Maybe Coach Casey is winning with " Coach Youngs recruits" but the key word is .....WINNING. As was mentioed previously,with the free for all with transfers and NIL, a whole lot of coaches will be winning with someone elses recruits. Casey is a proven head coach,with solid assistants, who will get the absolute best out his players.I'd give him have three years..... Can not be any worse than what we have endured since Ed Cooley.
If FF does hire Casey( I hope they do) he will need to take a hard look at his current assistants and perhaps revise the staff. Glen Braccia ( sp?) is a former H/C from St. Francis Brooklyn and is probably a good game situation coach. Older in age I am not sure if he is still connected enough to be a prime recruiter? Taj Benning is in only his first year of coaching so he probably does not have extensive contacts developed as of yet? Mike Jarvis was in university development prior to being named as a staff assistant so he has yet to prove himself IMO. l know little about the DOB’s background so I cannot comment. Casey will need to find an assistant well known to AAU coaches or who is connected to the transfer portal like Johns/ Dougher probably were.
Post by alsostagparty on Mar 3, 2024 15:02:17 GMT -5
We could be a very strong team next season if things fall into place, even without a big name transfer. Don’t forget we have Rogan coming off injury and have yet to see Moumine, who appears to be athletic.
I agree with everyone saying to give Casey a shot. Short term.. 2/3 years, with bonus $ contingent on meeting performance goals. He should hire assistants based on what they delivered this year and where he sees the need. Indeed he may need a recruiting wiz. There are a few standout players who have been offered, so someone on staff is doing some decent work. How tight our relationships with these players remains to be seen, but a couple have visited. Losing Tristan G.’s commitment was a major step back..
If FF does hire Casey( I hope they do) he will need to take a hard look at his current assistants and perhaps revise the staff. Glen Braccia ( sp?) is a former H/C from St. Francis Brooklyn and is probably a good game situation coach. Older in age I am not sure if he is still connected enough to be a prime recruiter? Taj Benning is in only his first year of coaching so he probably does not have extensive contacts developed as of yet? Mike Jarvis was in university development prior to being named as a staff assistant so he has yet to prove himself IMO. l know little about the DOB’s background so I cannot comment. Casey will need to find an assistant well known to AAU coaches or who is connected to the transfer portal like Johns/ Dougher probably were.
Well, I like Mike Jarvis but I do think he has been hired for a fill in role, and is not a permanent member of the staff. I do agree that we need someone in the AAU network and that is where John's was a good coach for Fairfield. I would be looking at a coach with his profile to add to the Staff next season.
In my opinion the best approach is to do a search but include Coach Casey automatically as a candidate. Maybe even a preferred candidate. I worked in the Corporate world for many years. Every open position always had to include an open application process even when a preferred candidate from within the company was identified. Makes sense to do due diligence and ensure sure you are considering all qualified interested candidates.
The last "search" got us the AD's friend. How did that work out? Casey knows the MAAC well and has provided us with an on-the-job audition this season. If nothing else, he promotes a fast-paced exciting brand of basketball that is enticing these days to both high school ballers and transfers. The team actually looks like they are having fun playing basketball . . . something we have not witnessed for years. He further has demonstrated flexibility in rotations and schemes as dictated by the opponent or flow of a game. How refreshing! I am not suggesting he is beyond criticism or reproach. Heck, we as fans love to second-guess . . . especially on message boards! But I would much rather have a proven commodity moving forward versus an unknown with an attractive resume but no track record at a mid-major like Fairfield.
Very important point about the "brand" of ball that has taken over under Casey and how it might help to recruit future players who prefer the freedom he allows as opposed to the style that Jay Young preferred. And yes if they go the route of opening up the position, certainly there could be the unknown factor about the future, something that finally appears to be going away after so many years of unsteady leadership. But to be fair, one thing positive I would point out about Jay's tenure (the AD's friend) is the fact that it was he who made the choice to hire Chris in the first place thereby leading to the situation we are currently in. The players too have almost to a man been class acts off the court as well as good performers on it. But in that vein moving forward I think we would be looking for more of the same if we stay with Chris where as there might not be that guarantee of the same happening if a new guy came in.
We could be a very strong team next season if things fall into place, even without a big name transfer. Don’t forget we have Rogan coming off injury and have yet to see Moumine, who appears to be athletic.
I agree with everyone saying to give Casey a shot. Short term.. 2/3 years, with bonus $ contingent on meeting performance goals. He should hire assistants based on what they delivered this year and where he sees the need. Indeed he may need a recruiting wiz. There are a few standout players who have been offered, so someone on staff is doing some decent work. How tight our relationships with these players remains to be seen, but a couple have visited. Losing Tristan G.’s commitment was a major step back..
Fairfield could have 10 new faces... seriously. That's NCAA basketball in 2024.
Casey has great NYC connections, as does Braica. If Casey is retained, I would not be surprised to see him tab a highly respected High School coach as a recruiter.