Wells tells Stanley to stick it

Discussion in 'The Tiger's Den' started by tirk, Jun 23, 2006.

  1. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2004
    Messages:
    47,369
    Likes Received:
    21,536
    BREAKING NEWS: Wells to stay at Alabama
    By Cecil Hurt
    Sports Editor
    June 23, 2006

    TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama baseball coach Jim Wells said Friday morning that he would remain at UA and was removing his name from consideration for the vacant coaching job at LSU.

    “We are staying here,” Wells told The Tuscaloosa News during an interview in his office Friday morning. “That has been my main interest all along.

    “I did want to meet with [UA athletic director] Coach [Mal] Moore and [UA president] Dr. [Robert] Witt to discuss the future of our program in all areas, including academics, scholarships and facilities. We met last week, and I felt Dr. Witt and Coach Moore were very helpful, and I look forward to working with them in the future.”

    “[LSU athletic director] Coach [Skip] Bertman had asked to meet with me personally. I felt I should do that, because he is an old friend, and Coach Moore approved that. We met in Omaha and we talked. I don’t want to share the particulars of our conversation, because he is an old friend. But I wish them well in their search.”

    Wells, 51, has been considered a leading candidate for the open coaching position at LSU after Ray “Smoke” Laval resigned following the SEC Tournament.
    In the weeks following the tournament, Wells’ friendship with Bertman — LSU’s athletic director and longtime baseball coach — led in part to him being considered for the Tigers’ post.

    Wells, who earns approximately $210,000 annually, had met with Witt and Moore during the NCAA Super Regionals last week in Tuscaloosa, and sat down again with Moore on June 14 to talk about the state of the Crimson Tide baseball program.

    “Coach Wells and I had a very detailed and productive meeting Wednesday morning concerning all aspects of the baseball program,” Moore said in a release to the media that day. “Having the most competitive program on an annual basis is a top priority for Coach Wells and for me as well. We are striving to provide all of our sports programs with the necessary tools to ensure their ability to constantly compete for championships.

    “Coach Wells has proven to be a championship coach and I was pleased with the positive way our meeting ended.”

    Among the issues that were on the table during that discussion was possible renovation of Sewell-Thomas Stadium, including a new scoreboard, improved clubhouse facilities and luxury boxes.

    Wells became UA’s winningest coach earlier this season en route to a 44-20 finish that included a share of the SEC Championship and a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals. Wells’ career record at UA is 522-246, and includes three College World Series appearances (1996, 1997 and 1999).

    Wells was a graduate assistant under Bertman, who built LSU into a national power, from 1987-89. He was considered a candidate for the Tigers’ job when Bertman was promoted to athletic director, but the school instead went with Laval.
    Wells is a Louisiana native, born in Bossier City and a graduate of Northwestern State in Natchitoches. After his graduate assistant stint at LSU, Wells was head coach at Northwestern State for five seasons before coming to Alabama in 1995.
     
  2. LSUGradin99

    LSUGradin99 I Bleedeth Purple 'N Gold

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2003
    Messages:
    15,579
    Likes Received:
    475
    Not sure why, but this is the only candidate I have really been against. Just don't see him as being a good fit for the program. Does not seem to have the attitude to get his team to achieve success at the ultimate level, ie the cws.

    Needless to say, I am relieved after reading that article.
     
  3. OkieTigerTK

    OkieTigerTK Tornado Alley

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    18,000
    Likes Received:
    1,286
    How hard is Skip going after other coaches? Is there a chance he is giving terms and conditions that make it hard to find someone? Which would set it up for him to come back.

    Or am I just being impatient?
     
  4. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2004
    Messages:
    47,369
    Likes Received:
    21,536

    well there was really only 2 candidates and he was better than the one left. i guess he will soon interview himself and hold out for a raise.
     
  5. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2004
    Messages:
    47,369
    Likes Received:
    21,536


    ding ding ding. we have a winner. its an orchestrated event so someone can return. i kinda figured this out a couple weeks ago when all this disclosure stuff was transparent. hell, even ott figured it out.

    wells was the only serious candidate though. he wanted this job very very badly. someones ego seems to have gotten in the way.
     
  6. LsuCraig

    LsuCraig Founding Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2004
    Messages:
    1,607
    Likes Received:
    55
    IMO, the program is screwed if we can't go and get Bianco or Wells......two guys who were affilated with the program. If we can't get them, we can't get anybody other than the head coach at College of Charleston. And the reasons I think are obvious as Tirk and Ott have said.
     
  7. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2004
    Messages:
    47,369
    Likes Received:
    21,536


    true, he looks like the only viable candidate remaining and i think thats disappointing at best. corbin would have been a great fit imo but hes done.

    if he pulls horton out of his ass, ill submit my letter of apology asap.
     
  8. TigerWins

    TigerWins Founding Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2003
    Messages:
    4,666
    Likes Received:
    157
    I hope Skip still has that horseshoe up his a$$ ... he's going to need it more than ever if he returns to the dugout.

    On the bright side, he'll step down as AD ...
     
  9. LsuCraig

    LsuCraig Founding Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2004
    Messages:
    1,607
    Likes Received:
    55
    This is also a great point. He will be gone as AD so this will the last damned hire he gets. But the point also becomes, who in the bloody hell would we get for AD?

    Another BOS choice in Moreau?
     
  10. TigerWins

    TigerWins Founding Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2003
    Messages:
    4,666
    Likes Received:
    157
    I'm afraid so...
     

Share This Page