MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Isn't the timing a big issue?  If it takes very long  to line up the new Hope coach, wouldn't possible recruits or transfers be likely to make decisions in a different direction?

Maybe, maybe not, deposit day is coming soon and in the past most of Hope's recruiting class has been filled by then...but not always.

Certainly there have been kids choosing a school for a coach, just as their been kids who choose a school regardless of coach.

I can't speak for any of this years recruits, but in due time we'll know.

[almcguirejr]

There has been a lot of banter on this site regarding GVW's retirement.  Some say we shouldn't speculate.  Others want a time of mourning.  Still others insist on a national search.  Even though we are talking about replacing a basketball coach at a small D3 school in a rural town of only 35,000 population, I thought I must be missing something as the excitement just isn't kicking in for me.  So, I too went on a national search and have asked people from around the country and the world, for that matter, to chime in.  

I posed this question to several well known people:  "What do you think of the retirement of Glen VanWieren and the national search for a new head basketball coach at Hope College?"  

Here are some of the responses I have received so far:

Joe Biden: "This is a BFD."
Barack Obama: "America needs a Change at Hope."
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "They are inexperienced amateurs."
sac: "Maybe we could wait for the ink to dry a little more."
Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?"
Clark Gable:  "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!"
Doug Wentworth: "This calls for some Hudsonville Ice Cream."
Calvin students: "Who cares? Where's your banner?"
Dustin Lance Black: "Hire me, hire me, I just love kinesiology

I didn't recognize the name Dustin Lance Black. I googled it.   

[hope#1]

I don't think GVW's retirement will have any impact on recruiting either but if so, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  In being around the campus occasionally, there are a slew of kids attending Hope that were either cut or quit the program that could be brought in and compete against most MIAA teams.  These players wouldn't get them to the next level but they can certainly compete for the conference title.

M&g:  Yes, this is the time of year when recruits are making their college decision.  However, I doubt this change is going to have any significant impact on Hope's in coming class.  Considering the stable of talent that Hope has, and has historically been able to attract one will have to look hard to detect any change.  I also doubt there will be any more players dropping from the program than occurs in the normal course of events.  If one or two players change their plans to attend Hope because GVW is gone you may also get one or two guys that come because there is a new guy.

[KnightSlappy]

M&g:  Yes, this is the time of year when recruits are making their college decision.  However, I doubt this change is going to have any significant impact on Hope's in coming class.  Considering the stable of talent that Hope has, and has historically been able to attract one will have to look hard to detect any change.  I also doubt there will be any more players dropping from the program than occurs in the normal course of events.  If one or two players change their plans to attend Hope because GVW is gone you may also get one or two guys that come because there is a new guy.

I don't think GVW's retirement will have any impact on recruiting either but if so, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  In being around the campus occasionally, there are a slew of kids attending Hope that were either cut or quit the program that could be brought in and compete against most MIAA teams.  These players wouldn't get them to the next level but they can certainly compete for the conference title.

Competing against 'most' MIAA teams probably won't win you an MIAA title. I don't imagine Hope would want to do battle with Calvin sporting a cast of replacement type talent.

[northb]

Okay, first things first: GVW has been an icon in his field.  He has cultivated a program and tradition that should be admired and sought after by any DIII coach or program.  The man had a great affect on a ton of kids, and I am sure he still will.  He has had pretty good success against the school's rival, and won a lot of games.  He is going out on his own terms, not too early, but not too late.  Best of luck to him!
A also want to acknowledge the loss that Hope fans may be feeling.  Perhaps loss is not the right word, but whatever accurately defines it, it is change, and change can be hard, even good changes.  There may be apprehension about the next steps, or anticipation about what the new guy might bring.
End of first post.

[northb]

Start of new post:  As a Calvin fan, I am very excited about this change.  This makes KVS the clear frontrunner for recruiting area DIII kids.  He will have the connections with area coaches, the history with them, the facilities and the proven track record that a new coach just can't muster.  He will be the one with experience in The Rivalry, the NCAAs and so on.  I see this as having an effect for at least a few years.

[almcguirejr]

Start of new post:  As a Calvin fan, I am very excited about this change.  This makes KVS the clear frontrunner for recruiting area DIII kids.  He will have the connections with area coaches, the history with them, the facilities and the proven track record that a new coach just can't muster.  He will be the one with experience in The Rivalry, the NCAAs and so on.  I see this as having an effect for at least a few years.

Lee Corso would say "not so fast my friend."  Some players maybe looking for something fresh and new.  I think this depends completely on who is hired.

[sac]

Drew Torey  5-9  Sr  Marine City Cardinal Mooney is going to Adrian

2nd team all-state, Class D by Stephen Bell

[maroonandgold]

While it certainly will depend on who is hired by Hope, I must agree with the earlier message that the change of coaches at Hope is likely to help Calvin in the recruiting wars for at least a while.  The longer it takes to hire the new coach, the more likely Hope is to have at least a temporary problem.  Don't most coaches resign earlier--soon after the season's end--to avoid that kind of problem?

[realist]

The impact on Calvin's recruiting will be minimal at best.
If you are one of the internal Hope candidates I am sure you are doing everything in your power to get guys you and GVW recruited all winter into the program, or at least make a deposit.  
Worst case scenario for Calvin is Hope gets some fresh new face, and in the next year or two this guy leads Hope to the "promised" land.  Any short term gain Calvin might get quickly becomes a long tern pain.  One really should not assume that a "new guy" would not have NCAA or MIAA experience.  In fact if Hope goes outside one can almost bet the candidate will have recent NCAA/NAIA experience.  Hope will still have the De Vos so don't see that they are loosing anything other than the person GVW.  I doubt any boosters or fans are going to stop supporting Hope just because he is gone.  

Can anyone name any current Hope player or recruit that wouldn't/won't go to Hope because GVW is gone?    Would Snuggerud have opted for Calvin last year if GVW left than?  Will Neil leave if his dad doesn't get the job?  Hope doesn't have a problem even if they don't get any recruits this year.

GVW leaving Hope is intriquing.  It is interesting watching the selection process play out, but once it is done Hope is still going to be a difficult team to beat.  

[Pat Coleman]

Bruce Wilson, a 300-game winner at Simpson, and Mike Neer, a 500-game winner at the University of Rochester, resigned less than a week earlier. I wouldn't say it's uncommon at all for a coach in control of his own destiny to retire in mid-April.

[northb]

The impact on Calvin's recruiting will be minimal at best.
If you are one of the internal Hope candidates I am sure you are doing everything in your power to get guys you and GVW recruited all winter into the program, or at least make a deposit.  
Worst case scenario for Calvin is Hope gets some fresh new face, and in the next year or two this guy leads Hope to the "promised" land.  Any short term gain Calvin might get quickly becomes a long tern pain.  One really should not assume that a "new guy" would not have NCAA or MIAA experience.  In fact if Hope goes outside one can almost bet the candidate will have recent NCAA/NAIA experience.  Hope will still have the De Vos so don't see that they are loosing anything other than the person GVW.  I doubt any boosters or fans are going to stop supporting Hope just because he is gone.  

Can anyone name any current Hope player or recruit that wouldn't/won't go to Hope because GVW is gone?    Would Snuggerud have opted for Calvin last year if GVW left than?  Will Neil leave if his dad doesn't get the job?  Hope doesn't have a problem even if they don't get any recruits this year.

GVW leaving Hope is intriquing.  It is interesting watching the selection process play out, but once it is done Hope is still going to be a difficult team to beat.  

This does not seem to be likely to go both ways at the same time.  The guy with NCAA/NAIA experience from outside, does not have the connection and understanding of West Michigan schools, specifically the Christian schools.  The guy that is from this area that has that does not have HEAD coaching experience up to that level.

Now I know that KVS is in fact the argument against this, as his first team that was only his recruits did pretty well.  The scenario I presented just seems more logical to me...

[sac]

Tom Izzo is going to be the commencement speaker at Adrian College this year.

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2010/04/msu_coach_tom_izzo_to_address.html

.....he'll receive a Doctor of Humane Letters

[gohope]

In case you missed Fox17 Sports tonight, please check out the special video on their website:


http://www.fox17online.com/sports/


Hope may have announced this past week that a search is on for a new Men's Basketball Coach, but... they still have the #1 Team Manager in ALL of Basketball  - and he's staying with the team!!!

Thanks Robbie!

[Mr. Ypsi]

In case you missed Fox17 Sports tonight, please check out the special video on their website:


http://www.fox17online.com/sports/


Hope may have announced this past week that a search is on for a new Men's Basketball Coach, but... they still have the #1 Team Manager in ALL of Basketball  - and he's staying with the team!!!

Thanks Robbie!

GO Robbie!  Aside from the fact that I've met quite a number of Hope posters (and so far NO Calvin or Adrian [my 'local' ream'] posters), this kind of clinches my MIAA loyalty. 

Doesn't any other school want to bid for my fanhood?