In Reply to: Re: Anyone can only show what they are, what changes they have posted by Cachorro on March 05, 2026 at 10:06:29
and forgiving of coaches than what is generally seen here on this board or even more broadly in the fan world. I guess that probably comes from once being a coach, albeit on a much much lower level.
I think I have a more sympathetic viewpoint and perspective on the vagaries, machinations, general difficulties and all the ins and outs of coaching. I admit I tend to look more toward the positives than of the negatives.
I don't know what any one incident would make me feel that a coaching change is in order but I believe it would have to be extremely egregious or a situation that has absolutely no chance of ever recovering (which I admit is hard to predict).
Even with something like what Ben Howland was going through with his diminishing success and increasing difficulties with recruiting, I tended to see his abilities as a coach and his past documented successes as evidence of what could lie ahead for UCLA basketball. I tend to think that coaches who have experienced success on some level can get even better and never forget how to coach. So that tends to make me more suspect of downturns or setbacks or maybe not take them as seriously as some do or perhaps feel that things will get better or at least have the potential to.
On the other hand I had absolutely no argument when Steve Lavin was let go. In fact I wondered why it took the powers that be so long to fire him. In my mind Lavin was immature and not a good coach and showed no signs of getting better or either account. I also felt that it was time to let Steve Alford go. Unlike Lavin, I though Alford had accomplished enough to deserve a chance and I though he had been given that chance. Lavin, I thought, never should have been hired in the first place.
So maybe the short answer to your question is that it would take me a Steve Lavin like situation to feel like a coaching change is called for. Mick Cronin is nowhere near a Steve Lavin like situation. Cronin is already a good coach and IMO getting better. So for me his leash, like Howland's was, is long and really hasn't come anywhere near the end. That could change as soon as a year from now but certainly not now IMO.