UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

[zoofer]

Thanks Hockeyref….I should’ve mentioned that I do get the team’s emails but obviously don’t follow the men online…truly glad that the new AD has made a statement! Having been around UNH for many decades, those at the Field House always knew what the State would allocate which therefore might dictate their efforts! I know that many in Administration for UNH have always fought for making a difference, however that didn’t always filter down the street!
In all honesty, if I had $240K coming to me, for X # of years, it’d be damn tough to leave…..not sure if the new AD wants to make THAT much of a statement to buy him out!

 

[Snively65]

Question...would UNH have the funds to even DO a buyout of Souza's contract plus pay a new coach? Sorry, more than naive at these kinds of things..

The two sell outs for the Maine weekend at the Whitt should have netted an extra $100k beyond the STH income, which would be a start.

Herrion’s record over 18 seasons of 227-303 (0.413 win percentage) with seven trips to the AEC post-season, including this season, earned him a non-renewal. Souza’s record over five seasons of 58-86-20 (0.403 win percentage) with no post-season trips to the Garden or to the NCAA Regionals should have earned him the same non-renewal. Simple math. Unfortunately, thanks to BS35+infinity, MS7 was rewarded with a contract extension.

 

[Darius]

Question...would UNH have the funds to even DO a buyout of Souza's contract plus pay a new coach? Sorry, more than naive at these kinds of things..

I seriously doubt they have a buyout slush fund, wealthy/willing donor or enough petty cash. Gun to their head, which there isn’t, they could probably find the money, but it would be a bad look with the pending State budget. Or maybe a good look. “Darn it, we mean athletic business down here in Durham!”

 

[NCAA watcher]

edit: My assumption is that Coach Herrion was not under contract for next season.

The article says not renewed, so I believe this is correct. Somewhere Herrion is kicking himself for not brown nosing Marty enough to get a parachute deal as Marty was sliding into retirement.

 

[Darius]

Thanks Hockeyref….I should’ve mentioned that I do get the team’s emails but obviously don’t follow the men online…truly glad that the new AD has made a statement! Having been around UNH for many decades, those at the Field House always knew what the State would allocate which therefore might dictate their efforts! I know that many in Administration for UNH have always fought for making a difference, however that didn’t always filter down the street!
In all honesty, if I had $240K coming to me, for X # of years, it’d be damn tough to leave…..not sure if the new AD wants to make THAT much of a statement to buy him out!

Pretty sure I 100% agree with your entire post. To be clear, there have been times when the legislature has had UNH, including athletics, dancing on a string.

 

[HockeyRef]

What this signals to me, at least at this early stage of the game, is that Dr. Rich is taking a serious look at the state of UNH athletics, and isn't afraid to make
a necessary move like this (if she were basing Herrion's non renewal on performance only). I do not think a buy out is going to happen, despite any revenue that might
have come forth from recent games. What I hope she doesn't do, is offer an additional year to Souza's contract. He's had enough time, more than
enough, to build a program that contends...

I'd expect she has a 'target' of where he needs to perform next season. What would that target look like? Finish in top 6 of HE? Get the team to the Garden?
Finish above .500? We'll prob never know...

 

[Darius]

The article says not renewed, so I believe this is correct. Somewhere Herrion is kicking himself for not brown nosing Marty enough to get a parachute deal as Marty was sliding into retirement.

Hopefully he didn’t need it, being almost 65 and having had many years to plan for retirement.

 

[Darius]

…What I hope she doesn't do, is offer an additional year to Souza's contract. He's had enough time, more than enough, to build a program that contends...I'd expect she has a 'target' of where he needs to perform next season. What would that target look like? Finish in top 6 of HE? Get the team to the Garden?
Finish above .500? We'll prob never know...

Maybe a .500 and top 6 finish extends him for a year to show continued improvement.

 

[teez]

UNH Director of Athletics Allison Rich announced Tuesday that the contract of head coach Bill Herrion will not be renewed. A national search will be conducted for the next Wildcat men’s basketball head coach. "We wish Bill all the best and thank him for dedicating 18 seasons to UNH Men's Basketball. However, after careful consideration, I have determined that it is time for new leadership to continue advancing the program," Rich said.

This is good news! I'm very pleased to read this. It's wild he held that position for 18 years with nothing of substance to show for it. It took him 10 years to post a winning season, and never made an America East tournament final. They had 3 good seasons which were probably historical highs for the program but he was the epitome of settling for mediocrity which has been the M.O. of UNH athletics...pretty much forever. If Souza gets bought out I'd give Dr. Rich a perfect rating in her first year as UNH AD.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Maybe a .500 and top 6 finish extends him for a year to show continued improvement.

FWIW Coach Herrion has posted a .500 or better record for the last 4 seasons, and in 7 of the last 9 seasons:

Bill Herrion Coaching Record | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

That includes the program's high-water mark of making the conference semis this year, matching Gib Chapman's accomplishment of almost 30 years ago. It's safe to say that by UNH Hoops' mediocre history, these have been their "glory days". But that wasn't good enough for even the token extension BS+infinity gave MS7 on the way out the door. So this has to be a strong signal to Souza that his time in charge in Durham is very much on life support, and even a slight improvement next season is unlikely to be very impressive in AD Rich's eyes.

Considering where UNH Hoops was when Herrion was hired, and where UNH Hockey was when Souza was hired ... so if Herrion couldn't make a persuasive case for an extension, then Souza's chances are slim and none, and Slim is saddlin' up his horse to gallop his way outta town ...

 

[J.D.]

Sure you guys had a hot streak but it doesn't make any sense to me that Souza is returning. Just an outsider's opinion.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Question...would UNH have the funds to even DO a buyout of Souza's contract plus pay a new coach? Sorry, more than naive at these kinds of things..

I responded to a post from db62 in the old thread on this topic. Answer: cost might not be so much as you might think, and especially if AD Rich gives MS7 notice of non-renewal in the next few days/week(s)? Hoops and Hockey run roughly on the same schedules, so no reason to think if Rich has made an assessment and decision on Herrion now, then Souza is also likely in her thoughts for "next man up". And the ruthless decision on Herrion sets things up perfectly for Souza to start a job search pronto, while he still has the slightest glimmer of in situ job leverage ...

https://fanforum.uscho.com/forum/co...new-or-more-of-the-same?p=3796850#post3796850

 

[J.D.]

Every few years I would stumble across Bill Herrion still being your coach and came to the same conclusion...how can he still be there while never making a single NCAA tournament? You'd think you would stumble into one. Granted his time has coincided with Vermont's domination of America East. But if Vermont can become a league power out of nowhere I can understand asking "why not us?" and striving to do better.

Clarence O. Daniels hit the portal. Maybe my favorite name in college hoops.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Sure you guys had a hot streak but it doesn't make any sense to me that Souza is returning. Just an outsider's opinion.

The streak was the usual fool's gold, an oasis in the desert of continued UNH Hockey mediocrity. It's happened a few other times during his tenure, and it's disappeared just as quickly as well. The discussion now seems to be framed on whether the new AD - having just non-renewed their long-time Hoops coach upon expiration of his deal - will do the same with Souza when his deal expires this time next year OR if she can find a way to an early buyout in the coming weeks. Personally, I think the money needed to do it is feasible. My guess is she will be entirely focused on the national search for the Hoops replacement, and will want to see how that plays out this Spring first, and ready herself for a similar search process for Hockey when Souza's deal expires after next season.

But yeah, as usual J.D., based on the merits (or lack thereof), you and I are seeing the bottom line the same way.

 

[Darius]

Clarence O. Daniels hit the portal. Maybe my favorite name in college hoops.

Kid can play.

 

[HockeyRef]

Chuck, what's so 'ruthless' about AD Rich not extending Bill Herrion? I looked at his record; yeah he had some 'above ground' seasons but
still ended up only being at around .42 % in total wins?

I'd think you would be pleased that she made a decision that you know darn well Marty prob wouldn't have (I could be totally wrong about this, just to qualify as I always do). Just a reflection. And, I've already read your defense of him in earlier posts.

Personally? I think this is a good day for UNH Athletics.

Ps..it's nice to read the kudos he is getting on Twitter (for the most part)..lots of remembrances of a
great run, esp at Drexel. I'm glad I took the time to look this stuff up. Everything comes to an end, tho...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Chuck, what's so 'ruthless' about AD Rich not extending Bill Herrion? I looked at his record; yeah he had some 'above ground' seasons but
still ended up only being at around .42 % in total wins?

I'd think you would be pleased that she made a decision that you know darn well Marty prob wouldn't have (I could be totally wrong about this, just to qualify as I always do). Just a reflection. And, I've already read your defense of him in earlier posts.

Personally? I think this is a good day for UNH Athletics.

'Ref, you're assuming I used the term "ruthless" as a pejorative. I meant it as a compliment, actually.

Decisive action on someone who was the best coach in UNH Men's Hoop history (the ultimate "low bar" praise) ...

 

[HockeyRef]

'Ref, you're assuming I used the term "ruthless" as a pejorative. I meant it as a compliment, actually.

Decisive action on someone who was the best coach in UNH Men's Hoop history (the ultimate "low bar" praise) ...

Gotcha, and I was thinking that over after I had posted. No doubt the coach poured all he had into it as has
been pointed out by the comments I've read. I'm glad to see AD Rich asserting herself; but lets see how it plays out
between the dots shall we if and when, the time comes. (to use a hockey ref, haha)

And after today, I believe that time will come, if it must...

 

[teez]

Prior to the AD hire if I could pick from a list of adjectives to describe my ideal candidate ruthless would be at or near the top. Go off queen!

 

[HockeyRef]

prior to the ad hire if i could pick from a list of adjectives to describe my ideal candidate ruthless would be at or near the top. go off queen!

love it.