Got a great email from one of our readers. He doesn't post but wanted to share this experience yesterday.
Normally I wouldn't post this but I was told nearly the same thing verbatim almost 2 months ago so I know the story is both truthful and accurate.
This also shows a softer side of our head coach. Not sure if he is changing or if he being in a more relaxed atmosphere is more comfortable speaking to the fan base.
This morning I was driving in Maplewood and passed a jogger who looked very familiar. Turned out to be Coach Willard. I circled around and waited for him to finish running up a hill, then simply said “hi coach!”. He came over to my car and spent 15 minutes talking to me about basketball, running and life in general. Couldn’t have been nicer or more engaging.
A couple of things he passed on:
· Team over achieved at the beginning of season last year in his mind and set up a situation that they couldn’t maintain. Coach didn’t expect as much as we did from last year’s team
· Doesn’t know where the points will come from this year until he sees the full squad on campus. Biggest concern is outside shooting.
· Feels Gordon is going to be key this year
· Loves the prospect of a great defensive team this year
· Is excited about what he has to work with
· Soffer will have to replace Sina’s outside shots, but he doesn’t expect a lot early in the season from him as he doesn't want to put pressure on the freshmen.
· Four guys from the team have been working out hard at SHU since school ended (((They would be Gordon, Whitehead, Carrington and Ish)))
· Soffer is coming in at the end of the week
· Ish isn’t going anywhere (but what else would he say). Would have liked to red shirt him last year but that could have backfired if the player gets hurt later in his career and the red shirt option is gone. He’s added a lot of strength and is getting bigger
Told him.... Coach you have to have thick skin to coach, especially at Seton Hall. He smiled.
I could have talked to him for much longer but I was interrupting his run and I didn’t want to impose any more than I did.
Reading the board sure helped me carry on an intelligent (at least I thought it was) conversation.
Normally I wouldn't post this but I was told nearly the same thing verbatim almost 2 months ago so I know the story is both truthful and accurate.
This also shows a softer side of our head coach. Not sure if he is changing or if he being in a more relaxed atmosphere is more comfortable speaking to the fan base.
This morning I was driving in Maplewood and passed a jogger who looked very familiar. Turned out to be Coach Willard. I circled around and waited for him to finish running up a hill, then simply said “hi coach!”. He came over to my car and spent 15 minutes talking to me about basketball, running and life in general. Couldn’t have been nicer or more engaging.
A couple of things he passed on:
· Team over achieved at the beginning of season last year in his mind and set up a situation that they couldn’t maintain. Coach didn’t expect as much as we did from last year’s team
· Doesn’t know where the points will come from this year until he sees the full squad on campus. Biggest concern is outside shooting.
· Feels Gordon is going to be key this year
· Loves the prospect of a great defensive team this year
· Is excited about what he has to work with
· Soffer will have to replace Sina’s outside shots, but he doesn’t expect a lot early in the season from him as he doesn't want to put pressure on the freshmen.
· Four guys from the team have been working out hard at SHU since school ended (((They would be Gordon, Whitehead, Carrington and Ish)))
· Soffer is coming in at the end of the week
· Ish isn’t going anywhere (but what else would he say). Would have liked to red shirt him last year but that could have backfired if the player gets hurt later in his career and the red shirt option is gone. He’s added a lot of strength and is getting bigger
Told him.... Coach you have to have thick skin to coach, especially at Seton Hall. He smiled.
I could have talked to him for much longer but I was interrupting his run and I didn’t want to impose any more than I did.
Reading the board sure helped me carry on an intelligent (at least I thought it was) conversation.
