|
Post by cruskater31 on Dec 6, 2021 12:55:19 GMT -5
Kit was responsible for day to day operations including football scheduling. I like that. We have experienced some business, finance, and fundraising specialists as AD and now have a day to day guy. Like that he was AD for football at NC State.
I also appreciate he is a former lacrosse player and worked with the CCHA hockey conference. Very well-rounded but a nice emphasis on football.
|
|
|
Post by Crucis#1 on Dec 6, 2021 13:18:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Dec 6, 2021 14:25:05 GMT -5
A few observations on the naming of Kit Hughes as AD: 1. I often don't get communications from Holy Cross that I am supposed to get (i.e. to season ticket holders, class leadership, etc.) because this isn't one of Holy Cross' strengths, yet today I got not one, but two, notes from Vince announcing the AD selection. Looks like "belt and suspenders" strategy for this one. 2. I'm starting to feel "old" as each of these hires now are people younger than my younger son even in these lofty positions. Sort of like the cops all look like kids now, right? 3. I think anyone who graduated from Bowdoin where my personal hero, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (hero of the battle of Gettysburg and Medal of Honor recipient*) taught, is a good thing. Seems to also have a very good, diverse background in athletics. 4. I temper all these positive things by the knowledge that I also felt good about Nate Pine's hiring believing he would bring a renewed enthusiasm for Crusader athletics and then Marcus Blossom with his "big time" background. So Kit sounds like a good hire (does his post grad degree from BC - Boston College, not Bob Chesney - give him a leg up with Vince?), I'm going to be more cautious and see what actions he takes. Welcome, Kit! * highly recommend Ted Turner's (yeah, that guy) movie "Gettysburg" with Jeff Daniels in an outstanding role as Chamberlain. www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/defense-little-round-top
|
|
|
Post by Ignutz on Dec 6, 2021 14:35:47 GMT -5
Interesting that BGSU only has eighteen varsity sports teams (7-men's and 11-women's) compared to twenty-seven for HC (Graduation Success Rate - 89%). Interesting, as well, that Bowling Green has about six times the number of undergrads as HC, but their football and basketball facilities seat approximately the same number of fannies.
Last tidbit: The HC endowment is over six times the size of BGSU's.
Best of luck to Kit. Let's make this a spectacular success.
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Dec 6, 2021 15:46:43 GMT -5
Best of luck, welcome aboard. Fourteen straight years at a large but not the primary State University in NC and Ohio. His age and resume appear to put him in the same box as NP and MB. Fine, but is there a pattern where a professional in athletic administration puts a certain amount of time in progressing through the ranks and then is deemed ready to take the helm of his own command and HC is considered the perfect sized vessel for that first assignment? Would an associate AD in the PL have more relevant experience?
I like his mid length tenure at his last two schools as opposed to quick hops.
I feel good about the year long town and gown coordination Nick Smith did with the Polar Park game and the one week notice to coordinate a winning bid for a smooth home playoff game for the ages vs Sacred Heart with local fans in the end zone for the first time in a long time.
Is Nick's experience, including hustling and winning (FB at least) with even less resources at another Worcester college, more relevant?
I would lean to yes in answer to my questions about PL and Worcester experience being more relevant than ACC and MAC.
|
|
|
Post by bfoley82 on Dec 6, 2021 16:20:45 GMT -5
Best of luck, welcome aboard. Fourteen straight years at a large but not the primary State University in NC and Ohio. His age and resume appear to put him in the same box as NP and MB. Fine, but is there a pattern where a professional in athletic administration puts a certain amount of time in progressing through the ranks and then is deemed ready to take the helm of his own command and HC is considered the perfect sized vessel for that first assignment? Would an associate AD in the PL have more relevant experience? I like his mid length tenure at his last two schools as opposed to quick hops. I feel good about the year long town and gown coordination Nick Smith did with the Polar Park game and the one week notice to coordinate a winning bid for a smooth home playoff game for the ages vs Sacred Heart with local fans in the end zone for the first time in a long time. Is Nick's experience, including hustling and winning (FB at least) with even less resources at another Worcester college, more relevant? I would lean to yes in answer to my questions about PL and Worcester experience being more relevant than ACC and MAC. And Nick was at another Massachusetts school before Assumption...
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Dec 6, 2021 16:41:27 GMT -5
Let's hope this is the man we need! Welcome, Kit.
|
|
|
Post by newfieguy74 on Dec 6, 2021 16:53:24 GMT -5
I'm not familiar with Kit, but he seems like an excellent hire. I'm sure he'll be committed to the job; what I really hope is that he's committed to Holy Cross.
|
|
|
Post by Crucis#1 on Dec 6, 2021 16:58:35 GMT -5
Best of luck, welcome aboard. Fourteen straight years at a large but not the primary State University in NC and Ohio. His age and resume appear to put him in the same box as NP and MB. Fine, but is there a pattern where a professional in athletic administration puts a certain amount of time in progressing through the ranks and then is deemed ready to take the helm of his own command and HC is considered the perfect sized vessel for that first assignment? Would an associate AD in the PL have more relevant experience? I like his mid length tenure at his last two schools as opposed to quick hops. I feel good about the year long town and gown coordination Nick Smith did with the Polar Park game and the one week notice to coordinate a winning bid for a smooth home playoff game for the ages vs Sacred Heart with local fans in the end zone for the first time in a long time. Is Nick's experience, including hustling and winning (FB at least) with even less resources at another Worcester college, more relevant? I would lean to yes in answer to my questions about PL and Worcester experience being more relevant than ACC and MAC. Nate Pine was Associate AD at Army from 2005-2008. I believe they were in the PL at that time. 😊
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Dec 6, 2021 17:28:21 GMT -5
Best of luck, welcome aboard. Fourteen straight years at a large but not the primary State University in NC and Ohio. His age and resume appear to put him in the same box as NP and MB. Fine, but is there a pattern where a professional in athletic administration puts a certain amount of time in progressing through the ranks and then is deemed ready to take the helm of his own command and HC is considered the perfect sized vessel for that first assignment? Would an associate AD in the PL have more relevant experience? I like his mid length tenure at his last two schools as opposed to quick hops. I feel good about the year long town and gown coordination Nick Smith did with the Polar Park game and the one week notice to coordinate a winning bid for a smooth home playoff game for the ages vs Sacred Heart with local fans in the end zone for the first time in a long time. Is Nick's experience, including hustling and winning (FB at least) with even less resources at another Worcester college, more relevant? I would lean to yes in answer to my questions about PL and Worcester experience being more relevant than ACC and MAC. Nate Pine was Associate AD at Army from 2005-2008. I believe they were in the PL at that time. 😊 What does Kit bring to the table that the Dept. lacks in your opinion?
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Dec 6, 2021 17:55:11 GMT -5
A few observations on the naming of Kit Hughes as AD: 3. I think anyone who graduated from Bowdoin where my personal hero, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (hero of the battle of Gettysburg and Medal of Honor recipient*) taught, is a good thing. Seems to also have a very good, diverse background in athletics. "No man... can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which one may be true." ....Hawthorne, Bowdoin grad. Featured at the end of College, one of my favorite Sopranos episodes.
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 6, 2021 18:52:00 GMT -5
Interesting that BGSU only has eighteen varsity sports teams (7-men's and 11-women's) compared to twenty-seven for HC (Graduation Success Rate - 89%). Interesting, as well, that Bowling Green has about six times the number of undergrads as HC, but their football and basketball facilities seat approximately the same number of fannies. Last tidbit: The HC endowment is over six times the size of BGSU's. Best of luck to Kit. Let's make this a spectacular success. The BGSU rink seats 5,000.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Dec 6, 2021 21:41:58 GMT -5
Hopefully at the press conference on Thursday someone will ask Kit his thoughts on the Fitton Field flood plain....
|
|
|
Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Dec 6, 2021 21:48:14 GMT -5
^
Strong candidate for post of the day right here.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Dec 6, 2021 22:02:21 GMT -5
^ Strong candidate for post of the day right here. Thank you. I've been very concerned.
|
|
|
Post by Xmassader on Dec 6, 2021 22:21:42 GMT -5
Nate Pine was Associate AD at Army from 2005-2008. I believe they were in the PL at that time. 😊 What does Kit bring to the table that the Dept. lacks in your opinion? Not sure. As I posted on 12/4, hopefully it’s the ability to identify and hire quality head coaches as openings occur. We’ll see. Let’s hope that ability is not tested in the short term.
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 7, 2021 15:21:17 GMT -5
Nate Pine was Associate AD at Army from 2005-2008. I believe they were in the PL at that time. 😊 What does Kit bring to the table that the Dept. lacks in your opinion? IMO, the primus inter pares of performance objectives for any athletic director at HC is this: * Actually, tied for #1 with eight other schools, two of whom are Harvard and Yale. IMO, any candidate for AD at HC has to have had experience at a school with a fairly rigorous academic program: ADNP at Cal Berkeley, USMA; ADMB at BC. Hughes gets points for matriculating at Bowdoin, and his time at BC Interesting that the BC hockey coach was included in the group of those complimenting HC on the appointment. So reading between the lines, I think his hire signals that HC is intent on upgrading the Hart rink, and if that is accomplished, then apply for HE for the men. HC is also suckers for someone coming from a FBS school.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Dec 7, 2021 15:39:04 GMT -5
Phreek, maybe my memory defective but thought you were very confident that there would be no upgrade for Hart hockey or effort to get into HE for men unless, of course, some rich donor dropped many millions on Holy Cross.
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Dec 7, 2021 15:57:30 GMT -5
What does Kit bring to the table that the Dept. lacks in your opinion? IMO, the primus inter pares of performance objectives for any athletic director at HC is this: * Actually, tied for #1 with eight other schools, two of whom are Harvard and Yale. IMO, any candidate for AD at HC has to have had experience at a school with a fairly rigorous academic program: ADNP at Cal Berkeley, USMA; ADMB at BC. Hughes gets points for matriculating at Bowdoin, and his time at BC Interesting that the BC hockey coach was included in the group of those complimenting HC on the appointment. So reading between the lines, I think his hire signals that HC is intent on upgrading the Hart rink, and if that is accomplished, then apply for HE for the men. HC is also suckers for someone coming from a FBS school. Yes we are suckers for someone from FBS, but Bowling Green is only one toke over the line from FCS. I also don't think we would have to upgrade anything to get a Deputy AD from the MAC. The concept of rookie hopefuls making demands and drawing lines in the sand before they're hired doesn't seem logical to me. Perhaps HC should give Kit an arena fundraising goal to reach before any upgrade will be considered. That sounds like better pre-hiring negotiating on behalf of HC to me. If he flops as a fundraiser he doesn't get the incentive portion of his compensation and he doesn't get to take credit for upgrading the rink.
|
|
|
Post by spenser on Dec 7, 2021 16:04:50 GMT -5
What does Kit bring to the table that the Dept. lacks in your opinion? IMO, the primus inter pares of performance objectives for any athletic director at HC is this: * Actually, tied for #1 with eight other schools, two of whom are Harvard and Yale. IMO, any candidate for AD at HC has to have had experience at a school with a fairly rigorous academic program: ADNP at Cal Berkeley, USMA; ADMB at BC. Hughes gets points for matriculating at Bowdoin, and his time at BC Interesting that the BC hockey coach was included in the group of those complimenting HC on the appointment. So reading between the lines, I think his hire signals that HC is intent on upgrading the Hart rink, and if that is accomplished, then apply for HE for the men. HC is also suckers for someone coming from a FBS school.
|
|
|
Post by spenser on Dec 7, 2021 16:06:00 GMT -5
What does Kit bring to the table that the Dept. lacks in your opinion? IMO, the primus inter pares of performance objectives for any athletic director at HC is this: * Actually, tied for #1 with eight other schools, two of whom are Harvard and Yale. IMO, any candidate for AD at HC has to have had experience at a school with a fairly rigorous academic program: ADNP at Cal Berkeley, USMA; ADMB at BC. Hughes gets points for matriculating at Bowdoin, and his time at BC Interesting that the BC hockey coach was included in the group of those complimenting HC on the appointment. So reading between the lines, I think his hire signals that HC is intent on upgrading the Hart rink, and if that is accomplished, then apply for HE for the men. HC is also suckers for someone coming from a FBS school. Your point about the BC hockey coach is an incredible reach.
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 7, 2021 17:16:17 GMT -5
Phreek, maybe my memory defective but thought you were very confident that there would be no upgrade for Hart hockey or effort to get into HE for men unless, of course, some rich donor dropped many millions on Holy Cross. ADMB said publicly that HC would be hiring an architect / engineering consultant to examine alternatives for upgrading the Hart rink. ADMB characterized the rink as deficient, particularly the men's side of the rink, which was largely untouched when other parts of the Hart were reconstructed in conjunction with building the additions, and the new indoor practice field. ADMB said that this was hampering recruiting. And the rink, from a design and useful life standpoint, is obsolete. I have posted that ADMB's job tenure would be imperiled if he made public pronouncements of this sort without the blessing of the Athletics Committee of the BoT, the current chair of which is a former four-year ice hockey player at HC, and also the head of the AD search committee. (Similarly, for ADMB's revealing the design sketches for expanding and renovating the playing fields at the top of the hill.) HC has always emphasized keeping its long-term debt at a relatively low level, unlike BC which has what some might characterize as an edifice complex. (BC's long-term debt in May, 2020 was $1.3 billion.) As it now seems that HC will use a private developer to construct and operate the planned new student residential halls (or most of them), this will substantially lessen the need for new bonds, and will potentially allow other projects to go forward. I certainly don't believe there would be any major revamping of the current rink if HC was self-financing $300+ million of new student residences.
|
|
|
Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Dec 7, 2021 19:52:12 GMT -5
IMO, the primus inter pares of performance objectives for any athletic director at HC is this: * Actually, tied for #1 with eight other schools, two of whom are Harvard and Yale. IMO, any candidate for AD at HC has to have had experience at a school with a fairly rigorous academic program: ADNP at Cal Berkeley, USMA; ADMB at BC. Hughes gets points for matriculating at Bowdoin, and his time at BC Interesting that the BC hockey coach was included in the group of those complimenting HC on the appointment. So reading between the lines, I think his hire signals that HC is intent on upgrading the Hart rink, and if that is accomplished, then apply for HE for the men. HC is also suckers for someone coming from a FBS school. Your point about the BC hockey coach is an incredible reach. Exactly. It means nothing. Or I guess HC will be joining the MAC since that league's commish honked Kit's horn in the same manner as well.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Dec 7, 2021 20:25:36 GMT -5
Either that or the CCHA! How does one get to Big Rapids, Michigan?
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Dec 7, 2021 20:43:38 GMT -5
Either that or the CCHA! How does one get to Big Rapids, Michigan? In one of those twelve person inflatable rafts.
|
|