What would everyone say is a realistic MAAC won-loss record for a coach in his third year at Fairfield during what JS and others have described as a down year for talent in the MAAC?
I don't necessarily mean from this point on --- I doubt anyone other than tmaac was expecting us to be 2-11 at this point.
I realize we're all prejudiced when we state our opinions, but if there were such a thing as an objective fan of Fairfield basketball --- and that person was told at the start of the season that our coach was beginning his third year as head coach and had been given a contract extension through the '18-'19 season after his first season at one of the highest salaries in the MAAC; and that it was generally conceded that the talent level was down overall in the league --- what would that person guess to be a realistic MAAC regular season record for Fairfield when you take into consideration we're playing the 26th youngest roster in all of Division 1 basketball?
It's realistic to be young when you're a first or second year guy. You don't get that excuse if you're in your third year. You may get it if there are health issues. - we don't have that. You may get it if you loaded up and won it all-we don't have that. Realistic is .500 or close to it with top four after 1 down year. Clearly we don't or won't have that. Rather than risk things with a guy that has underperformed while here, you need to make a change now. His roster mismanagement killed this year. His recruiting/closing has been poor. His game management is questionable. He's Mitch with out the two rings.
Iona's Tim Cluess hired for the 2010-11 season and was (20-14)(11-7) in his 3rd season & NCAA Tournament Canisius's Jim Barron hired for the 2012-13 season and is (16-8)(10-3) in his 2nd season Manhattan's Steve Masiello hired for the 2011-12 season and is (16-6)(9-4) in his 3rd season Quinnipiac's Tom Moore hired for the 2007-08 season and was (23-10)(15-3) in his 3rd NEC season Rider's Kevin Baggett hired for the 2012-13 season and is (12-11)(8-6) in his 2nd season Siena's Jimmy Patsos hired for the 2013-14 season and is (10-14)(6-7) in his first season Marist's Jeff Bower hired for the 2013-14 season and is (9-14)(6-7) in his first season Monmouth's King Rice hired for 2011-12 season and is (10-14)(4-9) in his 3rd season Niagara's Chris Casey hired for the 2013-14 season and is (6-18)(3-10) in his first season St. Peter's John Dunne was hired for the 2006-07 season and was (11-19)(8-10) in his 3rd season Fairfield's Syndey Johnson hired for 2011-12 season and is (5-19)(2-11) in his 3rd season
The Fairfield Coaches' 3rd Seasons:
Ed Cooley was hired by Fairfield for the 2006-07 season and was (17-15)(9-9) in his 3rd season Ed Cooley was hired by Providence for the 2011-12 season and is (16-8)(8-5) in his 3rd season Tim O'Toole was hired by Fairfield for the 1998-99 season and was (12-16) in his 3rd season Paul Cormier was hired by Fairfield for the 1991-92 season and was (8-19) in his 3rd season Mitch Buonaguro was hired by Fairfield for the 1985-86 season and was (8-20)(4-10) in his 3rd season
The comparison is a joke without context. No junior class and one senior. You guys are too much.
Why not compare coaches in their first year or second year --
When SJ has had experienced players he has won: at-large Iona, ODU in Springfield, ASU, St. Joes on road, CIT games; all with one guard who could score (when Needham was healthy) and one year with Sanders, who played harder for SJ than he ever did at BC.
No one gets a pass, and I'm sure SJ and the staff are feeling much worse than we are. This, after all, is about their careers, their families, their futures. Too much of what is being written seems to ignore this reality.
SJ tried to get players to fill in the roster holes. He didn't get the guys he wanted and our Big East guard transfer hasn't exactly panned out. But the stream of criticism is becoming absurd, implying that this guy can't coach or that the team has no future with him at the helm.
I feel good about Marcus, Coleman and KJ becoming very good players and think JJ, Smith and Chappel have plenty of room to grow. Reports are good for our incoming recruits and perhaps a JUCO or two. This year has been painful, but if every team gave up on a coach after a tough season, lots of good coaches never would have had the chance to show it.
I am not ready to give up yet, but, I don't like the trend and I don't think we have much of a choice contractually. There is a lot riding on next year's recruiting class.
Post by reindeerfan on Feb 9, 2014 16:15:26 GMT -5
If Sydney hadn't finished 7th last year I would be much less concerned about our record this season. We were a 500 MAAC team that was in the play in game last season with three experienced senior guards who were essentially 4 year starters, and with a junior power forward that was a 3 year starter. That was as concerning to me as the lumps we are taking this season.
With all due respect, stop with the JUCOS. Fairfield is NOT exactly "flexible" when it comes to accepting JUCO transfers. In fact, its quite the opposite.
No one gets a pass, and I'm sure SJ and the staff are feeling much worse than we are. This, after all, is about their careers, their families, their futures. Too much of what is being written seems to ignore this reality.
SJ tried to get players to fill in the roster holes. He didn't get the guys he wanted and our Big East guard transfer hasn't exactly panned out. But the stream of criticism is becoming absurd, implying that this guy can't coach or that the team has no future with him at the helm.
I feel good about Marcus, Coleman and KJ becoming very good players and think JJ, Smith and Chappel have plenty of room to grow. Reports are good for our incoming recruits and perhaps a JUCO or two. This year has been painful, but if every team gave up on a coach after a tough season, lots of good coaches never would have had the chance to show it.
I respect what you are saying. The problem is "he didn't get the guys he wanted" and "the Big East transfer hasn't panned out". The buck starts and stops with him. That's life. Sometimes it may not be fair, but we are all judged by our results in any of our professions. The bar is high in D1. Sydney has done a poor job and he is setting up the program for another sub par year next year. That's unacceptable...
No one gets a pass, and I'm sure SJ and the staff are feeling much worse than we are. This, after all, is about their careers, their families, their futures. Too much of what is being written seems to ignore this reality.
SJ tried to get players to fill in the roster holes. He didn't get the guys he wanted and our Big East guard transfer hasn't exactly panned out. But the stream of criticism is becoming absurd, implying that this guy can't coach or that the team has no future with him at the helm.
I feel good about Marcus, Coleman and KJ becoming very good players and think JJ, Smith and Chappel have plenty of room to grow. Reports are good for our incoming recruits and perhaps a JUCO or two. This year has been painful, but if every team gave up on a coach after a tough season, lots of good coaches never would have had the chance to show it.
Head coach is not a mid level job where you can slide by. He got big dollars to win here. He hasn't done that. Yes he tried to get players-he wasn't successful. Our recruits are rated as average by any service that rates them. They may turn out great but they are years away. The JUCOs we are looking at don't have BCS level interest.
About their careers/families-they signed up for a public high pressured job that has great upside if your successful. It also has downside if your not.