2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

[Eeyore]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

One thing to note is that Miller's salary was significantly higher than was Bob Nielson's was when he was both a two time national championship football coach and athletic director; he was making $168,000 in base salary.

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Wow!

Full marks to Miller for speaking her mind clearly and unhesitatingly in this great video interview! An absolute breath of fresh air when the politics are swept aside. Lots of great questions and responses...especially at the 12 minute mark...it's a blockbuster...one of many!

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com...ller-Responds-to-Contract-News-286034531.html

 

[ZedLeppelin]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Current UMD assistant Laura Schuler's name is being floated out there as a possible replacement for Miller, too. That would make a whole lot of sense, having been there with Miller for so long. I'm sure the players would like that more than somebody completely new.

 

[monsoonweather]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Was it necessary to fire both assistant coaches as well? Their salaries are definitely not out of line with that of their peers. Hmm. This "sole financial reason" behind said decision sounds sketchy.

 

[frozenfeet]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Wow!

Full marks to Miller for speaking her mind clearly and unhesitatingly in this great video interview! An absolute breath of fresh air when the politics are swept aside. Lots of great questions and responses...especially at the 12 minute mark...it's a blockbuster...one of many!

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com...ller-Responds-to-Contract-News-286034531.html

I guess you can look at it that way…or… BITTER party of ONE! (not that it’s not justified) but please… show some class. This is big time sports...big time money...which translates into big time consequences? Plain and simple the program has followed to a place that does not justify you being paid at the high end. She tries to reference that her compensation should be based on comparisons to other D1 coaches. Well, young lady welcome to one the most unforgiving occupation there is... just ask Bo Pelini of Nebraska. When the bar is raised (by her in this case I may add) so do the expectations. She speaks of taking the high road but consistently draws the players into her dispute. “Look how hard, how unfair this is on the poor Student Athletes”. Yes it stinks…but hard…unfair? No at the end of the day they still have their school paid for and get to play the sport they love. Believe me they will get over it. Don’t exploit them for your own ego. Except that the fact that it was a nice run, finish the year strong and position yourself for future opportunities. If I was an AD elsewhere, I would take note of this pity party and throw that into the consideration…and if you think this is solely about the money…please. The MN Vikings had a very successful coach at one time who could also be a complete pain in the *** and as long as he was winning all was ignored…but stumble and…he was gone faster than Franny’s fried chicken.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

She speaks of taking the high road but consistently draws the players into her dispute. “Look how hard, how unfair this is on the poor Student Athletes”. Yes it stinks…but hard…unfair?

Yeah, as I noted earlier she was a classless act all the way. It does not seem like money was the issue IF you believe her but the school appears to confirm it. But I would be surprised if them missing the NCCA playoffs a couple of times was the deal breaker, had she been a decent human they probably would have worked something out.

Current UMD assistant Laura Schuler's name is being floated out there as a possible replacement for Miller, too. That would make a whole lot of sense, having been there with Miller for so long. I'm sure the players would like that more than somebody completely new.

There needs to be more women coaching in womens sports. Its long past time to say there are not enough experience possibilities. But I don't know if keeping an assistant is a good idea in this case. Can she get past the previous coach or would there be residual bitterness.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Not sure what extra expense they are incurring. Her contract ends & they are not offering her a new one.

 

[CrankIt]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Yeah, as I noted earlier she was a classless act all the way. had she been a decent human they probably would have worked something out.

Have you ever personally met Coach Miller outside of what you've seen during games? Have you ever spent an extended period of time talking with her? Your defamation of her character says more about you than it does about her. This is a person's job. A person's livelihood. Leave the cheap shots out of this discussion. I would bet that most of you on here bashing Coach Miller would be more than ecstatic if she came to your beloved program and landed you five national titles and a plethora of international talent.

 

[Trillium]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Not sure what extra expense they are incurring. Her contract ends & they are not offering her a new one.

I was responding to the suggestion that for speaking out they might decide to get rid of her before the end of the season. Though now that I think about it, I do suppose they could get by for 3 months with just the assistants.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Have you ever personally met Coach Miller outside of what you've seen during games? Have you ever spent an extended period of time talking with her? Your defamation of her character says more about you than it does about her. This is a person's job. A person's livelihood. Leave the cheap shots out of this discussion. I would bet that most of you on here bashing Coach Miller would be more than ecstatic if she came to your beloved program and landed you five national titles and a plethora of international talent.

I'd take that bet because those five national titles are in the past and likely won't happen again in the future.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Have you ever personally met Coach Miller outside of what you've seen during games? Have you ever spent an extended period of time talking with her? Your defamation of her character says more about you than it does about her. This is a person's job. A person's livelihood. Leave the cheap shots out of this discussion. I would bet that most of you on here bashing Coach Miller would be more than ecstatic if she came to your beloved program and landed you five national titles and a plethora of international talent.

I'd take that bet because those five national titles are in the past and likely won't happen again in the future.

 

[ARM]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Was it necessary to fire both assistant coaches as well? Their salaries are definitely not out of line with that of their peers.

While much of this is out of the ordinary, it is common to allow a new coach to select his/her own staff. If the assistants were still under contract, then it is likely that they would have been left in place until their contracts were up, and then the new coach could have made the decision whether or not to retain them. As it is, the priority is on hiring a new coach first and assistants second.

 

[Hux]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

While much of this is out of the ordinary, it is common to allow a new coach to select his/her own staff. If the assistants were still under contract, then it is likely that they would have been left in place until their contracts were up, and then the new coach could have made the decision whether or not to retain them. As it is, the priority is on hiring a new coach first and assistants second.

Ah, I thought the contracts weren't being renewed. That is different from being fired.

 

[D2D]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Ah, I thought the contracts weren't being renewed. That is different from being fired.

What they have in common is both are involuntary and the "employee" is relieved of her duties. What separates the two is the timing as to when it occurs.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Have you ever personally met Coach Miller outside of what you've seen during games? Have you ever spent an extended period of time talking with her? Your defamation of her character says more about you than it does about her. This is a person's job. A person's livelihood. Leave the cheap shots out of this discussion. I would bet that most of you on here bashing Coach Miller would be more than ecstatic if she came to your beloved program and landed you five national titles and a plethora of international talent.

I would quit going if she became coach at my dear old U. I have watched her since her arrival at UMD. Her behavior on the bench is abhorrent. She constantly is haranguing the refs, I can count on one hand the number of games I have seen (and not all have been against dear old U) that she has not held officials on the ice between periods to rant at them. She held a player on the ice between periods to berate her in front of the whole crowd. Her team has always played cheap & dirty when they are down. I have only commented on the behavior I personally have witnessed, I have heard much worse second hand from people that saw it but I have not spread any of those stories because I cannot say i saw them.

She may be a warm & loving person outside the rink, she may indeed have a lovely singing voice but none of that makes up for what she has demonstrated as a coach. If she really did turn down more lucrative offers from other schools I am sure she will be back again. I sincerely hope UMD is back at the NCAA finals again soon & even hoisting the trophy, just without her.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

I guess you can look at it that way…or… BITTER party of ONE! (not that it’s not justified) but please… show some class. This is big time sports...big time money...which translates into big time consequences? Plain and simple the program has followed to a place that does not justify you being paid at the high end. She tries to reference that her compensation should be based on comparisons to other D1 coaches. Well, young lady welcome to one the most unforgiving occupation there is... just ask Bo Pelini of Nebraska. When the bar is raised (by her in this case I may add) so do the expectations. She speaks of taking the high road but consistently draws the players into her dispute. “Look how hard, how unfair this is on the poor Student Athletes”. Yes it stinks…but hard…unfair? No at the end of the day they still have their school paid for and get to play the sport they love. Believe me they will get over it. Don’t exploit them for your own ego. Except that the fact that it was a nice run, finish the year strong and position yourself for future opportunities. If I was an AD elsewhere, I would take note of this pity party and throw that into the consideration…and if you think this is solely about the money…please. The MN Vikings had a very successful coach at one time who could also be a complete pain in the *** and as long as he was winning all was ignored…but stumble and…he was gone faster than Franny’s fried chicken.

probably the most accurate and best post on the topic

 

[Cali]

probably the most accurate and best post on the topic

Couldn't agree more. She is talking way too much and is getting close to the edge of the cliff. AD cannot be too pleased about the discrimination accusation, nor would her lawyer for that matter.

I understand the emotion with the wound still open, but out of curiousity, when is the right time for the school to make this call? Legally, they are tied to her and her staff until the end of the season. Should they have just fired her and used the next few months to find a replacement? The turmoil within the program is going to happen no matter what. What should they have done?

Also, would term contracts like this also have a non-renewing payout attached to them, over and above the salary responsibility?

 

[NMH]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

I'm not the biggest Miller fan and I've been the first to say in recent years that I think it's time for a changing of the guard at UMD, but obviously this whole thing could/should have been handled with some more finesse. If nothing else, UMD has shown itself to be less than trustworthy and loyal and I can't imagine that's attractive to prospective coaches. If they treat a revered coach in this manner, what's to make an up-and-comer feel comfortable in their position?

I've felt of late that UMD has suffered from Miller's inability to, essentially, get over herself and update her strategies. What she did in the early years and how she mined for international talent to keep her smaller, "less desirable" school competitive against the Minny's and Wisco's of the world was spectacular. But now NoDak and east coast schools are out-UMD'ing UMD and UMD is straggling behind. Miller has proven incapable of adapting - she seems to just want to rest on her previous success and pout about how others took her idea instead of competing for those international players, finding new strategies and attempting to keep UMD competitive. That lack of adaptation has made her stale, and IMO, useless to the school and her program. Even still, she did not deserve this treatment. She earned better.

Maybe it's snobby or dismissive of me, but whenever I bring up that argument, someone inevitably brings up the 2010 title and I do tend to discount that one, as winning the NC in an Olympic year, when powerhouse schools are missing their top talent, doesn't hold the cache with me that it seems to with some others. So while on the surface you can say she's just four years removed from her last title, it's disingenuous at best.

Either way, I definitely feel the success of Bemidji State this season is a big factor here. The Beavers have handled the top of the WCHA thus far this season in surprising fashion. They're doing it with a first-year coach who's earning less than half Miller was. IMO, UMD's higher-ups saw Bemidji State as the blueprint for (much cheaper) success.

I hope for the best for the team and the future of the program - I'd hate to see this be a harbinger of bad things for them. While I've always had a tongue-in-cheek banter and dislike for Miller, I've always had the best interest of the future of the program in mind. I do think it was stagnant under her and while I hate how this went down, I can only hope the team itself sees improvement because of this.

 

[ARM]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

... winning the NC in an Olympic year, when powerhouse schools are missing their top talent, doesn't hold the cache with me that it seems to with some others...

Are you saying that we should put an asterisk by Wisconsin's title in 2006?

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: 2014-2015 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Womens Hockey

Are you saying that we should put an asterisk by Wisconsin's title in 2006?

ROASTED.

alol