Time to Hire ...

Orlando Antigua. Tough NY guy and former player who has been learning under Jamie Dixon and now Calipari. Also an excellent recruiter. Someone's going to make him a HC very soon. Why not us?
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Why would we settle for someone with no head coach experience--or even limited HC experience??
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This is in response to Dinkins and SI too...
I know my opinion isn't a popular one. And I fully recognize there are other good options, and if we hire someone like Maisello or Hurley I would be perfectly happy.
But hear me out..
The guys with proven track records as head coaches aren't going to be available to us. We're not getting Shaka or Mark Few. It would have to be someone who has already been fired by a big program, or someone with only moderate success at a mid-major.

And yes, Norm was an assistant with somewhat similar credentials before we hired him. But so was Crean before Marquette hired him away from Izzos staff.

I think Antigua is unique because he appeases a lot of different interested parties, and checks off a lot of boxes:
1) He's a NYC guy, and like it or not a lot of our fans care about that. Especially the older guys.
2) He's catholic, and a product of CHSAA. Again, like it or not, this will matter to some of the trustees.
3) As a first time HC he won't demand an absolutely ridiculous salary. And this matters if we're buying out Lavin.
4) He's an elite recruiter. Granted he was doing it as the arm of successful programs like Pitt and UK, but he is also known for building relationships with the kids he truly covets. And NBA guys like Cousins swear by him. Also, he has learned from some pretty good recruiters like Cal, Dixon, Slice
5) And he has a background that some players will relate to, kids that are sometimes hard to connect with. Anybody read the FoxSports or NYTimes articles about all the trauma our guys have been through off the court? Antigua knows that as well as anyone. This is a guy who was shot in the head.

Not a perfect candidate, but one who deserves to be on the short list. That's my argument. Give him one of the interviews and see what happens.

And let's not go crazy. He's not that similar to Norm. This is a guy who was an excellent player in his own right - a McDonalds AA. He's the head coach of the Dominican National Team. And while Norm came from a program that recruited well, what Antigua has done at Memphis and Kentucky with Cal is unparalleled.
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Worth interviewing. A lot of things to like.
 
Orlando Antigua. Tough NY guy and former player who has been learning under Jamie Dixon and now Calipari. Also an excellent recruiter. Someone's going to make him a HC very soon. Why not us?
Click to expand...


Why would we settle for someone with no head coach experience--or even limited HC experience??
Click to expand...
This is in response to Dinkins and SI too...
I know my opinion isn't a popular one. And I fully recognize there are other good options, and if we hire someone like Maisello or Hurley I would be perfectly happy.
But hear me out..
The guys with proven track records as head coaches aren't going to be available to us. We're not getting Shaka or Mark Few. It would have to be someone who has already been fired by a big program, or someone with only moderate success at a mid-major.

And yes, Norm was an assistant with somewhat similar credentials before we hired him. But so was Crean before Marquette hired him away from Izzos staff.

I think Antigua is unique because he appeases a lot of different interested parties, and checks off a lot of boxes:
1) He's a NYC guy, and like it or not a lot of our fans care about that. Especially the older guys.
2) He's catholic, and a product of CHSAA. Again, like it or not, this will matter to some of the trustees.
3) As a first time HC he won't demand an absolutely ridiculous salary. And this matters if we're buying out Lavin.
4) He's an elite recruiter. Granted he was doing it as the arm of successful programs like Pitt and UK, but he is also known for building relationships with the kids he truly covets. And NBA guys like Cousins swear by him. Also, he has learned from some pretty good recruiters like Cal, Dixon, Slice
5) And he has a background that some players will relate to, kids that are sometimes hard to connect with. Anybody read the FoxSports or NYTimes articles about all the trauma our guys have been through off the court? Antigua knows that as well as anyone. This is a guy who was shot in the head.

Not a perfect candidate, but one who deserves to be on the short list. That's my argument. Give him one of the interviews and see what happens.

And let's not go crazy. He's not that similar to Norm. This is a guy who was an excellent player in his own right - a McDonalds AA. He's the head coach of the Dominican National Team. And while Norm came from a program that recruited well, what Antigua has done at Memphis and Kentucky with Cal is unparalleled.
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Good response.

I also had totally forgot he was shot in the head.
 
How is he w X's and O's?
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That's admittedly an open question. He's got limited head coaching experience (leading the DR), but that's why I would call around. People have seen him running UK practices, ask what they think. Call Dixon see what he says. And see what ideas he brings to his interview.

Plus, one thing I left off - you don't have to worry about the Jarvis criticisms. This is a guy who was a legend for the Guachos and then became a big recruiter for Dixon and Cal. The AAU coaches have known him forever and love him.
 
Aside from Tim cluess are there any other St. John's guys competent enough to turn us around. Bruce pearl looks like a sexy hire but I don't think he would go for us. Where is Ben Howland right now lol
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Tim Cluess is not a St John's guy. He left SJU for Hofstra
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Ridiculous assertion - Cluess came from the pre-eminent family of St. john's basketball, with three brothers all starting on varsity before he arrived on campus. As the youngest brother, he LITERALLY grew up on SJU basketball watching brothers Hank, Greg, and Kevin start and star here. He had bad knees, and the same fierce desire that fires him now, he still wanted to see daylight. He left to play and pursue a degree at Hofstra, and NEVER stopped closely following SJU bball - to this day. To me, he's the next coach, if Lavin is to ever leave. He also lives less than 10 minutes from campus
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Ridiculous assertion? Its a fact Beast. He left SJU and graduated somewhere else. Regardless of how many of his brothers came and played here.
If he's the next coach of SJU I'm out. I'll go find another team to root for.
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Is that the reason you would be against him? That he left? That's your big problem with him?
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Uh no. Not sure where you picked that up from the posts above. If that was a requirement of mine we would have 0 coaches to choose from.

I go to Iona games pretty frequently. Its a track meet. The track meet works at that level. His sideline demeanor is borders on embarrassing.

Everyone has favorites. He is a favorite of yours and there is nothing wrong with that. I just corrected a misnomer. Everyone thinks because is a Cluess he graduated from SJU like his other siblings. Just not true. But hardly factoring into why I wouldnt have him anywhere near my list of candidates.
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From what I understand he is a lunatic on the sidelines up there, no? It's just his demeanor on the court. I do know a kid who played for him and he is LOVED by nearly all his players. He is also totally the real deal as a person, and I had him pegged wrong in that regard for many years. I think we could use a fiery coach, no?
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Cluess NOT the guy. Correct reasons already cited.
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Everyone said that 4 years ago when I advocated for Cluess. Now, who wouldn't have taken him over Lavin? He's been to the dance a couple of times already with Iona, no?
 
Aside from Tim cluess are there any other St. John's guys competent enough to turn us around. Bruce pearl looks like a sexy hire but I don't think he would go for us. Where is Ben Howland right now lol
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Tim Cluess is not a St John's guy. He left SJU for Hofstra
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Ridiculous assertion - Cluess came from the pre-eminent family of St. john's basketball, with three brothers all starting on varsity before he arrived on campus. As the youngest brother, he LITERALLY grew up on SJU basketball watching brothers Hank, Greg, and Kevin start and star here. He had bad knees, and the same fierce desire that fires him now, he still wanted to see daylight. He left to play and pursue a degree at Hofstra, and NEVER stopped closely following SJU bball - to this day. To me, he's the next coach, if Lavin is to ever leave. He also lives less than 10 minutes from campus
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Ridiculous assertion? Its a fact Beast. He left SJU and graduated somewhere else. Regardless of how many of his brothers came and played here.
If he's the next coach of SJU I'm out. I'll go find another team to root for.
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Is that the reason you would be against him? That he left? That's your big problem with him?
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Uh no. Not sure where you picked that up from the posts above. If that was a requirement of mine we would have 0 coaches to choose from.

I go to Iona games pretty frequently. Its a track meet. The track meet works at that level. His sideline demeanor is borders on embarrassing.

Everyone has favorites. He is a favorite of yours and there is nothing wrong with that. I just corrected a misnomer. Everyone thinks because is a Cluess he graduated from SJU like his other siblings. Just not true. But hardly factoring into why I wouldnt have him anywhere near my list of candidates.
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From what I understand he is a lunatic on the sidelines up there, no? It's just his demeanor on the court. I do know a kid who played for him and he is LOVED by nearly all his players. He is also totally the real deal as a person, and I had him pegged wrong in that regard for many years. I think we could use a fiery coach, no?
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I can agree with that. Then give me fiery coach that preaches defense more.
 
Antigua a recruiter predominately. I think that would be a riskier pick than necessary. St. John's could hire an assistant with previous D1 head coaching experience. There are a lot of guys that would take the job, I think. Larry Brown's top assistant at SMU, Tim Jankovich, played PG at Kansas State, was a D1 head coach, had an excellent record at Illinois State, was an assistant at a number of major programs. He's done it all. If you're going to hire a NY guy, which I don't think is necessary, like Massiello I'd rather have Cluess. Hurley is a different story. He's very well known in the NY area and he's had some decent success coaching in his short career. He'd probably recruit well because his dad's success gives him notoriety and access, and a lot of people already think he's a good coach.
 
These "who should we go after" topics are great for banter & discussion, but whether we want to accept it or not, Lavin is not going anywhere. Certainly not this year or next year. I am not saying that this is a good or a bad thing for us, simply stating what seems to be the situation as far as SJU basketball is concerned. I just don't see any way that the University fires Lavin after 4 years (really just 3 since he only coached 4 games his 2nd season), new President or not. As bad as the results have been this year, it's going to take a lot more losing, unfortunately, before the University ever crosses that path. That, and the big time donors saying they've had enough. Maybe I'm wrong, I'd welcome discussion on this.
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Not during season, but don't be so sure after that. Firing is not only approach. Rub enough folks with clout the wrong way & decisions can be made.
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Not sure how that changes anything if he is under contract. This is not just about winning games, the University wants stability, they don't want to make coaching changes every 4 to 6 years. Something tells me they are committed to making this work long term. Not basing this on anything specific, just a hunch.
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Then he would have got extension this summer. He will have only 2 yrs remaining on his deal. Tough to recruit 2015 kids when you only have a contract to coach them for 1 year. So after the year is crap or get off the pot time for admin. Either you extend and start adding $ to the money that is left. Or you buyout now and cut ties before the $ gets higher if you don't think he's the answer.
 
Agree. Decisions have to be made after this season. It's a very difficult position to be in. Starting over again basically. And that would be a big step backwards. Admitting it wasn't going to work out after 4 years and all the changes. It would be better if it worked out with Lavin here. He gets the players, The assistants coach the team in practice and get them prepared to play. I'll bet there are a large number of teams that do it that way a lot.
 
If only Billy Donovan would have said yes. Hell, if only Paul Hewitt's wife would have said yes. Oh, If only the search committee would said yes to Al Skinner. Anybody but Lavin would have been better in retrospect and I was huge fan of the Lavin hire when it came down.
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Actually Skinner is available. Just read a nice read and endorsement about him from the PC coach, COOLEY ON THE FRIAR BOARD.
Al is ASST coach at Bryant in RI, under Tim O'Shea, a former protege, as was COOLEY.

Skinner is the all time leader in Wins at BC. He won with BC in the BE and ACC, as well. Appears He got a raw deal at BC and the guy they brought in hasn't won a thing.
Skiner is a NY TOO. age 61.
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If Al Skinner was so great at BC why has he not landed a HC job since 2010?
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I'll tell you why
Because he has a reputation of being a lazy recruiter (ie: "Jarvi$-like")
Give me Bruce Pearl in a New York - the guy is full of personality and he can recruit AND coach
 
Good lord, 8 pages and the only decent coach is mentioned in the first two words of this thread.
 
Another Seth fan?
Oh lord
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I like Masiello a lot, but I fear he may come from the Manhattan College School of Coaching... ie he looses his shit at the drop of a hat.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it may just be time to fire up the SJU Search Committee. This is a process that will make you laugh and make you cry; mostly cry. My first nominee for the committee would be the guy who voted for "fiery" Bobby Gonzalez eleven years ago. It's go time !!
 
Maybe all we need is a good coach along with great fans.
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I am not ready to give up on Lavin. Hope he lands a top 2014 player Then .goes on to get top. recruiting classes for 2015 and 2016.
 
What are the sentiments on Chris Mullin being the coach?

I have heard that he was upset that he never received a call when they hired Norm.
 
Maybe all we need is a good coach along with great fans.
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I am not ready to give up on Lavin. Hope he lands a top 2014 player Then .goes on to get top. recruiting classes for 2015 and 2016.
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LMFAO!!!!
Why not start a Stephen Zimmerman rumor? Didn't Lavin travel to Vegas for a weekend of dining and shows just to validate his trip for expense purposes by "offering" Zimmerman?
 
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