2019 Coaching Changes

[quote="Section9" post=336063][quote="L J S A" post=335894][quote="Section9" post=335885]After one year on the job I don't think Cragg has the juice to force Chris to do anything, including mandating staff choices or asking Chris to step down. I think this is a critical year for both of them. Chris has the opportunity to revamp his staff with ma leaving and St.Jean supposedly going too. How he does this and how the recruiting goes, along with how the team does will be the deciding factors.

If we strike out in all three areas then we'll see if Cragg has the backing of the administration to make the big move.[/quote]

He didn't leave Duke to be a juice-less, ball-less figurehead.[/quote]

Ok, hypothetical question, Cragg demands final approval of staff changes, Chris balks, who do you think Gempesaw and his cronies back?[/quote]

This is the textbook definition of a lose-lose situation. Therefore, probably the one that will occur.
 
Happy April fellow redmen.comers. While we wait for baseball season to kick in and for Derby day to approach, things will shake out with staff/players over the next few weeks. Should be interesting and who knows, might actually end up getting better.
 
[quote="Section9" post=336063][quote="L J S A" post=335894][quote="Section9" post=335885]After one year on the job I don't think Cragg has the juice to force Chris to do anything, including mandating staff choices or asking Chris to step down. I think this is a critical year for both of them. Chris has the opportunity to revamp his staff with ma leaving and St.Jean supposedly going too. How he does this and how the recruiting goes, along with how the team does will be the deciding factors.

If we strike out in all three areas then we'll see if Cragg has the backing of the administration to make the big move.[/quote]

He didn't leave Duke to be a juice-less, ball-less figurehead.[/quote]

Ok, hypothetical question, Cragg demands final approval of staff changes, Chris balks, who do you think Gempesaw and his cronies back?[/quote]
Just my opinion, but I strongly believe the Prez & Board will support Mike Cragg’s plans within reason. They have invested in him to raise funds, stabilize Athletic Department operations and plan for the future with men’s hoops the primary driver.

My gut tells me Cragg is a very skilled communicator and motivator who may get CM’s buy in to suggested staffing. If not, hopefully the powers to be support Cragg who imo has more value to the University in the long term. They have to get this one right and not risk losing Cragg.

Lastly I have no clue re what Chris’ contract states re selection of staff, potentially a factor in this equation. Btw, if Pecora rumor has legs, I always thought Chris had a good relationship with him & TP’s hire would be his choice.
 
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[quote="Section9" post=336063][quote="L J S A" post=335894][quote="Section9" post=335885]After one year on the job I don't think Cragg has the juice to force Chris to do anything, including mandating staff choices or asking Chris to step down. I think this is a critical year for both of them. Chris has the opportunity to revamp his staff with ma leaving and St.Jean supposedly going too. How he does this and how the recruiting goes, along with how the team does will be the deciding factors.

If we strike out in all three areas then we'll see if Cragg has the backing of the administration to make the big move.[/quote]

He didn't leave Duke to be a juice-less, ball-less figurehead.[/quote]

Ok, hypothetical question, Cragg demands final approval of staff changes, Chris balks, who do you think Gempesaw and his cronies back?[/quote]

If I had to guess based on our track record 1 of the 2 will happen IMO:

1) Mullin tells Cragg he will put more effort in recruiting (but won't) to help cover the loss of Matt and all staff stays intact another year obviously leading to 10th place

2) Mullin tells Cragg he will put more effort in recruiting (but won't) and Cragg convinces him to hire 1 but not both of Pecora/Hsu
 
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[quote="rawdognyc" post=336054]I lost respect for him when he pulled that LSU bullshit knowing damn well it was to shake the University down for more money because we were in no position to lose our only recruiter at that point. I wish he would take Zach B with him, I hear the Lincoln Journal Star needs a sports writer.[/quote]

I'm confused, how exactly is that a shake down? He was approached by a competitor with a great offer and brought it to St. John's and asked them to match it.

I know we all want to be idealistic, but this is a business guys.
 
[quote="Section9" post=336063][quote="L J S A" post=335894][quote="Section9" post=335885]After one year on the job I don't think Cragg has the juice to force Chris to do anything, including mandating staff choices or asking Chris to step down. I think this is a critical year for both of them. Chris has the opportunity to revamp his staff with ma leaving and St.Jean supposedly going too. How he does this and how the recruiting goes, along with how the team does will be the deciding factors.

If we strike out in all three areas then we'll see if Cragg has the backing of the administration to make the big move.[/quote]

He didn't leave Duke to be a juice-less, ball-less figurehead.[/quote]

Ok, hypothetical question, Cragg demands final approval of staff changes, Chris balks, who do you think Gempesaw and his cronies back?[/quote]

At this point I say Cragg. Gempesaw knows what a successful program means to the school financially. Cragg does not come without power over the basketball program. basketball is the face of the School; even though the baseball team has had much more success recently.
 
Zach Braziller
@NYPost_Brazille
30m
St Johns assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih is officially out at St Johns. Headed to Nebraska with Fred Hoiberg. Major loss for the program. #sjubb
 
Matt got some quality transfers, not all, that I enjoyed watching and helped the program. Being lone recruiter, however, never made sense. The program will be fine going forward with two quality guys hitting the road to the max and perhaps they can help with retention of players and locking in recruits in short term. This change seems a good opportunity.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=336075]Zach Braziller
@NYPost_Brazille
30m
St Johns assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih is officially out at St Johns. Headed to Nebraska with Fred Hoiberg. Major loss for the program. #sjubb[/quote]

If it's no surprise to us, then the staff and Cragg should have a top notch replacement ready to hit the ground running. Or maybe they need to form a committee and discuss things until the season starts.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=336076]Matt got some quality transfers, not all, that I enjoyed watching and helped the program. Being lone recruiter, however, never made sense. The program will be fine going forward with two quality guys hitting the road to the max and perhaps they can help with retention of players and locking in recruits in short term. This change seems a good opportunity.[/quote]

It's only a great opportunity if the right hires are made, and it's done so quickly. Every day not on the recruiting trail puts us further behind the competition. I am optimistic, but also realistic.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=336076]Matt got some quality transfers, not all, that I enjoyed watching and helped the program. Being lone recruiter, however, never made sense. The program will be fine going forward with two quality guys hitting the road to the max and perhaps they can help with retention of players and locking in recruits in short term. This change seems a good opportunity.[/quote]

with cragg as AD. I feel a little better that we will find a good replacement or two. too bad about the time timing. could have used mike rice.
 
[quote="Ray Morgan" post=336079][quote="Paultzman" post=336076]Matt got some quality transfers, not all, that I enjoyed watching and helped the program. Being lone recruiter, however, never made sense. The program will be fine going forward with two quality guys hitting the road to the max and perhaps they can help with retention of players and locking in recruits in short term. This change seems a good opportunity.[/quote]

It's only a great opportunity if the right hires are made, and it's done so quickly. Every day not on the recruiting trail puts us further behind the competition. I am optimistic, but also realistic.[/quote]

Agree and maybe naive on my part, I think this will be done quickly.
 
You would think Matt A left on good terms, i would assume there will be an exit meeting with CM and im sure he will be transparent of what he was working on for us. He is an alum.
 
[quote="L J S A" post=335894][quote="Section9" post=335885]After one year on the job I don't think Cragg has the juice to force Chris to do anything, including mandating staff choices or asking Chris to step down. I think this is a critical year for both of them. Chris has the opportunity to revamp his staff with ma leaving and St.Jean supposedly going too. How he does this and how the recruiting goes, along with how the team does will be the deciding factors.

If we strike out in all three areas then we'll see if Cragg has the backing of the administration to make the big move.[/quote]

He didn't leave Duke to be a juice-less, ball-less figurehead.[/quote]

He left Duke to add AD to his resume. This will open more doors from him in the future, one with a football program where he can make a lot more money. I will be surprised if he is still at St. John’s 5 years from now.
 
[quote="redstorm89" post=336080][quote="Paultzman" post=336076]Matt got some quality transfers, not all, that I enjoyed watching and helped the program. Being lone recruiter, however, never made sense. The program will be fine going forward with two quality guys hitting the road to the max and perhaps they can help with retention of players and locking in recruits in short term. This change seems a good opportunity.[/quote]

with cragg as AD. I feel a little better that we will find a good replacement or two. too bad about the time timing. could have used mike rice.[/quote]

Don’t get me wrong I get the Cragg stuff and he seems like a man who wants to have a big time basketball program.

But the man in charge of SJU Men’s Basketball is Chris Mullin. The person responsible for the makeup and function of the staff and roster is Chris Mullin.

Matt would not have been here if Chris did not want him here. GSJ and Richmond would not be here if Chris did not want them here. Slice debacle would not have happened if Chris did not LET it happen.

Period. He owns all of this.

It is stunning to hear people on social media blame Matt (and trust me he deserves some blame) and act like Matt hired himself. Matt paid himself. Matt made sure he was the only one who got credit for recruiting.

Who the hell runs SJU Men’s Basketball? Evidently Matt Abdelmassah runs SJU men’s basketball if you believe some people.

The dysfunction begins and ends with the head coach.

The lengths people will go to shield the HC from blame is extraordinary.
 
[quote="Tommy O 54" post=336083]You would think Matt A left on good terms, i would assume there will be an exit meeting with CM and im sure he will be transparent of what he was working on for us. He is an alum.[/quote]

If there were good terms he wouldn't be leaving.

You think he leaves under same circumstances except SJU was winning, they had multiple recruiters bringing in solid recruits and challenging for BE titles like I'm sure he thought they would be at this point when he took the job 4 years ago, almost to the day. Again I am not a big fan of his but I can assure he is not simply leaving "to be with Fred."
 
One last thing the fact that so many people here are urging the AD to force staff changes on the HC should tell you something.

You know what it says? YOU DON'T TRUST THE HC TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS HIMSELF?

Think about that. Real hard.

The AD should be raising money, looking for ways to boost the profile of the program whether it be thru scheduling better facilities etc and offering help and guidance to the HC when it is warranted. Such as making sure if he wants to hire good assistants the money is there to pay them etc.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=336068][quote="Section9" post=336063][quote="L J S A" post=335894][quote="Section9" post=335885]After one year on the job I don't think Cragg has the juice to force Chris to do anything, including mandating staff choices or asking Chris to step down. I think this is a critical year for both of them. Chris has the opportunity to revamp his staff with ma leaving and St.Jean supposedly going too. How he does this and how the recruiting goes, along with how the team does will be the deciding factors.

If we strike out in all three areas then we'll see if Cragg has the backing of the administration to make the big move.[/quote]

He didn't leave Duke to be a juice-less, ball-less figurehead.[/quote]

Ok, hypothetical question, Cragg demands final approval of staff changes, Chris balks, who do you think Gempesaw and his cronies back?[/quote]
Just my opinion, but I strongly believe the Prez & Board will support Mike Cragg’s plans within reason. They have invested in him to raise funds, stabilize Athletic Department operations and plan for the future with men’s hoops the primary driver.

My gut tells me Cragg is a very skilled communicator and motivator who may get CM’s buy in to suggested staffing. If not, hopefully the powers to be support Cragg who imo has more value to the University in the long term. They have to get this one right and not risk losing Cragg.

Lastly I have no clue re what Chris’ contract states re selection of staff, potentially a factor in this equation. Btw, if Pecora rumor has legs, I always thought Chris had a good relationship with him & TP’s hire would be his choice.[/quote]

Agree Paultz that Cragg and Chris will work together to do what needs to be done to improve the staff and the program. To date I haven't heard anything to lead any of us to believe that the two of them have an adversarial relationship. But, of course, that doesn't prevent people from speculating that they do. Until I hear otherwise, I will continue to believe that they can find common ground on hires, etc., and that the program will be in much better shape after the forthcoming changes.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=336076]Matt got some quality transfers, not all, that I enjoyed watching and helped the program. Being lone recruiter, however, never made sense. The program will be fine going forward with two quality guys hitting the road to the max and perhaps they can help with retention of players and locking in recruits in short term. This change seems a good opportunity.[/quote]

Could not agree more!
 
[quote="fordham96" post=336086][quote="Tommy O 54" post=336083]You would think Matt A left on good terms, i would assume there will be an exit meeting with CM and im sure he will be transparent of what he was working on for us. He is an alum.[/quote]

If there were good terms he wouldn't be leaving.

You think he leaves under same circumstances except SJU was winning, they had multiple recruiters bringing in solid recruits and challenging for BE titles like I'm sure he thought they would be at this point when he took the job 4 years ago, almost to the day. Again I am not a big fan of his but I can assure he is not simply leaving "to be with Fred."[/quote]

I've been in business for a long time, and I've had employees who I've had an excellent relationship with leave me after many years for just a few $ more. For some people, it's simply about the $. Besides, imagine the money that would have been thrown at Matt if he had actually built a balanced roster here and we had real success with the kids he brought in? Lets face facts, there was always going to be a better financial offer from a state school. And my feeling is that Matt would have always used that other offer to try and negotiate a better deal from SJU. No employer is going to tolerate an employee who continuously does that. Reminds me a lot of Fraschilla.
 
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