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Post being replied to

Agree With Your Reasoning .. by dillon77

..that the posting is the pro-forma part of the process.

Prior to Niele leaving for the Grizzlies, all three of MM's assistants -- Niele, Beth, Carol -- were all associate head coaches. Niele could be going back to that model, but I'm inclined to think she'll keep an assistant coach (more junior). (Plus, in the time of COVID-19, cutting down on budgets is something athletic departments won't mind.)

So, yes, the fact that Niele is posting for an Assc. Head Coach seems to indicate that Niele is looking for another senior presence with collegiate experience (10+ years) to take the place of a current assc. head coach.

The reference to recruiting (twice) is interesting. Based on her background with ND and what we've read since her return, I'm guessing Niele will still have a lot of interest/input into all aspects of recruiting (after all, she is the face of the program now). If Michaela is kept, she'll still have a lot of input into this.

So, who will join them?

Of ND-related possibilities, only Coquese Washington seems to match the 10+ years requirement. She is a former player and assistant at ND, HC at Penn State and current Assc. Head Coach at Oklahoma. She's from the Midwest (Michigan) and recruited there.

Or could she go outside the ND tree?

- One of the Duke posters on The Boneyard wrote that his worst nightmare would be if Niele hired former Duke and Texas HD Gail Goestenkors as an assc. head coach. Goestenkors was really the person that built Duke into the top of the ACC (along with UNC) prior to ND arriving and she's an adept recruiter. Plus, she worked in the WNBA, so she and Niele would share a pro approach.

Interestingly, Niele, Washington and Goestenkors were all point guards when they played.

- One other idea with ACC and Duke pedigree: Joanne Boyle, the former UVA, Cal and Richmond coach (who played at Duke). She resigned from UVA, if you recall, to make sure she could get a permanent visa for her adopted daughter. Mission finally accomplished. After a few years off and many lawyer bills later, one would have to wonder if she would like to get back into the coaching game and that the assisting gig might be the right way to do it. Smart coach. knows the ACC well.

Stay tuned....