It’s a phone call that Jerod Haase didn’t know if he’d ever take again. For nearly 20 minutes, he discusses a Division I program that he’s set to lead. He discusses the resources. He makes it clear that he’s not going to change who he is and what he values in a college basketball landscape that threatens to make guys like him extinct.
When Stanford fired Haase in 2024, it was a warning shot to every relationship-first, old-school head coach out there. It indicated that succeeding in this results-oriented business while sticking to their way of doing things was harder than ever.
While Haase conducted an informal self-scout, he often watched from his California home as the sport changed more and more dramatically each day. Salaries went up. College basketball’s transfer portal became more and more crowded every cycle. The lines regarding eligibility became blurred.
“The question was, could I still do things my way or was it strictly transactional and professional? A few years ago, I would’ve said ‘yes,’ and I really wanted no part of it,” Haase told Basket Under Review. “I’ve had a heck of a run, and if I wasn’t back into coaching then it would be okay.”
