Case studies are not the preferred method in science but we, as fans, use them. Look at what the coaches at Ohio, Akron, Kent, etc. are doing. How about Oats at UB and now Bama? Other schools hire and fire in a cycle. As we learned in football, sometimes a coach is a 'hidden gem.' Few would have guess that C.C. and Kenneth Blakeney would build their programs to the degree they have.
We get into long discussion about a HM assistant coach (e.g., someone from UofM, MSU, etc.). Or maybe a D-II HC.
Worse yet, we get into long discussions: if only Murphy could teach offense and Heath defense. If Heath could find the right PG.
Well a downtrodden Howard University team broke the mold. They hired an ASSISTANT coach from COLUMBIA. I remember playing them in a Murphy post-season game and thought, okay, a low major kind of program. Arena not much. Program not much. But a really good place for an education.
Anyway, their assistant coach, Kenneth Blakeney, was a hidden gem. Hiding in plain sight in NYC. Had to read his resume CAREFULLY and meet him.
The Howard University president, who is as good as they come, met Blakeney during the interview and told the AD to hire him.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/20...mpionship/
Why Blakeney? He played at the storied DeMatha H.S. under the legendary Morgan Wooten in the D.C. area. Played for Coach K at Duke. Was an asst coach at various program and then went out of coaching and into the private sector. Came back as an assistant coach at COLUMBIA, hardly the launching grounds for D-I HCs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Blakeney
So why did he find success at Howard?
Part 1 of 2.