$30M in renovations is a nice investment in the program and at the same time we have wandered away from the real issue. This is what all the excuses are intended to do: it is admissions, it is the scoreboard, it is the ice width, it is the locker rooms…. That is all victim thinking (what is done to me), not accountability thinking (what am I going to do about it.)
The real issue is the talent on the ice, which leads to one place, the head coach.
College sports is all about recruiting. If you can bring in the right mix of talented players, you can win. That means understanding what you need, finding the right fit, getting them in the door and with the transfer portal keeping them. This is not completely discounting the coach or the ability to adjust and put those players in position to succeed. However, player acquisition is all about not trying to make chicken salad out of chicken….
I am not sure the coach decision needs any more games to be played and Chuck’s framework. If I am the AD I am thinking about the strides this spring and that this team is young, what is next?
Item #1: Personally, I can’t answer. I don’t have access to the player and those answers come for “skip level” meetings. Need to find out if there is a mass exodus of the best players coming this summer. Additionally find nonverbal answers, are they registered for classes, have plans on where to live, etc. etc.
Item #2: Has there been a strategy change because the evidence on the ice is the first 6-7 years was not so good. While evaluating the individual players is tough not seeing them or being an expert, still if I look at the cheisenberg recruiting lists I feel underwhelmed. I look at Maine and 3 of the top 6 BCHL recruits are going to Maine. The cheisenberg list isn’t some gospel ranking but it is a ranking. At least Maine is drawing some top talent in that league. Is UNH drawing that type of top 15 talent from the usual places (USHL and BCHL) you find top college talent?
So, I am left with the conclusion that although the back half of this year has been exciting I am not sure I am seeing signs it is more than a really good end of this year. That means to me the coach needs to prove it again next year. Now if there are concerns about a lame duck year, agree to an extension with no buy out in place, aka a non-contract contract. I am not stressed that some other school is going to swoop in a steal him away.
The real issue is the talent on the ice, which leads to one place, the head coach.
College sports is all about recruiting. If you can bring in the right mix of talented players, you can win. That means understanding what you need, finding the right fit, getting them in the door and with the transfer portal keeping them. This is not completely discounting the coach or the ability to adjust and put those players in position to succeed. However, player acquisition is all about not trying to make chicken salad out of chicken….
I am not sure the coach decision needs any more games to be played and Chuck’s framework. If I am the AD I am thinking about the strides this spring and that this team is young, what is next?
First retain the young talent you have, are the players happy?
Second, do you have a winning strategy to identify and bring in more players that are talented to add to this team and continue some type of upward trajectory?
Third, if I am the AD and no nothing about evaluating 1 & 2 how do I get some outside, neutral, expert help?
Item #1: Personally, I can’t answer. I don’t have access to the player and those answers come for “skip level” meetings. Need to find out if there is a mass exodus of the best players coming this summer. Additionally find nonverbal answers, are they registered for classes, have plans on where to live, etc. etc.
Item #2: Has there been a strategy change because the evidence on the ice is the first 6-7 years was not so good. While evaluating the individual players is tough not seeing them or being an expert, still if I look at the cheisenberg recruiting lists I feel underwhelmed. I look at Maine and 3 of the top 6 BCHL recruits are going to Maine. The cheisenberg list isn’t some gospel ranking but it is a ranking. At least Maine is drawing some top talent in that league. Is UNH drawing that type of top 15 talent from the usual places (USHL and BCHL) you find top college talent?
So, I am left with the conclusion that although the back half of this year has been exciting I am not sure I am seeing signs it is more than a really good end of this year. That means to me the coach needs to prove it again next year. Now if there are concerns about a lame duck year, agree to an extension with no buy out in place, aka a non-contract contract. I am not stressed that some other school is going to swoop in a steal him away.
