Outside of a brief encounter with Ted Crass in which I found him to be very congenial and polite, I have never met any of the staff, so naturally I know nothing about their characters or their approaches to the game. However, on paper, it appears that Chris Beard has done a good job of assembling a well-rounded group that brings to the table what he needs.
First, it was smart to go ahead and appoint Wes Flanigan as Associate Head Coach right from the start. He has had experience in the very top echelon of college basketball and has served at three different D1 programs. Plus, he has emotional connections to the program both through his father, who coaches high school locally, and his own time spent here as an assistant. Thus, his attachment to Little Rock ought to be real, and not just professional. Flanigan brings two important recruiting connections. One is in-state, which, however much we might belittle it, is still very important. We need to get the best of the local players. Perhaps more important, however, are his connections in Mississippi.
Brian Burg evidently is a good coach, having been ranked as the top assistant in his conference by one source. NCCU was one of the top programs in the MEAC, and presumably he had a significant role in helping to bring about that success. Plus, he would bring recruiting connections further east in a hotbed of basketball talent.
Mark Adams strengthens the recruiting connection we already have in Texas. Plus he has served as a head coach for 23 years, with national tournament experience at three different levels. So, he definitely knows how to win.
Finally, retaining Ted Crass was, I think, critically important for continuity with the remaining players on the roster. I suspect that he will serve an important function as the Personnel Department, so to speak, in addition to his other duties.
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