UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

[deltabravo62]

I'll add a little drama to the mix. The extension was only signed by Scarano and Souza. The lines for President Dean and the head of USNH's HR department were curiously unsigned as of pulling the contract in November. The extension was signed in April of 2022 by Scarano and in June by Souza.

 

[HockeyRef]

I'll add a little drama to the mix. The extension was only signed by Scarano and Souza. The lines for President Dean and the head of USNH's HR department were curiously unsigned as of pulling the contract in November. The extension was signed in April of 2022 by Scarano and in June by Souza.

Dun dun dunnnnnnn! Now you've done it!! The plot thickens! Ready the pitchforks and torches!! Release the hounds!!!! ;-)

 

[Chuck Murray]

I'll add a little drama to the mix. The extension was only signed by Scarano and Souza. The lines for President Dean and the head of USNH's HR department were curiously unsigned as of pulling the contract in November. The extension was signed in April of 2022 by Scarano and in June by Souza.

Interesting, but my guess is Blue Skies' signature was all that was needed on UNH's behalf to create a binding agreement. The absence of Dean Dean's signature can be read in any number of ways, and we'd probably need some context into what folks had what authority to what amount to bind the school? I can't think of too many folks (if any?) at UNH who are being paid more than Souza, so you'd think Dean's signature would've been a prerequisite? The most compelling reading of the circumstances is that indeed, maybe Dean was furious that Blue Skies didn't clear it with him first, and refused to sign off - but still let it happen sans his signature?? The ultimate in passive-aggressive admin behavior, as in "Let this be on YOUR head, Blue Skies!!" who right about now is probably having a second coffee while catching up on cattle futures from rural Cazenovia NY.

Turning to the issue of Dumais' employment options, and 'Watcher I'll take your assumption as gospel that the D-1 HC hiring cycle this Spring is complete ... for now. That does NOT mean Dumais will be short of other (potentially better) coaching options in the coming weeks/months. The NHL regular season is ending in days, and many teams will probably be looking to hire assistants for NHL level jobs, and/or minor league head coaching jobs. Other teams dropping out of the playoffs earlier than expected/hoped will follow shortly. There will literally be dozens of those opportunities out there, and the money involved will be competitive with D-1 HC salaries.

AD Rich made a bold and decisive change by moving on from a competent D-1 Men's Hoops head coach to what we all hope will be a better alternative. With Men's Hockey, I don't think we can even consider Souza as "competent" at this point. Why afford him an extra year he never deserved in the first place? Blue Skies arguably tacked on that one final year to create the very leverage for his paisan that is at the crux of the current discussion - nothing more, and nothing less. If BS really wanted to tuck it to the U, he could have added more than a single season to the extension term. In doing so, he protected his paisan from having to face the same scenario that Herrion is now facing - separation without a buyout to cushion the blow of transitioning into his next job. So let's just pick up the thread where BS left it, buy out Souza, and get on with things for real NOW.

Fortune favors the brave.

 

[Darius]

I'll add a little drama to the mix. The extension was only signed by Scarano and Souza. The lines for President Dean and the head of USNH's HR department were curiously unsigned as of pulling the contract in November. The extension was signed in April of 2022 by Scarano and in June by Souza.

I've signed many contracts for my services. I am sent an unsigned contract for review which after review/modification I sign and return. My client then signs and returns a fully signed "executed" copy to me. A contract is not valid unless all signatures are complete. 99% sure the copy you were sent was an "in process" copy. The date gap is curious though. The 1% is that the current UNH hockey coach does not have a valid contract. No buyout necessary.

 

[deltabravo62]

I've signed many contracts for my services. I am sent an unsigned contract for review which after review/modification I sign and return. My client then signs and returns a fully signed "executed" copy to me. A contract is not valid unless all signatures are complete. 99% sure the copy you were sent was an "in process" copy. The date gap is curious though. The 1% is that the current UNH hockey coach does not have a valid contract. No buyout necessary.

Who knows, I just found that a little strange but the file name is "Souza Mike, Contract FY24 Signed". Maybe we could try to alert the AD she could get out on a technicality... I'm guessing there is a more recent copy fully signed but this is the copy they sent out in November in response to my request. Either way, we all have a little speculative interest around here so it's a funny little detail I found.

Plus, I don't think it would look so good to an incoming hire if they went the "technicality" route in releasing the current HC.

Also, agreed on the curiosity of the date gap in the signing between the two who hatched this little plan. No idea what took MS7 so long to take the only option that could have been on his table last summer.

 

[Darius]

We also have to accept that the AD better be ready to pay a lot more. Minnesota State, hardly a big revenue or Big 10 school, is paying Strand $340,000 annually.

We can accept it which isn't worth spit unless UNH accepts it. Hopefully Coach Davis making less than Coach Herrion is not the new normal for UNH coaching replacements.

So there will be lots of candidates, and as I indicated, other than Vermont, not a lot of openings in the East (or college hockey generally). AD Rich better be putting soft feelers out for people so she can move quickly in early March when UNH bows out of the play in game.

???

This. Do this.

I can't believe President Dean permitted Scarano that authority on his way out the door.

Right? President Dean is a very smart man. Assuming he did permit then it had to be a plan to give AD Rich time to fully assess and find the right replacement while being fully aware that things (lame duck recruiting) would likely get worse before they got better.

 

[norbert]

Couple tidbits, great interview post Bruins win and mention of Red Gendron
Jeremy Swayman Interview | Highlights and Live Video from Bleacher Report

Got an email looking for me to renew my tickets early from my account executive. Apparently, the system can't handle deposits, which is interesting as it has the past few years. Probably just a student working in the field house and will just tow the corporate line.

While I do place blame on MS7 from recent conversations the facilities are a major issue with recruits. I joked with a couple of the guys that it can't be worse than Lawler and they all said the underneath at the Whit is by far the worse around. My guess is that is the out for why this program can't move foward.

 

[deltabravo62]

Couple tidbits, great interview post Bruins win and mention of Red Gendron
Jeremy Swayman Interview | Highlights and Live Video from Bleacher Report

Got an email looking for me to renew my tickets early from my account executive. Apparently, the system can't handle deposits, which is interesting as it has the past few years. Probably just a student working in the field house and will just tow the corporate line.

While I do place blame on MS7 from recent conversations the facilities are a major issue with recruits. I joked with a couple of the guys that it can't be worse than Lawler and they all said the underneath at the Whit is by far the worse around. My guess is that is the out for why this program can't move foward.

​​​​​All I have heard from the inner working of UNH is excuses for why the school can't compete. I'm honestly sick of the excuses, well managed and well coached teams figure out how to make things work. They have the reduced ice size now and they are getting the upgrades to the Whitt this year. What's his excuse going to be this upcoming season when they end up in the same place they have been since The Great Umile Succession Plan was put into place. I said it before, I'm happy the building is getting upgraded for the players but it's not going to fix his lack of coaching ability.

With any luck, it will be a tool that the new coach starting May 2024 will use to their advantage to get this program back on track.

 

[Chuck Murray]

President Dean is a very smart man. Assuming he did permit then it had to be a plan to give AD Rich time to fully assess and find the right replacement while being fully aware that things (lame duck recruiting) would likely get worse before they got better.

Query then, if Dean was SO deeply involved in this process ... how did Coach Herrion not also receive the same one year "courtesy" extension? Maybe paisan works between Blue Skies and MS7, but once you bring Dean and Herrion into the picture, the inconsistencies begin to fly, and/or can become difficult to explain or reconcile with each other. Not to mention, Herrion actually had some winning teams recently, w/less resources.

I prefer to think of it as BS BS'ed his boss one last time on his way out the door, perhaps irked he didn't get the "Full Umile" of leaving on his own terms with a say in his successor. What was Dean to do - fire him for insubordination?

Again, I also find myself agreeing with DB62 on the U being unlikely to view the optics of a "technicality" favorably.

So go talk to Dumais now, and if he's interested in a six-year deal at $300,000 per year, get it done now. Solve the 2023/2024 budget "issue" by scaling that down to $200,000 for the first year, and taking the final 5 years at $300,000 - $310,000 - $320,000 - $330,000 - 340,000 (still adds up to $1.8MM). The $100K "delta" in first year savings can be set aside for the MS7 buyout, and UNH can probably do better (again, McCloskey took under $80K with several years left on his deal circa 2014) and plow that back into the "rainy day fund" elsewhere in the Athletics budget.

There's dozens of variations that can be explored to make this happen. Ride the momentum of the Hoops hire, sort out your four Men's major head coaching slots for what should be at least another five years, and spend next year fixing the Women's side of the ledger. That's what true ambition and can-do attitude would look like. The clock is ticking ...

 

[norbert]

​​​​​All I have heard from the inner working of UNH is excuses for why the school can't compete. I'm honestly sick of the excuses, well managed and well coached teams figure out how to make things work. They have the reduced ice size now and they are getting the upgrades to the Whitt this year. What's his excuse going to be this upcoming season when they end up in the same place they have been since The Great Umile Succession Plan was put into place. I said it before, I'm happy the building is getting upgraded for the players but it's not going to fix his lack of coaching ability.

With any luck, it will be a tool that the new coach starting May 2024 will use to their advantage to get this program back on track.

Sooner or later they will run out of excuses. I always thought it was kind of a stretch that this is an issue but it is coming directly from those who were recruited here, not a coach or admin, looking for ways to explain a dismal performance.

 

[Dan]

...not a coach or admin, looking for ways to explain a dismal performance.

The kids are impressionable. They only say it because they hear it somewhere...

The more we hear this excuse from anyone and everyone with a remote connection to the staff - it becomes more obvious that this group runs around telling anyone who will listen what they don't have, what they're not being given or where they themselves are being failed. It's embarrassing.

Dirty secret in college athletics. It's never the facility, unless the coach or school itself makes it the facility. Do you think it's lost on any player or recruit he meets with that HE thinks it's an insurmountable obstacle? It's an issue because he thinks it's an issue. It's a hinderance because he uses its as a crutch. You will never sell anyone on anything if you yourself are not convinced...

If the staff spoke about wishing for upgrades, but being proud of what they have - understanding that they have all they need to succeed and do the work - so would the players and recruits and advisors. Nobody picks a school because it has a dry stall, or an especially comfy couch or a ping pong table.

The ice has shrunk, the facility will be upgraded. Nothing will change - due to the constant of WHO they do have, not WHAT they don’t...

 

[JB]

I am hopefully we won't get to the next excuse. That UNH will correct the current H.U.B.S (head up butt situation/syndrome) and fire the nice guy with connections to the program and NO discernable talent.

However, if they don't non-renew the incompetent coach what is the next excuse?

1. ice size - FIXED
2. player amenities - plan to fix
3. travel budget?
4. no big NIL sponsors?
5. need a private jet?

 

[deltabravo62]

The kids are impressionable. They only say it because they hear it somewhere...

The more we hear this excuse from anyone and everyone with a remote connection to the staff - it becomes more obvious that this group runs around telling anyone who will listen what they don't have, what they're not being given or where they themselves are being failed. It's embarrassing.

Dirty secret in college athletics. It's never the facility, unless the coach or school itself makes it the facility. Do you think it's lost on any player or recruit he meets with that HE thinks it's an insurmountable obstacle? It's an issue because he thinks it's an issue. It's a hinderance because he uses its as a crutch. You will never sell anyone on anything if you yourself are not convinced...

If the staff spoke about wishing for upgrades, but being proud of what they have - understanding that they have all they need to succeed and do the work - so would the players and recruits and advisors. Nobody picks a school because it has a dry stall, or an especially comfy couch or a ping pong table.

The ice has shrunk, the facility will be upgraded. Nothing will change - due to the constant of WHO they do have, not WHAT they don’t...

Agreed on all accounts.

 

[Snively65]

I am hopefully we won't get to the next excuse. That UNH will correct the current H.U.B.S (head up butt situation/syndrome) and fire the nice guy with connections to the program and NO discernable talent.

However, if they don't non-renew the incompetent coach what is the next excuse?

1. ice size - FIXED
2. player amenities - plan to fix
3. travel budget?
4. no big NIL sponsors?
5. need a private jet?

Do not forget the Jumbotron. “I was for the Jumbotron before I was against the Jumbotron.”

Per Chuck’s 9:40 am post, I counted 20 UNH admin making more than MS7’s $240k salary as of 30 June 2022. BS+infinity was listed at $250k and Bill Herrion at $185k.

 

[HockeyRef]

Agreed on all accounts.

Same here. HR heartily agrees.

 

[goblue]

Extremely casual follower of this thread for the past several years (back story: I started attending UNH hockey games as a freshman in 1973; enjoyed season tickets for over 20 years, including the more glorious ones, through my in-laws.) We saw the lights go out on Snively and then go on at the Whit, enduring the homeless season in between.

Man oh man, I agree with Chuck, and as much as I've always considered Watcher's opinions to be gold, I hope he's wrong in this instance. DO IT!!! NOW!!!

As to money, one thing I haven't seen mentioned over the past several pages of posts as a revenue source is arses in seats. I'm yearning for a reason to buy season tickets, but won't until the Powers That Be show an interest in committing to, and investing in, a return to prominence, respectability, and let's hope, a quest for a National Championship.

That's all. Peace.

 

[Darius]

BU back up goalie Vinny Duplessis is in the portal.

 

[Sean Pickett]

As to money, one thing I haven't seen mentioned over the past several pages of posts as a revenue source is arses in seats.

I have compiled financial information from every DI team from 2010 to 2020 into a spreadsheet (link in my Sig). For UNH here are the ticket revenue from 2008-09 through 2019-20. I also added the reported total attendance for that season (from USCHO) and then calculated the average ticket price (ATP) per person.

[TABLE="width: 267"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66"]Season[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Ticket Rev.[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68"]Attend.[/TD]
[TD="class: xl69"]ATP[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2008-09[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,985,361[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]113,583[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]17.48[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2009-10[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,742,641[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]109,432[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]15.92[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2010-11[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,710,640[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]108,729[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]15.73[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2011-12[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,479,316[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]84,750[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]17.46[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2012-13[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,453,591[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]93,854[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]15.49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2013-14[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,310,758[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]104,841[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]12.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2014-15[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,102,650[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]96,103[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]11.47[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2015-16[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]968,888[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]83,165[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]11.65[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2016-17[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]833,266[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]77,904[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]10.70[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2017-18[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]773,419[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]79,600[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]9.72[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2018-19[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]805,711[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]80,501[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]10.01[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2019-20[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]818,264[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]81,519[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]10.04[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


As can be seen, total attendance has declined by 28%, while ticket revenue has decreased nearly 59% over those 12 seasons. That has lead to the ATP declining from $17.48 to just $10.04.

Sean

 

[norbert]

The kids are impressionable. They only say it because they hear it somewhere...

The more we hear this excuse from anyone and everyone with a remote connection to the staff - it becomes more obvious that this group runs around telling anyone who will listen what they don't have, what they're not being given or where they themselves are being failed. It's embarrassing.

Dirty secret in college athletics. It's never the facility, unless the coach or school itself makes it the facility. Do you think it's lost on any player or recruit he meets with that HE thinks it's an insurmountable obstacle? It's an issue because he thinks it's an issue. It's a hinderance because he uses its as a crutch. You will never sell anyone on anything if you yourself are not convinced...

If the staff spoke about wishing for upgrades, but being proud of what they have - understanding that they have all they need to succeed and do the work - so would the players and recruits and advisors. Nobody picks a school because it has a dry stall, or an especially comfy couch or a ping pong table.

The ice has shrunk, the facility will be upgraded. Nothing will change - due to the constant of WHO they do have, not WHAT they don’t...

Time will tell if the upgrades happen if it changes things or not. In talking with current players it has been reiterated that this is an issue. Maybe they are programmed to say this, but based on the conversations I have had, I don't think this is coach speak by any means.

 

[ClOuD 9]

I have compiled financial information from every DI team from 2010 to 2020 into a spreadsheet (link in my Sig). For UNH here are the ticket revenue from 2008-09 through 2019-20. I also added the reported total attendance for that season (from USCHO) and then calculated the average ticket price (ATP) per person.

[TABLE="width: 267"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66"]Season[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Ticket Rev.[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68"]Attend.[/TD]
[TD="class: xl69"]ATP[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2008-09[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,985,361[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]113,583[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]17.48[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2009-10[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,742,641[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]109,432[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]15.92[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2010-11[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,710,640[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]108,729[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]15.73[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2011-12[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,479,316[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]84,750[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]17.46[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2012-13[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,453,591[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]93,854[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]15.49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2013-14[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,310,758[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]104,841[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]12.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2014-15[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]1,102,650[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]96,103[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]11.47[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2015-16[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]968,888[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]83,165[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]11.65[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2016-17[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]833,266[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]77,904[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]10.70[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2017-18[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]773,419[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]79,600[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]9.72[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2018-19[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]805,711[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]80,501[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]10.01[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]2019-20[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]818,264[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]81,519[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]10.04[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


As can be seen, total attendance has declined by 28%, while ticket revenue has decreased nearly 59% over those 12 seasons. That has lead to the ATP declining from $17.48 to just $10.04.

Sean

If you want an interesting FOIA request actual attendance (ticketscans or firemarshall numbers) from UNH instead of the "tickets distributed" number they give. They've been padding attendance numbers for around a decade now.