Kevin Stallings is going to Pitt. The longtime Vanderbilt coach agreed to a six-year contract to leave the Commodores for the Panthers on Sunday.
Pitt just hired a coach who intentionally screwed over one of Pitt’s best players
It could get pretty awkward between the new Panthers coach and one of his senior leaders.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Stallings has agreed to 6-year deal with Pittsburgh, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 27, 2016
On the surface, Stallings seems like an okay hire. At Vanderbilt since 1999, Stallings has amassed a career record of 332-220, good for a .601 winning percentage. Of course, his conference record in the notoriously questionable SEC is only .493, and he’ll be going to a conference that made up half of this year’s Elite Eight.
Here's where it gets awkward: Sheldon Jeter, one of Pitt's best players and a senior next season, played for Stallings at Vanderbilt as a freshman. When Jeter decided to transfer to be closer to home (he's from western Pennsylvania), Stallings responded by blocking the move. Vanderbilt eventually relented and Jeter got to Pitt, but you can imagine Jeter isn't thrilled about his new coach being a guy who once tried to screw him over.
Jeter responded the only way college kids know how: by subtweeting about the hire with a Joker meme on Twitter:
— Sheldon Jeter (@JonBlaze_21) March 27, 2016
More good news for Pitt: fans hate the hire. Wait, that’s not good news.
@PittADBarnes what a joke of a hire, and a six year deal? Way to just shit on Pitt basketball
— Mikey BeeBop (@MikeyBeeBop) March 27, 2016
So Pitt goes from consistently losing the first weekend of March Madness to losing consistently in the CBI. Real step up @PittADBarnes
— Andy Kwiatkowski (@jagoffbrewer) March 27, 2016
.@PittADBarnes pic.twitter.com/aaNZrxNYBC
— Jack (@Optimvs_Jack) March 27, 2016
You're a national joke @PittADBarnes and now so is Pitt. https://t.co/EkDUYGVckK
— PittCabe (@PittCabe) March 27, 2016
There’s a lot more of these.
Not convinced that Stallings may not be the man for the job at Pitt yet? Well, he did once threaten to kill one of his players. That’s pretty serious. Wade Baldwin IV must have done something incredibly heinous to warrant such a vile response from his coach and mentor!
Oh, he just taunted an opposing player after a win? Cool. Good. Way to keep a level head, coach.
So, congrats Pittsburgh! You just made a very uninspiring hire, but at least you’ve still got Primanti Brothers.
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