Ohio State Coach???

[KTDC]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Had Shannon Miller managed her dismissal differently, she would definitely be a top contender for the OSU position. With all of the noise that she has generated, she will likely have scared away all potential suitors. Can this be overlooked???

I'm coming down on the 'it can't be overlooked' side. I think she wants to find a job in Canada or Europe, or a women's rights org or something. If I was with an NCAA hockey program I wouldn't want her.

 

[EastFan1]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Agree with this. Also, the coaching challenges, notably in the area of recruiting, do differ between the two schools. Could be that Johnson's background and skillset are ideally matched with his current employer.

Beyond Johnson's interest, or lack thereof, I'm not sure that any assistant coach would be at the top of our wish list. The first two coaches in the program's history had D-1 head coaching experience prior to coming to Ohio State. While the ideal candidate might currently be at the assistant/associate level, a current head coach strikes me as a more likely outcome.

I would think that Ohio State would be looking for a former head coach.

 

[Leather helmet]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

I'm coming down on the 'it can't be overlooked' side. I think she wants to find a job in Canada or Europe, or a women's rights org or something. If I was with an NCAA hockey program I wouldn't want her.

I have no idea if Miller was treated badly by the UMD administration, but just from what I have witnessed with my own eyes, she is not one I would want being my program's public face. When there are coaches like Frost and Johnson around, who run top-notch programs and also represent their schools with class, I would not want to go looking for kind of headaches that UMD obviously found with Miller.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

I would think that Ohio State would be looking for a former head coach.

I would actually prefer a current head coach, as Pgb suggested. If it's a "former" head coach, I guess my first thought would be why are they a "former" head coach?

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Had Shannon Miller managed her dismissal differently, she would definitely be a top contender for the OSU position. With all of the noise that she has generated, she will likely have scared away all potential suitors. Can this be overlooked???

No sane person would overlook what has happened.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

I would actually prefer a current head coach, as Pgb suggested. If it's a "former" head coach, I guess my first thought would be why are they a "former" head coach?

I doubt that a current D1 head coach would be particularly interested in the OSU job unless they are tenuous in the current job - and that would most likely be due to lack of success, so why would you want them....? Sure, a current D3 head coach might be available, but do you want a D3 coach moving up to run your D1 program? Carson Duggan was a successful D3 head coach and she didn't exactly bring success (or class) to OSU and she was only an assistant....caught drinking with the head coach - yikes!

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

I doubt that a current D1 head coach would be particularly interested in the OSU job unless they are tenuous in the current job - and that would most likely be due to lack of success, so why would you want them....?

Again, on both previous occasions, successful head coaches accepted the position. Naturally everyone is going to have their own take on whether the OSU job is desirable or not. Still, I'd ping-pong the question back to you. Why would you assume that current head coaches would no longer be interested, given the history?

 

[KTDC]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Again, on both previous occasions, successful head coaches accepted the position. Naturally everyone is going to have their own take on whether the OSU job is desirable or not. Still, I'd ping-pong the question back to you. Why would you assume that current head coaches would no longer be interested, given the history?

I think there would be lots that is desirable about the OSU position. Even more so if they are going to be one of the six schools that are going to pay their players.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Again, on both previous occasions, successful head coaches accepted the position. Naturally everyone is going to have their own take on whether the OSU job is desirable or not. Still, I'd ping-pong the question back to you. Why would you assume that current head coaches would no longer be interested, given the history?

Exactly, why should we hire someone who just got fired from some other position or was not renewed?

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Exactly, why should we hire someone who just got fired from some other position or was not renewed?

At no point did I recommend that. What I had in mind was a successful coach who might view OSU as a promotion, a new challenge, a better opportunity in the long run, or any combination of the above.

But what the heck, I'll take a shot at your question. Every applicant should be evaluated individually. Sometimes a coach loses a job through no fault of their own. Sometimes unreasonable expectations are the story rather than poor performance. Sometimes coaches weren't well matched with their previous position. Sometimes there really are "philosophical differences" between a coach and the administration -- times when that's more than just an excuse. The fact that someone needs a job doesn't necessarily prove they aren't the best candidate! FWIW.

At the same time, bringing in a proven winner is naturally going to be more appealing than "taking a chance" on an unemployed coach...

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

At no point did I recommend that. What I had in mind was a successful coach who might view OSU as a promotion, a new challenge, a better opportunity in the long run, or any combination of the above.

But what the heck, I'll take a shot at your question. Every applicant should be evaluated individually. Sometimes a coach loses a job through no fault of their own. Sometimes unreasonable expectations are the story rather than poor performance. Sometimes coaches weren't well matched with their previous position. Sometimes there really are "philosophical differences" between a coach and the administration -- times when that's more than just an excuse. The fact that someone needs a job doesn't necessarily prove they aren't the best candidate! FWIW.

At the same time, bringing in a proven winner is naturally going to be more appealing than "taking a chance" on an unemployed coach...

Pgb, I started the statement off with the word exactly, meaning I was in total agreement with your statement that we should be going after a current head coach. The question was in response to the posts by EastFan1 and HockeyEast33 implying we should be going after a former coach. Sorry that was not crystal clear! I am also in agreement with your last statement that bringing in a proven winner is more appealing than rolling the dice on an unemployed coach.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

I saw on the other thread that UMD has their three finalists lined up. I hope OSU is close to that point. In case anyone is interested, the UMD finalists are Maura Crowell (Associate Head Coach at Harvard), Laura Schuler (Assistant Coach at UMD), and Mike Sisti (Head Coach at Mercyhurst). Here is a link in case anyone wants to read more.

http://umdbulldogs.com/news/2015/3/24/WHOCKEY_0324151844.aspx?path=whockey

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Pgb, I started the statement off with the word exactly, meaning I was in total agreement with your statement that we should be going after a current head coach.

Got it! But even though I misunderstood, it was actually kind of interesting giving the "unemployed coach" scenario a few moments thought.

I saw on the other thread that UMD has their three finalists lined up. I hope OSU is close to that point. In case anyone is interested, the UMD finalists are Maura Crowell (Associate Head Coach at Harvard), Laura Schuler (Assistant Coach at UMD), and Mike Sisti (Head Coach at Mercyhurst). Here is a link in case anyone wants to read more.

http://umdbulldogs.com/news/2015/3/24/WHOCKEY_0324151844.aspx?path=whockey

3 solid candidates. Also, can't resist noticing that Mike Sisti isn't quite as untouchable as we had been led to believe.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Got it! But even though I misunderstood, it was actually kind of interesting giving the "unemployed coach" scenario a few moments thought.

3 solid candidates. Also, can't resist noticing that Mike Sisti isn't quite as untouchable as we had been led to believe.

Yeah, and I don't necessarily disagree with your points on an unemployed coach, either. It does depend on the circumstances. Case in point, our former men's coach Mark Osiecki was not unemployed for long before he was hired as an assistant coach for Rockford (AHL affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks), not to mention his work with USA Hockey. If Mike Sisti is a candidate at UMD, I have to believe Ohio State can outbid them if they want Sisti here. With the players we have returning, along with some stellar recruits, I believe the Ohio State job is more attractive than some perceive. This is getting fun, isn't it? Plus, I am in a good mood because the CBJ beat Anaheim tonight (LOL)!

 

[joecct]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Got it! But even though I misunderstood, it was actually kind of interesting giving the "unemployed coach" scenario a few moments thought.

3 solid candidates. Also, can't resist noticing that Mike Sisti isn't quite as untouchable as we had been led to believe.

Has the Lake ice broken up enough that Sisti can take the same ship that tUMD men's team used in 2004 for the trip from Erie to Duluth?

 

[HockeyEast33]

Again, on both previous occasions, successful head coaches accepted the position. Naturally everyone is going to have their own take on whether the OSU job is desirable or not. Still, I'd ping-pong the question back to you. Why would you assume that current head coaches would no longer be interested, given the history?

High historical coach turnover, poor hockey facilities, minimal historical program success, lackluster athletic department support, location (though there are definitely worse - Erie, Duluth, etc), distance from any natural hockey breeding grounds (MN, MI, IL, WI, NY, New England), etc. Why would you leave another head coaching job for that situation if you were stable? I would agree that in theory OSU could pay a higher salary than most other schools, but has the admin shown that kind of support in the past? It is interesting that Sisti has shown interest at UMD - if he didn't also apply at OSU that would be pretty telling for me regarding OSUs chance at getting an on the job D1 coach. Does OSU have to list their candidates like the MN schools?

 

[D2D]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Has the Lake ice broken up enough that Sisti can take the same ship that tUMD men's team used in 2004 for the trip from Erie to Duluth?

Just saw on the news that the Duluth harbor is now open, but the main lake is still 60% ice covered so he would have to catch a ride on an available icebreaker.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

High historical coach turnover, poor hockey facilities, minimal historical program success, lackluster athletic department support, location (though there are definitely worse - Erie, Duluth, etc), distance from any natural hockey breeding grounds (MN, MI, IL, WI, NY, New England), etc. Why would you leave another head coaching job for that situation if you were stable? I would agree that in theory OSU could pay a higher salary than most other schools, but has the admin shown that kind of support in the past? It is interesting that Sisti has shown interest at UMD - if he didn't also apply at OSU that would be pretty telling for me regarding OSUs chance at getting an on the job D1 coach. Does OSU have to list their candidates like the MN schools?

Not exactly music to my ears, though I do appreciate a direct answer. IMO some of the items on your laundry list have merit, others not so much. But while we might spin certain issues differently, my position remains that there isn't any particular change from the two previous hiring periods.

The recruiting issue is a case in point. We have had some Ohio kids on the team. Meaghan Mulvaney and April Stojack come immediately to mind. Still, it's clearly true that Ohio doesn't produce as many D-1 prospects as the states on your list. But at the same time, nearby MI & IL don't have any D-1 programs in Women's Hockey. WI has only the Badgers. The province of Ontario is close by. People have been known to commute from Ontario for games. Lots of competition for the MN kids, but there are lots of them. Recruiting here is a challenge, but it's far from hopeless. The track record so far is pretty clear. We've had the personnel to be able to crack the Top 10, but haven't been able to reach the next level and get into the 8 team NCAA field. We're in the middle of the pack in the best league -- certainly not a bottom-feeder, either in the conference or nationally. To me, that's a pretty inviting challenge for the right coach. A chance to be a real difference-maker. A difficult but achievable mission. None of that has changed much over the last 16 years; the opportunity is still there.

While stability has its selling points, elite level coaches are competitive people looking for a way to get to the top. Yes, the jobs in Minneapolis and Madison would be more attractive, based on the history to date. But do you really expect either of those jobs to open up any time soon? And even if so, isn't it likely that those positions will go to coaches with strong Gopher or Badger bloodlines? Of the viable options to make a run for top, I would think OSU would be one of the most attractive launching pads.

Before wrapping this up, I need to respectfully disagree on the turnover rate. Two changes in sixteen years is not a revolving door. And while "not winning enough" may have had something to do with the end of Coach Barto's tenure, everyone on the board is aware of what led to the current vacancy. As regrettable as that situation was, it doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the opportunity moving forward.

Last but not least, I can't give you a definitive answer on the disclosure question. I honestly don't think that there is a requirement to disclose the names of all of the finalists, though I could be wrong. With most coaching hires at OSU -- not limiting this to hockey -- I simply don't recall knowing who the runner-up candidates were. Yes, in some cases the press gets wind of who's interviewing. In other cases, a runner-up might choose to publicly comment. But routinely releasing a list of interviewees, as a matter of law or policy? Could be I'm not paying enough attention, but that just doesn't ring a bell.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

Pgb, in regard to the last part of your final paragraph, I don't see OSU disclosing anything until they actually make a hire, then they will announce. If this was a high-profile coaching position like football or men's hoops, it would be next to impossible to keep candidates names secret. However, with women's hockey, I don't think we will hear anything until a hire is actually made. The local media isn't exactly covering this coaching search or asking questions. I guess that is to be expected. I have been checking ohiostatebuckeyes.com and the last news item they published for women's hockey was on 3/4 ... 'Sauve Named To WCHA All-Rookie Team'.

 

[undhockey]

Re: Ohio State Coach???

I doubt that a current D1 head coach would be particularly interested in the OSU job unless they are tenuous in the current job - and that would most likely be due to lack of success, so why would you want them....? Sure, a current D3 head coach might be available, but do you want a D3 coach moving up to run your D1 program? Carson Duggan was a successful D3 head coach and she didn't exactly bring success (or class) to OSU and she was only an assistant....caught drinking with the head coach - yikes!

one year as an assistant for scsu in between, but Coach Idalski would be a good example of a d3 coach moving up and having success