MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WIACer]

Wow! He deserved to go out in his terms. There was a lot of turnover, but is that the new culture? 2 National Championships! Poor decision by UWSP. Now maybe Coach wasn't ready to go? Are there other coaches who deserve this fate in WIAC? I do like that winning matters. More schools should go that route.

[John Gleich]

It's funny...

In every other personnel decision/notice on the UWSP Athletics website, there's a quote from from Athletic Director. For this one, he decided to allow "UWSP Athletics" to say everything.

It's a very poorly written notice, in passive voice and takes no accountability for the decision.

But at least UWSP does thank him for his service.

And, you know, those National Championships and that other stuff that the guy did over 18 seasons. Like being the winningest coach, 8th best all time in the conference, with all the other personal and player accolades... And all the student-athletes that he helped mold into fine young men throughout his career. Most of these things (one might say, the more important things...) weren't mentioned by "UWSP Athletics."

[Dutch Calvinist Reformer]

Always hate to see Athletic Management leaders fail to see the long view, big picture and instead hide behind the "what have you done for me lately".  Good news is that for those Semling impacted those words aren't needed.  But for a future coach exploring UWSP, this generic approach speaks volumes to how coaches are (or in this case aren't) valued.

[PauldingLightUP]

Duckworth will give an interview to WPCN at 8:30 CT this morning.

[PauldingLightUP]

Duckworth will give an interview to WPCN at 8:30 CT this morning.

Interview is archived for those want to listen back. About what you would expect.

[tomt4525]

Duckworth will give an interview to WPCN at 8:30 CT this morning.

Interview is archived for those want to listen back. About what you would expect.

Yeah, what you would expect...I was hoping for a faster timeline though.  I know you are a little hamstrung on state jobs and it has to be posted a certain amount of time.  But, the timeline was mentioned to get someone hired anywhere between middle of April to early May.  That makes it very difficult to make any relationships with this years' recruits.  The majority of these kids will be committed by then and nobody is going to be committing to UWSP without a coach in place.

[Pat Coleman]

It's a very poorly written notice ...

That was one thing which struck me.

Headline: UWSP Athletics Will Change Leadership to Men's Basketball Program
(That should be "of" -- I would think)

The change in leadership seeks a return to the Pointers long-term success.
A change in leadership is an action -- not sure how it can seek. Something like, "It is hoped that a change in leadership will bring a return ..." is probably a better set of words.

Anyway, yeah. Department probably has hands tied in some ways around what it can say in something like this. I'm guessing a legal team probably had some input somewhere at some point on this.

[palum]

Will Ryan is available unless he takes his time with UW GB buy out $$. His assistant coaches will also be looking now that UW GB's season is over.

[SagatagSam]

Wow! He deserved to go out in his terms. There was a lot of turnover, but is that the new culture? 2 National Championships! Poor decision by UWSP. Now maybe Coach wasn't ready to go? Are there other coaches who deserve this fate in WIAC? I do like that winning matters. More schools should go that route.

Two national championships, in my opinion, gives you the right to go out on your own terms.
The only exceptions to this right would be:
(1) felony criminal conduct,
(2) gross misconduct, or
(3) a demonstration that makes it clear and convincing that you do not care anymore.

For purposes of (3), above, a few down years are not enough to qualify for that exception. It would have to be something like a refusal to recruit anyone, having assistants regularly run practices, etc.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

What makes you think these aren't his own terms?

I have no information whatsoever about what happened when the sanctions were handed down, but it's quite possible this separation timeline was decided way back then and agreed to by both parties.

[PauldingLightUP]

What makes you think these aren't his own terms?

I have no information whatsoever about what happened when the sanctions were handed down, but it's quite possible this separation timeline was decided way back then and agreed to by both parties.

WSAW reporting Duckworth made the decision.

https://twitter.com/ManderfeldNoah/status/1631331214261977088?s=20

[John Gleich]

What makes you think these aren't his own terms?

I have no information whatsoever about what happened when the sanctions were handed down, but it's quite possible this separation timeline was decided way back then and agreed to by both parties.

So you're suggesting that they've had multiple years to figure out how to share the news with the public and THAT was the best they could come up with....?

No, Brad Duckworth made this decision. He said the same this morning on a local radio broadcast.

MULTIPLE people I've talked to wouldn't be happy about the decision in any circumstance... but understand that it's ultimately a decision that could be made, at the discretion of the AD.

It's the WAY it was done that rubs salt in the wounds.

The word that has been brought up multiple times is disrespect.

Separation can happen in any number of ways, regardless  - honoring the last 18 years and the success.... or barely paying lip service to it and doing what what the UWSP Athletic Department leadership decided to do instead.

I mean, you don't have to look far.... Bucknell fired their coach today.  https://bucknellbison.com/news/2023/3/2/coaching-change.aspx

Here's another - Will Ryan from UWGB was fired in January. https://greenbayphoenix.com/news/2023/1/24/general-uw-green-bay-mens-basketball-program-announces-coaching-change.aspx

Compare to UWSP's: https://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2023/3/1/mens-basketball-uwsp-athletics-will-change-leadership-to-mens-basketball-program.aspx

[bleedpurple]

It's funny...

In every other personnel decision/notice on the UWSP Athletics website, there's a quote from from Athletic Director. For this one, he decided to allow "UWSP Athletics" to say everything.

It's a very poorly written notice, in passive voice and takes no accountability for the decision.

But at least UWSP does thank him for his service.

And, you know, those National Championships and that other stuff that the guy did over 18 seasons. Like being the winningest coach, 8th best all time in the conference, with all the other personal and player accolades... And all the student-athletes that he helped mold into fine young men throughout his career. Most of these things (one might say, the more important things...) weren't mentioned by "UWSP Athletics."

That is really not OK for all the reasons you mentioned.

[houdini]

Will Ryan is available unless he takes his time with UW GB buy out $$. His assistant coaches will also be looking now that UW GB's season is over.

One thing Will has going for him, looking at his teams at GB he has quite an eye for D3 talent.

[cubs]

I'm not connected to the UWSP program one bit, but it's not a secret that Duckworth and the assistant AD didn't like Semling....  THAT is the reason everyone is seeing the total disrespect when it comes to the Press Release and comments in regards to this situation.  Anyone who says otherwise needs to take off the blinders!