Commentary

Look no further Mr. Woolard, your next head men’s basketball coach works right down the hall.

He has sterling character, strong family values, big-game coaching experience and the recruiting ability needed to lead the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team to the next level.

He’s everything SLU needs. And more.

Assistant Brad Soderberg should be named SLU’s 23rd men’s basketball coach.

“Coach Romar was not only a good coach, but a good friend off the court as well,” said junior co-captain Marque Perry.

“But the whole team would like to see coach Soderberg be named the next coach because he knows all of us and he is familiar with the program. It would be an easy transition,” Perry said.

Soderberg served as SLU’s top assistant last season after a six-year run at Wisconsin.

He served as the Badgers’ interim head coach after the legendary Dick Bennett retired early into the 2000-01 season.

Soderberg led his team to a 16-10 record and became the first Wisconsin coach to bring the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament in his first season.

After his successful season, Wisconsin athletic director Pat Richter went in another direction and Soderberg landed at SLU with his wife and four kids.

When Lorenzo Romar hired Soderberg, he said: “Brad was able to coach for one season in one of the nation’s premier conferences, and Wisconsin has been one of the best defensive teams in the country over the last five years.

“Brad is an outstanding person with integrity. His philosophies of coaching and player relationships match the University’s mission and the ideals of our staff. He will help raise the level of our program.”

Then why not hire him now? Why not give the 39-year-old the chance to bring the Billikens back to the Tournament?

He’s done it before. He can do it again.

Many of you may think that SLU should hire a more recognizable name, or someone who is considered an up-and-coming coach.

I mean, after all, this is Saint Louis University.

We have a great fan base (yes, it’s still there), a 20,000 seat arena, we play in a respectable conference, and no NBA team competes for press in the local media.

All the elements are in place to re-establish a prominent program.

The athletic department has already started a national search, and Billikens fans deserve no less. But coast-to-coast, Soderberg is still the best available option.

Character and coaching aside, Soderberg has been known as a relentless recruiter that has Midwest ties.

Whereas Romar was more familiar with the West Coast, Soderberg has had more experience recruiting in talent-rich Chicago.

He grew up in the Midwest (Stevens Point, Wis), and he knows where to find recruits.

“When I was in high school, I knew who he was based on the recruiting reputation he had built at Wisconsin,” said sophomore Chris Sloan.

Junior Drew Diener concurs, “Being from Wisconsin, I have had more of a chance to follow his career,” Diener said.

“We have a great coach sitting right under our nose and it would be great to see what he could do if given the chance,” Diener said.

Diener’s right. Let’s hope others share that thought as well.