MBB: NESCAC

[speedy]

When women and men play on the same day at the same venue, the women's play tends to get subordinated to the men's. When the women play alone, they are the only thing in the spotlight.

Not at Bowdoin!! The women's team almost always garner more attention than the men's . .

[frank uible]

Then the Bowdoin women's coach most probably doesn't object to the new setup - but maybe the men's does..

[nescac1]

Again a bit off topic, but congrats to the Ephs for (with the help of two spring national championships) all-but-officially clinching their 11th straight Director's Cup.  I think Middlebury and Amherst will finish second and third, respectively, and both will certainly be in the top five.  Crazy good year for NESCAC sports, especially for those three schools plus Trinity. 

[ephoops]

That would be very impressive if the NESCAC finishes 1-2-3 in the final standings for the Directors's Cup.

[frank uible]

Of course, NESCAC is 233-242 in football.

[ephoops]

In a recent article in the Williams student newspaper, The Record, outgoing Williams president Morty Schapiro, made the following comment about athletics at Williams:

The athletic yet intellectual culture on campus is one aspect of the College that Schapiro loves and has taken pride in helping to create. "I'm really glad that our varsity sports are where they are and that the difference between those who are varsity athletes and those who are not, academically, is so much smaller than it was 10 years ago, and I think the faculty notice that, and the students probably notice that," he said. "I'm proud of that. I like the niche we have that we attract some extraordinarily good athletes who are also intellectually engaged. I think if in the next 10 years, we either deemphasize athletics or [lower the academic standards for athletes], either one would be a disaster. We've worked really hard, and it's been successful."

His comment about "deemphasizing athletics" could become a reality not only at Williams but within all of NESCAC.

It's not a secret that Morty Schapiro has been the most ardent supporter among NESCAC presidents of NCAA post season competition.  With his departure, NESCAC athletics loses its strongest advocate.  If Williams brings in a new president who is less enthusiastic about athletics, you could see a groundswell among some NESCAC president to curtail NCAA post-season play as well as season-ending conference championships.

[frank uible]

More likely than not the next non-interim Williams President will "de-emphasize" athletics at Williams at least to some small extent - very probably subtley so that alumni contributions are not adversely affected. As a general rule the academy (from which undoubtedly the next President will come) doesn't favor athletics at Williams when they do or might  interfere with its vision of the College being a haven almost solely for students aspiring to become PhD candidates.

[ephoops]

Ralph Willard announced today that he is leaving his alma mater Holy Cross to become an asst coach at Louisville.  Rick Pitino and Willard grew up together on Long Island and are best friends.

Holy Cross will immediately begin a national search. 

A couple of years ago Bucknell found itself in a somewhat similar situation when Pat Flannery, a Bucknell grad, announced that he would step down as the head coach at Bucknell due to health reasons.  Bucknell conducted a national search and wound up hiring Dave Paulsen from Williams.  Paulsen was a Williams grad and left his alma mater to go to Bucknell and the Patriot League.

Would Hixon consider making a move from Amherst to Holy Cross? 

While HC plays in the Patriot League and has a rich basketball tradition, I don't believe that Hixon would leave Amherst.  He has two sons who are in high school and I assume he is looking forward to the opportunity to coach his sons at Amherst.  His wife is also the diving coach at UMass.

However, Hixon has little to prove at Amherst.  He's had an incredibly successful 30+ year coaching career at Amherst.  He's won a national championship, been to numerous Final Fours, won serveral NESCAC championships, etc., etc., etc...  The job at HC would provide him with a new set of challenges while coaching at a school and in a league which values the student athlete.

[nescac hoops]

Hixon will not take that job. Perhaps if he was earlier in career he would consider it but not now.

[old_hooper]

If Hixon wanted the Bucknell job he would have been a leading candidate for it.  Reliabale sources know that he was contacted by them.  Holy Cross is interesting however because he would not really have to relocate his family but I think nescac hoops is correct, if it were earlier in his career he would more then likely be interested in this opportunity.

[nescac1]

Congrats to Williams for winning yet another Director's Cup.  Middlebury second, Amherst third, Tufts tenth.  Amazing year for the NESCAC.  Trinity's top sports -- football and squash -- don't count, otherwise they'd be a high finisher as well. 

[frank uible]

If there were a squash competition in the Directors' Cup and if a NESCAC representative participated in the D3 NCAA football playoffs and if Trinity won the 2009 championship in that squash competition and if Trinity would have competed in the 2008 D3 NCAA football playoffs on a one-and-done basis, then adding those finishes for Trinity to what Trinity actually did in the 2008-2009 D3 Directors' Cup  would very roughly put Trinity in 40th place for the 2008-2009 D3 Directors' Cup.

[toad22]

As good a coach as Hixon is, and as great a record as he has, he still isn't a very attractive candidate for D1 jobs because he has no D1 resume and he is a little too old.

[ephoops]

As good a coach as Hixon is, and as great a record as he has, he still isn't a very attractive candidate for D1 jobs because he has no D1 resume and he is a little too old.

Putting age aside, several successful D-3 coaches have made the jump to D-1...

Bo Ryan (UW-P ==> UW Milwand UW Madison)rything that I've read, H
Dave Paulsen (Williams ==> Bucknell)
Pat Flannery ( Lebanon Valley ==> Bucknell)
Tony Shaver (Hampden-Sydney ==> William & Mary)

There are others but the four above immediately come to mind...

From everything that I've read, Hixon is not a candidate for the HC job at this time.

[BornBalla]

At this point in his career, no way would Hixon leave. What would be the incentive to take on the added demand of his time. He's a heck of a coach & wouild be great at a place like HC BUT recruitment would be drastically different for him. Right now the players come to him. At HC, it would be much different(especially first few years). I know he has children(not sure oftheir ages) but I am sure he would like time with them. Can't get that coming in as the new man at D1. No matter how good your staff is. Amherst will be his last coaching job. Man what a job he does