The Illinois Fighting Illini have finally secured their new head coach in John Groce, but now Groce has the task of assembling the rest of the staff. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player would apparently like to help Groce in that process. Speaking with Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago, Bulls PG Derrick Rose offered an endorsement of his former high school coach, Robert Smith:
"I think he would be great as an assistant," said Rose, who won two state championships at Simeon under Smith. "I think on the high school level he did everything possible -- win championships, state championships. It would be great for him to go onto the college level and see what he can do then."
According to Powers, Smith has coached for Simeon High School for eight years and accrued an immaculate 230-37 record with the school, including five state titles. He also coached one of the nation's top high school prospects, Jabari Parker, who has stated the Illini chances of landing him would increase if they hired Robert Smith.
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