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Post by nycrusader2010 on Dec 15, 2023 14:09:31 GMT -5
Our previous coach just got hired by an FBS program. NEC coaches don't get hired by FBS programs. So, don't think it's a lateral move by Curran. This type of move (NEC => Holy Cross) probably would've been viewed as lateral 6 years ago the last time we were interviewing. Not anymore. Once again, thank you Mr. Chesney for helping make this a big-ticket job.
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Post by td128 on Dec 15, 2023 14:10:23 GMT -5
I sense that DC is an underdog and a fighter.
I was just informed that DC is the youngest of 9. That fact makes me think that his being an underdog and a fighter likely stems from the nightly battles that ensued around the dinner table and poured over into other parts of the Curran household. I am guessing that I might not be the only one who frequents this board that comes from a large family. Fighting for food and everything else was all part of growing up.
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Post by nhteamer on Dec 15, 2023 14:18:03 GMT -5
correct
My point is simple
In the last 50 years when we succeed recruiting norther NJ we succeed on the field
I hope Curran kicks butt!
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Post by rgs318 on Dec 15, 2023 14:18:10 GMT -5
Seems like a good hire, but I would have preferred someone who had played at or coached at a high academic school, like the guy Columbia just hired. How will our new coach deal with the HC admissions office? I would think that is KH and VR do their jobs, he might not have to deal with admisions very often if at all. This is a different world.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Dec 15, 2023 14:25:18 GMT -5
Chesney in NE10: 44-16 (.733) Curran in NE10: 29-35 (.453) Curran 18 wins in last three year (6 per year) 3 vs non-D1 teams 1 vs team with winning record (HC in 2021) 14 against teams with a combined record of 46-104 (.307) Unless he’s bringing in Chip Kelly to be his OC, this is an extremely disappointing hire. Always healthy to have the contrarian argument represented. I am confident that Curran will have a good chance to maintain a strong PL-championship contending program here at HC based on what I've seen from him at Merrimack. They never really were a particularly strong D2 football program IIRC, despite being one of the best D2 athletic schools overall nationally. So it does seem the bar for the football program was lifted as they moved up to DI and immediately started contending in the NEC. And you have to credit the head coach. The NEC has been really bad the past 2 seasons, so makes sense that the combined record of opponents would be pretty bad. From having observed Merrimack results, it does seem like they get up for higher level opponents and tend to play well in these games...but usually fall short in the W column. Kind of like Gilmore at HC -- we always seemed to play over our heads against strong CAA teams like UMASS, UNH, Delaware and Villanova...but struggled to actually WIN those games. Chesney is the guy who goes to that next level and BEATS those teams. We hit a grand slam home run with Bob Chesney. His resume follows the Urban Meyer/Brian Kelly progression. Kick ass at every level and keep moving up to better head coaching jobs. Curran definitely not at the Chesney level (how many really are?) but I think he can be solid for us. FWIW, Chesney also OWNED Curran when they were both in the NE-10. Assumption beat the brakes off Merrimack during the years they were coaching against each other in D2. Of course, Merrimack got Bob, and us, after the UConn game in 2021.
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Post by td128 on Dec 15, 2023 14:27:31 GMT -5
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Post by hc1996 on Dec 15, 2023 14:33:01 GMT -5
He obviously hasn't been quoted much as he has just been announced today, but I was hoping he said something along the lines of "competing for a national championship".
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Post by joutsHC77 on Dec 15, 2023 14:34:48 GMT -5
No messing around, plus I bet he's moving some iron in the weight room!
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Dec 15, 2023 14:42:39 GMT -5
Chesney in NE10: 44-16 (.733) Curran in NE10: 29-35 (.453) Curran 18 wins in last three year (6 per year) 3 vs non-D1 teams 1 vs team with winning record (HC in 2021) 14 against teams with a combined record of 46-104 (.307) Unless he’s bringing in Chip Kelly to be his OC, this is an extremely disappointing hire. You do know that Bret Nelson was not under consideration for this opening, right?
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Post by 78purple on Dec 15, 2023 14:45:00 GMT -5
Checks every box what Kit and Co. said they wanted. I like it. I like it, too, and frankly, the move I was expecting......Good job by KH in terms of threading the needle of checking off as many boxes as possible ( played the game at a relatively high level, HC experience, NE connections, knows Holy Cross, has a good knowledge of the returning players since he's coached against them multiple times, etc ) and don't underestimate the importance of a remarkable win against a Crusader program on the rise a couple of years ago......a bit concerned about the recruiting piece, but I get the impression that ( to use a tired phrase ) he's a player's coach that will motivate and " gets it ". I would be surprised if the program takes a temporary step back with this hire...And, very glad this got done before the weekend so the visiting recruits have a solid idea of what's going on...
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Post by inhocsigno on Dec 15, 2023 14:45:03 GMT -5
His son is apparently a 3* WR with a HC offer, but is committed to Ball State. Let's see how good of a recruiter he is at home.
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Post by hiltonheadcrusader on Dec 15, 2023 14:51:54 GMT -5
Checks every box what Kit and Co. said they wanted. I like it. I like it, too, and frankly, the move I was expecting......Good job by KH in terms of threading the needle of checking off as many boxes as possible ( played the game at a relatively high level, HC experience, NE connections, knows Holy Cross, has a good knowledge of the returning players since he's coached against them multiple times, etc ) and don't underestimate the importance of a remarkable win against a Crusader program on the rise a couple of years ago......a bit concerned about the recruiting piece, but I get the impression that ( to use a tired phrase ) he's a player's coach that will motivate and " gets it ". I would be surprised if the program takes a temporary step back with this hire...And, very glad this got done before the weekend so the visiting recruits have a solid idea of what's going on... “Relatively”? He played the game at the highest level Saints and Seahawks Agree and appreciate your thoughts. Like the hire a lot.
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Post by bfoley82 on Dec 15, 2023 14:56:59 GMT -5
Also interesting NEC v Patriot League as place to be. Merrimack is leaving the NEC and we don't really know where they will end up...
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Post by bfoley82 on Dec 15, 2023 14:58:09 GMT -5
Some here may have been aware of the fact that Coach Curran has 8 years of pro football experience but were you aware of the actual timeline? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Curran
1997–2000 University of New Hampshire 2001 Nashville Kats (Arena Football) 2002–2003 Georgia Force (Arena Football) 2004, 2007 New Orleans VooDoo (Arena Football) 2004 New Orleans Saints (NFL) 2008–2009 Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
What does this indicate?
IMO, 1. True love of the game and 2. Mental, physical and emotional toughness and discipline to be able to make the NFL in 2004 with the Saints and then make it back into the league in 2008 with the Seahawks. That says a lot to me about who DC is as a person in terms of his determination and drive.
If he had made the league straight out of college and then was not ready to give it up and bounced around Arena Football that would indicate to me a decline in skills. His path is decidedly different. I sense that DC is an underdog and a fighter.
I like him even more. He never played a snap in the NFL though.
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Post by inhocsigno on Dec 15, 2023 15:01:01 GMT -5
[Matt] Foley - what camp invites did you get?
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Post by 78purple on Dec 15, 2023 15:03:03 GMT -5
I like it, too, and frankly, the move I was expecting......Good job by KH in terms of threading the needle of checking off as many boxes as possible ( played the game at a relatively high level, HC experience, NE connections, knows Holy Cross, has a good knowledge of the returning players since he's coached against them multiple times, etc ) and don't underestimate the importance of a remarkable win against a Crusader program on the rise a couple of years ago......a bit concerned about the recruiting piece, but I get the impression that ( to use a tired phrase ) he's a player's coach that will motivate and " gets it ". I would be surprised if the program takes a temporary step back with this hire...And, very glad this got done before the weekend so the visiting recruits have a solid idea of what's going on... “Relatively”? He played the game at the highest level Saints and Seahawks Agree and appreciate your thoughts. Like the hire a lot.
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Post by midwestsader05 on Dec 15, 2023 15:03:42 GMT -5
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Post by drjack on Dec 15, 2023 15:12:48 GMT -5
Wasn't sure how to feel initially, as he was I guy I personally didn't look at too much during the interview process. After a few hours looking around, I think there's a lot to like here. I totally get some of the concerns folks have, but I'm willing to give him a shot.
Hopefully he does a meet & greet at some point so I can get a chance to at least see and hear him in person.
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Post by 78purple on Dec 15, 2023 15:13:52 GMT -5
“Relatively”? He played the game at the highest level Saints and Seahawks Agree and appreciate your thoughts. Like the hire a lot. guess I was referring to the UNH/Arena League level, as well as what sounds like a practice squad level NFL career ( although I have not researched those details )...But as 128 stated, you gotta love the dogged pursuit of the objective, to continue playing professionally ten years after graduating from Durham.....that will translate extremely well to the sidelines in Worcester
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Dec 15, 2023 15:20:39 GMT -5
Wasn't sure how to feel initially, as he was I guy I personally didn't look at too much during the interview process. After a few hours looking around, I think there's a lot to like here. I totally get some of the concerns folks have, but I'm willing to give him a shot. Hopefully he does a meet & greet at some point so I can get a chance to at least see and hear him in person. I have a similar feeling. I was really impressed with Merrimack in the three games we played against them under Chesney. In fact, despite winning two of three, you could argue that Curran out-coached Chesney in six of the 12 quarters. The one thing that gives me a pause is the six years at Merrimack when they were in the NE10. He took over a program that James Perry did a decent job with (29-21, 23-16) after having been the OC there for three seasons. So, not like he was stepping into a program that needed to be rebuilt. A record of 29-35 isn't good...but, more importantly, the program did seem to acclimate to the FCS level pretty quickly and seamlessly. I wonder if his name has been floated for other FCS jobs in the past? I'm cautiously optimistic.
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Post by steken on Dec 15, 2023 15:24:15 GMT -5
His Mack teams were tough and brought it against us for sure. Wish him much success and looking forward to next year already. Go Cross!!
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Post by HC92 on Dec 15, 2023 15:28:39 GMT -5
1. I’m going to support any HC coach however I can until he proves while at HC that he doesn’t deserve that support.
2. It’s not an exciting hire on paper but people who understand this stuff much better than me seem to feel pretty good about it so I feel good about it.
We’ll see what happens. Hopefully he’s amazing.
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Post by Ignutz on Dec 15, 2023 15:29:37 GMT -5
His son is apparently a 3* WR with a HC offer, but is committed to Ball State. Let's see how good of a recruiter he is at home. I can see the kid wanting to play “up” from Merrimack, and at the same time, I can see his old man not wanting him to sign with HC. Maybe now, however, DC can convince the son that he “can have it all” at Holy Cross. I bet the wife & mother would like that! BTW - Per Hudl, Ty Curran is the #1 Slot Receiver in New England. Book ‘em, Danno!
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 15, 2023 15:40:09 GMT -5
Seems like a good hire, but I would have preferred someone who had played at or coached at a high academic school, like the guy Columbia just hired. How will our new coach deal with the HC admissions office? Recruiting will be a big question mark. Type of recruit going to HC is different than Merrimack. It's small & subtle, but CDC's social media game is non-existent...Chesney was a master & that matters. Cue the HC Social Media artillery. They are getting pretty good at it.
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Post by Ignutz on Dec 15, 2023 15:44:28 GMT -5
Does Merrimack have a Crossports-type site? If so, has anyone checked out the chatter?
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