Scandals, Shambles and No More Amaker
Michigan’s Head Basketball Coach, Tommy Amaker was fired Saturday and I am not one bit shocked by it. In fact, the big question that I have for the Michigan program is, “Why was this not done sooner?†Come on…What did this man do to keep his job for 6 LONG seasons? Sure, Amaker was 109-83 (three 20 win seasons) overall but when most of your non-conference schedule pits you up against chump teams year after year due to the fact that you suck in your own conference and can’t make the NCAA Tournament year after year this firing pretty much speaks for itself. Under Amaker, the Wolverines failed to make the big dance in all 6 of his seasons and that was simply unacceptable.
Amaker claimed that he wasn’t going to make excuses for what happened. That’s good because when you’re this unsuccessful what can you say? The fact that Amaker himself said at the beginning of this season that Michigan was talented enough to make the big tourney and they didn’t yet again also didn’t help much to avoid having Michigan officials nail the final pin into Amaker’s coffin. Not only that but had there been more success for Michigan in the end of the year Big Ten Tournament (Amaker was 43-53 in the Big Ten) or even in the NIT, Amaker might have kept his job for at least one more year. That being said, the fact that Michigan wasn’t just beaten badly but downright embarrassed (87-66) against FSU in just the second round of this year’s NIT tourney is clearly not successful enough for anyone let alone Michigan. This was Michigan’s 3rd trip to the NIT in 4 years. None of those trips have been very successful. Michigan finished the regular season with a 22-13 overall mark but again, their failure to make any noise in the Big Ten final tourney or to beat Ohio State the week earlier when they absolutely had that game won were 2 key signs to how far this program still has to go.
Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said this of the Amaker firing, “Letting Tommy go was the toughest decision I’ve had to make in 7 years as athletic director. He took over a program that needed help, and he helped it in a lot of ways, but at Michigan, we have a tradition of winning Big Ten and National Championships and we haven’t been close to doing either in a lot of ways. There were moments of delight and success but we didn’t make the NCAA tournament and that was the goal. To that extent, it was a disappointment.” Let’s be honest here for a moment. Tommy Amaker is a decent, class act individual and it’s not like this program wasn’t a mess when he took it over. He really helped Michigan attempt to get back to a competitive force in the very least. They have a brighter future now and much of the thanks goes to Amaker who did actually have an above average recruiting class this time around with 3 players in the top-30. So let’s face it, as Amaker walks away, his career at Michigan won’t be considered a total loss. Again, trouble really faced this program when Amaker took over and that’s what was and still is the biggest loss of all.
Michigan hired Amaker on March 29, 2001 after firing Brian Ellerbe who basically did even less with what he had then Amaker. That also being said, Ellerbe clearly couldn’t recruit like Amaker despite most of Amaker’s recruiting classes being under par as well. That’s what you get when you have a basketball program in shambles stemming from the Ed Martin scandal. Before Martin’s death, he told the government that he lent over 600 thousand dollars to ex-players, Chris Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock. After a full investigation and many penalties handed down to the program, the NCAA has since claimed it was the largest financial scandal in its history. Knowing that, HOW IN THE HELL WAS ELLERBE SUPPOSED TO RECRUIT IN THE FIRST PLACE? How was Amaker supposed to do the same? How can anyone expect to recruit here? This scandal will never be forgotten so can there actually be future success at Michigan? Do they honestly feel like they have to cheat to win? They certainly didn’t cheat when Bill Freider coached most of the 1989 season. That championship team won behind Rice, Robinson, Mills and Vaught and were never really accused of cheating.
I always thought there was something fishy about the Fab Five from the early 90’s and how they played. Some days it simply looked like they were going through the motions instead of playing full out and it often looked like they were toying with teams instead of playing aggressive basketball in front of ex-Head Coach, Steve Fisher. What always got me was that Fisher never disciplined them. He was always so nonchalant about everything…almost like point shaving was going on or bets were being made and no one seemed to mind. The games seemed more like fool around practices half the time. I am not accusing the university of anything and why would I? I love the University of Michigan and am a die hard fan for their sports teams but am I alone here? Did these teams ever go full out back then? It sure didn’t seem like it so fans or not, it really makes you wonder doesn’t it?
Michigan is clearly a football school. That’s what makes them money and that’s what they put their money towards. Thus, the basketball program often suffers. The facilities at Crisler Arena are said to be terrible so in a way its Michigan’s own fault that they can’t get recruits for this program when they put very little money towards it in the first place. That combined with the aforementioned past scandals and obviously you’re going to have your share of problems. That’s the way it goes and that’s clearly what has happened here. Now, back to Amaker…
At the time, I thought Amaker was a great hire by Michigan. In 4 seasons at Seton Hall, he led the Pirates to a 68-55 overall record, made the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tourney and had 3 NIT bids. That wasn’t overly impressive but it was slightly better then his Michigan resume. Amaker was under contract through the 2010-11 season, but the contract stated that Michgian could fire him without cause by giving him $900,000 so it’s not like he walked away empty handed, just broken hearted. As for who Michigan should hire as its next basketball coach and as for what requirements he should have, the answer is simple… GET A BETTER RECRUITER. It’s easy for me to say isn’t it? When asked about the possible list of candidates, Bill Martin said he had a list of them but declined to identify any of the coaches as a few are currently playing in the NCAA tournament (or so he claims). According to Martin, “Michigan’s basketball opening is going to be a highly sought after job.†Sought after? YES! Successful? We’ll see.
When watching Michigan basketball this season I have to say I was more then frustrated. They looked so unsure and inconsistent on offense throughout the season that it was very difficult to watch at times. There was no offensive flow and at times the players looked almost intimidated. Watching missed dunks and easy shots started to become the norm and obviously there can’t be such faults if an NCAA tourney bid is to be on your horizon. I am always sad to see class acts go but this university doesn’t necessarily need a class act to coach this basketball program any longer. It simply needs someone that can recruit better and who can just plain start winning. I know it’s easier said then done but Tommy Amaker clearly wasn’t the answer. Who is? Time will tell but for now…SO LONG TOMMY. May maize and blue blood pump through your veins forever.
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I agree with the article and just want to say that I am glad it was mentioned what a class act Amaker is because that is often overlooked in firings like this. I also want to say that this site is very impressive and well done. Later.