Coaching Carousel 2018

[Vowelguy]

I was checking the DIII WBB tournament and a few things became very apparent: NESCAC plays hoops very well (both finalists were form the conference) and the NESCAC coaches of said teams -- and others -- are very good and successful.

So, I thought about a D1 School in New England that has a good academic reputation that needs a boost in it's basketball program -- Boston College -- and wondered if these three teams might be worth considering:

- G.P. Gromacki of Amherst is in his 11th Season and has a winning percentage only second to one Geno A. He's got a two-year winning streak and has won the DIII championship two years running.
- Carla Berube of Tufts. I know a lot of Boneyarders think her lifestyle would preclude her from being considered, but quality is quaility and she is a relatively short drive away. She's also affiliated with the National program.
and
one just up the road in Maine:
- Bowdoin head coach Adrienne Shibles. No coach in Bowdoin's history has enjoyed a better start to their career, as Shibles has gone 194-60 (.764) with a NESCAC title and eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

You'd assume that they'd have excellent contacts for a certain type of student-athlete that would certainly mesh with BC and I'm sure all of them could expand that thinking.

I know longtime DIII coach turned D1 head Nancy Fahey had a tough first year at Illinois but the shelves were empty in Champaign and she's got some players coming in next year. Plus, I think the segue from NESCAC to BC has a bit more similarities than Wash U to B1G.

Thoughts?

I suspect Gromacki & Berube are quite happy where they are. NESCAC coaching is a great job. It's also a lot more family friendly. Both have kids and I believe Berube's is not even school-aged yet.

And I doubt either has not already been approached in previous years.

 

[UcMiami]

I suspect Gromacki & Berube are quite happy where they are. NESCAC coaching is a great job. It's also a lot more family friendly. Both have kids and I believe Berube's is not even school-aged yet.

And I doubt either has not already been approached in previous years.

I certainly agree with everything except that last sentence - every 'approach' is different and unique, and timing is important as well as we saw with Jen at Hartford. Carla is getting to around the same point career wise and might be tempted especially to a regional D1 program.

 

[Dillon77]

Just keeping this thread up to speed on recent coaching moves, one involving Cincinnati which had it's own thread and in which JavaMan first posted the news on the new Cincy Coach. I followed up with the announcement on the hiring at Western Kentucky. Just wanted to keep everything whole on the Coaching Carousel!

Having just read the article on Western Kentucky, it looks like Ms. Heard decided to get out of Dodge (Western Kentucky), in part because of a Kentucky state budget cut that directly affected the WK basketball program: the director of operations position was cut, which is a huge part of a functioning D1 program. Plus, she just doubled her salary from $200, to $400k at Cincy. Collins, the longest-standing assistant in WK's league, gets the top job but depleted staff to start the job. Good luck to both, for differing reasons.

​

I was just reading about this and was wondering why Heard would leave her alma mater for this position, but it seems that she spent time at Cincy as an assistant and one could guess she's being offered a better salary and a chance to compete in a much more visible league. Now will she get the support beyond day one?

BTW, her associate head coach at WKU, Greg Collins, was just promoted to the head slot at WKU.
Source: Greg Collins to be named WKU women's basketball coach

 

[DefenseBB]

With Dillon posting about WKU, I got to thinking about Kentucky Matthew Mitchell and how many transfers he had (Camara and Jennings last night) from a couple of years ago. I just saw he was extended to 2022 at $825 per year plus 5% raise and incentives for reaching certain rounds of NCAA including $500K for a NC. I just don't get it. Why??? He's not that good, his reputation is a bit in shambles and they don't have a national presence to warrant that money. Ok, I am done on the segue...

 

[DefenseBB]

I was checking the DIII WBB tournament and a few things became very apparent: NESCAC plays hoops very well (both finalists were form the conference) and the NESCAC coaches of said teams -- and others -- are very good and successful.

So, I thought about a D1 School in New England that has a good academic reputation that needs a boost in it's basketball program -- Boston College -- and wondered if these three teams might be worth considering:

- G.P. Gromacki of Amherst is in his 11th Season and has a winning percentage only second to one Geno A. He's got a two-year winning streak and has won the DIII championship two years running.
- Carla Berube of Tufts. I know a lot of Boneyarders think her lifestyle would preclude her from being considered, but quality is quaility and she is a relatively short drive away. She's also affiliated with the National program.
and
one just up the road in Maine:
- Bowdoin head coach Adrienne Shibles. No coach in Bowdoin's history has enjoyed a better start to their career, as Shibles has gone 194-60 (.764) with a NESCAC title and eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

You'd assume that they'd have excellent contacts for a certain type of student-athlete that would certainly mesh with BC and I'm sure all of them could expand that thinking.

I know longtime DIII coach turned D1 head Nancy Fahey had a tough first year at Illinois but the shelves were empty in Champaign and she's got some players coming in next year. Plus, I think the segue from NESCAC to BC has a bit more similarities than Wash U to B1G.

Thoughts?

I think the real answer is BC doesn't care much about their sports other than Hockey, Football and maybe, Men's Basketball. The whole Athletic Department needs to be revamped and changed from the old culture of the Big East and Bean Pot mentality. The full athlete support-academic advisors, meals, summer courses are all second class operations to the rest of the ACC and most elite P5 programs plus Big East, A-10 and AAC.

 

[Vowelguy]

Interesting about Heard at Cinci. I saw another post this am that suggested she was a top choice at Ole Miss as well. Figured Cinci would have no shot against a P5 school.

 

[Dillon77]

With Dillon posting about WKU, I got to thinking about Kentucky Matthew Mitchell and how many transfers he had (Camara and Jennings last night) from a couple of years ago. I just saw he was extended to 2022 at $825 per year plus 5% raise and incentives for reaching certain rounds of NCAA including $500K for a NC. I just don't get it. Why??? He's not that good, his reputation is a bit in shambles and they don't have a national presence to warrant that money. Ok, I am done on the segue...

I seem to recall Matt Mitchell getting regular pastings on this board and others with the Kentucky comings and goings, along with the NCAA giving him a chance to play at home in the NCAA tourneys (to no avail). Yeah, he went 15-17 this year with two juniors averaging in double figures: Maci Morris (15.7) and Taylor Murray (11.5). Then the next highest scorers were in the 6.0+ range. Well, at least two of them were freshman. He's got two ranked recruits coming in: guard Rhyne Howard (#31 Hoopgurlz) and wing Blair Green (#71 HG).

Still, this seems to be a team that is treading water, at best, with Matt and former Indiana Fever Coach Linn Dunn keeping the Wildcats in the middle of the pack. Apparently, Matt is tight with AD Mitch Barnhart and he and his wife donate part of his salary to UK-fave charities. Maybe a hedge against when Calipari eventually goes off? Who knows? The record does not really justify that kind of investment and Walz seems to be making inroads in the KY-recruiting battles...he's got three in-state, blue chippers headed to Louisville.

 

[Dillon77]

I think the real answer is BC doesn't care much about their sports other than Hockey, Football and maybe, Men's Basketball. The whole Athletic Department needs to be revamped and changed from the old culture of the Big East and Bean Pot mentality. The full athlete support-academic advisors, meals, summer courses are all second class operations to the rest of the ACC and most elite P5 programs plus Big East, A-10 and AAC.

Bingo. Need to do a whole analysis of how they run the entire program...I've heard the same things you're bringing up. Not much central support or resources" Still, some sports do well....women's lacrosse is first rate (made it National Championship game last year) and women's soccer and hockey are also first-rate.

While Erik Johnson had progressively worse results the last few years, he had one of his better recruiting efforts this year. It may buy the new coach some time to get his/her act in place.

We'll see...I want to believe a good WCBB program can exist there, but all evidence points against success. Maybe staying in NESCAC is a good idea

 

[DefenseBB]

Interesting about Heard at Cinci. I saw another post this am that suggested she was a top choice at Ole Miss as well. Figured Cinci would have no shot against a P5 school.

Is Ole Miss really a P5 school in WCBB?

I saw the chance to redeem my sense of humor concerns, so I took it

 

[Dillon77]

CLEMSON RELIEVES AUDRA SMITH of HEAD COACHING POSITION

Clemson parts ways with hoops coach Smith


First few posts in this thread pondered this transaction taking place and it has.
Three ACC programs are now in play: Boston College, Clemson, Virginia.

While Virginia is the institution with the WCBB pedigree, Clemson is aggressive with its athletic department and has just opened up a new facility, which should help.

This could get interesting for ACC watchers....

 

[JavaMan]

Interesting tidbit from the article:

Smith was 52-99 in her five seasons. She was just 9-70 in ACC play.

Radakovich appreciated Smith's effort, but said the on-court results made the move necessary.

Smith was the one-time college roommate of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley while the two were at Virginia. Smith was 0-5 against her friend in the annual rivalry game between the schools.

​

 

[Dillon77]

BOWLING GREEN HIRES ASHLAND'S ROBYN FRALICK AS NEW HEAD COACH

Robyn Fralick has a head-coaching record of 104-3, for an incredible winning percentage of .972 while at Ashland. The Eagles won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016-17, before returning to the national championship game and earning a runner-up finish in '17-18.

Fralick's winning percentage is the best in NCAA history at any level (minimum of 100 games coached).

A number of us have commented on the top D-II teams this year and how entertaining their offenses were. Good luck to her in the next assignment. Megan Duffy had a good first year with Miami of Ohio, but she had a bit more to work with upon her arrival. Stay tuned and good luck to Ms. Fralick.


Robyn Fralick Named Head Women's Basketball Coach - Bowling Green State University

 

[ScarlettB]

Tasha Pointer was just named head coach at University of Illinois Chicago. This is her first head coaching position.

 

[Dillon77]

OLE MISS NAMES YOLETT McPHEE - McCUIN AS HEAD COACH; CAME FROM JACKSONVILLE

She spent five years turning around the women's basketball program at Jacksonville University in the Atlantic Sun. Prior to that she was an assistant at, among other schools, Clemson and Pittsburgh.

According to the press release (below), McPhee-McCuin was the first Bahamian woman to sign a Division I letter of intent to play basketball.

Good luck to her at Ole Miss.

This is the first of the P5 positions to be filled, with Texas Tech, Washington State and the three ACC Schools still vacant (UVA, Clemson and Boston College).


Yolett McPhee-McCuin Named Women's Basketball Head Coach

 

[Dillon77]

While Charlotte Smith has long been rumored to possibly be the N.C. coach in waiting, she has been checking out other opportunities: last year at Florida; and, apparently today at Clemson, an ACC competitor of N.C.

 

[Vowelguy]

While Charlotte Smith has long been rumored to possibly be the N.C. coach in waiting, she has been checking out other opportunities: last year at Florida; and, apparently today at Clemson, an ACC competitor of N.C.

Always good to have options, and to get experience in interviewing.

She also wants to gauge how much UNC wants her. if she's a sure thing there they will reach out. If UNC wants to consider all its options, then she needs to as well.

 

[Vowelguy]

Marlene Stollings from Minn considered frontrunner at Texas Tech.
Is that really a step up for her?

 

[Plebe]

Marlene Stollings from Minn considered frontrunner at Texas Tech.
Is that really a step up for her?

I suppose Tech has the somewhat stronger tradition, with a national championship plus many years of being a contender. But that's a pretty distant past and it sounds pretty lateral to me.

The only other thing I can think of is that Lubbock is in more fertile recruiting ground than Minnesota.

 

[triaddukefan]

I suppose Tech has the somewhat stronger tradition, with a national championship plus many years of being a contender. But that's a pretty distant past and it sounds pretty lateral to me.

The only other thing I can think of is that Lubbock is in more fertile recruiting ground than Minnesota.

If Lubbock is in a more fertile recruiting ground than Minnesota..... May God help Minnesota

 

[Plebe]

If Lubbock is in a more fertile recruiting ground than Minnesota..... May God help Minnesota

I don't mind Lubbock per se, but rather the state it's in.

 

[triaddukefan]

I don't mind Lubbock per se, but rather the state it's in.

For some reason I thought you lived in Texas.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I may be completely wrong, but I imagine Lubbock is to Texas kinda like what Pullman is to Washington: nowhere near anything else, and a hard place to recruit to. Also very much looked down upon by other in state schools from more urban, cosmopolitan areas.

 

[triaddukefan]

I may be completely wrong, but I imagine Lubbock is to Texas kinda like what Pullman is to Washington: nowhere near anything else, and a hard place to recruit to. Also very much looked down upon by other in state schools from more urban, cosmopolitan areas.

Yeah... like College Station and Waco

 

[triaddukefan]

I may be completely wrong, but I imagine Lubbock is to Texas kinda like what Pullman is to Washington: nowhere near anything else, and a hard place to recruit to. Also very much looked down upon by other in state schools from more urban, cosmopolitan areas.

Lubbock has more going on than Pullman (never been to either) but its so so far away. I dont have a map in front of me.... but Its probably closer to Denver than it is to Houston

 

[Bayareahusky]

Lubbock has more going on than Pullman (never been to either) but its so so far away. I dont have a map in front of me.... but Its probably closer to Denver than it is to Houston

At least Pullman has Moscow a quick drive over the border..... another big college community....

 

[triaddukefan]

At least Pullman has Moscow a quick drive over the border..... another big college community....

Yeah... I forgot about that. Giving the choice personally... I'd rather live/go to school in Pullman.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Lubbock has more going on than Pullman (never been to either) but its so so far away. I dont have a map in front of me.... but Its probably closer to Denver than it is to Houston

Lubbock seemed very nice, my wife and I stayed there one night. However, we evacuated quickly the next day due to anticipated inclement weather.

I don't remember where we were going or where we were coming from, and due to the weather we didn't get to see the campus, which we try to do when we are in college towns, but they had some notable restaurants and museums (that we didn't get to visit).

My wife and I felt like - if it was easier to get to - we would go back. As it is, I don't know that we ever will.

Never been to Pullman, but no interest in going either.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Yeah... like College Station and Waco

Good stuff. I was thinking more along the lines of the school in Austin.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Never been to Pullman, but no interest in going either.

Unless you are going to school there or have a kid going to school there, I can't think of any reason why anyone would want to visit Pullman. I passed thru one time toward the end of a road trip. Made a fairly lengthy detour to check out Palouse Falls, then Pullman was along a reasonable route to get back to a major road.

 

[mbr33ct]

Looks like the ACC is house cleaning. Jobs available within P5 conferences. Boston College, Clemson, Pittsburgh and Virginia (ACC), Texas Tech (BIG12) and Washington St (PAC12)

List of current NCAA Division I women's basketball coaches - Wikipedia