Welcome Kim English

[MasonMojo]

vcu fan- I come in peace. My brother went to Mason and he was furious when coach L left. This feels very similar. Is the outrage more toward English or the Admin? I would think English saying they are happy with the status quo would really upset Mason Nation. Especially it felt like the Admin didn’t really take advantage of the 2006 run in my opinion as far as investing in the program.

we don't need your kind poking around with the humble brags and "wHaT wEnT wRoNg" BS. You can't just celebrate your own achievements you have to come in and rub salt in the wound for us? Says a whole lot about you boy.

 

[emjayar08]

So we get a 1st round pick for Kim English ala Sean Payton, right? Right??!!

 

[RamboRowdy]

we don't need your kind poking around with the humble brags and "wHaT wEnT wRoNg" BS. You can't just celebrate your own achievements you have to come in and rub salt in the wound for us? Says a whole lot about you boy.

Was just curious since it seems like KE is taking a lot of heat not the admin. Nevermind.

 

[He15man]

I've used this individual as a perfect example of what Mason should be looking for: https://goduke.com/staff-directory/jon-jackson/181

Been around a big time program, has worked with large donors, sponsorships, etc.

Not saying *him specifically*, but they should 100% be sniffing around for that type.

I fully agree. Someone that was a true #2 to a big P5 school's AD would be great, and with close personal involvement with basketball operations would be ideal.

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

we don't need your kind poking around with the humble brags and "wHaT wEnT wRoNg" BS. You can't just celebrate your own achievements you have to come in and rub salt in the wound for us? Says a whole lot about you boy.

Anger issues much? I see nothing wrong with what he said/asked.

Don't get me wrong, I hate vcu as much as the next Mason fan, but kinda bush league, don't piss in my Cheerios, response.

 

[GMU79]

Maybe I'm way off base, but Dr. W doesn't seem like he likes losing. I'm hoping he steps in, says "I'm in charge here" and moves fast and furious!

 

[MasonMojo]

Anger issues much? I see nothing wrong with what he said/asked.

Don't get me wrong, I hate vcu as much as the next Mason fan, but kinda bush league, don't piss in my Cheerios, response.

if you hate them then you would have a problem with them sticking their nose in our business while we are in the middle of sorting this crisis out.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Maybe I'm way off base, but Dr. W doesn't seem like he likes losing. I'm hoping he steps in, says "I'm in charge here" and moves fast and furious!

I'll believe it when I see it. He also said we're going to "put the A10 on notice" and then likely played a part in the behind the scenes circus that unfolded leading to Kim's departure.

But again, this is so much bigger than who we hire as the next coach. There are systemic issues within the admin and athletic department that need to be addressed or nothing will actually change. I encourage everyone and anyone to contact as many people in the admin/AD as you can to voice your frustration.

 

[He15man]

Maybe I'm way off base, but Dr. W doesn't seem like he likes losing. I'm hoping he steps in, says "I'm in charge here" and moves fast and furious!

So, I actually had the opportunity to meet him recently and spoke with him briefly. VERY cool guy, very personable, and very smart. But that aside, to say that he's passionate about our basketball team would be an understatement. He knew exactly how many games we had to win, who we had to beat and who had to lose for us to get a first round bye in the A10 tournament, and the expectations on CKE to make that happen was palpable. So I have every reason to believe he's not overlooking the impact of losing KE after only two years, and the importance of these next steps so we don't repeat the Hewitt era and lose any and all momentum after Coach L's success.

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

if you hate them then you would have a problem with them sticking their nose in our business while we are in the middle of sorting this crisis out.

Maybe because it's a public, open forum that anyone can join and or respond to? And I seriously doubt you are actively doing anything to "sort this crisis out".

Just Because I like or dislike someone does not mean that they aren't allowed an opinion or a voice.

Alas, in the end it DOES affect the entire Atlantic-10 conference as we are trying to collectively grow this conference into something bigger and worthy of respect.

 

[Walter]

So, I actually had the opportunity to meet him recently and spoke with him briefly. VERY cool guy, very personable, and very smart. But that aside, to say that he's passionate about our basketball team would be an understatement. He knew exactly how many games we had to win, who we had to beat and who had to lose for us to get a first round bye in the A10 tournament, and the expectations on CKE to make that happen was palpable. So I have every reason to believe he's not overlooking the impact of losing KE after only two years, and the importance of these next steps so we don't repeat the Hewitt era and lose any and all momentum after Coach L's success.

I am not a fan of Pres GW for other reasons, but I like hearing that.

 

[MasonMojo]

Maybe because it's a public, open forum that anyone can join and or respond to? And I seriously doubt you are actively doing anything to "sort this crisis out".

Just Because I like or dislike someone does not mean that they aren't allowed an opinion or a voice.

Alas, in the end it DOES affect the entire Atlantic-10 conference as we are trying to collectively grow this conference into something bigger and worthy of respect.

OK while you are worried about kissing vcu's a** I will be worried about our university and basketball program, that's fine. Different priorities.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I'm done with the blame game. Let's focus on getting a coach and see what can be salvaged for next season

Nice try! What's done is done. Let's be solution focused.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

View attachment 1707
People can start with that.

I may be in the minority, but I don't regard the AD role at GMU as a crucial linchpin. In the 30+ years since I graduated the ADs have come and gone and none have really had much of an impact as far as I can tell (O'Connor hiring Larranaga being a notable exception). In my experience the only time I seem to pay any attention to the AD is when there is a screw up (and there have been several notable ones over the years).

The one person that can and has made a difference when it comes to athletics (the basketball team, in articular) is the President, and the last guy that really moved the needle on this front was George Johnson (got the Pat Center built and was the 1st person in the school's history to recognize the importance of, and invest in, mens hoops). Maybe Merten gets a little credit, but I don't recall any major investments in the program following our FF run.

I thought Washington had a similar vision to Johnson when he made the big splash with the English hiring, but maybe that's not the case.

One of two things happened here:

1) Washington and Co. dropped the ball and mismanaged this situation. i.e., should have proactively extended English, given more money to assistants, made other investments in the program, etc.

or,

2) English was ready to go, Providence gave him an out, and nothing was going to bring him back.

I tend to fault Dr. Washington and the admin but it's possible English already had his bags packed and has been looking to exit at the first good opportunity.

 

[He15man]

I may be in the minority, but I don't regard the AD role at GMU as a crucial linchpin. In the 30+ years since I graduated the ADs have come and gone and none have really had much of an impact as far as I can tell (O'Connor hiring Larranaga being a notable exception). In my experience the only time I seem to pay any attention to the AD is when there is a screw up (and there have been several notable ones over the years).

The one person that can and has made a difference when it comes to athletics (the basketball team, in articular) is the President, and the last guy that really moved the needle on this front was George Johnson (got the Pat Center built and was the 1st person in the school's history to recognize the importance of, and invest in, mens hoops). Maybe Merten gets a little credit, but I don't recall any major investments in the program following our FF run.

I thought Washington had a similar vision to Johnson when he made the big splash with the English hiring, but maybe that's not the case.

One of two things happened here:

1) Washington and Co. dropped the ball and mismanaged this situation. i.e., should have proactively extended English, given more money to assistants, made other investments in the program, etc.

or,

2) English was ready to go, Providence gave him an out, and nothing was going to bring him back.

I tend to fault Dr. Washington and the admin but it's possible English already had his bags packed and has been looking to exit at the first good opportunity.

I think your first paragraph ... where you say our past ADs have had no real impact ... is precisely the reason why our next AD hire is so critical. Every major P5 athletic department's AD acts and functions like the CEO of that world. Yes, they obviously report into the President or Chancellor... but in many respects, that AD operates like the ruler of his or her own little fiefdom. and they have to because a literal s**t-ton of money flows into the university through those channels, which is also why those folks are always running fundraisers and generating relationships with boosters and corporate sponsors to keep pace with the arms race in college athletics - facility upgrades to stadiums, locker rooms, training facilities, booster lounges, etc.

Obviously Mason does not operate at the same level as these P5 ADs... but if we strive to be anywhere near reputable and as nationally respected as the St. Mary's, SD States, Butlers, or dare i say it, vcu's, then we need a person that actually knows how to run that type of department... everything from project management, to relationship building, to fundraising, to marketing, to contract management, to talent identification and management, etc.

Our recent ADs might have had a couple of these skillsets, but certainly not all of them. Nor do their support staff. So i maintain that if we want to get back to being respected in the sports world, then we need a leader that actually knows how to get us there... because they've either done it, or was the right hand of the person who did it.

 

[GSII]

Back to being respected? That only happened in athletics when Coach L was here, the Womens Soccer team Coach who a national title, the track coach and maaayyybe when Gordon Bradley led mens soccer. Programs make the school respectable. Coaches/Professors run the programs. Presidents/AD's hire them.
Look, Its the wild west in our main sport and we may never find an AD. Hire Tony Skinn and tell him to bring his Deputy Ad with him and lets roll.

 

[He15man]

Back to being respected? That only happened in athletics when Coach L was here, the Womens Soccer team Coach who a national title, the track coach and maaayyybe when Gordon Bradley led mens soccer. Programs make the school respectable. Coaches/Professors run the programs. Presidents/AD's hire them.
Look, Its the wild west in our main sport and we may never find an AD. Hire Tony Skinn and tell him to bring his Deputy Ad with him and let’s roll.

I’d love to see Tony back on our sidelines, and if we brought in Marylands deputy AD too… then that’s fine. I’d just rather not hire another AD from Jax U., or some other school that’s barely D1.

 

[TweederGMU]

On the AD side....weak leadership is like no leadership. We did it to ourselves not having a coherent and swift plan in place for when an AD leaves your school as basketball is our major sport and we really have been flying blind for months now.

I like Washington and think he understands the need for a good bball program but this is just the same movie we have seen force fed to us over and over again... this is why so many of us are pissed cause we know this is setting us back years and some of us really believed in where this new coach and President could of taken us. KE is a good talker.

I can see Kim's side..... he's young and he has continued to read that he is the golden boy and one of the best up and coming coaches from many outlets over the past few years yet comes to a school and has to worry about getting students to games, muchless, getting them to stand and cheer at games! Also to have 10-20 people show up to his live coaches show, no major business donors outside a handful, no plan in place for athletic facility improvements, etc. I think he saw how inept our program and overall leadership is in many different departments and figured this is a major overhaul and not worth him putting in effort for just 5 years.

Therefore, he was presented with A) Make more money and B) Go to a true basketball school and program where he has given resources and overall better shot at being successful. He wants to be successful and figured Providence has a better understanding of basketball and what it takes to win year in and year out. While Mason is still like 4 monkeys trying to hump a football for the past 15-20 years and can't figure out how to properly run departments, muchless, execute on a winning athletics vision and goal for this school.
You take the money and run.

This is all on the overall athletic department and administration and lack of no true AD. President Washington shouldn't have to be dealing with a head coach negotiations.... this is the prime role of an ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

 

[He15man]

On the AD side....weak leadership is like no leadership. We did it to ourselves not having a coherent and swift plan in place for when an AD leaves your school as basketball is our major sport and we really have been flying blind for months now.

I like Washington and think he understands the need for a good bball program but this is just the same movie we have seen force fed to us over and over again... this is why so many of us are pissed cause we know this is setting us back years and some of us really believed in where this new coach and President could of taken us. KE is a good talker.

I can see Kim's side..... he's young and he has continued to read that he is the golden boy and one of the best up and coming coaches from many outlets over the past few years yet comes to a school and has to worry about getting students to games, muchless, getting them to stand and cheer at games! Continuing to have 10 people show up to his live coaches show. I think he saw how inept our program and overall leadership is in many different departments and figured this ia major overhaul and not worth it. Therefore, he would go to a true basketball school and program where he has given resources and overall better shot at being successful. Plus he will not have to worry about students coming to games, muchless, standing and cheering for games. He wants to be successful and figured Providence has a better understanding of basketball and what it takes to win year in and year out. While Mason is still like 4 monkeys trying to hump a football for the past 15-20 years and can't figure out how to properly run departments, muchless, and execute on a winning athletics vision and goal for this school.

Truth hurts….

 

[GMU79]

So, I actually had the opportunity to meet him recently and spoke with him briefly. VERY cool guy, very personable, and very smart. But that aside, to say that he's passionate about our basketball team would be an understatement. He knew exactly how many games we had to win, who we had to beat and who had to lose for us to get a first round bye in the A10 tournament, and the expectations on CKE to make that happen was palpable. So I have every reason to believe he's not overlooking the impact of losing KE after only two years, and the importance of these next steps so we don't repeat the Hewitt era and lose any and all momentum after Coach L's success.

That's very good to hear! Fingers crossed!