Coaching Staff

[Knight2]

Given that Lavin seems wanting with in game performance, what can we expect from the rest of his staff in terms of support?

 

[MarkRedman]

Duh, unless there are changes on the staff, you can expect more of the same
I, for one, would like to see some changes but I would be very surprised if that happened

 

[stjohnschris]

It won't happen, but I would welcome any change of staff...just give us someone who can run practices, draw up plays, and help SL make smart in-game decisions. We don't have that. We have a very good recruiter who also has a knack for press conferences and general smooth talk. We have talent, but no team concept. We have a coaching staff that seems to do a better job at cheerleading than anything else. We have a coaching legend on the bench who writes notes non-stop, but for all we know he's drafting Yelp reviews of his favorite NYC restaurants to post later that night. I truly feel we are one coach shy, one coach who is a hard ass, dry erase board, x's and o's, coach.

 

[MarkRedman]

It won't happen, but I would welcome any change of staff...just give us someone who can run practices, draw up plays, and help SL make smart in-game decisions. We don't have that. We have a very good recruiter who also has a knack for press conferences and general smooth talk. We have talent, but no team concept. We have a coaching staff that seems to do a better job at cheerleading than anything else. We have a coaching legend on the bench who writes notes non-stop, but for all we know he's drafting Yelp reviews of his favorite NYC restaurants to post later that night. I truly feel we are one coach shy, one coach who is a hard ass, dry erase board, x's and o's, coach.

We had that guy - His name is Mike Dunlap
I only wish that we could find a clone
You can have all the talent in the world but I really believe that every team (at any level) needs a solid x and o guy to mold them into a cohesive unit
This is something that we are clearly lacking and have missed ever since Dunlap left
I hoped that Keady would be able to impart his knowledge to the coaching staff to fill the gap
However, the longer Keady is here, the more I believe that he is merely a figurehead

 

[mjmaherjr]

Given that Lavin seems wanting with in game performance, what can we expect from the rest of his staff in terms of support?

I'd expect Lavin to have Rico do another episode of Celebrity wife swap with Pat Summit so she could work with the kids for a few days

 

[JohnnyFan]

Duh, unless there are changes on the staff, you can expect more of the same
I, for one, would like to see some changes but I would be very surprised if that happened

Agreed, I see no reason to expect anything other than more of the same. I am afraid that, in the absence of any changes, we are in the midst of an era (that will likely last a decade in total) during which we will suffer through significant in-game and Xs & Os coaching deficiencies. Additionaly, his recruiting ability (which I admit is a strength) has produced below average results over the past two years (yes, I am aware that Jordan was a great get).

 

[MarkRedman]

Sad to say, the last head coach at St John's that was a decent x and o guy was Frannie
That was a long time ago
I still had some hair back then.... smh

 

[MarkRedman]

Given that Lavin seems wanting with in game performance, what can we expect from the rest of his staff in terms of support?

I'd expect Lavin to have Rico do another episode of Celebrity wife swap with Pat Summit so she could work with the kids for a few days

LMAO - She would be an improvement over what we currently have on staff

 

[L J S A]

Given that Lavin seems wanting with in game performance, what can we expect from the rest of his staff in terms of support?

I'd expect Lavin to have Rico do another episode of Celebrity wife swap with Pat Summit so she could work with the kids for a few days

LMAO - She would be an improvement over what we currently have on staff

In defense of our staff, she would be an improvement over most D1 men's coaches.

 

[simplyred]

Can we give Jim Whitesell a chance before we count him out. He came in late in the off season last year. We definitely saw improvement as the season progressed. The collapse at the end of the year was due more to player issues than coaching. And I can't believe the disrespect that this fanbase shows toward Hall of Famer Gene Keady. Smh!

 

[Knight2]

Is it possible for Lavin to improve? Or is he too old, or too stubborn, or just too dumb? Is Keady able to offer something here?

 

[MarkRedman]

Is it possible for Lavin to improve? Or is he too old, or too stubborn, or just too dumb? Is Keady able to offer something here?

I believe that Lavin has been a D-1 head coach for 11 years between UCLA and St John's
What you see is what you get - a nice guy, a good PR man, a good recruiter but a subpar coach
After 11 years, I just don't see him improving - he needs a strong x and o man on the bench along with him in order to be successful
Keady was an awesome coach in his day - I have fond memories of his famed scowl when he was unhappy with his players or the officials
But, there is no tangible evidence that he (or any of the assistants) are of much help on the bench these days
When you allegedly have the most talent in the league and end up with a losing record, something has gone terribly wrong
We need a Mike Dunlap type of guy (no nonsense / technically sound coach) to provide Lavin with much needed support

 

[RedStormRising]

Can we give Jim Whitesell a chance before we count him out. He came in late in the off season last year. We definitely saw improvement as the season progressed. The collapse at the end of the year was due more to player issues than coaching. And I can't believe the disrespect that this fanbase shows toward Hall of Famer Gene Keady. Smh!

You can't believe the disrespect towards GK? Seems consistent with the disrespect shown to the rest of the staff and players for that matter.

 

[simplyred]

Can we give Jim Whitesell a chance before we count him out. He came in late in the off season last year. We definitely saw improvement as the season progressed. The collapse at the end of the year was due more to player issues than coaching. And I can't believe the disrespect that this fanbase shows toward Hall of Famer Gene Keady. Smh!

You can't believe the disrespect towards GK? Seems consistent with the disrespect shown to the rest of the staff and players for that matter.

I agree, I shouldn't be surprised. Then again, some of the posters probably were crapping in their diapers the last time Keady was on the sidelines. People take their dislike for Lavin to extremes.

 

[MJDinkins]

Duh, unless there are changes on the staff, you can expect more of the same
I, for one, would like to see some changes but I would be very surprised if that happened

Additionaly, his recruiting ability (which I admit is a strength) has produced below average results over the past two years (yes, I am aware that Jordan was a great get).

So, how does the past two years of recruiting is below average, if Jordan was, in your words, a "great get?" Contradicting statement. Remember, one scholarship resulted in a top 20 player.

On paper, Delarosa and Thomas is subpar, as well, as a class we're not used to under Lavin. It was certainly a class I wasn't expecting, either. But can we hold off calling it "below average results," from a recruiting standpoint, til we've seen them on the court? Personally, I see some potential from Delarosa, and feel Thomas could definitely be a bright spot.

 

[MJDinkins]

Is it possible for Lavin to improve? Or is he too old, or too stubborn, or just too dumb? Is Keady able to offer something here?

I believe that Lavin has been a D-1 head coach for 11 years between UCLA and St John's
What you see is what you get - a nice guy, a good PR man, a good recruiter but a subpar coach
After 11 years, I just don't see him improving - he needs a strong x and o man on the bench along with him in order to be successful
Keady was an awesome coach in his day - I have fond memories of his famed scowl when he was unhappy with his players or the officials
But, there is no tangible evidence that he (or any of the assistants) are of much help on the bench these days
When you allegedly have the most talent in the league and end up with a losing record, something has gone terribly wrong
We need a Mike Dunlap type of guy (no nonsense / technically sound coach) to provide Lavin with much needed support

Losing record?

Do you know what Whitesell does or doesn't possess, as a coach? Please don't egg on some of these dudes, Knight.

What we'll end up having is a....

 

[JohnnyFan]

Duh, unless there are changes on the staff, you can expect more of the same
I, for one, would like to see some changes but I would be very surprised if that happened

Additionaly, his recruiting ability (which I admit is a strength) has produced below average results over the past two years (yes, I am aware that Jordan was a great get).

So, how does the past two years of recruiting is below average, if Jordan was, in your words, a "great get?" Contradicting statement. Remember, one scholarship resulted in a top 20 player.

On paper, Delarosa and Thomas is subpar, as well, as a class we're not used to under Lavin. It was certainly a class I wasn't expecting, either. But can we hold off calling it "below average results," from a recruiting standpoint, til we've seen them on the court? Personally, I see some potential from Delarosa, and feel Thomas could definitely be a bright spot.

You're right about 2013, I have no leg to stand on. As for the 2014 class, I believe his effort was not there. I also believe he emphasized the 2015 class (almost exclusively until panic set in) to leverage a contract extension. Just my opinion.

 

[MJDinkins]

Duh, unless there are changes on the staff, you can expect more of the same
I, for one, would like to see some changes but I would be very surprised if that happened

Additionaly, his recruiting ability (which I admit is a strength) has produced below average results over the past two years (yes, I am aware that Jordan was a great get).

So, how does the past two years of recruiting is below average, if Jordan was, in your words, a "great get?" Contradicting statement. Remember, one scholarship resulted in a top 20 player.

On paper, Delarosa and Thomas is subpar, as well, as a class we're not used to under Lavin. It was certainly a class I wasn't expecting, either. But can we hold off calling it "below average results," from a recruiting standpoint, til we've seen them on the court? Personally, I see some potential from Delarosa, and feel Thomas could definitely be a bright spot.

You're right about 2013, I have no leg to stand on. As for the 2014 class, I believe his effort was not there. I also believe he emphasized the 2015 class (almost exclusively until panic set in) to leverage a contract extension. Just my opinion.

No problem. Understandable. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But your belief that he took a break on the 2014 class isn't true. They may have not initially cast a wide enough net, but they wasn't resting.

 

[1and1sju]

Can we give Jim Whitesell a chance before we count him out. He came in late in the off season last year. We definitely saw improvement as the season progressed. The collapse at the end of the year was due more to player issues than coaching. And I can't believe the disrespect that this fanbase shows toward Hall of Famer Gene Keady. Smh!

SR, Keady doesn't do anything. He's not allowed to do anything. If he were here to contribute anything substantive he would be an assistant coach.
There have been numerous opportunities to get Keady on as a coach and let him work with the players and the rest of the staff, but we've never done that.
Keady is essentially retired, and has a part-time job with SJU. He might as well be an analyst with Minko, because they're paying him to just sit there and do an appearance every once in awhile.

That's meant as no disrespect to GK, it's just that he has the equivalent of a no-show union job right now.

 

[stjohnschris]

Can we give Jim Whitesell a chance before we count him out. He came in late in the off season last year. We definitely saw improvement as the season progressed. The collapse at the end of the year was due more to player issues than coaching. And I can't believe the disrespect that this fanbase shows toward Hall of Famer Gene Keady. Smh!

You can't believe the disrespect towards GK? Seems consistent with the disrespect shown to the rest of the staff and players for that matter.

I agree, I shouldn't be surprised. Then again, some of the posters probably were crapping in their diapers the last time Keady was on the sidelines. People take their dislike for Lavin to extremes.

I think Keady is/was a legendary coach, I watched a lot of Purdue games with him manning the sidelines. He was the full package in a head coach. The thing that rubs me wrong is that he was brought to NY/SJU to do what? I would like to see defined roles for the players, as well as the coaches and yes, even Gene Keady, the advisor!