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Post by purplehaze on Aug 30, 2021 10:37:53 GMT -5
I think we can do better than MB - this should be a positive.
That being said, good for him to move up in the D.1 ranks and with a healthy raise I’m sure
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Post by Ray on Aug 30, 2021 10:41:19 GMT -5
If Chesney takes a bigger gig after winning a 3rd straight PL championship... that's the kind of departure you don't complain about. You thank him for his contribution and focus on keeping the success rolling. This... is not that situation. It is a bigger and better job at Creighton though. I can't stand Omaha but many people adore the place. That's not my point. My point is that Blossom isn't leaving here after a successful run where he accomplished his goals and is now ready for another challenge. |
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Post by bfoley82 on Aug 30, 2021 10:42:13 GMT -5
It is a bigger and better job at Creighton though. I can't stand Omaha but many people adore the place. That's not my point. My point is that Blossom isn't leaving here after a successful run where he accomplished his goals and is now ready for another challenge. Creighton believes he accomplished goals and now ready for another challenge. That is it that matters. |
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Post by Tom on Aug 30, 2021 10:42:24 GMT -5
New head coaches in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, baseball, women’s rowing, volleyball and women’s ice hockey have started off strong and are poised for future success. While I am optimistic for the future, I'm not sure the sport to which I pay the most attention has started off that strong. Women's ice hockey in a tough new league hasn't been that strong a start either |
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Post by efg72 on Aug 30, 2021 10:44:32 GMT -5
So as we search for a replacement
What are the three most important needs for the new AD need to address in 21-23, and what should the timetable be for delivering results in each area?
How do we deal with the Chesney and football staff contracts/extensions?
Which other jobs need to be filled?
Given others have used this to move to another job, should the contract be for 3-4-5 years?
How important is the vision for the future vs proven strengths and experiences?
What actions, started by the Department and Blossom, need to be completed this academic year?
What strengths for a candidate are a must and what should we run away from in the interview process?
and the list goes on?
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Post by ndgradbuthcfan on Aug 30, 2021 10:50:28 GMT -5
Players, coaches, ADs; for far too many it seems the minute they enroll or take a job, they start looking for a better one. It's a mindset. The majority of them probably don't stay married to the same person either.
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Post by trimster on Aug 30, 2021 10:51:10 GMT -5
HC has become an athletic stepping stone since de-emphasis in the late 80's except for alums like Perry, Regan and Willard. Just the nature of where we are and will continue to be. I probably should add Blaney since his sport was the first to be de-emphasized.
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Post by bfoley82 on Aug 30, 2021 10:51:22 GMT -5
New head coaches in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, baseball, women’s rowing, volleyball and women’s ice hockey have started off strong and are poised for future success. While I am optimistic for the future, I'm not sure the sport to which I pay the most attention has started off that strong. Women's ice hockey in a tough new league hasn't been that strong a start either Women's Ice Hockey get a pass until they get a full recruiting cycle through. |
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Aug 30, 2021 10:58:25 GMT -5
Great news for HC.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 30, 2021 11:05:22 GMT -5
The AD at Creighton announced his retirement on July 19th, closed the door behind him on August 16th. He had been at Creighton for 41 years, AD for 27 years. In 2019, the now-retired AD became Division I's first four-time recipient of the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award (an honor he also received in 2004, 2010, and 2015. His annual salary was $1.025 million.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Aug 30, 2021 11:07:31 GMT -5
“In his two years with us, Marcus mapped out a strong plan for our athletics program and revitalized the game experience.”
Polite way of saying — “He didn’t do much.”
But, good for Marcus and his agent for getting a bigger job at a bigger school that no doubt pays more.
Let’s hope HC uses this as an opportunity to make a great decision for the athletics program.
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Post by sader1970 on Aug 30, 2021 11:08:04 GMT -5
I don't think this is unique to Holy Cross. Excuse my "in my day" attitude but this seems to be a generational thing. I see this same "move on as fast as possible" mindset in business as well as HC athletics.
After graduation in 1970 and commencing work in 1971 until I retired in 2013, I worked for a total of two organizations. One of my sons working generically in the same industry graduated in 2000 and 21 years later and is on his 4th organization. My nieces and nephews, a little younger, are in the same boat.
The old organizational "loyalty" goes in neither direction anymore.
I totally understand someone with a record of success who has "outgrown" his job moving on to bigger and better things. As another poster said, Creighton must think Blossom has done that even though most of us struggle to see that. Same could be said of Nate Pine. What did Air Force see in Nate?
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Post by longsuffering on Aug 30, 2021 11:09:05 GMT -5
Dear athletics donors, former student-athletes and parents of current student-athletes, I write to inform you that Marcus Blossom, Director of Athletics, recently accepted the athletics director position at Creighton University. His last day at Holy Cross will be September 24th. In his two years with us, Marcus mapped out a strong plan for our athletics program and revitalized the game experience. Our athletic teams experienced success under his leadership, with the football team winning consecutive Patriot League championships in 2020 and 2021. New head coaches in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, baseball, women’s rowing, volleyball and women’s ice hockey have started off strong and are poised for future success. Academically, our student athletes continue to rank amongst the nation’s elite. The Crusaders most recently ranked first in the nation with an overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 99 percent. Additionally, fifteen Holy Cross teams received Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) public recognition awards from the NCAA. For the 2020-2021 academic year, Holy Cross student-athletes posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.30, with 540 student-athletes achieving a 3.0 or higher. We are committed to building on the foundation Marcus laid in Athletics. A successful athletics program is critical to Holy Cross as we seek to provide our student athletes with the opportunity to successfully compete at the highest level. I am working with Rick Patterson ’80, Chair of our Board of Trustees, and Doug Baker '81, Chair of the Athletics Committee of the Board, to quickly identify an interim director while we launch a national search for a permanent hire. Sincerely, Vincent D. Rougeau President Crusader Athletics Fund One College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395 (508) 793-2632 crusaderathletics@holycross.edu www.holycross.edu/giveLove ya VR (still in the honeymoon phase) but your definition for starting out strong is different than mine. I can't think of any of MB's hires that have a winning record. |
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Post by cruskater31 on Aug 30, 2021 11:11:47 GMT -5
I am appreciative of his strategic plan but we can do better. Coming from a Hockey East school in BC, even if hockey wasn't his primary sport or focus, I was optimistic for major steps in the program. Maybe the Ice Breaker at the DCU and hopefully Riga will be lasting legacies. Hopefully HCBN turns it around otherwise the new AD will have an opportunity for a "nationwide search." Good luck to ADMB at Creighton. I wonder how much football and Title IX, the growing gender gap at HC (shouldn't we have a more equal representation of men these days?) As well as coaches relationships with admissions have something to do with the AD environment at Hc.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 30, 2021 11:17:54 GMT -5
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Post by lou on Aug 30, 2021 11:25:00 GMT -5
From the Creighton announcement
Despite a pandemic-shortened season last year, the men's basketball team saw tremendous growth with an incredibly bright future under a new head coach.
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Post by alum on Aug 30, 2021 11:28:28 GMT -5
Not for nothing, from the outside looking in, Blossom was very unpolished and lacked leadership skills . Very poor communicator and too big time to connect with his HC community. T alking to this guy was talking to a wall. He also treated his staff with lots of condescension and never any support. Marcus is the reason Chez will leave next year. He soured lots of relationships with his inactions, actions, words and silence. Next pick needs to be of the same communication and leadership styles we embody and cultivate on the Hill. Take the PR out of it. No need to “Be BC.” Grow as HC. Lot of code words in this post. People who do this for a living obviously think you are wrong. |
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Post by longsuffering on Aug 30, 2021 11:29:20 GMT -5
True, but it took Marcus Blossom's "leadership" to get Chesney to win those championships.  I’m sorry, it’s all on Chez. There were several botched unilateral decisions the Athletic Department made which undermined his ability to coach his team. He persevered through them and managed to win a few football games. Good Riddance of MB If you've got nothing good to say...come sit next to me. Any specifics on the several botched unilateral decisions? |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 30, 2021 11:30:43 GMT -5
The BoT meets next week.
As the AD strategic plan was 'blessed' by the chair of the BoT, and the head of the BoT athletic committee (else it would not have been publicly published) it will almost certainly be approved by the BoT. Also likely to be approved at next week's meeting is the softball field to the top of the hill, and the new soccer/lacrosse field/stadium. The study of what to do about the Hart rink was almost certainly already approved.
There are also more scollies coming for the Olympic sports.
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Post by Tom on Aug 30, 2021 11:33:53 GMT -5
While I am optimistic for the future, I'm not sure the sport to which I pay the most attention has started off that strong. Women's ice hockey in a tough new league hasn't been that strong a start either Women's Ice Hockey get a pass until they get a full recruiting cycle through. Jumping from D-III to one of the premier conferences in the country is tough and I absolutely give them a pass. However, doesn't the fact that women's hockey needs a pass suggest that maybe they didn't start off that strong under the new coach? I'm nitpicking, but a sentence like that sounds more like propaganda than reality and when you start slipping in sentences like that, people might want to take everything with a grain of salt |
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Aug 30, 2021 11:40:34 GMT -5
Sure, in the college athletic world the HC is a stepping stone school........but he never even put both feet on the ground here. Sign of the times, I guess. sader1970 - I remember in my young days in retail, I was working for a REAL old school guy just when the "Corrective Action" process came into play. We had a non performer that he wanted to can. I said "but boss, we have to go through the process of counseling, verbal and written warnings first". He says "no; I think I'll put him on the Accelerated Program". Made the kids life so miserable that he quit on his own in a couple of weeks.  MB better get those Hart video boards delivered before he leaves!! |
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Post by efg72 on Aug 30, 2021 11:49:20 GMT -5
I am of the opinion that we look at any of the positive changes made by Blossom, and call those wins and prepare for the next steps.
The negatives might be significant, but I defer to others to point those out and opine. A ton of work remains to be done and we should make sure those are prioritized, and receive the immediate attention of the new hire. The first five things that come to mind:
Extend and pay Chesney and his staff a wage that says they are valued and establish some measurement of success for hoops
Continue working to strengthen the relationship with the Worcester Community
Push for the hockey program to move into Hockey East
Increase scholarships for those non-revenue sports.
Execute the Strategic Plan approved by the BOT
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Aug 30, 2021 11:50:32 GMT -5
I say make Chesney King of Athletics, let him hire someone to do all the time consuming stuff.....pay him a King's ransom.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Aug 30, 2021 11:56:47 GMT -5
Not for nothing, from the outside looking in, Blossom was very unpolished and lacked leadership skills. Very poor communicator and too big time to connect with his HC community. Talking to this guy was talking to a wall. He also treated his staff with lots of condescension and never any support. Marcus is the reason Chez will leave next year. He soured lots of relationships with his inactions, actions, words and silence. Next pick needs to be of the same communication and leadership styles we embody and cultivate on the Hill. Take the PR out of it. No need to “Be BC.” Grow as HC. This was readily apparent at the HC football golf outing. |
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coacht
Climbing Mt. St. James
A father of...that's gotta count for something!
Posts: 76 
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Post by coacht on Aug 30, 2021 12:15:32 GMT -5
And we do have an opening in the department as Coach Lapicki's last day as the softball head coach was less than a week ago. Getting hired by the out-going AD is not ideal for the new coach and waiting for the new AD to be found, installed and get down to softball on the 'to do' list likely means a vacancy until deep into the fall, after the fall ball season. If you don't offer the assistant at least the interim gig, she'll find another opportunity as well since a new head coach will likely want their own assistants. All that to say I expect to see the assistant tagged as the "Interim" and put this decision off until next summer.
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