Pecora extended through 2016-17

[oktornado]

And I am now SURE it had everything to do with TP2's voicing concern with AD situation...but what was he going to do, resign?  Not sure that would be a major concern- headache yes, but once again, bad job- with is 2 year record, admin had all the cards, as it were...bid against ourselves vs nobody, just like Yanks did with ARod and NYM with Ollie. 

[oktornado]

or the jets

Maybe if WE take Tebow as our starter next year at Jack Coffey, then they will revoke extension??? 

[John]

Pecora's extension should actually give some hope to those who think this is the "same old, same old" Fordham dance. Pecora has done something that Tom Penders failed/was unable to do when Frank was hired -- he's secured a contract extension and solidified his position at the school. He's made sure that, whoever is picked to replace Frank, Pecora will be left alone to carry out his rebuilding plan.

A far different cry from when Penders was passed over for the AD job in favor of Frank. Penders had only a year left on his contract at that point, and was vulnerable to the whims of the new AD. There were even suggestions that Frank might squeeze Penders out and coach the basketball team himself. [I think Frank might have been inclined that way, but Penders had been denied the AD's job on the ground that one shouldn't try to wear both hats (although it was frequently done back then), and it would have been bad form for Frank to go out and try to do just that].

Perhaps the extension will limit the choice of AD candidates, but it might be reassuring to folks who like Pecora and want to work with him. [Anyone notice how fast Stony Brook's AD twittered congratulations on the extension? Hmmm . . .  ].

[Rich93]

How would people feel if we landed the Stony Brook AD but Gray remained in the athletics picture?  Would getting a guy who is obviously qualified overshadow the reporting structure?

[ace93]

Yes, to me that would overshadow it. The right person can make things work despite the reporting structure. Still not ideal, but not as much of an issue.

[85 Emeritus (closed)]

Fiore would likley butt heads with Gray.

At first blush, I thought Fiore would be the most logical guy for this job. But when I went back and reviewed the history, I didnt realize he has been at USB for nine ( 9 ) years.  His accompishments there are incredible and the amount of work done out there was mind boggling. I just find it tough to see why a guy would now want to start a reclamation project all over again. And, would he still have the same fire in his belly with a huge $$ coming in the door and 9-10 years of advanced age?

Fordham tends to hire guys who have already done the heavy lifting elsewhere. Maybe we need the younger, aggressive guy who has the fire to do it, as opposed to the guy/gal who has already done it once.

   

[Rich93]

Fiore would likley butt heads with Gray.

At first blush, I thought Fiore would be the most logical guy for this job. But when I went back and reviewed the history, I didnt realize he has been at USB for nine ( 9 ) years.  His accompishments there are incredible and the amount of work done out there was mind boggling. I just find it tough to see why a guy would now want to start a reclamation project all over again. And, would he still have the same fire in his belly with a huge $$ coming in the door and 9-10 years of advanced age?

Fordham tends to hire guys who have already done the heavy lifting elsewhere. Maybe we need the younger, aggressive guy who has the fire to do it, as opposed to the guy/gal who has already done it once.

   

One of the problems I have is that I really do not know who the right guy is, I justed used Fiore as an example.  If Gray is not out of the picture we at least need someone who will but heads with him and McShane when necessary.  A good example is what Pecora did with the IZOD last year.  Gray said it was still an option, Pecora went public saying it was a bad idea and that he was against it.  If we have an AD willing to do that, speak publicly about what he wanted to do but was thwarted by the administration, it would take some sting out of the reporting structure. 

[Bronx Boy]

This is entertaining stuff.  Takes my mind off the dumb SOBs who run Fordham athletics ... 

I wholeheartedly concur, joeb.

The Fordham Nation is all fired up with regard to the selection of a new AD on Rose Hill, but judging by the track record of Jimmy Mack and the BOT, I wouldn't hold my breath on this one.

LMBAO !

FWIW, LMBAO means laughing my boney ass off.

http://www.asianhealthsecrets.com/letha/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cats-laughing-1024x819.jpg

[ram20220]

Fiore would likley butt heads with Gray.

At first blush, I thought Fiore would be the most logical guy for this job. But when I went back and reviewed the history, I didnt realize he has been at USB for nine ( 9 ) years.  His accompishments there are incredible and the amount of work done out there was mind boggling. I just find it tough to see why a guy would now want to start a reclamation project all over again. And, would he still have the same fire in his belly with a huge $$ coming in the door and 9-10 years of advanced age?

Fordham tends to hire guys who have already done the heavy lifting elsewhere. Maybe we need the younger, aggressive guy who has the fire to do it, as opposed to the guy/gal who has already done it once.

   

I have been thinking about this point the last few days.  I have zero faith that the ones in charge of this process (no outside firm that I've seen been mentioned) can find (or take the risk on) the young up-and-comer who has the fire in his belly to get it done. I see this as going to be the hiring of an old crony (after an 'exhaustive nationwide search') who has had success elsewhere, but as 85 & 85.1 mentioned, doesn't have that same drive that we so desperately need here at Fordham.

I pray that I am proven wrong.

[70sRam]

Wow, you go away and all kinds of things happen on Rose Hill!  A few thoughts, many of which have been expressed already.  

I doubt the Frank move had anything to do with the new Chairman.  Boards manage the President, the President manages the administration.  Boards typically don't get involved in the day-to-day hiring and firing of employees unless there is something illegal going on, and kicking someone upstairs is not a sign of something illegal.  No non-executive Chairman walks into a new board position and demands a move like this.  It was a logical progression of priorities: law school construction, Gabelli, new dorms, science center, now athletics.  Plus, Fordham couldn't do something like this so quickly -- this was clearly in the works for a while.  Simply coming up with Frank's new title must have taken a month or two.

Next, who the new AD reports to is somewhat irrelevant, if they are good.  it wouldn't preclude a talented person from taking the job, or performing well in the position.  That it reports to Gray and not McShane is logical, regardless of what many think of his abilities.

That the position description includes wording about Jesuit mission shouldn't be seen as limiting the search to Jesuit institutions.  That wording is common in most all Jesuit institution job descriptions.  It's a plus for a candidate, but not an essential.

I would hope a search firm is conducting the search, working with a committee.  My worry is that some of the same old consultants the university uses will take this on, even though their specialty is not collegiate athletics search.  I've heard about this issue in other administrative areas at Fordham -- where a top search firm is sought out, but never retained, in favor of a current consultant doing it on the side.  That would be disappointing.

Finally, while I wouldn't necessarily have done the TP extension proactively, it does send a good signal to him and recruits -- which is why he might have requested a sign of good faith.  Perhaps he even had some sort of "change in control/reporting structure" clause in his contract.  While perhaps unnecessary, I wouldn't read much into it.

All in all, I came back to a few weeks of good news: a new Chair, a step forward with a new AD, and a commitment to a coach who has made some good progress (though not entirely on the court).

[joeb]

this is starting to remind me of my korean dog recipes(also unwisely deleted)

[FUCoP69]

Back on topic: I agree that giving Pecora an extension at this time may well lessen the number of qualified applicants for the AD position, for the reasons that other posters have already stated. That is assuming, of course, that there really will be a nationwide search (which I doubt). The extension was not necessary now.

[ConnGael]

I have to think the recent changes at Fordham re AD and Pecora's extension is in part a reaction to Iona's shot at glory in March.  Its one of the reasons I always advocate all of the local teams being good.  It puts pressure on the Admin. to do something when another local team is getting a lot of attention.  If everybody stinks, where's the impetus for the BOT to do anything?  Unless of course they are all huge sports fans like at Ohio State or a similar place.  And you don't want to be Ohio State.  Its always been my belief that when all the local teams are good, it benefits them all in that the Admins will have to act to stay competitive.  Told you guys to root for the Gaels in March

[ace93]

I seriously doubt it had much, if anything, to do with it.

[Rich93]

Good to see conngael has moments of delusion like the rest og us.

[nyhoopsfan12]

I do not think it was just Iona's success that helped bring about change at Fordham.  I am sure the combination of SJU rebuilding and getting press, Iona's success and Manhattan's quick turnaround under Masiello provided the Fordham faithful something to bitch about to the schools admin.  I am also sure Pecora has explained to Father McShane that Fordham needs change now so that they can be prepared for future realignment amongst the conferences. 

However it came about does not really matter.  All that matters is that it appears to be happening.

[ConnGael]

I don't know guys, the timing is curious.  Its one thing for Iona to win the MAAC, but to get an at-large?  Got to think that gives Pecora some ammunition when going to the Admin.

Plus, I got you to stop fighting with each other for a few moments.   

[SIram]

I have to think the recent changes at Fordham re AD and Pecora's extension is in part a reaction to Iona's shot at glory in March.  Its one of the reasons I always advocate all of the local teams being good.  It puts pressure on the Admin. to do something when another local team is getting a lot of attention.  If everybody stinks, where's the impetus for the BOT to do anything?  Unless of course they are all huge sports fans like at Ohio State or a similar place.  And you don't want to be Ohio State.  Its always been my belief that when all the local teams are good, it benefits them all in that the Admins will have to act to stay competitive.  Told you guys to root for the Gaels in March

CG,

I think you are having some fun here but I would prefer to think that finally the BOT and Administrative just got tired the lack of ideas, defeatist attitude and more than anything else were tired of being bad.  They ignored other colleges being good for years so I don't think Iona or SJU played into this at all

[ConnGael]

CG,

I think you are having some fun here but I would prefer to think that finally the BOT and Administrative just got tired the lack of ideas, defeatist attitude and more than anything else were tired of being bad.  They ignored other colleges being good for years so I don't think Iona or SJU played into this at all

Well there's always that too.

[JCMB]

I don't know guys, the timing is curious.  Its one thing for Iona to win the MAAC, but to get an at-large?  Got to think that gives Pecora some ammunition when going to the Admin.

Plus, I got you to stop fighting with each other for a few moments.   

ConnGael, Fr McShane would not know what an at-large bid was if he fell over it.  I don't think it means a thing to him.  Probably Gray - but not the Pres.

[John]

My guess is the increased spending on athletics probably spurred folks within the BOT and Administration to demand better results for the spend (hoorah!) Oddly enough, while the last couple of years have seen a few of Frank's stronger decisions/successes (softball, the Pecora and Gaitley hirings, the women's swimming A-10 title), there were some real embarrassments (the Army football debacle, football's record with scholarships, the spare rim episode) that underscored the need for more professionalism in the role.

I would be absolutely certain that the success (or lack thereof) of other local schools in athletic endeavors had absolutely nothing to do with the decision to jettison Frank.

In Fr. McShane's world, Fordham's in a competition with Columbia and NYU, and there is no athletic component to that competition. Other local schools are largely invisible to him. I'd surmise the decision to change ADs is driven entirely by internal considerations.

[RAM71]

Zach Braziller replies to a question about Tom Pecora and the contract extension.

Zach Braziller‏@NYPost_Brazille
@habeebeebe @tpaln He took over a disaster. He's improved talent level. Give him some time. The problem was the job the guy before him did
 

[ace93]

Nice find. What question was he answering? 

[RAM71]

Nice find. What question was he answering? 

These were the questions:

why does fordham come in last place but give scholarship to walk-on players? does anyone else do that?

you like the contract extension for mr. pecora? he finish last place 2 years i n row.....how he get new contract?
 

[ace93]

I wonder who from here tweeted those questions. They sound like stuff that has been brought up here.

[85]

Did they mention Wake Forest? 

[JohnG92]

TP certainly has a lot of time and a lot of money now.

I hope there is a sense of urgency to this season. Gaston deserves it.

[ace93]

Did they mention Wake Forest? 

No, it does not appear that you they did.   

[Rich93]

TP certainly has a lot of time and a lot of money now.

I hope there is a sense of urgency to this season. Gaston deserves it.

and so do the fans. 

[85]

Zach thinks Pecora needs 7 years?   

Another guy works Frank's pea brain, I heard that the extension was secured months ago, on the heels of the Harvard win...... If he needed all this time, why didnt we give him a 7 year contract out of the gate?