WBB: Landmark Conference

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · June 19, 2015, 04:39:40 PM

For those who don't know... Laurel Martin took over the Stevenson field hockey team and despite some struggles early on has turned that program around including a significant season last fall (including a big win in the ECAC semifinals - hint, hint). Just thought I would share an update.

Warren Thompson · June 19, 2015, 05:16:03 PM

Ronk: The "serious family medical issue" to which you refer was the death of player Liz Borgia's mother. Goclowski and the entire team attended her funeral in Scranton.

Warren Thompson · June 19, 2015, 05:22:54 PM

Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on June 19, 2015, 04:39:40 PM
For those who don't know... Laurel Martin took over the Stevenson field hockey team and despite some struggles early on has turned that program around including a significant season last fall (including a big win in the ECAC semifinals - hint, hint). Just thought I would share an update.

Dave: I got your "hint." It's likely merely another sign of Stevenson's growing power and influence in the MAC.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · June 20, 2015, 12:48:42 AM

To be honest... the hint was about exacting some revenge for Martin... nothing else.

Warren Thompson · June 20, 2015, 06:55:33 AM

Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on June 20, 2015, 12:48:42 AM
To be honest... the hint was about exacting some revenge for Martin... nothing else.

I know that, but I still believe Stevenson is a coming power in the MAC Commonwealth.

Dan Gambino · June 23, 2015, 10:33:45 PM

Ronk.

How are you? I apologize I am just getting back to you, last week was pretty hectic. Anyways, I am glad you were able to read the links.

It doesn't surprise me you have encountered Coach Todd on the recruiting trail. He is a dedicated recruiter and brought a number of talented players to LVC. My daughter was a senior when he brought in his first recruiting class and she was a starter that season along with 4 freshmen from that class. Seems like yesterday! The time flies. The freshman point guard on that great team had her jersey retired by the school last year. Have you ever been to a game at the LVC gym?

I hope I'm not spilling the beans on his personal life, but I believe Coach Todd just got engaged and then resigned his assistant coach post at Cornell to move back to Pennsylvania to live with his fiancée. I did see that Cornell had its first winning season in 7 years and that doesn't surprise me a bit.

I do know that, Coach Todd is very interested and has reached out to Scranton. Have you heard anything on that? Scranton has been a great program over the years, with many NCAA appearances. He would be a very nice hire for the U and maintain that success.

I can remember the tragedy for the family of the local Scranton player you referred to. I know Todd admired the strength of that family a great deal. It's my understanding Todd requested from the AD a bus for teammates and classmates to attend the funeral. The AD denied his request and Todd ended up personally paying for it himself. He still speaks very highly of her and I seem to recall him saying she was an exceptional student and off to graduate school.

It will be interesting to follow round two of the process at Scranton. Do you think they will fill the open AD spot before their hire a coach?

Dan

ronk · June 24, 2015, 01:06:21 AM

Dan,
That frosh class is the one I saw in the NCAA in 2011 as seniors although one had transferred to DeSales by then. I haven't been in the LVC gym yet.
If it were pro football or bball, I'd say hire the AD(GM) first and let him choose the coach. But it's D3 bball, recruiting season and assistant coach hiring is awasting, so choose the coach now, instead. My 3 choices(in the absence of knowing who applied) were former Scranton players Cabrini HC Kate Pearson, Salisbury HC Kelly Lewandowski, and Todd. Kate's very unlikely to want to leave the Philly suburbs where her families are located, Kelly would be more likely but might not want to leave the school that gave her the HC opportunity, so my choice is Todd, especially if he's interested.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · June 30, 2015, 04:48:30 PM

From everything I have gathered and not from any sources... I don't think Kate or Kelly are interested... or I would have heard their names floating around the first time. If they happened to have gotten passed over the first time around or weren't that close in the finalists list to be a third or fourth option (thus a reason the job was reopened - lack of a third or fourth option)... than why would they be interested in taking over now? Also, why be interested now if clearly things are a semi-mess at best at the university?

Scranton seems to have botched this from the beginning and it's going to cost them dearly, by their standards, I worry.

ronk · June 30, 2015, 05:16:45 PM

I agree that Kate and Kelly weren't likely to be interested for the reasons that I've already listed. But, if they were interested, they'd be my choices. Also, don't know if the AD is allowed to actively solicit coaches currently under contract or is that tampering? The fact that the situation is "untidy" might be a reason to respond rather than a deterrent.

kate · June 30, 2015, 05:39:49 PM

Following along here for our former MAC Freedom partner - is there a dearth in d3 coaches?

ronk · July 06, 2015, 11:39:05 PM

Concerning the Scranton HC situation, I talked today with a player parent and an unsuccessful applicant; no one seems to know the whole story. If Jason Miller(Scranton grad) were still alive, he'd probably make it a movie-the sequel to his That Championship Season.
It's not easy trying to interest prospects when there's no AD, HC, or fulltime assistant, but we soldier on. Optimistically, we'll know before the next major tourney in 2 1/2 weeks, but I'm not counting on it.
I talked with DeSales HC Richter yesterday about his schedule since Scranton is in his season opening tourney, according to Scranton's schedule; he seemed unaware that it wasn't posted yet on DeSales' web site. He said the Royals will be playing The College of New Jersey and DeSales will be playing Widener.

NEPAFAN · August 07, 2015, 10:25:19 AM

How many days has Scranton gone without a coach? Believe students are back in 3 weeks.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · August 07, 2015, 12:00:54 PM

Quote from: Royals81 on June 04, 2015, 10:00:47 PM
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.

That was posted on June 4... so we do a little math and...

Since Mike Strong resigned: 324 days
Since the end of this season: 154 days

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · August 10, 2015, 04:36:38 PM

Well... Scranton has hired a new AD. Dave Martin who is now the former Misericordia AD is taking the reigns. Dave has already indicated he will not name himself interim WBB coach... but at least there is someone in place who can most likely make a decision sooner rather than later.

saratoga · August 10, 2015, 05:55:16 PM

Just when I was about to give up on any semblance of common sense being utilized by the Royal brain trust, they make this announcement.

Absolutely outstanding choice!

Great guy, proven leader and the coach for the women's basketball team will now be his call.

Scranton has taken a magnificent first step with this hire.

I have no doubt that the Lady Royal tradition, although down because of a lost year in recruiting & planning, will be running on all cylinders in short order.

Welcome Dave!