MBB: Centennial Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA

"I can confirm that recently hired Muhlenberg assistant Conor Smith is on the move again, and will land as the full-time assistant on the staff at Allegheny. Smith, who was hired earlier this summer on new head coach Kevin Hopkins staff at Muhlenberg, has also been an assistant at NYU and SUNY New Paltz."

That's some deep dirt there.  We'll see how it pans out.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA

"I can confirm that recently hired Muhlenberg assistant Conor Smith is on the move again, and will land as the full-time assistant on the staff at Allegheny. Smith, who was hired earlier this summer on new head coach Kevin Hopkins staff at Muhlenberg, has also been an assistant at NYU and SUNY New Paltz."

That's some deep dirt there.  We'll see how it pans out.

The dirt is simple... the new opportunity is full time... the Muhlenberg chance was part-time. Anyone want to do that math themselves?

I actually talked to Kevin Hopkins about this when I saw it. This is very common in college basketball, especially Division III. When a full-time opportunity is available, you can't turn those down when you are working a part-time one (or rather, working full-time but being paid part-time).

So no dirt here at all. And TeamMonix continues to think he knows what is actually happening when in reality he is just stirring the pot. From what I was told, the team and staff loved Conor Smith who was happy to be at Muhlenberg, but a better financial opportunity presented itself. Believe it or not, this happens all of the time at this level. It is the biggest reason I can't keep track of assistant coaches on a yearly basis.

[TeamMonix]

If the assistant wants to make more money he should get out of coaching.  He left Muhlenberg after 2 months to work for a D3 program that hasn't had a winning season since 2009.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Ha. Yeah... because the difference in part-time and full-time is strictly money. When a job is full-time, it comes with benefits like health insurance and much more. Part-time, not so much. For being as "all-knowing" as you claim to be Monix, you also come across as clueless. It isn't always about money and I am sure if you actually picked up the phone and called Kevin Hopkins to ask him yourself - or heck, even Conor Smith - you might actually get the answer you need. Instead, you continue to snip from being a keyboard with no cares of actually educating yourself before opening your mouth starting to type.

Feel free to try and twist this around all you want, but as one who has had to work his fair share of part-time jobs and is in the situation of needing a full-time job for other reasons no matter what the pay may be... I can relate. Maybe you cannot and that is too bad... but it isn't always about money. Heck, it might pay better as well... but I am never going to begrudge an assistant coach, or even a head coach, who leaves for a better paying gig that offers benefits over one that doesn't at any time or place.

Move on for the sake of everyone and grind your axe some where else. I probably speak for most that your personal vendetta is tiresome and lost any sense of humor a long time ago. The program doesn't deserve your constant snark nor does the coaching staff... no program or staff deserves it especially when they are starting out.

[TeamMonix]

I only wish you were this passionate to all the bloggers on this site who made McClarys life living hell.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I only wish you were this passionate to all the bloggers on this site who made McClarys life living hell.

Wow... we finally find the reason for the ire. Sorry you had such a bad experience. I had a coach who I didn't enjoy... but I don't drag him through the mud on the soccer boards.

[TeamMonix]

You read what I said wrong.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

My question is why the guy at Allegheny (a 2016 graduate) would leave?  I didn't see him announced anywhere else.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I only wish you were this passionate to all the bloggers on this site who made McClarys life living hell.

Wow... we finally find the reason for the ire. Sorry you had such a bad experience. I had a coach who I didn't enjoy... but I don't drag him through the mud on the soccer boards.

You read what I said wrong.

I guess I did... but then again, where was the last post from someone you describe?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

My question is why the guy at Allegheny (a 2016 graduate) would leave?  I didn't see him announced anywhere else.

First, he (Brandon Smith) appears to be a '17 graduate according to the bio I found online: http://alleghenygators.com/coaches.aspx?rc=800&path=mbball - though, I have seen him listed as '16 in other publications.

And it looks more complicated than that... appears while Allegheny hasn't updated it's "Coaching Staff" link, they made this hire in May: http://alleghenygators.com/news/2017/5/24/Brian-Urso-Joins-Mens-Basketball-Staff.aspx. Interestingly, under the "Staff Directory" neither Urso nor Smith is listed. Nor is the new hire mentioned.

I can't tell if he is still there, if Urso left, if they have added a second full-time position (doubtful). I think it appears Smith was already gone, but I can't figure out where he went, either.

This is a terrific example of why trying to follow assistant coaches and their stopping points can be extremely difficult.

[TeamMonix]

I only wish you were this passionate to all the bloggers on this site who made McClarys life living hell.

Wow... we finally find the reason for the ire. Sorry you had such a bad experience. I had a coach who I didn't enjoy... but I don't drag him through the mud on the soccer boards.

You read what I said wrong.

I guess I did... but then again, where was the last post from someone you describe?

Look at this message board all last season!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I think you confuse conversation for something else.

[HopkinsNest7]

It is fairly clear here that Muhlenberg is having an unusually difficult time transitioning from the McClary era to the new regime. Hopkins inability to lure a big name assistant from an established program leaves a level of pessimism for the young Mules.

Dave- The only reason this blog was relevant the past few years has been to attack the most controversial coach in the conference: Scott McClary

McClary fed off of acquiring high profile recruits, with unpredictable personalities: Killing, Rindock, Hargrove etc. This risk will eventually lead the clown show this blog has become. McClary could not handle the heat in the kitchin, thought H ford might take a risk on him to spark plug a dull program but sadly I was proven wrong.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It is fairly clear here that Muhlenberg is having an unusually difficult time transitioning from the McClary era to the new regime. Hopkins inability to lure a big name assistant from an established program leaves a level of pessimism for the young Mules.

Dave- The only reason this blog was relevant the past few years has been to attack the most controversial coach in the conference: Scott McClary

McClary fed off of acquiring high profile recruits, with unpredictable personalities: Killing, Rindock, Hargrove etc. This risk will eventually lead the clown show this blog has become. McClary could not handle the heat in the kitchin, thought H ford might take a risk on him to spark plug a dull program but sadly I was proven wrong.

First off - Hopkins lost a pretty good assistant from New Paltz due to the fact it was a full-time job at Allegheny. If Muhlenberg wants to improve, one thing to consider is having the main assistant job full-time. Certainly it is not something that is in the majority, but it very common in Division III. To the idea that Hopkins had to lure a big-time assistant (in who's opinion are they big-time, by the way; most big-time assistants are moving to head coaching jobs... you know... like Hopkins himself or McHugh this year!) to Muhlenberg and the idea that you think that is possible with a part-time gig means you may be living in a dreamer's world. That isn't on the coach to improve, that is on the administration both at the athletic and college levels. I will never fault a coach for not being able to hold an assistant who wanted to be there... because a full-time gig came along. Nor do I think anyone else should.

Secondly - of course transitions are rough. There are very rare occasions when things continue to move in a positive direction. There are always lulls or dips even if they are minor. However, to try and question Muhlenberg for this when the program has been struggling both internally and externally for awhile is a bit odd. Hopkins isn't going to change the entire thing overnight and especially before the first season begins.

As for the reason this "blog" (it is actually called a chat board... blogs are like the things I post my Top 25 ballots on each week) is for attacking McClary, then you and and others have missed a vast majority of the posts each season talking about all the teams especially Hopkins, Gettysburg, and everyone's favorite... F&M. Maybe you and other's sole purpose is to bash McClary, but that certainly wasn't the purpose for the rest of us... many of which have been on these boards for 15 or more years.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

BTW - I did hear Urso, who had been hired at Allegheny in May, took a D1 job. So... interestingly, the reason Conor Smith took the Allegheny job is the exact same reason it was open in the first place... the coach previously hired this off-season moved to another job because it was a better opportunity for them - and whatever their reasons are. Welcome to the life of an assistant coach and the revolving door in which coaches are hired. It is how it works, even in Division I. Nobody's fault no matter how hard anyone would like to blame people. Move on with something more important.