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UNH- How Far West Do We Go?

HockeyRef said:
If UNH was so cost conscious...which of course they have to be with their backs against the wall financially...then I guess they are ok with many STH's and regular UNH hockey
enthusiasts making choices to not renew, go to games? We never know those stats, those that don't renew and can only go on attendance which seems to be in the normal
realm and look around from my seat. It's far easier to go with what you already have especially when they don't make waves and are one of the good guys than take a chance that maybe, just maybe, things would/could turn around with a fresh look at the program.

At this point...what the H do they have to lose??? Thanks Robert Balin / CHC for keeping us in the loop about incoming prospects. Sorry we lost that one skater to Dartmouth...The next
few weeks will be very telling who we have / who we get. I don't think we are going to see big losses to the portal I really don't. I do think tho that a player like Lavins might make
different choices if he gets offers. I hope he returns I see a big C on his sweater next season...

Let's go Merrimack!!!
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To build off of this, someone a few pages ago (I think Jellsville?) mentioned the cost to maintain the Whitt. With continued losing/loss of revenue/less STH, what is the breaking point where the Whitt is no longer financially viable for the school?

It’s one thing shutting down old buildings with outdated classrooms etc. but the Whitt? They would never hear the end of it if they had to shut down/sell the building. I can’t even imagine the complexities of that as well, given its physical connection with Snively/Rec center…

Something has to give eventually. The question is - when does “eventually” happen?
 
FlagUp17 said:
To build off of this, someone a few pages ago (I think Jellsville?) mentioned the cost to maintain the Whitt. With continued losing/loss of revenue/less STH, what is the breaking point where the Whitt is no longer financially viable for the school?

It’s one thing shutting down old buildings with outdated classrooms etc. but the Whitt? They would never hear the end of it if they had to shut down/sell the building. I can’t even imagine the complexities of that as well, given its physical connection with Snively/Rec center…

Something has to give eventually. The question is - when does “eventually” happen?
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The deadline for ST renewals at the current price is 3/21. I am certain those numbers will have an impact on decisions moving forward. My guess would be if they start to average below 50% of capacity the losses could start to add up quickly. They may be getting close to that threshold now, hence the hike in prices after 3/21.
 
FlagUp17 said:
To build off of this, someone a few pages ago (I think Jellsville?) mentioned the cost to maintain the Whitt. With continued losing/loss of revenue/less STH, what is the breaking point where the Whitt is no longer financially viable for the school?

It’s one thing shutting down old buildings with outdated classrooms etc. but the Whitt? They would never hear the end of it if they had to shut down/sell the building. I can’t even imagine the complexities of that as well, given its physical connection with Snively/Rec center…

Something has to give eventually. The question is - when does “eventually” happen?
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Not soon enough...
 
HockeyRef said:
I think the writings pretty much on the wall..UNH as a rule does not or rarely fires coaches. The men's ball coach was like Dick Umile...long time coach...UNH tried and true. Didn't he have one more year left would have to look but my point is the same...would be shocked if AD Rich pulled the plug this season (or next sorry...I just don't see it happening)
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Bill Herrion was out of contract when UNH's brand new AD made the decision to sever ties and not offer an extension.

Passive and impersonal - the UNH way. Probably the same way that Mike Souza's UNH career will end a year from now.
 
TheGrouchyCat said:
Potroast, I agree with much of what you have to say on this post, especially the financial boondoggle that is UNH football.

Said for years UNH should have followed BU's lead and eliminated the football program. Then Blue Skies wanted to build a totem to cement his legacy and pushed upgrade/build the "stadium''.
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PC discontinued in 41
UVM discontinued in 74
BU discontinued in 97
UML discontinued in 03
NEU discontinued in 09
 
Dan said:
A quick Google search tells me in no uncertain terms: SMU spends more on men’s basketball and men’s basketball NLI than Miami Ohio…

…and it didn’t matter one damn bit!
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I am sorry Dan you must be wrong.

The only way you win in college athletics is to give the problem to a committee for a deep review, then throw a ton of resources (aka $$$) at it. Only after that can you determine if you have the right coach in place. Once you have given the current coach enough time in position, with all the resources he could desire, to turn the situation around only then are you allowed to hire a new coach. THIS IS THE WAY!

You must reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.
 
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Jellsville USA said:
Just floating an interesting idea out into the UNH fan forum-
Imagine Jim Tortorella is ready to step aside, and Mike Souza wants to redirect his energy into the areas where he has the greatest impact. In that scenario, transitioning Souza into the Director of Operations role becomes a natural fit. His strengths in fundraising, recruiting, alumni engagement, and behind‑the‑scenes program development align perfectly with the operational needs of the program.

This shift would also create space for a new, front‑facing head coach—someone who can bring renewed visibility, energy, and optimism to a program that needs a fresh public voice.

The result is a structure that honors existing leadership, maximizes each person’s strengths, and positions the program for a more stable and competitive future.

Forever Optimistic Fan
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Please tell me this is satire. First of all it’s a significant pay cut. Secondly fundraising recruiting and alumni engagement? Those are actually his 3 biggest failures
 
norbert said:
Please tell me this is satire. First of all it’s a significant pay cut. Secondly fundraising recruiting and alumni engagement? Those are actually his 3 biggest failures
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I agree, norbert. Most of the personnel change ideas floated over the last couple pages sound delusional to me and I can all but guarantee that not even one of them is going to happen.

Ps, Jim Tortella’s Education Information Specialist I position pays him $63,240/yr as of 1 July 2025, info readily available online.
 
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HockeyRef said:
Listened to a MC podcast with ScottyB ...they are out to prove they are a legit team. Wouldn't surprise me if they found a way to up end UMass. Ugh there I go again living vicariously through another program!!

I hate when that happens...🙃
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The idea that any fan of ANY other Hockey East teams is "living vicariously through Merrimack" is foreign to me! Then again, we "proles" (just finished 1984 again) have to stand up against the PARTY and the BIG BROTHERS of the Hockey East world.
 
Snively65 said:
I think that this thread has gone completely off the rails and plummeted from a tall bridge into a deep canyon.
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Well we are in the off season canyon of hopelessness... The gaping chasm between a 10th place season and another likely 10th place season as we know an extension is more likely then a replacement while we all just pray they let the bad decision contract run out and hope that next spring we might finally get some fresh air.
 
Potluck said:
It's pretty clear you've never been in any type of successful private business. Not even close. Private industry would appoint a group to do a complete breakdown of the program, determine why it's no longer competitive, make recommendations with costs to the CEO, who would accept partially, in total or reject the recommendations with approval of the Board.
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Many private companies, including my own, and ALL very successful. Actually MUCH more successful than a company as you describe that looks more like a Publicly Traded Company. Worked for several of those, still very successful at the risk of my patience and sanity.

Pretty week this weak, huh Fluffer. Now back to your bureaucratic rantings of "success". Want to toss a rubric into the mix?
 
I'm about to turn on the NESN broadcast of the Hockey East semis. This was a frequent destination for our program when Dick Umile was the head coach.

It was a routine long weekend/take Friday off decision ... and it's one we haven't been able to make for over a decade (at least with UNH involved).

Is anyone else besides me chafed that what used to be a semi-routine event is now a Haley's Comet-like mythic occurrence?!?
 
Potluck said:
Souza is a good employee. Good municipal employees (that's really what he is) are loyal to their boss and NEVER create ripples. UNH is NOT results driven.
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Is this the crap they are teaching at Paul School these days? Fly on the wall in Fluffer's Theory of Business 101 at UNH Paul School - "What tagline should we place on the CEO Steering Group Recommendation Report cover?"

1) Educating young minds to create tomorrow's mediocre middle management.
2) Molding future Good Employees.
3) Municipal Employees - The Path to Good Starts Here!
3) Merits of changing our name - Paul Univ School of Statistics & Economics. "PUSSE - Where Middle Managers dont think with a little head."
 
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