Clovis West boys basketball coach Tom Orlich has ties to one coach possibly in the mix for the head job at Fresno State. But mums the word from Orlich, Jerod Haase's former high school coach at South Tahoe High. Haase is currently a University of North Carolina assistant.
"I know the university wants to keep it quiet, which is not to say I have any [information] for you," Orlich said Monday.
Ask him about Haase as a player, person or coach, and Orlich can't stop heaping praise on Haase, a former starter at Kansas and assistant coach under Roy Williams for 11 seasons.
"He's somebody with tremendous integrity and character," Orlich said. "He's one of my Hall of Famers when it comes to being a complete person."
Orlich likened Haase to Butler coach Brad Stevens in looks and the fact that Haase "is one of those up-and-coming coaches."
Haase is a natural leader with high energy and a high basketball IQ, said Orlich. The Golden Eagles' coach since 2002 said Haase knows high school coaches in California from his playing days and said he has an "outstanding network" that would help in recruiting.
A name that has been heavily rumored in recent days is Ohio State assistant Jeff Boals. Boals has been an assistant for the Buckeyes since 2009 and was also an assistant at Akron and Robert Morris. He has ties to Ohio University as a player and assistant. Thomas Boeh was the athletic director at Ohio for 10 years.
Jerod Haase would be an incredible choice at FSU. The guy is a winner, and one of the classiest individuals in the game. His loyalty and integrity are absolutely top-tier, and he would do everything the Fresno community would want - he would win, he would play an exciting open court style, he would graduate his players, and he would be an active community member. This is a bright young coach who has stardom written all over him. I hope he gets a shot. FSU and Jerod Haase is a perfect match.