New Position For Bob Emery

[Birdwatcher]

https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2019/5/30/merrimack-hires-former-plattsburgh-state-head-coach-bob-emery-as-director-of-mens-ice-hockey.aspx

 

[NUProf]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

The job title sounds like somebody who the head coach would report to, but I know that in reality it is a position that is a step below an assistant coach. I wonder where they came up with the title "director" for such a position.

 

[Scott_TG]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

The job title sounds like somebody who the head coach would report to, but I know that in reality it is a position that is a step below an assistant coach. I wonder where they came up with the title "director" for such a position.

It's a fairly common title in NCAA D1 hockey. Where I work in a corporation, Director is a fairly common title for workers beyond entry level who may not have any or only a couple of direct reports. It's equivalent to Manager but to some people it sounds better.

 

[NUProf]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

It's a fairly common title in NCAA D1 hockey. Where I work in a corporation, Director is a fairly common title for workers beyond entry level who may not have any or only a couple of direct reports. It's equivalent to Manager but to some people it sounds better.

In other words, another example of title inflation (like Castleton calling itself a University, instead of a State College). Seems like a glorified gopher job. As I recall, these "directors" are not even allowed to interact directly with players.

 

[Scott_TG]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

In other words, another example of title inflation (like Castleton calling itself a University, instead of a State College). Seems like a glorified gopher job. As I recall, these "directors" are not even allowed to interact directly with players.

It's not a gopher job, it's administrative duties that would normally be carried out by the coaches in a DIII setting because DIII athletic departments typically don't have the budget for an extra person. I found the posting for the Merrimack Director of Hockey Ops and this is what it laid out:

Position Overview: The Director of Hockey Operations oversees the administrative functions of the men’s hockey office and provides comprehensive support to the head and assistant coaches. This position reports directly to the head coach for men’s hockey and is responsible for assisting in all phases of the program in accordance with NCAA, Hockey East Conference and Merrimack College rules, regulations and policies.

Responsibilities:

-Serve as the main point of contact for the men’s hockey program with all members of the Athletic Department staff to ensure consistent communication.
-Responsible for budget management and ensuring fiscal responsibility for the program.
-Work in unison with the Head Coach to manage the “narrative” of MISSION Merrimack.
-Coordinate program needs with the Director of Hockey Services (equipment, travel, meals).
-Serve as video coordinator of the program with responsibilities including pre-scout videos, video used for teaching purposes, editing and organizing post game clips, and “recruiting” through video component for coaches.
-Provide mentorship and coach development strategies to the coaching staff.
-Participate in the planning and execution of all on-campus recruiting.
-Serve as the primary contact for the pre-read admissions process with the designated Admissions Office liaison and Financial Aid Office liaison.
-Manage all aspects of Gordie’s Team Camp (GTC) at Merrimack College.

It's not coaching but it's a pretty good gig for someone who already has his State of NY pension. It's the security gig cops take once they've put in their 20-25 years. It gets him connected to a D1 program in Massachusetts, and assuming he moves the family to Massachusetts with him his kids have closer proximity to higher caliber youth hockey programs if they have hockey aspirations.

 

[KnightsOfTheRound]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

Yeah, it sounds like he would be doing much of what he was already doing at Plattsburgh, minus the ice time, long trips on the bus, etc. Not a bad gig if that’s what he’s looking for at this stage of his life.

 

[d3hockey57]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

So basically he books the hotel rooms.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

If anyone has kids in high level travel minor hockey, they know how demanding a schedule can be. This allows Bob to still be connected to the college game and still be able to be apart of his kids life as well. Win win situation for everyone.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

And for what it's worth, the North Andover Islanders is one of the best youth programs..in the Nation. Not sure they would make the top team, but it's a great program!

 

[gojackets]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

So basically he books the hotel rooms.

If I could get paid as much as he's getting paid to book hotel rooms...then sign me up ASAP

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

So basically he books the hotel rooms.

I think you’re drastically underestimating how much the position does. There is a LOT of administrative work that goes into running a D3 program, more or less a D1 program. Sure it’s not the same rigors of being the head coach of a D3 program with late nights and missed weekends on the road recruiting, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be done that goes into running college athletic teams behind the scenes.

 

[d3hockey57]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

I think you’re drastically underestimating how much the position does. There is a LOT of administrative work that goes into running a D3 program, more or less a D1 program. Sure it’s not the same rigors of being the head coach of a D3 program with late nights and missed weekends on the road recruiting, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be done that goes into running college athletic teams behind the scenes.

Got it, so he books the bus too.

 

[NUProf]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

I think you’re drastically underestimating how much the position does. There is a LOT of administrative work that goes into running a D3 program, more or less a D1 program. Sure it’s not the same rigors of being the head coach of a D3 program with late nights and missed weekends on the road recruiting, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be done that goes into running college athletic teams behind the scenes.

I don't think in any way that this is a cushy job - far from it. What I am bemoaning is the constant upgrading of titles to make people and places sound more important than they are. Secretaries became administrative assistants, janitors became custodial engineers, teacher's aides became paraprofessionals, third rate colleges become universities, coordinators become directors of operations, junior high schools become middle schools, etc. etc.

What Emery is doing is an important job, but the title is more high faluutin' than the actual role.

 

[KnightsOfTheRound]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

I don't think in any way that this is a cushy job - far from it. What I am bemoaning is the constant upgrading of titles to make people and places sound more important than they are.

You don't give a multiple national championship winning coach, one of the winningest college coaches in history, an entry-level title. Sometimes you need to award a title befitting of the person in the role. Merrimack could have hired a twenty-something to do a similar job, paid them less, and given them a lesser title, but presumably they wanted the expertise of an accomplished coach in the role.

This is one of the job responsibilities: "-Provide mentorship and coach development strategies to the coaching staff."

Twenty-something "Hockey Ops Associate" can't do that.

The title doesn't even seem that inflated to be honest.

 

[gojackets]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

teacher's aides became paraprofessionals

There is a huge difference between a teachers aide and a para...just sayin

 

[NUProf]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

You don't give a multiple national championship winning coach, one of the winningest college coaches in history, an entry-level title. Sometimes you need to award a title befitting of the person in the role. Merrimack could have hired a twenty-something to do a similar job, paid them less, and given them a lesser title, but presumably they wanted the expertise of an accomplished coach in the role.

This is one of the job responsibilities: "-Provide mentorship and coach development strategies to the coaching staff."

Twenty-something "Hockey Ops Associate" can't do that.

The title doesn't even seem that inflated to be honest.

I know I'm making a subtle point here - I'm talking about the general trend in society, not this specific case. There are a lot of people hired in the job with the title of director of hockey operations who are 20 something gophers. It is a common job in DI hockey, but most of the people who attain that title are less qualified than Emery. Titles tend to inflate and when they do, somebody who may merit the title (as inflated) are pulled down by the expectations that people have for the job, based on what the inflated title means. "Director of Hockey Operations" is in most cases an entry-level position, but it sounds like more. If anybody deserves the respect the title implies it is Emery, but he is lumped in with those who are far less qualified than he is. I'm probably being way too subtle here to explain my point.

 

[bakdraft21]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

yes , but does he get a participation trophy??? ..

 

[BKrosky]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

It's clear the ignorance of the people in this board of who has and has not worked in collegiate athletics by what they know about Directors of Operations at schools. I do work at a D1 school comparable in size to Merrimack and know the behind-the-scenes things that need to be done to ensure quality within the program.

I think you’re drastically underestimating how much the position does. There is a LOT of administrative work that goes into running a D3 program, more or less a D1 program. Sure it’s not the same rigors of being the head coach of a D3 program with late nights and missed weekends on the road recruiting, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be done that goes into running college athletic teams behind the scenes.

 

[cetihcra]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

I know I'm making a subtle point here - I'm talking about the general trend in society, not this specific case. There are a lot of people hired in the job with the title of director of hockey operations who are 20 something gophers. It is a common job in DI hockey, but most of the people who attain that title are less qualified than Emery. Titles tend to inflate and when they do, somebody who may merit the title (as inflated) are pulled down by the expectations that people have for the job, based on what the inflated title means. "Director of Hockey Operations" is in most cases an entry-level position, but it sounds like more. If anybody deserves the respect the title implies it is Emery, but he is lumped in with those who are far less qualified than he is. I'm probably being way too subtle here to explain my point.

Trying to compare to the private sector is difficult, but if we consider the whole team "Hockey Operations", then we can start the hierarchy with the Head Coach ("President of Hockey Operations", though sometimes that title is also used for an Assistant AD-level staff dedicated to hockey), Assistant Coaches ("VPs" of Hockey Operations), so the next logical step down is "Director".

I do agree with you in worlds other than hockey, though -- title inflation is a trend and an issue. My boss wanted to add Director to my title, to make our firm sound larger....we're three people. Hah!

r

 

[d3hockey57]

Re: New Position For Bob Emery

It's clear the ignorance of the people in this board of who has and has not worked in collegiate athletics by what they know about Directors of Operations at schools. I do work at a D1 school comparable in size to Merrimack and know the behind-the-scenes things that need to be done to ensure quality within the program.

Can't be that hard to go to hotels.com and book 15 rooms...