South Orange, N.J. - Seton Hall University graduate Jacob Simon '18, a rising star in cross country coaching who has built up a wealth of experience up and down the Atlantic coast, has been named the Pirates head men's & women's cross country coach, Director of Athletics Bryan Felt announced Tuesday. Simon, who has collegiate coaching experience at the University of Florida, New Jersey City University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, comes back to his alma mater after coaching the 2024-25 season at Southern New Hampshire University, where he was the head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach.

Simon, a native of Freehold, N.J., and graduate of Freehold Township High School, ran cross country for the Pirates from 2014-18 and now is the successor to his Seton Hall coach, the legendary John Moon, who is retiring on June 1 after 53 incredible years of service at the University.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jacob, his wife Isabella, also a Seton Hall cross country alum, and their children home to Seton Hall," said Felt. "Throughout the interview process, Jake exhibited a coaching style and philosophy that aligns perfectly with our student-athlete centric vision here at Seton Hall, and it's very apropos that Jake has become a terrific coach after running here at Seton Hall for the legend John Moon. We're looking forward to Jake taking the reins of our cross country program and helping our student-athletes realize their potential."

At Southern New Hampshire in 2024-25, Simon oversaw all aspects of the men's and women's cross country programs, including developing student-athlete specific distance training programs. His men's team posted an impressive performance at the Paul Short Run, finishing second out of 22 teams with one of his athletes winning the 8k race. His women's team finished second out of 11 teams at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship and produced multiple All-Conference runners.

Prior to Southern New Hampshire, Simon was the assistant cross country/track & field coach at the University of Florida from 2021-24, assisting in all aspects of the men's and women's programs. He helped the Gators women's cross country team post one of the best season in school history, winning the 2023 SEC Championship and placing fifth at the NCAA Championship and having one its student-athletes win the individual national championship.

In addition to the cross country success, Simon was on staff at Florida for four national championships as the Gators captured the 2022 NCAA Women's Indoor and Outdoor titles and the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Men's Outdoor titles.

"I am super excited for the opportunity to be the next cross country head coach at The Hall," Simon said. "As an alum, I take a lot of pride in this program and owe a great deal of my career and family to this place. I met my wife here, and Coach Moon has been instrumental in kick-starting my coaching career as well. Following in his legendary footsteps is going to be a challenge, but one I am willing and ready to accept head-on. I am eager to come back home to get to work and look forward to the next chapter in history for the Pirates distance program!"

Simon began his collegiate coaching career as a student assistant during the 2019 season at his graduate alma mater, FDU, before moving to NJCU, where he was the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach.

As a student-athlete at Seton Hall, Simon captained the Pirates his senior season, won two meets - the 2017 Monmouth Kickoff 6K and the 2017 NYIT Invitational 8K - and was consistently one of the team's top finishers throughout his career. He was a three-time selection to the BIG EAST All-Academic team and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social & Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall in 2018.

Simon went on to earn his Master of Sports Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2020 and competed for the Knights track & field team in 2018-19, earning Northeast Conference All-Academic team honors.
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What They're Saying About Seton Hall Head Cross Country Coach Jacob Simon

"Jake is a former runner of mine whose dedication to the sport will make him hungry to win. As a young, up-and-coming coach, he has a wide view of sports and an even wider view of athlete development. With that experience and knowledge, he can build upon and expand the system and legacy I built at Seton Hall."
- Retiring Seton Hall Head Cross Country Coach and Hall of Famer John Moon

"Seton Hall made a great hire!! Jake Simon is an incredibly talented coach and a student of the sport that brings a high level of enthusiasm, passion, and knowledge of the sport. I have no doubt Coach Simon will pour his heart and soul into the team. I look forward to watching Coach Simon and Seton Hall flourish and grow as the years go on."
- Chris Solinsky, Assistant Coach at Oregon, Former Assistant Coach at Florida and Former American 10,000 Meter Record Holder

Talk about being a victim of circumstances!

When Geoff Billet was hired at SHU I bumped into him at a HS event he was watching players. I introduced myself to him and we became good friends almost imm.

We talked about players we saw and I gave him as much info on SHU as possible.

Eventually we started to talk on the phone and go watch players for recruiting purposes.

One debate we had was he was recruiting Ashton Gibbs and Jordan Theodore. But he could only take one. He liked Gibbs and I liked Theodore. We went on about that until Gibbs chose Pitt and Theodore, Seton Hall. Early on in their careers Gibbs was the better player, but that was because of Pitt's roster which was superior. But by the player's senior year Pitt was not good and SHU was better and Theodore had by far the better season.

But that is just a footnote with this post.

After Billet's first year at SHU there were rumors that he was leaving to coach CBA. Those rumors were hurting Billet so he called me to say he was 100% not leaving and to post it on the board so he didn't lose any recruits. I did and a couple of days later he took the job at CBA. That made me the laughing stock on the RU board and of course ours as well. But I could not defend myself without throwing Billet under the bus, so I said nothing.

The part that really upset me though was he would not take my phone calls or answer my emails anymore. I wasn't mad and knew from my contacts that he was offered a lot more money from the school who agreed to give him their summer camp money. Something they had never done in the past.

More than 1,200 players still in the Portal and we need 6 to fill the roster. We can find quality players, right?

Well, per EvanMiya, there are 6 X 5-Star players, 34 X 4-Star players and 323 X 3-Star players remaining. So only 40 players who can be difference-makers and about 10-12 of them will go pro or already have a deal in place.

Based on estimates it seems we've spent roughly $2-2.5 on our 7 players. If we have 6M, that would mean we could still afford to use a large chunk of the $3.5+ on 2 players and still have a decent amount left to fill the roster. But the pickings are very slim to add BE-level starters.

The 5 guys we added would make a decent supporting class if we had 2 Alpha players. Does Sha have anything up his sleeve or is he going to add a bunch of 3-stars and repeat the failed 10-man rotation strategy?

Player - Transfer Ranking - Salary estimate
PG - Budd Clark 4-star 241 - 700k
SG - AJ Staton-McCray 4-star 246 - 450k
WG - TJ Simpkins 3-star 379 - 450k
PF -Stephen Payne 3-star 477 - 400k
WG - Josh Rivera 3-star 1071 - 100k
C - Godswill 100k
G - Jahseem Felton 50k

For comparisons sake, here are the ratings of the guys we lost. Obviously we have to take the ratings with a grain of salt but they raise a question, are we getting better?

Player - Transfer Ranking
Garwey Dual 4-Star 104
Isaiah Coleman 4-Star 149
Scotty Middleton 3-Star 316
Zion Harmon 3-Star 516
Prince Aligbe 3-Star 721
Yacine Toumi 3-Star 1024
Gus Yalden 2-star 1197
Manny Okorafor 2-star 1351

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/12/middleeast/syria-sectarian-violence-un-ohcr-intl-hnk/index.html

Lost for the mostpart in the news cycle is the continued violence and deaths in Syria. Interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was supposed to conduct elections after overthrowing Assad, but that hasn't happened. Rival Muslim sects are murdering entire families and in some cases throwing bodies into the Mediterranean Sea.

👏👏👏

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No one was a better leader.....

I got there first but then eventually there were a horde of reporters who surrounded Derrick Gordon. It was in Walsh and the event was Seton Hall's Media Day.

I usually try and interview a player of (my) interest first as opposed to a star because it gives me the chance to form a relationship with the player. But not this time. I knew that Gordon, a gay basketball player, would be the first player the media wanted to talk to despite the team's star studded roster, and I was right. But getting there first ensured that I would be in position to hear everything he said.

As soon as the interview was about to begin Gordon, in a strong commanding but polite voice looked at us all and said something to the effect, gentleman, I will answer any question about being gay right now but I will not do that again during the season. Please respect that. I imm thought this young man is special, and I was right. Not many people, especially his age swarmed by media members he did not know and understanding the situation on such a delicate matter would be so comfortable but forthright under those circumstances.

During the season my initial impression proved true.

After every win and there were 25, Gordon deflected any praise. It got to the point most of the media knew not to ask questions about him, but to focus on his teammates.

Conversely when the team lost, regardless of how well or poorly he played he took ALL the blame. He never shied from any question but there was a fire in his voice, in his eyes that confirmed he and not any of his more talented teammates was the leader of the team.

Playing more sports than I can remember I had been in hundreds, maybe thousands of locker rooms and I have never seen a leader more respected, maybe even feared of disappointing a teammate than Gordon. His coach, whose biggest weakness was controlling the locker room didn't have that worry with Gordon. On the court, remember his involvement in the handshake line vs SJU? Or the many times there was a physical altercation during a game when Gordon was on the court? You did not mess with Derrick. He was a man's man and I cannot think of an SHU player I have ever respected more than he.

The following season I was talking to Tony Bozzella who I knew had a talented roster that same season but one that lacked discipline and I told him a shame you didn't have a female version of Gordon in your locker room. He said amen to that. Maybe the best I have ever seen.

Know someone who was scheduled to interview for an open assistant position but it was canceled because that assistant is staying

The positive part: most inside industry people told person to go for the job because there is no real thought Sha is any kind of trouble for any foreseeable future..it’s the thought of our power players that this has been a total lack of resources given and he’ll be given loads of time..so it’s not career suicide to join his staff

Negative side: it seems Sha has an even worse rep now with lots of the industry than before, with many thinking he is widely incompetent and we have no shot

Over the years I have attended several road games and have bought tickets through every Big East school except Creighton. This year every one of these schools has approached me about giving to support the team’s NIL Fund. Some of them, including Providence and SJU have sent me multiple requests. They are very professionally done and do not come across as crass nor overbearing. They make the approaches I receive from SHU to appear sophomoric in comparison. I feel like we are trying to win a war with a water pistol. We need better leadership and better marketing to improve our outcomes.

Who will be the starting 4 for SHU in 2025/26?

Revenue down 4 percent...CW has exploded with live sports

During the draft combine, an eye-opening revelation was made about Bailey that could impact how teams view him. While he was listed as 6'10 by Rutgers for the 2024-25 campaign, he ended up measuring in at 6'7 1/2 while standing barefoot, which is a significant decrease from the height many teams initially believed him to be.

"Rutgers' Ace Bailey's official measurements from the NBA Draft Combine: 6'7 1/2 barefoot, 202.8 lbs with a 7'0 ½" wingspan and 8'11" standing reach," Jonathan Givony of ESPN reported on Monday.

This one was both weird and funny.

It was no secret that Gonzo and AD Joe Quinn absolutely hated each other. Both went out of their way to make life miserable for each other. In Quinlan's case he worked with his compliance woman (forgot her name) to act as his eyes and ears to do everything possible not only to ensure that Gonzo did not break any rules but also to get evidence to fire him.

One day I got word that a recruit was on campus working out in Walsh. The staff could not watch that workout as it was against NCAA rules. I also heard that the workout/pickup game was open to anyone who wanted to watch. I called the staff and asked if I could watch and was told yes. I also asked if I could bring PirateSal with me and again was told yes. Thus we met on campus and went inside the gym where there were about 200 people (mostly students) watching the pickup game. Sal and I stayed in the upper deck with a few students so we didn't cause any issues.

Turns out the compliance officer was walking around the gym to ensure that the staff wasn't there and also to confirm the blinds were closed in their offices. All of a sudden she spotted us and I told Sal just be cool as I'm sure she was going to tell us to leave. She did, so we just went to the coaches offices and she followed. Not to complain about us but to question the assistant coaches who had their blinds open watching the game. But she did it loudly screaming at the coaches. Gonzo all of a sudden came out of his office and called her some VERY uncomplimentary words telling her to never come into the staffs rooms again and talk to his coaches in that manner. And the screaming got worst between the two before she started to leave the office yelling that if she saw any blinds open she would write up that coach.

Sal and I were stunned at the ferocity of the compliance officer and Gonzo. But then about a minute later as she went down to the gym looking at the blinds one asst coach, I will not name him, opened up his blinds completely and saw her as she looked up from below and started to do jumping jack. The place went crazy laughing.

Just incredibly bad communication by all involved showing the hatred Quinlan and his staff had toward the coaches and vice versa.

As a brand pro and a huge sports fan, it's fun when your two passions collide. The decline of Bill Belichick's "brand" has been fascinating to watch - like a trainwreck or car crash. He's become a cartoon character. Motivated me to write a piece on why he needs to take back his brand. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bill-belichick-sabotaging-his-brand-legacy-bill-field-exfhe

Just spoke to the school as I wanted to discuss the issues that many of you have here.

The expected revenue sharing bill most likely will pass this week. The judge involved is retiring and this is her last case. So she is staying until it's completed.

The school is absolutely not holding off from accepting recruits waiting on the passing of the bill but I was told it's a dead period and the staff cannot talk to players until Friday. With that said the school is expecting two commits hopefully next week from power 5 schools.

We expect to have $5M NIL money this year and will build on that number next year.

The 50Sstate Challenge will conclude midnight tonight. It will not be extended. Later this afternoon I will post states that are needed. But I will be out of the house until approx 5PM

Again, split your donation to hit all the Challenges.

If you have any questions call Niko at 973 275 6446

Only a sure. Can shoot it a bit from 3. @Fishjam has a good summary somewhere on this board of him.

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News on the streaming front..

No. 15/14 St. John’s Welcomes Providence to Madison Square Garden on Saturday
Red Storm is off to best BIG EAST start since 1984-85 and have won 13 of its last 14 games

· Web Release
· Watch (CBS Sports Network)
· Listen
· Live Stats
· Buy Tickets
· Game Notes (PDF)

QUEENS, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2025) – Following a perfect record in January for the first time in 40, the No. 15/14 St. John’s men’s basketball team (18-3, 9-1 BIG EAST) will look to ride its momentum into the next month when it hosts Providence (11-10, 5-5 BIG EAST) for “Retro Day” at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m.

The Johnnies- winners of 13 of their last 14 are currently riding a seven-game win streak and continue to reach heights unseen in Queens in decades. In the second year under Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm are currently ranked top-15 in the country, sit tied for first in the conference standings after its best BIG EAST start in 40 years and hold its best record through 21 games since the 1985-86 season.

Saturday’s contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas on the call with Ashley Ross as the sideline reporter from the World’s Most Famous Arena. Live stats will be available on RedStormSports.com.

St. John’s will host “Retro Day” on Saturday as the team will sport a throwback uniform set that complements the custom court design of the original visual identity of the Red Storm in the mid 1990’s. The jerseys feature the classic red and yellow St. John’s wordmark across the front. To purchase tickets clickhere, visit RedStormTix.com or call the box office at 1-888-GO-STORM.

An audio broadcast of the game on the LEARFIELD Red Storm Sports Network with John Minko and Brandon Tierney will also be available on a variety of platforms including the Varsity Network App, TuneIn Radio, RedStormSports.com and the St. John's Red Storm mobile app. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM radio channel 138 and via the SiriusXM App.

St. John’s locked down Georgetown on Tuesday night, 66-41, which marked the lowest scoring total ever by a Red Storm BIG EAST opponent and the lowest by any team since Nov. 26, 2010, when it limited Drake to 39. The Red Storm raced out to a 23-3 lead and were ahead by as many as 30 in in the opening half. The dominant win at Capital One Arena marked the program’s ninth straight over its longtime league rival

The Hoyas were held to 24.6 percent (14-57) shooting in Washington D.C., the lowest shooting percentage by a St. John’s opponent in 12 years. The Red Storm defense has been relentless, ranking fourth in the country in defensive efficiency allowing just 88.8 points per game per 100 possessions according to KenPomeroy.com. The Johnnies are among the cream of the crop nationally in many defensive statistics including- blocks (3rd at 6.1) rebounds (8th at 41.6), steals (15th at 9.7), turnovers forced (16th at 15.8) and scoring defense (33rd at 65.1). During BIG EAST play, the Johnnies have held opponents to just 66.1 points per game and held the opposition to 37.5 percent shooting, both marks rank atop the league.

Home has been where the wins are for the Red Storm this season, boasting a 13-0 record on homecourt, which ranks the eighth longest win streak in NCAA Division I. The Johnnies are one of the three teams in the country to carry 13 home wins or more without a loss joining Missouri (15) and San Francisco (13). In 13 contests played in New York City the Johnnies have won by double-figures 11 times and outscored opponents by 17.2 points per game.

St. John’s got through the month of January with an unscathed record of 7-0 for the first time since 1984-85. It marked just the seventh time since World War II the program has gone unbeaten in the first month of the year. The Johnnies seven consecutive conference victories mark their most in a single-season since the 2010-11 season.

RJ Luis Jr. continues to lead the Johnnies offensively, ranking fourth in the conference averaging 17.4 points per game. The Miami native has reached double-digits in 24 of his last 26 games, dating back to last season.

Kadary Richmond has continued to take a larger role over the last month, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals in 35 minutes of action per game over the squad’s seven-game winning streak.

Big man Zuby Ejiofor holds the nation’s longest active streak at 18 games with seven rebounds or more. The forward ranks third in the league logging 8.2 boards per game and ranks second nationally with 4.3 offensive rebounds per contest.

St. John’s and Providence will meet for the second time this season and the Red Storm will seek its first season sweep of its conference foe since the 2020-21 campaign. In the earlier matchup at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Dec. 20, 2024, the Johnnies trailed by as many as 16, including a 13-point halftime deficit. The squad stormed back in the latter stanza as Ejiofor sank a putback floater as time expired as the game-winner pushed the Red Storm past the Friars, 72-70.

The two charter members of the conference will square off for the 126th time on Saturday afternoon. St. John’s leads the all-time series, 67-58, and has captured 37 of 57 meetings at home, including the last two at Madison Square Garden. The two sides have met every year since 1969-70.

The Friars under the direction of second year Head Coach Kim English have won four of their last six outings. Providence holds an 11-10 overall record and a 5-5 mark in BIG EAST play. In its last contest, the squad outlasted Seton Hall on the road at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night, 69-67.

Providence is led offensively by a pair of guards in Jayden Pierre (12.9 PPG) and Bensley Joseph (12.3 PPG). Freshman forward Ryan Mela has garnered two of the last three BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards and has started each of the last five games. Fellow rookie Oswin Ernhunmwunse ranks fourth in the league averaging 1.7 blocks per game.

Saturday’s matchup marks the first of two over a four-day stretch at Madison Square Garden, as St. John’s will square off against No. 9/9 Marquette on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. on FS1. To purchase tickets as the two squads battle for the top spot in the BIG EAST, click here.

Bizarre roster construction so far

See a trend here? Only three non-P4 teams and they are big east teams UConn, St. John's and Creighton. UConn in St. John's are unicorns right now, with access to more resources than the rest of the conference. I'm not sure about Creighton.

We talk about it often, but NIL plus unrestricted transfers has created de facto free agency that benefits "big market" teams. I don't know that it can be fixed at this point, but it is ruining a lot of what was great about college basketball.

I am absolutely grateful that Connecticut is managing the new era pretty well (shout out to Dave Benedict for seeing and understanding the new landscape and getting out in front of it early), but make no mistake about it, what's going on is bad for basketball and seems tailor made to squeeze out smaller colleges from being able to compete. Note that many "football powers" seem committed to buying their way to basketball dominance.

OK officially on Giannis and KD watch

Spurs have 2 and 14 is there a multilayer deal to get Giannis to Texas?