Coaching Search Thread

[mkaufman1]

Sounds like he’ll be a great addition to the dated YMCA part of midnight madness.

...They still do that?!?!?

 

[ephoops]

Dave pissed off a lot of those guys with the way he treated the holdover Hewitt players and his reluctance to engage with the alumni ... Lamar was just the most willing to call it out on social media.

I find this very surprising.

I can personally attest to Dave’s significant engagement with alums during his tenure at Williams (Granted, Dave was a Wiliam’s alum as well, so there is a natural comfort level).

In addition, Dave was also quite engaged with Bucknell’s hoops alums when he coached there. While Bucknell did not go to a Final Four, its upset of Kansas and Arkansas in consecutive NCAA tournaments put the school on the basketball map. Dave was very engaged with that era and other Bucknell hoops alums.

There has to be more to the story about Dave’s “reluctance to engage with the [Mason] alumni” because it was the exact opposite at both Williams and Bucknell.

 

[gmubrian]

I find this very surprising.

I can personally attest to Dave’s significant engagement with alums during his tenure at Williams (Granted, Dave was a Wiliam’s alum as well, so there is a natural comfort level).

In addition, Dave was also quite engaged with Bucknell’s hoops alums when he coached there. While Bucknell did not go to a Final Four, its upset of Kansas and Arkansas in consecutive NCAA tournaments put the school on the basketball map. Dave was very engaged with that era and other Bucknell hoops alums.

There has to be more to the story about Dave’s “reluctance to engage with the [Mason] alumni” because it was the exact opposite at both Williams and Bucknell.

I was a little surprise as well. I have no evidence to go on, only his statement early in his tenure about connecting with our past (paraphrasing), so I assumed he had done it.

 

[gmujim92]

I find this very surprising.

I can personally attest to Dave’s significant engagement with alums during his tenure at Williams (Granted, Dave was a Wiliam’s alum as well, so there is a natural comfort level).

In addition, Dave was also quite engaged with Bucknell’s hoops alums when he coached there. While Bucknell did not go to a Final Four, its upset of Kansas and Arkansas in consecutive NCAA tournaments put the school on the basketball map. Dave was very engaged with that era and other Bucknell hoops alums.

There has to be more to the story about Dave’s “reluctance to engage with the [Mason] alumni” because it was the exact opposite at both Williams and Bucknell.

All I know is Lamar is not the only alum from the L days who has felt shut out of the program ... not sure what the deal is, but it needs to be fixed ASAP because those guys are a valuable resource that’s being wasted.

 

[GMUgemini]

All I know is Lamar is not the only alum from the L days who has felt shut out of the program ... not sure what the deal is, but it needs to be fixed ASAP because those guys are a valuable resource that’s being wasted.

Yes, Darryl Monroe mentioned it last year (and then DP brought Isaiah Tate on as a grad assistant), especially as it relates to helping Mason land recruits.

Obviously, recent statements by Jai Lewis, Tim Burns, and John Vaughan show there was a larger issue.

 

[Masonfan3]

All I know is Lamar is not the only alum from the L days who has felt shut out of the program ... not sure what the deal is, but it needs to be fixed ASAP because those guys are a valuable resource that’s being wasted.

Exactly. I don't know about JV but Jai/Lamar/Tony are valuable resources. And I don't think people realize how big of a resource Tim Burns is and can be to this program going forward.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Don't forget about Morrison and Pearson. In some ways, as current professionals, kids may see them as more relevant. Also Hancock... I would stay in touch with him as well.

 

[GMUNatsFan]

I am trying to figure out how the Alumni are feeling shut out. Is it because DP didn't call them up and ask how they were doing. As one fortunate enough to be at the Alumni get togethers at Homecoming every year, DP was the first coach to come to the reception and talk with the Alum, even former managers like me. He would also bring members of the team to meet the alum, letting the players know that we are a resource that can be useful after Mason. Everyone is welcome and invited to this yearly get together to start conversations. I am sure that any one of us could contact the coaches and talk with them. But many of the alum are playing overseas and elsewhere and cannot make it back for one night in Feb. I get that. But I am sure that they could contact the basketball office and come by when they are in town.

 

[GMUgemini]

I am trying to figure out how the Alumni are feeling shut out. Is it because DP didn't call them up and ask how they were doing. As one fortunate enough to be at the Alumni get togethers at Homecoming every year, DP was the first coach to come to the reception and talk with the Alum, even former managers like me. He would also bring members of the team to meet the alum, letting the players know that we are a resource that can be useful after Mason. Everyone is welcome and invited to this yearly get together to start conversations. I am sure that any one of us could contact the coaches and talk with them. But many of the alum are playing overseas and elsewhere and cannot make it back for one night in Feb. I get that. But I am sure that they could contact the basketball office and come by when they are in town.

I think it has more to do with reaching out to them in a more professional capacity. They aren't getting interviewed for potential job openings. They aren't being used as a resource to help land recruits (their connections to HS coaches, AAU coaches, etc.).

I know Will Thomas said he comes back every summer and works out at Mason (supposedly worked with Oduro in the offseason), but I still don't think that's quite the same thing.

Edit: this might not be a purely DP situation/problem either.

 

[bravesfan]

And I don't think people realize how big of a resource Tim Burns is and can be to this program going forward.

Bingo. The guy works with NBA prospects/active players out in NY. Talk about a force freaking multiplier.

 

[gmujim92]

Bingo. The guy works with NBA prospects/active players out in NY. Talk about a force freaking multiplier.

So you’re saying we could use a guy who literally coaches professionals on how to shoot the ball better, huh? Go figure.

 

[bravesfan]

So you’re saying we could use a guy who literally coaches professionals on how to shoot the ball better, huh? Go figure.

Right? Novel concept.

 

[gmubrian]

So you’re saying we could use a guy who literally coaches professionals on how to shoot the ball better, huh? Go figure.

In Paulsen's defense, he had that area covered. Oh, wait...

 

[Falco]

You are saying all this with no idea what the deal for the next coach will be. How do you know we aren’t throwing 900k at someone to entice them to leave? I mean hell, Paulsen was getting 750, that’s not like bottom of the barrel money. There’s more to it than just coaches salaries at this level and I’m not sure you are seeing that.

Mason fired Paulsen because they want to be better than average.

Thats taking basketball seriously in my view. Better late than never

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Mason Fired Paulsen because they want to be better than average.

Thats taking basketball seriously in my view. Better late than never

I would concur

 

[Falco]

That's a significant bump up in pay plus bonuses for a first-time HC -https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2019/07/18/report-rick-barnes-staff-receive-raises/:

"In order to fill his third assistant spot on his staff, Barnes hired away Kim English from Colorado. English was given a $310,000 annual salary upon his hiring at Tennessee."

Riding Barnes coat-tails for 300k sounds like a pretty good gig. It’s going to take a lot to convince him to take on a rebuild.

 

[mkaufman1]

Mason Fired Paulsen because they want to be better than average.

Thats taking basketball seriously in my view. Better late than never

As I say “in their own little way” they take basketball seriously. Haha.

 

[GMUSSTN]

As I say “in their own little way” they take basketball seriously. Haha.

I think that's why I was so pleasantly surprised about the move. I did not expect Mason to take basketball nearly as serious as I, a dumb idiot fan, do.

 

[gmubrian]

Riding Barnes coat-tails for 300k sounds like a pretty good gig. It’s going to take a lot to convince him to take on a rebuild.

Let's give Paulsen some credit (and maybe a little bit to Brad). At this point, we are not a total rebuild. Any coach is going to deal with transfer issues when taking over a new team. Facilities are in decent shape. We are middling A10 team. If he has any ambition, it is a reasonable place to try.

 

[Falco]

Let's give Paulsen some credit (and maybe a little bit to Brad). At this point, we are not a total rebuild. Any coach is going to deal with transfer issues when taking over a new team. Facilities are in decent shape. We are middling A10 team. If he has any ambition, it is a reasonable place to try.

That’s fair. Plus adding a couple transfers who are immediately eligible!