I think op has a valid point. I hope Coach Martin does a great job but just like with CDD there is a lot more to it than just coaching. There is a public relations and community outreach aspect to being a head coach at the University of Tennessee. All things being equal you would hope for someone who is a great x's and o's coach, a great recruiter, and a great promoter, like a Ray Mears or the dude at Ky.
Further a coaches ability to display charisma and charm with the media sometimes overlaps and is an indicator or his communication style and ability with recruits and players.
The jury is still out and of course Martin and staff will have at least 4 years to prove what they can accomplish but when they have to send Bob Kessling along with Martin and pretend to have a question and answer session just to fill up time you realize just how limited Martin is as a speaker which limits his role in community fundraisers etc.
Les Miles while also a poor speaker has a genuinely likable personality and his players absolutely love him, he is a great recruiter and has managed to overcome his speaking shortcomings. He is likely the exception to the rule but I would certainly be happy with similar results on the basketball court.
Like him or not Pearl brought a certain energy and enthusiasm to Tommy Bowl and was part of the entertainment. At the end of the day Tennessee basketball is competing for entertainment dollars. I believe it was Jerry Green who recommended that if we didn't like it we could go be entertained by going to Walmart or Kmart or something to that effect.
I wish him great success. I think how successful he is in recruiting will ultimately decide his fate so lets hope he does a great job in the living rooms.
