SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 14, 2010 22:39:06 GMT -5
This is just as crazy as hiring a high school coach to be your college men's basketball coach. Of course when we did that we were a regional catholic school never confused with an elite national university and with a crap basketball program. You are not supposed to do that when you have a nationally known program in the best hoops league in the country and you are a top 25 university nationally. And so? Was there a better hire out there? If we could have gotten some high major assistant or retread would they have performed better than Thompson? My point is that I believe that hires like these are much more about the individual than they are about the resume. Fans and other constituents tend to judge these things based on resume because that's all the information you have.But it's not all the information the people doing the hiring have. They have a lot more. My real concern here is that the University intentionally hired low profile simply because our "high profile" hire -- Muir -- was such a failure in terms of moving the department forward. I don't know if it is a good hire or not. But I suspect that the space in which he will have to work in Georgetown is more similar in certain ways to Cleveland State than to Muir's position in Notre Dame. Not all, of course. But quite a few.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 14, 2010 22:51:43 GMT -5
I don't think the Muir tenure was a failure any more than his predecessors were generally failures, except Muir does not have a spot in the GU HOF. AD Muir has to get some credit for working with men's hoops when it, our flagship program, was on life support. It has turned into a more stable entity with a significant donor base.
The hires in the department have generally been positive, and the product, including on the much-maligned GUHoyas, is a reflection of that. Steve Alleva, for example, is light years ahead of anyone under the prior regime in the same position. Not even close. Retention has been a problem - we've lost some good people - but that is a resources issue more than anything else (consider how some former McD folks now work for George Mason).
I know it is en vogue to bash Muir for not sticking with Georgetown, but I am fine with that. McDonough cronyism is just as problematic as the alternative. Muir certainly left us in better shape than he found us. It is also convenient scape-goating to drop the facilities problem at his door considering the refusal of the GU administration to provide for improvements in our 10 year plan.
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HoyaNCCT
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Post by HoyaNCCT on Apr 14, 2010 23:02:34 GMT -5
Georgetown Athletics Dept has been a joke for years and this hire does little to rectify this situation. People here are talking about funding?? Seriously? How are we supposed to have adequate funding when we have more varsity sports than the University of Texas?? We need to run this things like a business. Enough of these participatory sports that the school does to check the box and make people feel good. Let's knock those things down to club level and focus on the sports people can care about and/or we can truly get good at (Basketball, Track, Soccer (?), Tennis (?), Crew, Lacrosse). Look at the fall off of Hoya Laxa over the last few years. I'm venting here guys but it was well known that Muir left, in part, because he wanted to clean house and get rid of the people who were legacy employees and not running it like a business. Doesn't sound like Lee Reed will come in and command respect. He's coming from a joke of a school to run an athletic department with more sports than some of the largest state school. Sounds to me like nobody with any real influence wanted the job... Sorry Hoya's unlimited, my money goes elsewhere this year.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 14, 2010 23:16:18 GMT -5
Muir was a failure in terms of moving the department forward. That's specifically what I said, and specifically what I meant.
There is no doubt that McDonough is miles behind other Athletic Departments. There is no doubt that they seem to be completely on the wrong side of outside of the the total University (we have a capital plan with no athletics funding?).
But Muir -- who I suppose I assumed was the guy from the big program come in to show us how to move into the 21st century -- did nothing.
Thompson was not hired by him. The gains there are entirely winning based. There's been no progress on the MSF or significant fundraising for a practice facility or the boathouse or whatever. The football program is a disaster. McDonough still lives in the past.
So what did Muir do? At best, he treaded water (and if you measure by wins and losses, we're worse off in many sports). Who cares if he had the right ideas (and I have no idea if he did)? He could have but he was unable to get anything done.
Muir was as big time as Georgetown was going to get. Notre Dame, big football, in charge of fundraising. And nothing. Pedigree and resume aren't determining factors of success in a job like this.
Maybe Reed's style or tactics will get more done. Maybe working at a smaller school with less money and less of a real machine to support him will actually make him more able fix some of the problems.
Maybe not. Maybe this is just surrender. I suppose that's possible. But comments like NCCT's "Sounds to me like nobody with any real influence wanted the job." WTF does that mean? You mean to say that some assistant AD at Texas or USC (which I assume is your dream) has real influence at Georgetown? How do you know that Lee Reed won't be respected?
Let's judge Mr. Reed on what he does, not on some preconceptions because you don't know much about Cleveland State.
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vcjack
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Post by vcjack on Apr 14, 2010 23:24:24 GMT -5
SF is dead on, I know its tempting to just look at the name of the institutions when making a hire but when you take nearly 12 months to make a decision you have to believe Porterfield and DeGoia saw something in this guy (or maybe they were lazy and we're screwed, if that's the case it wouln't matter who they hired).
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 14, 2010 23:32:43 GMT -5
There's an assumption that he was allowed to fundraise out of the facilities problem which I do not think is correct. There was movement two years ago toward a practice facility, but it seems like a dog and pony show in retrospect. There was a minimal effort to get a plan out to the neighborhood planning clowns, it was shot down, and the thing went back on ice. It is now absent from the 10 year plan. At no point were we permitted to throw money at it. Again, I am not sure Muir could have driven that train - facilities in the 10 year plan - if Dan Porterfield could not either, given his high level of respect (which he has earned) at GU. At all points, I think that process ran through Healy.
I'd like to think that the MSF is in the same category (and the boathouse) considering we are not allowed to give online for the MSF and no attempt is being made (or has been made in the last 2 years +) to raise money publicly even of the $50 variety. Now, 5 or however many years down the road, and the dang thing will cost more money due to inflation when we could have raised money 5 years ago and got some interest on it. If we are allowed to fundraise for it like this and we simply aren't, I'd rather not know because that is infinitely worse than my hypothesis.
There's also an assumption there that Muir was empowered to make changes in McD. I think there was such an effort, and it ruffled a few feathers. Anyway, that's just my read on it.
I'm with you on Reed though. I don't think we could do better considering the culture of mediocrity that the administration has facilitated, if not required, out of McD over the past several years. Nothing on paper jumps out at be positively or negatively, although I like that he is an outsider.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 15, 2010 3:01:44 GMT -5
If Muir could not influence the administration to allow him to do the things he needs to be done, he failed.
I'm not saying Muir sucks. I'm saying he failed. I'm not sure how that's debatable.
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hoyatables
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Post by hoyatables on Apr 15, 2010 6:32:43 GMT -5
There was movement two years ago toward a practice facility, but it seems like a dog and pony show in retrospect. There was a minimal effort to get a plan out to the neighborhood planning clowns, it was shot down, and the thing went back on ice. It is now absent from the 10 year plan. At no point were we permitted to throw money at it. Again, I am not sure Muir could have driven that train - facilities in the 10 year plan - if Dan Porterfield could not either, given his high level of respect (which he has earned) at GU. At all points, I think that process ran through Healy. All - Ambassador is just flat out wrong. The practice facility was fully vetted and approved in 2007 along with the addition to MSF and science center -- and both supported by the neighborhood, I might add. Last year, the University sought and received approval of an extension of the zoning approval, and received approval for this. These previously approved facilities are still a part of the plan. They're only not shown directly on the draft documents that have been posted by the University because they are already approved and therefore don't require any additional approval.
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on Apr 15, 2010 7:33:47 GMT -5
Fighting the Muir battle isn't going to get us anywhere. He was here, he moved on and now has a small role in a Delaware admissions video. Time to talk about the new guy.
Reed comes from an urban school where basketball is king and where money is tight. He moved a mediocre athletic department into the class of its conference.
His competition is no longer Butler, however. It's Notre Dame, Syracuse, and West Virginia. It's essentially moving up from AAA to the majors.
He's gotta do a few things:
1. Improve athletic competitiveness across a large number of sports 2. Improve fundraising 3. Keep GU's athletes academically successful 4. Run a clean program 5. Improve facilities 6. Plan for what Georgetown's athletic department will look like in five, ten, and twenty years.
oh, and
#7. Get ready to fight during the next conference realignment so that Georgetown doesn't end up playing Niagra in the MAAC semis in 2012.
Someone from a bigger athletic department may make a wonderful lieutenant but not a great general. Lee has shown that he's been successful on a smaller stage. He's about to get welcomed to a bigger one.
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Post by HometownHoya on Apr 15, 2010 11:09:04 GMT -5
Someone from a bigger athletic department may make a wonderful lieutenant but not a great general. Lee has shown that he's been successful on a smaller stage. He's about to get welcomed to a bigger one. General Reed E Lee? Descendant of General Robert E Lee? ;D ;D
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 15, 2010 11:33:42 GMT -5
Tables - For some reason, I recall that the plan got held up because it was not in keeping with campus architecture. I didn't think we had proceeded beyond that point, perhaps due to a lack of communication.
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eagle36
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Post by eagle36 on Apr 15, 2010 11:40:03 GMT -5
I am so UNDERWHELMED with this hire. This took 11 months? ?
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 15, 2010 11:42:53 GMT -5
The archived webcast of the morning press conference is here: explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=50509Question 1 of the Reed Era is as to the practice facility at the 14 minute mark. Question 2 is on football. Well-worth the listen for the responses to these questions. Kudos to Liz Clarke and the reporter from the Hoya for asking them. Reed seems to have a good handle on how things work, which is reflected in his guarded responses.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Apr 15, 2010 12:50:40 GMT -5
For those of us who can't listen to this at work, can you tell us roughly what was said about football and facility?
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 15, 2010 13:00:02 GMT -5
Rough paraphrasing -
On facilities, facility for practice is important. Needs to see where the plan is right now and the history of it, but it is critical. Notwithstanding this, the University has other pieces/resources that it brings to bear. Will work with administration/advancement to raise money.
On football, he has 7-8 years with a football program at Eastern Michigan. He cannot wait to get to work with the staff and knows a strong program is important to the GU community. Having a successful program is more art than science, and the equation is not simply we need to do X or Y.
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theexorcist
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Post by theexorcist on Apr 15, 2010 13:10:53 GMT -5
I am so UNDERWHELMED with this hire. This took 11 months? ? What type of hire would you have preferred?
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Post by hoyawatcher on Apr 15, 2010 13:27:15 GMT -5
Most of all I am just truly glad that this hire has been finally made. Whatever you think of it (and I have some questions myself) it is sooooo much better to finally have someone in this chair rather than treading water the way we have been for the past year. I have to believe that the administration has committed to this guy and agreed with him on a set of priorities for the near term future which I can only hope mirror what DFW said. This guy has to be a major fundraising guru in order to fix a lot of the things needed for GU - facilities, scholarships, academic support, etc.
Also, I had a couple of GU coaches tell me that the BB practice facility was not approved - particularly zoning. I hope it is and other "easier" issues are between where we are and getting it done. Whatever the issue(s) are that thing needs to get done as BB is the golden goose and without that facility IMHO we lose JTIII. That becomes JOB 1.
I also got a strong feeling from the press conference that GU will not be in the business of cutting sports - at least not anytime soon. There was a lot of pride in the "doing things right" and supporting the athletes we have - not optimizing the results. I happen to love this approach but it will cost a lot more money than they are spending right now to "compete" in the BE across the breadth of sports we have.
I am glad he is hired and off to work. I look forward to supporting his efforts.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Apr 15, 2010 13:49:34 GMT -5
Thanks. Glad to hear it about football, sounds to me like that would have had to have come up in interviews. Rough paraphrasing - On facilities, facility for practice is important. Needs to see where the plan is right now and the history of it, but it is critical. Notwithstanding this, the University has other pieces/resources that it brings to bear. Will work with administration/advancement to raise money. On football, he has 7-8 years with a football program at Eastern Michigan. He cannot wait to get to work with the staff and knows a strong program is important to the GU community. Having a successful program is more art than science, and the equation is not simply we need to do X or Y.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Apr 15, 2010 13:54:06 GMT -5
Hopefully, but it is worthwhile to listen to the whole thing in any event. His statement as delivered makes me much more cautious than my paraphrasing would otherwise suggest.
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sead43
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Post by sead43 on Apr 15, 2010 15:46:07 GMT -5
e-mail from DeGioia:
April 15, 2010
Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community: It is my pleasure to announce that Lee Reed will serve as the next Director of Athletics at Georgetown University, effective May 10, 2010. For the past eight years, Lee has served as the Athletic Director at Cleveland State University. I am confident that he will bring the same commitment to educational excellence and competitive success that made him a strong and successful leader at Cleveland State. Lee brings to Georgetown a collaborative leadership style, working with coaches, student-athletes, staff, faculty, alumni, and NCAA and conference leaders to create the best educational and competitive experience for student-athletes. He will ensure that our Athletics program complies with all NCAA and conference regulations and strives to be a model of excellence and sportsmanship for all in intercollegiate athletics. Lee’s successful tenure at Cleveland State provides many examples of his leadership and vision. At the conclusion of the 2007-08 academic year, the Horizon League honored Cleveland State with the James J. McCafferty Award for the top overall athletic program in the league. Cleveland State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams both won Horizon League tournament championships during his tenure. The men’s team played in its first NCAA Tournament game in 23 years, and the women’s team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Prior to Cleveland State, Lee served as the Associate Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan University. He also spent three years as an assistant coach of the men’s basketball team at the University of New Mexico. In college, Lee played guard and was the captain of the Cleveland State Vikings men’s basketball team in the early 1980s. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in sports administration from the University of New Mexico. As we welcome Lee, I want to thank Senior Vice President for Strategic Development Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D., for serving as Interim Director of Athletics since last June. Dan has engaged with the strategic, operational, academic, regulatory, competitive, and philanthropic dimensions of Athletics. He led the search process that identified Lee and will provide joint supervision and oversight of Athletics with me going forward. Please join me in welcoming Lee to the Georgetown University community. I look forward to working with Lee and colleagues from across the University to build upon the rich history of Georgetown Athletics. Sincerely, John J. DeGioia
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