I still haven't gotten an answer from anyone on what positives Cragg has brought to SJU in his time here.
Is Cragg the right AD for the job?
- Thread starter Johnny Rapper
- Start date
Also a fair question. Personally, I have no clue about what's going on in any program besides Men's Basketball. It's not a great answer -but, comparatively, Cragg seems a more professional, seemingly goal-oriented figurehead than our previous two ADs.
But....that's all I got.
JF I have asked this question over and over and no one, absolutely no one, can tell me one positive thing Cragg has done in his time here. So absent a satisfactory answer, I say the guy needs to be fired immediately lol
He just hired Sexton as his agent
That’s fair. Cragg’s tenure has been a mixed bag at best. He may act professionally and be easily accessible, which is great. But ultimately he will be judged by the results.
When you are back in 114 next year but come to carnesseca games and see how selling beer there now can make you forget about the heat in the upper level you will see how Cragg makes the Mount Rushmore of st johns figures
Good for Cragg. Horrible for SJU. lol
classof2010
Well-known member
Have a feeling Ed Kull will be our AD at this time next year.
St. John’s has always operated as a quiet, ma and pa operation. They never have a strong allegiance among their alumni base. That is easily seen by the poor contributions by 190,000 plus alumni.
We have a board that really does not see our athletics as a primary concern. So they hire a person they feel they can control. Spending money on our athletics puts them into a spasm. So I think they hire a place keeper in the AD position. That individual does not have the authority to do what is best for athletics.
I believe the board controls everything with an iron fist. I can’t believe Cragg is happy with the state of athletics at St. John’s, but there is little he can do about it.
We have a board that really does not see our athletics as a primary concern. So they hire a person they feel they can control. Spending money on our athletics puts them into a spasm. So I think they hire a place keeper in the AD position. That individual does not have the authority to do what is best for athletics.
I believe the board controls everything with an iron fist. I can’t believe Cragg is happy with the state of athletics at St. John’s, but there is little he can do about it.
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From the sound of the Forbes article I think Repole wants to be the AD (LOL), I bet he thinks he can do the job. He's still repeating stories about his picks for HC being home runs (Hurley II over Mullin and Hurley I over CMA).
Do schools really judge ADs on the results of the sports programs? After all, this is not a general manager position where their neck is on the line if the manager they hired doesn't work out. I have no idea what the ADs goals and expectations are nor do I pretend to. I just don't recall many ADs being fired because of the performance of the sports programs.
The longer this thread stays alive the more I want Johnny Rapper to make his grand return.
He got everything he wanted and then left us.
Where is he
He got everything he wanted and then left us.
Where is he
The AD is to raise money for the department which could be used to upgrade their programs.
If the programs do not improve, how many coaching hires would you entrust the AD to make?
I am not coming down on you. But I find it frustrating the way the AD is being protected as if he is a civil servant (and I am one of them, so I can make that wisecrack).
L J S A
Well-known member
I think they get fired way more for screwing up football and basketball coaching searches, or by entering pissing contests with big-name coaches. The smart ones know how to suppress their ego and let big-name coaches run their own show. Going by that alone, he seems safe. Cragg was hamstrung during last search, and Shanley apparently ran this one. And I can't imagine him trying to show up Pitino.
He might have a good fundraiser in Kull breathing down his neck though.
So maybe he does need baseball and soccer to really kick ass for him.
Your last sentence is 100 percent accurate.
Like many here , I don’t know all the requirements of the AD job at St John’s . But , as Monte has shared what positives has Cragg accomplished . Accomplishments that mean something .
Seat Backs at CA seems to have backfired as there are complaints about the comfort and lack of leg room .
Cragg has his name all over the CMA hire . After a poor Search yielded nothing . Anderson fell in his lap after Capel endorsed CMA .
A better and less desperate Search would not have had Anderson on any list of possibles .
The Contract Extension has many Co - Defendants in addition to Cragg but , as AD probably had the biggest thumb on the Contract and with his Recommendation .
His lengthy tenure at Duke was always as number 2 or 3 Guy in their Athletic Department . He was at Duke like 20 years or so and never got the AD job . Why ?
So , I’m with Monte and a few others , including Kranmars who have lots of questions on Cragg’s performance .
Anthony Mattia
Well-known member
Nothing to complain about so you won't see him Jack.
If you really want him back ask mods to un-ban him.
Actually the Athletic Department and athletic director have no jurisdiction over athletic development. Our senior director of atheric development and Development as a whole reports to Chris Vaupel, Vp of institutional advancement. The athletic departments works with athletic development and has a vested interest in funds raised, but no line authority over athletic fundraisers. It's why the athletic director spends a lot of time on donor meetings and calls.
Except in this case where like other mens basketball hires a search committee was formed with a designated chair, the athletic director searches for, interviews, and hires coaches. The Pitino development was unique. The search committee was in place and until Pitino became a serious consideration, shanley was not in the lead. It was an extraordinary circumstance because Shanley had a relationship with Pitino from Rick's Providence days, and Billy Donovan urged Shanley, whose friendship dates back to Billy's time as a student. It was decided shanley would leverage that relationship.
There are a significant number of BOT private sector members, past and present, who are mighty financial supporters of the athletic department. I know many if them including one who posts here. They are mostly ardent men's basketball fans and while they would interview and hire an AD, to my knowledge do not interfere with daily operations. However the AD is tied to the overall university budget and strategic plan and does not operate as a standalone business unit.
To be certain, Goff was hired because no one wanted the job at the salary range offered and it was felt it was time for more diversity in the AD. Gigantic mistake.
If you believe there is a homerun Pitino like hire, remember that Duke's AD is paid almost $2 million per year, and in terms of revenue producing athletic departments my guess is our compensation is at the lower end.
I'm sure if the BOT and Shanley feels they need to upgrade that position they will. Few people on here understand what an AD's job encompasses so as johnnyfan said, we are largely ill equipped to pass full judgment.