Here's our Q&A with Seton Hall's athletic director Pat Lyons.
Pat was kind enough to take over an hour during his vacation to speak with our reporter Colin. For that we are very grateful.
Treasure Trove: What did Seton Hall’s victory in the Big East Tournament Championship game mean for the program and the school?
Pat Lyons: There are multiple answers to that because the championship did so much. Its incredible because, and I’m not just saying this since I’m the athletic director, but we have some of the greatest fans in the world – they are so passionate, they care so much about the program and the school itself. They have such an affinity to Seton Hall and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of that for the last five years. The night we won it all, seeing it first hand, I was obviously very happy but I was truly happy for our alums and our fans as well and anyone that has been a part of the Seton Hall community because it felt like it was so long overdue. It was such a great night to celebrate and be proud of the school.
Winning on the court was the moment, but outside the Garden with the band playing and having the whole street packed with Pirate Blue was incredible.
The campus was buzzing for weeks after and it still is. As soon as we won I looked at my wife and it was one of those moments where I sat down because I couldn’t believe we just did this. After that I instantly went into the stands to find as many people and board members as I could because so many people helped us get to that point in my five years trying to transform the athletic program to have moments like this.
For the program itself, it validates all of the hard work that has been put in the last six years by the coaching staff. Most of the time you don’t see what is going on behind the scenes to build a program the right way, piece by piece. We live in a microwave society where everyone wants results immediately and it is what it is, but unfortunately that doesn’t happen. It was good to see it all come together for the program to have the year that it had.
A lot of people probably had the same reaction of almost disbelief after winning because of the season the team had the year prior where we were ranked top 20 in mid-January but ended up not going the way we thought it would and because it had been so long since the school won a BIG EAST Tournament Championship.
In my professional career I don’t think I have been involved with a team or a program that underwent such a big change from one year to the next. Look at where we were in February or March of last year to February and March of this year. I am so happy for everyone involved with Seton Hall because you go your whole life sometimes and hope you get a moment like that professionally or as a fan. It’s our job now to try and create more moments like that.
We have what we feel is a setup to be successful in the future. Obviously Isaiah [Whitehead] going to the draft will impact the team, but it was great for him and the school that he was drafted – we’re excited for him. We’re also excited for next year because we return a strong core of players.
Treasure Trove: It seems like some of the pressure from the fan base was relieved because of the win at the Garden and now the real pressure of continuing to build and advance the program starts.
Pat Lyons: You know what they say, success breeds success.
Treasure Trove: What does the success of Villanova in the NCAA Tournament and the National Championship game mean for Seton Hall and the rest of the BIG EAST?
Pat Lyons: The last three seasons, after each year of this new league I said we could not be in a better position as a conference and we couldn’t have hoped for the outcomes that we were getting. Now you tie that with Nova’s run and National Championship win and it continues the statement of the new league.
When we first started people were like you know what, they don’t have football, they’re not the big football schools, they’ll be a good basketball league, but they certainly won’t be the BIG EAST that they used to be. Every year we just keep beating the odds that people don’t want to believe this reconstituted league can be one of the top conferences in the country. Nova’s win put the exclamation point on that.
It also goes back to the 10 institutions in the league, because I’ve never worked alongside 9 AD’s that are so like minded and on the same page with regards to everything. There are no issues between the AD’s – we get in a room and its pleasure to work with the other 9 institutions. When Nova won you could see on social media all the other schools being supportive and players congratulating other players. There really is a bond within the league. People look at the BIG EAST when it first started in the late '70s and within three years Georgetown made the championship game and within five years they won a National Championship. Now that the conference has done that again, it’s the defining moment of the league to know it’s the real deal.
Treasure Trove: Some casual fans probably felt the conference needed sustained success or a national championship for validation and with Nova’s win those casual fans have to begin to respect the conference and its ability to stick around and exist as a viable basketball force.
Pat Lyons: I love that I’m getting asked less and less who’s in the BIG EAST. In the conference’s first year I would get that a lot, but I don’t get that anymore.
Treasure Trove: When there was heat on Kevin Willard you chose to stay with him as head coach. Why?
Pat Lyons: At the end of every season I sit down and analyze and evaluate each athletic program, where it’s at and whether it’s going in the right direction. It all went wrong in February and March last year but being on the inside of the ropes and with the program I just felt like we were heading in the right direction. Our early success became an issue for us because no one expected us to be top 25 with a bunch of freshman. When we got into the top 25 we said ‘great we're here let’s get it and go,’ but we showed some youth and had some issues within the team that just took time to get through.
I honestly didn’t feel like a change was needed. We had a great nucleus coming back – they were all talented and worked hard. All of the other data points were moving in the right directions except the wins and losses.
Now obviously some fans probably were not happy with my direction and where the program was but people also need to realize that when you make a change at any program, in any sport, in its leadership, you can rest assured you’re putting yourself in another rebuild. It is very rare that a change takes place and things work out right away.
People were saying to me you must be getting a bunch of phone calls and e-mails and there was no shortage of people who wanted to give their opinions on the direction of the program, but I did not mind it at all. I’ve always said there’s only one thing worse than someone contacting you disgruntled and that is someone flat out not contacting you because they don’t care.
I have no problems with fans voicing their opinions as long as it is done in a respectful way. This is the business that we’ve chosen and we're in the public’s eye and every decision we make is judged in the public eye. I don’t mind that, because it is all part of the business. Maybe it is just the hockey player in me developing a thick skin.
Treasure Trove: It appears other institutions are realizing how valuable Associate Head Coach Shaheen Holloway is and are showing more interest – how do you intend to keep him content with his role to retain him moving forward?
Pat Lyons: I look at it like this, we all grow every year in our jobs and we hope to get better and make changes to improve and progress. At the end of the day Shaheen is in the business to be a head coach so were going to help him any way we can to get to that point.
There has been some interest in him and I certainly believe that will continue. I like to think at Seton Hall within the athletic department, we help people get to where they want to be in life.
With Sha wanting to be a head coach one day, we will do everything we can to help that process along. With that being said, as long as we have him here the better.
Obviously he was such a great player – I love to show people the picture of him next to Kobe [Bryant] at the McDonald’s All-American Game where he was MVP of the game because to have a legend who has come back and be on our staff and do such a great job for us is incredible. He’s fun to watch coach because even at 38 he still thinks he can lace them up and play and beat you. He’s been great recruiting because he relates to the players and he’s been great coaching because of his experience in the game.
Part 2 Wednesday.
Pat was kind enough to take over an hour during his vacation to speak with our reporter Colin. For that we are very grateful.
Treasure Trove: What did Seton Hall’s victory in the Big East Tournament Championship game mean for the program and the school?
Pat Lyons: There are multiple answers to that because the championship did so much. Its incredible because, and I’m not just saying this since I’m the athletic director, but we have some of the greatest fans in the world – they are so passionate, they care so much about the program and the school itself. They have such an affinity to Seton Hall and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of that for the last five years. The night we won it all, seeing it first hand, I was obviously very happy but I was truly happy for our alums and our fans as well and anyone that has been a part of the Seton Hall community because it felt like it was so long overdue. It was such a great night to celebrate and be proud of the school.
Winning on the court was the moment, but outside the Garden with the band playing and having the whole street packed with Pirate Blue was incredible.
The campus was buzzing for weeks after and it still is. As soon as we won I looked at my wife and it was one of those moments where I sat down because I couldn’t believe we just did this. After that I instantly went into the stands to find as many people and board members as I could because so many people helped us get to that point in my five years trying to transform the athletic program to have moments like this.
For the program itself, it validates all of the hard work that has been put in the last six years by the coaching staff. Most of the time you don’t see what is going on behind the scenes to build a program the right way, piece by piece. We live in a microwave society where everyone wants results immediately and it is what it is, but unfortunately that doesn’t happen. It was good to see it all come together for the program to have the year that it had.
A lot of people probably had the same reaction of almost disbelief after winning because of the season the team had the year prior where we were ranked top 20 in mid-January but ended up not going the way we thought it would and because it had been so long since the school won a BIG EAST Tournament Championship.
In my professional career I don’t think I have been involved with a team or a program that underwent such a big change from one year to the next. Look at where we were in February or March of last year to February and March of this year. I am so happy for everyone involved with Seton Hall because you go your whole life sometimes and hope you get a moment like that professionally or as a fan. It’s our job now to try and create more moments like that.
We have what we feel is a setup to be successful in the future. Obviously Isaiah [Whitehead] going to the draft will impact the team, but it was great for him and the school that he was drafted – we’re excited for him. We’re also excited for next year because we return a strong core of players.
Treasure Trove: It seems like some of the pressure from the fan base was relieved because of the win at the Garden and now the real pressure of continuing to build and advance the program starts.
Pat Lyons: You know what they say, success breeds success.
Treasure Trove: What does the success of Villanova in the NCAA Tournament and the National Championship game mean for Seton Hall and the rest of the BIG EAST?
Pat Lyons: The last three seasons, after each year of this new league I said we could not be in a better position as a conference and we couldn’t have hoped for the outcomes that we were getting. Now you tie that with Nova’s run and National Championship win and it continues the statement of the new league.
When we first started people were like you know what, they don’t have football, they’re not the big football schools, they’ll be a good basketball league, but they certainly won’t be the BIG EAST that they used to be. Every year we just keep beating the odds that people don’t want to believe this reconstituted league can be one of the top conferences in the country. Nova’s win put the exclamation point on that.
It also goes back to the 10 institutions in the league, because I’ve never worked alongside 9 AD’s that are so like minded and on the same page with regards to everything. There are no issues between the AD’s – we get in a room and its pleasure to work with the other 9 institutions. When Nova won you could see on social media all the other schools being supportive and players congratulating other players. There really is a bond within the league. People look at the BIG EAST when it first started in the late '70s and within three years Georgetown made the championship game and within five years they won a National Championship. Now that the conference has done that again, it’s the defining moment of the league to know it’s the real deal.
Treasure Trove: Some casual fans probably felt the conference needed sustained success or a national championship for validation and with Nova’s win those casual fans have to begin to respect the conference and its ability to stick around and exist as a viable basketball force.
Pat Lyons: I love that I’m getting asked less and less who’s in the BIG EAST. In the conference’s first year I would get that a lot, but I don’t get that anymore.
Treasure Trove: When there was heat on Kevin Willard you chose to stay with him as head coach. Why?
Pat Lyons: At the end of every season I sit down and analyze and evaluate each athletic program, where it’s at and whether it’s going in the right direction. It all went wrong in February and March last year but being on the inside of the ropes and with the program I just felt like we were heading in the right direction. Our early success became an issue for us because no one expected us to be top 25 with a bunch of freshman. When we got into the top 25 we said ‘great we're here let’s get it and go,’ but we showed some youth and had some issues within the team that just took time to get through.
I honestly didn’t feel like a change was needed. We had a great nucleus coming back – they were all talented and worked hard. All of the other data points were moving in the right directions except the wins and losses.
Now obviously some fans probably were not happy with my direction and where the program was but people also need to realize that when you make a change at any program, in any sport, in its leadership, you can rest assured you’re putting yourself in another rebuild. It is very rare that a change takes place and things work out right away.
People were saying to me you must be getting a bunch of phone calls and e-mails and there was no shortage of people who wanted to give their opinions on the direction of the program, but I did not mind it at all. I’ve always said there’s only one thing worse than someone contacting you disgruntled and that is someone flat out not contacting you because they don’t care.
I have no problems with fans voicing their opinions as long as it is done in a respectful way. This is the business that we’ve chosen and we're in the public’s eye and every decision we make is judged in the public eye. I don’t mind that, because it is all part of the business. Maybe it is just the hockey player in me developing a thick skin.
Treasure Trove: It appears other institutions are realizing how valuable Associate Head Coach Shaheen Holloway is and are showing more interest – how do you intend to keep him content with his role to retain him moving forward?
Pat Lyons: I look at it like this, we all grow every year in our jobs and we hope to get better and make changes to improve and progress. At the end of the day Shaheen is in the business to be a head coach so were going to help him any way we can to get to that point.
There has been some interest in him and I certainly believe that will continue. I like to think at Seton Hall within the athletic department, we help people get to where they want to be in life.
With Sha wanting to be a head coach one day, we will do everything we can to help that process along. With that being said, as long as we have him here the better.
Obviously he was such a great player – I love to show people the picture of him next to Kobe [Bryant] at the McDonald’s All-American Game where he was MVP of the game because to have a legend who has come back and be on our staff and do such a great job for us is incredible. He’s fun to watch coach because even at 38 he still thinks he can lace them up and play and beat you. He’s been great recruiting because he relates to the players and he’s been great coaching because of his experience in the game.
Part 2 Wednesday.
