Dunphy

[nealum]

Some folks correctly are posting that if Dunphy leaves now, players may leave too. If so, then Dunphy needs to stay in some capacity. He would need a title - I said associate coach. Those that don't like that title can suggest something better. If we don't replace him now, when? There's a saying: "problems don't age well'. We have a coaching problem. Why wait? We can find a new coach for the future and still retain Fran in some capacity.

[JoeFedorowicz]

He’d be a fine hire and maybe even the right hire but if he didn’t play here there’d be 30 message board posters screaming about how we should have hired someone else.

[GlitterBro #2]

We shouldn't hire anyone who hasn't been a head coach before at some collegiate level. We tried that and it failed miserably. Get a coach who was successful at D2 or even a lower level conference. The A10 isn't the place to learn on the job.

[JoeFedorowicz]

Is your data point limited to one guy?

[thelasallelunatic]

Mar 14, 2024 16:53:34 GMT -5 JoeFedorowicz said:

He’d be a fine hire and maybe even the right hire but if he didn’t play here there’d be 30 message board posters screaming about how we should have hired someone else.

I do think that Sean knows the landscape of La Salle. He's played here and coached here. He's also coached under the best coach in the A10. Unless you get a Steve Lavin type of hire, I'd assume that you want a coach with Philadelphia connections. Sean has paid his dues, he's 40 years old, it's his time. 

For the record, I don't cross anybody off the list. This is a time in college hoops where guys are coaching everywhere. Pitino is 70 and coaching St. Johns. Ewing, McKee, Rick Brunson, Stackhouse, Mullen, all of these guys have coached at the college level recently. 

It's not like I'm telling Ash to call Brett Brown and gauge his interest. Have an open mind, that's all I say to people.  

[JoeFedorowicz]

Sean Neal might be a fine hire. But if there is an opening he isn’t my first 10 names. We still have a coach though.

[MisterD]

Mar 14, 2024 16:05:26 GMT -5 JoeFedorowicz said:

There are 100 college coaches that could take this job. Not knowing who they are is ok. Just do normal stuff. For once.

This right here. I think I said it post-Howard, but the coach I want next is someone I can't name right now because I either have never heard of them or never considered them. Dunphy was a massive exception hire to get us the arena and it worked. Whenever he's done, the next coach should be Puri's choice to build the program. Any prior connection to La Salle, as far as I'm concerned, is a detriment.

[explorerman]

Mar 14, 2024 16:16:06 GMT -5 mookie said:

Mar 14, 2024 16:05:26 GMT -5 JoeFedorowicz said:

While Fran Dunphy wants to coach La Salle, he’ll be allowed to coach La Salle. Like within reason. But we’re talking about guys with 25 years of head coaching experience taking an assistant job at the 10th ranked A10 school with no money. And G isn’t coming back. So stop that too. You want a guy out of the game for the better part of a decade? And Sean Neal is ready for an opportunity but let’s not act like he’d be your option if he wasn’t a player here. And he wasn’t Jameer for Joes. And Langel has better offers than La Salle.

There are 100 college coaches that could take this job. Not knowing who they are is ok. Just do normal stuff. For once.

Not following the Sean Neal love. I don’t want him as coach at all unless it came down to him vs Gallagher.

Yeah I mean it isn’t realistic so I wouldn’t fret…

Thinking about the names that wanted the job a few years ago.. Neal has an uphill climb.. There were numerous head coaches with success.. Neal needs to go to a low major school and have years of success… Also a significant climb because the job has only become more attractive.. Bigger budget and newer facilities in a consistent Top 10 conference with a history of multi-bids… It is a feeder for the big jobs.. and I am fine that.. Means we had success..

Schmidt is a fantastic coach but is an idiot in these situations.. Not the first time he has done this.. La Salle and St Bona are literally within arms length of one another in terms of spend..

[blueandgold]

But which prospective candidate would get us shooting more threes?

[angry04]

Mar 14, 2024 15:49:39 GMT -5 thelasallelunatic said:

Mar 14, 2024 15:25:14 GMT -5 I was in LA, were you said:

I agree with Joe. Can we let the dust settle before we talk another head coach. Coach Dumphy is our man, I have full trust in all of his decision making. I believe that when he is ready, he will be heavily involved in naming his successor. Just out of curiosity, why are people taking a hard NO on Dr. G? From what I saw, he was a very good recruiter and a good coach. He did bring us to the sweet 16, that was amazing.

G is on my short list.

I have G, Martelli, Langel, and Sean Neal.

G said coaching at La Salle was like drinking battery acid everyday. I think he's content..

[mookie]

Mar 14, 2024 17:27:24 GMT -5 blueandgold said:

But which prospective candidate would get us shooting more threes?

I could do that at a fraction of the cost lol

[calsufan]

This whole conversation is ridiculous. I participated only because some of the names bandied about were bad choices for La Salle. Wouldn't it be nice to show Dunphy a little respect and stop this bullshit speculation until the day he actually decides to hang it up?

[MisterD]

I think most people are talking here as a contingency if Dunphy decides its time. Is there anyone who has said they wouldn't want him back next year?

[calsufan]

Mar 14, 2024 18:05:52 GMT -5 MisterD said:

I think most people are talking here as a contingency if Dunphy decides its time. Is there anyone who has said they wouldn't want him back next year?

Nope, but I just think it's premature. People on here are in "uh oh" mode and hence they're starting to speculate. Let's let it play out and then if he decides to retire (I don't think he will yet) then speculate away. But talking about making him an asst. coach or Martooni an asst. coach is flat out ridiculous. Ain't going to happen.

[JoeFedorowicz]

Mar 14, 2024 18:05:52 GMT -5 MisterD said:

I think most people are talking here as a contingency if Dunphy decides its time. Is there anyone who has said they wouldn't want him back next year?

Somebody thinks he should be an assistant.

[thelasallelunatic]

To be fair, Dunph was noncommittal about coming back next year.

[belfieldhappyhour]

Just catching up on this thread. a few thoughts

A) fuck Martelli. He's an asshole and only cares about himself.
B) He's 69. Maybe he wins, but he's got 5 years max before we go thru this all over
C) if he's hired, I'm out. Never to be heard from again. Despise the man with every fiber of my being.
D) my list would start with Langel and the Indiana State coach. Likely have no shot at either dude
E) a super longshot, take a shot Mike Hopkins. Probably out of the price range, but shoot high for a change/

F) PLEASE STAY DUNPH!!!!!

[GlitterBro #2]

Mar 14, 2024 18:46:06 GMT -5 thelasallelunatic said:

To be fair, Dunph was noncommittal about coming back next year.

exactly. That fact that it was asked when he has at least a year left means it is a possibility. And he didnt give an answer that said like...we go back to 20th and Olney and start working with my staff on plans for next year. Hos answer and body language opened up the speculation. It is fair to speculate about this.

[calsufan]

Lol at "It is fair...".

[GlitterBro #2]

Mar 14, 2024 18:02:45 GMT -5 calsufan said:

This whole conversation is ridiculous.

To be fair, this phrase describes, conservatively, 94% of the conversations on here.

[JoeFedorowicz]

I will say this. If you’re looking for a coach for more than five years, they’re not as successful as you want them to be. La Salle is a stepping stone job. And that’s ok. But if your goal is a decades long tenure, you’re going to have a bad time.

[thelasallelunatic]

Mar 14, 2024 19:18:55 GMT -5 JoeFedorowicz said:

I will say this. If you’re looking for a coach for more than five years, they’re not as successful as you want them to be. La Salle is a stepping stone job. And that’s ok. But if your goal is a decades long tenure, you’re going to have a bad time.

You and I have been saying this for a decade. The 5 year plan works. Maybe you hit gold with a McKillop or Chaney type hire...at that probability, we should call Brett Brown.

[milkoliverwurst]

Did anyone catch this post game quote from Bonnies coach?

“Fran is a really good friend,” St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said after the game. “He took that job when no one else wanted it. He stepped up and came out of retirement. He’s a great coach and a better man. He’s done a wonderful job with those guys. He knows what he’s doing … even though he’s old.”

"When no one else wanted it". Did they really have that hard of a time attracting potential head coaches?

[JoeFedorowicz]

No. Got over 100 applications. Schmidt’s off base. Maybe nobody he knew wanted it. Sean Neal would have taken it.

[explorerman]

Mar 14, 2024 20:06:34 GMT -5 milkoliverwurst said:

Did anyone catch this post game quote from Bonnies coach?

“Fran is a really good friend,” St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said after the game. “He took that job when no one else wanted it. He stepped up and came out of retirement. He’s a great coach and a better man. He’s done a wonderful job with those guys. He knows what he’s doing … even though he’s old.”

"When no one else wanted it". Did they really have that hard of a time attracting potential head coaches?

Read my comment above. It was a dumb comment. Schmidt has done this before.. Indirect shots at other programs..

[thelasallelunatic]

Unfortunately, whether Fran retires this year, or 3 years from now, there's going to be speculation every March. Part of the territory.

Bruiser Flint wanted the job as well.

[explorerman]

Mar 14, 2024 20:07:35 GMT -5 JoeFedorowicz said:

No. Got over 100 applications. Schmidt’s off base. Maybe nobody he knew wanted it. Sean Neal would have taken it.

He probably took his shot because they didn’t consider Neal out of the over 100 applications….

Schmidt knew some of the people that called into Brian’s office promise you that…

[JoeFedorowicz]

Mar 14, 2024 20:12:22 GMT -5 thelasallelunatic said:

Unfortunately, whether Fran retires this year, or 3 years from now, there's going to be speculation every March. Part of the territory.

Bruiser Flint wanted the job as well.

Bruiser was in the final group.

[coqui900]

That sounds like Schmidt was more trying to talk up a guy he's friends with than a knock at La Salle. Ash Howard was a crappy coach... but he was also the top assistant at the reigning national champion when we hired him. If Dunph were to retire, we'd have 100 people applying for the job. It's an open A-10 job in Philly -- no shortage of head coaches from smaller conferences or top assistants at east coast Big 5 schools who'd want the job.

[blueandgold]

And at least they’d have a new arena to market. That helps a bit, especially given the fact we will never pay our coach as much as most of the A10 programs do.