Coaching Alternatives

'Time' is short to get it right, with the 'right' staff to keep key players and to recruit. So, for the program's sake, I hope any waiting doesn't extend beyond next week.
Still hoping that we get at least 2 new AC's, 1 to replace Matt and the other to replace Mitch, our 'new' SA.
And that those changes will stabilize the program for next year, so that Mullin can either go out on a high note or get extended.
Hsu seems interested. At least, that's good.
 
We need Hsu by the end of this week. He needs to be at the Final 4 working for St. John's. So much get's done behind the scenes there.
 
[quote="SeattleJohnny" post=336839]We need Hsu by the end of this week. He needs to be at the Final 4 working for St. John's. So much get's done behind the scenes there.[/quote]
Is there any evidence -- or even rumors -- of our interest in possibly bringing him on board?
 
[quote="Adam" post=336807]I personally think this is the smartest approach Cragg could take.

I see it as very unlikely that Mullin will be here in 2020-21, and I think Cragg sees things the same way. New ACs will not magically turn things around in a 1 year period, but hiring them could very well lead to negative consequences.

The issue is if Cragg forces Mullin to fire his entire staff, then I believe he'd need to ensure everyone more than one year. It'd be incredibly tough to hire 3 competent ACs with only 1 guaranteed year. The new staff would also need to be given a little leeway. We all know that new HCs get some extra leeway (see CM's first 4 years), and the same would be true for the 3 new ACs. In a way, Cragg would be basically gift wrapping CM more time.

Ultimately Mullin is 100% responsible for our mediocre performance/management, and I expect next year to be a disappointment no matter who our ACs are. If Mullin is going to continue being stubborn then let him go down with his ship.

I'm very disappointed in Mullin for not hiring new staff members, but I much prefer Cragg not to mandate anything. I want this upcoming year to be Mullin's final year if things don't turn around. All in, no excuses.

Hopefully my reasoning makes sense. I'm sure some disagree, but I genuinely think this is the best approach for Cragg to take. Assuming we have another mediocre year, this essentially guarantees that Cragg will be able to replace not just the ACs but also the biggest problem (HC).[/quote]

I agree with your post. If Mullin agreed to shuffle the deck, good assistants wouldn't want to come here for one year. I think you either cut bait with Mullin now or let it play out another season. It is a shame that it might further hurt the program. Whoever takes Matt's position would have to feel they are valuable enough to be hired by the new regime or are happy being a one year rental and spending a lot of time making connections that could be useful at their next school.
 
[quote="Andrew" post=336895]
I agree with your post. If Mullin agreed to shuffle the deck, good assistants wouldn't want to come here for one year. I think you either cut bait with Mullin now or let it play out another season. It is a shame that it might further hurt the program. Whoever takes Matt's position would have to feel they are valuable enough to be hired by the new regime or are happy being a one year rental and spending a lot of time making connections that could be useful at their next school.[/quote]

Phelps' name hasn't been mentioned beyond the initial report, but he's probably the type to take a chance. Didn't get the head gig at USF, not following the old coach to Washington State. May want to take a chance somewhere else -- even if it's just for a year -- to further his career. Plus I don't know how much he makes at USF, but rent and home prices are insane, especially in that area. Scarily, I think he can find something cheaper in Queens or Long island and probably have a higher salary to play with.

But if we are also only looking for one position, the main recruiter one, Hsu would likely be a better fit.
 
I mildly disagree about the governing 'notion' of several posters that a promising AC would balk at a '1 year rental situation'.
Sure, if he's got better options at higher-level programs.
But otherwise, I thought AC deals ain't guaranteed beyond 1 year anyway and the new AC could be replaced after the season by a successful HC for any reason.
So, an AC with either solid x&o capabilities and / or recruiting skills should be receptive to joining St. John's--to prove his worth to turnaround a former Big East stalwart in the biggest media market on the planet. Lots of potential positive PR and recognition if he succeeds.
Just my opinion.
 
[quote="Chicago Days" post=336903]I mildly disagree about the governing 'notion' of several posters that a promising AC would balk at a '1 year rental situation'.
Sure, if he's got better options at higher-level programs.
But otherwise, I thought AC deals ain't guaranteed beyond 1 year anyway and the new AC could be replaced after the season by a successful HC for any reason.
So, an AC with either solid x&o capabilities and / or recruiting skills should be receptive to joining St. John's--to prove his worth to turnaround a former Big East stalwart in the biggest media market on the planet. Lots of potential positive PR and recognition if he succeeds.
Just my opinion.[/quote]

Fair point. However many assistants come in with new coaches and hope to stay through their tenure. For someone like Hsu this could raise his profile.
 
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I love this site, but if we are all speculating about who will replace Matt and whether MR will slide over to allow for another recruiter a week from now, I will have to smash my computer into hundreds of pieces.
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=336749][quote="NCJohnnie" post=336734]RedStormNC wrote: Zach Braziller
@NYPost_Brazille
·
6h
Right now they’re making just one hire. But plan is for everyone to chip in with the new guy being the lead recruiter

6h (re: Borman)
Not the route either side wants to take it was talked about that’s all

Very disappointing if Zach is correct. Whatever they are going to do, need to get it signed, sealed & delivered by mid next week so as not to start spring recruiting too far behind the eight ball.[/quote]

The plan is for everyone to "chip in"?
Wasn't that the plan all along?
Maybe not.
One new hire will be a further effort in futility and signal Cragg was not given executive power by our President.[/quote]
Chipping in sounds like an optional extra credit assignment...how about everyone will be expected to contribute and be accountable
 
Let's take a look at two plausible scenarios:

1. MC forces CM to make 3 AC changes, with input by MC. CM complies. (What a lot of posters were hoping for)
2. MC nudges but doesn't force CM to make 3 AC changes. CM sticks with GSJ and MR. (Current situation- which many are unhappy with)

Let's assume that in both scenarios we have a mediocre year (I personally don't think AC coaches could have that much of a positive impact in 1 year- especially considering not many ACs would come here with only 1 year guaranteed).

Now, after our mediocre year how likely is it that MC fires CM under scenario 1? Scenario 2? I think scenario 1 is 50% at best while scenario 2 is close to 100%. If MC actually recommended his own guys for AC, then you have to believe it'd be much more likely CM returns in 2020-21 regardless of what happens in 2019-20.

No way to know for sure, but this is why I support MC's decision not to get too involved. He knows what the biggest problem is, and it isn't the ACs.
 
I just cannot see any scenario that has SJU firing CM. Regardless of how frustrated posters on this board are/get, it appears like CM will be here until his contract expires. We can guess all we want about AC's being hired, I fear we will limp until that contract expires.
I think MC might then assert himself and actually take over the administrative aspects of our basketball program. He arrived here after CM and I think he has been instructed not to cause any bloodletting to the program. In the meantime, I really don't see anything earthshaking happening in our program.
 
So MC won't make a drastic move and let Mully go but how the hell does Mitch keep his job? Need a recruiter and a legit x/o mind besides st jean. we are so sad, i just don't understand how administration can't see what fans see
 
[quote="cappy105" post=336959]So MC won't make a drastic move and let Mully go but how the hell does Mitch keep his job? Need a recruiter and a legit x/o mind besides st jean. we are so sad, i just don't understand how administration can't see what fans see[/quote]
——————-

Crappy .... that’s the 10 Million Dollar Question.

Please let me explain why I say 10 Million Dollars.

As stated numerous times in this and other threads it is widely believed thatt Coach Mullin’s contract provides that he will be paid $2.1 +/- M per year for each of the next 2 seasons to coach the St.John’s men’s basketball team ($2.1M x 2 = $4,200,000).

If St. John’s hires another coach it would most likely be required to pay his replacement at least a similar salary $2M salary being another approximate $4.2M. ($4.2M plus $4.2M = $8,400,000). Compounding the cost is that the new coach may have a “buyout” to be paid to the new coach’s current school. For example, a posted article said that Bobby Hurley’s contract requires a $1.5M buyout sum to be paid for him to leave UArizona. That brings the estimated tally to $9.9M ($8.4M plus $1.5M = $9,900,000). Let’s call it $10 Million.

Given the cash crunch at St.John’s and pretty near every other private college in New York State it is unwilling to pay $5 Million to replace its coach that qualified for the play in games for the NCAA. So yeah, before you or anyone criticizes Cragg please find someone or entity to pay the remainder of Mullin’s contract and the new coaches buyout and and perhaps Cragg and “President Bobby” would be interested in talking about it.

With regard to Your comment about Cragg changing assistant coaches please understand that he may lack the ability to ability to do so. I don’t know anyone who knows precisely what is in Coach Mullin’s contract but it is not uncommon for the contract of D1 men’s basketball coaches to give the coach the sole discretion regarding hiring their assistants.
 
[quote="otis" post=336961][quote="cappy105" post=336959]So MC won't make a drastic move and let Mully go but how the hell does Mitch keep his job? Need a recruiter and a legit x/o mind besides st jean. we are so sad, i just don't understand how administration can't see what fans see[/quote]
——————-

Crappy .... that’s the 10 Million Dollar Question.

Please let me explain why I say 10 Million Dollars.

As stated numerous times in this and other threads it is widely believed thatt Coach Mullin’s contract provides that he will be paid $2.1 +/- M per year for each of the next 2 seasons to coach the St.John’s men’s basketball team ($2.1M x 2 = $4,200,000).

If St. John’s hires another coach it would most likely be required to pay his replacement at least a similar salary $2M salary being another approximate $4.2M. ($4.2M plus $4.2M = $8,400,000). Compounding the cost is that the new coach may have a “buyout” to be paid to the new coach’s current school. For example, a posted article said that Bobby Hurley’s contract requires a $1.5M buyout sum to be paid for him to leave UArizona. That brings the estimated tally to $9.9M ($8.4M plus $1.5M = $9,900,000). Let’s call it $10 Million.

Given the cash crunch at St.John’s and pretty near every other private college in New York State it is unwilling to pay $5 Million to replace its coach that qualified for the play in games for the NCAA. So yeah, before you or anyone criticizes Cragg please find someone or entity to pay the remainder of Mullin’s contract and the new coaches buyout and and perhaps Cragg and “President Bobby” would be interested in talking about it.

With regard to Your comment about Cragg changing assistant coaches please understand that he may lack the ability to ability to do so. I don’t know anyone who knows precisely what is in Coach Mullin’s contract but it is not uncommon for the contract of D1 men’s basketball coaches to give the coach the sole discretion regarding hiring their assistants.[/quote]

His name is Cappy not Crappy.
Pretty sure this is the 2nd time you did that.
 
[quote="Moose" post=336962][quote="otis" post=336961]

His name is Cappy not Crappy.
Pretty sure this is the 2nd time you did that.[/quote]
_____________

Hey Cappy ... I apologize; the typo was unintentional thanks to spell check. It won't happen again.
 
[quote="otis" post=336961][quote="cappy105" post=336959]So MC won't make a drastic move and let Mully go but how the hell does Mitch keep his job? Need a recruiter and a legit x/o mind besides st jean. we are so sad, i just don't understand how administration can't see what fans see[/quote]
——————-

Cappy.... that’s the 10 Million Dollar Question.

Please let me explain why I say 10 Million Dollars.

As stated numerous times in this and other threads it is widely believed thatt Coach Mullin’s contract provides that he will be paid $2.1 +/- M per year for each of the next 2 seasons to coach the St.John’s men’s basketball team ($2.1M x 2 = $4,200,000).

If St. John’s hires another coach it would most likely be required to pay his replacement at least a similar salary $2M salary being another approximate $4.2M. ($4.2M plus $4.2M = $8,400,000). Compounding the cost is that the new coach may have a “buyout” to be paid to the new coach’s current school. For example, a posted article said that Bobby Hurley’s contract requires a $1.5M buyout sum to be paid for him to leave UArizona. That brings the estimated tally to $9.9M ($8.4M plus $1.5M = $9,900,000). Let’s call it $10 Million.

Given the cash crunch at St.John’s and pretty near every other private college in New York State it is unwilling to pay $5 Million to replace its coach that qualified for the play in games for the NCAA. So yeah, before you or anyone criticizes Cragg please find someone or entity to pay the remainder of Mullin’s contract and the new coaches buyout and and perhaps Cragg and “President Bobby” would be interested in talking about it.

With regard to Your comment about Cragg changing assistant coaches please understand that he may lack the ability to ability to do so. I don’t know anyone who knows precisely what is in Coach Mullin’s contract but it is not uncommon for the contract of D1 men’s basketball coaches to give the coach the sole discretion regarding hiring their assistants.[/quote]

This is spot on. The school is not burning more money on buyouts. It’s hands are tied financially. (One should expect this when you let so many students in for free or on big scholarships). So the baseless rumors about buying out CM and signing a high profile coach like Hurley/Pitino is fantasy land.
 
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Can we please at least admit that the fans have a better idea of what to do than our coaches/admins at this point? I seriously brought up the point earlier this season that as a whole we would handle the program better and make better decisions. It was laughed at. Well, it turned out to be true IMO. It's just like the Jets for years only drafting defense and not getting anything on offense that was a threat. That's a stupid plan that never works in today's NFL and having no bigs with no bench, 1 recruiter, and awful coaches is a stupid plan in college hoops that never works. We have to realize we actually care more than the administration/coaches do at this point. Pretty clear now.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=336969]Can we please at least admit that the fans have a better idea of what to do than our coaches/admins at this point? I seriously brought up the point earlier this season that as a whole we would handle the program better and make better decisions. It was laughed at. Well, it turned out to be true IMO. It's just like the Jets for years only drafting defense and not getting anything on offense that was a threat. That's a stupid plan that never works in today's NFL and having no bigs with no bench, 1 recruiter, and awful coaches is a stupid plan in college hoops that never works. We have to realize we actually care more than the administration/coaches do at this point. Pretty clear now.[/quote]

I’m pretty sure Mike Cragg knows exactly what he’s doing. He can’t fire Mullin because the buyout is too big, so he’s waiting until next offseason to “mutually part ways” when it will be much cheaper. We can’t seem to gain interest in the assistant coach position because everybody already knows Mullin is a lame duck and this is basically a 1 year gig.
 
[quote="Chris7" post=336968][quote="otis" post=336961][quote="cappy105" post=336959]So MC won't make a drastic move and let Mully go but how the hell does Mitch keep his job? Need a recruiter and a legit x/o mind besides st jean. we are so sad, i just don't understand how administration can't see what fans see[/quote]
——————-

Cappy.... that’s the 10 Million Dollar Question.



Please let me explain why I say 10 Million Dollars.






As stated numerous times in this and other threads it is widely believed thatt Coach Mullin’s contract provides that he will be paid $2.1 +/- M per year for each of the next 2 seasons to coach the St.John’s men’s basketball team ($2.1M x 2 = $4,200,000).

If St. John’s hires another coach it would most likely be required to pay his replacement at least a similar salary $2M salary being another approximate $4.2M. ($4.2M plus $4.2M = $8,400,000). Compounding the cost is that the new coach may have a “buyout” to be paid to the new coach’s current school. For example, a posted article said that Bobby Hurley’s contract requires a $1.5M buyout sum to be paid for him to leave UArizona. That brings the estimated tally to $9.9M ($8.4M plus $1.5M = $9,900,000). Let’s call it $10 Million.

Given the cash crunch at St.John’s and pretty near every other private college in New York State it is unwilling to pay $5 Million to replace its coach that qualified for the play in games for the NCAA. So yeah, before you or anyone criticizes Cragg please find someone or entity to pay the remainder of Mullin’s contract and the new coaches buyout and and perhaps Cragg and “President Bobby” would be interested in talking about it.

With regard to Your comment about Cragg changing assistant coaches please understand that he may lack the ability to ability to do so. I don’t know anyone who knows precisely what is in Coach Mullin’s contract but it is not uncommon for the contract of D1 men’s basketball coaches to give the coach the sole discretion regarding hiring their assistants.[/quote]

This is spot on. The school is not burning more money on buyouts. It’s hands are tied financially. (One should expect this when you let so many students in for free or on big scholarships). So the baseless rumors about buying out CM and signing a high profile coach like Hurley/Pitino is fantasy land.[/quote]


I can attest to that my son is getting 32K a year to attend SJU for the next 4 years, so you would be correct the School cannot afford a large buy out.
 
No reason we can't make a Hurley type hire after next yr. My fear is he will be poached by another program and we will be left without a high level coach with notoriety and high work ethic. Hurley can sell his results at Buffalo and ASU to recruits. He has a proven track record and a big name coming from a major coaching family. I think recruits would come for that. I don't think recruits come if we have some random no-name coach. Your name isn't everything but it certainly helps IMO. Lavin had the name but not the pedigree and development/coaching acumen. I think Hurley could have both. Does he get heated? Sure...but honestly I'd rather the energy rather than a coach sitting down.
 
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