Willard is a very good coach. I need to question whether he is aware of Willard's record in Big East games. He also stated that patience is needed as we start all sophomores. My observation is that there is an exact reason as to why we do not have any juniors or seniors in our starting line up. We have a coaching staff who is deficient at recruiting. It has been that way since day one of this present regime.
John Fanta Says...
- Thread starter SOSHU
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I wrote in another thread that it makes me sick how so-called Pirate fans are giving up on this season due to one loss, because all their past experience says this is what always happens to us. I DO NOT think the past is destined to repeat itself this year, or at least I don't think anyone has the knowledge to say that this group of players and a visibly different Kevin Willard are certain to repeat history. However on the topic of whether or not Willard is a good, or especially "very good" coach, I think the past is entirely relevant, and John (-y Come Lately) Fanta's viewpoint has to be viewed as way off base. Most of us have been suffering with Willard's obvious historical flaws for years, and while I am willing to believe he can get the job done with the current team until proven otherwise, there is no way he can be said to have earned the status of "a very good coach", sorry.
Two questions:
1. Put Willard's head coaching resume blind in front of any AD other than Lyons. Is this a "very good coach"?
Coach in their 9th year
3 Years in the MAAC with a .500 conference record no post-season
5 years in the Big East with .348 conference record, one NIT post-season appearance (2nd round)
2. If we released Kevin Willard today, what high major program would be interested? Would anyone else be willing to pay 1+ million a year?
1. Put Willard's head coaching resume blind in front of any AD other than Lyons. Is this a "very good coach"?
Coach in their 9th year
3 Years in the MAAC with a .500 conference record no post-season
5 years in the Big East with .348 conference record, one NIT post-season appearance (2nd round)
2. If we released Kevin Willard today, what high major program would be interested? Would anyone else be willing to pay 1+ million a year?
I don't think I posted about who would want to come here. Just about who would want Willard. I don't know what coach would want to come here. I do, however, see other teams in the Big East with great success getting good coaches (Xavier, Villanova, Butler). Even some of our old buddies have found the right solution (Provi). We need to find the right person. I would definitely look for someone with experience at a similar type of school (and some others would be great), with a proven record.
I wish we could lure Gregg Marshall or second choice Ben Jacobson. Maybe one of the talented West Coast privates that have seen some success (Bryce Drew, Randy Bennett type guy)
I know some have mentioned some other more localish people like Mike Lonergan or Archie Miller (unlikely now that he has been so successful).
Don't know who this Jimmy guy is, but want to make something clear. Many fans have not given up. We are disappointed that the team has yet again given up, and the new hardened KW is just lost in the sidelines.
Disgusted that this same movie is on again. And I'll watch it knowing that it sucks and knowing that the ending is a foregone conclusion.
Disgusted that this same movie is on again. And I'll watch it knowing that it sucks and knowing that the ending is a foregone conclusion.
I have been pretty optimistic about seton hall. But willard had lost the team. If you don't see that maybe you are the troll. Is willard paying you to post here and tell everyone that everything is alright?
Too much talent on this team not to dance. And the talent is young. Mutiny ain't cool, but willard has lost the team and the time to save it is running out!
I would argue saying we are deficient at recruiting is not true, well at least it is not in my opinion. In fact, I would venture to say this is the most talent we have had on a hall team top to bottom since the eddie griffin/Andrew Barrett years.
Deficiency overall, was addressed in 2014 I think. If you consider inability to recruit = unable to attract top talent to your team. Willard may have used... unconventional means, but he got 5 star and 4 star talent to the roster. That's to his credit.
But, we have continually had problems recruiting for particular positions. I'm thinking the 1 and the 5. We've had years without a PG, and even Whitehead was a SG trying to get bred into a PG for the next level. We still have not had a competent 5 brought in. Willard has continually had to settle for 6'8 PFs playing Center on our team, which (I think) has hurt his ULouisville plans of popping constant 3s with a 7 footer underneath to clean up.
Additionally, he seems to recruit many "under the radar" kids with poor ratings who play little or not at all and transfer out after a year or two. It's basically a waste for both the player and the roster. That has been consistent over pretty much all 6 years, but I won't start naming names since I know people are sensitive about that practice.
The last time we had a PG was Jordan Theodore. You need a guy dishing 6 to 7 assists every game, and he got there by his senior year. I'm hoping IW gets there by the end of this year. IW has the talent, and now just needs to work on the instinct. Gibbs only averaged around 4.3, just like IW now. You have to shed that shoot first instinct, which then frees you up later in the game to "get yours".
AD, Teague, and Pope were all the chief rebounding threats, but they are also all undersized centers. If you can't get them help from the rest of the team you really aren't going to beat other good teams who "team rebound". Angel has been disappointing this season. I hope he can pull out of it and get on the boards like last year's rookie POY.
I am not sure I agree with the PG comment as Gibbs was a pretty solid PG. But fair enough being that he was a transfer.
Xavier & Butler coaches are ex assts at their respected schools promoted from within. (SHA) ?
Big Difference is that those assistants came from winning programs. Let's face it, Sha has not had the best mentors. At this level you don't hire an assistant coach from a loser head coaching tree. Sorry, Sha has to go find his way at a low level D-1 school first. Quite frankly, he should not be considered even though he is a legendary player. He is tainted by Willard.
Can we trade Pat for ball? Let's get Ericw and Dan together; ball called Willard a "shitbum" a couple of years back, and he appears to have been correct.
As far as PJ goes, that was given some serious thought before hiring Willard. We were desperate to make "the right" hire, and I know that PJ was contacted.
Somebody should ask Fanta how many more years Willard deserves and why. Would love to know that answer.
That would be interesting. He kept insisting Gibbs was coming back up until the day he wasn't.
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