(04-13-2016 07:19 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Interesting that some other interviewees are now being leaked.

Matthew Driscoll was one of them.

Seems like a solid coach and a good program. Since we hired Byron Taylor, looks like we interviewed both the head coach and his assistant.

Must be wierd to be told, "sorry we went with someone else, but we'll take your assistant, thank you very much" :)

Who were the other names leaked?

Driscoll said in a phone interview Monday that he was “very interested” in the JMU job, a position that ultimately went to Rowe. Sources said Driscoll and North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton interviewed for the job, along with Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey, Virginia associate head coach Ron Sanchez and Georgetown assistant Kevin Sutton. … Taylor missed the entire 2006-07 season because of an injury. In his absence, Florida A&M qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

(04-13-2016 08:51 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(04-13-2016 07:19 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Interesting that some other interviewees are now being leaked.

Matthew Driscoll was one of them.

Seems like a solid coach and a good program. Since we hired Byron Taylor, looks like we interviewed both the head coach and his assistant.

Must be wierd to be told, "sorry we went with someone else, but we'll take your assistant, thank you very much" :)

Same thing with Stinespring in football.

Amazing looking back how in agreement folks were about this hire 4 years ago.

Now of course after it happened many started saluting the flag, but just about everyone knew it was a ridiculous hire at the start.

How could JMU have made such a bad move that was apparent to about everyone?

It's still one of the most baffling things JMU has ever done.

Good thing the same consultant group, Barkers and the current administration are not making the new hire.


I do have faith they will get it right this time. At the least, we will get a good coach.

I hate consultant groups/search firms. I saw how they managed to screw things up at Tennessee for years in a row. Then the university finally did a sane thing and collected a bunch of in-state consultants and alumni with some sports *and* business experience and things started to turn around. They got a competent AD who actually knows the university AND has its interests at heart instead of a saboteur or a bumbler or a combination thereof, who's managed to hire some decent coaches and start turning things around. Would that more universities would return to that model.

(03-14-2020 05:44 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  I hate consultant groups/search firms. I saw how they managed to screw things up at Tennessee for years in a row. Then the university finally did a sane thing and collected a bunch of in-state consultants and alumni with some sports *and* business experience and things started to turn around. They got a competent AD who actually knows the university AND has its interests at heart instead of a saboteur or a bumbler or a combination thereof, who's managed to hire some decent coaches and start turning things around. Would that more universities would return to that model.

Preaching to the choir O to P. Just google Barry Alvarez and search firms. I understand their purpose for cloak & dagger, but feel their fee is grossly inflated.

(04-13-2016 09:10 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  Driscoll said in a phone interview Monday that he was “very interested” in the JMU job, a position that ultimately went to Rowe. Sources said Driscoll and North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton interviewed for the job, along with Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey, Virginia associate head coach Ron Sanchez and Georgetown assistant Kevin Sutton. … Taylor missed the entire 2006-07 season because of an injury. In his absence, Florida A&M qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

All have had done an ok coaching job since four years ago except former JMU player Kevin Sutton who has not received yet a head coaching job.

Still far from thrilled with who they interviewed from that list. Sanchez I had heard turned us down.

Sanchez wanted $700-800k to take JMU job is what I was told. JMU thought that was too much to pay an unproven assistant coach. I would agree.

There had to be some successful head coaches last time that we missed on. I can’t believe Lou was the only person who wanted the job. My guess is we weren’t willing to pay what it took to get those coaches or those coaches saw JMU basketball as a coaching graveyard. Maybe both.

The new arena will help this time around. Let’s see what JMU is willing to pay as well. I do not agree with some on here who think money is the only answer. JMU needs a coach with a system and who knows how to recruit to that system. JMU needs to pay what the market pays for a good mid-major coach plus a few dollars given the challenge of taking a historically bad program and turning it around.

The program is in better shape today than four years ago even if some players leave. It doesn’t take long to turn a basketball program around. There is no reason a good coach cannot get JMU to .500 in his first season.

Mettlen's piece recently on the perception of the job said that Sanchez didn't feel the admin support for MBB was there at the level he wanted. If we already had the new arena then maybe he would've been more interested, but without that then I could see wanting a high salary to show a commitment to basketball considering how much it seemed to be an afterthought behind football and how we let Brady go in to the last year of his contract without an extension.

This time around, I think it'll be much easier to point to the arena as a sign of the commitment to MBB and it sounds like they might be willing to offer a salary that points to that as well. I do agree the money Sanchez wanted didn't really fit his resume but again can understand it requiring an over payment due to the unattractive job. The arena plus the expiring TV contracts looming in the near future while JMU is clearly a school that should be exploring a move makes it very different this time around.

(03-15-2020 07:47 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Sanchez wanted $700-800k to take JMU job is what I was told. JMU thought that was too much to pay an unproven assistant coach. I would agree.

There had to be some successful head coaches last time that we missed on. I can’t believe Lou was the only person who wanted the job. My guess is we weren’t willing to pay what it took to get those coaches or those coaches saw JMU basketball as a coaching graveyard. Maybe both.

The new arena will help this time around. Let’s see what JMU is willing to pay as well. I do not agree with some on here who think money is the only answer. JMU needs a coach with a system and who knows how to recruit to that system. JMU needs to pay what the market pays for a good mid-major coach plus a few dollars given the challenge of taking a historically bad program and turning it around.

The program is in better shape today than four years ago even if some players leave. It doesn’t take long to turn a basketball program around. There is no reason a good coach cannot get JMU to .500 in his first season.

I think the right coach can do much better than that next year.

(03-15-2020 07:47 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Sanchez wanted $700-800k to take JMU job is what I was told. JMU thought that was too much to pay an unproven assistant coach. I would agree.

There had to be some successful head coaches last time that we missed on. I can’t believe Lou was the only person who wanted the job. My guess is we weren’t willing to pay what it took to get those coaches or those coaches saw JMU basketball as a coaching graveyard. Maybe both.

The new arena will help this time around. Let’s see what JMU is willing to pay as well. I do not agree with some on here who think money is the only answer. JMU needs a coach with a system and who knows how to recruit to that system. JMU needs to pay what the market pays for a good mid-major coach plus a few dollars given the challenge of taking a historically bad program and turning it around.

The program is in better shape today than four years ago even if some players leave. It doesn’t take long to turn a basketball program around. There is no reason a good coach cannot get JMU to .500 in his first season.

On the one hand you say money isn’t the only answer (I don’t know anyone on this board who has argued as such), but then you go on to write JMU needs to pay market rate plus a little more. Well, “market rate” is at least 2x the amount LR was paid. It strikes me that money is a bit more important than your statement would let on.

And I totally disagree with your notion that the program is in better shape than four years ago. Sorry, but that statement is pure BS. LR took a top 3, senior laden program coming off a 21 win season and ran it right off the rails and into a ditch. The transfers out, missed hits in recruiting, and most importantly, LR’s WL record are all you need to know that the program is NOT in better shape than four years ago. When looked at holistically LR’s record is a complete failure. Yes, LR is a JMU alum, a connection to the Lefty years, and we wish him well, but he can’t coach and his prowess as a recruiter is vastly overrated. In all honesty he should have been let go at the end of year three, but we don’t need to rehash that now. The JMU MBB program is in a complete rebuild mode, and that does not support the idea that it is now in a better place than 4 years ago.

Nation, that statement without context is incorrect. Sanchez appears to be trending up and most in the know would call him a good coach. But it wasn’t an immediate turnaround in Year 1. You’re right that SOME coaches can turn it around that fast, but the inverse just isn’t true. Some good coaches take a more gradual approach to righting the ship. Should it take 4 years? No. Is a coach “not a good coach” if Year 1 isn’t immediately successful? Of course not.

we missed out on patino he is going to Iona

Pre-Sanchez: 2017-18 had Charlotte at #312 in the Sagarins. Record was 5-23
Sanchez after 2018-19 had Charlotte at #284 in the Sagarins. Record was 8-21
Sanchez after 2019-20 has Charlotte at #181 in the Sagarins. Record was 16-13 (yet somehow lost to JMU-ouch!)

Jury may still be out, but that's the type of measurable progress you like to see.

On the flip side is our train wreck. 4 years of declining power ratings. Not the type of measurable progress you like to see.
Brady 2015-16: Ranked #105 in the Sagarins. Record was 20-11
Rowe 2016-17: Ranked #228 in the Sagarins. Record was 9-23
Rowe 2017-18: Ranked #250 in the Sagarins. Record was 9-22
Rowe 2018-19: Ranked #265 in the Sagarins. Record was 12-19
Rowe 2019-20: Ranked #303 in the Sagarins. Record was 8-21

(03-14-2020 09:36 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(03-14-2020 05:44 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  I hate consultant groups/search firms. I saw how they managed to screw things up at Tennessee for years in a row. Then the university finally did a sane thing and collected a bunch of in-state consultants and alumni with some sports *and* business experience and things started to turn around. They got a competent AD who actually knows the university AND has its interests at heart instead of a saboteur or a bumbler or a combination thereof, who's managed to hire some decent coaches and start turning things around. Would that more universities would return to that model.

Preaching to the choir O to P. Just google Barry Alvarez and search firms. I understand their purpose for cloak & dagger, but feel their fee is grossly inflated.

Don't talk to ME about Barry Alvarez. I went to Wisconsin! And never, ever, EVER mention the name Pat Richter within my hearing, unless you want a burst of unladylike profanity that will far outdo what I said ONCE on this board!

Pitino to Iona? tsk, tsk. How have the mighty fallen!

(03-15-2020 08:09 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Nation, that statement without context is incorrect. Sanchez appears to be trending up and most in the know would call him a good coach. But it wasn’t an immediate turnaround in Year 1. You’re right that SOME coaches can turn it around that fast, but the inverse just isn’t true. Some good coaches take a more gradual approach to righting the ship. Should it take 4 years? No. Is a coach “not a good coach” if Year 1 isn’t immediately successful? Of course not.

I recall Sanchez saying in a press conference when he took the uncc job that he was there to build a program for long term success. Jamion Christian basically said the same thing when he took the George Washington job that fans need to be supportive and patient. Christian took some heat from some of the supporters for his "manage expectations" comment. I've seen GW play 3 times this year, not a team loaded with talent (for the A10) but they play a highly intelligent game, similar to how UVA plays the game.

Neither coaches are setting the world on fire but they are both improving their programs and their fan bases seem to be supporting the method.

(03-15-2020 08:22 AM)jmudukes Wrote:  we missed out on patino he is going to Iona

We missed out on jack squat. Pitino went to Iona for a reason and it wasn't because JMU wasn't willing to pay him. Pitino has a connection with Iona and the family wanted to live in NY.

Plus.... when has JMU ever hired a controversial guy? The program is squeaky clean right now (one of the good things Rowe did as coach) and I'm sure JMU would like to keep it that way.
Pitino is a great coach, but there's some smeg on him (some warranted and some perhaps not) that JMU may or may not have been willing to take on.
Regardless, the JMU offer would have had to be astronomic to overcome all the reasons Pitino wanted to go to Iona.
And that's if Pitino was even remotely interested in JMU.

Sanchez’s win loss record improved this year but he has lost twice to JMU since taking the Charlotte job. JMU had no history of how Sanchez would do when they interviewed him. He wanted above market pay but he had never been a head coach. Why overpay for an unproven coach? He may go on to do great things but he wasn’t the hire I would have overpaid for at the time he was interviewed.

I disagree with your assessment of the talent when Lou took over Longhorn. Matt was definitely a better coach than Lou but JMU has more talent on this roster now than when Lou took over the program. The half hearted extension given Matt made sure his recruiting would be hampered and he would ultimately fail.

While I agree with Dukester that the roster is good enough to win more games, I also agree with Longhorn that Lou’s recruiting was less than what was expected. He never recruited that one player that was among the top 5 in the league. A Ron Curry type. The Curry, Cooke and Nation type class never came to be either. Lewis is the only player on the roster that has played to the Curry level at times but not consistently.

JMU needs to pay a proven head coach $400-600k. I believe I read that is close to what the top CAA coaches are paid. I am fairly certain incentives will be part of the offering as well.