Is a firm like Parker Executive Search right for Seton Hall?

[JIMSOULS]

This headhunting firm's name is popping up in quite a few college basketball "coaching search" stories, including the ones at DePaul and Fordham. Although they're new to me, apparently this has been going on for several years, as their services were utilized by Oklahoma when they hired Jeff Capel back in 2006 (see linked story from 2013). They were also involved in Buffalo's search two years ago when the school hired Bobby Hurley.

I'm not sure what to make of it. While I understand that college basketball is big business, hiring a headhunter to assist with the hiring of a coach seems a bit impersonal to me. I thought that was solely the responsibility of the athletic director. Should this be the route Seton Hall takes whenever (if ever?) they decide to replace Willard?

Need a coach? There's a firm for that

 

[Shuathelete]

We need as many 3rd parties to run our program as possible. Cant do it organically, apparently.

But do you really think we'd shell out for a head hinting firm when we already wont shell out to make an open position for said head hunting firm?

 

[HALL85]

Is that the firm RU engaged to recruit Julie Hermann? lol

Seriously a search firm is only going to do what the organization tells them. They will not fix or overcompensate for our leadership problems; just make it worse. They will not solve the problems.

 

[jimmyd36]

Hey us headhunters are people too! The Julie Herman thing would be tough to catch for any search firm. I think in athletics a search firm is needed for an AD search because few presidents have a line on "up and coming" AD's (yes the top 20-30 AD's are know). For ,let's call
them 2nd tier Div 1 schools and below (Buffalo for example), a search firm is a valuable tool to navigate the waters for a national search as there are sooo many options. If a school, like SHU, wants a "big name coach" or assistant you can find those on your own. But keep in mind we typically change 25%, know how to negotiate salaries (this can save a ton of money- essentially pay the fee) and we can engage passive candidates without the need to "ask permission". My retention rate is exceptionally high but coaching is one place historic performance is no indicative of success. This Parker firm seems less strategic btw (they seem like more of a data service) as she stresses they leave it up to the school to hire (and their fees seem low). I not only present candidates, I along w my clients select who gets hired. It's the best job in the world btw.

I need to hire an intern if anyone wants to learn my craft!

 

[HALL85]

jimmy, I think a search firm can be extremely valuable depending on the position and the objectives of the organization.

As you indicated, for a HC position for D1 BB, these are pretty public opportunities and most coaches have agents that should be doing some of the recon on open jobs and making connections. They also can be effective as a "go-between" on negotiating salary and packages like you said. (Maybe we should have hired a firm to help negotiate Willard's extension, because our leadership obviously vomited all over that one!).

The bigger issue I see happening with SHU is similar to what occurred with RU. SHU at this point hiring a search firm is like putting lipstick on a pig. If you have a dysfunctional BOR, President, AD group, a search firm is only going to further camouflage the dysfunction. (and they will be the perfect scapegoat if the new coach is F'd up). The RU BOR and Barchi are a joke...so you had a search firm that did what they were supposed to do and the process got hijacked anyway. My advice...a search firm is not a fix for what ails us.

 

[hallgrad80]

Does anyone have a worse track record then SH in hiring head basketball coaches which would suggest to me that having a search firm assist in the search can be useful IF you hire the right firm to do the job.I've dealt with search firms in the past , like Russell Reynolds , but in the final analysis it's still your choice of who you select from the pool of candidates the search firm finds for you so you still have to get it right.

This post was edited on 3/25 8:31 AM by hallgrad80

This post was edited on 3/25 8:32 AM by hallgrad80

 

[Save Continental]

I can tell you fur sure that Seton Hall doesn't need a headhunter to identify BH or DH as a stud head coaching candidate...save that money for the coach.

 

[HALL85]

80, I understand your point, but I've worked with RR, Spencer Stuart, Korn Ferry, Heidrick, DHR etc. The firm is only as good as the direction you give them...hiring a HC is very different than an AD or other position that is not as public in terms of actions and performance (I.e. coaching record, NCAA wins, etc.). The pool is small, quite visible and every coach has an agent. It's not like we're scouring the country for an assistant or D3 coach. Anyone they find we should know about already.

Maybe we should have hired a firm to do a personality and psychological profile for the last few coaches...that would have been money well spent.

 

[hallgrad80]

85
You're right in what you say especially about the client defining the qualifications of the candidate to fill your open position. With respect to searches for head basketball coaches the pool of candidates will be defined primarily by the compensation package the school is willing to spend. For a school like Alabama, compensation is never an issue , for SH it is a major one .

 

[HALL85]

Originally posted by hallgrad80:
85
You're right in what you say especially about the client defining the qualifications of the candidate to fill your open position. With respect to searches for head basketball coaches the pool of candidates will be defined primarily by the compensation package the school is willing to spend. For a school like Alabama, compensation is never an issue , for SH it is a major one .

Exactly, but that's where the agents come in...don't get me wrong, SHU should have a range of comp package to float out, but that's a conversation Lyons can have with any agent (that will thin the herd for sure)

 

[Bobbie Solo]

I am shocked, just shocked, that jimmy made this about himself.

 

[jimmyd36]

Maybe its just me and a few other fans but the best part about posting
on this board is the ability to sit at home, type a
thought, tweaking it and think "I bet with this comment I can turn the
screws to xyz poster". I almost sprinkled in that post "I honestly
think the BOR and School have taken the right approach to retaining
Willard" but that would have been like fishing with dynamite and what
fun is that!

 

[boatshu]

I'm all about pushing people buttons, but when you do it online vs in person you are a troll.

 

[dcPirate]

Originally posted by jimmyd36:
Maybe its just me and a few other fans but the best part about posting
on this board is the ability to sit at home, type a
thought, tweaking it and think "I bet with this comment I can turn the
screws to xyz poster". I almost sprinkled in that post "I honestly
think the BOR and School have taken the right approach to retaining
Willard" but that would have been like fishing with dynamite and what
fun is that!

If running a recruiting firm is what you do for a living, I would think/hope you are able to determine (in this case after 5 years of information) whether someone is an effective or ineffective leader.

 

[jimmyd36]

Boat I am 99% sure pushing buttons is what this board has become the last month or so... With the "bumps" and outright venomous posts here. I only think it is a troll when your target your fun at the 90% of the respectable posters here that, although they might post a view or an opinion that is not your own, you see their point and engage in constructive dialogue. This board was also a favorite place of mine to read about the team, school, various sports, etc. Now its been taken over by maybe 10 or so people that deserve a little poke from the troll under the bridge...

 

[SPK145]

jimmyd,

I feel like the Seton Hall administration, when it comes to the current situation with the mens basketball program, reminds me of a quote from your favorite book: 'If you are going to eat shit, don't nibble!!"

 

[jimmyd36]

awesome! SPK I am totally unblocking you. You've been blocked on my feed for like a year which is like a badge of honor I hope...

 

[SPK145]

Originally posted by jimmyd36:
awesome! SPK I am totally unblocking you. You've been blocked on my feed for like a year which is like a badge of honor I hope...

Um, how could you have seen my post then if I was on Ignore????

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Originally posted by SPK145:

Originally posted by jimmyd36:
awesome! SPK I am totally unblocking you. You've been blocked on my feed for like a year which is like a badge of honor I hope...

Um, how could you have seen my post then if I was on Ignore????

Flnj = Jimmy the D

just kidding

 

[chickenbox]

Originally posted by SPK145:

Originally posted by jimmyd36:
awesome! SPK I am totally unblocking you. You've been blocked on my feed for like a year which is like a badge of honor I hope...

Um, how could you have seen my post then if I was on Ignore????

Because he's the president of an executive search firm, makes large annual donations to Pirate Blue, travels to away games and appears on halftime shows, is divorced (divorcing?) from his wife who is taking half his money, drives an F150, and doesn't live in/above his parents' garage.

This post was edited on 3/25 3:33 PM by chickenbox

 

[knowknow456]

Originally posted by phi_pirates:

Flnj = Jimmy the D

just kidding

Now that is the definition of fishing with dynamite

 

[jimmyd36]

I like to think of myself as an entrepreneur, a small business owner or just a man of the people (my Raptor grounds me)... President sounds way too pretentious even for me

 

[donnie_baseball]

Originally posted by jimmyd36:
I like to think of myself as an entrepreneur, a small business owner or just a man of the people (my Raptor grounds me)... President sounds way too pretentious even for me

You got the 5.4 liter in that thing? If you do, you'll be seeing the President of your local greasemonkeys sooner than later.

 

[jimmyd36]

Donnie it's a 6.2L , a guy like me needs to over compensate everywhere...

 

[HALL85]

Originally posted by jimmyd36:
Boat I am 99% sure pushing buttons is what this board has become the last month or so... With the "bumps" and outright venomous posts here. I only think it is a troll when your target your fun at the 90% of the respectable posters here that, although they might post a view or an opinion that is not your own, you see their point and engage in constructive dialogue. This board was also a favorite place of mine to read about the team, school, various sports, etc. Now its been taken over by maybe 10 or so people that deserve a little poke from the troll under the bridge...

Maybe it seems like those 10 people have taken over the board, because the mass exodus of posters has left 20 or so total. Driving away Pirate Crew Posters and driving away fans...will be easy to get a seat at the Rock next year.