Possible coaching scenarios

[Pablo]

#3 isn't going to happen.

#2 is probably not going to happen unless we go 0-for-A10 (although, this team never fails to surprise.....)

#1....ugh

Somebody has probably mentioned this in the 4+ pages on this thread that I didn't read- the wild card is TOC. If he leaves in June, I think everything is on the table.

This thread is a nice diversion for all of us. Otherwise, we might have to discuss why a team that runs ball-handling drills is less skillful in this facet of the game than the youth teams that play at our home games. Regarding the scenarios:

(a) Hewitt will not be fired during this season unless he violates the conduct clause in his contract. If Cornell has not fired Courtney who has now lost 19 consecutive games (including the final 6 games of last season), does anyone seriously believe that Mason would fire Hewitt during this season?

(b) IMO, it's unlikely that Hewitt will be fired after this season (Hewitt's third season of a 5-year contract). Even Paul Westhead was allowed to coach 4 seasons here before being fired. Why wasn't Hewitt being fired after 4 seasons one of the scenarios?

(c) So, it seems to me that Hewitt will likely coach here for at least 4 or 5 seasons depending on how the Patriots perform in the future.

 

[GMUgemini]

Tommy does what his wife tells him. She is a proffessor at Harvard so he aint leaving unless she does. You want Tommy, give his wife a job at our law school. Next.

That's probably an even tougher sell than a coaching switch.

 

[Walter]

Unless we fail to win a single game in the A-10, I agree it isn't likely that Hewitt is fired after this season. However, he might just say, "Screw this, I don't need it." But why would he? He is used to taking abuse from fans calling for his firing.

 

[A.-Siegfried]

Unless we fail to win a single game in the A-10, I agree it isn't likely that Hewitt is fired after this season. However, he might just say, "Screw this, I don't need it." But why would he? He is used to taking abuse from fans calling for his firing.

And this isn't Atlanta where he was killed in the papers and on the radio because he was in charge of one of "biggies" in town.

Nobody on radio talks about Mason. Nobody is going to write a column in the Post saying he should be fired. If he doesn't read these boards...how would he even know anyone thinks he should be gone?

 

[gmutom]

Why wasn't Hewitt being fired after 4 seasons one of the scenarios?

Pablos, my reasoning for not including that scenario is that we are most likely going to take another step back next year after losing two of our top scorers in Wright and Allen. I like our three recruits and the possibility of what we will do with the remaining scholarship, but I can't imagine they will make enough of a difference in their first year.

If the administration is going to cut Hewitt a break after this season, I can't imagine they are going to hold him to higher standard after losing three current starters. And just to be clear before anybody responds, I'm not saying I agree with that thinking.

 

[GMUSSTN]

And this isn't Atlanta where he was killed in the papers and on the radio because he was in charge of one of "biggies" in town.

Nobody on radio talks about Mason. Nobody is going to write a column in the Post saying he should be fired. If he doesn't read these boards...how would he even know anyone thinks he should be gone?

This is a good point. Goff has certainly dialed back his reporting now that the team is worse. The Times fired their guy who cared about us. We need at least one media voice that seems to care and we don't have it. Who can we talk into getting the MasonHoops boards a weekly 30 minute radio segment on 106.7 THE FAN?

 

[PoorManProfit]

Tommy does what his wife tells him. She is a proffessor at Harvard so he aint leaving unless she does. You want Tommy, give his wife a job at our law school. Next.

Should he be going by "Tom" by now? He's almost 50. lol. Also, a professor at Harvard isn't interested in being a professor at G Mas. lol

 

[GSII]

And this isn't Atlanta where he was killed in the papers and on the radio because he was in charge of one of "biggies" in town.

Nobody on radio talks about Mason. Nobody is going to write a column in the Post saying he should be fired. If he doesn't read these boards...how would he even know anyone thinks he should be gone?

There's a dinner for Insiders tonight. If someone hasn't already, tonight would be a good time to start letting either Hewitt or TOC know. Yes Brian, I'm talking about you. We're rooting for ya!

 

[expendable smurf]

Sorry if I missed this as I only skimmed much of the thread, but what are the contract or buyout implications of the 3 scenarios Tom presented?

 

[gmutom]

Sorry if I missed this as I only skimmed much of the thread, but what are the contract or buyout implications of the 3 scenarios Tom presented?

Welcome back, smurf. You need to post more around here. I believe Hewitt has two more years after this season on his contract, both of which are worth just under $1M a year. For a school that can't afford a practice facility or decent amenities at our baseball field, I don't think options #2 and #3 are as feasible as many here assume.

 

[MasonFanatic]

I thought the baseball stadium project had been funded?

 

[phoenix-arizona]

5 years, and then parting of ways.

 

[Patriotfan49]

I thought the baseball stadium project had been funded?

Oh its funded, they just bought a stadium from 1999 that they will install in the meantime before they rebuild and reinforce the roof before installing the new stadium. Oh wait...

 

[PDGL Hoops]

I think he stays for another year or two - unfortunately I don't think we make it back to the tourney until 2017. No basis for that statement - just making a guess.

 

[gmujim92]

5 years, and then parting of ways.

Not if you want to avoid long-term destruction of the program.

Like it or not, if we keep Hewitt beyond this year, we're gonna have to extend or fire him after Year 4.

Even he won't be able to recruit anyone headed into a lame-duck fifth season.

May as well rip off the Band-Aid all at once. It's gonna hurt like a bitch either way.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Sorry if I missed this as I only skimmed much of the thread, but what are the contract or buyout implications of the 3 scenarios Tom presented?

Per the cited article below, Hewitt's buyout is base pay for the remainder of the contract. His base pay is 659,000. So in order to buy him out after this year you're looking at 1.3M. To buy him out after Year 4 is 659,000.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog...paring-deals-mason-gave-hewitt-and-larranaga/

This is why I think its more palatable and reasonable, like Pablo suggested, that he be fired after year 4. You take less of hit dollars wise, don't have to extend him, and don't completely murder recruiting by having a lame duck.

 

[gmutom]

Like it or not, if we keep Hewitt beyond this year, we're gonna have to extend or fire him after Year 4.

Jim, I was thinking this was the case as well, but then I did the math. With four players coming in next year and another four the year after, we will only have two scholarships open the season after Hewitt's contract expires (Holloway and Marko).

While it's never ideal for a coach to recruit when there is no assurance he will be there the next season, two scholarships is not the end of the world. I also get the argument that the players might not play as hard for a lameduck coach, but the flip side is that they could play harder to help him keep his job.

I'm not lobbying for him to stay all five years, but I also don't think we necessarily need to extend him after year four if he stays all five years.

 

[Quentin Daniels]

Not another great recruiter please. You can find assistants to do that

It is my understanding and correct me if I'm wrong, but the buyout says we have to pay his full salary for the remainder of the contract. Now if that's just base pay it could be around 1.1 or 1.2M after this year. If it's all inclusive you're talking more like 1.5 or 1.6M.

This is why I think its more palatable and reasonable, like Pablo suggested, that he be fired after year 4. You take less of hit dollars wise, don't have to extend him, and don't completely murder recruiting by having a lame duck.

Yeah - think this might be it.

For the long term good of the program, and as long as recruiting hasn't gone completely South, you suck up another year and then can him. Otherwise your new coach is shackled by the financial hit of paying out the last guy. Kind of like Ga Tech had to do - but under the circumstances of Hewitt's ridiculicious contract there.

Of course, all this said not knowing any of the program's financials.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Not another great recruiter please. You can find assistants to do that


Yeah - think this might be it.

For the long term good of the program, and as long as recruiting hasn't gone completely South, you suck up another year and then can him. Otherwise your new coach is shackled by the financial hit of paying out the last guy. Kind of like Ga Tech had to do - but under the circumstances of Hewitt's ridiculicious contract there.

Of course, all this said not knowing any of the program's financials.

Yea, I just looked it up and edited my post above.

 

[Pablo]

Jim, I was thinking this was the case as well, but then I did the math. With four players coming in next year and another four the year after, we will only have two scholarships open the season after Hewitt's contract expires (Holloway and Marko).

Actually, there should be at least 3 open scholarships at the end of this contract including Julian Royal's.