Long Beach State Athletics!: yikes!!

there is so much on this

I do not think there is a set formula

actually, getting the right HS kids is a path, because you may keep them for 2 years. and now HS kids know they are going to places where there are already grads and 4th years coming in, they may want to play.

simply can't box in coach (or they box themselves in ) with depending on 4th and grads, especially since everybody is chasing everybody

you DO have to develop good community members

no good coach has EVER guaranteed playing time

a coach that sticks to their guns will be a coach kids want to play for.

a coach needs a wide net of relationships now more than ever to deal with the turnover. frankly, have no idea how a coach can even begin to deal with that, especially assistants who let's face it over time (not just last few years) have increasingly been hired not for coaching but for their connections/recruiting ability

I think the simple answer though is LB does in fact need to develop some level of NIL, I'll say $100k a year, something to offer a few players. in five years it needs to be about $250k.

it's almost impossible to coach now. players coming to Long Beach are 'trying out' in their minds for NIL. before they might have been more focused on the team. it was bad enough, now downright horrible to manage a team

I think Long Beach has to offer the 'anti-NIL' Experience.

Get kids who might be committed to 2-3 years, with studies, with a culture of a student-athlete.

Acker has a lot to figure out to live in this world. IMO, they did play hard to the end, that's a plus.

Beach / Acker has to figure out a student-athlete experience, where players want to stay maybe if for just one more year, and do get some level of money.

and yes, has to get some 4 year and grads, who nobody wants and out to prove something or experience some

one can't predict a roster, some years it might be 6 deep, some it might be 11. have to recruit for depth no matter what. definitely have to maybe try for some players that might only be pure shooters and/or single role type players.

Previous Message

Ok ladies and gents... we all understand by now that every college athletic department has had to have a hard operational re-set over the past 2-4 years due to the new rules of the world with TP and NIL policies. And weirdly this has nothing to do with D1, D2 or D3 categories but everything to do with NIL budgets.

That being said, it seems as if there are basically three buckets of programs in this new world order..

1. Programs with $0-$1mm NIL budgets
2. $1mm - $5mm
3. $10mm +++

Obviously, the Long Beach's, Fullerton's, San Bernardino's.. and most other schools that struggle fall into the #3 slot.

Schools like SDSU, fall into the 2nd category and of course P5 conference schools fall into the 1st.

So HOW do the LB's of the world compete in this new world order? While it's not simple, it can happen.. my thoughts

1. Accept the fact that in D1 basketball, unless you're an established coach with a proven history of winning that your roster will have literally 70% or more turnover per year.

2. Don't forget that you are paid to win, NOT to develop players, NOT to develop good community members, NOT to develop great students, etc.. development takes time and that's one commodity you simply don't the luxury of having.

3. It doesn't matter where a player currently is located because he is free to leave within a few months so you much constantly be recruiting for your next starting 5.

4. Since you literally can't offer an NIL package of more than $50k to your BEST player and $0 to your worst, playing time, playing style and exposure are literally your ONLY cards to play with recruits.

Taking those new operational rules into question.. how to formulate a team? My .02 if I was the LB HC

1. Focus exclusively on 4th year kids and grad transfers. At least this way I understand these guys want to play and to play now.

2. FORGET about HS kids that want NIL $$..

3. Here's the biggie... My roster would only be 7-8 deep with literally guaranteed PT. The other players would be walk-ons. Yes this is a huge risk but if ya want PT, you've got PT.

4. Since we don't have NIL $$, you've got to bring something else.. a network of recruiters, a "life AFTER" support program of alumni that will work with these kids.

Thoughts?