Absolutely true, at least 75-80% of reactions (including mine) were positive, although this came after Hurley, Moser and possibly one or two others had turned us down and the guy from Yale & Hewitt were the other possibilities being mentioned.
Is Cragg the right AD for the job?
- Thread starter Johnny Rapper
- Start date
Definitely not me.
L J S A
Well-known member
This is one of those cases where it sucks to be wrong, but sucks just as much to be right.
SJUWillRockNYC
Well-known member
This right here is why I am convinced that only an elete coach can fix SJU basketball
I will admit I preferred him to James Jones....
Johnny Rapper
Well-known member
Yup, we were all fooled by the “never had a losing record” mantra. And from the shit show (coaching search) that was taking place, most were relieved we got anybody.
Curious what the barometer of "Success" is here for a HC.
1 NCAA Tournament appearance every 4 years? Mullin did that... so no
2 NCAA Tournament appearances every 5 years? Lavin did that... so no
3 Post season appearances every 5 years? Lavin did that... so no
So, based on recent precedent we are looking for 4 Post Seasons every 5 years with 3 of them being to the Dance. That will be better than what Lavin produced.
1 NCAA Tournament appearance every 4 years? Mullin did that... so no
2 NCAA Tournament appearances every 5 years? Lavin did that... so no
3 Post season appearances every 5 years? Lavin did that... so no
So, based on recent precedent we are looking for 4 Post Seasons every 5 years with 3 of them being to the Dance. That will be better than what Lavin produced.
I'd be OK with solid middle to upper middle of BE, dancing 3 out of every 5 years; don't really care about NIT.
I wasn’t as high on Cragg as some. Duke job with Coach K there was a cakewalk. What tough decisions did he have to make as an Associate AD while he was there?
I’m sure Coach K made every important decision regarding the men’s basketball program.
Alumni Hall
Well-known member
Cragg started out at Duke as an Assistant SID, then moved up to Head SID. From there he was the DOBO (like Chris Huey now). He oversaw most aspects of the Duke basketball program, but your correct Coach K made most, if not all of the decisions pertaining to his program. After that stint, he moved over to the Iron Duke fundraising area and also chaired most of the athletic facility improvements . Because of his fundraising at Duke basketball (which at Duke, the $$$ roll in with each yearly achievement in the hundred of millions along with hefty NCAA and ACC revenue) and his vision for facility upgrades and improvements there were probably two of the main reasons he was hired at SJU. What he accomplished at Duke, with all of the money available was amazing.
Now fast forward to SJU, where athletic fundraising has always been poor, our NCAA revenue is only small shares from the Big East units, gate revenue has dropped along with season ticket money. When Cragg first arrived, he hired an outside athletic architect and design company to completely remodel and redesign each and every athletic facility on campus. It was a major project, lasting over 12 months and costing upwards of $200K. The total final cost of all these projects, many completely reconstructed, amounted to between 200-300 million (that price take was 4 years ago, might be 4-500 mil now with inflation) and it would have brought SJU from the bottom of Conference school facilities to near the top! Work would be completed in stages over a 3-5 year period. It was approved by athletics senior staff and presented to BOT where they approved the project, BUT held off on financing this project. I was told Cragg had to fundraise the majority of the project. Then came Covid and it completely, like everything else in the world, shut down the project. SJU has been left with only small facility improvements like new lax team room and a few other small cosmetic upgrades. I do feel sorry for Cragg as he did come here with great vision for athletics, but between Covid and continued poor athletic performances, has hindered his attempt to get us out of the doldrums we are now in. He must be frustrated to no end. He is well aware of our basketball facility shortcomings as well, and in his eyes, unexpected poor performance both with Anderson and the team he assembled. I’m sure by now he was expecting a few NCAA’s, sold out Carnesecca Arena and 10k plus attendance at each MSG game. Not sure if he can right the ship, or rusting battleship, or whatever our program was recently call on ESPN.
Now fast forward to SJU, where athletic fundraising has always been poor, our NCAA revenue is only small shares from the Big East units, gate revenue has dropped along with season ticket money. When Cragg first arrived, he hired an outside athletic architect and design company to completely remodel and redesign each and every athletic facility on campus. It was a major project, lasting over 12 months and costing upwards of $200K. The total final cost of all these projects, many completely reconstructed, amounted to between 200-300 million (that price take was 4 years ago, might be 4-500 mil now with inflation) and it would have brought SJU from the bottom of Conference school facilities to near the top! Work would be completed in stages over a 3-5 year period. It was approved by athletics senior staff and presented to BOT where they approved the project, BUT held off on financing this project. I was told Cragg had to fundraise the majority of the project. Then came Covid and it completely, like everything else in the world, shut down the project. SJU has been left with only small facility improvements like new lax team room and a few other small cosmetic upgrades. I do feel sorry for Cragg as he did come here with great vision for athletics, but between Covid and continued poor athletic performances, has hindered his attempt to get us out of the doldrums we are now in. He must be frustrated to no end. He is well aware of our basketball facility shortcomings as well, and in his eyes, unexpected poor performance both with Anderson and the team he assembled. I’m sure by now he was expecting a few NCAA’s, sold out Carnesecca Arena and 10k plus attendance at each MSG game. Not sure if he can right the ship, or rusting battleship, or whatever our program was recently call on ESPN.
I would hope that coming from a winning culture even if he had to make no tough decisions that he would want that where he is the real head AD. In the end money will solve most of the problems the BB program has.
A client once told me that if a problem can be solved with money then it is not a problem it is just an expense you agree to pay or not.
Johnny Rapper
Well-known member
Again, my big issue with Cragg is not that he hired Anderson or even that he spoke well of him when hired so much, the big issue, which reeks of incompetence, is that after two years on the job, Cragg gives Anderson a contract extension without Anderson having accomplished a single post season invite, not to mention almost an entire team transferring out. I mean come on now, where was Anderson going? Were there other schools hot on his tail? Cragg has now put the school in a perilous financial bind which may limit what the school has to spend on an actual competent new coach and staff. Does anyone really not see a major issue with this?
Get your point but Shanley approved it...Cragg can't take all the blame.
Johnny Rapper
Well-known member
Yes but it was Cragg's idea. And the fact that Shanley approved it may just save Cragg's job. However this makes me somewhat leery of Shanley as well. Here we all thought coming from PC he was a president who was on top of his school's premiere sports program when clearly thats not the case if he approvoved such an idiotic extension at that point in time.
Cragg was extended two weeks before Anderson (runs thru 25-26)
With this, I believe decisions were Shanley.
With this, I believe decisions were Shanley.
Cragg giving Anderson the extension was insane but I don’t think either Cragg or Father Shanley had any idea what dismal condition this program was in when they signed on.
I recall Cragg talking about expanding CA which sounds ludicrous now. Both Father Shanley and Cragg spoke about how the SJU facilities hampered recruiting and there would be a plan published concerning the improvements.
A couple of gallons of paint for a sixty year old arena is about the extent of that. I’m sure that both of these men realize the facilities have to be improved and would love to do so but the money must not be there.
The program needs a donor more than it needs a head coach and it is up to Cragg and Father Shanley to do whatever it takes to accomplish that.
I recall Cragg talking about expanding CA which sounds ludicrous now. Both Father Shanley and Cragg spoke about how the SJU facilities hampered recruiting and there would be a plan published concerning the improvements.
A couple of gallons of paint for a sixty year old arena is about the extent of that. I’m sure that both of these men realize the facilities have to be improved and would love to do so but the money must not be there.
The program needs a donor more than it needs a head coach and it is up to Cragg and Father Shanley to do whatever it takes to accomplish that.
Cragg made promises he didn't deliver on when he cited multiple times the big strategic plan was coming.
I'm sure the work was done but no point sharing something that wasn't going to happen. Should have not said anything vs. over promise and under deliver.
I'm sure the work was done but no point sharing something that wasn't going to happen. Should have not said anything vs. over promise and under deliver.