As we did last summer when there was virtually no basketball news and as we now await the hopeful start of the AAU season in some form I will post some of our more popular stories from our archives. I'll do this during slow news days as to keep the Trove as active as possible.
August 26 2020
By Halldan
Hank D'Alessandro addresses 5 topics regarding Seton Hall athletics and more.....
Q. The Practice facility
A. Here is what I’m 100% confident saying; (1) the practice facility is a strategic imperative for Seton Hall and (2) it will be a first class facility. Seton Hall will absolutely have a practice facility in the medium term. Details are still in process so I can’t address specific questions as many pieces are still moving. Our fans and alumni can help accelerate the timing of this project by donating towards this critical initiative now. Donations of all sizes are much appreciated and I ask everyone to consider making a bequest.
There will be a formal capital campaign but there is no reason to delay. We need everyone to participate.
Q. Dr Nyre and Pat Lyons
A. To be fully transparent, I played no role in the decision to hire Pat Lyons. I met him only after he was hired. I was immediately struck by his vision, energy and leadership. I was convinced that he would be a highly effective executive. Credit is due to Pat Hobbs who hired Lyons; he also hired Kevin Willard so his record at Seton Hall is enviable. We all owe Pat Hobbs a large debt of gratitude for both hires- two of the best ever in the history of the school!
With respect to Dr Nyre, I played a very small role. I had the opportunity to meet Dr Nyre before he became our President and was impressed by his strategic thinking, managerial skills and leadership. I was thrilled when he agreed to lead our University. We are fortunate and blessed that Dr Nyre is our President during this extraordinarily difficult period for higher education. He will transform Seton Hall and simultaneously strengthen our Catholic Mission. He is the right leader at the right time.
Dr Nyre and Pat Lyons are two of the most capable executives that I have met during my 35 year career, and I have met with untold management teams.
Q. Financial position
A. It is an unmistakably difficult period for higher education. No school is immune. The fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 and moving forward it will be a challenge for Seton Hall.
That said, I’m grateful for the strategic planning and execution of a Covid plan by Dr Nyre and his entire Cabinet. Difficult decisions were made and multiple contingency plans were developed.
I’m proud of our University’s leadership for controlling things within their control. They were front-footed in dealing with leaders within the State of NJ and beyond. Dr Nyre’s leadership was extraordinary.
Due to prudent financial management, the University is well positioned to weather this difficult period. Seton Hall’s strong investment grade ratings were recently affirmed in connection with the Bond offering. Again, Dr Nyre advocated that the University access the capital markets as soon as possible post Covid to insure financial stability and liquidity.
No one wants sports canceled in 20-21, least of all me. Regardless of the outcome, Seton Hall will be fine. I’m confident that our Administration will place student-athlete well being before any other consideration, so if games are canceled (I have no knowledge that they will be), I will take solace from the fact that thoughtful professionals made the best decision.
I’m praying for Big East hoops this year!
Q. You have headed the Athletic Committee for 10 years, what have been the biggest changes you have witnessed?
A. I was appointed to my position by Msgr. Sheeran during a period of transition. Bobby Gonzalez was the head coach, Joe Quinlan was the AD, and Pat Hobbs oversaw athletics. Competitive success was at a modern-time nadir and our facilities were very subpar.
Like in any enterprise, leadership is critical. The then Chairman, Pat Murray, was highly supportive of change. Pat Hobbs hired Kevin Willard and Pat Lyons; these were historic and transformative hires.
Pat Lyons spent a lot of time educating Regents- he encouraged and facilitated tours of other BE schools’ facilities.Today I can admit that, post these tours, I was surprised that Seton Hall could effectively recruit players for any sport. The comparison was beyond sobering and even borderline depressing.
Under the leadership of Lyons and Murray, the University invested massively in terms of facilities and budgets. Fundraising grew in turn from a very low base, but alas we remain well below our peers.
Today our facilities, save our men's basketball practice facility, are highly competitive among our peers. Unfortunately, the arms race seems only to accelerate.
The professionalism of our current athletic leadership has never been better. Bryan Felt will do a fantastic job as our AD, and by the way, was Lyon’s chief lieutenant during our athletic renaissance.
I want to highlight the historic job that Kevin Willard has performed. He took over a troubled program, with poor facilities and a long drought in winning. In ten short years, he owns a number of records and hopefully, after he retires many years from now, he will hold virtually every coaching record. He recruits high quality athletes, insists on academic excellence, represents the University superbly, and wins. I’m grateful for his leadership, passion and professionalism.
As an extreme Seton Hall fan, I was fortunate to have an insider’s view of its athletic renaissance. I was able to see enormous progress being made well in advance of such progress translating into more wins. Most fans would be shocked at how hard Willard, Lyons, Felt and many others work. Success was no accident.
I could continue for a long time and certainly don’t intend to ignore other sports but I recognize that the readership here is focused on men’s basketball. Many, many others have contributed to our shared success but it is not practical to name everyone. I thank all of them.
Q. Thoughts about the return of UConn to the Big East?
A. I am thrilled. It is a win for the Big East and for UConn. Coincidentally, I am a colleague of the Chairman of UConn’s Board so I am looking forward to giving him a hard time when we beat them this season.
Given the desire for a 20 game conference schedule, an 11th team was inevitable. No team remotely brings the history, tradition and brand that UConn offers.
Some observers state that the NBE is not the same as the OBE and that is true. However, the most dominant teams pre the NBE were Georgetown and UConn, with each winning 7 BET titles. Third is Nova I believe with 5 and no other Big East program has won more.
It seems to me the NBE is certainly comprised with teams that hold the vast majority of all the BET championships.
I love our new conference as it is stable, has member alignment and it is a true conference rather than a media rights consortium.
This conference will only get better. UConn will raise the bar for Seton Hall and that is a good thing. The NY media attention will be intense with Seton Hall, St John's and UConn in the same league and again that is terrific for the conference and for Seton Hall. I believe that the next Big East Tournament will be the hottest conference tournament ticket ever.
I can’t wait to get back to the Garden!
Part 2 to follow Thursday
August 26 2020
By Halldan
Hank D'Alessandro addresses 5 topics regarding Seton Hall athletics and more.....
Q. The Practice facility
A. Here is what I’m 100% confident saying; (1) the practice facility is a strategic imperative for Seton Hall and (2) it will be a first class facility. Seton Hall will absolutely have a practice facility in the medium term. Details are still in process so I can’t address specific questions as many pieces are still moving. Our fans and alumni can help accelerate the timing of this project by donating towards this critical initiative now. Donations of all sizes are much appreciated and I ask everyone to consider making a bequest.
There will be a formal capital campaign but there is no reason to delay. We need everyone to participate.
Q. Dr Nyre and Pat Lyons
A. To be fully transparent, I played no role in the decision to hire Pat Lyons. I met him only after he was hired. I was immediately struck by his vision, energy and leadership. I was convinced that he would be a highly effective executive. Credit is due to Pat Hobbs who hired Lyons; he also hired Kevin Willard so his record at Seton Hall is enviable. We all owe Pat Hobbs a large debt of gratitude for both hires- two of the best ever in the history of the school!
With respect to Dr Nyre, I played a very small role. I had the opportunity to meet Dr Nyre before he became our President and was impressed by his strategic thinking, managerial skills and leadership. I was thrilled when he agreed to lead our University. We are fortunate and blessed that Dr Nyre is our President during this extraordinarily difficult period for higher education. He will transform Seton Hall and simultaneously strengthen our Catholic Mission. He is the right leader at the right time.
Dr Nyre and Pat Lyons are two of the most capable executives that I have met during my 35 year career, and I have met with untold management teams.
Q. Financial position
A. It is an unmistakably difficult period for higher education. No school is immune. The fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 and moving forward it will be a challenge for Seton Hall.
That said, I’m grateful for the strategic planning and execution of a Covid plan by Dr Nyre and his entire Cabinet. Difficult decisions were made and multiple contingency plans were developed.
I’m proud of our University’s leadership for controlling things within their control. They were front-footed in dealing with leaders within the State of NJ and beyond. Dr Nyre’s leadership was extraordinary.
Due to prudent financial management, the University is well positioned to weather this difficult period. Seton Hall’s strong investment grade ratings were recently affirmed in connection with the Bond offering. Again, Dr Nyre advocated that the University access the capital markets as soon as possible post Covid to insure financial stability and liquidity.
No one wants sports canceled in 20-21, least of all me. Regardless of the outcome, Seton Hall will be fine. I’m confident that our Administration will place student-athlete well being before any other consideration, so if games are canceled (I have no knowledge that they will be), I will take solace from the fact that thoughtful professionals made the best decision.
I’m praying for Big East hoops this year!
Q. You have headed the Athletic Committee for 10 years, what have been the biggest changes you have witnessed?
A. I was appointed to my position by Msgr. Sheeran during a period of transition. Bobby Gonzalez was the head coach, Joe Quinlan was the AD, and Pat Hobbs oversaw athletics. Competitive success was at a modern-time nadir and our facilities were very subpar.
Like in any enterprise, leadership is critical. The then Chairman, Pat Murray, was highly supportive of change. Pat Hobbs hired Kevin Willard and Pat Lyons; these were historic and transformative hires.
Pat Lyons spent a lot of time educating Regents- he encouraged and facilitated tours of other BE schools’ facilities.Today I can admit that, post these tours, I was surprised that Seton Hall could effectively recruit players for any sport. The comparison was beyond sobering and even borderline depressing.
Under the leadership of Lyons and Murray, the University invested massively in terms of facilities and budgets. Fundraising grew in turn from a very low base, but alas we remain well below our peers.
Today our facilities, save our men's basketball practice facility, are highly competitive among our peers. Unfortunately, the arms race seems only to accelerate.
The professionalism of our current athletic leadership has never been better. Bryan Felt will do a fantastic job as our AD, and by the way, was Lyon’s chief lieutenant during our athletic renaissance.
I want to highlight the historic job that Kevin Willard has performed. He took over a troubled program, with poor facilities and a long drought in winning. In ten short years, he owns a number of records and hopefully, after he retires many years from now, he will hold virtually every coaching record. He recruits high quality athletes, insists on academic excellence, represents the University superbly, and wins. I’m grateful for his leadership, passion and professionalism.
As an extreme Seton Hall fan, I was fortunate to have an insider’s view of its athletic renaissance. I was able to see enormous progress being made well in advance of such progress translating into more wins. Most fans would be shocked at how hard Willard, Lyons, Felt and many others work. Success was no accident.
I could continue for a long time and certainly don’t intend to ignore other sports but I recognize that the readership here is focused on men’s basketball. Many, many others have contributed to our shared success but it is not practical to name everyone. I thank all of them.
Q. Thoughts about the return of UConn to the Big East?
A. I am thrilled. It is a win for the Big East and for UConn. Coincidentally, I am a colleague of the Chairman of UConn’s Board so I am looking forward to giving him a hard time when we beat them this season.
Given the desire for a 20 game conference schedule, an 11th team was inevitable. No team remotely brings the history, tradition and brand that UConn offers.
Some observers state that the NBE is not the same as the OBE and that is true. However, the most dominant teams pre the NBE were Georgetown and UConn, with each winning 7 BET titles. Third is Nova I believe with 5 and no other Big East program has won more.
It seems to me the NBE is certainly comprised with teams that hold the vast majority of all the BET championships.
I love our new conference as it is stable, has member alignment and it is a true conference rather than a media rights consortium.
This conference will only get better. UConn will raise the bar for Seton Hall and that is a good thing. The NY media attention will be intense with Seton Hall, St John's and UConn in the same league and again that is terrific for the conference and for Seton Hall. I believe that the next Big East Tournament will be the hottest conference tournament ticket ever.
I can’t wait to get back to the Garden!
Part 2 to follow Thursday
