Dave Paulsen

[patriot2000]

That wasnt the only one I noticed, and I'm definitely not calling anyone out specifically. I just thought it was a really interesting read.

One positive takeaway is that the vsst majority of posters were pretty reasonable and said they would "wait and see." Those of us (I hope myself included) who think we have probably waited long enough, have hopefully been fairly level-headed through this whole "process" and mostly started out that way.

 

[FreeGunston12]

That wasnt the only one I noticed, and I'm definitely not calling anyone out specifically. I just thought it was a really interesting read.

One positive takeaway is that the vsst majority of posters were pretty reasonable and said they would "wait and see." Those of us (I hope myself included) who think we have probably waited long enough, have hopefully been fairly level-headed through this whole "process" and mostly started out that way.

Oh I definitely flipped sides over the last two years. In my defense, Paulsen took us from horrendous to a ceiling of 5th place. The first couple years were an improvement, but then he topped out.

So now, here we are. I respect anyone willing to change their opinion given new information.

 

[Pablo]

Took a deep dive while ignoring a meeting this morning. Read the first few pages on this thread and pay attention to who says what.

I have no issue with people who change their minds; in fact, I look up to and respect it. But some of it is super interesting.

"Also, can anyone honestly say that they think Dave Paulsen will ever be an upper-echelon A-10 coach?

No offense to Paulsen. If he is the new coach, I'll give him a chance like everyone else, but this does feel like a CAA hire.

May as well make a run at Bill Coen if we're going in that direction."
gmujim92, Mar 30, 2015


"I have no idea what the talent level is on the current GMU roster, but rest assured, if Paulsen is hired, he will bring in good players, develop them and have a team that will be at the top of the A10 in a few years."
ephoops, Mar 30, 2015


"Bucknell fans don't seem to care if he stays or goes.

Interesting comment:

'Find this a stretch. Paulsen has a number of strong assets, in particular strong recruiter in academic environment. Not known for being flexible in his offensive and defensive schemes. George Mason a different environment.'

They seem to be high on one of his assistants."

http://boards.basketball-u.com/show..._session_id/794a55db759e998896ea177c08dfe1a9/
Walter, Mar 30, 2015

 

[Pablo]

http://gmufourthestate.com/2020/02/...lk-on-jack-tempchin-awarded-full-scholarship/:

"When the team found themselves with an extra scholarship spot, Paulsen knew there was one student-athlete he had to give it to.

'Nobody is more deserving and sometimes you can’t always do that … But we had one and a) he’s deserving of it and b) he’s a galvanizing force on our team,' he said.

No one except Paulsen, who got the idea for the scholarship reveal while on a run, and the team’s director of basketball operations knew what would be happening at shootaround that day.

'That was a genuine, heartfelt [reaction], they love the kid and respect him,' Paulsen said.

'I think you want to be in a situation where nothing’s given, nothing’s promised. Everything’s earned, but once somebody earns something, they get the recognition,' he continued. "

 

[Jack Strop]

http://gmufourthestate.com/2020/02/...lk-on-jack-tempchin-awarded-full-scholarship/:

"When the team found themselves with an extra scholarship spot, Paulsen knew there was one student-athlete he had to give it to.

'Nobody is more deserving and sometimes you can’t always do that … But we had one and a) he’s deserving of it and b) he’s a galvanizing force on our team,' he said.

No one except Paulsen, who got the idea for the scholarship reveal while on a run, and the team’s director of basketball operations knew what would be happening at shootaround that day.

'That was a genuine, heartfelt [reaction], they love the kid and respect him,' Paulsen said.

'I think you want to be in a situation where nothing’s given, nothing’s promised. Everything’s earned, but once somebody earns something, they get the recognition,' he continued. "

Would someone post a link to the video to the Jack Tempchin thread?
I would, but I don't know where to find it.

 

[Jack Strop]

OK. Many of you have asked for it for a long time and now you got it. During the press conference following the GW game, Coach Dave took responsibility for the team's lack of energy and focus. He also stated that it will be addressed and it will NOT occur again.
https://ebay.to/2SgZ50U

[Note: I think Coach Dave's lamentation was in direct response to
a question posed by, I think, GK. • KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, BOYS!!]

 

[gmutom]

Coach Dave took responsibility for the team's lack of energy and focus. He also stated that it will be addressed and it will NOT occur again.

He mentioned certain players not playing with energy without naming names, but I will say I saw him jawing pretty good at one particular player after he pulled him from the game. With a 7-man rotation, we need all hands on deck — especially the upperclassmen.

 

[tblack33]

OK. Many of you have asked for it for a long time and now you got it. During the press conference following the GW game, Coach Dave took responsibility for the team's lack of energy and focus. He also stated that it will be addressed and it will NOT occur again.
https://ebay.to/2SgZ50U

[Note: I think Coach Dave's lamentation was in direct response to
a question posed by, I think, GK. • KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, BOYS!!]

I appreciate the sentiment from a few things he said in this interview and will be interested to see if it translates on the court.

 

[Pablo]

OK. Many of you have asked for it for a long time and now you got it. During the press conference following the GW game, Coach Dave took responsibility for the team's lack of energy and focus. He also stated that it will be addressed and it will NOT occur again.
https://ebay.to/2SgZ50U

[Note: I think Coach Dave's lamentation was in direct response to
a question posed by, I think, GK. • KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, BOYS!!]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...eeps-george-mason-notching-another-73-67-win/:

"Johnson attributed the poor second half to a 'lack of focus and energy. We had a good first half, but we just came out with a lack of effort in the second half.'"

"'We’ve prided our program on, whether you play well or don’t play well, you play with an edge, you play with toughness, you play with emotion,' Paulsen said. Not showing those traits 'won’t happen again. It will be addressed.'"

 

[GSII]

With all anger, jokes aside, as an AD, and looking at recruiting/roster management being a big weakness of your head coach, do you extend him after this year if you think, for the most part, recruiting is all he needs to improve upon and can with additional support or some sort of change in approach? I believe Brad can justify this extension due to the belief that 'recruits won't commit to a coach who may or may not be around'.

On the flip side, do you move on from DP after this year b/c recruiting and roster management have been a constant issue and as a result has stunted growth of the program.

As the arm chair AD, you can't answer give him another year. You either have to extend or fire after this year. Discuss.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

With all anger, jokes aside, as an AD, and looking at recruiting/roster management being a big weakness of your head coach, do you extend him after this year if you think, for the most part, recruiting is all he needs to improve upon and can with additional support or some sort of change in approach? I believe Brad can justify this extension due to the belief that 'recruits won't commit to a coach who may or may not be around'.

On the flip side, do you move on from DP after this year b/c recruiting and roster management have been a constant issue and as a result has stunted growth of the program.

As the arm chair AD, you can't answer give him another year. You either have to extend or fire after this year. Discuss.

you think the exact way I'm thinking GSII. As far as I'm concerned, the school must either fire Paulsen after this year, OR sign him to an extension. With the productive start of the season, I was talkin with you about signing him to an extension mid-season. Entering a lame duck year on a contract is terrible for the longevity of a program.

With the large chunk of our roster either Juniors (Calixte, Mar, Greene, Wilson) /potential 5th year (Kier or Boyd) seniors entering next season, it will be extremely difficult to sign good recruits next fall with Paulsen being on the proverbial hot seat all season.

Look at Fordham's case , did it succeed bringing back their coach for another year, when he should've been fired last year?

 

[patriot2000]

I don't see roster management and recruiting as the only issues. So, if the choice is let him go or extend him, in am 100% in the let him go camp. Whatever the reasons/excuses, I think you have to get to a point where results matter. Whatever the reason, we have not achieved any of our expressed goals under this coach. His fault or not, the sample size is long enough to move on.

But as an eternal optimist, there is always a part of me that wants to be proven wrong. I would LOVE to get on here after finishing in the top of the conference next year and actually making a run in the A10 tourney and say I was completely out of line and shouldn't have let me frustration cloud my judgement. That's why I've remained in the "one more year" group.

My heart says one more year but from a more reasoned, educated perspective: you're right, I guess it's shit or get off the pot time.

 

[gmutom]

I believe Brad can justify this extension due to the belief that 'recruits won't commit to a coach who may or may not be around'.

If I was Brad, I'd be worry about preserving my own job. The new president might want to have total control of the athletic department, and that starts with bringing in his own AD and possibly new head coaches for the men and women — regardless of their contract status. Washington likely plans to stay at Mason several years, so the last thing on his mind will be losing one recruiting cycle if he thinks it is better long-term for the program.

Note: To be clear, I have no doubt Dave will be back next year. I just don't think the new president or even Brad will be in a huge rush to extend him after next season.

 

[mkaufman1]

With all anger, jokes aside, as an AD, and looking at recruiting/roster management being a big weakness of your head coach, do you extend him after this year if you think, for the most part, recruiting is all he needs to improve upon and can with additional support or some sort of change in approach? I believe Brad can justify this extension due to the belief that 'recruits won't commit to a coach who may or may not be around'.

On the flip side, do you move on from DP after this year b/c recruiting and roster management have been a constant issue and as a result has stunted growth of the program.

As the arm chair AD, you can't answer give him another year. You either have to extend or fire after this year. Discuss.

If those are my ultimate answers only, I go with extend.

1) recruiting has started to improve to the point where they are getting A10 level recruits. Last two classes have been a significant improvement.
2) The “hope” you get one of the studs Mason has been linked with for 2021/2022.
3) Brad’s hire, I’d be in no hurry to get rid of Dave, especially with a new President coming in.

That said, as I’ve stated, nothing is imminent because

1) new president comes in July 1
2) Probably a year before he starts deciding who he wants/doesn’t want
3) Brad decides if he wants to stay/leave.

Those 3 things mean that is going to be a very interesting 12-18 months for the future of Mason basketball.

 

[gmujim92]

Mason isn’t eating 2 years of salary, especially with a new prez who doesn’t officially start until July 1. Trying to hire a new coach over the summer would be disastrous for recruiting.

The extend or fire point is after next season. Nothing anyone has said will convince me otherwise.

 

[GMUgemini]

Paulsen isn't a lame duck until after next season. Next season is the extend or fire year.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

Paulsen isn't a lame duck until after next season. Next season is the extend or fire year.

think of it from a recruits perspective: If I sign with Coach Paulsen, he's only on contract for one more year. Oppoising teams recruit against a school knowing how logn a coach is signed for. If you are a recruit you sign with a coach with stability who is signed long-term.

 

[GMUgemini]

think of it from a recruits perspective: If I sign with Coach Paulsen, he's only on contract for one more year. Oppoising teams recruit against a school knowing how logn a coach is signed for. If you are a recruit you sign with a coach with stability who is signed long-term.

I don't think that's going to be as big of an issue as you think. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Hewitt never got an extension and would have been going into a lame duck season had we not fired him. His recruiting class the year he was fired was pretty damn good.

 

[tblack33]

think of it from a recruits perspective: If I sign with Coach Paulsen, he's only on contract for one more year. Oppoising teams recruit against a school knowing how logn a coach is signed for. If you are a recruit you sign with a coach with stability who is signed long-term.

Hewitt was still able to get kids to commit with 1 year left on his deal before we fired him. Dave should be recruiting like his job depends on it, because it quite literally does.

 

[tblack33]

Judging by results alone I let him go this year if that's the scenario (which it's clearly not).

He had 5 seasons to get the recruiting part of his job down and he didn't do it in time to translate into meaningful seasons. Lots of guys can recruit and don't need 5 seasons to translate it into wins, we can go get one of them.

I stand by what I said before, I'd gladly lose every single recruit we have if it meant we got a new head coach. Also, who's to say that whoever we brought in couldn't convince one of them to stay? There's no rule saying that every recruit HAS to reopen recruiting because of a coaching change, at the end of the day we have no idea why a lot of these kids ultimately chose Mason, can we definitively say that playing for Paulsen was at the top of these kids lists? Maybe they like the school, location, education programs, playing opportunities, chic fil a on campus. We have no idea.