The Eternal "Who's the Worst SJU Coach" Debate

Beasts of the East said:
1) Mullin DID move back to New York full time, buying a house in Manhasset for his family. Due to a family issue, they decided that his wife would move to the Bay Area with their youngest child, and Chris would live in NY. I spoke to Chris about this and his full intention was for his wife to move to NY with him when that kid started college. He added that his two sons lived in the NYC area and loved it here. Chris thought it was no big deal since as an nba player, constantly traveled away from home. Error on his part.

2) Chris had 3 AD's his first three years, and as a result had almost no oversight and guidance that may have avoided missteps.

3) Hiring Slice was a gigantic mistake, but everyone on here thought we stole him from Calipari. What idiot at St. John's would approve a 6 year guarantee with no buyout for an assistant? Answer: The same idiot who extended CMA 4 years with 2 remaining, in essence a 6 year guaranteed deal at 4x Slice salary.

4) Bobby G. Pinched pennies. So you fire Slice but no one was there to demand they hire an associate head coach to replace. So they saved on an assistant and it hurt on the court, especially with a newbie head coach.

5) Yes, Lavin set the precedent by hiring a special assistant. His was a 6 time national coach of the year, Gene Keady. Mullin's special assistant was a former NBA all star who also never coached before. Again, no AD to give pushback.

6) Mullin's tenure then was immediately compromised by a family situation that became bi-coastal, and over his final 2 years the fatal illness of his best friend and older brother.

5) Chris never realized the coaching in college is a 12 month a year, crazy bevy of responsibilities. Pitino assembled a great staff, all of whom have considerable authority and responsibility. Mullin had Greg and Matt (who never played so really didnt coach) and Richmond, who wasn't permitted to spesk in the huddle.

I'm sorry for all of this, Mullin was bashed on here and on twitter by fans as lazy and inept. Greg St. Jean, universally praised here with good reason once told me that Chris has the best basketball mind of anyone he ever knew (which includes Don Nelson and his own Dad). Terrence once confided to me, "Chris hates losing. This is tearing him apart ".

Failed as a college coach, yes.
Made mistakes that could have been corrected, yes.
Unfortunate family situations hampering him, yes.

Lazy, stupid, and whatever other invectives based on fans perceptions of his knowledge or efforts - mostly way off.

I'm in Rick's camp on this and see Carmine's point.

Chris is the greatest player we've ever had, and hopefully we see him at a game soon. Rick is rolling the red carpet out and I know all of u would welcome that.
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I think your post hits on the two things I felt about the Mullin hire from beginning to the end.

He didn't know what the job entailed, beyond the x's and o's stuff, nor how to do it. Knew from the start it was a disaster waiting to happen especially as the staff was assembled. A mix of inexperience and a bag man with no bags. Still the greatest STJ player of course and should be honored as such.

That said Mahoney and Jarvis would lead my hindsight is 20/20 list as worst hires as well as I would take into account expectations vs. results. What they inherited vs. what they left behind in their wake.
 
austour said:
I think your post hits on the two things I felt about the Mullin hire from beginning to the end.

He didn't know what the job entailed, beyond the x's and o's stuff, nor how to do it. Knew from the start it was a disaster waiting to happen especially as the staff was assembled. A mix of inexperience and a bag man with no bags. Still the greatest STJ player of course and should be honored as such.

That said Mahoney and Jarvis would lead my hindsight is 20/20 list as worst hires as well as I would take into account expectations vs. results. What they inherited vs. what they left behind in their wake.
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Didn't Mahoney leave more than what he inherited ? Felipe Zendon ?
 
I'm talking about game strategy, no idea when or who to substitute, when to call a timeout (especially at the end of the game when you have a chance to win), basic clock management, I can go on if you want. Plus, even though a lot of people characterized him as a nice guy?

Norm
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austour said:
I'm talking about the general state of the program, not specific players. His first year was his best, but there was a lot of Lou carryover in the players, effort and coaching. After that losing seasons, losing attitude.
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If he could have recruited a Boo Harvey or Barkley type to go with Felipe and Zendon, he might still be here. That was his biggest failing. Looked great with David Cain.
 
austour said:
I'm talking about the general state of the program, not specific players. His first year was his best, but there was a lot of Lou carryover in the players, effort and coaching. After that losing seasons, losing attitude.
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People did think at the tine that when Lou retired, Mahoney was left with a bad team. His first season was a big surprise.
 
Just a sad thread in light of the year the team is having. The hypocrisy of this fan base, like all fan bases, is clear when posters come on insisting Lavin’s shortcomings should be understood and treated with kid gloves due to his personal situations (taking opinions from other threads) but Mullin’s should be vilified, ignoring different but similar circumstances.
One other Mullin point; his background after retiring was as an administrator, not a hands on coach; for better or worse, that’s what he did, proving Austor’s IMO, that he didn’t understand the job nor how to do it.
 
Almost 16 years ago the Johnnies were blown out by Syracuse at MSG by over 25 from what i recall. During the game the cheer squad threw 6th man t shiirts into the stand the Cuse fans threw the shirts back on to the garden floor and subsequently chanted Lets go Orange. The crowd was 75/25 Syracuse advantage. The chant was loud, obnoxious, deafening.

To me that single moment was the worst feeling as a lifelong sju fan,alumnus, to be embarrased, insulted and shamed on your home court was worse than the Pitt scandal and ensuing fallout.

The insult was visceral, real, in your face. Norm’s team failed to compete, it was a timid, scared, unprepared, deer in the headlights embarrasment of an effort that night and that season.

That moment crystalized how far the program had fallen more than anything else. February 24,2009 the worst moment in sju hoops history.


After that debacle Norm was able to squander another year out of SJU and the great Fr Donald J Harrington.
 
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