Staff Addition

[dk423]

Matt won't be anywhere near evaluations, *finding* talent, coaches huddles, x's and o's game planning or lineups, or practices.

The Athletic had a great article about what the GM role does at Duke. It's about creating partnerships with players and NIL possibilities, talking to recruits about NIL/$, another ear to the ground and being another recruiter once they're done in the funnel. It hits all of his strengths and he'll play nice with Pitino here.

 

[swish]

I miss this team so much. still can’t believe with all of this talent we finished 8th in the big East that year. Maybe the biggest indictment ever that Mullin was a terrible hire

Any truth to the rumor that Matt now uses burner phones and has blocked Zach’s number as an added layer of protection?

Very true, it is also safe to say that sometimes those actions can be very much behind the back, self serving actions. Both are strategic, but one has a team aspect, the other individual.

It's especially shattering when reality destroys the image we all had for Chris .
He just was short on most qualities needed to be a quality coach.

But boy, he was one GREAT BALLPLAYER !!!

 

[MCNPA]

I wasn't planning to respond to this thread because I have known Matt for over 20 years and consider him a friend. I am not going to defend him because he does not need me to.

However, I would like to point out the following:
1. St Johns hires Pitino, response here:
"In Pitino We Trust"
2. Pitino assembles his staff, aside from Van and Masiello, most have no idea how good they are, response here:
"In Pitino We Trust"
3. Pitino begins to put together a roster which goes slowly at first, response here:
"In Pitino We Trust"
4. Pitino gets commitments from Dingle and Wilcher, response here:
"In Pitino We Trust"
5. Pitino may hire Matt A, response by some on here:
"A lot of bitching, snide remarks, and petty bullshit like little girls!!!
WTF happened to "In Pitino We Trust"??? Some of y'all are extremely hypocritical, SMFH

Agree here. I can’t see Matt as being anything but a SJU guy. I’ve seen him at meetups in the city as a fan even before he was where he is now. He’s driven and I’d bet he has best interest of this program at heart. I'm positive about it.

 

[Section9]

All my past grudges are gone

That does it. First Mike arranges the Novita meet-ups, and now this magnanimous gesture. I am honored to nominate Mike for the first annual Red.fans Humanitarian of the Year Award.

 

[JohnnyFan]

Honest question.....I am not sure why some take issue with Matt A.

As MJ mentioned, sharing scoop with reporters is often good business. Give some scoop, then get some good PR for you and the team later. If it's about him leaving.....when it comes to professional decisions, everyone has to look out for themselves. I get that.

 

[ericktheredd]

Want nothing to do with MA

 

[JohnnyFan]

Want nothing to do with MA

Why?

 

[logen]

Honest question.....I am not sure why some take issue with Matt A.

As MJ mentioned, sharing scoop with reporters is often good business. Give some scoop, then get some good PR for you and the team later. If it's about him leaving.....when it comes to professional decisions, everyone has to look out for themselves. I get that.

The key word being “often”, it is very much revisionist history to rationalize his actions before leaving SJU as something positive, they weren’t. And it was more than just leaking info, it included recruiting for another program before leaving. Is he the first person to do either? Hardly. Was the whole situation at SJU an absolute $hit show? For sure, but that doesn’t change his part in it.
And as I posted before, I have NO problem with his return, CBB is hardly Boy Scout stuff, but what happened is what happened and behind the back doesn’t magically become straight up just because Pitino wanted to bring him back and people are happy about that.

 

[room112]

The key word being “often”, it is very much revisionist history to rationalize his actions before leaving SJU as something positive, they weren’t. And it was more than just leaking info, it included recruiting for another program before leaving. Is he the first person to do either? Hardly. Was the whole situation at SJU an absolute $hit show? For sure, but that doesn’t change his part in it.
And as I posted before, I have NO problem with his return, CBB is hardly Boy Scout stuff, but what happened is what happened and behind the back doesn’t magically become straight up just because Pitino wanted to bring him back and people are happy about that.

I admittedly don't remember all of the details. But during his time under Mullin, didnt he essentially force St Johns into giving him a raise through less than ideal tactics?

 

[logen]

I admittedly don't remember all of the details. But during his time under Mullin, didnt he essentially force St Johns into giving him a raise through less than ideal tactics?

While I have heard that, but I don’t know that so I obviously can’t comment. I am also a “team” guy and what I do know he did affected others he was supposed to be teaming with.
Also, and this is not hard and fast, in general ”re-negotiating“ salaries to me is very much personal between employee and employer and I would have to really KNOW the detailed circumstances to judge such a situation. My feeling is in the overwhelming majority of those situations the employer can always just refuse.

 

[SJU85]

I admittedly don't remember all of the details. But during his time under Mullin, didnt he essentially force St Johns into giving him a raise through less than ideal tactics?

He had a chance to leave for Florida. To stay he requested a raise and the school capitulated to his demands. if the school wanted to keep him from leaving, he told him what it would take and they gave it to him. I don’t see a problem with that, however IIIRC, Matt did this twice and in back to back years which did not sit well with several people.

I have been in the position where I was going to leave my job for another position. My job asked me what it would take or me to stay. I told them and they gave me what I asked for and I stayed.

 

[room112]

He had a chance to leave for Florida. To stay he requested a raise and the school capitulated to his demands. if the school wanted to keep him from leaving, he told him what it would take and they gave it to him. I don’t see a problem with that, however IIIRC, Matt did this twice and in back to back years which did not sit well with several people.

I have been in the position where I was going to leave my job for another position. My job asked me what it would take or me to stay. I told them and they gave me what I asked for and I stayed.

In most jobs if someone pulled that tactic in back to back years to demand a raise, the employer would tell them good luck the second time. Unfortunately due to the mis-management of the program at the time, it appeared he was the only one doing the recruiting so they had no choice but to pay him. Also not really sure why any of that information had to be made public.

Although it was in his best interest at the time because Mullin was a lame duck coach, I believe some took issue when he bailed and followed Hoiberg to Nebraska.

 

[monte]

He had a chance to leave for Florida. To stay he requested a raise and the school capitulated to his demands. if the school wanted to keep him from leaving, he told him what it would take and they gave it to him. I don’t see a problem with that, however IIIRC, Matt did this twice and in back to back years which did not sit well with several people.

I have been in the position where I was going to leave my job for another position. My job asked me what it would take or me to stay. I told them and they gave me what I asked for and I stayed.

Here's the thing 85', in college basketball(and many other professions) there's always going to be a better offer if you're doing your job well, which Matt was. No one ever accused SJU of paying at or near the top of the salary scale, Matt knew that when he took the job. So there were always going to be higher paying jobs available.

Now, one could argue that he was doing the job of 2 people after Slice left, and IMO that is a fair argument for warranting a raise. I don't know really know enough about the particulars to have a strong opinion on the situation one way or the other.

Regardless, like you, I leave this to the employer/employee to work out. However there's no way anyone is gonna convince me that:
A)Matt has this great love for SJU, and;
B) if hired, he won't continue to shop around for a better paying job.

Having said that, if Rick is good with him then I'm good with him.

 

[classof2010]

In Coach Pitino we trust! Also, I think if Matt A. pulled shit with Rick. I don’t Morrie is bringing Danish home to Belle

 

[kranmars]

The one thing we can be sure about is that Pitino demands his staff works extremely hard.

I bet Macon, who proved his chops under Anderson as a grinder, had to be prepare himself for a different level under Pitino. So far, so (very) good.

If Matt wants to prove once and for all he will run through walls for the coach, this is his best shot.

Maybe it is just me, but the thought of being interviewed by Pitino would scare the pants off of me. It is safe to say the interview was a little more intense than a friendly chitchat.

In the end, even if Matt does not have this this great love of SJU, he does have a great amount of respect for Pitino, and that is all that counts.

If Matt helps Pitino accomplish what is expected, then none of us will care who loves who more. We will all be too busy enjoying our beloved program become a national power.

 

[monte]

The one thing we can be sure about is that Pitino demands his staff works extremely hard.

I bet Macon, who proved his chops under Anderson as a grinder, had to be prepare himself for a different level under Pitino. So far, so (very) good.

If Matt wants to prove once and for all he will run through walls for the coach, this is his best shot.

Maybe it is just me, but the thought of being interviewed by Pitino would scare the pants off of me. It is safe to say the interview was a little more intense than a friendly chitchat.

In the end, even if Matt does not have this this great love of SJU, he does have a great amount of respect for Pitino, and that is all that counts.

If Matt helps Pitino accomplish what is expected, then none of us will care who loves who more. We will all be too busy enjoying our beloved program become a national power.

The other thing is that Matt was probably the most unexpendable member of Chris's staff, so he had a ton of leverage. That will not be the case this time around, so there's really not a downside to bringing him back, assuming he's as effective in his new position as he was in his old one.

 

[rlogazino]

What were the main reasons that Slice was fired? Did MA force him out?

 

[Marillac2]

Honest question.....I am not sure why some take issue with Matt A.

As MJ mentioned, sharing scoop with reporters is often good business. Give some scoop, then get some good PR for you and the team later. If it's about him leaving.....when it comes to professional decisions, everyone has to look out for themselves. I get that.

He ran to Zach and others with info meant solely to make himself look good at the expense of others. Slice and old school recruiters don’t operate like that. I’m a Slice guy personally. He’s one of three people I’ve known that makes everyone he knows even a little feel like a close friend.

But Matt was relatively young at the time and people deserve a second chance. He was made for this kind of role.

The release of info can be positive but it must be always be controlled from the top down. Nowhere is that more true than at St. John’s. We’ve been run like a mom and pop so everyone feels like an insider. We assistants in the past who would tell you anything you asked.

 

[swish]

The other thing is that Matt was probably the most unexpendable member of Chris's staff, so he had a ton of leverage. That will not be the case this time around, so there's really not a downside to bringing him back, assuming he's as effective in his new position as he was in his old one.

Spot on ! Also spot on ---"if Rick wants him, that should be good enough for
all of us." Thanks Monte !

Simply an extension of ,"In Rick We Trust'
Matt was an ace recruiter for us, performing magic when we had an
abundance of nothing to offer a potential recruit. Great kids, bad coaching.

A combination of Rick and Matt is nothing short of a
DYNAMITE DUO for us.

This will become A DYNAMITE DUO DYNASTY.

ENJOY IT, WE ALL DESERVE IT.

 

[kranmars]

He ran to Zach and others with info meant solely to make himself look good at the expense of others. Slice and old school recruiters don’t operate like that. I’m a Slice guy personally. He’s one of three people I’ve known that makes everyone he knows even a little feel like a close friend.

But Matt was relatively young at the time and people deserve a second chance. He was made for this kind of role.

The release of info can be positive but it must be always be controlled from the top down. Nowhere is that more true than at St. John’s. We’ve been run like a mom and pop so everyone feels like an insider. We assistants in the past who would tell you anything you asked.

At the risk of having this thread devolve into a discussion of how massive a sh*t show our previous coaching staffs were, I apologize ahead of time.

Even Slice, who made his bones by walking the streets and successfully making old fashioned connections, checked out as Mullin’s assistant.

It may have started because he didn’t like the optics of another assistant conducting the timeout huddles, while the head coach stood idly by. Of course things escalated because the personalities on that staff were a toxic mix, and Mullin could not be bothered to put an end to it.

But Slice was getting paid handsomely, and it was unprofessional to react in that manner. He took heat when he was unable to get Heron (who he had a relationship with), but Matt did as a transfer a couple of years later.

Apologies again for sucking folks into the program’s sordid past, when our road ahead has never looked clearer. But holy smokes the level of this program’s incompetency was off the charts.