CLEVELAND — John Beilein leaving Michigan and coming to coach the Cavaliers was intriguing when it all happened.
Beilein's a lifer as a coach, and he's hung that whistle around his neck at every level. But it didn't work in the NBA with the Cavs; in fact, it was a disaster.
Beilein is a teacher; NBA players don't want to be taught. They know it all.
Coaches coach at every level, except the NBA. Players coach in the NBA, the coaches get the front seat on the team bus.
John Beilein is financially richer having taken the Cleveland job, but he sure looks a lot older. Losing adds stress and wrinkles and a gut-punch to a coach's self-confidence.
In the college huddle, you run the show. In the NBA huddle, the superstars, tune you out.
So John Beilein is not a maverick among college coaches who try to make it in the NBA. Remember, Rick Pitino bombed with the Celtics after Kentucky, and John Calipari got fired by the Nets and fled back to the college game. There are many more, so Beilein's in good company.
The Cavs probably should've given the head coaching job to J.B. Bickerstaff in the first place, just like they should've given the job to Ty Lue. Instead, in the first instance, they brought David Blatt from Israel to coach LeBron...another disaster.
Another casualty is now claimed in the post-LeBron Cavs rebuild. Can John Beilein coach? Sure he can, but in his try to coach the Cavs, it's like he never had a chance.
Jimmy spoke with Dave "Dino" DeNatale about the Beilein situation earlier Tuesday, before the reports of his ouster came down: