Welcome Coach Tony Skinn!

[DRK331]

Here are two Youtube videos of Tony Skinn and Jim Larrañaga on the 106.7 The Fan show

 

[GMUgemini]

Coach L must have blocked out not fouling Battle up 3 in the 2009 NIT because he said 2004 was the last time Mason made an NIT until last season.

 

[Verdad]

Coach L must have blocked out not fouling Battle up 3 in the 2009 NIT because he said 2004 was the last time Mason made an NIT until last season.

I was there and have definitely NOT blocked out that memory

 

[DRK331]

Final Four 20th Anniversary Celebration Tribute video by GMU Athletics

 

[DRK331]

Brand new Tony Skinn interview with Field of 68:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Tony's part starts at 18:42 mark

 

[psyclone]

Brand new Tony Skinn interview with Field of 68:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Tony's part starts at 18:42 mark

correction: 8:16 mark

 

[Ben Chwarmer]

I honestly think Tony Skinn might be the best coach in the country when it comes to identifying and developing big man talent. He was apparently instrumental in recruiting Derek Queen, which already tells you he has an elite eye for post talent early.

Then there’s Amari Kelly. Kelly transfers up from UNCW averaging like six points a game, and under Skinn he turns into a legit stud for Mason at around 13 a night. I remember genuinely wondering at the time if he was actually better than Josh Oduro, which sounded crazy until you watched him play.

Then you’ve got Jalen Haynes, maybe the clearest example of Skinn trusting his evaluation over everything else. He knew the talent was worth the academic concerns, and more importantly, he made sure Haynes had the resources to be successful on and off the court. That kind of support matters, and it ended with Haynes earning first team honors.

And now Riley. A backup at Samford, barely on anyone’s radar. Skinn saw he was being underutilized, brought him in, and turned him into the focal point of his most successful offense yet. When you stack all of this together, it’s hard to argue anyone is better right now at spotting bigs early, developing them, and maximizing what they can become than Skinn.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Got to wonder if UMD is regretting not hiring Skinn. They are currently 7-9 (0-5) under Buzz. Lost to local competition in Georgetown and Virginia. Shoot, the Mount took them to overtime.

Meanwhile, Tony is looking pretty brilliant still.

 

[GMUgemini]

Got to wonder if UMD is regretting not hiring Skinn. They are currently 7-9 (0-5) under Buzz. Lost to local competition in Georgetown and Virginia. Shoot, the Mount took them to overtime.

Meanwhile, Tony is looking pretty brilliant still.

Don’t give them any ideas.

 

[BraddockBeach]

I like coach Skinn, please keep him haha

 

[Stoolguy]

I like coach Skinn, please keep him haha

Blank check.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I honestly think Tony Skinn might be the best coach in the country when it comes to identifying and developing big man talent. He was apparently instrumental in recruiting Derek Queen, which already tells you he has an elite eye for post talent early.

Then there’s Amari Kelly. Kelly transfers up from UNCW averaging like six points a game, and under Skinn he turns into a legit stud for Mason at around 13 a night. I remember genuinely wondering at the time if he was actually better than Josh Oduro, which sounded crazy until you watched him play.

Then you’ve got Jalen Haynes, maybe the clearest example of Skinn trusting his evaluation over everything else. He knew the talent was worth the academic concerns, and more importantly, he made sure Haynes had the resources to be successful on and off the court. That kind of support matters, and it ended with Haynes earning first team honors.

And now Riley. A backup at Samford, barely on anyone’s radar. Skinn saw he was being underutilized, brought him in, and turned him into the focal point of his most successful offense yet. When you stack all of this together, it’s hard to argue anyone is better right now at spotting bigs early, developing them, and maximizing what they can become than Skinn.

I would have to concur... I also love having a coach that does half-time adjustments that work again.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Blank check.

Blank Check, loose, women and fast cars as much as he wants.

 

[jruby]

I would have to concur... I also love having a coach that does half-time adjustments that work again.

Part of that is Steve Curran is a monster with big men! We can't discredit that!

 

[FlPatriot]

CTS getting a lot of love on CBS Sports prior to the Loyola game. I wish he wasn’t getting so much attention.

 

[JPgmuswim]

Gotta enjoy it while we have him, the way this season has gone so far it’s going to be damn near impossible to keep him.

 

[Jack Strop]

Gotta enjoy it while we have him, the way this season has gone so far it’s going to be damn near impossible to keep him.

I don't know. Coach Skinn likes it here and he knows that starting over in a P4 may make him more money for a years, but the odds of replicating success in a higher conference are not that good. Just ask Jeff Capel, Shaka Smart (at Texas), and Archie Miiler. Sometimes, one has to appreciate what one has... and I think Tony does.

Optimistically yours,
J. Strop

 

[GMU79]

I don't know. Coach Skinn likes it here and he knows that starting over in a P4 may make him more money for a years, but the odds of replicating success in a higher conference are not that good. Just ask Jeff Capel, Shaka Smart (at Texas), and Archie Miiler. Sometimes, one has to appreciate what one has... and I think Tony does.

Optimistically yours,
J. Strop

Agreed. Tony may indeed leave soon. Then again, there are always the exceptions.

 

[mkaufman1]

Enjoy the moment!

 

[jruby]

I do think Tony Skinn eventually leaves Mason, but not yet. He doesn’t want a top-30 job. He wants a top-10 job, and there’s no realistic path to that right now. Leaving for a top-25 to top-40 program at this point carries a ton of risk, and the upside isn’t that great. The money and long-term investment would have to be enormous to justify it.

If he keeps winning the way he is, makes the tournament consistently, and does that for the next decade, he’ll still be young enough to land a true top-10 job. Jump too early, say to a place like Syracuse, have a rough stretch, and he’s probably done at that level. And honestly, what does that even gain him? Syracuse isn’t a final destination anymore. It would just be another stepping stone and a program he has zero ties to.

If there’s one place that would really make sense, it’s Maryland for a lot of reasons, but that job isn’t open. This isn’t just another coach. His ties to this program are very deep. It’s going to take something truly special to get him to leave, and almost $2 million annually isn’t chump change. Things are different than the past.