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Post by greendoberman on Jan 15, 2009 14:43:07 GMT -5
or be fired.
Debacle after debacle and we are the embarrassment of the college basketball world right now.
Sure the future is brighter, but we have completely dismantled a team for a coach who coached five games.
And please do not bring up water polo, men's basketball is the flagship sport of our university.
Right now, we are exactly where USF was at last year minus Eddie Sutton.
The facts:
-Husak fired Steve Aggers and hired Rodney Tention.
-Husak gambled on a coach with a questionable past in Bill Bayno. Bayno completely disassembled and reassembled the program, coached five games, took a leave of absence and resigned.
-Husak hired interim coach Max Good and gave him a five-year contract. Good had 1 win as head coach of the Lions and is 66 years old. His previous head coaching experience is at Bryant, Rhode Island, UNLV, Eastern Kentucky, and Maine Central Institute.
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Post by greendoberman on Jan 15, 2009 14:45:57 GMT -5
Now the opinions:
-Getting rid of Aggers and hiring Tention was a terrible mistake.
-Hiring Tention over Russell Turner was a horrific mistake.
-Hiring Bill Bayno was a move of desperation and backfired.
-Giving Max Good a five-year contract was a knee-jerk reaction and, imo, the nail in the coffin. (I do like Coach Good and agree he should have taken over, just strongly disagree with the length of the contract).
Someone should be held accountable for these decisions. As the "CEO" of the athletic department, Husak should be the one accountable.
I welcome all comments and counterarguments. Please keep it civil.
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Post by ironlions on Jan 15, 2009 14:53:57 GMT -5
I'm hopeful with a full roster Coach Good will turn things around. But a five year contract is too long.
Losing Vinson is a huge disappointment. If we lose Garibay I will be furious.
I complete agree with all your points.
Go Lions
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Post by titanczar on Jan 15, 2009 15:03:30 GMT -5
Althought I agree with most of what you're saying, and I also know this is an outsider's view but I'll play devil's advocate:
Facilities improvement under Husack have been amazing.
The upgrades to the seating at GP.
Aquatics facility.
And from what I understand support facilities like lockerrooms and coach's offices.
Somebody had to raise/find the money and Husack did that.
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Post by LMUpepbander on Jan 15, 2009 15:19:54 GMT -5
Honestly, I think the low of the low was when he didn't even bother showing up to the alumni reception before last year's tourney game, when he essentially MCed the one in Portland (of course, that will be remembered by that guy deciding to climb on my shoulders and have me walk him around the room, but I digress).
I completely agree about Aggers. He was given only three years to remedy the Bradley meltdown, and was canned before his star recruits were able to mature, whereas Bayno and Good received 5-year deals.
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Post by pilotnut on Jan 15, 2009 15:41:24 GMT -5
Hmmm, I am trying to determine how this could have been handled better... Name Good as the Coach for the rest of the year, and then start a search for a new coach? So, essentially starting over again at the end of the year? That isn't real appealing, either...
How about this: Name Good as the new coach, with a long term contract as was done (to promote stability). Then, Good coaches the rest of this year and next season as well... In the meantime, a replacement/heir-apparent is hired as an assistant under Good (or just waits in the wings); then Good could retire at the end of next season, and the new guy takes over... you would have some continuity/stability in the program... This would be similar to what Washington St. did with the Bennett duo... Just a thought.
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Post by stillalion on Jan 15, 2009 16:35:44 GMT -5
I think Good is the best choice for the program. The players apparently like him. They also like the assistants. It's a great staff that Bayno put together and there is no reason to break that up.
Pilot - I won't be surprised if Good only stays around for a few years. From what I have heard Asst. Coach Scholl is / was a Bayno protege. He would have been and still may be the future of LMU basketball.
I can't say if Husak needs to move on at this point. If we all agree that Good should stay for at least a few years - then what would a new AD do? If in a few years the program isn't turning around - then Husak should walk out the door and let a new AD bring a fresh perspective to the department and be in charge of the next coach search. BUT, if Good and Co. get it done - Husak deserves the credit.
(By the way - I have always heard that the Aggers change really came from the players. I remember hearing at the time that some of the players were talking of walking if changes were not made. Could be way wrong on that - but it's what I heard at the time)
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Post by ironlions on Jan 15, 2009 17:07:38 GMT -5
I heard the same about Aggers. They basiclly just stopped wanting to play for him.
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Post by pilotnut on Jan 15, 2009 17:14:25 GMT -5
I guess I forgot to say that I was not saying that Good isnt the best coach for your program; rather, I was just trying to get at what alternatives those that dont like him thought would be better... What's done is done; what moves should be made now, going forward?
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Post by Mr. LMU '04 on Jan 15, 2009 17:24:34 GMT -5
I don't know where you get your history from Aggers, but he was given 5 years and could not do a thing. His players quit on him. And some quit playing basketball because of him. ie Kent Dennis. He was a good player and the only one that could actually dunk at the time.
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Post by stillalion on Jan 15, 2009 17:29:41 GMT -5
What we do going forward we get to go back to rooting for our team and our coach. Good is here for at least a couple of years and hopefully more. The young players we have are solid people and pretty solid players. We still have two great recruits coming in and now Good gets to add his own touch on the third. Our future is pretty bright (hard to see how the past two years can't be rock bottom.)
Everyone one is welcome to second guess every step that was taken - it is the right of a sports fan. But, as you said - what's done is done. And, as I said - I don't see a real upside to removing Husak at this point. We are now just back to the waiting game that Lions fans are pretty used to.
Relax, have a beer, and enjoy the ride back up. That's my plan at least.
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Post by ADG'99 on Jan 15, 2009 17:30:15 GMT -5
I totally agree with the sentiment that if we were starting from scratch Good would be a horrible hire, and I reluctantly agree that for right now he is the best choice. How about this for a T-shirt "As Good as it gets" or 'As Good as we could do" or "Good enough for LMU". You can't evaluate him at all on this year. . . I don't think Roy Williams could get any more wins out of these 7 guys. . . the time to evaluate him will be at the end of next season. Shaking things up and looking for a new coach now would ensure another year of horror. At least with Good at the helm Bayno's transfers, and hopefully at least one of his 09 recruits, will stay and give the team something to build from. . . if you brought in a whole new staff you wouldn't lose the transfers, but you might lose a guy like Dubois.
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Post by stillalion on Jan 15, 2009 17:33:04 GMT -5
LMU 04 - what history are you referring to? That the players revolted on him? Or that he should not have been fired? (sorry - just a bit confused on your post)
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Post by guest on Jan 15, 2009 18:13:12 GMT -5
I don't know where you get your history from Aggers, but he was given 5 years and could not do a thing. His players quit on him. And some quit playing basketball because of him. ie Kent Dennis. He was a good player and the only one that could actually dunk at the time. kent dennis did not quit playing basketball becuase of aggers. he was asked to not return to the team in what was pretty much a mutual agreement. 5 years and could not do a thing? after taking over a bradley team that didin't win a game in two hears he returned the program to some levels of respect. had he not won the sixth years with all of his guys - should have been a change, no doubt. got to above .500 in his 4th year and had multiple injuries in his 5th that no doubt affected his teams success. but i will reiterate - had nothing happened the 6th year - yup, NEW coach. but in terms of 'doing nothing', please qualify your argument? since westhead have any coaches at LMU recruited 4 players who earned all-WCC honors? five if you count damien martin being on the all freshman team. (Gay, Worthy, Wardrop, Knight) i know worthy wardrop and knight earned those honors under tention, but i'm just making the point he got them to lmu. ironlions - was worthy freshman of the year?? or all freshman team?? |
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Post by greendoberman on Jan 15, 2009 18:30:53 GMT -5
Some good responses here.
No question that most are still rooting and supporting the program, myself included, even though we are frustrated by some of the decisions made.
Let me emphasize no one, including myself, is questioning Max Good's hiring, his dedication, his desire. I am simply looking at the (what I feel) knee-jerk reaction of a five-year contract as just one of the tipping points.
titanczar makes some decent counterpoints and that was what I was looking for. Not compelling arguments to change my mind on the title statement at least, but something to chew on.
Seems to be some disagreement with Aggers as well. Honestly, I was at a point in life where I did not focus on LMU basketball as much at that time so I am appreciative of anything that helps bring that situation in focus. Obviously, he was brought in when the program was at absolute rock-bottom (the one win season of Bradley) and he brought some measure of respectability back. Some of the other intangibles I am not aware of.
It is easy to look back through 20/20 hindsight and say these were the wrong choices. Pretty sure at the point of the Bayno hiring, a few were vocally against it and most agreed this was/or should be Husak's last chance. Obviously, unfortunate circumstances came about that likely were under no one's control and that hiring did not work out the way we were hopeful.
At this point, we are in damage control mode. Trying to salvage recruits, trying to keep players around is the modus operandi. The long contract was a symptom of that and a symptom of a directionless basketball program.
Mr. Husak is the last man accountable and his dartboard approach should not be tolerated any more.
Just my opinion.
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