The head coaching position at TRU is now accepting applications. Interim head coach Thom Gillespie's contract is up, and the job has been posted. TRU is now accepting applications and looking to fill the position with a qualified, driven full-time head coach.

Scott Clark from SFU has (or soon will be) applied for the position. He is less than thrilled with the move to NCAA Div 2 and wants to stay in the CIS.

Really...? That is quite interesting news. You have this from a good source I assume?

" March 18,2010

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter

Ken Olynyk, athletic director for the TRU WolfPack, says the recruiting season has barely started, so he isn’t worried about having vacant head-coaching positions in two of his four Canada West programs.

Olynyk has two full-time positions to fill...the head coach of the men’s basketball team...the basketball gig was posted earlier this month...

...The men’s basketball team also needs some work after going 3-15 in 2009-10. Like the women’s volleyball team, it has yet to make the playoffs in five seasons of CIS action.

Thom Gillespie has been the interim head coach the last two seasons, and is still in Kamloops.

Again, Olynyk is in no hurry to get someone in place.

“We’re in the same situation (as volleyball),” he said. “We’ve identified a number of kids — I’ve talked to some of them, and we just want to be in touch with these kids.

“Most kids don’t make a decision until April or late April.” "

Pure speculation but I think a couple of guys who should be approached about this job are Randy Norr (sp?) at UBC or possibly Jordie McTavish. A couple of BC guys who might have some cache recruiting in the province. Probably also need a little more money to offer to recruits.

MacTavish could be good. Rumour is it's been quite a pleasant surprise at the quality of applicants, with some applicants from out East and one or two with great credentials from South of the border.

when does this job close? They should announce something soon, so the coach has some chance at getting some recruits in.

Not sure Ken understands the need for some urgency if he is to give the coach a chance at getting some better players, esp some first line big guys. If Gillispie is his guy and this is just a formality then they might have a fighting chance at getting some firstline guys. If its a new hire things get a little tougher.

[quote="vandalhoops"]Not sure Ken understands the need for some urgency if he is to give the coach a chance at getting some better players, esp some first line big guys. If Gillispie is his guy and this is just a formality then they might have a fighting chance at getting some firstline guys. If its a new hire things get a little tougher.[/quote

Well, I think they just need to hire a guy who is the most, or one of the most, charismatic people alive. He doesn't need to be a great X's and O's guy at this point. They need big-name recruits, because when they start coming in, others will follow. Someone who can recruit like nobody's business would be the best at this point.

Couldn't agree more. Not about x's and o's but somebody with some charisma with some financial assets who can get some good players to come to TRU. Would love to see a strong program in the Loops. If they could win the people of Kamloops would come out and support the team

I agree. Also, the announcement was supposedly coming out yesterday, but as it didn't I expect it will be very soon that the final decision is made and announced.

Get the feeling that the ball has been dropped on this job. AGAIN! How can anyone have a good shot at recruiting when things are left this late? If Thom is returned to the job he will have been hamstrung over the past month trying to recruit and any new guy will be way behind the 8ball. Surely this process could have been settled by and the new coach named. Their season has been over since early Feb. Lets get the show on the road so we can see some decent university basketball in Kamloops.

I agree this one is completely shocking. They should have put a coach in place and gotten on with trying to put a competitive team on the floor. If I am correct they have already lost one or two of their top "local" recruits at this point. That's not to say they would have kept them but surely they would have had a better shot at it if they had resolved the coaching issue. Would love to hear a logical explanation for this one

Not sure there is a logical explanation. Olynyk took long enough through the Nevin Gleddie fiasco and the hiring of Thom Gillispie to have set the program back and now he has put it back even further. To my account they lose three of their top players this year. They spent a lot of time playing those guys thet Naylor did not really get enough playing time to develop, Charles Barton is a solid player but I don't think he is a program builder and Greg Stewart is solid. Who can the new person go out and get now? The shelves are pretty bare and it does not look like they will be filled anytime soon.

And yet nothing happens to the AD and there is no accountability so to speak. When was the last time an Athletic Director was let go because the season was going down the crapper...Murray Hall gets rid of Stan Peters and the new coach comes in with a ton of fan fare and does not succeed. No one looks at Hall (though I can't imagine why not) the same thing at a number of different schools where the AD either completely fumbles the ball or fumbles it so far that the new coach is stuck behind the 8 ball and nothing happens to them...Oh well I guess that is Canada (an answer I don't prescribe to by the way)