USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition
- Thread starter norbert
- Start date
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Just had this convo with Mr. HR...we enjoy the fact we get to see a D1 sport and have built a 'life' around it. And we aren't there for the coach..I mean..its complicated
2013hockeyfan
Member
There is nothing wrong with attending the games and supporting the institution and the players while expecting more from the administration. The coach, while he sucks, also deserves our support in much the same way the players do. He is an alum and I don't suspect is failing from lack of effort, just lack of aptitude. The state of UNH hockey falls squarely at the feet of AD Rich and the prez who supports her.
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
It's this. I know BC is stacked but I watched Friday's game and I honestly don't know of a single player on UNH that would crack the entire defensive corps or the top 3 lines at BC. It was shocking. Usually they have one good player or so. But no one stood out to me and I've seen several UNH games.
UNH has basically become the Super Bowl halftime show of college hockey. UNH needs to come up with a plan for how they are either going to bring in talent or find another route. NIL has introduced big changes and the new rulings on major junior players is also a game-changer. Time to find a path.
I am shocked no one has discussed the laughably bad decision by Souza to challenge for a major when a UNH player was basically falling down and accidentally collided with a BC player's elbow. It was one of the quickest reviews I've ever seen.
Last edited:
TheGrouchyCat
Litter Box of Bad Ideas
The challenges of UNH Hockey are rooted in the dysfunctional "legacy" of Scarano and his questionable decision making. Our AD and new President inherited a mess, but are continuing to dig a deeper hole with their own dubious powers of discernment and execution
The AD is making excuses because she tied her own hands with a 3 year contract
The coach is MIA, both at off ice events and clearly in the coaching department
Is the only way to get some attention to do what Souza did? Go after the money. We can simply flood TDL and Key Auto Group with complaints.
The coach is MIA, both at off ice events and clearly in the coaching department
Is the only way to get some attention to do what Souza did? Go after the money. We can simply flood TDL and Key Auto Group with complaints.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Well you know what they say 'squeaky wheel gets the grease'. From what I heard last year when he was up for renewal that donors were fully expecting him to be renewed. I mean, he had a 'winning season' and 'earned it'. And yeah, the 3 year contract pretty much seals the deal. I no longer think about how most of the team is going to be leaving due to graduation etc (and who knows who else...) because of this season's results. I am not sure I expect much better next year tbh. Of course, one tries to be hopeful!!
Wonder how most of them feel now that we aren't in the best position to be in the post season (as of today at least)..
We need a clever way of referring to the Souza disappearing act. He can be all over the place when hunting for a contract and once he has it POOF.
AD was stupid not to build in a clause, finish under .500 and the university can break it with no buy out. They didn't give him a "prove it" deal. Who exactly was lining up to give him $240k?
Also those donors? Which ones? Look to me like TDL is the only one out there otherwise they would have broken ground.
AD was stupid not to build in a clause, finish under .500 and the university can break it with no buy out. They didn't give him a "prove it" deal. Who exactly was lining up to give him $240k?
Also those donors? Which ones? Look to me like TDL is the only one out there otherwise they would have broken ground.
2013hockeyfan
Member
This team is incapable of putting together a 60 minute effort, I don't expect them to learn how this weekend
Rich and Souza are only symptoms of a much more serious problem; there’s a lack of institutional commitment to Division 1 hockey. By D1 standards, the UNH head coach makes an under market salary. The assistants likely fall into the same category. I’ll bet it’s the same with the recruiting budget. The facility is one of the worst in hockey east.
The NH motto of doing more with less with D1 sports sounds quaint until they play against teams that do more with more. The people thst constantly mention Souza’s salary sound like 85 year olds complaining about the cost of day old donuts.
UNH hockey is deep in the abyss. It’s been going on for a decade now. Blaming this mess on little Mike Souza and AD Rich is convenient and lazy. Rich doesn’t have access to the money to fix it. Souza at least found Key Auto. He’s simply not a talented coach. Can we agree that Rich probably is paid less relative to peer ADs working for similar institutions? It’s the UNH way!
The program doesn’t have the dough to buy out Souza, pay a new staff good division 1 salaries, complete the renovations and get a leg up on NIL spending. Things would change fast if Rich, or her replacement, had access to the same budget as Providence, BC, BU and Northeastern. I bet UMass, UMaine and UConns is much greater. Oh, let’s not compare facilities and player amenities.
The question is existential. How long will this continue before legitimate questions should be asked as to whether UNH belongs in Hockey East?
The NH motto of doing more with less with D1 sports sounds quaint until they play against teams that do more with more. The people thst constantly mention Souza’s salary sound like 85 year olds complaining about the cost of day old donuts.
UNH hockey is deep in the abyss. It’s been going on for a decade now. Blaming this mess on little Mike Souza and AD Rich is convenient and lazy. Rich doesn’t have access to the money to fix it. Souza at least found Key Auto. He’s simply not a talented coach. Can we agree that Rich probably is paid less relative to peer ADs working for similar institutions? It’s the UNH way!
The program doesn’t have the dough to buy out Souza, pay a new staff good division 1 salaries, complete the renovations and get a leg up on NIL spending. Things would change fast if Rich, or her replacement, had access to the same budget as Providence, BC, BU and Northeastern. I bet UMass, UMaine and UConns is much greater. Oh, let’s not compare facilities and player amenities.
The question is existential. How long will this continue before legitimate questions should be asked as to whether UNH belongs in Hockey East?
I don't buy that UNH is the 11th best facilities in Hockey East which is what you are asking me to believe. That the teams record is commensurate with the facilities.
As for coaching salary Ben Barr was at $256k in 2023 and yes now that he has proven "it" he is paid $425k. In 2008 Umile was making $383k so they have paid more for a coach in the past, one that was winning.
Maine is a good case study. Barr gets there they start winning and now his pay is going up and the facilities are getting an upgrade.
This is probably blasphemous, but in this day of budget cuts and scrimping every penny that they can get their hands on, perhaps UNH should consider cutting ties with Hockey East and go back to the ECAC.
Hockey East was the "new kid on the block" in the '80s and '90s and UNH caught a wave at just the right time, with a brand new arena and coaching staff that could sell the school to just about anyone.
Sadly, in the the 2020's, those days are long gone. Hockey East has grown to a point where membership is mostly private, well-endowned institiutions and a couple of state institutions with very large athletic budgets (UConn). UNH's arena has continued to age. Budget cuts lead to the hiring of underpaid coaches who do the best that they can with the tools and resources that they are given. It's simple - UNH simply can no longer compete in the modern Hockey East world.
Moving back to the ECAC would still keep many older rivalries that UNH enjoyed back in the '70's and keep them very competitive in the recruiting arena. There are plenty of schools within a few hours drive of Durham, and UNH could still play against the Hockey East schools in their OOC schedule.
Or you can just call me crazy.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Interesting thoughts Scott...wonder about the travelling..seems alot with only Dartmouth and Harvard 'near by'..of course taking a look we typically play 4 or so games in that division..
What would have to happen to make a change? UNH is definitely not competitive in today's HE..that is becoming exceedingly apparent..
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
UNH athletic depts budget is less than Maine? Somehow I can't believe that is true. Maine was in the right place when they found Barr but NIL is going to screw all small colleges over eventually. I doubt Maine will be able to compete once NIL hits college hockey, maybe it already has?
Maine's biggest advantage is in it's private endowments. There's a ton of money from the Alfond Foundation and New Balance funding improvements to Maine's athletics infrastucture. UNH is trying to move in that direction, but we are still far behind IMHO.
Not to sound like a broken record, but PLEASE send the UNH hockey scenario over to the Paul Business School and let them chew on it. A first semester Soph could quickly figure this out.
The first calculation would be simple - Arena capacity 6501 and then deduct current avg attendance 5106 = 1,395. Multiply this by say an avg of $20 per ticket = $ 27,900 X 15 home games = $418,500. Fire MS7, pay him his $240,000, and expect to put at least 700 more a$$&$ in the seats just thru excitement for a new beginning. This added ticket revenue of about $210,000 almost covers the buyout (about $30K short) so go to TDL/Key Auto. Ask him to donate a 2025 Corvette to the athletic dept and they can sell raffle tickets to EASILY generate $75,000. Buyout problem solved with some money left over for a fresh coat of paint on the Whitt.
The first calculation would be simple - Arena capacity 6501 and then deduct current avg attendance 5106 = 1,395. Multiply this by say an avg of $20 per ticket = $ 27,900 X 15 home games = $418,500. Fire MS7, pay him his $240,000, and expect to put at least 700 more a$$&$ in the seats just thru excitement for a new beginning. This added ticket revenue of about $210,000 almost covers the buyout (about $30K short) so go to TDL/Key Auto. Ask him to donate a 2025 Corvette to the athletic dept and they can sell raffle tickets to EASILY generate $75,000. Buyout problem solved with some money left over for a fresh coat of paint on the Whitt.
Sparkee
Blackbear
And if they wanted it even more economically friendly they could avoid expenses of a coaching search and have Umile promote/select a head coach from his tree. One that is a good bargain.
Good call!
