Fire Dave Paulsen / Hire Tony Skinn

[GMUgemini]

I do think we all understand that the AD is going to do what the AD is going to do....but...if they want to get the fanbase excited if it's not Tony Skinn it better be an ambitious reach for someone with head coaching experience and a proven track record of recruiting, sustained winning, and NCAA tournament success, because if you hire someone like Williford I'm just not interested (no offense to Williford, but he's going to have to show me before I get truly invested again).

 

[Falco]

Rebuilding because of losing the three above? You give them way too much credit as players obviously.

Well it’s an opportunity to bring in three transfers!

 

[tblack33]

A lot of good points being brought up here. I think that it’s safe to say he cautiously optimistic with hoping for Skinn, and keep an open mind if we go in another direction. This is still Mason we are talking about. The only thing I won’t keep an open mind about is one more season of Paulsen.

 

[gmujim92]

I don't disagree, Jim, but playing devil's advocate I'm not sure the new president and/or a search committee will see it the same way. They have one chance to get the next hire right — whenever that might be — and I'm not sure nostalgia and an assistant coach with no head coaching experience will necessarily be at the top of their requirements.

Before people reply, let me state clearly that I like the idea of a Tony Skinn hire. I do believe he'd be very good coach, great recruiter and passionate advocate for restoring the program's glory days. I just think, to Matt's point, that there are many other worthy candidates out there who will be justifiably vetted for the job. Hopefully, Tony is at or near the top of that list.

Based on history with all kinds of coaching changes, I’d say the board identifying Tony as the preferred candidate makes it much less likely that he is the pick. The fans’ favorite almost never gets the job in these situations.

 

[GMUgemini]

Based on history with all kinds of coaching changes, I’d say the board identifying Tony as the preferred candidate makes it much less likely that he is the pick. The fans’ favorite almost never gets the job in these situations.

Yes...let's abandon Tony Skinn and list a whole bunch of retreads right now we'd prefer over him (reverse psychology it).

 

[Patriotsince81]

Yes...let's abandon Tony Skinn and list a whole bunch of retreads right now we'd prefer over him (reverse psychology it).

Bring back Paul Hewitt with Paul Westhead as assistant.

 

[mkaufman1]

Pat Kennedy please!

 

[gmujim92]

Yes...let's abandon Tony Skinn and list a whole bunch of retreads right now we'd prefer over him (reverse psychology it).

We’re playing 4-D chess now

 

[gmubrian]

All the stars are aligning for it to be Tony. I just did a quick pro/con list and it’s an absolute no-brainer. We even have the luxury of taking a risk on an unproven coach — we already pretty well suck, so if he doesn’t work out, what have we lost?

Sadly, that is why I fear Mason will find a way to not do it.

I would be surprised if they went with a coach with no head coaching experience. My gut says they will go with a safe choice that has little upside but won’t create any criticism by a special group (other than us “fans”). I doubt the AD can come up with the money to hire a big name coach that is already successful at a similar level to the A0. So my guess is that our next coach will fit the following description (if we even get a new one this year):

• Has head coaching experience
• Reasonably successful at a school in D1 that is several notches below the A10 level
• Middle aged
• Squeaky clean record
• Black (or possibly Hispanic)
• Demonstrably woke
• I give it a 25% chance that it might even be a woman or of non-binary gender

 

[gmujim92]

Sadly, that is why I fear Mason will find a way to not do it.

I would be surprised if they went with a coach with no head coaching experience. My gut says they will go with a safe choice that has little upside but won’t create any criticism by a special group (other than us “fans”). I doubt the AD can come up with the money to hire a big name coach that is already successful at a similar level to the A0. So my guess is that our next coach will fit the following description (if we even get a new one this year):

• Has head coaching experience
• Reasonably successful at a school in D1 that is several notches below the A10 level
• Middle aged
• Squeaky clean record
• Black (or possibly Hispanic)
• Demonstrably woke
• I give it a 25% chance that it might even be a woman or of non-binary gender

I doubt Mason could afford her but wouldn’t be surprised if we tried to hire Becky Hammon. She comes with the Popovich seal of approval, seems to be a terrific basketball mind and can you imagine the avalanche of positive press we’d get from hiring a woman to coach our men’s team? A PR dream.

 

[bravesfan]

Honestly, Michael Huger continues to pop into my head if they go the "existing head coach" route.

 

[Pablo]

Honestly, Michael Huger continues to pop into my head if they go the "existing head coach" route.

He would be an excellent choice. But, would he leave his alma mater?

 

[PoorManProfit]

2 of our top 4 players and the loss of all big man depth is certainly a problem for next year.

My pt. is they aren’t good now, so they wouldn’t be starting a rebuild without them. Just adding different players.

 

[PoorManProfit]

What is your idiotic point? I guess you thought we should have kept Hewitt? At least with a change of coach there is the chance for improvement.

They never should have hired him (Hewitt). However, to fire him to hire the lightweight on the bench now and give him 6 years of zero results? He’s killed the program.

 

[sleeperpick]

My pt. is they aren’t good now, so they wouldn’t be starting a rebuild without them. Just adding different players.

I think we have a couple of "good" players AJ and Javon included... the problem is they have 0 game plan that would make them succeed.

 

[PoorManProfit]

Well it’s an opportunity to bring in three transfers!

As long as DMD boy isn’t choosing them, I’m all in!

 

[PoorManProfit]

And for our seniors, why come back for one more year of the same thing?

Right? In the least, I’d go someplace else. I laugh at all the fools on this board who stated Kiers best option was to stay at G Mas. Delusional.

 

[PoorManProfit]

I doubt Mason could afford her but wouldn’t be surprised if we tried to hire Becky Hammon. She comes with the Popovich seal of approval, seems to be a terrific basketball mind and can you imagine the avalanche of positive press we’d get from hiring a woman to coach our men’s team? A PR dream.

G Mas is too stupid to make smart pr moves.

 

[GSII]

Only thing that concerns me about Skinn is that maybe we are putting in him in an unfair position. We all know Tony as the player who helped us get to the final four. We don't really know Tony the coach we don't know Tony the recruiter we don't know Tony the x and o guy. I just don't see Mason taking that kind of a risk on someone who they haven't seen perform in the position they're hiring them for. Have we ever hired an assistant to be our head coach? Did we consider one in Brad's first hiring process?

 

[GMUgemini]

Only thing that concerns me about Skinn is that maybe we are putting in him in an unfair position. We all know Tony as the player who helped us get to the final four. We don't really know Tony the coach we don't know Tony the recruiter we don't know Tony the x and o guy. I just don't see Mason taking that kind of a risk on someone who they haven't seen perform in the position they're hiring them for. Have we ever hired an assistant to be our head coach? Did we consider one in Brad's first hiring process?

We hired Roy Williams as an assistant but he was convinced not to take it.

Hap Schuler had no coaching experience. Rick Barnes was his first head coaching job. Ernie Nestor too.