Coaching Search Thread

[Pikapppatri8]

So, likely, it was all done prior to the announcement of Paulsen's firing.

If that is the case - then that is a sea change in operations for Mason.

 

[Pablo]

If that is the case - then that is a sea change in operations for Mason.

If so, then it's time to start showing more appreciation for President Washington.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Well if you go back and look at one of Lamar's tweets, someone asks when his interview is, and he responds with "appears that no one is getting one". So if that's the case, and Brad already has his guy (looks like Kim English) then there's no real reason to reach out to a guy like Tony and say "Hey we aren't interested in interviewing you".

I do think Tony deserves/deserved an interview if he's interested in the job.

Well a lot of times you almost stage a process even if you essentially have your guy...the local high schools around here do that often.

A "courtesy interview" is I believe the term. Does build goodwill...

I would also wonder which Mason alum personally reached out to Brad and asked to be considered as well.

I'm too lazy to dig and find out but maybe somebody will.

 

[gmujim92]

So, likely, it was all done prior to the announcement of Paulsen's firing.

Absolutely

 

[Herndon]

I fall in the camp that Paulsen did a fairly decent job and it was time for a change. Paulsen did many things well, but he couldn't put us over the hump and I don't think he was ever going to. He couldn't win head to head recruiting battles against anyone else in our conference, but at the time of his hiring, we were more concerned with just getting our program out of a giant dumpster. Paulsen did that. He did a fine job getting us back on our feet, but now it's time to start running again. I'm not going to take any shots at him out the door. I don't always agree with Lamar, but he's right... we are kind of an after thought to kids in the area at this point and that needs to get fixed asap.

So, I don't know that I disagree with this, necessarily.

I just think that if you want a change, and you expect things to improve, you better either think you can evaluate coaches better than everybody else, or you better pay more than everybody else.

I'm not sure why we'd believe Brad has the ability evaluate basketball coaches better than anybody else, it's not like he's a basketball guy.

So, if we want better, we should pay more. That's all I've been trying to say this whole time. Don't expect to pay the same and get better results, because there's no reason why you would expect a better outcome, given no other changes.

 

[By George.]

So, you are saying that the process may be closed pending a vetting and the availability of Kim Bishop?

I really don’t know, just been asking former players.

 

[Herndon]

Bingo. He came in, stabilized everything and brought some level of respectability.

But for an Atlantic 10 program that takes basketball seriously (in their own way), this is a good time to take a different approach.

OH, that's my whole thing! We DON'T take basketball seriously!

WE ABSOLUTELY do not. We SAY we do, but money talks and bullshit walks, and we have not demonstrated that we're willing to ACTUALLY do what it takes to compete at the top of the conference. If we were ACTUALLY serious about basketball, we'd all know it. Instead we're talking about hoping we get lucky with an up an coming assistant we can get relatively cheap.

That's not being serious. That's bullshitting.

And that's why I was content with Paulsen. If we were SERIOUS about basketball, and we put the resources into it to be serious then Paulsen was ABSOLUTELY not good enough.

But we don't. We bojangle around, and if we're going to bojangle, I'd just as soon it have been with a guy who brought good kids into the program and didn't embarrass us.

If we want to play serious, and we act like it, and actually commit the school's resources to it, then I'll be right there with the rest of you expecting top results.

 

[gmutom]

Fair question, and I'm asking this as a huge Tony Skinn fan: Would Tony be on our radar at all if he didn't play at Mason?

A year ago, ESPN ranked the Top 40 head coaches and assistants under 40 in the country, and he didn't crack the list.

Another list from 2020 looks at the 50 high major assistants, and Tony again isn't listed.

My point isn't to say that Tony isn't qualified or wouldn't make a great head coach. I personally think he will be some day. I just don't think we'd be talking about him as a possible candidate right now if he didn't play on our Final 4 team.

 

[mkaufman1]

OH, that's my whole thing! We DON'T take basketball seriously!

WE ABSOLUTELY do not. We SAY we do, but money talks and bullshit walks, and we have not demonstrated that we're willing to ACTUALLY do what it takes to compete at the top of the conference. If we were ACTUALLY serious about basketball, we'd all know it. Instead we're talking about hoping we get lucky with an up an coming assistant we can get relatively cheap.

That's not being serious. That's bullshitting.

Haha I am not going to derail talking about the coaching search and go down this rabbit hole with you my friend. That is why I said "in their own way".

 

[bravesfan]

OH, that's my whole thing! We DON'T take basketball seriously!

WE ABSOLUTELY do not. We SAY we do, but money talks and bullshit walks, and we have not demonstrated that we're willing to ACTUALLY do what it takes to compete at the top of the conference. If we were ACTUALLY serious about basketball, we'd all know it. Instead we're talking about hoping we get lucky with an up an coming assistant we can get relatively cheap.

That's not being serious. That's bullshitting.

I'd like to give Dr. Washington a chance before coming to that conclusion.

 

[Bricker]

I'd like to give Dr. Washington a chance before coming to that conclusion.

Something about Cabrera rubbed me the wrong way. I already like Dr. W more with far less evidence to support this feeling.

 

[Herndon]

I'd like to give Dr. Washington a chance before coming to that conclusion.

The minute I see something to change my mind, I'll do so, with a smile. This isn't like something that JUST happened. It's been this way, for a while. And that's fine! I'll root for Mason whether they're serious or not, but I'd LOVE for them to do so.

I just have yet to see it, and have no reason to believe I will, at the moment. When that changes, then good. Until it does, I stand by what I said.

 

[mkaufman1]

I'd like to give Dr. Washington a chance before coming to that conclusion.

From everything I've heard, he likes basketball a lot. What that means? TBD

Something about Cabrera rubbed me the wrong way. I already like Dr. W more with far less evidence to support this feeling.

I hear you on this. He was only at mason about 6 years, and it takes about a year to get settled and he probably was gone within 6-12 months before he joined GT.

 

[JPgmuswim]

Why is everyone caught up on recruiting the dmv? I know Coach L was able to land some local talent which is great. But he recruited NY and FL heavily too.

I just want ballers, idc where they come from

The DMV has a hotbed of talent and like Lamar said Mason is an afterthought or basically ignored. If a coach can come in and make it an option it could go a long way.

Also since you brought up Coach L, take a look at that final four roster of his and where the majority of the kids came from. The starting 5 was from Maryland.

 

[bravesfan]

The minute I see something to change my mind, I'll do so, with a smile. This isn't like something that JUST happened. It's been this way, for a while. And that's fine! I'll root for Mason whether they're serious or not, but I'd LOVE for them to do so.

I just have yet to see it, and have no reason to believe I will, at the moment. When that changes, then good. Until it does, I stand by what I said.

Oh trust me, I don't disagree with you. Mason absolutely botched the Final Four exposure. It's a great case study on what not to do.

I'm just saying there's a new President in place who knows first hand what a good athletics program can do for a University. And I'll at least give him a chance to prove himself on that front.

I'll donate to support the new coach. And if they show lack of concern to make things better, I'll show lack of concern by not continuing that donation. It's a two-way street and they should know that.

 

[Herndon]

The DMV has a hotbed of talent and like Lamar said Mason is an afterthought or basically ignored. If a coach can come in and make it an option it could go a long way.

Also since you brought up Coach L, take a look at that final four roster of his and where the majority of the kids came from. The starting 5 was from Maryland.

Yup, if you can consistently get the best of the "second tier" DMV kids, you're going to be hell of a Mid Major program. Greater DC is arguably the greatest basketball city on earth, right there with Chicago, NY, LA and when you expand to the "Richmond to Baltimore" corridor, it's just a ridiculous treasure trove of hoopsters.

 

[Pablo]

My remaining question before we officially welcome Kim English to Mason: Who tipped off @RumorsCoach?




Coach Rumors

@RumorsCoach
·
Mar 2

If George Mason opens the top target is said to be Kim English

 

[Walter]

My remaining question before we officially welcome Kim English to Mason: Who tipped off @RumorsCoach?




Coach Rumors

@RumorsCoach
·
Mar 2

If George Mason opens the top target is said to be Kim English

My guess is Coach English's agent.

 

[Masonfan3]

The DMV has a hotbed of talent and like Lamar said Mason is an afterthought or basically ignored. If a coach can come in and make it an option it could go a long way.

Also since you brought up Coach L, take a look at that final four roster of his and where the majority of the kids came from. The starting 5 was from Maryland.

Lamar isn't wrong but why do you take it to twitter. What does he think will get accomplished by saying "why would a recruit choose GMU" He is literally saying there is nothing that Mason has to offer a recruit. If he says this on his public twitter page, what do you think he is telling kids/parents that he coaches..

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

The DMV is a lot harder to recruit now than during the L years.

Everybody recruits here now, plus you have Virginia now a national power and Tech and vcu stronger versus us in-state.

In L's era UVA wasn't great and there was way less competition for local talent. Anyone that Georgetown and Maryland didn't get in on, we were right there for. Even GW got a lot of their talent overseas or out-of-state.