|
Post by longsuffering on Mar 19, 2020 14:34:44 GMT -5
HC did not commit any sins of paying money that may have been used for an abortion, hiring strippers and prostitutes, paying a recruit's family, etc. that RP has been accused of. So what I have to resolve is whether Holy Cross now becomes responsible for those prior bad acts just because we want to hire a skilled coach to turn around a once proud basketball program?
I don't think HC would inherit blame for those prior acts just by hiring him. Let's see how Iona fares. Being at one of the epicenters of Covid 19 in the US puts them behind the eight ball anyway. Everything is relative so I doubt that RP's reputation is their top worry right now. It might be the most hopeful thing their community has to think about.
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 19, 2020 14:38:38 GMT -5
Holy Cross employed an organist for 30+ years who was misbehaving inside of St. Joseph's chapel with students.
Those who live in glass houses...
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Mar 19, 2020 14:46:42 GMT -5
I get the concept as a Christian school, we should believe in redemption. Also the whole let him without sin cast the first stone, and HC as an institution has been punished by the NCAA at least in men's soccer for rules violations.
At some point that has to be tempered with common sense. Is there a point where I am not throwing stones, but at the same time not inviting a scorpion for a ride across the river on my back
-------------------------
Before someone jumps down my throat, neither the NCAA nor I blame the institution if individual players act outside the rules and are quickly and severely punished by the school. In my opinion, there is a world of difference between agents of the school violating the rules and players doing so (assuming the school doesn't passively legitimize the behavior with a slap on the wrist)
Also, equally likely to get called out: Yes, I totally mixed metaphors
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Mar 19, 2020 15:00:46 GMT -5
HC would never hire Pitino.
Pitino poached RW from HC with zero consideration of what that meant to the HC basketball program. RW's very inopportune departure (which apparently also meant HC had to immediately pay RW for deferred compensation, an unexpected hit on the budget) set in motion a cascade effect of successive coaches who have struggled to build a successful, competitive program.
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 19, 2020 15:05:03 GMT -5
HC would never hire Pitino. Pitino poached RW from HC with zero consideration of what that meant to the HC basketball program. RW's very inopportune departure (which apparently also meant HC had to immediately pay RW for deferred compensation, an unexpected hit on the budget) set in motion a cascade effect of successive coaches who have struggled to build a successful, competitive program. To quote Dan Hawkins, "This is division one [basketball]." Poaching recruits and coaches from schools happens. Pitino was in a tough spot and did what he needed to do to help his program. Tough cookies, Holy Cross. With the right hire, the program would have been just fine. Lest we forget the 2009-10 team was picked to win the league.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Mar 19, 2020 15:44:33 GMT -5
...the people he poached RW from no longer have any association with Holy Cross. I doubt Marcus Blossom or Father Burroughs consulted their predecessors (or, in the case of Blossom, the predecessor of the predecessor) on this. I trust they made the right call for HC on its own merits, not to exact some revenge.
|
|
|
Post by WCHC Sports on Mar 19, 2020 16:01:27 GMT -5
BN must be a better coach then?
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Mar 19, 2020 16:24:13 GMT -5
Holy Cross employed an organist for 30+ years who was misbehaving inside of St. Joseph's chapel with students. Those who live in glass houses... Are you saying that HC would rehire him now knowing what he did? I doubt it, so no point there. Has he applied to Iona? I hear their standards are different. Apple and oranges.
|
|
|
Post by bringbackcaro on Mar 20, 2020 20:50:53 GMT -5
HC would never hire Pitino. Pitino poached RW from HC with zero consideration of what that meant to the HC basketball program. RW's very inopportune departure (which apparently also meant HC had to immediately pay RW for deferred compensation, an unexpected hit on the budget) set in motion a cascade effect of successive coaches who have struggled to build a successful, competitive program. Wrong. RW could have gone to Louisville whenever he wanted. He didn’t need Pitino to “poach” him. RW left because his friend was in a very difficult situation AND the HC program was in a very, very good place (picked to win the PL the following year). RW wasn’t responsible for Regan hiring an incompetent career assistant as his successor and McFarland’s ridiculous decision to veto RW to return after Kearney was axed.
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Mar 20, 2020 21:23:41 GMT -5
HC would never hire Pitino. Pitino poached RW from HC with zero consideration of what that meant to the HC basketball program. RW's very inopportune departure (which apparently also meant HC had to immediately pay RW for deferred compensation, an unexpected hit on the budget) set in motion a cascade effect of successive coaches who have struggled to build a successful, competitive program. Wrong. RW could have gone to Louisville whenever he wanted. He didn’t need Pitino to “poach” him. RW left because his friend was in a very difficult situation AND the HC program was in a very, very good place (picked to win the PL the following year). RW wasn’t responsible for Regan hiring an incompetent career assistant as his successor and McFarland’s ridiculous decision to veto RW to return after Kearney was axed. Agree with that. Louisville needed an experienced coach who could step in if RP needed to step down and RW had taken Western Ky. to the Sweet Sixteen, so he calmed the fans and donors. Also, Ralph said he thought he was holding HC basketball back because better programs were reluctant to schedule HC with him as coach.
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Mar 21, 2020 0:05:17 GMT -5
Dick Regan was never a true college sports guy prior to becoming HCAD. That could be seen as the genesis of the collapse.
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Mar 21, 2020 7:52:08 GMT -5
RW wasn’t responsible for Regan hiring an incompetent career assistant as his successor and McFarland’s ridiculous decision to veto RW to return after Kearney was axed. At the time, it was written that Coach Willard was consulted and endorsed hiring Coach Kearney
|
|
|
Post by HCFC45 on Mar 21, 2020 8:40:48 GMT -5
RW wasn’t responsible for Regan hiring an incompetent career assistant as his successor and McFarland’s ridiculous decision to veto RW to return after Kearney was axed. At the time, it was written that Coach Willard was consulted and endorsed hiring Coach KearneyYes, that is true. I distinctly remember talking with Andy Sachs in the Hart lobby when Kearney was announced. I asked him what he thought? He said: "Ralph likes him but I don't"! Funny how things work out.... It has often been said here that Andy Sachs and Mark Daignault would have been great hires! Both men were on our staff in 2008-2009 when Ralph left and Daignault was on our staff when Kearney was let go after 2009-2010. Oh, what could/might have been!
|
|
|
Post by lou on Mar 21, 2020 9:12:03 GMT -5
At the time, it was written that Coach Willard was consulted and endorsed hiring Coach Kearney Yes, that is true. I distinctly remember talking with Andy Sachs in the Hart lobby when Kearney was announced. I asked him what he thought? He said: "Ralph likes him but I don't"! Funny how things work out.... It has often been said here that Andy Sachs and Mark Daignault would have been great hires! Both men were on our staff in 2008-2009 when Ralph left and Daignault was on our staff when Kearney was let go after 2009-2010. Oh, what could/might have been! Interesting, because I remember talking to Sachs around that time, I dont remember if we were down to a couple of names or what. I asked Sachs what he thought, he said Regan must "do the right thing". Asked him what that was...he said hire Kearney
|
|
|
Post by HCFC45 on Mar 21, 2020 10:11:54 GMT -5
Yes, that is true. I distinctly remember talking with Andy Sachs in the Hart lobby when Kearney was announced. I asked him what he thought? He said: "Ralph likes him but I don't"! Funny how things work out.... It has often been said here that Andy Sachs and Mark Daignault would have been great hires! Both men were on our staff in 2008-2009 when Ralph left and Daignault was on our staff when Kearney was let go after 2009-2010. Oh, what could/might have been! Interesting, because I remember talking to Sachs around that time, I dont remember if we were down to a couple of names or what. I asked Sachs what he thought, he said Regan must "do the right thing". Asked him what that was...he said hire Kearney Also interesting. Maybe given the situation Regan was in and the timing, it may have been the right thing to do and Sachs still could have not liked him. When we spoke he did not elaborate on why he did not like him.
|
|
|
Post by lou on Mar 21, 2020 10:14:32 GMT -5
I took the right thing to be hire the long time assistant who has earned this promotion...my take at the time
|
|
|
Post by HCFC45 on Mar 21, 2020 10:45:22 GMT -5
I took the right thing to be hire the long time assistant who has earned this promotion...my take at the time Oh OK, thanks for the explanation!
|
|
|
Post by bringbackcaro on Mar 21, 2020 11:57:13 GMT -5
RW wasn’t responsible for Regan hiring an incompetent career assistant as his successor and McFarland’s ridiculous decision to veto RW to return after Kearney was axed. At the time, it was written that Coach Willard was consulted and endorsed hiring Coach Kearney He only “endorsed” him in the context of it coming down to Kearney and Lonergan (who wasn’t going to take the job, and has proven that he would not have been a good fit at HC at all).
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 21, 2020 12:11:45 GMT -5
What were Willard and Sachs going to do when speaking to alums / supporters of the program? Say they thought Kearney was a bad hire?
|
|
|
Post by Xmassader on Mar 21, 2020 12:40:53 GMT -5
Spoke to Andy Sachs shortly after RW announced his resignation. He said that FADDR told him that he was not a candidate for the job because he did not have head coaching experience. At that point, Andy sought and obtained the head coaching job at Bethany College. And then, FADDR hired FHCSK who...had no head coaching experience. The irony was not lost on Andy.
When I look back on events of the last 11 yrs. in HC basketball, I’m reminded of the line from Roy Hobbs in The Natural—“Some mistakes you never stop paying for.” RW’s untimely departure and the hiring of FHCSK kicked over the first dominoes and they’re still falling. Hopefully, after this past season, ADMB and HCBN can halt the decline and get the program back on the right track.
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Mar 21, 2020 20:39:46 GMT -5
If only DR had been as enamored of the interim coach tag as future ADs have become, Andy could have been made interim for a year, we probably would have won 20 games and he might still be here with several PL trophies in the case. HC basketball was heading in the right direction under RW but with the restrictions of the college and the league there was no room for error in hiring the next coach, or the next or the next, etc. If HC can start winning some games next year with well disciplined play, perceptions of BN can turn around rapidly. It's amazing how intelligent the same coach speak can sound when it is coming from a winning coach as opposed to a losing one.
Strong recruiting can make or break a mid major and many feel we have a strong class coming in, so perhaps we are not as bad off as 3-29 seems.
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 21, 2020 20:50:37 GMT -5
A single digit win season is more likely than unlikely, IMO.
|
|
|
Post by Xmassader on Mar 21, 2020 21:28:49 GMT -5
longsuffering The prudent move for FADDR would have been to name Andy the interim coach. He would have saved at least $150K in salary while still giving Andy a significant raise from his assistant’s salary, would have kept as the head coach someone familiar with RW’s philosophy, practice and game approach and players, would have avoided going into a coaching search at the worst time of year when the coaching carousel had stopped spinning and would have bought time to identify permanent head coaching candidates—Andy if he did well in the ‘09-‘10 season or others if he did not.
His decision was a mistake of major proportions and, along with RW’s abrupt and untimely departure, sent us into a tailspin from which we have yet to recover.
Water under the bridge at this point but I know that the collective patience of many of us is strained. As Jared Curry’s recent tweet reflected, we’re in serious need of some Ws...and soon.
|
|
|
Post by td128 on Mar 22, 2020 7:07:28 GMT -5
I am never surprised as to the things that transpire and are accomplished in the presence of real leadership. Regrettably so, I am equally not surprised as to what transpires in the absence of the same.
Time and time and time again.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Mar 22, 2020 9:05:41 GMT -5
Wish we could have a do-over and see what Kearney would have done with Nelson's players and Nelson's with Kearney's.
|
|