WBB: Landmark Conference

[ronk]

 Gettsburg had "a large and outstanding candidate pool" before selecting Nate Davis. Wondering if Scranton's pool is comparable?  We may find out if selection takes much longer.

[NEPAFAN]

Per the Scranton web site...




The University is currently in the process of hiring a new coach.

For more information, please feel free to contact the athletics department at athletics@scranton.edu.

[ronk]

Per the Scranton web site...




The University is currently in the process of hiring a new coach.

For more information, please feel free to contact the athletics department at athletics@scranton.edu.

That sounds like they are re-opening the search and aren't satisfied with the current pool.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Considering the two top contenders didn't take the job and didn't want to keep waiting for a decision... no surprise Scranton may be thinking about starting over. From several sources, this has been a cluster of a process with too many "voices" making things difficult (it seems). Scranton is in real trouble, to be honest.

[saratoga]

Press Release from UofS 6:25 pm:

Toby Lovecchio, current athletic director at the University of Scranton, has announced the hiring of former UConn Women's Head Coach, Geno Auriemma as the next head coach of the Lady Royals.

Said Lovecchio, "We are all fully aware of our fan base and the frustration they've felt over the past 3 months as we've reviewed one tremendous resume after another and interviewed dozens of quality coaches.

However, once Geno made the call to me and stated his interest, we knew we had the candidate of a lifetime.

"Coach simply impressed everyone on our 36 person committee, and once we received permission to share our thoughts with our president, we then only had to wait for an audience with the Pope.
I can now proudly announce that meeting has taken place in Geneva, and although I wasn't invited, I have received permission to make this announcement.

Lovecchio further added, "Obviously, one of the largest obstacles to overcome was salary & compensation to UConn.
Our staff did a remarkable job working out the details and although I can not, at this time, divulge his actual base salary, let me tell you it's a really, really lot of money".

It was further pointed out that a date & time of the actual press conference with Auriemma attending has not yet been determined.
Lovecchio added that unlike the selection process, meeting the greatest coach of women's basketball "will be sooner rather than later, unless I'm told differently".

Lovecchio read a brief prepared statement from Coach Auriemma which stated, "I realized after this last National Championship that I had nothing left to prove in this cess pool that is Division I athletics.

Therefore, when I saw this position open up, I said, why the f<#% not.
Hey, I'm a Pa. guy, I know Mike did a hell of a job down there for years plus, I'll be closer to family & Talluto's restaurant in Norristown.

No more being bridesmaids, the time to start throwing the damn bouquet starts now".

Lovecchio stated Auriemma will have his own plane & the job announcement for personal pilots will be posted shortly.

In closing, Lovecchio added, I hope all our fans will finally take notice at the fantastic job I've just done. Let's see G-Burg top this".

[ronk]

 And Muffet McGraw will be the female associate head coach?

Worthy of submission to Scranton's literary magazine, Saratoga.

[NEPAFAN]

I was going to go with Coach Strong or Bessior coming out of retirement, but I like Saratoga's take better.

[Royals81]

Saratoga,

Are you sure the announcement won't be to introduce "Lady Royals interim head coach Geno Auriemma"?
After all, he may need a year to prove himself on the DIII level.

Quick comparison of the two head coaching searches:

Gettysburg - longtime coach resigns 4/2/2015 - successor named 6/3/2015 - total search to hire = 63 days
Scranton - longtime coach resigns 9/17/2014 - successor still to be named - total search to hire = 260 days and counting

Even if we give Scranton's AD the benefit of the doubt and start the clock when the Lady Royal's 2014-2015 season ended on 3/6/2015, the total search to hire period is still 90 days and counting.

Replacing Coach Klingman's interim coaching record of 24-4 and cumulative team GPA of 3.53 seems light years away right now.

[sp0rtsfan]

Ya'll crack me up....The white smoke will rise soon enough from the Long Center...

[saratoga]

Andrea Mitchell...AP (Scranton, Pa.)

As part of the "compensation package" the University of Scranton agreed to in the hiring away of Geno Auriemma from the University of Connecticut, Scranton men's basketball coach Carl Danzig, has been sent to the Huskies along with an undetermined amount of coins.

It's been reported that UConn mens basketball coach Kevin Ollie has created a new International recruiting outreach program for Danzig.

Reportedly, he will be in charge of recruiting efforts in Bosnia, Turkey & possibly Yemen.

At press time he (Danzig), was being briefed on previous "outreach" programs in those areas by Seal Team VI.

Please check back later for additional updates on this remarkable turn of events.

[NEPAFAN]

Here is the morning line on Scranton's HC search:


Bob Bessoir (5 to 1) : The former Scranton legend is willing to listen with the caveat he will only coach home games, as medical conditions preclude him from travel.  He has done it all on the Men's side and wants to bring the Rock N Royals style to the Women's game.

Gerry Mcnamarra ( 10 to 1) : Willing to return to Scranton and rekindle some of the magic where he captivated the region during cuse's tourny runs

Geno Auriemma (1000 to 1)

The Field ( even)

[Warren Thompson]

NEPAFAN: I ask this in all seriousness. Have you considered that the long-lost College of Charleston transfer -- he who never could find Rickrode's office at Wilkes a number of seasons ago -- just might be lurking still in the Coal Regions? Reliable rumors have it that he now desires to coach women's teams -- he's grown weary of working at fast-food emporiums that don't sponsor basketball teams -- and truly wouldn't mind stepping into the apparent quagmire at Scranton. He just might be worthy of a look-see ....

[saratoga]

Warren,
Scranton will get through this mess (self-inflicted), just as LVC got through theirs (self-inflicted),.....kids are resilient.

[ronk]

Warren,
Scranton will get through this mess (self-inflicted), just as LVC got through theirs (self-inflicted),.....kids are resilient.

And will the LVC infliction be the Scranton resolution? In the absence of inside info, I wouldn't be surprised.

[gordonmann]

Coincidentally I just posted a story about the 1985 Royals and Deanna Kyle (now Klingman) as part of our series on women's basketball "triple crown" winners. I spoke with Deanna in early May when she was a candidate for the full-time head coaching position. We didn't talk much about the search but, since it's a topic on this board, I wanted to clarify the timing for our interview.

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2015/05/klingman-first-to-elite-feat