Re: Northeastern Huskies Offseason (Discipline: let's find it)
While I really like what Sebastien brings to the table as an assistant, I don't necessarily think he should be the next head coach. His knowledge of HE, and his familiarity with the players and system definitely need to be kept here, but I worry that he doesn't have enough on his resume to bring in the same level of recruits that Cronin had been getting. I would like to see someone more of the Cronin mold (previous college and pro coaching experience) as the next head coach--someone that looks attractive to recruits.
At the same time I really want to see what Sebastien can do if he got the job. However, giving the job to someone with relatively little "big-time" coaching experience just feels like a big gamble to take. What would the chances be of bringing in an assistant/"associate head" coach with some pro experience?
My main point is that I think we need to retain Sebastien while bringing in 1-2 people with bulkier coaching/recruiting resumes. I just don't know who I would rather see at the helm.
If there was a formula for finding and hiring a new head coach, based on years coached, winning percentage, players sent to the pros etc., the job would have been filled before the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, this task is as subjective and challenging as scouting and recruiting or drafting of players or filling out the brackets of the NCAA hoops tournament.
Twelve years ago, a sleepy D1 hockey program at Miami U. (Ohio) took a huge chance on an alumnus at the advanced age of 27 by the name of Enrico Blasi. Blasi had just three years of college (assistant) coaching experience and was asked to rebuild and revitalize a distinctly medicore program. After 12 seasons his record stands at 262-169-46. His 2010 team
should have beaten bu in the national final, but found it difficult to overcome jack parker's deal with the devil.
Here are some comments made by the AD who hired him:
"Blasi made his debut as a collegiate head coach in 1999-2000, guiding the RedHawks to a 13-20-3 overall record and a ninth-place CCHA finish. His 13 wins were the second-highest total among first-year coaches in NCAA Division I hockey that season. Blasi also was able to return Miami to the CCHA playoffs after a one-year hiatus.
The first Miami hockey alumnus to return to his alma mater as the head coach,
Blasi came to Miami after working four years--three as an assistant and one as a graduate assistant--under former Miami mentor George Gwozdecky at the University of Denver.
As the search went on for a candidate, I came to realize that there was a need to turn to someone with Miami ties," said Joel Maturi, former Miami Athletics Director, at the press conference for Blasi's hiring. "It's truly a pleasure to welcome home a member of Miami's Cradle of Coaches. No one in our applicant pool had such a passion for Miami and its ice hockey program.
You will be disappointed to learn that there is no head coach in the final round. I'm not sure that there are many head coachs that I would want to hire if they were willing to leave their programs in the lurch four weeks before practice was to begin (unofficially, of course). Among the five finalists, There are 3 very good (IMO) assistant coachs who can handle the job. That's how Head Coachs are born. How long they must serve as assistants is totally subjective. For example, Cavanaugh at BC has been York's assistant for 15 years and has applied for more HC jobs than he'd like to remember. I can't say if he applied for our job, but he was not a finalist, while two candidates with far less "time-in-grade" Sebastien and Darren Yopyk, made the cut.
The folks involved with the search expect to finish their interviews on Friday and make a decision that evening. I expect another week to pass while negotiations are completed along with the paperwork. I hope you are all enjoying this summer's entertainment.
