Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #16
    Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

    Originally posted by AkSarBen View Post
    Not surprised. He never lived up to his billing and even hinted at the administration not having his back last year. I kind of feel for the guy. Kind of.

    That being said, I think this was a cost-cutting move more than a performance move. The state's in the middle of a budget crisis, and whenever that happens, UNO gets absolutely gutted in every department possible. It happened in the mid-2000s and it's happening now.

    To add to this, the baseball manager Bob Herold, who was one of the most underrated in the country and made UNO finish top two in the conference over the last three years, was "fired over an altercation on the team bus." The players all very vocally protested in favor of keeping him, and fans think it was a cost-cutting measure, especially when you consider them hiring some alum who was playing semi-pro ball in Sweden when he got the call to manage his alma mater. Now Herold's managing the Phillies' rookie league team and UNO baseball went from vying for an NCAA bid to 2-17. That's where we are. If I'm the basketball or soccer coaches, I'm updating my resume in case the year goes a little below expectations or I yell at a player a little too loud and word gets to the AD.

    The talk is that the replacement will be current assistant Mike Gabinet, and he won't be given full cost of attendance, so he'll be recruiting against UND and Miami who are while having only a year's knowledge of coaching in US college hockey. He was very successful in the CIS, but the NCHC is a different beast. Is this the "commitment to the sport" that got UNO brought into the NCHC?

    If we lose, fans stay home or go to Creighton games, which means less money to pay off the new arena, which means more belt-tightening at the athletic department, which means more questionable firings of successful coaches in favor of newbies, which means more losses, which means...

    TL:DR; UNO is screwed for the foreseeable future and probably has no business remaining in the NCHC if we can't find a way to pay off the new arena while offering FCOA to help out the new coach.
    Yup! A lot depends upon who Gabinet gets for assistants, if he ends up being the guy, and whether or not he will have control of that.

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

      Originally posted by Riz View Post
      Yet, he barely had a better record than Kemp. Maybe some of that was CCHA versus WCHA/NCHC but I expected him to perform better at Omaha. Only 2 NCAA wins and 2 appearances in 8 years for an "elite" coach.
      Considering half of the NCHC makes the NCAA tourney every year thanks to the current tourney selection formula, it looks even worse that UNO wasn't making the tourney on a more frequent basis with DB behind the bench. Heck UND is going to the NCAA tourney with a sub 0.500 conference record. UNO only had two seasons with double digit conferences win (first two seasons) and has been in the bottom half since.

      Unless something completely unexpected happens, looks like Colorado College will have increased competition for the bottom spot of the NCHC next season. As other have noted, I'm sure DB was a big part of what talent UNO did get on their campus. With that name gone, I would expect recruiting to drop off further unless another big, established name comes to town.

      Ryan J
      Preserving Michigan Tech's Hockey History
      https://www.johnsonsjerseys.net
      Originally posted by geezer
      Tech has the best of everything, even the best jersey nerd.
      Originally posted by manurespreader
      ...I really enjoyed listening to Ryan Johnson. He sounded intelligent.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

        Originally posted by JohnsonsJerseys View Post
        Considering half of the NCHC makes the NCAA tourney every year thanks to the current tourney selection formula, it looks even worse that UNO wasn't making the tourney on a more frequent basis with DB behind the bench. Heck UND is going to the NCAA tourney with a sub 0.500 conference record. UNO only had two seasons with double digit conferences win (first two seasons) and has been in the bottom half since.

        Unless something completely unexpected happens, looks like Colorado College will have increased competition for the bottom spot of the NCHC next season. As other have noted, I'm sure DB was a big part of what talent UNO did get on their campus. With that name gone, I would expect recruiting to drop off further unless another big, established name comes to town.

        Ryan J
        I'm predicting UNO to finish 8th as soon as next season. CC is slowly improving and has a good goalie that can steal them some games.

        Half the NCHC making the tournament is tough though when Denver & North Dakota are almost guaranteed to make it no matter how good any other team in the conference is. So, that leaves 2-3 spots.

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

          UNO hired Mike Gabinet in the most expected and budget-friendly move ever. I can see the recruiting trip now.

          Coach: Hello, I'm Mike Gabinet and I'd like you to play hockey in Omaha.
          Recruit: Who are you and where do you want me to play?

          Rookie head coach in the NCHC? Say hello to the cellar rats because Gabinet's going to get schooled quick and often
          UNO Maverick fan and Gopher hater, stuck in Husky country...

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

            we

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

              Originally posted by 5thYearFreshman View Post
              UNO hired Mike Gabinet in the most expected and budget-friendly move ever. I can see the recruiting trip now.

              Coach: Hello, I'm Mike Gabinet and I'd like you to play hockey in Omaha.
              Recruit: Who are you and where do you want me to play?

              Rookie head coach in the NCHC? Say hello to the cellar rats because Gabinet's going to get schooled quick and often
              Jim Montgomery had only been a head coach in the USHL before getting the job at DU. Is that really much different?
              "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." George Orwell, 1984

              "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust, the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume." Boromir

              "Good news! We have a delivery." Professor Farnsworth

              Comment


              • #22
                Originally posted by St. Clown View Post
                Jim Montgomery had only been a head coach in the USHL before getting the job at DU. Is that really much different?
                Montgomery probably has grant standbrook on speed dial any time he wants advice
                BS UML '04, PhD UConn '09

                Jerseys I would like to have:
                Skating Friar Jersey
                AIC Yellowjacket Jersey w/ Yellowjacket logo on front
                UAF Jersey w/ Polar Bear on Front
                Army Black Knight logo jersey


                NCAA Men's Division 1 Simulation Primer

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

                  Originally posted by Patman View Post
                  Montgomery probably has grant standbrook on speed dial any time he wants advice
                  Sure, but any coach taking on a D-1 head coach position has people he can use for advice when needed. New coaches are always looking for mentors, unless the mentor is the competition, then he's peppering the now-guy-he-knows for inside information.
                  "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." George Orwell, 1984

                  "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust, the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume." Boromir

                  "Good news! We have a delivery." Professor Farnsworth

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

                    Originally posted by St. Clown View Post
                    Jim Montgomery had only been a head coach in the USHL before getting the job at DU. Is that really much different?
                    Gabinet spent one year as a head coach in Canada and 5 months as an assistant in D1 Hockey. The year Gabinet coached NAIT, they went undefeated, but they were outstanding the year before under the previous coach. Unproven talent can surprise at times, but I would have rather had a Cary Eades or anyone who had been a head coach in this country.
                    UNO Maverick fan and Gopher hater, stuck in Husky country...

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

                      Originally posted by 5thYearFreshman View Post
                      Gabinet spent one year as a head coach in Canada... The year Gabinet coached NAIT, they went undefeated...
                      Yes, but with the exchange rate, undefeated in Canada is like 6-14-4 in the NCHC.
                      Ryan J
                      Preserving Michigan Tech's Hockey History
                      https://www.johnsonsjerseys.net
                      Originally posted by geezer
                      Tech has the best of everything, even the best jersey nerd.
                      Originally posted by manurespreader
                      ...I really enjoyed listening to Ryan Johnson. He sounded intelligent.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Originally posted by JohnsonsJerseys View Post
                        Yes, but with the exchange rate, undefeated in Canada is like 6-14-4 in the NCHC.
                        Ryan J
                        Lol. Great point.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

                          Originally posted by JohnsonsJerseys View Post
                          Yes, but with the exchange rate, undefeated in Canada is like 6-14-4 in the NCHC.
                          Ryan J
                          Wow, this was actually funny!

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Dean Blais steps down at Omaha

                            Originally posted by JohnsonsJerseys View Post
                            Yes, but with the exchange rate, undefeated in Canada is like 6-14-4 in the NCHC.
                            Ryan J
                            Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. 250K for an On the Job Trainee coach seems like a solid financial decision for a school in dire financial straits
                            UNO Maverick fan and Gopher hater, stuck in Husky country...

                            Comment

                            Working...
                            X