Fordham's National Coaching Search

[Rich93]

A friend of mine, who is a St. John's alum and big basketball fan, told me today that he would love to trade us Freddie Q. for Grasso. He thinks Grasso would be a outstanding recruiter for them.   

Please stop with the Grasso recruiter stuff, he has a chance to show how good his recruits are and how good he is over the next 20 games.

[RAM71]

Please stop with the Grasso recruiter stuff, he has a chance to show how good his recruits are and how good he is over the next 20 games.

Rich, I was just passing on a comment from a St. John's guy, someone whom I have found to be very knowledgable on local college basketball. I took his comments as intended to be more negative to Freddie Q. than positive to Grasso.

[Rich93]

Rich, I was just passing on a comment from a St. John's guy, someone whom I have found to be very knowledgable on local college basketball. I took his comments as intended to be more negative to Freddie Q. than positive to Grasso.

Undertstood.  Do not think I am rooting against Jared, but I really want to bring this evaluation to the reality of what we have and what he brought in.  it may be that coaching the players he recruited will give him an insight into the fact that you need to recruit a team not just a bunch of names with ratings.  I have no desire to have Freddie Q as our coach.   

[STLFan]

Here is another name you all might want to check out.  Though since he is in New York you all might already know more about him then I do.

Siena's head coach - Fran McCaffery.

He has won at three different schools and taken all three to the NCAA tournament.  All three schools are also non-BCS schools and Seina is a small catholic school in the state of New York so he knows the area and is familiar with winning at schools like Fordham.  Also Siena plays in the MAAC so the A10 would be a nice step up.

Here is a link to his wikipedia page and head coaching record.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran_McCaffery

[John]

I love Fran McCaffery, but he'd be nuts to come to Fordham. He's got the best program in the MAAC and a 10,000 seat modern arena to play his home games in. If he decides to move up, he's moving way past Fordham.

Let me throw out names of three coaches in lower divisions who might get a look. My sense is that our next HC needs to be someone who's not just a recruiter, but a good tactician and teacher of the game. Modern recruiting is such a "sifting" process, matching kids with schools on the basis of talent levels, that it's going to be the rare non-BCS school who can consistently punch above its weight in the recruiting department. So we really need someone who can coach and teach the game.

We should take a look at these lower division coaches (among others):

Jerry Rickrode, Wilkes University -- excellent record in 17 years at Wilkes
Carl Danzig, U. Of Scranton -- another fine record in 9 years, I believe Fr. McShane hired him once before
Tim Cluess, C.W. Post -- had undefeated final 4 team not long ago. Rumored next in line for Hofstra job if Pecora bolts.

We've learned that "famous" names don't guarantee squat. And from the perspective of my bruised spectator sensibilities the past couple of years, I'd sure like to see guys in Fordham jersey who look like they've been taught the game.

[Battering Ram]

agree w/ John on McCaffery -- great coach who would be nuts to come here.  Face it guys, there are alot of coaches who are currently at mid-majors who we would have had a shot at in the past who are going to be less interested than they would have been previously.  The Fordham job has been diminished.  It's tough to admit and I don't like saying it but the Matt Brady's and Fran McCaffery's of the world are not going to be as interested as they used to be.

More than ever before, the job is seen as a career killer.  We have the oldest, possibly the worst facility in the country, no new one on the horizon, and two decades of failure.  Yes, some will think that they'll look like a genius if they turn Fordham into a winner but it's a very risky proposition and more and more coaches are going to pass and try and make their career elsewhere.

More than ever, I think an assistant coach will be the way to go.  Hopefully, Frank will ease his opposition to hiring coaches with no previous HC experience since that model has worked soooo well.

[tjbramfan]

Matt Doherty makes sense and should be interviewed. Local, High BBall IQ, great recruiter (UNC players Felton, May etc), great resume, values student/athlete balance and won't be complacent with losing.

[John]

Matt Doherty makes sense and should be interviewed. Local, High BBall IQ, great recruiter (UNC players Felton, May etc), great resume, values student/athlete balance and won't be complacent with losing.

All these attributes apply with equal force to Fordham alum Fred Quartlebaum, who assisted Doherty at UNC and Notre Dame, recruited those great UNC players, is currently an assistant at St. John's, and -- significantly -- is likely to be willing to coach for what  Fordham is willing to pay.

I've got nothing against giving Doherty a shout-out, but no way will we match his $600K pay packet and the superior facilities and athletic support he receives at SMU. If he's desperate enough to coach in NY, and he thinks he's got a plan to help this program, well, Frank and McShane are in the phone book.

[Panther 70]

Here is another name you all might want to check out.  Though since he is in New York you all might already know more about him then I do.

Siena's head coach - Fran McCaffery.

He has won at three different schools and taken all three to the NCAA tournament.  All three schools are also non-BCS schools and Seina is a small catholic school in the state of New York so he knows the area and is familiar with winning at schools like Fordham.  Also Siena plays in the MAAC so the A10 would be a nice step up.

Here is a link to his wikipedia page and head coaching record.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran_McCaffery

You people are dreaming. McCaffery didn't seem interested in the Xavier job. You think he would be interested in FU???

[ramguy1]

Tim Cluess would be an EXCELLENT choice. He is a proven winner everywhere he has been. A tough guy who runs a strict no nonsense program. What a refreshing change for us!

[Panther 70]

Tim Cluess would be an EXCELLENT choice. He is a proven winner everywhere he has been. A tough guy who runs a strict no nonsense program. What a refreshing change for us!

He is also a social climber, so what would we get from him, 3yrs tops?

[John]

Right now, 3 years of improvement followed by a program pointing in the right direction sounds pretty good to this beleaguered Ram fan.

[Battering Ram]

the categorization of him as "social climber" seems unfair.  He spent 14 years at St. Mary's HS so he also has a record of staying in the same place for a long time.

[tjbramfan]

It is pretty obvious you get what you pay for.  Matt's resume is strong. He would have kids looking to play for him and an emerging power. Players are not stupid. They will see Fordham making a serious investment in the program.....the new facilities can come later after they establish themselves.  Money can be negotiated if the fit is right.

[John]

It is pretty obvious you get what you pay for.  Matt's resume is strong. He would have kids looking to play for him and an emerging power. Players are not stupid. They will see Fordham making a serious investment in the program.....the new facilities can come later after they establish themselves.  Money can be negotiated if the fit is right.

Got it. You like Matt Doherty. Understood. He's got family connections to Fordham, to the area, check.  Fr. McShane is in the book. Maybe he's one of the coaches that called Frank about the vacancy. If a guy with Doherty's pedigree is willing to leave his current position, come to New York, work with our current resources, and has a plan to make us successful, by gosh, he's the Father Damien of the coaching profession.

Now, one must note that Matt's record at SMU is 33-58, and 10-38 in Conference USA. Those are actually fairly Fordhamesque numbers. I would not consider the ability to post Fordhamesque numbers at another school a real positive in this process.

But, Fordham does have one of its own coaching in C-USA (Jerry Hobbie is on Tom Penders' staff at Houston), so I'm sure we'll get the inside scoop on Mr. Doherty

[ayteefie]

Does Tommy Amaker get a look?

[KPW]

He would have kids looking to play for him and an emerging power.

Fordham has been an emerging power for forty years now.
Unfortunately, we have been emerging at the same annualized rate as Somalia. 

[high school hoops]

KP, do not be so harsh on Somalia, as comparing it to Fordham hoops is so unfair to Somalia!

[Battering Ram]

Somalia?  rambacker as a warlord?

[fu91]

the categorization of him as "social climber" seems unfair.  He spent 14 years at St. Mary's HS so he also has a record of staying in the same place for a long time.

Cluess is a good thought... also in our backyard is James Cosgrove at Adelphi... No-nonsense guy, gets a lot out of his players, been there 8 yrs and they always have really good teams and quality kids.

[southcarolinaram]

I believe we have been called "A Sleeping Giant" for decades.

There was a discussion on this board recently about 4 or 5 hot assistants who deserved shots at being head coaches. Jared Grasso was one of them. Give him the job for 1 and 1/2 years now and let him recruit. Let him appoint his own staff starting now.

[ramguy1]

Tommy Amaker??? Talk to the Michigan alumni and see what they tell you. I have and they still cringe at the thought of his days there. I know he's doing better at Harvard now. But trust me, the man cannot coach and, if we don't want a DW replay, we should look somewhere else.

[An Old Coach]

I believe we have been called "A Sleeping Giant" for decades.

There was a discussion on this board recently about 4 or 5 hot assistants who deserved shots at being head coaches. Jared Grasso was one of them. Give him the job for 1 and 1/2 years now and let him recruit. Let him appoint his own staff starting now.

Fordham alums locked into 1971 are the only ones calling Fordham a "sleeping Giant."  That window has long since closed.

Cluess is the only name so far that I know and get excited about.  For him, the jump would make sense.  It's a step up and we would run through walls.  He's been a head coach and I think that is critical.

Again, Doherty isn't coming.  He's rebuilding one program with excellent resources at his disposal.  He's been at big-time places.  While he could do a lot for Fordham, Fordham can do nothing for him.  Ditto for McCaffery.  We're looking at a guy who is out of coaching at present or a guy at a real small D-I school who is ready to move up.  This is a long-range project so i don't believe having a coach bolt in 3 years is an issue.  We should be so lucky to get a guy who can get us to .500 in three years.

[CTRAM]

 

Now, one must note that Matt's record at SMU is 33-58, and 10-38 in Conference USA.


All the more reason the timing may be perfect at Fordham's chance of getting a NATIONALLY known coach!

And what's this nonsense about if Matt is interested, he knows how to reach both  Frank and McShane? Isn't that the job of a program to look and recruit the best? Isn't that why companies hire national search firms to fill important jobs?

Too much "thinking small" being displayed on this board fellas........

 

[fordahmballer]

I believe we have been called "A Sleeping Giant" for decades.

There was a discussion on this board recently about 4 or 5 hot assistants who deserved shots at being head coaches. Jared Grasso was one of them. Give him the job for 1 and 1/2 years now and let him recruit. Let him appoint his own staff starting now.

I agree---give him this half year and 2 more! Let him recruit and see if he can get this turned around! If not then we bring someone in.

[John]

Now, one must note that Matt's record at SMU is 33-58, and 10-38 in Conference USA.


All the more reason the timing may be perfect at Fordham's chance of getting a NATIONALLY known coach!

And what's this nonsense about if Matt is interested, he knows how to reach both  Frank and McShane? Isn't that the job of a program to look and recruit the best? Isn't that why companies hire national search firms to fill important jobs?

Too much "thinking small" being displayed on this board fellas........

 

Doherty is not a name that gets me excited. When I checked his career coaching stats, I realize why:

Notre Dame (22-15) [got to NIT final, meaning finished regular season 18-14].
N. Carolina  (53-43) [seasons of 26-7, 8-20, 19-16]
Fla. Atlantic (15-13)
SMU           (33-58) [seasons of 14-17, 10-20 and 9-21; in which direction, exactly, is he rebuilding?]

Career:      123-129

He's been a head coach as long as Dereck Whittenburg and has a slightly better NCAA tourney record [1-1 vs. 0-1].  He has compiled this record despite twice walking into marquee programs that were strong and loaded.

Really, we've tried pro glitz (The Bad Coach), college glitz (DW). We had a coach who told kids he could be their launching pad to the NBA, and another who could tell kids he'd actually WON an NCAA championship. Somehow, the reflected glory never quite caught.

 Believe me, we've tried "nationally known". It's not all it's cracked up to be.

[Ram69]

After a flurry of activity—with dozens of familiar and unfamiliar names being discussed—this thread has gone silent over the past two and a half days.

I suspect that means people may be taking a wait-and-see attitude toward Grasso, whatever their initial leanings might have been.  So far, at least, he DOES seem to be making all the right moves.

Considering the disappointing experiences Fordham has had with the last two coaches, it’s only sensible that we take our time and do a proper search.   In the end, though, it may well turn out that that the guy we need is already on board. 

 

[fu91]

G-Tech is doing well so far (though they haven't been tested), and I hope that they have a great ACC season, but if they don't, Paul Hewitt might be on the hot seat and he'd be perfect here if things break badly for him there. Super quality guy, great recruiter, gets a lot out of his kids, plays a fun, up-tempo style, knows Fordham, etc. etc. etc.

[John]

Does Tommy Amaker get a look?

He's gotten mixed reviews, but his 7-2 Harvard team did march into BC and beat them last night. When's the last time any Ivy League team beat one from the ACC?

[Ballernation]

Does Tommy Amaker get a look?

He's gotten mixed reviews, but his 7-2 Harvard team did march into BC and beat them last night. When's the last time any Ivy League team beat one from the ACC?

I saw the BC win and thought, hmmm, the guy had issues at Michigan. Maybe unlike the guy we just released he learned from bad experiences and is developing into a better coach. Also took UCONN to the wall, saw that and thought it a fluke. Bad night for UCONN I thought. Not saying he's the guy, but maybe considered in the mix. Personally from what I see of Jared so far I like, I'm pulling for him. Admittedly I'm a bit euphoric, just to know that " Ding Dong the wicked Warlock is Dead". Not to rehash the past , looking to the future. But, man were these last two plus years like convincing yourself that a hangover is therapeutic or what!!!