Duffy. Nothing against Ivey, she’s a good coach. I just think that Duffy is an exceptional communicator and strategist and with the recruiting advantages and I assume, a larger program budget at ND, she would have been an outstanding hire there.
@Dillon77 would know more about the budget than I. And as you may already know, Duffy is also a former ND player.
Beth Cunningham was certainly taken aback by the move. I think Notre Dame did what colleges do these days in terms of succumbing to what outside forces almost demand, MHO…
Well, this is a subject that was certainly discussed on McGraw's Bench in excruciating detail...and for quite some time
it was always thought that Coach Ivey was the presumed favorite. However, many -- myself included -- hoped Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick would -- at least -- interview former Notre Dame players (turned coaches) Beth Morgan Cunningham (who was on staff) and Megan Duffy. (I would've loved at least candidate from outside, as well, to gain some possible external perspective, but that may be my corporate background.)
Didn't happen. Swarbrick claimed he had Ivey in mind from a few years before MM hung up the whistle and he moved decisively and quickly. Many felt Muffet had an outsized influence on this (she and Ivey are exceedingly tight), but Swarbrick claimed this was his decision.
In any case, Niele has brought in her own players to pursue the type of ball she wants to play, which includes more individual attacking, read and react and tougher defense. There was some player turnover, for sure, but she augmented the leaving with bringing in folks she knew from initial High School recruiting (Dara Mabrey, Maya Dodson, Kylee Watson and Jenna Brown). And she has gone over select types of players; most notably, Olivia Miles, Sonia Citron, Cassandre Prosper, Hannah Hidalgo and Emma Risch.
ND thinks the world of Duffy. Muffet strongly backed her going after the Marquette job and probably picked up the phone on her behalf (the Marquette AD, conveniently, is a former associate athletic director under Swarbrick).
Remember, Niele had no head coaching experience and some aspects of that showed in the beginning, from communications to late game management. But it's obvious she's a fast learner and keeps a calm, yet decisive demeanor on the sideline. We all hope she and the team continue to improve. With Hidalgo and Risch joining Miles, Citron, Maddy Westbeld, KK Bransford and Prosper next year, it looks good.
However, if it doesn't and/or she's lured back to the pro ranks, I can bet Swarbrick will place a call to Milwaukee.
