re: Gary Parrish: Tennessee closing in on Louisiana Tech coach Mike White

Another thing about White (and Hubbs says we've been in contact with White since Thursday)...

Throughout this search there has been article after article on VQ about how UT needs an energetic/showman type that played an energetic style of basketball. They've been pounding that drum for days even referencing our history with Mears and Pearl. People that never got a chance to see Mears and/or who never read up on him don't know that Coach Mears' showmanship, salemanship, and overall craziness would make Pearl look as stoic as Cuonzo Martin. Pearl painted his chest orange and yelled with the student section but Ray Mears? Ray Mears had local celebs wrestling live bears at halftime and players on unicycles. So yes, it's safe to say Tennessee fans love a high energy coach who puts on a good show.

AD Dave Hart said this of the coaching search when it started:

quote:

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"You look for somebody that can recruit," Hart said. "Our lifeblood is recruiting in all of our sports. When you go into a process like this, you want to be sure that the person you're hiring is an outstanding recruiter. "You also want a person that brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Transitions aren't easy, regardless of the circumstances that may have brought you into a transition. They're difficult. You want somebody with knowledge of the game and you want somebody that can attract a very high-quality staff."

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This all seems to point to guy like White even above the 'bigger' names. He very much looks like the guy that fits the description that keeps getting floated by the AD and various sources.