Coaching Search Thread

[GMU_DCU]

DC United had to do this with Ben Olsen who was a club legend and had been there since 1998 as a player then an assistant then a head coach (something like 23 years).

Yeah and they waited about 5 years too long to fire him.

 

[Pablo]

I wouldn't be surprised if Brad and Dr. Washington didn't even know who Tony was prior to all the tweets about him after firing DP. I say that half joking but I do know for a fact that a lot of the displeasure from the alumni during Coach L's days stem from the top of the Athletic Department. I believe that Isiah Tate coming back was a start but they have been pretty vocal to Brad privately and feel like their concerns have gone unnoticed. Some of the final 4 guys are pretty cocky but all of them feel like they put Mason on the map and should have more of a say in the program. I would be happy with either Tony or Kim, but if someone that doesn't have DMV ties is hired and no Mason alum are brought in as an assistant/into the Athletic Department, the flood gates might open from a few of L's guys.

I hope an internal search committee has prepared a list of candidates that include Tony Skinn.

 

[Pablo]

Aren’t they still pretty on par? The MAC might actually be slightly better.

I agree, but I phrased it this way because the CAA became a multi-bid conference during Coach L's tenure.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Shouldn't you guys who know people who played for Mason be able to figure out who amongst Caputo, Skinn, Konkol, etc. has gotten phone calls by now?

That's about the only part any insiders can verify right now other than English is definitely in the mix.

 

[Herndon]

Isn't it kind of a roll of the dice that Kelsey would show up to the press conference?

LOLOL. I mean...fair enough.

 

[bravesfan]

To me, that's not "failing", it's delivering about what you'd expect.

I appreciate Paulsen for many things. But I feel like he lacked on the recruiting front. Lamar himself said that the kids he coached overlooked Mason for other A10 schools.

He even stated that the administration knows people are frustrated. I've never seen former players hit Twitter the way they did after the announcement (other than maybe when Coach L left.)

There are people who are connected that probably know what went down, but from the outside looking in: It was time for a change.

 

[Patriot8]

The fact that Kim English is viewed as a solid backup option to those on this board that would prefer other names ( linked by National media guys) that have more coaching experience or a Mason connection, makes me feel really good about this coaching search. I feel like everyone that has been linked by reputable sources/figures gives Mason a pretty high floor, with some capable of a very high ceiling.

Absolutely see the reasons for a more experienced guy, and I certainly don't think anyone is insinuating that Kim would be a bad hire, it's just a positive sign that for some, they would be "settling" for a highly regarded P5 Assistant.

 

[By George.]

Shouldn't you guys who know people who played for Mason be able to figure out who amongst Caputo, Skinn, Konkol, etc. has gotten phone calls by now?

That's about the only part any insiders can verify right now other than English is definitely in the mix.

Kim English has not contacted Butler or former players and the AD has not contacted Skinn.

 

[dr. gunnie]

I know I'm singularly alone in this, but honestly, I don't care. I'm right, and you're all wrong.

Paulsen didn't fail. He took us from a bottom of the barrel A10 team and stabilized us in the conference. There's no doubt we belong in the conference now, and we're a solid middle of the pack team.

We paid middle of the road money for Paulsen, and provided middle of the road resources.

To me, that's not "failing", it's delivering about what you'd expect.

To me, firing him means that we are looking for better, and that's fine, but if we're not willing to put better resources into the next hire, then we're setting him up to "fail".

I know a lot of people here are apparently fine with just rolling the dice over and over again until we happen to roll 11.

The whole "dave paulsen was a lower level coach and that doesn't work" is pretty lame logic, considering so was Larranaga.

To me, I'd VASTLY prefer Kelsey to English, but IF WE ARE GOING to go down the "roll the dice" road, English seems like the safest/best pick.

I fall in the camp that Paulsen did a fairly decent job and it was time for a change. Paulsen did many things well, but he couldn't put us over the hump and I don't think he was ever going to. He couldn't win head to head recruiting battles against anyone else in our conference, but at the time of his hiring, we were more concerned with just getting our program out of a giant dumpster. Paulsen did that. He did a fine job getting us back on our feet, but now it's time to start running again. I'm not going to take any shots at him out the door. I don't always agree with Lamar, but he's right... we are kind of an after thought to kids in the area at this point and that needs to get fixed asap.

 

[Mason32]

I fall in the camp that Paulsen did a fairly decent job

Do you have anymore PAULSENSATION t-shirts?

 

[GM Logo Guy]

Why is everyone caught up on recruiting the dmv? I know Coach L was able to land some local talent which is great. But he recruited NY and FL heavily too.

I just want ballers, idc where they come from

 

[Patriot8]

Kim English has not contacted Butler or former players and the AD has not contacted Skinn.

Kim not contacting anyone isn't surprising as he's kind of busy at the moment.

The AD not contacting Tony is pretty disappointing. Then again, if Brad already has his man, there's no real reason to reach out to tell someone that they won't be considered.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Kim English has not contacted Butler or former players and the AD has not contacted Skinn.

Brad has been slow rolling a lot of people lately but if it is true he hasn't contacted Skinn or his agent yet I would bet nine dollars and 22 cents he won't get the job.

 

[mkaufman1]

I fall in the camp that Paulsen did a fairly decent job and it was time for a change. Paulsen did many things well, but he couldn't put us over the hump and I don't think he was ever going to. He couldn't win head to head recruiting battles against anyone else in our conference, but at the time of his hiring, we were more concerned with just getting our program out of a giant dumpster. Paulsen did that. He did a fine job getting us back on our feet, but now it's time to start running again. I'm not going to take any shots at him out the door. I don't always agree with Lamar, but he's right... we are kind of an after thought to kids in the area at this point and that needs to get fixed asap.

Bingo. He came in, stabilized everything and brought some level of respectability.

But for an Atlantic 10 program that takes basketball seriously (in their own way), this is a good time to take a different approach.

 

[gmujim92]

Brad has been slow rolling a lot of people lately but if it is true he hasn't contacted Skinn or his agent yet I would bet nine dollars and 22 cents he won't get the job.

Agreed. It’s not happening.

 

[Pablo]

The AD not contacting Tony is pretty disappointing. Then again, if Brad already has his man, there's no real reason to reach out to tell someone that they won't be considered.

So, you are saying that the process may be closed pending a vetting and the availability of Kim Bishop?

 

[gmujim92]

So, you are saying that the process may be closed pending a vetting and the availability of Kim Bishop?

Very very likely yes ... I’d be willing to bet the vetting is done and a deal is in place, just waiting to be able to announce it

 

[Old Man]

I'm sorry, but I have to remove Kim English from my list:

"In addition, guard Kim English spoke highly of Coach (Ernie) Nestor and the work the duo accomplished during the year."

https://navysports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/ernie-nestor/103

Automatic disqualification. It's a good lesson for you younger guys... the things you say on social media and other places can come back to haunt you when your looking for a job. Oh well, next man up.

While I agree that Nestor couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag, you have to give English a break. Nester was the coach that followed Barnes, so Barnes probably has had good things to say about him as a fellow member of the coaching fraternity. And besides, we all say stupid things when we're young.

 

[Patriot8]

So, you are saying that the process may be closed pending a vetting and the availability of Kim Bishop?

Well if you go back and look at one of Lamar's tweets, someone asks when his interview is, and he responds with "appears that no one is getting one". So if that's the case, and Brad already has his guy (looks like Kim English) then there's no real reason to reach out to a guy like Tony and say "Hey we aren't interested in interviewing you".

I do think Tony deserves/deserved an interview if he's interested in the job.

 

[Pablo]

Very very likely yes ... I’d be willing to bet the vetting is done and a deal is in place.

So, likely, it was all done prior to the announcement of Paulsen's firing.