News Tom O’Connor named interim athletic director at Manhattan

[Robot]

Posted on the MasonHoops.com Blog:

"Tom O’Connor named interim athletic director at Manhattan" by Alan Kelly

A surprise announcement this morning by the Manhattan College Jaspers, as they named former George Mason athletic director Tom O’Connor as their interim athletic director, effective immediately. O’Connor replaces the outgoing Noah LeFevre, who lasted less than 2 years in the job. Tom O’Connor, former athletic director at George Mason University, Loyola (MD) University, Santa […]

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[Walter]

Got to love the clueless comments.

From the Jaspers message board:

"O' Connor is a heavyweight. He should begin to clean up the Athletic Department, and be influential in hiring the right guy to run it. No doubt, this move was in the works for some time."

and

"I believe he spent 19 years as the AD at George Mason, I believe their CAA years. Good to see that he is someone who is good at his job and hopefully, he will hire the right guy for the job..I know he's retired from GMU but, if he's that good, I wouldn't mind him sticking around for a few years."

 

[GMU92]

Nice relatively quiet joh unburdened by "expectations" where he can rejoin boards, advisory committees, etc. Just hope they are, on the whole, realistic and aren't expecting any "great shakes" from this hire.

 

[psyclone]

The previous AD (Noah Lefevre) was there less than 2 years. Lacking any indication that Lefevre left to take another job, it sounds like there might have been some turmoil and/or scandal in the department. While some on these boards may have complaints about his tenure at Mason, he did run a clean program. So he might be perfectly suited as an interim.

 

[gmujim92]

Given the quality of Manhattan's basketball program, the fact that TOC personally selected The Virus to replace a legend like Jim Larranaga should've been a disqualifying factor.

At least for me, all the other great stuff TOC did for Mason was immediately and permanently overshadowed by that single awful decision.

For the Jaspers' sake, I hope he doesn't get rid of Masiello, who is an excellent coach.

 

[GMUgemini]

Given the quality of Manhattan's basketball program, the fact that TOC personally selected The Virus to replace a legend like Jim Larranaga should've been a disqualifying factor.

At least for me, all the other great stuff TOC did for Mason was immediately and permanently overshadowed by that single awful decision.

For the Jaspers' sake, I hope he doesn't get rid of Masiello, who is an excellent coach.

I think the Jaspers fans better hope Masiello doesn't leave all on his own during TOC's tenure as interim AD.

 

[GMU92]

The previous AD (Noah Lefevre) was there less than 2 years. Lacking any indication that Lefevre left to take another job, it sounds like there might have been some turmoil and/or scandal in the department. While some on these boards may have complaints about his tenure at Mason, he did run a clean program. So he might be perfectly suited as an interim.

TOC had a coach of impeccable character running the program. One that had the fortitude to personally suspend his starting Point Guard in the NCAA first round against the mighty Tom Izzo and ultimately had the Basketball Gods smile upon hin, as Coach K said. When time came to step up to the plate for Coach L and his assistants it didn't get done, even when the basketball program provided untold millions in positive publicity to Mason in 2006. (I believe Forbes magazine even did a study on it). Keeping the rest of the Department in line really wasn't that hard, how many blockbuster scandals do you get in non-revenue generating Olypmic sports?

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I love O'Connor. That guy knew exactly when to cut bait on Larranaga-after he asked for his fourth raise in six years. Larranaga went on to ruin a once proud Hurricane program (they lost to Northeastern at home recently), and we ended up with a much younger and more talented version of L in Paulsen.
I think now with TOC in the fold everyone will stop treating the Jaspers like such a goddamned joke all of the time now.

 

[Walter]

I love O'Connor. That guy knew exactly when to cut bait on Larranaga-after he asked for his fourth raise in six years. Larranaga went on to ruin a once proud Hurricane program (they lost to Northeastern at home recently), and we ended up with a much younger and more talented version of L in Paulsen.
I think now with TOC in the fold everyone will stop treating the Jaspers like such a goddamned joke all of the time now.

Says the guy who once admitted to pleasuring TOC in his back yard.

 

[TweederGMU]

TOC will do the bare minimum at Manhatten. Nothing more no doubt. He will not go after big corporate sponsorships. He will not engage the fanbase. He will not shake hands with the average fan.

I see this as a mere paycheck and for him to collect some funds while riding off in to the sunset and padding his savings. Poor Manhatten..... please don't have high hopes for big time results from TOC. He is just looking forward the first of the month and the 15th of the month each month he is there.

He will never get fired from the job nor will he land any big time activities or funds for your program.

He did make a name for himself and does have a lot of contacts and ties but thats about it.

 

[GiantKiller_Co]

TOC owns a athletics consulting firm.

TOC will do the bare minimum at Manhatten. Nothing more no doubt. He will not go after big corporate sponsorships. He will not engage the fanbase. He will not shake hands with the average fan.

I see this as a mere paycheck and for him to collect some funds while riding off in to the sunset and padding his savings. Poor Manhatten..... please don't have high hopes for big time results from TOC. He is just looking forward the first of the month and the 15th of the month each month he is there.

He will never get fired from the job nor will he land any big time activities or funds for your program.

He did make a name for himself and does have a lot of contacts and ties but thats about it.

TOC owns an athletics consulting firm I believe. It's probably just another consulting job with a nice title and some clean up.

 

[GMU92]

I love O'Connor. That guy knew exactly when to cut bait on Larranaga-after he asked for his fourth raise in six years. Larranaga went on to ruin a once proud Hurricane program (they lost to Northeastern at home recently), and we ended up with a much younger and more talented version of L in Paulsen.
I think now with TOC in the fold everyone will stop treating the Jaspers like such a goddamned joke all of the time now.

You forgot that we almost died from a Virus in between.
Or was that part of the TOC master plan to ultimately make us stronger?
Kinda like surviving the Cholera epidemic of 1831. Student of history, that TOC.

 

[Five Two]

Or was that part of the TOC master plan to ultimately make us stronger?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn676-fLq7I

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

You forgot that we almost died from a Virus in between.
Or was that part of the TOC master plan to ultimately make us stronger?
Kinda like surviving the Cholera epidemic of 1831. Student of history, that TOC.

Strength through inoculation.

That's like the deadbeat dad who's son became enormously successful and now claims that his ineptness as a father is what made him successful and he did it on purpose for his own good.

 

[Vurbel]

I love O'Connor. That guy knew exactly when to cut bait on Larranaga-after he asked for his fourth raise in six years. Larranaga went on to ruin a once proud Hurricane program (they lost to Northeastern at home recently), and we ended up with a much younger and more talented version of L in Paulsen.
I think now with TOC in the fold everyone will stop treating the Jaspers like such a goddamned joke all of the time now.

Sarcasm, I hope.

 

[disgruntled]

I am sure O'Connor is measuring for installation of a side door as we speak.

 

[99 Patriot]

Is our contract with them done (have had a home and home the last 2 years)?

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

I am sure O'Connor is measuring for installation of a side door as we speak.

Well he perfected the art of f**king us in the back door.

 

[Cedric Dempsey]

Tom O'Connor is where he is most comfortable, a small Catholic institution. He never grew George Mason, Jim Larranaga did. We all need to move on because Dr Cabrera has gotten this whole thing right in my opinion. Time and patience wins.