MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HopeConvert]

I think the subtext here is that most of us will readily acknowledge that Hope's coaching staff over the last four year years hasn't exactly excelled at x's and o's, and have been less than stellar at getting their teams to excel on the defensive end of the floor. So it's quite possible that whomever comes in next could be a strategic upgrade.

[sac]

I think the subtext here is that most of us will readily acknowledge that Hope's coaching staff over the last four year years hasn't exactly excelled at x's and o's, and have been less than stellar at getting their teams to excel on the defensive end of the floor. So it's quite possible that whomever comes in next could be a strategic upgrade.

I don't know, I view most of Hope's supposed offensive woes the last 3 years on being mostly below average from 3 point territory. 

[sac]

I'd be interested to know what communication has been allowed with those student-athletes committed to Hope.  Have the the assistant coaches been allowed to call the prospects and try to keep the relationship going?  I know some places are quick to downplay the important role that the coaching staff plays in recruitment and just figure that the student-athletes will still come just because of the school.   

I also can't help but wonder if the prospects are changing their minds and reaching out to the other schools that showed interest or if it was the coaches in these programs who decided to "check-in" on the prospects when they heard Coach Neil and Hope College agreed to part ways.

Assistant coaches can contact recruits, and its my understanding they have.

Its difficult to pin the exact reasons a kid chooses a college, I would think in D3 in most cases the college itself weighs much more heavily than who the coach is or was.  Even at Hope.

Some kids even pick a school and then get a way better offer to another one at the last minute.  Hypothetically speaking.

[sac]

I don't know if any D3's were recruiting 6-8 C Zach Mendendorp from South Christian (easy to assume so with that address).  He signed with Spring Arbor this weekend.

[HopeConvert]

I'd be interested to know what communication has been allowed with those student-athletes committed to Hope.  Have the the assistant coaches been allowed to call the prospects and try to keep the relationship going?  I know some places are quick to downplay the important role that the coaching staff plays in recruitment and just figure that the student-athletes will still come just because of the school.   

I also can't help but wonder if the prospects are changing their minds and reaching out to the other schools that showed interest or if it was the coaches in these programs who decided to "check-in" on the prospects when they heard Coach Neil and Hope College agreed to part ways.

Assistant coaches can contact recruits, and its my understanding they have.

Its difficult to pin the exact reasons a kid chooses a college, I would think in D3 in most cases the college itself weighs much more heavily than who the coach is or was.  Even at Hope.

Some kids even pick a school and then get a way better offer to another one at the last minute.  Hypothetically speaking.

And, hypothetically speaking, they might go to a different college because of a girl. I know it's hard to believe an 18 year-old boy might be motivated by that, but it could, hypothetically speaking, happen.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'd be interested to know what communication has been allowed with those student-athletes committed to Hope.  Have the the assistant coaches been allowed to call the prospects and try to keep the relationship going?  I know some places are quick to downplay the important role that the coaching staff plays in recruitment and just figure that the student-athletes will still come just because of the school.   

I also can't help but wonder if the prospects are changing their minds and reaching out to the other schools that showed interest or if it was the coaches in these programs who decided to "check-in" on the prospects when they heard Coach Neil and Hope College agreed to part ways.

Assistant coaches can contact recruits, and its my understanding they have.

Its difficult to pin the exact reasons a kid chooses a college, I would think in D3 in most cases the college itself weighs much more heavily than who the coach is or was.  Even at Hope.

Some kids even pick a school and then get a way better offer to another one at the last minute.  Hypothetically speaking.

And, hypothetically speaking, they might go to a different college because of a girl. I know it's hard to believe an 18 year-old boy might be motivated by that, but it could, hypothetically speaking, happen.

I think you meant "hormonally" speaking 

[sac]

This is significant:  http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/06/kalamazoo_promise_expands_to_i.html

It was my understanding MIAA schools had basically given up recruiting students from Kalamazoo.

[hoopdreams]

MN and GVW were still contacting high school players as recently as last week.  Memo to all Hope supporters...you are losing recruits and may feel the effects for a year or two or more unless the new coach is an incredible " people person" because your school is lost in secretive, shady turmoil and none of the rumors I have heard floating around the past several weeks, remotely paints Hope Basketball in a positive light.  Were your ears burning last weekend during the GVSU tourney?  Because i was there and This is BAD....AAU is in full swing and you're missing out, unless MN is still allowed to do that too

[Flying Dutch Fan]

This is significant:  http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/06/kalamazoo_promise_expands_to_i.html

It was my understanding MIAA schools had basically given up recruiting students from Kalamazoo.

Well that certainly "levels the playing field" so to speak. 

[sac]

A good solid percentage of the rumors I've heard were not even really close to how this was all explained to me.  Including the loss of recruits.  Somehow Hope College basketball will survive and maybe even thrive.  I doubt they're looking to bulldoze DeVos Fieldhouse just yet.

But what do I know I live 90 miles away.......hormonally speaking.

[northb]

MN and GVW were still contacting high school players as recently as last week.

To work at their basketball camp


A good solid percentage of the rumors I've heard were not even really close to how this was all explained to me.  Including the loss of recruits.  Somehow Hope College basketball will survive and maybe even thrive.  I doubt they're looking to bulldoze DeVos Fieldhouse just yet.

But what do I know I live 90 miles away.......hormonally speaking.

How was this all explained to you?

[sac]

mostly by phone

[knightvision]

A good solid percentage of the rumors I've heard were not even really close to how this was all explained to me.  Including the loss of recruits.  Somehow Hope College basketball will survive and maybe even thrive.  I doubt they're looking to bulldoze DeVos Fieldhouse just yet.

But what do I know I live 90 miles away.......hormonally speaking.

I purposely omitted the "Somehow" from the highlighting....count me among those who have little doubt that the Hope College basketball program will be just fine.  And I say that with no disrespect to MN.  Hope is a highly desirable job, and I would be very surprised if they do not attract a fine coach--whether from within the Hope family or outside it.

Keeping with the theme of no disrespect, I've personally seen all of the current/former Hope recruits (kids that had "committed") play with the exception of Kozlowski, and honestly did not see any of them as guys that would be contributors next year.  It's obviously ideal to have a building block kid or two in each class to minimize the impact of big graduating classes, but Hope is returning plenty of young talent and experience and I just don't see them dropping from the top 2--regardless of this year's recruiting class.  And if you're still excessively concerned about this recruiting class, keep in mind that it's not at all uncommon for a player or two to follow the new coach to his new destination--either someone from the program the coach came from (if they were a college coach somewhere) or a recruit that fell in love with the coach and whose loyalty/decision was more about the coach than the school.  And I bet it wouldn't surprise anyone if there was a kid or two who really liked Hope but didn't click with MN who may end up at Hope in the fall.

Whether it is ever made public, the reason this all unravelled most certainly has to be at or near the top of any potential candidate's list of questions as they consider the position.  I would find it hard to believe that a candidate of any merit would not expect to be provided a more detailed sense of what happened than the public statement to date before pursuing the job.  And I would be very surprised if potential candidates weren't in fact being given more information than the public statement to ensure that  a desirable candidate wasn't scared away by the mystery of the sudden parting of ways.   

[HopeConvert]

MN and GVW were still contacting high school players as recently as last week.  Memo to all Hope supporters...you are losing recruits and may feel the effects for a year or two or more unless the new coach is an incredible " people person" because your school is lost in secretive, shady turmoil and none of the rumors I have heard floating around the past several weeks, remotely paints Hope Basketball in a positive light.  Were your ears burning last weekend during the GVSU tourney?  Because i was there and This is BAD....AAU is in full swing and you're missing out, unless MN is still allowed to do that too

I don't think "Hope basketball" is being "painted" in any kind of "light" (to extend the mixed metaphor). If and when the story comes out, my guess is that it will be the reputations of particular persons and not the "program" that will get dinged.

That said, there are multiple goods that must be satisfied in this search. The college has to find a coach that upholds its mission, has the required credentials, is appropriately experienced, has shown himself to be worthy of one of the top jobs in D3, and has the requisite people skills to recruit well. In addition, this person must be willing to take the job, and do so on short notice, leaving his current employer in a bit of a difficult situation. As you indicate, there are compelling reasons to do this as quickly as possible, but there are even more compelling reasons to make sure it is done well, assuming the next coach will be here for more than 4 years.

I know the college is being criticized for its "secretive, shady turmoil," but I wouldn't be too quick to judge. There may very well be compelling reasons for staying quiet about what happened, not the least of which may be the advice of counsel. In the absence of knowing all the facts, I think individuals would be well advised not to judge the college too harshly on this.

[HopeConvert]

Whether it is ever made public, the reason this all unravelled most certainly has to be at or near the top of any potential candidate's list of questions as they consider the position.  I would find it hard to believe that a candidate of any merit would not expect to be provided a more detailed sense of what happened than the public statement to date before pursuing the job.  And I would be very surprised if potential candidates weren't in fact being given more information than the public statement to ensure that  a desirable candidate wasn't scared away by the mystery of the sudden parting of ways.

I would sure want to know.