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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 24, 2019 14:15:35 GMT -5
goholycross.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=33100&ATCLID=211801358Current record this year: 10-30 (.250) 2-10 (.167) Career record at HC through first 2+ seasons Overall: 35-93 (.273) PL: 15-33 (.313) -- record has regressed each year after 8-10 mark in year 1 This Brendan Sullivan seems like quite the character: "Coach Lapicki has already had an enormous impact on our softball program in her short time in Worcester,” said Sullivan. “Under her leadership, our student-athletes are thriving in all facets of life during and after their time at Holy Cross. On the diamond, the program tasted success in Jen’s first season, qualifying for the Patriot League Tournament, and I have full confidence that she will continue that trend toward consistent competitiveness within the Patriot League."It's almost comical how pathetic the state of the HC athletic department has become.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 24, 2019 15:00:50 GMT -5
Will there be a bonus for surpassing the Mendoza line (.200) in the PL this year? I think Coach Lapicki should certainly be retained but this press release is mind boggling. When the IAD describes how softball players are exemplary in the community and classroom he is describing how BG's WBB program operated for a third of a century and he just kicked Gibbons to the curb.
And is this a slap in the face to AM? She has a winning record in both of her tenures as acting and interim head coach and has remained loyal to HC as an assistant coach, a position that is heavy on work and light on recognition and pay, for a decade or more and she gets a one year "prove it" interim gig?
Shouldn't long term guaranteed contracts in minor sports be reserved for the rare successful coach who is dominating the PL and whose team has become a consistent presence in the national rankings? Holy Cross doesn't have any sport where we are a consistent presence in the national rankings or dominates the PL that I can think of. There should be an understanding that HC is supportive of and not out to be unreasonable with any coach and that they will not be judged solely on w-l record. But they still keep score in each varsity sport and long term contract extensions should be reserved for when a coach has established the program as a consistent winner. "Employee at will" or one year contracts are more appropriate for coaches in losing minor sports programs, unless I am hopelessly out of touch.
The concept of members of a particular team being exemplary citizens is well, exemplary, but aren't about 2900 of the 3000 students at HC each year exemplary citizens? Congratulations to Coach Lapicki. I am excited about the win over B.C. yesterday and the chance to sweep today. No criticism of her for accepting a contract. My concern is with Athletic Administration. I can't detect a consistent approach.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 24, 2019 15:11:38 GMT -5
Let’s hope with the contract extension, HC will make a commitment to making the softball team successful.
The commitment should include an upgrade to facilities at Freshmen Field, an expanded budget for recruiting in the south and the west, as well as funding for a pitching coach.
The program has been severely underfunded, and if I remember correctly, there were Title IX issues regarding facilities in the past that are slowly being addressed.
WBB has always been funded properly. Softball has not. PP hopefully can provide the deltas regarding each sports appropriation, and a comparable data to the other teams in the Patriot League.
Beating BC yesterday was a nice step in showing the team potential with a full four years of recruiting under this coaching staff.
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Post by purplehaze on Apr 24, 2019 15:17:06 GMT -5
longsuffering, you are showing a lack of understanding about the allocation of resources at HC. Our softball program is at the bottom of the league regarding scholarships and facilities. We just got an electronic scoreboard last year ! On the other hand, both of our basketball programs are near the top of the league with investments - that's why BG is rightfully gone and Lepicki is being given a pass. Also when you have the excellent frosh softball class this year (look at the stats) and another good class for next fall you have to give her a little more time. I do agree 100 pct about the whole 'community service' bit - it's tiring to hear how all the losing is ok as long as the teams are volunteering - one does not exclude the other
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 24, 2019 15:17:23 GMT -5
That "story behind the story" makes me feel better about the extension. Beat BC at 5pm!
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 24, 2019 15:31:47 GMT -5
To show you the comparison of apples to oranges, Lehigh has three assistant coaches for softball, Bucknell has two assistant coaches, Army has two, HC has one. lehighsports.com/roster.aspx?roster=479&path=softballbucknellbison.com/coaches.aspx?path=softballgoarmywestpoint.com/roster.aspx?path=softballwww.goholycross.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=33100&SPID=157219&SPSID=1028016Facilities are another story, HC should have a facility upgrade comparable to what is available at Army West Point, Lehigh and Bucknell. Freshmen Field dugouts, stands and press box reflect poorly, especially in comparison to the other venues throughout the campus. goarmywestpoint.com/sports/2015/3/6/GEN_20140101125.aspx?id=125lehighsports.com/facilities/?id=35bucknellbison.com/facilities/?id=9The softball facilities at the institutions shown above is the standard we should be looking to achieve in order to be competitive on a yearly basis. The softball facilities at BU, Lafayette, and Colgate are in serious need for an upgrade.
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Apr 24, 2019 18:39:52 GMT -5
People should realize that high participation rates, high GPA's, and high graduation rates all trump winning with the school brass. Like it or not - it's the path they chose.
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Post by crossbball13 on Apr 24, 2019 18:40:18 GMT -5
I don’t get it...who signed the contract? We don’t have an AD.
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Post by rgs318 on Apr 24, 2019 18:44:37 GMT -5
Any AD (even an "acting" one) can sign a contract. HC does have an athletic director as everyone knows - except for a few folks on CROSSPORTS.
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Post by bison137 on Apr 24, 2019 18:48:32 GMT -5
And is this a slap in the face to AM? She has a winning record in both of her tenures as acting and interim head coach and has remained loyal to HC as an assistant coach, a position that is heavy on work and light on recognition and pay, for a decade or more and she gets a one year "prove it" interim gig? Shouldn't long term guaranteed contracts in minor sports be reserved for the rare successful coach who is dominating the PL and whose team has become a consistent presence in the national rankings? Holy Cross doesn't have any sport where we are a consistent presence in the national rankings or dominates the PL that I can think of. As pointed out by a couple of other posters, basketball and softball are totally apples-to-oranges, since HC women's basketball is funded at the top of the PL while HC softball is next-to-last in expenditures in PL softball, outspending only Lafayette. One other consideration. As opposed to judging AM by her relatively brief time as acting head coach, the HC AD may also be looking back at how she did while head coach at Maine. During two years in that position, her America East record was 12-20. Her predecessor had led the team to an AE record of 49-3 in the three previous years. That is quite a difference.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 24, 2019 20:04:56 GMT -5
People should realize that high participation rates, high GPA's, and high graduation rates all trump winning with the school brass. Like it or not - it's the path they chose. Ok, so what has this coach done that was different than the previous coaches? Was the Softball program a cesspool that has been turned around? High graduation rates and winning are not mutually exclusive.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 24, 2019 20:10:11 GMT -5
Any AD (even an "acting" one) can sign a contract. HC does have an athletic director as everyone knows - except for a few folks on CROSSPORTS. The AD (real, interim, other) only has the power that is allowed by his/her boss. The fact that our fearless leader Fr B is allowing this interim AD to give a 3-year extension to a Softball coach in the midst of a dreadful season (perhaps just as some type of bizarre attempt by the interim AD to show he has some power) just speaks to the total clown show that is taking place within the leadership ranks at HC right now.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 24, 2019 20:16:33 GMT -5
Actually, I like "prove it" contracts and dislike small liberal arts colleges like HC getting caught holding the bag with guaranteed contracts. But in a minor sport that isn't likely so after several posts from knowledgeable people I understand the situation better. In defense of AM's record at Maine, it's awfully cold in Orono.
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Post by bison137 on Apr 24, 2019 20:37:51 GMT -5
r. In defense of AM's record at Maine, it's awfully cold in Orono. It must have suddenly got a lot colder. Her predecessor was 49-3. Global cooling?
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 24, 2019 20:52:32 GMT -5
r. In defense of AM's record at Maine, it's awfully cold in Orono. It must have suddenly got a lot colder. Her predecessor was 49-3. Global cooling? Her predecessor isn't she at BU now where they are 11-1 in Patriot League play and entered the year with a career record of 40-12 in PL play? Maybe the coach is just good?
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 24, 2019 21:39:34 GMT -5
Smart enough to move South to Boston where it's a little warmer.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Apr 24, 2019 21:42:59 GMT -5
Maybe keeping your players eligible and ensuring they’re all signed up for SPUD is the key to receiving an extension these days.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 24, 2019 21:53:14 GMT -5
The upside of a one year "prove it" contract is if the coach doesn't succeed, a proven winner can be hired. A low major program is a logical step up for a proven winner at D-2 or 3. It gets risky when you start rationalizing that a record of improving each year, while still being below .500 is equivalent to winning because the D-2/3 program was terrible to begin with.
Getting a proven winner at your own level like the Maine-BU lateral transfer is an unusual coup and someone at BU did a good job with that hire.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 24, 2019 21:59:29 GMT -5
Somewhere Bill Parcells is telling his erratic paperboy: "You are what your record says you are. No tip for you this week."
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Post by hcross22 on Apr 25, 2019 9:26:18 GMT -5
To show you the comparison of apples to oranges, Lehigh has three assistant coaches for softball, Bucknell has two assistant coaches, Army has two, HC has one. lehighsports.com/roster.aspx?roster=479&path=softballbucknellbison.com/coaches.aspx?path=softballgoarmywestpoint.com/roster.aspx?path=softballwww.goholycross.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=33100&SPID=157219&SPSID=1028016Facilities are another story, HC should have a facility upgrade comparable to what is available at Army West Point, Lehigh and Bucknell. Freshmen Field dugouts, stands and press box reflect poorly, especially in comparison to the other venues throughout the campus. goarmywestpoint.com/sports/2015/3/6/GEN_20140101125.aspx?id=125lehighsports.com/facilities/?id=35bucknellbison.com/facilities/?id=9The softball facilities at the institutions shown above is the standard we should be looking to achieve in order to be competitive on a yearly basis. The softball facilities at BU, Lafayette, and Colgate are in serious need for an upgrade. Only 2 assistants are paid. That's the NCAA rule.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 25, 2019 19:46:52 GMT -5
HC added another assistant coach for softball as part of the consent decree to settle the Title IX investigation into HC softball.
Before calumnies are hurled at FADNP, the investigation and consent decree occurred on FADDR's watch, in which the U.S. Dept. of Education, the enforcement agency for Title IX, found that HC's level of support for baseball compared to softball was not consistent with Title IX provisions. HC committed to make changes, one of which was to add an additional assistant coach.
It was my understanding that the second locker room building that HC was to (will?) build near Fitton was to provide softball with a locker room, as neither baseball nor softball (or tennis) have dedicated locker rooms at Luth. And the mantra was/is that each varsity sport at HC will have its own dedicated locker room.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 25, 2019 20:21:33 GMT -5
HC added another assistant coach for softball as part of the consent decree to settle the Title IX investigation into HC softball. Before calumnies are hurled at FADNP, the investigation and consent decree occurred on FADDR's watch, in which the U.S. Dept. of Education, the enforcement agency for Title IX, found that HC's level of support for baseball compared to softball was not consistent with Title IX provisions. HC committed to make changes, one of which was to add an additional assistant coach. It was my understanding that the second locker room building that HC was to (will?) build near Fitton was to provide softball with a locker room, as neither baseball nor softball (or tennis) have dedicated locker rooms at Luth. And the mantra was/is that each varsity sport at HC will have its own dedicated locker room. A far cry from the family with eight kids in my childhood neighborhood. On hot days the mother would line them up in the yard and hose them down. She wasn't paying for individual showers.
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Post by bison137 on Apr 25, 2019 22:23:06 GMT -5
It must have suddenly got a lot colder. Her predecessor was 49-3. Global cooling? Her predecessor isn't she at BU now where they are 11-1 in Patriot League play and entered the year with a career record of 40-12 in PL play? Maybe the coach is just good? The discussion about AM and her Maine predecessor is about basketball.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 25, 2019 22:30:59 GMT -5
HC added another assistant coach for softball as part of the consent decree to settle the Title IX investigation into HC softball. Before calumnies are hurled at FADNP, the investigation and consent decree occurred on FADDR's watch, in which the U.S. Dept. of Education, the enforcement agency for Title IX, found that HC's level of support for baseball compared to softball was not consistent with Title IX provisions. HC committed to make changes, one of which was to add an additional assistant coach. It was my understanding that the second locker room building that HC was to (will?) build near Fitton was to provide softball with a locker room, as neither baseball nor softball (or tennis) have dedicated locker rooms at Luth. And the mantra was/is that each varsity sport at HC will have its own dedicated locker room. On the current roster only Kelsey Christensen is listed as an assistant coach. Is there another coach on the team that has not been listed? Based on presentations that I attended, a second locker room building has been discussed for the sports that use the lower campus facilities. Included would also include a locker rooms for the golf teams, as well as the sports previously noted. PP, do you know if the campus master plan has been updated to reflect the location selected. Will it be located on the hill next to the maintenance and grounds building?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 26, 2019 6:09:17 GMT -5
crucis, I do not know why only one assistant coach is listed. One of the Title IX complaints was that baseball had two assistant coaches and softball had one. That was one of the first remedies.
Another complaint was about the poor physical condition of the field itself (particularly when compared to baseball), plus the rudimentary scoreboard, lack of a sound system, spectator amenities etc. It was as if softball was the red-headed stepchild. Improvements were made.
It was my suspicion that the locker rooms annex on the site you referenced was the final remedy. As it is, though baseball has locker rooms at Fitton Field, I assume the ladies use locker rooms assigned to other sports at the top of the hill. I understood it to be a deliberate design decision to not include locker rooms for baseball, softball, and M/W tennis at Luth M/W golf arguably could use the Worcester Country Club, and M/W crew had boathouse facilities on the lake. As you may recall from my previous, now quite dated posts on this annex, this building would house a new locker room for the visiting football team, and a small medical exam room to be used by both teams. This would be built at the site you referenced.
My uniformed guess is that this is still in the project queue, but other projects had/have a higher priority. For example,
The Luth contract had an option for the contractor to replace the main high voltage (12.5 kv?) line serving the campus, which runs from either the east side of Fitton or Kimball, up to the west side of Wheeler and IIRC to the rink side of Hart. Switchgear was also to be replaced. Replacing this line required the stationing of a trailer-sized, temporary generator on campus (on Easy St, IIRC). I saw no evidence that this option on the Luth contract was acted on, although the Luth contractor, Bond Brothers, is a re-eminent utility contractor. The cost was probably too much atr the time. (They may have replaced that portion of the line from Wheeler up to the Hart and extended it to the south side of Luth. I suspect that until this high voltage line is replaced (installed?) between Kimball and Fitton, there probably won't be permanent lights at the football field.)
As for priorities, the college paid a substantial sum for the new 275 space parking lot up by the Hart (this lot is apparently in lieu of a parking garage), and the college picked up the demolition cost of the old field house and clearing the site. This was done separate from the construction contract for the new recreation center. One could probably have built the locker room annex for the cost of the parking lot or the demolition / clearance.
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