Outstanding Work AD Dave!

[businesslawyer]

I'm happy there is so much optimism about this hire. It's good to hear.

But I've been through a lot of these in a lot of sports. And tomorrow is always a mystery. So I will hope for the best as well, but I don't have any expectations until I see what is on the field.

This is basically correct, but I’d say it somewhat differently. I think this was a very good hire, and DB gets tons of credit for pulling it off in 10 or 11 days. But there is not a direct correlation between how good the hire is, judged at the time it is made, and how it works out over time. We — the entire UConn athletics community — now need to work with the athletic department to do all we can do to make sure it works over time. And no, that is not internet posting. Buy more tickets, convince more people to give going to games a try, make bigger contributions.

 

[HuskyNan]

Im fascinated to know who this colleague is

Warde Manuel? Former UConn AD

Warde Manuel - Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics - Staff Directory - University of Michigan Athletics

Warde J. Manuel was named Michigan's Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics on Jan. 29, 2016. Manuel's original five-year appointment was extended on Feb. ...

mgoblue.com

 

[JVN]

Warde Manuel? Former UConn AD

Warde Manuel - Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics - Staff Directory - University of Michigan Athletics

Warde J. Manuel was named Michigan's Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics on Jan. 29, 2016. Manuel's original five-year appointment was extended on Feb. ...

mgoblue.com

I was thinking maybe Noel Mazzone?

 

[Palatine]

Im fascinated to know who this colleague is

My guess it was a donor, someone like Burton. Notice how Benedict said a lot of Candle's questions were about the "commitment to the football program." Having a donor along to answer those questions with authority would have made a lot of sense.

 

[jostar1]

My guess it was a donor, someone like Burton. Notice how Benedict said a lot of Candle's questions were about the "commitment to the football program." Having a donor along to answer those questions with authority would have made a lot of sense.

But we don't know if Benedict talked to Candle in Michigan. I'm thinking he didn't. He was there to evaluate Candle on the QT.

 

[Bongo Fury]

My guess it was a donor, someone like Burton. Notice how Benedict said a lot of Candle's questions were about the "commitment to the football program." Having a donor along to answer those questions with authority would have made a lot of sense.

Shrewd move if true. Team effort.

 

[superjohn]

I'm thoroughly convinced that Geno is the best sports coach of all time in all sports combined. Better than Wooden, better than Rockne, better than Lombardi, better than Dorrance, better than them all.

In 20 years (if I'm still around), I'm gonna look back with such pride that he was here and I was here with him...

Anson Dorrance women's college soccer UNC coach- 21 NCAA championships, 22 national championships.

 

[DW1361]

Would love to know more about the backstory. How soon was DB notified by Mora that he was considering the CSU job and whether Mora was giving a counter offer? Pretty cool that in only four days after Mora’s announcement that DB got on a plane to view Candle in action. Were there interviews and how did this all come about? Happened lightening fast!!! Glad we got a young up and coming coach rather than another older guy that was bounced around. Very excited about this hire. Thank you David Benedict!!!

 

[BRS24]

Would love to know more about the backstory. How soon was DB notified by Mora that he was considering the CSU job and whether Mora was giving a counter offer? Pretty cool that in only four days after Mora’s announcement that DB got on a plane to view Candle in action. Were there interviews and how did this all come about? Happened lightening fast!!! Glad we got a young up and coming coach rather than another older guy that was bounced around. Very excited about this hire. Thank you David Benedict!!!

IMHO, AD David Benedict probably has a succession plan for all of the sports. In this age, you need to know who's out there, who you want, and move quickly. We may never know when DB started his look into Candle, however compared to some other programs (looking at you, PSU), UConn seemed to have a much more stable process.

 

[jostar1]

Would love to know more about the backstory. How soon was DB notified by Mora that he was considering the CSU job and whether Mora was giving a counter offer? Pretty cool that in only four days after Mora’s announcement that DB got on a plane to view Candle in action. Were there interviews and how did this all come about? Happened lightening fast!!! Glad we got a young up and coming coach rather than another older guy that was bounced around. Very excited about this hire. Thank you David Benedict!!!

There have been hints that there was a mutual parting. Mora had been interviewing for other jobs and didn't seem happy for the past few months. He had been given a raise a year earlier from $1 million to $2.5 million. Chief said a counter-offer stalled on Radenka Maric's desk. Benedict must have known it was inevitable. Generally when someone is looking to leave, more money isn't the answer.

 

[jostar1]

IMHO, AD David Benedict probably has a succession plan for all of the sports. In this age, you need to know who's out there, who you want, and move quickly. We may never know when DB started his look into Candle, however compared to some other programs (looking at you, PSU), UConn seemed to have a much more stable process.

But what a coincidence that Toledo was playing Central Michigan and it just so happens that Central Michigan's AD is Amy Folan, a 1996 UConn graduate and a former Huskies’ soccer player. So she set things up for Benedict to attend the game and watch Candle coach in person.

 

[rich1122]

Now let's install a high power passing offense. The Joe Fagnano/Skyler Bell blueprint already exists. Just go get a real good pitcher and some real good catchers.

He’s a run guy.

Doubt that we’ll see a Fagnano Bell pair anytime soon. We have too many holes to fill.

 

[BlueandOG]

You don't want to read the comments from Toledo followers.

Toledo has followers?

 

[HuskiesFourLife]

Toledo has followers?

😂😂😂😂

 

[UConnDan97]

Anson Dorrance women's college soccer UNC coach- 21 NCAA championships, 22 national championships.

I included him in my list. Geno is better. From what we were to what we are now, and when considering the amount of attention and scrutiny that bball gets over soccer and the relative competition of other institutions, Geno wins that debate...

 

[huskyinfl]

But what a coincidence that Toledo was playing Central Michigan and it just so happens that Central Michigan's AD is Amy Folan, a 1996 UConn graduate and a former Huskies’ soccer player. So she set things up for Benedict to attend the game and watch Candle coach in person.

Huskies always help other Huskies.

 

[Samoo]

I included him in my list. Geno is better. From what we were to what we are now, and when considering the amount of attention and scrutiny that bball gets over soccer and the relative competition of other institutions, Geno wins that debate...

My thoughts as well, Geno's start was from lower, the competition tougher, the spotlight brighter.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Toledo has followers?

Consistently solid fan support, particularly for MAC

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

But what a coincidence that Toledo was playing Central Michigan and it just so happens that Central Michigan's AD is Amy Folan, a 1996 UConn graduate and a former Huskies’ soccer player. So she set things up for Benedict to attend the game and watch Candle coach in person.

Tip of the hat for Connecticut alumna, Amy Folan, ex-Texas assistant AD (18 yrs), ex-Georgia assistant AD, and ex-NCAA employee.

 

[superjohn]

I included him in my list. Geno is better. From what we were to what we are now, and when considering the amount of attention and scrutiny that bball gets over soccer and the relative competition of other institutions, Geno wins that debate...

Disagree, they both played sports the general public didn't care much about and there was very little parity. Granted people care much more about women's basketball since Caitlin Clark and there's much more parity than there used to be. I think Calhoun, Hurley, K, Knight and a bunch of other men's college coaches are better coaches than Geno.

 

[UConnDan97]

Disagree, they both played sports the general public didn't care much about and there was very little parity. Granted people care much more about women's basketball since Caitlin Clark and there's much more parity than there used to be. I think Calhoun, Hurley, K, Knight and a bunch of other men's college coaches are better coaches than Geno.

Dorrance never had to go up against another Dorrance. There was no parity in women's soccer. Dorrance won his first national championship 3 years after UConn had formed their first women's soccer team, to put the timeline in perspective. (NOTE: that's when most women's soccer teams started, including UNC)

Meanwhile, Geno had to go up against the VanDerveer's and Summitt's of the world, and he had to do it with an institution that played home games in Guyer Gym (the field house with a leaky roof) until 1990.

Nobody is taking anything away from Dorrance. But Geno did more with less...

 

[husky429]

There have been hints that there was a mutual parting. Mora had been interviewing for other jobs and didn't seem happy for the past few months. He had been given a raise a year earlier from $1 million to $2.5 million. Chief said a counter-offer stalled on Radenka Maric's desk. Benedict must have known it was inevitable. Generally when someone is looking to leave, more money isn't the answer.

Chief knows nothing bud

 

[superjohn]

Dorrance never had to go up against another Dorrance. There was no parity in women's soccer. Dorrance won his first national championship 3 years after UConn had formed their first women's soccer team, to put the timeline in perspective.

Meanwhile, Geno had to go up against the VanDerveer's and Summitt's of the world, and he had to do it with an institution that played home games in Guyer Gym (the field house with a leaky roof) until 1990.

Nobody is taking anything away from Dorrance. But Geno did more with less...

I don't think either of them are in the top 100 coaches ever in all of sports history. Your post sure made it sound like you were just going with the person who had the most/a ton of championships in any sport so I went with the UNC women's soccer coach.

 

[UConnDan97]

I don't think either of them are in the top 100 coaches ever in all of sports history. Your post sure made it sound like you were just going with the person who had the most/a ton of championships in any sport so I went with the UNC women's soccer coach.

I was gonna say that you're entitled to your opinion, but if you believe that neither Dorrance nor Auriemma are in the top 100 coaches of all time, I'm not sure you should be entitled to it...

 

[superjohn]

I was gonna say that you're entitled to your opinion, but if you believe that neither Dorrance nor Auriemma are in the top 100 coaches of all time, I'm not sure you should be entitled to it...

You think Geno Auriemma is a better basketball coach than Calhoun and Hurley. You're entitled to your opinion but it's laughable.