UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

[Chuck Murray]

I wouldn't go so far as a 3 year renewal, I bet more like a 1 year to see if it pans out...but man, I'd think he's gotta have a stellar season, and I mean some good stuff post season (as you say). But, who knows....

'Ref, I suspect AD Ray considers this coming season to be his one year renewal "to see if it pans out", as I'm totally convinced she could have ended their relationship this past offseason. I heard a lot of discussion on here about financial limitations, which I think I went a long way to dispelling how it would fit into a typical budget ... all while not knowing what AD Ray almost certainly knew, of course, which was that there soon would be a spare $4MM lying about the place to smooth over a lot of financial rough spots.

At some point, a string of "well, one more season, just in case" becomes an excuse for professional indecision. To her credit, there seems to have been no such indecision with Coach Herrion (a thoroughly decent guy by all accounts) last March, and likewise I expect there to be no such indecision with nice guy/poor D-1 head coach Mike Souza come this March. Unless of course, he turns it around on a dime like Coach McDonnell did in Football, in a way that can be sustainable beyond just past "one decent year".

Because, in the end, "one decent year" isn't up to the UNH standards set by Coaches Holt and Umile. And of all people, Souza knows that. Why do you think he first came up here as a teenager, to play for UNH?

A "one more year to see if it pans out" would be the hugest of cop-outs from the AD. Herrion got his "one year" last year in the final year of his contract, and he knew the score. Ditto Souza. Now let's roll, and see what happens ...

[HockeyRef]

Thinking more about the Herrion and Souza comparison, Herrion was HC at UNH for 18 years and 65 years old when his contract was not renewed last March, despite some recent moderate success with his teams. Souza on the other hand will be completing only his sixth season as HC and will be only 46 years old this coming spring. In looking at the roster and recent coaching history, I am still thinking single digit wins are likely this season. But, if by some miracle MS7 gets his team back to 0.500 like the he did in the 2019-2020 season, I think that he will get another three-year contract renewal. A 0.500 season also would likely mean an eighth place finish in HEA so home ice in the MBPBEGAM game. Win that game, and then take two of three from presumptive No. 1 seed BU, a return trip to the Garden would seal the deal for a contract renewal.

I wouldn't go so far as a 3 year renewal, I bet more like a 1 year to see if it pans out...but man, I'd think he's gotta have a stellar season, and I mean some
good stuff post season (as you say). But, who knows....

[Chuck Murray]

Thinking more about the Herrion and Souza comparison, Herrion was HC at UNH for 18 years and 65 years old when his contract was not renewed last March, despite some recent moderate success with his teams. Souza on the other hand will be completing only his sixth season as HC and will be only 46 years old this coming spring. In looking at the roster and recent coaching history, I am still thinking single digit wins are likely this season. But, if by some miracle MS7 gets his team back to 0.500 (20%) like the he did in the 2019-2020 season, I think that he will get another three-year contract renewal. A 0.500 season also would likely mean an eighth place finish in HEA so home ice in the MBPBEGAM game. Win that game (50%), and then take two of three from presumptive No. 1 seed BU (5%), a return trip to the Garden would seal the deal for a contract renewal.

I suspect you're probably about right with what MS7 needs to accomplish - ALL of it, not some of it - to earn a renewal. Using the probabilities of each outcome, assuming success with the prerequiste qualifier ... I figure that leaves MS7 with a 0.5% (that's 1 out of 200) chance of catching lightning in a bottle this year. As remote as that may appear, I think the realistic chances at each separate level are even less than I've weighted them above.

Unless MS7 has some hidden leverage no one is aware of, his chances past this season are slim and none.

Fill in the punch line on what Slim is doing to saddle up and ride out of town at your leisure ...

[Snively65]

I don't see them losing THAT many, but I would only be mildly surprised if this is a single-digit win season for UNH.

But MS7 needs a lot (LOT) more than a dozen or so wins, and an upset win or two in the MBPBEGAM "postseason".

As is apparently taking place at MSU now, upcoming facility improvements will give the new guy a nice bounce ...

Thinking more about the Herrion and Souza comparison, Herrion was HC at UNH for 18 years and 65 years old when his contract was not renewed last March, despite some recent moderate success with his teams. Souza on the other hand will be completing only his sixth season as HC and will be only 46 years old this coming spring. In looking at the roster and recent coaching history, I am still thinking single digit wins are likely this season. But, if by some miracle MS7 gets his team back to 0.500 like the he did in the 2019-2020 season, I think that he will get another three-year contract renewal. A 0.500 season also would likely mean an eighth place finish in HEA so home ice in the MBPBEGAM game. Win that game, and then take two of three from presumptive No. 1 seed BU, a return trip to the Garden would seal the deal for a contract renewal.

[Chuck Murray]

All good points. Looking at the schedule, I think that it is possible if not likely that the team could win fewer than five games this season. However, I am also thinking that maybe wins against Dartmouth, RPI, and a split with Princeton at the Whitt, along with wins at Army and Sacred Heart, might match our 1985-86 five wins and avoid the humiliation of setting a new losing record.

I don't see them losing THAT many, but I would only be mildly surprised if this is a single-digit win season for UNH.

But MS7 needs a lot (LOT) more than a dozen or so wins, and an upset win or two in the MBPBEGAM "postseason".

As is apparently taking place at MSU now, upcoming facility improvements will give the new guy a nice bounce ...

[Snively65]

I don't remember AD Rich giving Bill Herrion the same benefit of the doubt after his lame-duck season last year, when he got the program deep into the conference tourney. MS7 is now a lame duck this season, as was Herrion at this time last season. Herrion can accurately outline that his program has never received a fraction of the support that MS7's program has received. And Herrion was arguably the best HC in UNH Hoops history.

MS7 is undoubtedly the worst HC in UNH Hockey history (or at least the parts where a roof was involved). If AD Rich was so inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt she failed to give to Herrion ... why hasn't she extended Souza & Company already, and taken the "risk" of letting them walk at the end of the season?? I'm not sure she has even given MS7 the dreaded "vote of confidence", any more than she did to Herrion. And Herrion knew the score as the season played out, based on his very objective comments after the decision to non-renew him went public.

Make no mistake, MS7 & Company have their UNH coaching futures very much on the line this season, and it's gonna take a lot more than a .500 season (which ain't gonna happen) and a Cinderella trip to Boston in mid-March to save their bacon. We've already seen that didn't pass muster for Herrion, why would it suffice for Souza???

The most beautiful thing about Coach Hubbard's continuing success with UNH Men's Soccer is that it absolutely exposes the mediocre coaching that's been allowed to exist too long in other areas of UNH Athletics. And I'm sure it's not lost on AD Rich that her predecessor extended Souza for no good reason, other than to help out a fellow paisan. If Rich renews him, she owns him going forward. I don't think she's gonna want that on her record. She's shown that with the decision on Herrion, when it would have been FAR less controversial to modestly extend him again than it will be if she does the same with Souza. Souza, barring miracles, is "dead man walking" at UNH.

I still think cutting the cord could AND should have been done this offseason, but I have no doubt it WILL happen this Spring. Anyone up for the traditional "betcha for a beer" on the issue, weigh in with me here and now. :-)

All good points. Looking at the schedule, I think that it is possible if not likely that the team could win fewer than five games this season. However, I am also thinking that maybe wins against Dartmouth, RPI, and a split with Princeton at the Whitt, along with wins at Army and Sacred Heart, might match our 1985-86 five wins and avoid the humiliation of setting a new losing record.

[Chuck Murray]

Agreed, there is strong likelihood that this season is not “the final countdown,” no matter their won-loss record, as the AD needs to give MS7 more time to recruit blue chippahs with the fancy new training facilities, which I agree is bs. But, unless our Sabertooth Cats fail to win 5 games for a new season loss record, I do not see a HC change happening this coming spring.

I don't remember AD Rich giving Bill Herrion the same benefit of the doubt after his lame-duck season last year, when he got the program deep into the conference tourney. MS7 is now a lame duck this season, as was Herrion at this time last season. Herrion can accurately outline that his program has never received a fraction of the support that MS7's program has received. And Herrion was arguably the best HC in UNH Hoops history.

MS7 is undoubtedly the worst HC in UNH Hockey history (or at least the parts where a roof was involved). If AD Rich was so inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt she failed to give to Herrion ... why hasn't she extended Souza & Company already, and taken the "risk" of letting them walk at the end of the season?? I'm not sure she has even given MS7 the dreaded "vote of confidence", any more than she did to Herrion. And Herrion knew the score as the season played out, based on his very objective comments after the decision to non-renew him went public.

Make no mistake, MS7 & Company have their UNH coaching futures very much on the line this season, and it's gonna take a lot more than a .500 season (which ain't gonna happen) and a Cinderella trip to Boston in mid-March to save their bacon. We've already seen that didn't pass muster for Herrion, why would it suffice for Souza???

The most beautiful thing about Coach Hubbard's continuing success with UNH Men's Soccer is that it absolutely exposes the mediocre coaching that's been allowed to exist too long in other areas of UNH Athletics. And I'm sure it's not lost on AD Rich that her predecessor extended Souza for no good reason, other than to help out a fellow paisan. If Rich renews him, she owns him going forward. I don't think she's gonna want that on her record. She's shown that with the decision on Herrion, when it would have been FAR less controversial to modestly extend him again than it will be if she does the same with Souza. Souza, barring miracles, is "dead man walking" at UNH.

I still think cutting the cord could AND should have been done this offseason, but I have no doubt it WILL happen this Spring. Anyone up for the traditional "betcha for a beer" on the issue, weigh in with me here and now. :-)

[Snively65]

HR can live with that, but what if it isn't? What's in a name (of a thread) anyways... :-)

Agreed, there is strong likelihood that this season is not “the final countdown,” no matter their won-loss record, as the AD needs to give MS7 more time to recruit blue chippahs with the fancy new training facilities, which I agree is bs. But, unless our Sabertooth Cats fail to win 5 games for a new season loss record, I do not see a HC change happening this coming spring.

[HockeyRef]

"MS7 - The Final Countdown" is a little more direct and to the point, along the same theme ...

HR can live with that, but what if it isn't? What's in a name (of a thread) anyways... :-)

[HockeyRef]

Com’on, let’s get with it. Our incoming transfer goalie from Ljusdal, Sweden, via Nodak, is Jakob Hellsten. He is one of two incoming players that MS7 scored in the portal, the other being D-man Luis Lindner from Spittal der Drau, Austria, via AIC. All just rolls off the tongue as we become a more international team.

Ugh, hear you. I used to know the team inside and out. Numbers, the whole bit. Guess I need to study the roster! I met the incoming Hellsten at the STH get together; really
seemed happy to be here. And yeah, a definite international flair has developed...

[HockeyRef]

UNH 2023-2024...The Years That Took Down Sousa

Haha...hoping we can come up with something just alittle bit more positive? I want the team to be successful...hoping that they lose games so that
the HC can be removed really isn't, at least IMHO, in the best interest for the players on the ice, doing the heavy lifting. That said, I also want to see
positive change moving forward. If need be, if that means a coaching change is in order, then absolutely.

Sorry, I want to see the team win more than they lose (if possible)...that's just me.

[Chuck Murray]

UNH 2023-2024...The Years That Took Down Sousa

"MS7 - The Final Countdown" is a little more direct and to the point, along the same theme ...

[NCAA watcher]

For accuracy sake, Munn arena did finish in 2022 renovations, just in time for the new HC to take credit and roll it into better recruiting.
So it would support the argument that facilities make a difference. But it also could support my point that a new HC makes a difference.

Let's not conduct an experiment attempting to isolate causation and instead change both potential causes?

[Robert Balin]

Odd that Michigan State, which for years has been dropping because of facilities, gets a new Head Coach who has relationships with kids through the US National Program, and suddenly they have a top 5 recruiting class.

Iv'e been following the recruiting since August 1st and UNH has struck out big time. 3 players have been defurred. Sadowski, Primerano and Eckholm, all pushed back to 2025.So do they replace them with a few high caliber players or more fill in types?.

[Snively65]

Com’on, let’s get with it. Our incoming transfer goalie from Ljusdal, Sweden, via Nodak, is Jakob Hellsten. He is one of two incoming players that MS7 scored in the portal, the other being D-man Luis Lindner from Spittal der Drau, Austria, via AIC. All just rolls off the tongue as we become a more international team.