James Johnson's Firing -- Stream of Consciousness

Brian and I give our initial thoughts on James Johnson's dismissal.

Brian's Not-So-Quick Thoughts

I think it's fascinating how different this process was from the Greenberg debacle.
Over the course of five days, Babcock made a decision and now has Tech moving forward earlier than most schools with potential job openings (Wake Forest, anyone?). I can't remember being this confidant in a Virginia Tech coaching search since I've followed the team.

One of the most important aspects of this hiring is to make a statement. I'm not going to use this space to kill Greenberg's supporters, but that situation still looms over the basketball program. There's a ton of negativity surrounding it, and knocking this hire out of the park would generate some much needed goodwill towards both the basketball team and the athletic department. No matter who they get though, I think it's clear that Whit thought out the decision. Whit wouldn't make this move as early as he did if he didn't have a list of qualified, interested candidates.

Who does he bring in? No clue. Whoever he gets will have a much better foundation to start with than James Johnson ever had. Look at hreft="http://www.hokiesports.com/mbasketball/players/" target="_blank"> the roster, eight scholarship players will be either sophomore or juniors with C.J. Barksdale and Will Johnston being the only seniors. For arguments sake, let's say that two out of the three recruits stay. If that happens, the new coach will inherit a rotation of 11 playable guys (or 12, depending how you feel about Johnston). With that roster, on top of a new practice facility, this job is nowhere near as bleak as it was two years ago.

To me, though, this hire goes beyond basketball. As fans, we talk constantly about what the Hokie football team needs to do in order to become nationally elite again. I think that on a larger scale, this hire is very important to the Virginia Tech athletic department becoming nationally elite. Think about it, school has had recent success in baseball, women's soccer, wrestling, track and field and swimming & diving. Football has a real chance to be in the national picture again soon. If Whit nails the hire, Tech could approach the same stratosphere that schools like Florida, Florida State, and Texas occupy.

Does it sound crazy that Babcock's first decision could be one that swings his new school into a new national level? Sure, but isn't that why he was hired? Virginia Tech has the ability to do something that few schools will ever be able to do, and it's Whit's job to get us there.

Thoughts that are Running Through Joe's Brain

I'm not ruling any candidate out. Whit's the guy who made Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati work. A lot of the potential replacement discussion seems to revolve around who Tech can't get—whether that's because they can't pay a guy more than Frank Beamer, Qualified Coach X wouldn't want to be a cellar dwellar in Blacksburg, or Tech has minimal fan support and tradition. I don't expect to see Shaka Smart or Phil Jackson in orange and maroon, but I'm giving Babcock the benefit of the doubt.

Hiring JJ's replacement will be Whit's first major decision at Virginia Tech. Fixing the Hokie Club and rejuvenating fund raising is a pressing issue too, but that has clearer solutions (i.e. modernize the Hokie Club's communication/outreach, get involvement from the younger generation of Hokies, bring Tech's NFL alumni into the fold, etc...). Ultimately, Whit's tenure will in part be judged on this hire.

Can Tech minimize roster turnover? James Johnson inked a very solid recruiting class in November, but will they seek a release? Will any of the players currently on the roster that JJ recruited opt to head to another school now that JJ's gone?

Virginia Tech's firing of MBB coach James Johnson, per his contract, will require buyout of as much as $800K, depending on his future jobs— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) March 17, 2014

So now it seems Virginia Tech will be paying three men's basketball coaches next season. Seth, James Johnson, and whoever Whit Babcock hires. That's a change for an athletic department used to pinching pennies.

Whit wasted no time dismissing Johnson. It might stand to reason that's he's been working the back channels and already has an interested pool of candidates lined up. Either way, the timing here is much better than Seth's firing which really put Tech behind the eight-ball during its last coaching search.

James Johnson did the best he could with the resources he had. He sat down at a five-card stud table, anted up, was dealt one card short, predictably lost, but did not fold.