There are over 300 D-1 women's basketball programs. A women's coaching staff is allowed three assistants and the head coach; though not all schools have the money to hire three assistant coaches. But let's say, there are 3.5 coaching positions available in D-1, that's, at least, over 1,000 coaching jobs. And that's only in D-1. It does not include the coaches in D-2, D-3, and the JC levels.
So can somebody please explain to me, why any damn school would hire, as a head coach, a coach who has NEVER coached women's or girls basketball before?
Head Coaches, who never coached women's basketball before becoming head WBB coach.
Current:
South Alabama-Rick Petri; 169-128 in 10 seasons:. Entering his 11th season10-11.
Canisius-Terry Zeh; 104-81 in six seasons. Entering his 7th season in 10-11.
Past:
San Diego St.-Jim Tomey- 25-58 in three seasons.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Social Media and WBB
LA Women's Hoops found Twitter about a year ago, and since then, I've hooked. I'm on Twitter a lot; I tweet alot, I check for new tweets, I'll watch a game and tweet. If I had a smartphone, I would be on Twitter all the time. Good thing I don't have a smartphone!!
I follow a ton of coaches, almost all from mid major programs. The only schools from BCS conferences I follow are: Northwestern-big fan of
Head Coach Joe McKeown, UCLA-big fan of Nikki Caldwell, and Maryland-where I grew up.
I think Twitter can provide great insight to the day to day life of a coach. But I think tweets should be real; not putting on a "good face" to impress recruits. Tell it like it is. If the team had a bad practice, tell us. Don't hide and not post anything for a few days, until another "great" day comes along.
While I do enjoy following all coaches, but there are somethings that I don't like about Twitter. Some coaches need to take off the rose colored glasses and stop being a cheerleader. They always post "Great practice" or "Great workout" and that is such BS. I mean, these are 17-22 year old kids, we are talking about. They don't ALWAYS have great practices and workouts. If a coach is always tweeting about how "great" their team is, they need to have a higher standards for greatness. Coach Brooks of JMU is a prime example of a coach, who needs to take off the rose colored glasses or have a higher standard for greatness. He's always tweeting about how "great" his team's practice was. So much, in fact that when reading his tweets you would think, JMU can beat UConn. But then he'll go a few days without tweeting. To me, that means those days his team wasn't practicing so good and he wants to sugar coat his program. Such BS!!!
But with that said, I don't expect Twitter to become a place where a coach rips a player. But a coach could tweet "Practice wasn't good today. We need to pick it up, tomorrow." That is perfectly acceptable. The coach isn't calling out or picking on a certain player. The coach isn't being overly negative. The coach is telling followers, the truth about the program.
The other thing I hate, is coaches who do not include a link to either, their school's athletic website or the WBB page, of that athletic website. Twitter is a marketing tool, so create a link, that followers can click onto, when they are on your Twitter.
Some Big West programs that have a Twitter account; some of the accounts are general WBB and other's are the head coach, and some even have two Twitter accounts.
CSN Head Coach Flowers
UCSB Head Coach Gottlieb
LB Head Coach Wynn
UCR WBB
UCI WBB
UCI Head Coach Molly Goodenbour
Pacific WBB
UOP Head Coach Roberts
I follow a ton of coaches, almost all from mid major programs. The only schools from BCS conferences I follow are: Northwestern-big fan of
Head Coach Joe McKeown, UCLA-big fan of Nikki Caldwell, and Maryland-where I grew up.
I think Twitter can provide great insight to the day to day life of a coach. But I think tweets should be real; not putting on a "good face" to impress recruits. Tell it like it is. If the team had a bad practice, tell us. Don't hide and not post anything for a few days, until another "great" day comes along.
While I do enjoy following all coaches, but there are somethings that I don't like about Twitter. Some coaches need to take off the rose colored glasses and stop being a cheerleader. They always post "Great practice" or "Great workout" and that is such BS. I mean, these are 17-22 year old kids, we are talking about. They don't ALWAYS have great practices and workouts. If a coach is always tweeting about how "great" their team is, they need to have a higher standards for greatness. Coach Brooks of JMU is a prime example of a coach, who needs to take off the rose colored glasses or have a higher standard for greatness. He's always tweeting about how "great" his team's practice was. So much, in fact that when reading his tweets you would think, JMU can beat UConn. But then he'll go a few days without tweeting. To me, that means those days his team wasn't practicing so good and he wants to sugar coat his program. Such BS!!!
But with that said, I don't expect Twitter to become a place where a coach rips a player. But a coach could tweet "Practice wasn't good today. We need to pick it up, tomorrow." That is perfectly acceptable. The coach isn't calling out or picking on a certain player. The coach isn't being overly negative. The coach is telling followers, the truth about the program.
The other thing I hate, is coaches who do not include a link to either, their school's athletic website or the WBB page, of that athletic website. Twitter is a marketing tool, so create a link, that followers can click onto, when they are on your Twitter.
Some Big West programs that have a Twitter account; some of the accounts are general WBB and other's are the head coach, and some even have two Twitter accounts.
CSN Head Coach Flowers
UCSB Head Coach Gottlieb
LB Head Coach Wynn
UCR WBB
UCI WBB
UCI Head Coach Molly Goodenbour
Pacific WBB
UOP Head Coach Roberts
Women's Basketball Sites
If you're a women's basketball fan, Hoopfeed.com is a site that needs to be in your bookmarks. Hoopfeed.com provides, daily, links to women's basketball stories online.
If you have any other women's basketball sites, please Email LA Women's Hoops.
If you have any other women's basketball sites, please Email LA Women's Hoops.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Only in Women's College Basketball!!
Women's college basketball, still gets NO respect. Today, is another slap in the face to women's basketball and to the coaches who work, just as hard as men's basketball coaches.
IUPUI, hired the MEN'S assistant coach, who has NEVER coached women's or girls basketball before, as their head WOMEN'S basketball coach. It appears this was not an an interim head coach hiring, but the hiring of the permanent head coach. IUPUI fired their head coach, Shann Hart, after player's complaints about harsh treatment, were found to be true and possible NCAA violations.
The hiring of a men's assistant coach, also happened at San Jose St. in 2006-07. The head coach at the time, Janice Richard, went on medical leave, while undergoing breast cancer treatments, and San Jose St. named Greg Lockridge, as interim head coach. After some run-in with players, Lockridge was let go and San Jose St. hired Derek Allen, who was the MEN'S assistant coach at the time.
At San Jose St., Allen was hired after five games. So they didn't have a lot of time or options. I can, to a certain extent, understand why San Jose St. hired Allen. But Allen was only a stop gap and never considered for the permanent head coach position, after the 06-07 season.
I understand that IUPUI promoting the top assistant from the old staff, may not be a good idea. But at IUPUI, the season hasn't started yet, and they have enough time to find a coach.
Hell, why didn't they hire current assistant coaches, Brittany Korth, or Jarietta Benton? Both were hired this past summer, so she didn't have anything to do with the mistreatment of players. So what, if Benton's only experience is four years as director of basketball operations. Benton learned under a very good coach, Shimmy Gray-Miller, at St. Louis. But shhh, don't tell Coach Shimmy, I said that. :) Or Korth's only expeience is two years as an student assistant at Cleveland St.
I can't imagine, in the same situation, a men's program hiring a women's assistant coach. So why does it happen and why is it accepted in women's college basketball??
These are real issues in women's college basketball, issues writers like Michelle Voepel don't bother covering. She is too busy telling us, how great UConn and other BCS schools are.
IUPUI, hired the MEN'S assistant coach, who has NEVER coached women's or girls basketball before, as their head WOMEN'S basketball coach. It appears this was not an an interim head coach hiring, but the hiring of the permanent head coach. IUPUI fired their head coach, Shann Hart, after player's complaints about harsh treatment, were found to be true and possible NCAA violations.
The hiring of a men's assistant coach, also happened at San Jose St. in 2006-07. The head coach at the time, Janice Richard, went on medical leave, while undergoing breast cancer treatments, and San Jose St. named Greg Lockridge, as interim head coach. After some run-in with players, Lockridge was let go and San Jose St. hired Derek Allen, who was the MEN'S assistant coach at the time.
At San Jose St., Allen was hired after five games. So they didn't have a lot of time or options. I can, to a certain extent, understand why San Jose St. hired Allen. But Allen was only a stop gap and never considered for the permanent head coach position, after the 06-07 season.
I understand that IUPUI promoting the top assistant from the old staff, may not be a good idea. But at IUPUI, the season hasn't started yet, and they have enough time to find a coach.
Hell, why didn't they hire current assistant coaches, Brittany Korth, or Jarietta Benton? Both were hired this past summer, so she didn't have anything to do with the mistreatment of players. So what, if Benton's only experience is four years as director of basketball operations. Benton learned under a very good coach, Shimmy Gray-Miller, at St. Louis. But shhh, don't tell Coach Shimmy, I said that. :) Or Korth's only expeience is two years as an student assistant at Cleveland St.
I can't imagine, in the same situation, a men's program hiring a women's assistant coach. So why does it happen and why is it accepted in women's college basketball??
These are real issues in women's college basketball, issues writers like Michelle Voepel don't bother covering. She is too busy telling us, how great UConn and other BCS schools are.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
When Punishment Drills Go Too Far
How stupid can any coach, in today's environment, be? How can any coach run a punishment drill for a player, see that player vomit three times and NOT stop it, after the first time that player vomited?
Sound crazy? Sound Impossible? Well it happened at the North Carolina Wilmington. UNCW Punish Drill Goes Too Far. Head Coach Cythina Cooper-Dyke and assistant coach Johnetta Hayes, who supervised the drill are stupid and both should face some disciplinary action. I don't give a damn that Cooper-Dykes apologized to the player.
How stupid must a coach be, when after seeing a player vomit ONCE, maybe they get a clue and stupid the drill? But no, this stupid coach Johnetta Hayes, continues the drill, until the player vomits again, TWICE.
This reminds me, back to my senior year in high school. I graduated from high school in 1986, a much different time, where coaches and teachers got respect and nobody really questioned their methods.
I used to chew tobacco, about a pouch a day of Apple Jack or Red Man, and one day, during class, my teacher caught me chewing tobacco. She told me to swallow it. I told her; if I swallow it, I'll vomit and I won't clean up. She said, go spit it out and I don't want to see it in my class again. I followed her directions and the situation was done. Ok, ok, I did chew tobacco in her class, a few more times. But I was never caught. :)
My teacher could have really taken a small situation and turned it into a major issue; chewing tobacco is slightly above getting caught chewing gum in class. But no, she wasn't stubborn, she found another solution.
But this coach, Johnetta Hayes, is either too stupid or stubborn or both.
If a player got kicked out of practice, yes, there should be some punishment drills. If she is leg or foot injuries, how about some drills in the pool, assuming she knows how to swim? How about some drills on a stationary bike? But when those punishment drills lead to a player vomiting, just once, those drills need stop, right away.
Now, what should the punishment be for the head coach and assistant? I think the head coach should be suspended without pay for a week. The assistant coach should be suspended without pay for two weeks. She deserves a tougher penalty because she allowed the punishment drill to continue. Of course, a reevaluation of their handling of discipline issues, has to be done.
Sound crazy? Sound Impossible? Well it happened at the North Carolina Wilmington. UNCW Punish Drill Goes Too Far. Head Coach Cythina Cooper-Dyke and assistant coach Johnetta Hayes, who supervised the drill are stupid and both should face some disciplinary action. I don't give a damn that Cooper-Dykes apologized to the player.
How stupid must a coach be, when after seeing a player vomit ONCE, maybe they get a clue and stupid the drill? But no, this stupid coach Johnetta Hayes, continues the drill, until the player vomits again, TWICE.
This reminds me, back to my senior year in high school. I graduated from high school in 1986, a much different time, where coaches and teachers got respect and nobody really questioned their methods.
I used to chew tobacco, about a pouch a day of Apple Jack or Red Man, and one day, during class, my teacher caught me chewing tobacco. She told me to swallow it. I told her; if I swallow it, I'll vomit and I won't clean up. She said, go spit it out and I don't want to see it in my class again. I followed her directions and the situation was done. Ok, ok, I did chew tobacco in her class, a few more times. But I was never caught. :)
My teacher could have really taken a small situation and turned it into a major issue; chewing tobacco is slightly above getting caught chewing gum in class. But no, she wasn't stubborn, she found another solution.
But this coach, Johnetta Hayes, is either too stupid or stubborn or both.
If a player got kicked out of practice, yes, there should be some punishment drills. If she is leg or foot injuries, how about some drills in the pool, assuming she knows how to swim? How about some drills on a stationary bike? But when those punishment drills lead to a player vomiting, just once, those drills need stop, right away.
Now, what should the punishment be for the head coach and assistant? I think the head coach should be suspended without pay for a week. The assistant coach should be suspended without pay for two weeks. She deserves a tougher penalty because she allowed the punishment drill to continue. Of course, a reevaluation of their handling of discipline issues, has to be done.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
2010-11 Coaches on Hot Seat
With the 2010-11 season just about ready to start, here is my list of D1 coaches who should be on the hot seat. To be on this list, a coach must have been at the school for at least three years and have a bad record. As a general rule, I feel, after three years there should be major signs of progress in any program. What do I mean by major progress? If a coach is coming into a rebuilding situation, the team should be winning 10-12 games against a tough schedule. If a coach is winning five or six games a year, after three years, it's pretty clear that coach isn't doing a good job.
Believe it or not, I don't get a kick out of calling out bad coaches. I really don't. I just want to see programs successful, because it improves women's basketball, and that won't happen if schools keep bad coaches.
Lynne Roberts- Pacific. 5th season:
Roberts has a 42-76 overall record. I understand she was suppose to be entering the last year of her contract. But I heard that she got a five year contract extension. Of course, UOP, has not issued any press release about her extension.
Honestly, I thought Roberts was going to turn things around at UOP. But, I didn't like how she got her former players to transfer from Chico St. to Pacific. She hasn't done the job at all.
Now, I have heard she got a five year contract extension. If that is true, this is Faith Mimnaugh all over again.
Raegan Pebley- Utah St. 8th season:
Pebley started the Utah St. program and still hasn't had a winning record, after sevens seasons. Her overall record 71-113. Her contract ends at the end of the 2010-11 season.
My prediction: Hire a real estate agent.
Pam DeCosta- San Jose St. 4th season:
DeCosta has a 11-79 overall record. She is entering the last year of her contract. Her win totals have gone from 1 to 1 to 6. At that rate, San Jose St. will have a winning record by 2020.
Why she was selected over former, Santa Clara and Colorado St. head coach, Chris Denker, is something I'm still trying to figure out.
My prediction: Hire a real estate agent.
Believe it or not, I don't get a kick out of calling out bad coaches. I really don't. I just want to see programs successful, because it improves women's basketball, and that won't happen if schools keep bad coaches.
Lynne Roberts- Pacific. 5th season:
Roberts has a 42-76 overall record. I understand she was suppose to be entering the last year of her contract. But I heard that she got a five year contract extension. Of course, UOP, has not issued any press release about her extension.
Honestly, I thought Roberts was going to turn things around at UOP. But, I didn't like how she got her former players to transfer from Chico St. to Pacific. She hasn't done the job at all.
Now, I have heard she got a five year contract extension. If that is true, this is Faith Mimnaugh all over again.
Raegan Pebley- Utah St. 8th season:
Pebley started the Utah St. program and still hasn't had a winning record, after sevens seasons. Her overall record 71-113. Her contract ends at the end of the 2010-11 season.
My prediction: Hire a real estate agent.
Pam DeCosta- San Jose St. 4th season:
DeCosta has a 11-79 overall record. She is entering the last year of her contract. Her win totals have gone from 1 to 1 to 6. At that rate, San Jose St. will have a winning record by 2020.
Why she was selected over former, Santa Clara and Colorado St. head coach, Chris Denker, is something I'm still trying to figure out.
My prediction: Hire a real estate agent.
Monday, July 19, 2010
How Not to Do a Search for a Head Coach.
Cal Poly Pomona's athletic director, Brian Swanson, just showed the world, how not to do a search for a head coach.
First a timeline:
June 2, 2010: Head Coach Scott Davis Resigns
June 24, 2010. Cal Poly Pomona releases the names of the Two Finalists. There was another finalist but the third finalist turned down the chance to interview on campus.
July 13, 2010: Story about how Swanson tried to save face, after being turned down by the finalists. Swanson CYA
There were two huge errors made in this coaching search. Both errors fall on the shoulders of AD Brian Swanson.
First mistake: releasing the names of the finalists on Cal Poly Pomona's athletic website. At no time should an athletic director, release the names of finalists, on their school's athletics website, unless he is 100% one of the finalists will accept the job. If inside information is leaked to the press, that's fine. If the press is wrong, it's the press that looks bad. But when a school releases information on their website, they will look bad, if something goes wrong.
Also, Swanson put the finalists in a tough position by releasing their names. Why? How would you feel if you were looking for another job and that company said you were a finalist? Think your boss would be happy? While the two finalists were upfront with their current schools and players, about looking into the Cal Poly Pomona job, other coaches have not been as honest.
Every coach needs to look into any opportunity for advancement- whether it means better pay, better facility, better support, or personal reasons. I understand that is part of the coaching business. At the same time coaches need to be up front with their current schools and players. They need to tell their players and recruits they are looking. If they do move on, the coach needs to tell the players in person, at a team meeting. Not a text message or press release or TV announcement, as some weasel coaches have done. Also, don't be a weasel like Cheating Petey Carroll and run when the NCAA is about to lower the boom on USC.
Second mistake: Never try to save face. Just man up and admit you made a mistake. There have been plenty of times I've been wrong about a coach or player. I admit I was wrong. I thought Mary Hegarty would turn things around at Long Beach St. Instead she was terrible.
Swanson should have handled the situation this way: Tell the press: we are moving forward in our search for a new women's basketball head coach. Simple, PC, doesn't look like you're making excuses for screwing up. Instead Swanson looks like a damn fool. Nice job Mr. Swanson, and California taxpayers are paying your six figure salary?????
I know what happened during this search. Swanson made his decision and offered the job to one of the finalist. That finalist turned down the job. I know why that finalist turned down the job, but I'll keep that to myself for now. Swanson then offered the job, on an interim basis, to another coach and was turned down.
So here we are, July 19, 2010 and Cal Poly Pomona still doesn't have a head coach.
Who does this affect the most? The kids at Cal Poly who are coming back!!! They still don't know who their coach is going to be for the 2010-11 season. No kid should have to go through this. An adult who is making stupid decisions, trying to CYA (cover your __, you can figure out the last word) and hurting the college experience of their student-athletes.
If I had a kid playing at Cal Poly Pomona, I would tell my kid to walk into Mr. Swanson's office, and demand quick action on naming a new head coach. Hey, a kid in college, has to learn how to handle situations on their own. Mommy and Daddy can't fight their battles for them.
If I am the President of Cal Poly Pomona, I would tell Brian Swanson, he is on notice for his poor handling of this search. But really, Mr. Swanson should have been on notice, because in his six years as athletic director, Cal Poly Pomona will have their FIFTH head coach for women's basketball. Paul Thomas, Kevein Kiernan, Michelle, Fortier, Scott Davis, and whoever they hire for 2010-11 season. Only one coach, Paul Thomas, got a promotion. Thomas became head coach at Division 1, St. Mary's. Kevin Kiernan, at the time, a very successful high school coach at Troy High School, was hired but then resigned within two months. I wonder why?
First a timeline:
June 2, 2010: Head Coach Scott Davis Resigns
June 24, 2010. Cal Poly Pomona releases the names of the Two Finalists. There was another finalist but the third finalist turned down the chance to interview on campus.
July 13, 2010: Story about how Swanson tried to save face, after being turned down by the finalists. Swanson CYA
There were two huge errors made in this coaching search. Both errors fall on the shoulders of AD Brian Swanson.
First mistake: releasing the names of the finalists on Cal Poly Pomona's athletic website. At no time should an athletic director, release the names of finalists, on their school's athletics website, unless he is 100% one of the finalists will accept the job. If inside information is leaked to the press, that's fine. If the press is wrong, it's the press that looks bad. But when a school releases information on their website, they will look bad, if something goes wrong.
Also, Swanson put the finalists in a tough position by releasing their names. Why? How would you feel if you were looking for another job and that company said you were a finalist? Think your boss would be happy? While the two finalists were upfront with their current schools and players, about looking into the Cal Poly Pomona job, other coaches have not been as honest.
Every coach needs to look into any opportunity for advancement- whether it means better pay, better facility, better support, or personal reasons. I understand that is part of the coaching business. At the same time coaches need to be up front with their current schools and players. They need to tell their players and recruits they are looking. If they do move on, the coach needs to tell the players in person, at a team meeting. Not a text message or press release or TV announcement, as some weasel coaches have done. Also, don't be a weasel like Cheating Petey Carroll and run when the NCAA is about to lower the boom on USC.
Second mistake: Never try to save face. Just man up and admit you made a mistake. There have been plenty of times I've been wrong about a coach or player. I admit I was wrong. I thought Mary Hegarty would turn things around at Long Beach St. Instead she was terrible.
Swanson should have handled the situation this way: Tell the press: we are moving forward in our search for a new women's basketball head coach. Simple, PC, doesn't look like you're making excuses for screwing up. Instead Swanson looks like a damn fool. Nice job Mr. Swanson, and California taxpayers are paying your six figure salary?????
I know what happened during this search. Swanson made his decision and offered the job to one of the finalist. That finalist turned down the job. I know why that finalist turned down the job, but I'll keep that to myself for now. Swanson then offered the job, on an interim basis, to another coach and was turned down.
So here we are, July 19, 2010 and Cal Poly Pomona still doesn't have a head coach.
Who does this affect the most? The kids at Cal Poly who are coming back!!! They still don't know who their coach is going to be for the 2010-11 season. No kid should have to go through this. An adult who is making stupid decisions, trying to CYA (cover your __, you can figure out the last word) and hurting the college experience of their student-athletes.
If I had a kid playing at Cal Poly Pomona, I would tell my kid to walk into Mr. Swanson's office, and demand quick action on naming a new head coach. Hey, a kid in college, has to learn how to handle situations on their own. Mommy and Daddy can't fight their battles for them.
If I am the President of Cal Poly Pomona, I would tell Brian Swanson, he is on notice for his poor handling of this search. But really, Mr. Swanson should have been on notice, because in his six years as athletic director, Cal Poly Pomona will have their FIFTH head coach for women's basketball. Paul Thomas, Kevein Kiernan, Michelle, Fortier, Scott Davis, and whoever they hire for 2010-11 season. Only one coach, Paul Thomas, got a promotion. Thomas became head coach at Division 1, St. Mary's. Kevin Kiernan, at the time, a very successful high school coach at Troy High School, was hired but then resigned within two months. I wonder why?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Summer/Club Basketball
Personally I hate the summer basketball circuit, that has exploded because of stupid NCAA rules. The NCAA restricts the number of days a coach can see a player play, in person. During the summer months, all those days are in July. Thus, because of this rule, the NCAA indirectly created this summer basketball circuit; which has created a terrible cycle, teenaged girls, played lots of basketball, far away from home.
Kids join club teams, looking for a chance to get a college scholarship. But club teams aren't free. They cost a lot of money, some parents have told me they spend up to $3,000 a year, for their kid's club team. That doesn't include the cost of travel to these summer tournaments. Kids play a ton of games, over a short period of time, with little recovery or rest time. I really believe that is one reason, why there are so many injuries in women's basketball.
The majority of club teams are coached by well meaning people. But, just like in other walk of life, there are the scum, who prey on young kids. There have been many stories about club coaches who sexually assault or molested, one of his players.
The worst part is, unlike high school, which require any adult to go through a background check, there is no governing body for club teams.
What can parents do to prevent this?
Background check:
Before even signing your kid up on any team, do a background check of that coach. All you have to do is go to your local police department and they will help you. If the coach isn't willing to give a parent his background information, you as a parent should not allow your daughter to play for that coach.
No unsupervised overnight trips:
In summer, club teams travel to cities like Portland, actually Oregon City, OR, Memphis, Chicago, and Atlanta to play in tournaments. Where they are staying in hotels with the coaches and maybe a few other parents. So my question is; What kind of parent would allow their young daughter to go to a city, far away from home, to stay in a hotel with only a few adults?
If I had a kid, I would not allow my child to stay overnight, in any city, alone, with a stranger. I don't give a damn, how well you know a coach. I would go on the trips with the kid and I would make sure my kid is staying in the same hotel room, as me.
Trust but don't be too trusting:
Watch your kid, carefully. Do you notice any personality changes? Does your daughter hate going to practice or games?
You are the parent, act like it. Protect your kid from being subjected to the scumbags.
Kids join club teams, looking for a chance to get a college scholarship. But club teams aren't free. They cost a lot of money, some parents have told me they spend up to $3,000 a year, for their kid's club team. That doesn't include the cost of travel to these summer tournaments. Kids play a ton of games, over a short period of time, with little recovery or rest time. I really believe that is one reason, why there are so many injuries in women's basketball.
The majority of club teams are coached by well meaning people. But, just like in other walk of life, there are the scum, who prey on young kids. There have been many stories about club coaches who sexually assault or molested, one of his players.
The worst part is, unlike high school, which require any adult to go through a background check, there is no governing body for club teams.
What can parents do to prevent this?
Background check:
Before even signing your kid up on any team, do a background check of that coach. All you have to do is go to your local police department and they will help you. If the coach isn't willing to give a parent his background information, you as a parent should not allow your daughter to play for that coach.
No unsupervised overnight trips:
In summer, club teams travel to cities like Portland, actually Oregon City, OR, Memphis, Chicago, and Atlanta to play in tournaments. Where they are staying in hotels with the coaches and maybe a few other parents. So my question is; What kind of parent would allow their young daughter to go to a city, far away from home, to stay in a hotel with only a few adults?
If I had a kid, I would not allow my child to stay overnight, in any city, alone, with a stranger. I don't give a damn, how well you know a coach. I would go on the trips with the kid and I would make sure my kid is staying in the same hotel room, as me.
Trust but don't be too trusting:
Watch your kid, carefully. Do you notice any personality changes? Does your daughter hate going to practice or games?
You are the parent, act like it. Protect your kid from being subjected to the scumbags.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Jason Flowers and Cal St. Northridge
After, almost 80 days without a head coach, Cal St. Northridge, finally replaced Head Coach Staci Schulz, with former UC Riverside, assistant coach, Jason Flowers, on May 27, 2010. This is Flower's first head coaching job. There is nothing I hate more about WBB, than recycled terrible coaches. How many chances does a coach get, before athletic directors get a clue and figure out, that a coach just isn't head coaching material? So it is great to see somebody like Jason Flowers, getting his first chance to be a head coach.
Earlier I did a story about CSN's lack of success with their women's basketball program. Two of the biggest issues that I brought up in that story, apply with Jason's hire, so I will address each issue.
Lack of head coaching experience and Local Ties:
First I want to say, when hiring a head coach, it's the entire package that gets the coach hired. Can a lack of head coaching experience, be overcome? No question. But the coach has to have other qualities, that will overcome the lack of experience.
Take a look at all the qualities that Jason brings to CSN; his knowledge of the conference, ties to local high school and club basketball teams, and his success as an assistant coach, it's pretty clear to see, CSN made a damn good hire.
CSN also showed some guts, hiring Jason. CSN hired who they felt was the best candidate for the job, not the best female candidate. CSN has male coaches for the following female sports; soccer, volleyball, and track and field. Most schools would have hired a female coach to make things politically correct. So I give CSN, praise for hiring, who they felt was the best candidate.
Jason, played high school basketball at Bellflower High School, played college basketball at UCI and UCLA, coached at Valley High School in Santa Ana, Long Beach St. and UC Riverside. So he is a local product with a diverse range of coaching experience. He knows the area, the conference, and what it takes to win. This wasn't true about Tammy Holder, who saw an ad for the CSN job and had to look up, where Northridge was located. Also Jason, won't leave CSN after three years, to move back closer to home, like Holder did.
Jason is a person of great character and values. Every high school and club coach, that I have talked to, always have great things to say about Jason.
Assistant coaches
Assistant coaches are the backbone and unsung heros of college basketball. Show me a great team and you will see a great set of assistant coaches. Every head coach needs a good staff of assistant coaches to be successful. Flowers hired Bryan Camacho, Lindsey Foster and Christine Collins-Kiernan, as assistant coaches. Between the three assistants, there is a total of seven years of college coaching experience, all by Foster at UC Riverside.
The staff's lack of college coaching experience has to be a concern. Two assistants, Bryan Camacho and Christine Collins-Kiernan, are coming directly from high school. Yes, they come from very successful high schools and sent many players to D-1 schools. But it is a big jump to college coaching and recruiting. Some coaches are very successful, others struggle.
But, the great thing about Camacho and Collins-Kiernan, is that they are successful, local coaches. In the past CSN hired assistant coaches with little to no ties to the LA area. CSN has four players from out of state, on their 2010-11 roster and the old staff seemed to love going to Hawaii for players. An out of state player costs more, in terms of scholarship dollars, than an in state player, about double. Why did the other staff go out of state so much? There are plenty of players in the LA area, that can help a team win. Hopefully both Camacho and Collins-Kiernan, will be able to get those kids to stay close to home.
While the other staffs have limited college coaching experience, Jason's first staff, has a huge advantage, they already know the high school and club basketball scene. They can go to a game or talk to a coach, and more than likely, it's will be a coach they already know or coaches against. The other staffs were unknown in the LA area and had to work to make inroads with high school and club coaches.
Personally, I think CSN made a great hire. I think Jason will turn this program around. Yes, it will take time. CSN screwed up by taking so damn long to hire Jason; Schulz was let go in mid March and Jason, gets hired in late May. What took so damn long?
The 2010-11 season, maybe a long tough season for the Jason and the team. The team only won 5 games the year before, lacks depth and talent, and with Jason bring hired so late, signing players who can help this season will be tough. But Jason and his staff will be laying the foundation to future success, during the 2010-11 season.
The fact that the Big West is so weak right now, is a huge advantage. Why? Because, a good coach can take a program to the top quickly. Once Jason was hired, he automatically, became tied for the 5th best coach in the conference, with Marcia Foster. I have little doubt he will move up to the level of Sandy Simpson and John Margaritis. Jodi Anton, at Long Beach St. and Lindsey Gottlieb at UCSB, round out the top four coaches in the conference. Molly Goodenbour, Lynn Roberts and Faith Mimnaugh, are the three worst coaches in the Big West. If Pacific gave Lynn Roberts a five year contract extension, they are stupid. Oh, wait, she's white, now I understand, it's Faith Mimnaugh all over again!!
Cal St. Northridge is a tough job. Facilities, fan support, and university support, are poor. But a great coach, can overcome these barriers and win. I believe Jason Flowers is the right coach for this job.
One other thing I like about Coach Flowers, is his use of the current social networking formats, Twitter and Facebook. You can follow Coach Flowers on Twitter and the Cal St. Northridge Women's Basketball program on Facebook.
Earlier I did a story about CSN's lack of success with their women's basketball program. Two of the biggest issues that I brought up in that story, apply with Jason's hire, so I will address each issue.
Lack of head coaching experience and Local Ties:
First I want to say, when hiring a head coach, it's the entire package that gets the coach hired. Can a lack of head coaching experience, be overcome? No question. But the coach has to have other qualities, that will overcome the lack of experience.
Take a look at all the qualities that Jason brings to CSN; his knowledge of the conference, ties to local high school and club basketball teams, and his success as an assistant coach, it's pretty clear to see, CSN made a damn good hire.
CSN also showed some guts, hiring Jason. CSN hired who they felt was the best candidate for the job, not the best female candidate. CSN has male coaches for the following female sports; soccer, volleyball, and track and field. Most schools would have hired a female coach to make things politically correct. So I give CSN, praise for hiring, who they felt was the best candidate.
Jason, played high school basketball at Bellflower High School, played college basketball at UCI and UCLA, coached at Valley High School in Santa Ana, Long Beach St. and UC Riverside. So he is a local product with a diverse range of coaching experience. He knows the area, the conference, and what it takes to win. This wasn't true about Tammy Holder, who saw an ad for the CSN job and had to look up, where Northridge was located. Also Jason, won't leave CSN after three years, to move back closer to home, like Holder did.
Jason is a person of great character and values. Every high school and club coach, that I have talked to, always have great things to say about Jason.
Assistant coaches
Assistant coaches are the backbone and unsung heros of college basketball. Show me a great team and you will see a great set of assistant coaches. Every head coach needs a good staff of assistant coaches to be successful. Flowers hired Bryan Camacho, Lindsey Foster and Christine Collins-Kiernan, as assistant coaches. Between the three assistants, there is a total of seven years of college coaching experience, all by Foster at UC Riverside.
The staff's lack of college coaching experience has to be a concern. Two assistants, Bryan Camacho and Christine Collins-Kiernan, are coming directly from high school. Yes, they come from very successful high schools and sent many players to D-1 schools. But it is a big jump to college coaching and recruiting. Some coaches are very successful, others struggle.
But, the great thing about Camacho and Collins-Kiernan, is that they are successful, local coaches. In the past CSN hired assistant coaches with little to no ties to the LA area. CSN has four players from out of state, on their 2010-11 roster and the old staff seemed to love going to Hawaii for players. An out of state player costs more, in terms of scholarship dollars, than an in state player, about double. Why did the other staff go out of state so much? There are plenty of players in the LA area, that can help a team win. Hopefully both Camacho and Collins-Kiernan, will be able to get those kids to stay close to home.
While the other staffs have limited college coaching experience, Jason's first staff, has a huge advantage, they already know the high school and club basketball scene. They can go to a game or talk to a coach, and more than likely, it's will be a coach they already know or coaches against. The other staffs were unknown in the LA area and had to work to make inroads with high school and club coaches.
Personally, I think CSN made a great hire. I think Jason will turn this program around. Yes, it will take time. CSN screwed up by taking so damn long to hire Jason; Schulz was let go in mid March and Jason, gets hired in late May. What took so damn long?
The 2010-11 season, maybe a long tough season for the Jason and the team. The team only won 5 games the year before, lacks depth and talent, and with Jason bring hired so late, signing players who can help this season will be tough. But Jason and his staff will be laying the foundation to future success, during the 2010-11 season.
The fact that the Big West is so weak right now, is a huge advantage. Why? Because, a good coach can take a program to the top quickly. Once Jason was hired, he automatically, became tied for the 5th best coach in the conference, with Marcia Foster. I have little doubt he will move up to the level of Sandy Simpson and John Margaritis. Jodi Anton, at Long Beach St. and Lindsey Gottlieb at UCSB, round out the top four coaches in the conference. Molly Goodenbour, Lynn Roberts and Faith Mimnaugh, are the three worst coaches in the Big West. If Pacific gave Lynn Roberts a five year contract extension, they are stupid. Oh, wait, she's white, now I understand, it's Faith Mimnaugh all over again!!
Cal St. Northridge is a tough job. Facilities, fan support, and university support, are poor. But a great coach, can overcome these barriers and win. I believe Jason Flowers is the right coach for this job.
One other thing I like about Coach Flowers, is his use of the current social networking formats, Twitter and Facebook. You can follow Coach Flowers on Twitter and the Cal St. Northridge Women's Basketball program on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
2008-09 CCAA Coach's Salaries
The CCAA, California Collegiate Athletic Association, is the best Division 2 women’s basketball conference, in the nation. If you haven’t seen all the talented players and coaches in the CCAA, do yourself a favor and go to a game.
LA Women’s Hoops has always been harping about the low salaries for coaches in California. When a friend emailed a list of the salaries for CCAA head coaches, I was very surprised. Some coaches are making a decent salary; notice I said decent, not great salary. Others are stealing money because they are terrible. And others are so underpaid, it’s not even funny.
School Salary 2009-10 Finish
1. Cal St Los Angeles $95,004: 11th place
2. Cal St. Dominguez Hills $91,744: 10th place
3. Cal St. San Bernandino $90,749: 7th place
4. UC San Diego $82,000: 1st place
5. CP Pomona $80,530: 2nd place
6. Cal St Stanislaus $80,889: 9th place
7. Sonoma St. $79,912: 8th place
8. Humbolt St. $76,912: 5th place
9. Chico St. $70,340: 3rd place
10. San Francisco St. $58,744: 6th place
11. Cal St East Bay $58,006: 12th place
12. Cal St Monterey Bay $57,701: 4th place
This list is just base salary for coaching and was from the 08-09 season. So it may not be fair to list the 09-10 season finishes, but I highly doubt there would be much change in the next year. Other sources of income-teaching, camp, booster club, fundraising monies are not included. But, no CCAA coach is adding, even half, their salary from other sources.
This list clearly shows, that CS Monterey Bay's coach, Renee Jimenez, is doing a great job and is so underpaid, it's not even funny. She is the lowest paid head coach in the CCAA and still leads her team to a 4th place finish!!! She deserves a raise.
Cal State LA was not satisfied with the performance of their other coach and fired her, but CSULA never bothered to issue a release about the firing. Why? Some BS university policy!! Anyways, they just hired a new coach; Janell Jones. Jones has a good record, but she is a carpetbagger. She has had three jobs within the past five years-UC San Diego, Mercer, and now CSULA, but has never been fired. How long is she going to stay at CSULA? Personally, I think CSULA should have hired the other finalist. Not only would the other finalist, turn around the program, she wouldn't leave after a few years.
Cal Poly Pomona's head coach resigned. So they are looking for a new coach.
Cal State East Bay, fired their coach, they also didn't bother to issue a release, and recently hired Suzy Barcomb, from Puget Sound. Of course CSU East Bay fired their black female head coach and replaced her with a white head coach. Hmmm But I also know that CSU East Bay will pay their new head coach about $70,000 a year.
But the coach at Cal St. Dominguez Hills has been there forever and he has a .500 record. Where are the high expectations?
San Bernandino has the best facilities in the CCAA and he is the third highest paid coach but he can only finish 7th? He has won about a 55% of his games while at CSUSB but shouldn't they expect more from him, considering the high salary and the great facilities?
The point of this story isn't to point out coach's salaries, but to point out how LOW paying, head coach's positions are in California. I feel any head coach in California needs to start at $150,000. Of course that means more pressure on the coaches to win. But any coach worth a damn, would welcome that kind of pressure.
A higher starting salary will attract a better pool of candidates and more importantly, keep a good coach. For example, will Cal St. Monterey Bay be able to keep their head coach? She had done such a great job in two short years, I have no doubt other schools will be calling!!
LA Women’s Hoops has always been harping about the low salaries for coaches in California. When a friend emailed a list of the salaries for CCAA head coaches, I was very surprised. Some coaches are making a decent salary; notice I said decent, not great salary. Others are stealing money because they are terrible. And others are so underpaid, it’s not even funny.
School Salary 2009-10 Finish
1. Cal St Los Angeles $95,004: 11th place
2. Cal St. Dominguez Hills $91,744: 10th place
3. Cal St. San Bernandino $90,749: 7th place
4. UC San Diego $82,000: 1st place
5. CP Pomona $80,530: 2nd place
6. Cal St Stanislaus $80,889: 9th place
7. Sonoma St. $79,912: 8th place
8. Humbolt St. $76,912: 5th place
9. Chico St. $70,340: 3rd place
10. San Francisco St. $58,744: 6th place
11. Cal St East Bay $58,006: 12th place
12. Cal St Monterey Bay $57,701: 4th place
This list is just base salary for coaching and was from the 08-09 season. So it may not be fair to list the 09-10 season finishes, but I highly doubt there would be much change in the next year. Other sources of income-teaching, camp, booster club, fundraising monies are not included. But, no CCAA coach is adding, even half, their salary from other sources.
This list clearly shows, that CS Monterey Bay's coach, Renee Jimenez, is doing a great job and is so underpaid, it's not even funny. She is the lowest paid head coach in the CCAA and still leads her team to a 4th place finish!!! She deserves a raise.
Cal State LA was not satisfied with the performance of their other coach and fired her, but CSULA never bothered to issue a release about the firing. Why? Some BS university policy!! Anyways, they just hired a new coach; Janell Jones. Jones has a good record, but she is a carpetbagger. She has had three jobs within the past five years-UC San Diego, Mercer, and now CSULA, but has never been fired. How long is she going to stay at CSULA? Personally, I think CSULA should have hired the other finalist. Not only would the other finalist, turn around the program, she wouldn't leave after a few years.
Cal Poly Pomona's head coach resigned. So they are looking for a new coach.
Cal State East Bay, fired their coach, they also didn't bother to issue a release, and recently hired Suzy Barcomb, from Puget Sound. Of course CSU East Bay fired their black female head coach and replaced her with a white head coach. Hmmm But I also know that CSU East Bay will pay their new head coach about $70,000 a year.
But the coach at Cal St. Dominguez Hills has been there forever and he has a .500 record. Where are the high expectations?
San Bernandino has the best facilities in the CCAA and he is the third highest paid coach but he can only finish 7th? He has won about a 55% of his games while at CSUSB but shouldn't they expect more from him, considering the high salary and the great facilities?
The point of this story isn't to point out coach's salaries, but to point out how LOW paying, head coach's positions are in California. I feel any head coach in California needs to start at $150,000. Of course that means more pressure on the coaches to win. But any coach worth a damn, would welcome that kind of pressure.
A higher starting salary will attract a better pool of candidates and more importantly, keep a good coach. For example, will Cal St. Monterey Bay be able to keep their head coach? She had done such a great job in two short years, I have no doubt other schools will be calling!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
RDB 2010
RDB means Rent Don't Buy. There are many coaches that should be on the hot seat, during the 2010-11 season. They have either reached their ceiling or are just bad coaches. The fact that AD's put up with losing coaches, is hurting the growth and development of women's basketball.
All of these coaches have been at their school for at least three years or longer. Three years is plenty of time to see if the coach is taking the program in the right direction.
So my list of RDB coaches for 2010-11:
Lynn Roberts-Pacific
Julie Wilhoit-LMU
Pam DeCosta-San Jose St.
Raegan Pebley- Utah St.
All of these coaches have been at their school for at least three years or longer. Three years is plenty of time to see if the coach is taking the program in the right direction.
So my list of RDB coaches for 2010-11:
Lynn Roberts-Pacific
Julie Wilhoit-LMU
Pam DeCosta-San Jose St.
Raegan Pebley- Utah St.
Monday, March 15, 2010
2010 March Madness
It is March Madness, the time of year when college basketball dominates. But March Madness also means coaching changes.
March 29, 2010:
Sacramento St. has removed the interim tag from Head Coach Jamie Craighead. Craighead was the youngest D-1 head coach last year, at 29 years old. Craighead received a three year contract.
Craighead led Sac. St. to a 15-15 record. The highest win total, for Sac. St, since the 1992-93 season.
March 26, 2010:
USF fired Tanya Haave. Haave had a 36-86 overall record in four years at USF.
Mark Trakh, former Pepperdine and USC head coach, has been contacted about becoming the next coach at USF.
Certainly a good idea but Pacific keeps the terrible Lynne Roberts, who has a 42-76 record in four years. Why? Any wonder that the Big West is rated so low?
March, 12, 2010
Cal State Northridge has fired head coach Staci Schulz. Schulz had a 36-109 in five years at CSN.
I hope CSN doesn't do the easy thing, and promotes one of their assistants. If CSN was smart, which is debatable, they would look at the following coaches to be their next head coach:
Tim LaKose, current head coach at Cal State Bakersfield.
Jason Flowers, currently an assistant at UC Riverside.
Greg Adams, former CSN assistant coach and current head coach at Western New Mexico.
But, how about this for thinking out of the box; Joan Bonvicini, current Seattle University coach, to be the next coach at CSN.
Other News & Notes:
Sherri Murrell, head coach at Portland St. and former head coach at Pacific, is one of the very few coaches who has come out.
What is really stupid is, this should be a non issue.
March 29, 2010:
Sacramento St. has removed the interim tag from Head Coach Jamie Craighead. Craighead was the youngest D-1 head coach last year, at 29 years old. Craighead received a three year contract.
Craighead led Sac. St. to a 15-15 record. The highest win total, for Sac. St, since the 1992-93 season.
March 26, 2010:
USF fired Tanya Haave. Haave had a 36-86 overall record in four years at USF.
Mark Trakh, former Pepperdine and USC head coach, has been contacted about becoming the next coach at USF.
Certainly a good idea but Pacific keeps the terrible Lynne Roberts, who has a 42-76 record in four years. Why? Any wonder that the Big West is rated so low?
March, 12, 2010
Cal State Northridge has fired head coach Staci Schulz. Schulz had a 36-109 in five years at CSN.
I hope CSN doesn't do the easy thing, and promotes one of their assistants. If CSN was smart, which is debatable, they would look at the following coaches to be their next head coach:
Tim LaKose, current head coach at Cal State Bakersfield.
Jason Flowers, currently an assistant at UC Riverside.
Greg Adams, former CSN assistant coach and current head coach at Western New Mexico.
But, how about this for thinking out of the box; Joan Bonvicini, current Seattle University coach, to be the next coach at CSN.
Other News & Notes:
Sherri Murrell, head coach at Portland St. and former head coach at Pacific, is one of the very few coaches who has come out.
What is really stupid is, this should be a non issue.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Conference Tournament Time
It's conference tournament time in women's college basketball.
West Coast Conference:
LMU was the 6th seed in the WCC tourney. The Lions beat USF in the first round but lost to Pepperdine in the second round. If Bill Husack, LMU AD, was smart, he would make that game Julie Wilhoit's last game as head coach.
Pepperdine, 3rd seed, beat LMU, then beat St. Mary's, and are now in the WCC Championship game vs Gonzaga. Good luck to the Wave.
Big West:
Long Beach St. enjoyed a great turnaround season, going from 9th place in the BW to 4th place.
Cal State Fullerton is the 6th seed.
UC Irvine is the 7th seed.
Cal State Northridge missed the BWT and hopefully that will be enough for CSN to get rid of Coach Schultz.
Random thoughts:
After the 2008-09 season, Long Beach on the women's side and Cal Poly on the men's side, both let go of their coaches, after they missed the BWT. The Big West has 9 teams and only 8 teams make the BWT. BW coaches have tried to pass the CYA rule, cover your ass, so all 9 teams make the BWT.
The Mountain West Conference also has 9 teams and an interesting format.
First round:
Seeds: 5 vs 8 & 4 vs 9. With the winners playing each other in the second round.
Seeds 6 vs 7. With the winners playing 3rd seed in the second round.
Second Round:
Winner of 5 vs 8 & 4 vs 9 play each other.
3rd seed, who had earned a 1st round bye, plays winner of 6 vs 7 game.
Third round:
1st and 2nd seeds get two byes and play the second round winners.
The Big West will move the BWT to The Honda Center, for the 2011 tournament. I hope they don't have this CYA format. If a team isn't good enough to finish in the top 8, they shouldn't be in the BWT.
Degree Required?
I thought a college degree was required to be a college coach. But it appears that San Diego St.'s Coach Fred Chmiel doesn't have a college degree.
West Coast Conference:
LMU was the 6th seed in the WCC tourney. The Lions beat USF in the first round but lost to Pepperdine in the second round. If Bill Husack, LMU AD, was smart, he would make that game Julie Wilhoit's last game as head coach.
Pepperdine, 3rd seed, beat LMU, then beat St. Mary's, and are now in the WCC Championship game vs Gonzaga. Good luck to the Wave.
Big West:
Long Beach St. enjoyed a great turnaround season, going from 9th place in the BW to 4th place.
Cal State Fullerton is the 6th seed.
UC Irvine is the 7th seed.
Cal State Northridge missed the BWT and hopefully that will be enough for CSN to get rid of Coach Schultz.
Random thoughts:
After the 2008-09 season, Long Beach on the women's side and Cal Poly on the men's side, both let go of their coaches, after they missed the BWT. The Big West has 9 teams and only 8 teams make the BWT. BW coaches have tried to pass the CYA rule, cover your ass, so all 9 teams make the BWT.
The Mountain West Conference also has 9 teams and an interesting format.
First round:
Seeds: 5 vs 8 & 4 vs 9. With the winners playing each other in the second round.
Seeds 6 vs 7. With the winners playing 3rd seed in the second round.
Second Round:
Winner of 5 vs 8 & 4 vs 9 play each other.
3rd seed, who had earned a 1st round bye, plays winner of 6 vs 7 game.
Third round:
1st and 2nd seeds get two byes and play the second round winners.
The Big West will move the BWT to The Honda Center, for the 2011 tournament. I hope they don't have this CYA format. If a team isn't good enough to finish in the top 8, they shouldn't be in the BWT.
Degree Required?
I thought a college degree was required to be a college coach. But it appears that San Diego St.'s Coach Fred Chmiel doesn't have a college degree.
Monday, February 22, 2010
2010 Coaching Carousel
It is never too early to start the Coaching Carousel.
In the LA area, we have nine D-1 schools.
The following coaches are safe from being let go from their schools. I also think all of the schools will not be affected by the turning of the coaching carousel.
USC, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach St., UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Pepperdine.
The following two programs need to make a change.
Cal State Northridge- Staci Schulz
LMU- Julie Wilhoit. This is the tough choice an athletic director has to make. Do you get rid of a coach who has won but hasn't won enough? Most schools seem happy if their women's basketball team wins 15-17 games a year, have their players gradudate, and not get in trouble. That is exactly the attitude that is preventing women's basketball from improving. Yes, having players graduate and stay out of trouble is very important. But coaches need to be held to a higher standard. Winning 17 games isn't enough, if you have the talent to win 20 games and go to the NCAA tournament.
Julie Wilhoit, long ago reached her ceiling at LMU. In 2004 she lead the Lions to the NCAA tournament. Sadly she has been living off that NCAA run six years later. Wilhoit has won, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 wins in the five seasons since the 2004 NCAA team. For the 2009-10 season Julie Wilhoit has been struggling. Currently LMU is 12-14, 5-7 in the WCC. But a closer look at her record shows four of the five WCC wins include sweeps of USF and Santa Clara, two teams combined who have won, 2 games in the WCC and 7 games TOTAL!!
Then the fact that Wilhoit hasn't beaten a team with a pulse, that's all an AD needs to let Wilhoit go. In non conference, the team with the highest RPI, that LMU beat is Cal Poly, with a RPI of 161. The rest of their 11 wins have been against teams with RPI's of 200 or lower!! Portland, who LMU beat over the weekend, had a RPI of 159.
It is time for a coaching change at LMU.
In the LA area, we have nine D-1 schools.
The following coaches are safe from being let go from their schools. I also think all of the schools will not be affected by the turning of the coaching carousel.
USC, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach St., UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Pepperdine.
The following two programs need to make a change.
Cal State Northridge- Staci Schulz
LMU- Julie Wilhoit. This is the tough choice an athletic director has to make. Do you get rid of a coach who has won but hasn't won enough? Most schools seem happy if their women's basketball team wins 15-17 games a year, have their players gradudate, and not get in trouble. That is exactly the attitude that is preventing women's basketball from improving. Yes, having players graduate and stay out of trouble is very important. But coaches need to be held to a higher standard. Winning 17 games isn't enough, if you have the talent to win 20 games and go to the NCAA tournament.
Julie Wilhoit, long ago reached her ceiling at LMU. In 2004 she lead the Lions to the NCAA tournament. Sadly she has been living off that NCAA run six years later. Wilhoit has won, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 wins in the five seasons since the 2004 NCAA team. For the 2009-10 season Julie Wilhoit has been struggling. Currently LMU is 12-14, 5-7 in the WCC. But a closer look at her record shows four of the five WCC wins include sweeps of USF and Santa Clara, two teams combined who have won, 2 games in the WCC and 7 games TOTAL!!
Then the fact that Wilhoit hasn't beaten a team with a pulse, that's all an AD needs to let Wilhoit go. In non conference, the team with the highest RPI, that LMU beat is Cal Poly, with a RPI of 161. The rest of their 11 wins have been against teams with RPI's of 200 or lower!! Portland, who LMU beat over the weekend, had a RPI of 159.
It is time for a coaching change at LMU.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Possible Conference Expansion.
College athletics is always changing. The last twenty years have seen many schools left conferences, chasing the almighty dollar. So let's take a look at possible expansion for the Big West and West Coast conferences.
Big West:
Currently the Big West has nine schools, all in California. The Big West thinks small, so they will only admit schools in California. In terms of scheduling, a nine team conference is a nightmare, with one team always having the night off, from BW competition. Also some schools have to make two trips up north, to Pacific and Davis, instead of one trip. That means schools are spending more money than they need to.
I will list schools the Big West may look to add, as their 10th member. But a few things to keep in mind. Schools will be in CA. Schools must sponsor all seven BW priority sports, M & W soccer and basketball, baseball, softball, women's volleyball. Schools need to make some sort of geographic sense. The Big West has five LA area schools. Travel partners should be UOP-Davis, SB-CP, then a rotation of the five LA area schools.
Cal State Bakersfield-Bake will be a full D-1 member on July 1, 2010. They would be a perfect geographic fit; travel partners with Northridge. Nice facilities. The only game in town, no competition with other schools, like in the LA area.
In strictly a women's basketball point of view, they would be a very strong contender for the BW championship.
But Bake made the move up to D-1 about five years ago and they still haven't gotten an invitation from the Big West. Why? Bake's men's basketball is terrible. They would be a RPI drain on the BW. While they play in a nice off campus arena, they don't draw jack. 2,000 fans in a 10,000 seat arena is nothing. 2009 was Bake's first year for baseball. They of course struggled, so they would be an RPI drain. They barely have a baseball facility; they have the field, dugouts, and some bleachers. Otherwise, they have a long way to go before calling it a stadium.
My prediction: Bakersfield is the BW's last resort option for a 10th member.
Sac. St.:
They have all the BW priority sports. But terrible facilities. Basketball plays in a 1,500 seat high school gym. Both teams are terrible. In WBB, Sac St hasn't finished a season with double digits wins in over a decade. Though they may reach that level this year.
Students voted for an arena but Sac St president did a bait and switch, instead spending the money on building a football field house, instead of an arena.
The only way Sac St would come into the Big West is, they either drop football or decide to go independent in football, like Cal Poly and UC Davis. Ok, both CP and Davis are in the Great West for football. But the Great West won't be a conference, after a couple schools move to other conferences.
Sac St would only come into the BW, if they can no longer afford all the travel cost of being in the Big Sky. Even though there is a budget crunch in CA, Sac St is staying on course with the Big Sky.
In terms of travel partners, Sac St. doesn't make sense with any school. Adding Sac. St to the BW, means three teams in Northern California. The likely travel partner would be Northridge.
My prediction: Sac. St. has football fantasies and they won't drop out of the Big Sky.
San Jose St.- Former BW member, now a member of the WAC. They would have to drop football in order to come back to the BW. But they seem to be focused on making their football program as strong as possible. The money from Boise St BCS team, will help.
Good facilities. But both basketball teams have struggled of late. Though their men's team is having a turn around season, this year. But the women's program is terrible. They maybe looking for a new coach soon.
As with Sac St., adding San Jose St. would mean three Northern California teams in the Big West.
My prediction- Not happening. San Jose St. won't drop football within the next 5-7 years. So they won't be come members of the Big West.
WCC:
The WCC will only add small private schools. I also believe they will add two schools to make ten. Since nine schools makes for tough scheduling. The WCC currently has eight schools, all schools are on the West Coast, meaning all schools are in states that touch the Pacific Ocean. I know Cal Stat Long Beach alums and fans are too stupid to understand that point.
Seattle and Denver are two private schools. Seattle is making the move back up to D1. They are Washington so, geographically they make sense.
Denver will be kicked out of the Sun Belt Conference because they don't sponsor enough sports. While Denver is a western school, they aren't on the West Coast. I doubt Denver will be invited.
My prediction:
This may seem like a very long shot, but I could see this happening:
Seattle will be admitted into the WCC, it is only a matter of when.
UOP will be the other team admitted to the WCC. Why? UOP has a very good men's program and a good arena. Travel partners in the WCC will be LMU-Pepperdine, UOP-St. Mary's, USF-Santa Clara, Seattle-Gonzaga and Portland-USD.
If UOP does get into the WCC, then what school would the BW add?
Big West:
Currently the Big West has nine schools, all in California. The Big West thinks small, so they will only admit schools in California. In terms of scheduling, a nine team conference is a nightmare, with one team always having the night off, from BW competition. Also some schools have to make two trips up north, to Pacific and Davis, instead of one trip. That means schools are spending more money than they need to.
I will list schools the Big West may look to add, as their 10th member. But a few things to keep in mind. Schools will be in CA. Schools must sponsor all seven BW priority sports, M & W soccer and basketball, baseball, softball, women's volleyball. Schools need to make some sort of geographic sense. The Big West has five LA area schools. Travel partners should be UOP-Davis, SB-CP, then a rotation of the five LA area schools.
Cal State Bakersfield-Bake will be a full D-1 member on July 1, 2010. They would be a perfect geographic fit; travel partners with Northridge. Nice facilities. The only game in town, no competition with other schools, like in the LA area.
In strictly a women's basketball point of view, they would be a very strong contender for the BW championship.
But Bake made the move up to D-1 about five years ago and they still haven't gotten an invitation from the Big West. Why? Bake's men's basketball is terrible. They would be a RPI drain on the BW. While they play in a nice off campus arena, they don't draw jack. 2,000 fans in a 10,000 seat arena is nothing. 2009 was Bake's first year for baseball. They of course struggled, so they would be an RPI drain. They barely have a baseball facility; they have the field, dugouts, and some bleachers. Otherwise, they have a long way to go before calling it a stadium.
My prediction: Bakersfield is the BW's last resort option for a 10th member.
Sac. St.:
They have all the BW priority sports. But terrible facilities. Basketball plays in a 1,500 seat high school gym. Both teams are terrible. In WBB, Sac St hasn't finished a season with double digits wins in over a decade. Though they may reach that level this year.
Students voted for an arena but Sac St president did a bait and switch, instead spending the money on building a football field house, instead of an arena.
The only way Sac St would come into the Big West is, they either drop football or decide to go independent in football, like Cal Poly and UC Davis. Ok, both CP and Davis are in the Great West for football. But the Great West won't be a conference, after a couple schools move to other conferences.
Sac St would only come into the BW, if they can no longer afford all the travel cost of being in the Big Sky. Even though there is a budget crunch in CA, Sac St is staying on course with the Big Sky.
In terms of travel partners, Sac St. doesn't make sense with any school. Adding Sac. St to the BW, means three teams in Northern California. The likely travel partner would be Northridge.
My prediction: Sac. St. has football fantasies and they won't drop out of the Big Sky.
San Jose St.- Former BW member, now a member of the WAC. They would have to drop football in order to come back to the BW. But they seem to be focused on making their football program as strong as possible. The money from Boise St BCS team, will help.
Good facilities. But both basketball teams have struggled of late. Though their men's team is having a turn around season, this year. But the women's program is terrible. They maybe looking for a new coach soon.
As with Sac St., adding San Jose St. would mean three Northern California teams in the Big West.
My prediction- Not happening. San Jose St. won't drop football within the next 5-7 years. So they won't be come members of the Big West.
WCC:
The WCC will only add small private schools. I also believe they will add two schools to make ten. Since nine schools makes for tough scheduling. The WCC currently has eight schools, all schools are on the West Coast, meaning all schools are in states that touch the Pacific Ocean. I know Cal Stat Long Beach alums and fans are too stupid to understand that point.
Seattle and Denver are two private schools. Seattle is making the move back up to D1. They are Washington so, geographically they make sense.
Denver will be kicked out of the Sun Belt Conference because they don't sponsor enough sports. While Denver is a western school, they aren't on the West Coast. I doubt Denver will be invited.
My prediction:
This may seem like a very long shot, but I could see this happening:
Seattle will be admitted into the WCC, it is only a matter of when.
UOP will be the other team admitted to the WCC. Why? UOP has a very good men's program and a good arena. Travel partners in the WCC will be LMU-Pepperdine, UOP-St. Mary's, USF-Santa Clara, Seattle-Gonzaga and Portland-USD.
If UOP does get into the WCC, then what school would the BW add?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Mid Season Comments
Some mid season comments for women's college basketball in 2009-10.
Big West- Only two teams with a winning record, Cal Poly and UC Davis. Five teams that will lose 20 games or come damn close to it. Northridge, Pacific, and Irvine are locks for 20 losses. This would continue the Big West's streak of, at least two teams with 20 or more losses. The streak is currently at eight seasons. In 8 out of the last 9 seasons, the BW has had THREE teams with 20 or more losses. I'm betting it will be 9 out of 10 seasons, after this year.
Cal State Fullerton- Marcia Foster has Fullerton playing with more discipline and accountability. Team isn't that talented but has some good players. They just need more talent.
Long Beach St.- New coach, Jody Wynn, who is getting the most out of the limited talent. Have already match win total from last year, with basically the same team. Wynn will have to show she can recruit more talent. I know she can and she will.
Cal State Northridge- This better be Staci Schultz's last year at CSN. They are terrible, 1-6 in the Big West, 3-14 overall.
UCI-Maly-Karros is a dominant player in the BW. Jada Smith-Williams is another good player. But UCI struggled through non conference and is under .500 in the BW.
UCR-struggled like crazy in non conference. But has turned things around in conference. Not tough since the BW sucks.
LMU- Julie Wilhoit needs to be fired. She reached her ceiling five years ago. A Wilhoit team will win between 15-17 games, lose some games they should have won, and play a weak schedule. She has been running on fumes. Time for a change at LMU.
Big West- Only two teams with a winning record, Cal Poly and UC Davis. Five teams that will lose 20 games or come damn close to it. Northridge, Pacific, and Irvine are locks for 20 losses. This would continue the Big West's streak of, at least two teams with 20 or more losses. The streak is currently at eight seasons. In 8 out of the last 9 seasons, the BW has had THREE teams with 20 or more losses. I'm betting it will be 9 out of 10 seasons, after this year.
Cal State Fullerton- Marcia Foster has Fullerton playing with more discipline and accountability. Team isn't that talented but has some good players. They just need more talent.
Long Beach St.- New coach, Jody Wynn, who is getting the most out of the limited talent. Have already match win total from last year, with basically the same team. Wynn will have to show she can recruit more talent. I know she can and she will.
Cal State Northridge- This better be Staci Schultz's last year at CSN. They are terrible, 1-6 in the Big West, 3-14 overall.
UCI-Maly-Karros is a dominant player in the BW. Jada Smith-Williams is another good player. But UCI struggled through non conference and is under .500 in the BW.
UCR-struggled like crazy in non conference. But has turned things around in conference. Not tough since the BW sucks.
LMU- Julie Wilhoit needs to be fired. She reached her ceiling five years ago. A Wilhoit team will win between 15-17 games, lose some games they should have won, and play a weak schedule. She has been running on fumes. Time for a change at LMU.
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