Coaching Carousel 2023

[Pikapppatri8]

We are all placing a lot of hope in the fact that not only is Tony called but hired. Any truth to this? Has he even been called yet? Not a lot of noise about him anywhere.

Why does anyone have faith that Mason does this right? Let’s be real, if we find out he was never even called. Would that surprise anyone?

Sorry but until I see something actually done by a pretty much out of touch athletic department, why should I believe?

We want Tony however does anyone on here actually have that power? Do any fans, boosters, donors whatever you want to call it really have the power to change anything? These boards haven’t changed since 2011, people were yelling for change back then. What exactly has changed? We’ve fired a few coaches, we’ve fired a few ads. We jumped leagues and instead of spending at the top of one league we’re now in the bottom of another.

The game day experience is no different, the quality of the team is no better. To the casual fan who doesn’t follow RPI, Kenpom, roi and how much the coach costs has anything really truly changed?

Until I see it, I’m just expecting Mason to run right back to a ‘safe hire’ who won’t get anyone excited and will grind it out for 5 years. 1 or 2 seasons they may hit 20 wins and some people will talk about the ‘improved’ investments coming in a decade.

Cannot argue with that logic.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Many folks have asked me or said to me “if Tony didn’t go to mason would he even be on the radar”

It’s an interesting question. To me, I’d have to say yes because he’s a young up and comer recruiter connected to the dmv.

There’s a chance that we pass on Tony again, however I’d have to bet there’d have to be a VERY good reason. As someone said in my text messages, short of calling Dr Washington a name, it has to be his to lose.

Nobody can sell the school like Tony or any of the guys from that era. They are part of the reason many of us give a shit. It’s guys like Tony and Folarin who helped us to buy into the program they led. Add to the fact he’d be working with Folarin who is already in the Patriot club, and that’s an excellent duo.

If we do pass on Tony, I have to think it’s because we went with an Odom or someone who’s an absolute stud who has already won. We are looking to pay legitimately for a coach so this won’t be taking just anyone.

If we go with an Odom - I think there is a significant chance he pulls a Jimmy English on us and leaves in 2 years.

 

[mkaufman1]

If we go with an Odom - I think there is a significant chance he pulls a Jimmy English on us and leaves in 2 years.

Maybe he does maybe he doesn’t. But I’m not going to worry about that today. I want to win and I want mason back in the tourney.

 

[Walter]

If we go with an Odom - I think there is a significant chance he pulls a Jimmy English on us and leaves in 2 years.

Only if he wins.

Do you think coaches just get rewarded for PR?

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Only if he wins.

Do you think coaches just get rewarded for PR?

Well its up to opinion - not sure KE really "won" here - the KE era was a lot like the DP era which was slightly better than the PH era.

 

[FlPatriot]

Maybe he does maybe he doesn’t. But I’m not going to worry about that today. I want to win and I want mason back in the tourney.

I think this should be something we consider in a hire. I can see Tony staying long term due to his ties here. Do we really want to do this again in two years?

 

[tblack33]

Anyone who thinks that if Tony is hired he will stay out of some sort of idea of loyalty, I have oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you.

If Tony comes it’s the same situation as KE, either we are ready to throw money at resources at him if he is mildly successful, or someone else will. That goes for any coach that has some degree of success here. Not sure why everyone thinks that there is some blind loyalty we are owed by these coaches. At the end of the day they are husbands and fathers and there is life changing, generational type money being thrown around, and just like every single one of you with two brain cells to rub together they are going to follow wherever the best situation is for them. Which when the P5 comes knocking, we will lose 9/10 times.

Some folks need to come to the realization that this is the market and the game now, and it doesn’t just happen to us.

 

[illayin]

One reason I favor Tony as HC and Lamar as Asst is bc we would also have Jai, Will, John Vaughn, Folarin, Gabe, Mike Mo, supporting their brothers. We could potentially recruit a kid all day long with rotating shifts. Imagine that crew walking into a gym. Mason Mafia!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1638898844556509186

 

[FreeGunston12]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1638898844556509186

It's an easy decision. Let's not complicate this. I don't really want to hear any more about Ryan Odom or anybody else.

If anyone other than Skinn is brought in, they better win and win right away. I think the whole fanbase would (and should) turn their backs otherwise.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Anyone who thinks that if Tony is hired he will stay out of some sort of idea of loyalty, I have oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you.

If Tony comes it’s the same situation as KE, either we are ready to throw money at resources at him if he is mildly successful, or someone else will. That goes for any coach that has some degree of success here. Not sure why everyone thinks that there is some blind loyalty we are owed by these coaches. At the end of the day they are husbands and fathers and there is life changing, generational type money being thrown around, and just like every single one of you with two brain cells to rub together they are going to follow wherever the best situation is for them. Which when the P5 comes knocking, we will lose 9/10 times.

Some folks need to come to the realization that this is the market and the game now, and it doesn’t just happen to us.

I agree in general - but Tony's ties to the University would not be negligible and would have a difference -- not enough to keep him here if a high major called - but it would have to be the right one. Let's be honest - Providence is not that great of a move - a bit better league but not great. Providence couldn't pull Coach L and he was an alumni.

I do believe President Washington would recognize what Tony would bring as an alumni and former player and try to make that work. Right now - I would prefer a Tony Skinn instead of another opportunistic shill that we just experienced.

 

[GMU79]

I agree in general - but Tony's ties to the University would not be negligible and would have a difference -- not enough to keep him here if a high major called - but it would have to be the right one. Let's be honest - Providence is not that great of a move - a bit better league but not great. Providence couldn't pull Coach L and he was an alumni.

I do believe President Washington would recognize what Tony would bring as an alumni and former player and try to make that work. Right now - I would prefer a Tony Skinn instead of another opportunistic shill that we just experienced.

Which I'm afraid Odom would likely be.
I agree, Tony would be far less likely to bail.

 

[FlPatriot]

Anyone who thinks that if Tony is hired he will stay out of some sort of idea of loyalty, I have oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you.

If Tony comes it’s the same situation as KE, either we are ready to throw money at resources at him if he is mildly successful, or someone else will. That goes for any coach that has some degree of success here. Not sure why everyone thinks that there is some blind loyalty we are owed by these coaches. At the end of the day they are husbands and fathers and there is life changing, generational type money being thrown around, and just like every single one of you with two brain cells to rub together they are going to follow wherever the best situation is for them. Which when the P5 comes knocking, we will lose 9/10 times.

Some folks need to come to the realization that this is the market and the game now, and it doesn’t just happen to us.

Assuming the school pays Tony what he’s worth now, continues to in the future and Tony has success there’s no reason he won’t stay. Life is not a zero sum game.

 

[Falco]

On paper Skinn looks deserving. Every school he’s coached at has improved. Willard made sure to bring him to UMD. Can someone with more knowledge tell me if he’s good in front of camera?

I’ve listened to a couple interviews with him, and he doesn’t sound very polished. Yet again most of those interviews are very informal.

 

[Patriotsince81]

On paper Skinn looks deserving. Every school he’s coached at has improved. Willard made sure to bring him to UMD. Can someone with more knowledge tell me if he’s good in front of camera?

I’ve listened to a couple interviews with him, and he doesn’t sound very polished. Yet again most of those interviews are very informal.

From 2 years ago.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X97nkxauGZk

 

[Patriotsince81]

On paper Skinn looks deserving. Every school he’s coached at has improved. Willard made sure to bring him to UMD. Can someone with more knowledge tell me if he’s good in front of camera?

I’ve listened to a couple interviews with him, and he doesn’t sound very polished. Yet again most of those interviews are very informal.

If you have an hour to spare.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdl0uJ8HbT4

 

[tblack33]

Assuming the school pays Tony what he’s worth now, continues to in the future and Tony has success there’s no reason he won’t stay. Life is not a zero sum game.

The market determines what a coach is worth. English reportedly is worth between 2.5 and 3 mil a year, a number that we’ll probably never compete with. The sooner we except that we’ll almost always be a step on the path to bigger jobs the better, and it isn’t a bad thing because it will generally mean we are succeeding.

Look at vcu, they are pretty much a revolving door of coaches the last decade. The difference is that vcu has consistently crushed hiring new head coaches and is well postured for when a coach gets poached, like right now with what may happen with Rhodes. That is the model we need to be looking to emulate, facing the reality that we are a public school with a finite budget.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Look at vcu, they are pretty much a revolving door of coaches the last decade. The difference is that vcu has consistently crushed hiring new head coaches and is well postured for when a coach gets poached, like right now with what may happen with Rhodes. That is the model we need to be looking to emulate, facing the reality that we are a public school with a finite budget.

They mostly all came from the same basic coaching tree, right? Many being former vcu assistants. That would make it a bit easier.

 

[GMU79]

The market determines what a coach is worth. English reportedly is worth between 2.5 and 3 mil a year, a number that we’ll probably never compete with. The sooner we except that we’ll almost always be a step on the path to bigger jobs the better, and it isn’t a bad thing because it will generally mean we are succeeding.

Look at vcu, they are pretty much a revolving door of coaches the last decade. The difference is that vcu has consistently crushed hiring new head coaches and is well postured for when a coach gets poached, like right now with what may happen with Rhodes. That is the model we need to be looking to emulate, facing the reality that we are a public school with a finite budget.

I hate to admit it, but vcu has been crushing it in coaches since the '70s when they were in the Sun Belt.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

I think this should be something we consider in a hire. I can see Tony staying long term due to his ties here. Do we really want to do this again in two years?

Definitely! I'm not sure I understand what "long-term" means anymore but I can promise you Skinn's going to stick around a lot longer than Odom.

And while Tony will get enticing offers to leave if he's successful (just like Odom would), it's tougher for Tony to walk than it would be for Odom. Tony would be leaving his school, former teammates, friends, etc.

Will Tony make a good coach? Will he win? That we don't know, but judging by the enthusiastic support he has from Campbell, Butler, Lewis, Thomas, etc. it is evidence that he's a leader, and has as good a shot at winning as anyone.

As an added bonus I assume Tony has strong ties to the pipeline of talent coming out of Nigeria.

C'mon, Dr. W...put the offer sheet in today! As Bravesfan pointed out, tomorrow's the anniversary of our FF run!!

 

[He15man]

There are a number of people advising Dr W on this decision…. People I can say for certain we fans would trust implicitly. Its not going to be a knee jerk or emotional decision, and it won’t be hiring someone just because they’re ranked the #1 up and comer. This person will likely need solid experience and, for sure, be a proven recruiter with ties/experience in this area.