Fire Dave Paulsen / Hire Tony Skinn

[GMUgemini]

Obviously, coaches hired by other AD's have been terminated during Edwards' tenures at both Mason and Jacksonville. But, have any hired by Edwards been terminated?

There were a lot of holdovers (I think Coach Brown was sitting next to George Mason when he penned the Virginia Declaration of Rights), I think.

Outside of men's and women's basketball, who do you think has been underperforming that Edwards has hired?

 

[Pablo]

There were a lot of holdovers (I think Coach Brown was sitting next to George Mason when he penned the Virginia Declaration of Rights), I think.

Outside of men's and women's basketball, who do you think has been underperforming that Edwards has hired?

How about women's volleyball, which has a 17-match conference losing streak?

BTW, Edwards didn't hire the women's basketball coach, but he did give her a 3-year contract extension. How is that working out?

 

[Falco]

I could see the new president firing Edwards this year, and let the new AD hire a new coach the following year

 

[Falco]

Was Paulsen really the first choice?

If not who else did Edwards target? I’m interested in knowing how they turned out at other schools.

 

[GMUgemini]

Was Paulsen really the first choice?

If not who else did Edwards target? I’m interested in knowing how they turned out at other schools.

We know this already. We offered Russ Turner first (who supposedly took the job and backed out because his wife didn’t want to leave her position). I believe we also talked to LeVelle Moton from NC Central

 

[mkaufman1]

Was Paulsen really the first choice?

If not who else did Edwards target? I’m interested in knowing how they turned out at other schools.

Russ Turner, Lavelle Moton, Will Brown from Albany was in the mix. I think Steve Prohm was also pursued.

I think I remember he talked to 10 guys.

 

[Pablo]

Russ Turner, Lavelle Moton, Will Brown from Albany was in the mix. I think Steve Prohm was also pursued.

I think I remember he talked to 10 guys.

Frankly, I had no problem when Edwards hired Paulsen in 2015. But, if we are discussing Edwards' decision making, let's discuss the necessity of giving Paulsen 1-year contract extensions after each of his first 2 seasons. He's had 1 winning A10 record (his 4th season) and he's never advanced to the A10 semis.

Why obligate the school for 7 years? Was he afraid that he was going to lose Paulsen to Penn State or some other power conference school (surely these contract extensions would not preclude that from happening)? Or, does he believe that he's infallible in hiring a men's basketball coach?

Don't get me wrong, I think that he's hired some very good coaches at Mason. But, when you obligate the school for 7 years for a men's basketball coach, you better get it right! Perhaps, Paulsen will eventually be successful here. But, if he isn't, then Edwards needs to go also if he's still the AD.

 

[mkaufman1]

Frankly, I had no problem when Edwards hired Paulsen in 2015. But, if we are discussing Edwards' decision making, let's discuss the necessity of giving Paulsen 1-year contract extensions after each of his first 2 seasons. He's had 1 winning A10 record (his 4th season) and he's never advanced to the A10 semis.

Why obligate the school for 7 years? Was he afraid that he was going to lose Paulsen to Penn State or some other power conference school (surely these contract extensions would not preclude that from happening)? Or, does he believe that he's infallible in hiring a men's basketball coach?

Don't get me wrong, I think that he's hired some very good coaches at Mason. But, when you obligate the school for 7 years for a men's basketball coach, you better get it right! Perhaps, Paulsen will eventually be successful here. But, if he isn't, then Edwards needs to go also if he's still the AD.

I definitely get where you are coming from and totally respect the point. The first extension was merely for recruiting from what I recall.

notice that other than the first one which was basically a “you did well I’ll give you one”, he hasn’t received any others to our knowledge.

I do believe if Brad was completely sold on Dave he would have given more by now as coaches generally get extensions frequently as part of being able to recruit a few years ahead.

 

[tblack33]

I definitely get where you are coming from and totally respect the point. The first extension was merely for recruiting from what I recall.

notice that other than the first one which was basically a “you did well I’ll give you one”, he hasn’t received any others to our knowledge.

I do believe if Brad was completely sold on Dave he would have given more by now as coaches generally get extensions frequently as part of being able to recruit a few years ahead.

I was all for the first extension when it happened. I really hope they arent feeling a sunk cost fallacy when it comes decision making time this off-season.

 

[Pablo]

I definitely get where you are coming from and totally respect the point. The first extension was merely for recruiting from what I recall.

notice that other than the first one which was basically a “you did well I’ll give you one”, he hasn’t received any others to our knowledge.

He received 1-year contract extensions after each of his first 2 seasons.

https://alumni.gmu.edu/s/1564/GID2/...306&ecid=5306&crid=0&calpgid=1162&calcid=2696:

"George Mason University Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics Brad Edwards announced in July that the school has extended head men’s basketball coach Dave Paulsen’s contract for one year through the 2021 season."

https://gomason.com/news/2017/10/24/mens-basketball-head-coach-dave-paulsen-receives-extension-through-2021-22#:~:text=Men's Basketball Head Coach Dave Paulsen Receives:

"FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University director of athletics Brad Edwards has announced a contract extension for men's basketball head coach Dave Paulsen through the 2021-22 campaign."

 

[mkaufman1]

He received 1-year contract extensions after each of his first 2 seasons.

https://alumni.gmu.edu/s/1564/GID2/...306&ecid=5306&crid=0&calpgid=1162&calcid=2696:

"George Mason University Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics Brad Edwards announced in July that the school has extended head men’s basketball coach Dave Paulsen’s contract for one year through the 2021 season."

https://gomason.com/news/2017/10/24/mens-basketball-head-coach-dave-paulsen-receives-extension-through-2021-22#:~:text=Men's Basketball Head Coach Dave Paulsen Receives:

"FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University director of athletics Brad Edwards has announced a contract extension for men's basketball head coach Dave Paulsen through the 2021-22 campaign."

Appreciate finding the exacts. So point is, they obviously wanted to give him time at the beginning to help with rebuilding the foundation and recruiting. That is fine. He also improved from year 1 to year 2 which gave us all hope.

That said, he has not received an extension in now what is 4 years. He has not deserved one obviously. That is why I also believe that while Brad is high on Dave, he also knows that its about wins and losses, and that if he cannot get it done, he will not keep him and recommend for removal. He is obviously going to wait and be patient but I can't see how he would keep him at this point. That of course is my opinion only.

 

[gmujim92]

Appreciate finding the exacts. So point is, they obviously wanted to give him time at the beginning to help with rebuilding the foundation and recruiting. That is fine. He also improved from year 1 to year 2 which gave us all hope.

That said, he has not received an extension in now what is 4 years. He has not deserved one obviously. That is why I also believe that while Brad is high on Dave, he also knows that its about wins and losses, and that if he cannot get it done, he will not keep him and recommend for removal. He is obviously going to wait and be patient but I can't see how he would keep him at this point. That of course is my opinion only.

The president can certainly decide to keep Dave, but it won’t be about winning at basketball if he does

 

[GSII]

Better to fire him mid season and name Simpk interim head coach.

It only costs 200k to buyout his contract. However, one has to think that was budgeted for.

 

[gmujim92]

Better to fire him mid season and name Simpk interim head coach.

It only costs 200k to buyout his contract. However, one has to think that was budgeted for.

Unless we want to start negotiating with a coach who isn’t currently employed it has been shown over time that it doesn’t help at all to fire a coach mid-season. You can’t start talking to guys who are still working until their seasons are over anyhow.

 

[sleeperpick]

Unless we want to start negotiating with a coach who isn’t currently employed it has been shown over time that it doesn’t help at all to fire a coach mid-season. You can’t start talking to guys who are still working until their seasons are over anyhow.

yea you can... two D1 assistant coaches in New England have just left their jobs for prep head coaching opportunities. I agree it isn't normal, but that too seems to be changing. Dude from some D1 school just left for Vermont Academy like yesterday

 

[tblack33]

Unless we want to start negotiating with a coach who isn’t currently employed it has been shown over time that it doesn’t help at all to fire a coach mid-season. You can’t start talking to guys who are still working until their seasons are over anyhow.

Yeah I don’t see any gain in firing a coach mid season, unless you have serious plans to retain that top assistant as a HC the following year and want him to start recruiting, or there are serious disciplinary issues on the team or misconduct. Lots of downside for little upside. Fire them immediately after failing to advance in the tournament, absolutely. When the bus parks pull em straight into the conference room and announce it right after. Mid season, I don’t see what we get from that other than smug satisfaction from the fanbase.

 

[mkaufman1]

Considering the exercise that happened at Mason 6 years ago, I don't think they'll cut the cord with Paulsen midseason unless there was some sort of major incident.

 

[gmujim92]

yea you can... two D1 assistant coaches in New England have just left their jobs for prep head coaching opportunities. I agree it isn't normal, but that too seems to be changing. Dude from some D1 school just left for Vermont Academy like yesterday

I guess if we thought there would be a hot market for the guy we want, it would make sense to get a jump on the competition even through back channels. If Brad hasn’t been compiling a list of potential replacements after 5-plus years of mostly meh basketball, that’s administrative malpractice.

 

[Falco]

Russ Turner, Lavelle Moton, Will Brown from Albany was in the mix. I think Steve Prohm was also pursued.

I think I remember he talked to 10 guys.

Well Russ Tuner and Lavelle Morton seem to be doing well in their respected conferences. Mason never had a shot at Prohm.

 

[mkaufman1]

Well Russ Tuner and Lavelle Morton seem to be doing well in their respected conferences. Mason never had a shot at Prohm.

Yeah I mean, none of the coaches mentioned have struggled in their league, but its impossible to know if they would have been able to translate that success to the A10. Paulsen won in the Patriot League too.

Prohm was probably a long shot and BCS bound from the get go, but I do remember him being a candidate or pursued. Something like that. No idea how serious it got.

Of course Prohm has struggled in the Big12, so who knows if his days are numbered.