for him. He deserves the luxury for being able pick and choose. He has paid his dues for many years. He is one of the nation's best trainers, strategists, and tactitions. He will do a program wonders.
I believe that he has made a definite contribution to the NU program for all the reasons listed above, many of which are unseen by many of unseen. I am sure anyone within Nebraska, Cal, and USA Volleyball would attest to this.
|
|
|
Post by jgrout on Dec 19, 2006 17:51:04 GMT -5
Bruce Weber, a long-time assistant at Purdue under Gene Keady with a reputation something like Lee's, took a mid-major head coaching job at Southern Illinois, had some success, then was hired by my alma mater, Illinois. Though Weber molded a team that was chaotic and undisciplined under Bill Self into a dynamo that drew public praise from John Wooden and other basketball gurus and almost beat a NBA draft-choice laden UNC squad for the NCAA championship, his future is beginning to look darker and darker. Why? The word we haven't mentioned on this thread: recruiting.
If a career assistant like Lee can sell himself to the club coaches he works with as a head coaching candidate, he'd probably be able to recruit the top kids right away. Bruce Weber has had their less-savory equivalents... AAU summer league coaches and the street agents that mix with them... steering kids away from his program from the day he took over at Illinois. I don't think any head coach, no matter how gifted, can overcome that in the long run.
|
|
|
Post by BearClause on Dec 19, 2006 18:15:24 GMT -5
If a career assistant like Lee can sell himself to the club coaches he works with as a head coaching candidate, he'd probably be able to recruit the top kids right away. Bruce Weber has had their less-savory equivalents... AAU summer league coaches and the street agents that mix with them... steering kids away from his program from the day he took over at Illinois. I don't think any head coach, no matter how gifted, can overcome that in the long run. Lee had been a club coach (Golden Bear 18-Forefront) for years, and I'm sure he's well known and respected among club coaches/directors around the country. He's also coached various USA VB junior and adult (A2 I believe) national teams over the years. He's been involved in every aspect of coaching (including recruiting) since he's been in women's college VB. I don't think recruiting is going to be a problem with Lee.
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Dec 19, 2006 19:50:37 GMT -5
The misspelling of his last name is driving me nuts! And other people just blindly followed along by misspelling his last name in their own posts. Anyone else driven batty by all this lunacy?
|
|
|
Post by simplycurious on Dec 20, 2006 3:07:12 GMT -5
I spoke with Lee a couple of times while in Omaha (both prior to and after the final) and he is very happy in Lincoln (well, as happy as a transplanted Cali guy can be ). Has he had opportunities? Yes. Will he have more opportunities after winning a National Championship? Yes. Would/will he make a great head coach? Yes. However, he isn't looking to leave Lincoln any time in the near future, so everyone can put those rumors to rest.
|
|
|
Post by tnp101 on Dec 20, 2006 9:33:37 GMT -5
What about his family? Is he married? If so, is his wife from Nebraska?
|
|
|
Post by Phaedrus on Dec 20, 2006 10:44:04 GMT -5
I spoke with Lee a couple of times while in Omaha (both prior to and after the final) and he is very happy in Lincoln (well, as happy as a transplanted Cali guy can be ). Has he had opportunities? Yes. Will he have more opportunities after winning a National Championship? Yes. Would/will he make a great head coach? Yes. However, he isn't looking to leave Lincoln any time in the near future, so everyone can put those rumors to rest. So, did Lee point you in the right direction for sushi? We may need that for 2008.
|
|
|
Post by long distance on Dec 20, 2006 11:46:49 GMT -5
If a career assistant like Lee can sell himself to the club coaches he works with as a head coaching candidate, he'd probably be able to recruit the top kids right away. Bruce Weber has had their less-savory equivalents... AAU summer league coaches and the street agents that mix with them... steering kids away from his program from the day he took over at Illinois. I don't think any head coach, no matter how gifted, can overcome that in the long run. Lee had been a club coach (Golden Bear 18-Forefront) for years, and I'm sure he's well known and respected among club coaches/directors around the country. He's also coached various USA VB junior and adult (A2 I believe) national teams over the years. He's been involved in every aspect of coaching (including recruiting) since he's been in women's college VB. I don't think recruiting is going to be a problem with Lee. It depends on where he lands as a head coach. I would not think recruiting to Cal-Berkley and Nebraska, given the success of those programs, would be as difficult as recruiting to University X in the middle of BFE. Recruiting has as much, if not more, to do with the product you're selling than anything else. Just a side note on Cal Recruiting - Someone in an earlier post hinted the Lee was responsible for Cals succesful recruiting. Chris Bigelow is the recruiting coordinator there and is one of the best in the country. Just like every other assistant around the country, Lee surely helped, but Chris is the main recruiter.
|
|