The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

…in a The Athletic article about the DePaul coaching search. His picture is even the face of the article.


DePaul coaching candidates: Could a mid-major star be the answer for Blue Demons?

Quote: Rob Senderoff, Kent State head coach. Here is the total of sub-.500 seasons the Golden Flashes have endured since 2011-12: zero. Not one losing season at a job that is no piece of cake, where you have to scour the earth for players and take your chances on recruits. Senderoff’s hire won’t be a tectonic event in the Chicago market. But maybe DePaul shouldn’t worry about that and instead find a guy who’s won at a place not too dissimilar.

IMO, Depaul is a bad job and he would be wise to stay away. Their last 20 win season was 06/07.

(02-28-2024 09:11 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  IMO, Depaul is a bad job and he would be wise to stay away. Their last 20 win season was 06/07.

Agree. DePaul hasn't been a factor for quite a while. I don't see Senderoff going anywhere.

(02-28-2024 09:11 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  IMO, Depaul is a bad job and he would be wise to stay away. Their last 20 win season was 06/07.

Doesn't matter, a coach has that competitive spirit to think they can turn things around, especially when you think what Rob's salary is at Kent State and what Depaul will pay him.

Right on Hammer. If DePaul wants him they will get him barring some unknown personal reason keeping him from moving. I hope he is a bad interviewee.

(02-29-2024 06:26 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:11 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  IMO, Depaul is a bad job and he would be wise to stay away. Their last 20 win season was 06/07.

Doesn't matter, a coach has that competitive spirit to think they can turn things around, especially when you think what Rob's salary is at Kent State and what Depaul will pay him.

Yeah, salary and competitive spirit (coach ego - they all have it) are the only two reasons he would go to DePaul. But he would have been a hotter commodity after last season. I just don't see DePaul going after him. Of course, I could be wrong. I often am.

(02-28-2024 09:11 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  IMO, Depaul is a bad job and he would be wise to stay away. Their last 20 win season was 06/07.

Yea thank goodness Sean Lewis didn't think like this

There's is probably not a coach in D I that doesn't have the self-confidence or ego or whatever you want to call it to think they can win anywhere. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as you have to have it to be a winning coach. But it explains why one sees coaches taking questionable jobs. That, and of course, the salary increases. One also sees that phenomenon in coaches who have been winning for several years at some school. That is, it's not uncommon for such a coach to begin to slack-off in recruiting, as if that coach feels that it's him and not the talent.

We’re lucky to have Rob who fully understands the nuances of his gig and somehow keeps us competitive year after year after year. Yeah, there might be a guy that could come in with a higher ceiling, but would have a lower floor, and the first sign of success would be out the door setting your program back quite a bit while you dig through the rubble. It’s also easy for us to say don’t take that job at that place because it’s a pit, and instead take 1/2 the salary (or less) to stay in a comfort zone instead of life altering money for his family. I didn’t blame Coach Lewis one bit when he left and despite the naysayers worked out quite well for him, and I wouldn’t blame Sendy one bit if he took this one either. That said, I don’t think he’d get that offer anyway, so I’ll continue to appreciate him here while we have him.

Agree. Sendy should do what HE wants.

I doubt Groce's name will be bandied about, since he already failed to do well in the Big 10 at Illinois, down the road from DePaul.

(02-29-2024 02:14 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Agree. Sendy should do what HE wants.

I doubt Groce's name will be bandied about, since he already failed to do well in the Big 10 at Illinois, down the road from DePaul.

Agree Sendy should do as HE wants.
Allure of Chicago is strong and I think Sendy has
been somewhat frustrated this season ( as we all have)

I find it troubling that I have heard a lot of grumbling this year
within the MAAC center ( one year removed from a championship)
about the coaching. We are all very spoiled
KSU has made MAC tourney ever year since 86. Who else in
MAC has done better??

(02-29-2024 04:05 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 02:14 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Agree. Sendy should do what HE wants.

I doubt Groce's name will be bandied about, since he already failed to do well in the Big 10 at Illinois, down the road from DePaul.

Agree Sendy should do as HE wants.
Allure of Chicago is strong and I think Sendy has
been somewhat frustrated this season ( as we all have)

I find it troubling that I have heard a lot of grumbling this year
within the MAAC center ( one year removed from a championship)
about the coaching. We are all very spoiled
KSU has made MAC tourney ever year since 86. Who else in
MAC has done better??

Anyone complaining this year is just spoiled rotten. I wish they could take a time machine back and relive some of the seasons I and some of the older members here have experienced. Sendy's done a fine job keeping this team competitive. I've seen MAC teams with more talent than this totally collapse over the years. I'm not going to look up the exact seasons, but I specifically recall an Akron team and an Ohio team picked to win the conference just fold up the tent long before the season ended.

(02-29-2024 08:32 AM)thanksjim Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:11 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  IMO, Depaul is a bad job and he would be wise to stay away. Their last 20 win season was 06/07.

Yea thank goodness Sean Lewis didn't think like this

I'm assuming you're referring to him taking the job here. A young assistant wanting to make a name for himself at the first offer he gets is very different than an established middle aged HC taking the first offer to move up a bit. If Lewis didn't take our job he wasn't going to be a HC the next year. Also there are significantly fewer FBS Football HC jobs than D1 Basketball HC jobs so you can't be as picky.

As for all HCs thinking they're the one that can turn a bad program around, I'm sure Sendy took note of how that worked out for Geno and to a lesser degree Christian. I just think if he wants to leave, he hasn't shown that he's in any rush, so this doesn't seem like a wise job to take. Plus he's at a school that will extend it's football coach after winning 0 real games. Unlimited job security! Haha.

If this team miraculously pulls out a championship he'll get better than DaPaul.
*Passes the dutchie*

To my left is bobcat backer. He can't wait to take a pull.

(02-29-2024 04:39 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:05 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 02:14 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Agree. Sendy should do what HE wants.

I doubt Groce's name will be bandied about, since he already failed to do well in the Big 10 at Illinois, down the road from DePaul.

Agree Sendy should do as HE wants.
Allure of Chicago is strong and I think Sendy has
been somewhat frustrated this season ( as we all have)

I find it troubling that I have heard a lot of grumbling this year
within the MAAC center ( one year removed from a championship)
about the coaching. We are all very spoiled
KSU has made MAC tourney ever year since 86. Who else in
MAC has done better??

Anyone complaining this year is just spoiled rotten. I wish they could take a time machine back and relive some of the seasons I and some of the older members here have experienced. Sendy's done a fine job keeping this team competitive. I've seen MAC teams with more talent than this totally collapse over the years. I'm not going to look up the exact seasons, but I specifically recall an Akron team and an Ohio team picked to win the conference just fold up the tent long before the season ended.

Agree: In retrospect there was nothing about this team, pre-season, that said 'second place in the MAC' other than Senderoff's history of ALWAYS coaching a contender.

Yes, Payton was a highlight reel unto himself last season, but that was with the spotlight on others. And to a lesser degree, the same could be said for Sullinger. This team offered nothing tangible after that. And, VC Davis-Sully aside, offers little tangible now.

The two sophomore losses - Gillespie and Moss - were absolutely critical with one or both likely starting by now if not for injury. Not to mention Hornbeak now playing on one leg/foot.

But the real difference was Sendy. If a first-year coach had inherited this team, who knows where they would have been picked, pre-season. And still, Akron is shaking in their collective boots (check out their board) at the possibility of a first round MAC-Tournament match-up with Kent and Senderoff.

Well said cleveland. Great perspective and I agree wholeheartedly. Fantastic job by the entire staff.

(03-01-2024 08:24 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:39 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:05 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 02:14 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Agree. Sendy should do what HE wants.

I doubt Groce's name will be bandied about, since he already failed to do well in the Big 10 at Illinois, down the road from DePaul.

Agree Sendy should do as HE wants.
Allure of Chicago is strong and I think Sendy has
been somewhat frustrated this season ( as we all have)

I find it troubling that I have heard a lot of grumbling this year
within the MAAC center ( one year removed from a championship)
about the coaching. We are all very spoiled
KSU has made MAC tourney ever year since 86. Who else in
MAC has done better??

Anyone complaining this year is just spoiled rotten. I wish they could take a time machine back and relive some of the seasons I and some of the older members here have experienced. Sendy's done a fine job keeping this team competitive. I've seen MAC teams with more talent than this totally collapse over the years. I'm not going to look up the exact seasons, but I specifically recall an Akron team and an Ohio team picked to win the conference just fold up the tent long before the season ended.

Agree: In retrospect there was nothing about this team, pre-season, that said 'second place in the MAC' other than Senderoff's history of ALWAYS coaching a contender.

Yes, Payton was a highlight reel unto himself last season, but that was with the spotlight on others. And to a lesser degree, the same could be said for Sullinger. This team offered nothing tangible after that. And, VC Davis-Sully aside, offers little tangible now.

The two sophomore losses - Gillespie and Moss - were absolutely critical with one or both likely starting by now if not for injury. Not to mention Hornbeak now playing on one leg/foot.

But the real difference was Sendy. If a first-year coach had inherited this team, who knows where they would have been picked, pre-season. And still, Akron is shaking in their collective boots (check out their board) at the possibility of a first round MAC-Tournament match-up with Kent and Senderoff.

I somewhat agree with this, but I also understand why there was preseason hype. Many of us that follow the team very closely knew it would be a tough roster to fully realize it's potential because of two major flaws. 1) None of the top three bigs shoot threes and 2) none of the expected top three guards are plus defenders. It looked early like Sendy was finding ways to hide those flaws, then the injuries shook up the plan.

From the outside looking in I understand why people thought we'd be one of the top MAC teams though if you look at what we had returning. We were coming off a 2 year span in which we went 51-18. I would bet most MAC teams don't have a two year span like that in their history. We also basically returned 3 starters from that 2 year period. Hornbeak started 69% of the games he played in over those 2 years. Gio started 73% of the games he played in over those 2 years, and VCD started 54% of the games he played in over those 2 years.

In addition, we had the MAC 6th man in Sullinger and basically the MAC 7th man in Payton with the MAC freshman of the year transferring in. Looking at the other post season awards from last year Freeman was the only 1st or 2nd teamer to return to the MAC this year. David Coit was the only 3rd teamer and Jaylin Hunter was the only honorable mention player. So that's only 3 of the top 20 MAC players returning to the league while it looks like we have a lot of proven MAC talent returning. It would've been interesting to see how it all worked out if this group stayed healthy.

Very grateful to Sendy and if he does leave I want him to be successful wherever he goes and totally would respect his decision, he absolutely deserves it. I do think DePaul is a unique dumbster fire though. I understand the allure of the Big East, but look at that conference and how you have to recruit to be competitive and I don't see that job as remotely desirable if you are serious about trying to win and enjoy life.

(03-03-2024 09:23 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 08:24 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:39 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 04:05 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 02:14 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Agree. Sendy should do what HE wants.

I doubt Groce's name will be bandied about, since he already failed to do well in the Big 10 at Illinois, down the road from DePaul.

Agree Sendy should do as HE wants.
Allure of Chicago is strong and I think Sendy has
been somewhat frustrated this season ( as we all have)

I find it troubling that I have heard a lot of grumbling this year
within the MAAC center ( one year removed from a championship)
about the coaching. We are all very spoiled
KSU has made MAC tourney ever year since 86. Who else in
MAC has done better??

Anyone complaining this year is just spoiled rotten. I wish they could take a time machine back and relive some of the seasons I and some of the older members here have experienced. Sendy's done a fine job keeping this team competitive. I've seen MAC teams with more talent than this totally collapse over the years. I'm not going to look up the exact seasons, but I specifically recall an Akron team and an Ohio team picked to win the conference just fold up the tent long before the season ended.

Agree: In retrospect there was nothing about this team, pre-season, that said 'second place in the MAC' other than Senderoff's history of ALWAYS coaching a contender.

Yes, Payton was a highlight reel unto himself last season, but that was with the spotlight on others. And to a lesser degree, the same could be said for Sullinger. This team offered nothing tangible after that. And, VC Davis-Sully aside, offers little tangible now.

The two sophomore losses - Gillespie and Moss - were absolutely critical with one or both likely starting by now if not for injury. Not to mention Hornbeak now playing on one leg/foot.

But the real difference was Sendy. If a first-year coach had inherited this team, who knows where they would have been picked, pre-season. And still, Akron is shaking in their collective boots (check out their board) at the possibility of a first round MAC-Tournament match-up with Kent and Senderoff.

I somewhat agree with this, but I also understand why there was preseason hype. Many of us that follow the team very closely knew it would be a tough roster to fully realize it's potential because of two major flaws. 1) None of the top three bigs shoot threes and 2) none of the expected top three guards are plus defenders. It looked early like Sendy was finding ways to hide those flaws, then the injuries shook up the plan.

From the outside looking in I understand why people thought we'd be one of the top MAC teams though if you look at what we had returning. We were coming off a 2 year span in which we went 51-18. I would bet most MAC teams don't have a two year span like that in their history. We also basically returned 3 starters from that 2 year period. Hornbeak started 69% of the games he played in over those 2 years. Gio started 73% of the games he played in over those 2 years, and VCD started 54% of the games he played in over those 2 years.

In addition, we had the MAC 6th man in Sullinger and basically the MAC 7th man in Payton with the MAC freshman of the year transferring in. Looking at the other post season awards from last year Freeman was the only 1st or 2nd teamer to return to the MAC this year. David Coit was the only 3rd teamer and Jaylin Hunter was the only honorable mention player. So that's only 3 of the top 20 MAC players returning to the league while it looks like we have a lot of proven MAC talent returning. It would've been interesting to see how it all worked out if this group stayed healthy.

If anyone’s fans should be grumbling about coaching, it should be CrAkron’s. They have the talent to be a top 25 team. Yes, they are in first place but should have steamrolled through the conference. I pity the school that gets swerved into hiring Groce away from the MAC a second time.