Re: LSSU hockey 2013-14
Nowhere have I ever said that LSSU should not be in the D-I business. Just a few posts earlier, I had stated that it is very important for LSSU, Tech and NMU to not only fund these programs to be competitive, but to be successful. I feel that way about all of the UP D-I programs. One must also remember that it's not just 40-55,000 to get LSSU into an average coaching salary range for WCHA teams, but you also must move likewise for assistants, travel, recruiting, etc. There has been speculation that donations have pushed the LSSU recruitment budget to the midpoint of the new league. That's definitely a step in the right direction. A coach like LaLonde or Eades has a higher USHL salary, well compensated assistants and the financial resources to be consistently among the top programs in their league. In fact most WCHA teams would be in envy of what PMI provides the Gamblers for resources relative to the rest of the league. As I stated, there LaLonde went after the Denver job, one where compensation for he and his staff and program resources are at a premium, yet showed virtually no interest in either Huntsville or Anchorage. My question was not whether LSSU should or should not attempt to compete at the D-I level, it was why would LaLonde be interested in LSSU, when he had no interest in programs that compensate far better. Those are two vastly different ideas. Michigan Tech donors jumped up in a big way to bring Mel Pearson in. But it was far more than the $195,000 increase in the head coach's salary that got it done. Tech's support for its program increased by nearly $350,000 to get Pearson.So in your opinion (and RapidsCity ardent belief), Lake State simply does not have the resources to go after quality coaching and if you can not get good coaching because of insufficient revenue then perhaps you should not be in the D-1 business.
Now you are partially correct in that Lake State has not sufficiently funded the program to where it needs to be but that does not mean they cannot find an extra 30-50 K a year to attract a coach like Lalonde.