Moe Hicks leaving SJU

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SJUalum98

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http://www.redstormsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/073113aaa.html

QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's head men's basketball coach Steve Lavin announced Wednesday that three-year Director of Men's Basketball Operations Maurice "Moe" Hicks will resign from his position at the University effective immediately, as Hicks, one of the most successful coaches in New York City high school history, looks to make a return to coaching basketball.

A search to fill the vacant position on Lavin's staff is near completion.

"As the Director of Basketball Operations, Moe Hicks has been a valuable contributor to our program," said Lavin. "We appreciate Moe's efforts and wish him the best as he returns to his passion of coaching basketball."

"It has been a great experience working at St. John's under Coach Lavin. He has built a national program and I wish him and the team all the best," said Hicks.

One of the most respected high school coaches and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) administrators in the history of New York City, Hicks joined the St. John's basketball program three years ago, in 2010, after 20 years of coaching the area's youth, and with unprecedented success.

The head coach at Rice High School in Harlem from 1994-2010, Hicks compiled a 16-year record of 352-86 and guided the Raiders to five New York State Federation championships (1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2009). Hicks' high school squads, which were ranked in the USA Today Top 25 from 1994-2004 and then again in 2009, captured six New York City Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) titles (1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2009) and won 11 CHSAA divisional championships (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). Hicks' 1999 Raider squad posted a 27-1 record and was named the Hoops USA national champion.

For his efforts, Hicks was selected CHSAA Coach of the Year seven times, in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2009, and earned Tri-State Coach of the Year honors in 2009. Having served as the head coach at Louis D. Brandeis High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan from 1990-94 prior to his appointment at Rice, Hicks guided the Braves to the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) title in 1992. That makes him one of two coaches in New York City history to win both the CHSAA and PSAL championships.
 
And interestingly, the team's twitter feed says his replacement is pretty much in place. Any speculation on who it might be?

StJohnsBasketball ‏@StJohnsBBall 2m
A search to fill the vacant position on @SJUCoachLavin's staff is already near completion. #sjubb #stjbb
 
And interestingly, the team's twitter feed says his replacement is pretty much in place. Any speculation on who it might be?

StJohnsBasketball ‏@StJohnsBBall 2m
A search to fill the vacant position on @SJUCoachLavin's staff is already near completion. #sjubb #stjbb
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As a DOBO, you'd think it was someone with NYC and local AAU ties.

I have no clue. I'd love to see Mike Dunlap back with us but I don't think this would be the role for him.

Whoever it is, it will be a critical hire. Especially at this point where we're trying to land '14 recruits.
 
“@JonRothstein: Steve Lavin is targeting SLU Associate HC Jim Whitesell to fill the vacant spot on #stjbb staff, per a source. Strong X's + O's pedigree.”

Follows it up with the obvious

“@JonRothstein: If Jim Whitesell comes to #stjbb, it will be as a an assistant coach, not DOBO to replace Moe Hicks. Whitesell is a Rick Majerus disciple.”
 
@JonRothstein: If Jim Whitesell comes to #stjbb, it will be as a an assistant coach, not DOBO to replace Moe Hicks. Whitesell is a Rick Majerus disciple.

I wonder who would slide to DOBO
 
@JonRothstein: If Jim Whitesell comes to #stjbb, it will be as a an assistant coach, not DOBO to replace Moe Hicks. Whitesell is a Rick Majerus disciple.

I wonder who would slide to DOBO
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I would assume Darrick Martin
 
A trip to the Final Four was therapeutic, he said.

“I had a great conversation with Steve Lavin, who got fired at U.C.L.A,” Whitesell said. “He kind of walked me through what I was feeling. That was really helpful. Guys with better records than I had have been fired, and they told me it’s not the end of the world.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/us/10cncsports.html?_r=0
 
Would be just what the doctor ordered.

From the late Rick Majerus:

“He’s extraordinarily committed,” Majerus told STLToday.com. “He’d make me go to bed after a game and when I woke up, he’d have a tape made and 20 bullet points to look at and address. It got to a point, I wouldn’t look at them ahead of time because I wanted to do my own work and compare.

“He’s dedicated, a good coach, the players respect him, he’s a balance to me,” Majerus continued. “We’re a good team together. He’s an exceptionally hard worker. He loves it. He considers it honor and privilege (to coach) like I do. He loves the challenge, loves the chase.”

Whitesell worked primarily with post players this past season with the Billikens, but now becomes Majerus’ clear second-in-command and someone who can make an impact in recruiting.

“He’s the top assistant coach, that’s definitive,” Majerus said. “He’s the offensive coordinator, the defensive coordinator, the special team guy, the sideline outs. Not to detract from (Jim) Crews or Tanner (Bronson), Jim has got total responsibility for every aspect of the program. Others have aspects for specific parts.”
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcspo...istant-jim-whitesell-to-associate-head-coach/
 
Jim Whitesell Biography from the SLU website. I like what I'm reading.

http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205264830

This is a great plus:

"Whitesell also has used innovative means to generate student support at games, as he implemented several on-campus and community initiatives at Loyola to bring support and awareness to the basketball program. Loyola's student section was named the Horizon League's Top Student Section in 2009-10."

Jim Whitesell Coaching Experience
Head Coach
Elmhurst College (1987-92)
Lewis University (1992-2004)
Loyola University Chicago (2004-11)
Overall Record: 387-301 (.563) - 24 seasons

Assistant Coach
North Dakota (1982-83 - graduate asst. coach)
Ellsworth CC (Iowa) (1983-84)
Wabash Valley CC (Iowa) (1984-85)
Minnesota State (1985-87)
Saint Louis (2011-present)
 
Should we be worrying that the resignation was a sign of a broken promise or annoyance at being skipped over in favor of Martin? Hicks is held in high regard in NYC, so if he lands at the high school/AAU level instead of an open college job, I suppose it could hurt us if he is bitter about something.

Is Martin a lock to be the one getting demoted if he's well liked on the recruiting trail out west? If Whitesell doesn't do much recruiting, are we OK with just Lavin and Chiles doing it?
 
Sounds like a good hire. We have a ton of basketball IQ on this bench.
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Where did you see that STJ actually hired him?
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Sounds like a mere formality, per Zags tweet....

"Can confirm that Jim Whitesell will likely join the #stjbb staff as an asst replacing Moe Hicks and the staff will shuffle assignments"

 
Should we be worrying that the resignation was a sign of a broken promise or annoyance at being skipped over in favor of Martin? Hicks is held in high regard in NYC, so if he lands at the high school/AAU level instead of an open college job, I suppose it could hurt us if he is bitter about something.

Is Martin a lock to be the one getting demoted if he's well liked on the recruiting trail out west? If Whitesell doesn't do much recruiting, are we OK with just Lavin and Chiles doing it?
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I hope that wasn't the case with Hicks' resignation. That could play a role in the near future, if so. Personally, I'm not gonna sweat it until we find out that is the case.

The only person I can think of would be Martin. Either Martin is leaving St. John's, and we hire another DOBO or Martin seems like he's destined to the DOBO position at St. John's.

Remember, Hines also does recruiting, as well. He's not Lavin or Chiles, but he's certainly out there. Not to mention, Whitesell may be a decent recruiter in his own right. Whitesell also might be able to tap into some recruiting resources in the midwest. Just speaking hypothetically.
 
"Heard its a possibility but not necessarily close @QSTJHoops: Jim Whitesell is getting close to accepting job as assistant for #stjbb,"

 
Hines is whom I was getting at but didn't want his fans jumping all over me.

I know he's out on the road, but I'm not sure how many connections he has and who he's helped to land.

And I know guys like Kobe and Curry swear by him. I'm not in practice, so I don't know if he's putting our guys through the same workout routines, and if they are improving from them.
 
Hines is whom I was getting at but didn't want his fans jumping all over me.

I know he's out on the road, but I'm not sure how many connections he has and who he's helped to land.

And I know guys like Kobe and Curry swear by him. I'm not in practice, so I don't know if he's putting our guys through the same workout routines, and if they are improving from them.
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I had a feeling you were "getting at" Hines. ;)

Hines is, supposedly, the one that has played a role in Pointer's development.
 
Should we be worrying that the resignation was a sign of a broken promise or annoyance at being skipped over in favor of Martin? Hicks is held in high regard in NYC, so if he lands at the high school/AAU level instead of an open college job, I suppose it could hurt us if he is bitter about something. ...
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Willard has two openings on his staff at Seton Hall and hasn't recruited well in NYC area. Given Hicks' local connections, any chance he ends up there?
 
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