MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

D3 head coaching jobs are also so fascinating to evaluate in my opinion, because you can really draw from almost any hiring pool except for D1 head coaches. At Amherst's level, which is essentially a blue blood D3 program, they can hire from so many different levels---D3 head coaches, D1 assistants, accomplished alums, etc. Theoretically, how many D3 head coaches have a job that is without a doubt better than being the Amherst head coach, from a strictly basketball level? Almost none.

Obviously they are not limited to former assistants, it is just natural that it becomes a topic of conversation when Toomey was the interim head coach and his ties to Amherst are a large part of his appeal for the position.

Just on the topic of Flockerzi and other named assistants, these guys are all like what, barely 40? I think because Hixon spent so long at Amherst it's natural to think that they will aim to pick the next coach with a similar tenure in mind, but there's no reason to assume that it would necesarrily be their last coaching position. They could still go from Amherst to D1. Just for reference, because they are the most comparable, Curt Tong spent 8 years as Williams HC, Harry Sheehy spent 16, Dave Paulsen did 7, Mike Maker did 6, and Kevin App has done 6. Sheehy and Paulsen (like Hixon and Toomey) were also alums. 

[SpringSt7]

Not surprised to hear Coach Hixon decision but sorry hear it anyway.  Sure there will be many outstanding candidates applying.  Outside the Hix tree, one name that would be a serious contender, Eric Bridgeland from Whitman College.  He was in the thick of things when Wash U hired after Mark Edwards retired.  Big question would he and family trade west coast for New England.  His style of play and success would be interesting for the NESCAC.

Bridgeland to University of Redlands as of 45 minutes ago--interesting! Wonder about how all the timing worked out. Definitely seems like he would prefer the west coast over New England.

[NEhoops]

The jump from D3 head coach to D1 head coach is somewhat rare. I listed a few instances where that took place related to the Northeast region (in no particularly order).

Dave Paulsen – head coach at Williams from 2000-2008 with a record of 170–53 (.762), led them to a D3 national championship in 2003 and finished as national runner up in 2004. Hired as head coach at Bucknell in May of 2008. Prior to Williams, he had D1 stops as an assistant at Michigan and Cleveland State as well as head coaching experience at LeMoyne (D2).

Mike Maker – head coach at Williams from 2008-2014 with a record of 147–32 (.821), led them to three Final Four appearances, including the title game in 2010 and 2014. Hired as head coach at Marist in June of 2014. Prior to Williams, he had D1 stops as an assistant at Dartmouth, Samford, West Virginia and Creighton.

Bob Walsh – head coach at Rhode Island College from 2005-2014 with a record of 204–63 (.764), led them to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet 16 three times, and the Elite Eight once. Hired as the head coach at the University of Maine in May of 2014. Prior to RIC, he had D1 stops at Iona, San Diego and Providence as an assistant.

Glen Miller – head coach at Conn College from 1993-1999 with a record of 95-58 (.620), led them to a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998 and the Final Four in 1999. He was hired as head coach at Brown prior to the 2000 season. Prior to Conn College, he was an assistant at the University of Connecticut. He is currently the associate head coach, and likely successor to Jim Calhoun at Saint Joseph (CT).

John Giannini – head coach at Rowan College (formerly Glassboro State) from 1989 to 1996 with a record of 168–38 (.816), led them to a Sweet 16 appearance, and three Final Fours, including a D3 national championship in 1996. He was hired as the head coach at the University of Maine prior to the 1997 season. Prior to Rowan he was an assistant at Illinois. 

[Colby Hoops]

Will be an interesting caoching search for sure. Probably looks slightly different if Amherst had lived up to preseason expectations -- would be much harder to move on from Toomey if Amherst won the league, was a top 5 or 10 team nationally or something of the sort.

[nescac1]

Interesting NEhoops that of that group only Paulsen was really successful (eventually moving up within D1).  But part of the reason is that Maine, Marist and Brown are all very difficult places to recruit successfully at.  The top and medium tier D1 jobs aren't generally taking a shot at a D3 guy, so it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy.  The exception is Bo Ryan, but he's the best D3 coach of the last 30 years if not ever, and even he needed a low D1 stop before Wisconsin wised up and hired him ...

I'd be stunned if Swarthmore's coach wasn't a D1 head coach within three years.  What he did to that program, with the recruiting constraints they have, and lack of any tradition of success, is astounding. 

[SpringSt7]

Also interesting to note the loads of assistant coaching experience at the D1 level that all of these guys have---it's not all created equal but when you are able to combine that with head coaching success, it makes you a lot more appealing.

Of the current NESCAC head coaches, Tim Sweeney actually has the most D1 coaching experience---he did 2 years at Davidson (coaching some guy named Curry?), 1 year at Bucknell, and 4 at Elon before taking the HC job at Hobart.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Interesting NEhoops that of that group only Paulsen was really successful (eventually moving up within D1).  But part of the reason is that Maine, Marist and Brown are all very difficult places to recruit successfully at.  The top and medium tier D1 jobs aren't generally taking a shot at a D3 guy, so it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy.  The exception is Bo Ryan, but he's the best D3 coach of the last 30 years if not ever, and even he needed a low D1 stop before Wisconsin wised up and hired him ...

I'd be stunned if Swarthmore's coach wasn't a D1 head coach within three years.  What he did to that program, with the recruiting constraints they have, and lack of any tradition of success, is astounding.

I don't expect Kosmalski will leave Swarthmore anytime soon, unless Davidson (his alma mater) comes calling.  He's got young kids they want to raise right where they are.

It's much more common for d3 coaches to go to d1 for women's basketball.  We had five do it just last summer.

[gordonmann]

Looks like it's been a while since a D3 head coach jumped to D1 on the men's side.  Is this really the most recent one?

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2015/04/nate-davis-heads-to-division-i

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Looks like it's been a while since a D3 head coach jumped to D1 on the men's side.  Is this really the most recent one?

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2015/04/nate-davis-heads-to-division-i

We need another one so we can update the "current job" list.

[NEhoops]

I would argue that John Giannini's time at UMaine and LaSalle were successful. Maine's winning % has been well below .500 since he left and he spent 14 seasons at LaSalle in the A10, including a trip to the Sweet 16.

Ryan's run at Wisconsin–Platteville is stuff of legend. His team was the winningest NCAA men's basketball team of the 1990s (all divisions) with a 266-26 (.908) record. They won four national titles, a final four, an Elite Eight and a Sweet 16 appearance. Also won the conference eight times and never finished below third place. 

Speaking of Davidson, head coach Bob McKillop turns 70 this July. He's going strong, but Kosmalski could get a interview in the next few seasons.

I agree that Toomey's chances to become the Amherst head coach would have greatly improved if they had more success this past season. 

There definitely is a theme of prior D1 assistant experience and success in the NCAA tournament as a D3 head coach for those that make the jump.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Interesting NEhoops that of that group only Paulsen was really successful (eventually moving up within D1).  But part of the reason is that Maine, Marist and Brown are all very difficult places to recruit successfully at.  The top and medium tier D1 jobs aren't generally taking a shot at a D3 guy, so it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy.  The exception is Bo Ryan, but he's the best D3 coach of the last 30 years if not ever, and even he needed a low D1 stop before Wisconsin wised up and hired him ...

I'd be stunned if Swarthmore's coach wasn't a D1 head coach within three years.  What he did to that program, with the recruiting constraints they have, and lack of any tradition of success, is astounding.

I don't expect Kosmalski will leave Swarthmore anytime soon, unless Davidson (his alma mater) comes calling.  He's got young kids they want to raise right where they are.

It's much more common for d3 coaches to go to d1 for women's basketball.  We had five do it just last summer.

To add to this, Kosmalski spoke about this point on Hoopsville last November. I asked him about it after it seemed to me like he wasn't in the running for as many jobs as he had been in the past. And yes, listening to the show helps us stay on the air as much as reading the websites helps us keep the sites (and essentially this chat board) online.

[jayhawk]

nice article on David Hixon in Washington Post, David also mentions Dave Paulsen for the Williams followers-
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/16/42-years-amhersts-dave-hixon-was-one-best-coaches-you-never-heard/

[SpringSt7]

Lot of good stuff in that article. Most notably: "As long as it's an Amherst guy, I'll be thrilled. It's been made clear to me that I won't be part of the decision. I get it. That's fine."

[granddaddyhoops]

Fun Fact... Before Nate Davis jumped from D3 Randolph Macon to Bucknell he was recruiting Middlebury's Junior Jack Farrell

[NEhoops]

Great article, one could make the argument that Hixon is the most successful D3 men's basketball coach of all-time (who spent their entire career at that level). Kudos for him doing what is best for his family. Making the jump to DI most likely means moving the family somewhere new, but also seeing them less. 

Hard for us, or the coaches, to make claims about someone wanting to stay or leave a respective job. Once the offer is on the table all bets are off.