The new athletic director of this university has stated that one of his goals is to return the basketball program to national prominence.
If Mr. Gladchuk really wants to return the University of Houston to its former status as one of the nation's premier basketball programs, the first thing he should do is get rid of Alvin Brooks.
Brooks has had more than enough time and opportunity to build this program into one that boasts a winning record, contends against ranked opponents and puts fans in the stands.
He has failed to do any of these things. Even worse, we haven't won a conference road game in two years.
Two essential elements to a successful program are good recruiting and good coaching. Of these two, coaching is the more important.
A good coach can get players of mediocre talent to play like champions, whereas all the talent in the world will fail to achieve success under a bad coach.
Brooks has recruited good players and failed to achieve success with them. The recruiting class this year should be phenomenal, but what good does it do if he can't help them develop to their full potential?
Some people argue that we will lose recruits if Brooks doesn't return. I beg to differ.
Look at the great job Mac Brown did at Texas with a late start in recruiting.
Plus, he convinced Ricky Williams to stay after Ricky said, "If Mackovic goes, I go with him!" If we hire the right coach, we'll sign the right recruits.
We don't live in a society that rewards failure. If a company can't produce results for its clients, it loses business.
When a professional coach can't win games and can't put fans in the stands, the owner loses money and the coach loses his job.
Why should UH be any different?
The athletics department has serious financial woes. A successful basketball program would bring in revenue that might alleviate some of those burdens.
A successful program is something Brooks has failed to produce. How many more chances does this man need? One season? Five? Ten?
To me, a very frightening possibility is that Brooks will remain to coach Moses Malone Jr. and other great recruits.
Because of these young men's natural talents alone, the team achieves some success, but fails to realize the full potential of their talents.
In other words, imagine that the Coogs go to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament and lose in the first round, when they have the talent to advance to the final four.
Worse yet, imagine the school so happy to have reached the tournament that it hails Brooks as the next Dean Smith and renews his contract and commitment to mediocrity.
While advocating the replacement of Alvin Brooks may seem harsh, it's a tough solution to a tough problem.
Mr. Gladchuk, make the right decision; make the tough decision. Don't renew Brooks' contract.
You and President Smith are beginning a new era for UH. Together, y'all have an opportunity to revolutionize this campus and the world's perception of it as we begin the 21st century.
Begin that revolution with the basketball program. Get rid of Brooks.
Williams is a second-year law student
and a rabid sports fan.