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3.12.2010

That's a wrap: Lebo is gone

Hey everyone. Athletic director Jay Jacobs has confirmed what we have been discussing for a few hours.

Jeff Lebo is now a part of Auburn history.

"I want to thank Coach Lebo for all that he has done for Auburn University over the past six years," Jacobs said. "Coach Lebo has worked hard and has always represented Auburn with character, class and integrity. However, we feel like the time has come for Auburn basketball to move in a new direction. We deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best."

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.

84 Comments:

Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

TOAST.

3:14 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

Patience!

3:14 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

OH MY!!! substance

3:15 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

It is a new era for a new arena.

3:15 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

I like cheese toast.

3:16 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks, Jay G. I think Jacobs put it very well. Lebo did lead us through some troubling times and deserves credit for handling himself in a very professional manner.

3:16 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

Off to the gym. Talk to you Hotties later! Hopefully the new coach will bring excitement to AU BB.

3:16 PM  
Blogger Norm said...

Again from a dude who doesn't follow basketball much at all, when you're referring to Persons as a potential, are you saying Chuck or Wesley? Have either of them gotten their degree recently? If not, doesn't that eliminate them from consideration?

3:16 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

a new direction? I hope he doesn't mean a direction without "worked hard... character, class and integrity."

3:16 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Well best wishes...

3:16 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Jay does Chuck Person have a college degree? If he doesn't, is that really a sticking point for a potential coach at Auburn?

3:17 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Now according to SteveFC's before stated new Auburn tradition, we all must now hate Jeff Lebo.

3:17 PM  
Blogger cincytiger said...

As much as I think it was time for change, it is kind of sad.

3:17 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Norm - no degree = no HC gig. I don't know their personal academic status.

3:19 PM  
Blogger michael said...

cincy, you are not allowed to be sad. Toughen up!

3:20 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

THT, that sounds right. I have worked for a university in Alabama and I believe I have heard that before.

3:22 PM  
Blogger cincytiger said...

Well, whatever prediction I make next, choose the opposite result. I predicted Auburn would beat Florida, I predicted Lebo would stay, so I have one more wrong prediction to get to the obligatory three.

3:22 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

now that I've heard it from JGT, I believe it. I'm going downstairs to shoot some hockey pucks.

... and I believe in Auburn and love it.

3:22 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Reponse to Wade from previous thread, abour Ron Hunter.

I like that he's the coach that took them from NAIA to Division II to Division I.

I like that once his team joined a league, after struggling for three years, they've won since then.

I like that he's built a team with local kids.

I like that he coached a game in bare feet to help raise donated shoes for Samaritan's Feet. Ultimately, they raised 250,000 pairs of shoes.

Nobody knew to look at this guy until recently.

3:22 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

WEG, I asked nicely that people stop doing that and API just had to keep it going.

It's unusual that HOTTIES blow through the few stop signs I post around here.

3:23 PM  
Blogger cincytiger said...

michael,
I think it's that "heart light" thing you spoke of on the previous thread.

3:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Jet, that sounds pretty darn good.

3:24 PM  
Blogger michael said...

New thread, new tough love point of view cincy!

3:28 PM  
Blogger IV said...

Jay, I promise I ain't API. I know the rules and stop at all stop signs

3:28 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I think Jay G made it clear where things stood with Lebo very early. The repeated such and such is reporting is pointless. If it had been something breaking that Jay may not have heard about, just posting that I have heard... To repeatedly beat the same dead horse is pointless, and I do appreciate waiting for confirmation. There are other beat writers that have embarrassed themselves by jumping the gun and something turning out to be wrong.

3:28 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

stop....in the name of love.

3:28 PM  
Blogger IV said...

Please.

3:29 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

i would like to report that i will be attending MLB's opening day in the ATL. Braves hosting the Cubbies. just thought i'd make that clear. CHOP CHOP.

3:30 PM  
Blogger stupup74 said...

I say we should at least lob a phone call to Scott Drew's agent.

3:31 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Scottie,

I will be attending that game as well.

3:32 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

i'm way up top in 401 RK.

3:33 PM  
Blogger michael said...

IV, did Jay G accuse you of being API at some point? Did I miss something?

For the record, yes, I am actually API.

3:33 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Interesting quote from Indianapolis newspaper hack in Ron Hunter's official IUPUI bio.

3:33 PM  
Blogger Quitstina said...

As much as I hate to be excited over someone losing their job...Yay!!

3:34 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Looking at Drew's record is interesting. He had about 4 bad seasons at Baylor before he turned things around. He might be a good choice.

3:34 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

We are in the outfield, I believe it's 144.

3:35 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

Quitstina? where you been gal?

RK, i would've liked better but i planned this trip on a budget. i'll just be happy to be there.

3:36 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Quitstina ... you can change your name back if you're gonna keep showing up like this.

3:36 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Auburn needs to hire a minority.

3:37 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

And I don't say that because of Chuck Barkley. I say that because it's the truth.

3:37 PM  
Blogger AUTIGER78 said...

Jet Hates- All the things on your list are things to like and admire about the man. My point is that typically the up and comers at lower level/ lesser conference schools get scooped up by the better programs upon completion of some significant accomplishment (see Bruce Pearl). The fact that Hunter has not given he took IUPUI to its first NCAA appearance raises the question in my mind. Not saying he aint "the man" just wondering.

3:37 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

AU desperately need a bruce-pearl type. you can't freakin' watch tv every nite here w/o seeing his mug on the tv in a commercial. he's everywhere shouting about UT basketball. this town loves him. it's hard not to.

3:39 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Jay G ... that's the gospel.

3:40 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I don't think hiring a minority should be the goal. Hire the best candidate. I don't really care what color they happen to be. I am pretty much against racial discrimination, whether it is for or against. Just get the coach that can get the job done.

3:40 PM  
Blogger AUTIGER78 said...

Auburn needs to hire the best coach available to be hired by Auburn, regardless of ethnicity.

3:42 PM  
Blogger bigdaddy334 said...

I believe I will attended more basketball games next year then I did in the last six years. No matter whom we get. Just saying

3:43 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Wade: Hear me now, listen to me later. I'm just telling you where Auburn is and where it will be.

3:47 PM  
Blogger michael said...

I think the new coach should be an Iraqi woman. Let's cross a few boundaries at once.

3:48 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

I'm was once encouraged to leave a job so the employer could diversify the workplace. I loved that job, and I'll never have it again. I didn't like what happened, but deep in my heart I knew that my employer understood that it needed to reflect its client base and potential client base in its management.

Auburn NEEDS to look to for aqualified minority in this slot. Frankly, I believe it gives us the best chance to be competitive. We've tried it one way for 19 coaches, I don't think it's going to be the end of the world if we try something else. We might find it to be successful.

3:50 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Michael ... only if she's a crossdresser with one arm.

3:51 PM  
Blogger scottiep said...

I agree, a minority would be preferred. Particularly now that Grant is at Bama.

3:54 PM  
Blogger michael said...

Also Jay G, don't take the hand tying your newspaper does to you on these sorts of breaking stories too hard. It sucks to have to wait to get word out, but hey, you built something cool here that is more than just breaking news. I am sure you wouldn't trade blogs with Charles with the al.com comments situation being what it is, wouldja? Viva HABOTN!

3:55 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

I am back.. not that anyone missed me with all this ballyhoo going on. My server has become totally unreliable like some bb coaches. I would fire it but do not have the $$$ to pay for the buyout.

3:56 PM  
Blogger scottiep said...

I really think Barbee could be something special. But I don't want him anywhere near AU if he operates the way Coach Cal does.

3:57 PM  
Blogger AUTIGER78 said...

JGT- I don’t disagree that Auburn should peruse qualified coaches of color, in fact were I the AD my national search would spotlight all the best minority coaches. If however when it is time to name names, I do not believe it is right for race to be the defining issue.

3:57 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Racial problems have existed at Auburn in the past. Actually, Shug Jordan had a huge problem in the early 70s because of how some of his actions were perceived.

I just believe that discrimination based upon something that isn't relavent to the job to be performed is wrong, no matter what the intentions.

There are counter examples, such as the first black Supreme Court justic, which I thought was necessary so that the court would be able to see all viewpoints. I cannot begin to assume I know the world from a black perspective.

I just don't see that as important in terms of a basketball coach. Just hire the most qualified person that gives us the best chance to win and run a clean program.

3:57 PM  
Blogger michael said...

....racial discussion...crickets....

3:59 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

I hope Jacobs is color blind and goes after the best coach for Auburn.

4:00 PM  
Blogger michael said...

I don't wish color blindness upon anyone.

4:01 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Forget hiring a minority! That wont make Auburn basketball anymore appealing. We should hire Barkley!! Now that would make people want to watch AU basketball. We'll maybe not but it would make them want to watch the post game interviews!

Jay admit it, Barkley would be a reporters dream!

4:04 PM  
Blogger Quitstina said...

Auburn has had enough bad press in this area, that we better have a really good reason not to hire a minority. And hiring a white dude just because he is the "most qualified" certainly won't cut it.

Chizik certainly wasn't the "most-qualified" of our candidates but he was the best fit for Auburn. A minority will be the best fit in this situation, I think.

You don't think other teams will use that against us in recruiting?

4:07 PM  
Blogger michael said...

But Kristeenuh, Auburn can't hire a minority because Auburn is a bunch of racists. Didn't you know that?

4:10 PM  
Blogger Quitstina said...

Michael is joking.

4:11 PM  
Blogger Quitstina said...

Not sure to whom your post is directed, Nancy, but I know I didn't say that we couldn't have a winning program without a minority coach and don't think I read where any one else said that either.

4:13 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Barkley is our answer!

4:14 PM  
Blogger FSJ said...

Back the Brinks truck up to Mike Anderson's house..

If that doesn't work Mark Gottfried needs a job.

4:16 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Has a short list been released of potential replacements?

4:17 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Nancy, I'd say the evidence is clear that we haven't been winning consistently the way we've been doing it to this point.

4:19 PM  
Blogger Miller said...

I am under the impression that contract discussions are already being held with candidate A. I do not think this will be a long "search".

4:23 PM  
Blogger eaglesteeler said...

We are one year late on the best minority hire.

If AU could have done this last year, we would have had a chance at Anthony Grant who was a very hot coach.

If minority hire is a priority, i would like to know besides Anderson and Davis, who is out there with a resume that has the following:

1. great relentless recruiter
2. He is a HC
3. His teams have been to the NCAA
4. He has skills to generate interest on and off campus

any takers out there????

4:23 PM  
Blogger Jimmy said...

I'm with Quitstina
The optimal work is "Fit",
Mike Anderson would be a great Fit.
If only he will take us

4:23 PM  
Blogger Miller said...

I think the hire will generate buzz and some excitement about the program, but will also raise questions until he can prove himself.

One thing that is an absolute must, he must hire very good assistants with very strong recruiting ties. Name will only go so far... A top notch staff is a must.



I actually, would not mind seeing Gottfried as an assistant coach. The guy can recruit.

4:31 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

Scottie - If your low in section 401 - you wil LOVE those seats - I try to get them when i go - very vost effective.

4:32 PM  
Blogger chip chip said...

is lebo the mike shula of AU bball?

4:34 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I would take a serious look at the list Jay G posted on the previous thread. Jay ain't no dummy. He doesn't just throw out names without reason.

4:41 PM  
Blogger astatguy said...

I agree on the minority, Jay. I like Tony Barbee, but he's a hot commodity and I'm not sure he would be available for Auburn. I also like Chuck Person.

4:43 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

wow, didn't take Jay Jacobs long to send out a lengthy email to the AU Family. I wish I could compose such letters so quickly.

4:45 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Send me the letter!

4:53 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

I thought a true Auburn homer like you would have been on the email list ;-)

4:57 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

well, if we're this close

5:01 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

we might as well

5:02 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

go ahead with...

5:02 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

BEASLEY!!!

5:02 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

jayg-Message on FB for you.

5:02 PM  

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