This guy needed to find a way to get done what was obvious and necessary. I do not care what it would have cost. His lack of leadership and action will ultimately cost us way more than any buyout. Our flagship program is burning and Lyons refuses to even attempt to put out the fire. This guy may shake hands with some, smile at others and ham it up like a real champ. However, his inaction leads me to believe that he is a real inefficient chump.
Lyons: The Paper Tiger
- Thread starter SOSHU
- Start date
All I keep hearing is that Lyons is the greatest AD the university has ever had. I don't follow any other sports at the university besides men's basketball. Men's basketball is the flagship program of the university. The last time we saw Lyons was when we got crushed by Marquette at the Garden and then he wrote a piece in a newsletter about the various sports at Seton Hall. I don't know if he is hiding under a rock or is hoping this is going to blow over soon. You would think he would say something about the state of the men's program. The men's basketball program is the laughing stock of the league. Yet, the AD is no where to be found.
Apparently, Lyons does a good job of raising money. But at Seton Hall, you are ultimately judged by the basketball program. I don't care if Lyons has done an extraordinary job in every aspect of his job. But his one failure is the Men's basketball coach and program. He is beholden to the "man with 1000 excuses" for a job. By not firing him this year, Lyons has failed at his job period.
We had a guy from West Point who was second in line for the AD job. Cant remember his first name but last name was Marshall. A real good guy but a tough SOB. That's why SHU didn't hire him. Scardy cats ... Honestly. If he was here Willard would be out on his as long ago meaning right after this season was over. No nonsense guy who the Cadets loved. But like I said all business. Would have been a great hire. Also didn't hire him because Willard wanted Lyons. So he again screwed us. This has become a miserable program. Never thought the school would let this happen.
He may have been a home run hire we dont know but I live by and deal with West Point quite often and they have their fair share of incompetence at every level. Especially athletics so I don't know if him being from West Point should have given him an advantage in and of itself
If Lyons was in fact such a great fundraiser, he should have worked his tail off to raise the necessary money to get rid of Willard. Deep down he would be truly ignorant to believe that our program would not be in worse shape a year from now. Quite frankly I am very surprised that we have not had any other transfers with this team. The writing is on the wall and Lyons has failed in every way imaginable regarding this issue.
Last edited:
That's exactly the issue. Lyon's hands are tied because of Willard's huge buyout this year. I don't know who is to blame for the contract extension and buyout clause in Willard's contract. Those responsible for the Willard contract debacle should be shot.
He the AD candidate Marshall is a good man and a tough and loyal person when it comes to his school. I didn't mean he was a great candidate just because he is at West Point. That's where he happened to work. I was talking about the person and how in my opinion would have gotten much better results. Also I feel since whoever in the administration signed off on this extension it is the schools fault. This is serious. We are in deep trouble here. I know you all ostly know this but wow this is supposed to be our FLAGSHIP PROGRAM. Whats happened is tough to take to say the least.
fanatic44, from what I've seen the only people that have lauded Lyons with the over the top, undeserved praise (as opposed to the fair praise he DOES deserve for some of the things he's gotten right since he came here) are those who have enjoyed direct access to him & privileges due to him b/c of their position or amount of $ donated.
Those who are not pollyanna's or have some weird love affair with all things SHU (and talk as such on here, probably out of an inflated feeling of nostalgia) have treated his tenure as it appears: middling at best.
Those who are not pollyanna's or have some weird love affair with all things SHU (and talk as such on here, probably out of an inflated feeling of nostalgia) have treated his tenure as it appears: middling at best.
Lyons has laid the groundwork for us to be pre-eminent in many sports. And that is happening. But he's in a real bind with men's basketball. If we pay KW the 3 million or whatever dumb number it is, it has to come from someplace. And we'd get nothing in return right now.
Perhaps the prudent thing is to sacrifice next season- which he has done- and at the same time look hard at the whole program and figure out who would be the best person and staff to lead it long term.
In the meantime, I think Pat should address the issue publicly and say it straight. " We have a contractual obligation to KW which we cannot get out of, so he's has to be our coach for the next season" . That might quell some of the angst out there.
Perhaps the prudent thing is to sacrifice next season- which he has done- and at the same time look hard at the whole program and figure out who would be the best person and staff to lead it long term.
In the meantime, I think Pat should address the issue publicly and say it straight. " We have a contractual obligation to KW which we cannot get out of, so he's has to be our coach for the next season" . That might quell some of the angst out there.
Actually, I think they stayed away from Gene Marshall because he was fired by Ramapo College after he proved himself to be the laughing stock of the NJAC. It's a while ago now, and I've forgotten the particulars, but let's just say he didn't distinguish himself, no matter what his SID-spun bio says. Guy was a fool.
Now Batts, when you say a guy should be shot, you know what you are talking about? Now come over here and shine my shoes!
But wait, piratehall, who didn't know Marshall's full name, says he's a good guy.
This is the problem you end up with when you risk it with these kind of situations between a HC/AD, especially after the AD is hired AFTER the HC and the two are buddies and previously worked together.
When it works, great. When it doesn't, you get blurred accountability.
Impossible for anyone to segregate what's going on. Nobody can rule out the old buddy system is in place. That's the problem. Regardless of how well Lyons has improved other areas.
Everyone wanted Willard to succeed. I've been rooting my ass off for this team and was beyond jacked when we started out well this year. But look at this disaster. Willard has failed as a HC for 5 years. There's no way to justify what's gone on here. And they don't even come out and say anything. Ever.
You either let the story run you or you change the narrative. So dysfunction is the story.
When it works, great. When it doesn't, you get blurred accountability.
Impossible for anyone to segregate what's going on. Nobody can rule out the old buddy system is in place. That's the problem. Regardless of how well Lyons has improved other areas.
Everyone wanted Willard to succeed. I've been rooting my ass off for this team and was beyond jacked when we started out well this year. But look at this disaster. Willard has failed as a HC for 5 years. There's no way to justify what's gone on here. And they don't even come out and say anything. Ever.
You either let the story run you or you change the narrative. So dysfunction is the story.
I have never met Pat Lyons in person nor have I ever received any personal favors or gifts from him so my feelings are purely based on a lot of circumstantial evidence.I have been in my career outvoted and had to fall on the sword because the CEO made a decision and I was sworn to secrecy. I was upfront and candid in why I thought the decision was wrong but had to get hit from all sides with tough and at times unfair criticism. Without anymore than instincts I believe that this is the case with Lyons. My gut tells me that he knows Willard is a disaster and if he had the green light he would have paid the outrageous buyout to save the program.He is to saavy not to see that Willard has none of the skills to be successful at this level.
