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Maybe he did? She might be the next Tara? But 33 and 29 and losing in the first round of the WNIT to Princeton by 18 isn't real inspiring. She did win one game in the conference tournament. Lost their only national tv game by 18 to GW, another WNIT team. It is her second year. She made the non conference schedule at VCU and they started 14 and 1. In their last 17 games however, they finished 8 and 9 and she parlayed that into becoming the Gopher's coach? Also not very inspiring or trending upward.
She inherits a 22 and 13 team. She has two Big Ten stars and Hirt inhouse and Minnesota's best recruit coming, along with a handful of others. Some of those rated higher than Wagner by some and not by others. Of all the coaches available in the country you hire the same person twice? Seems a little lazy to me? Maybe she is that spectacular? I dunno, maybe lots of people said no? But the So Dak guy (Johnston) said he wasn't talked to? (from somebody who knows him) Recruiting is crucial...it's a little hard to get elite players to move to South Dakota. (tax advantages are not their first concern) Ivey has been the recruiter for Notre Dame's top recruits. She did demonstrate the ability to recruit. I could be wrong but it seems better would be possible? Maybe not?
Just asking questions and miffed at the hire. She could well be the best candidate available. I'm just not blown away by all the circumstances.
Pitino is awesome! Maybe Marlene is better? Dunno? Anxious to see.
Nice to see a thoughtful post, 60's Guy, after some of the absolutely moronic contributions on looks, orientation, or the status of the women's program. First, you can criticize the record, but it seems like she took over programs that weren't very good and improved both of them in a short time. Would like to see better numbers at VCU, but not knowing the players or the circumstances that 8-9 finish doesn't worry me. Hopefully, that 14-1 start doesn't indicate she loads up on cupcakes to pad the record. Borton, at least, tried to have an attractive non-conference schedule.
Not sure whom you have in mind when you think there were all sorts of better coaches available other than Johnston. The list the Tribune had didn't impress me. The Wichita State coach looked the best until I read she made her team do push-ups at halftime because they didn't do a warm-up drill properly. But Jim Foster? Really? A grumpy 70 year old is the last thing this team needs after living with Pam's sunny personality. Johnston looks good, but you have no idea if he was asked or not despite what he says. Haven't heard many coaches say, "Oh, ya, they contacted me but I told them I already had a better job." Also, IMO, it's a toss-up with Johnston. Longer, proven record but no assurance he was going to step up his recruiting here. All things equal, he might have lost out because he's not female. Norwood is fund-raising and I've always thought there's a potential among women donors.
Rather than lazy, I'm going with they hired somebody they knew really well a second time because they're absolutely sure they were right the first time. Ellis and Norwood don't strike me as the lazy types, anyway. Someone who replaced Maturi has got to know what an albatross a poor hire can be to an AD even if it's not on the same level. Ivey's recruiting resume at Notre Dame doesn't impress me that much. It's Notre Dame and Muffy has a hell of a reputation. You and I could get some kids to sign there.
The one disquieting thing about Stollings is that she is from a nomadic tribe. But I'm so happy to have Borton gone, I'm even putting a good spin on that. She wanted a wide variety of experiences, and, with all of her wandering, she has built a network that will serve her well in recruiting and putting together a staff. Lots in common with Richard Pitino and this seems to be one of the main similarities. Of course, if she pulls an Oldfield/Frese on us after a year or so, I'm going to be really pissed.
Finally, as a glass half full guy most of the time, I came across an interesting item on the VCU site. VCU just announced the building of a 25 million dollar practice facility for basketball. A certain Coach Stollings was quoted that it would be a great boost to the program and thanked the donors. Too much reading of the tea leaves or are we closer to that than we hope?
