OT: Gallagher resigns at UHart

[UCMB88]

John Gallagher steps aside as UHart men’s basketball coach, citing budget cuts, safety concerns

Their first game of the season is tomorrow vs. Sacred Heart. Must be a dumpster fire over there for him to bail on the program a day before the season starts.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Rooting for coach Gal; UHart can get stuffed

 

[navery12]

Some of the stuff in that letter is crazy. Cutting scholarships is one thing but not sending a trainer to away games is dangerous

 

[M.S.G.]

Gallagher has done a fine job there, while I can’t argue with him climbing out of the dumpster fire before it is too late - could I trust him if I was his next employer?

Tricky, but that UHart situation is embarrassing, administrators should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

If Manhattan wasn't such a clusterpuck, Gallagher appears to have worked with a limited budget for years

 

[UCLJ0211]

Doesn’t want to coach a D3 team I guess..

 

[SwingDog]

So sad to see the state of the program, and the University of Hartford going from D-I to D-lll. As a kid I recall the excitement when they went D-I with Jack Phelan as coach. My dad, who was an alumnus, had season tickets. For their inaugural season the Hawks played all or some of their home games at the old HCC, and they had concerts following at least some of the games. Truly a sad situation there now, and I feel bad for the student athletes. I don't know why he felt the need to leave so abruptly, but I wish him the very best in the next chapter.

 

[CCSU97]

Gal is a gutless loser for bailing on his players the day before the season starts. I feel for the kids that bought his story.

The writing was on the wall for what this program would be 2 years ago. He could have left as soon as the downgrade was announced. But instead, he though he was bigger than the University and could bully them into changing directions or bending at his whim.

D-III routinely do not send trainers for road games - the home team would support both teams. And if that was such a big deal - why get on the bus in the first place without the trainer and travel to Dartmouth? Why not make your stance then and stay home and cancel a meaningless exhibition game? Instead, send a public letter and quit on the opening day for college hoops ... whatever.

He's got too many fan boys in coaching and media circles. He wasn't a very successful coach - he was at UHa for a decade with a mediocre record. He won 1 QA bid out of America East and some people think he's Wooden. Donyell Marshall, who is potentially the worst D-I coach I have ever witnessed, finished with a 2-3 record against him. Let that sink in ...

 

[UCMB88]

His name will get mentioned when the proverbial axe falls on some mid-major coaches this season. He'll be fine. I do feel bad for the student-athletes.

Sounds like a real cluster-f over there however, the University of Hartford released a statement Monday refuting Gallagher's claims:

"First and foremost, the safety of our students is our top priority. The University confirmed Dartmouth College would have an athletic trainer on site for our recent scrimmage, who could assist both UHart and Dartmouth student-athletes. This is an institution with highly qualified medical staff and facilities. Additionally, other members of our staff have always had a University-sponsored credit card for planned meals and expenses."

"Mr. Gallagher's resignation letter is full of inaccuracies. We are confident that these baseless claims and attacks will be disproved through the legal process. We wish Mr. Gallagher well and look forward to announcing interim leadership for our men's basketball program."

 

[shizzle787]

If Manhattan wasn't such a clusterpuck, Gallagher appears to have worked with a limited budget for years

Bet you he's Manhattan's coach by the end of the week.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

As a UHart alum, good for Coach Gal. The school cut funding for athletics and clubs across the board in recent years. The school is going to try to cover up anything they can. Really sad situation over there.

 

[UCMB88]

Bet you he's Manhattan's coach by the end of the week.

Maybe it was already in the works, and he had to find a way out of UHart??

 

[Purple Stein]

What an absolute mess. I don’t know anything about UHart’s financial situation, but it sure seems like more schools are trying to move up than down.

 

[XLCenterFan]

I agree with his move...disagree with his timing. And UHart is entirely a dumpster fire....nut just the basketball/athletic programs.

 

[ValleyGuy]

If Ime Udoka can get a job Gallagher will be just fine..

 

[nickp91]

This has Netflix special written all over it

 

[Dove]

He wasn't ten toes in. What a jerk.

 

[UCONNJACK]

Sounds like things are real messy at Hartford.

John Gallagher steps aside as UHart men’s basketball coach, citing budget cuts, safety concerns

John Gallagher has stepped down as men’s basketball coach at the University of Hartford, some 20 months after leading the Hawks to the NCAA Tournament and less than 36 hours before the start …

www.courant.com

 

[imno1]

Too bad. John’s a good guy and decent coach

 

[freescooter]

He wasn't ten toes in. What a jerk.

Hallmark movie.

 

[methodology]

As a UHart alum, good for Coach Gal. The school cut funding for athletics and clubs across the board in recent years. The school is going to try to cover up anything they can. Really sad situation over there.

My friend was the tennis coach there until they cut the program. School lied constantly to him about everything and never gave proper support. He said it was a dumpster fire then and would only get worse. Gallagher fought hard for his kids and program and had no choice but to leave. The school already derailed any chance of the program having success him leaving a day before their first game does nothing

 

[gtcam]

The UHart administration and AD has NOBODY to blame but themselves.
I'm not going to judge Coach Gal because all the coaches who worked hard at recruiting D1 athletes had to deal with them becoming D3 status. (I am not at all demeaning D3 sports at all - many D1 quality athletes choose D3 because they don't want to be a slave to the lack of autonomy as a student). Yeah he may be seen as abandoning the team but that is what the college did to all those athletes who chose the school under the understanding that they would be playing their sport at the highest levels.
The victims are firstly the students and secondly the coaches. Period.

 

[gtcam]

If Ime Udoka can get a job Gallagher will be just fine..

Sean Miller is a better example - there are a lot of things concerning Udoka that are not overt and there are some people in the Celtic front office who wanted to get rid of him but felt that would be difficult coming off the NBA finals appearance.

 

[freescooter]

Gal is a gutless loser for bailing on his players the day before the season starts. I feel for the kids that bought his story.

The writing was on the wall for what this program would be 2 years ago. He could have left as soon as the downgrade was announced. But instead, he though he was bigger than the University and could bully them into changing directions or bending at his whim.

D-III routinely do not send trainers for road games - the home team would support both teams. And if that was such a big deal - why get on the bus in the first place without the trainer and travel to Dartmouth? Why not make your stance then and stay home and cancel a meaningless exhibition game? Instead, send a public letter and quit on the opening day for college hoops ... whatever.

He's got too many fan boys in coaching and media circles. He wasn't a very successful coach - he was at UHa for a decade with a mediocre record. He won 1 QA bid out of America East and some people think he's Wooden. Donyell Marshall, who is potentially the worst D-I coach I have ever witnessed, finished with a 2-3 record against him. Let that sink in ...

In my mind both things can be true. He was treated badly by the school as was his team. But he also acted unprofessionally in leaving the day before the first game.

The problem with UHart at the D1 level is they are completely overshadowed by too many others. Nobody follows them including their own students. They could well succeed at the D3 level. Play local opponents with a chance to win. The move should have been handled better but for a school of its size and make up D3 is probably not a horrible place to be.

 

[UCTitleTown]

I love him bailing right before their first game. Screw the administration like they screwed over all their athletes and students. UHart sucks. Enjoy D3 purgatory. D1 athletics was probably the only selling point for the otherwise mediocre university.