Esherick update

[HoyaAlbany]

I had a long conversation this morning with a fellow '82 GULC grad who has remained in touch with Craig. Esh was one of the 2 finalists for the Tulane job. After that, he was contacted by CSTV (College Sports TV). He was originally skeptical because he assumed they were thinking about an analyst position (like Doherty had last year), but it turned out they wanted him for a strong management position, which he is very excited about. He remains loyal to his alma mater, but is bitter about a couple of things - the way his axing was handled, and apparently the fact that he felt that Ronnie was undermining him with some of the the players before he left for Arkansas. Craig noted that his record during his 4+ years was better than JT's for his first 5 years AND his last 5 years, and that he was certain that the recruiting was turning around tremendously. Anyway, here's hoping that Craig is happy and successful at the new gig.

[SFHoya99]

Good for Craig. His firing was handled poorly, and we've all heard the rumors about Ronnie.

[CAHoya07]

For some reason I have a feeling this thread will erupt into at least 4-5 pages. Nothing gets this board going like Esherick.

[jerseyhoya34]

Haha... I am going to refrain on this one. I hope Craig's management position works out.

[hoyahoyasaxa]

But seriously, what does everyone REALLY think of Craig Esherick?

[YB]

I hope Craig is happy with whatever post he winds up with. It may not have worked out here but he's a stand-up guy.

[JohnJacquesLayup]

SFHoya99 said:

Good for Craig. His firing was handled poorly, and we've all heard the rumors about Ronnie.

I'm not familiar with the "Ronnie Rumors." Can someone give me a quick briefing?

[jahidihoya]

Does anyone else picture Craig Esherick in corporate America behaving exactly like the boss in "Office Space".

Also, how is he going to work "the fist" into a board-room meeting?

[prhoya]

Although this thread is based on hearsay, I will say that Esh would be perfect for corporate America because he likes to cover his behind and blame someone else for his problems and incompetence as a head coach.

Also, it's ridiculous to compare Esh vs. JT in so many ways that I'm not going there. Would we have enjoyed a championship season if he would have stayed for his sixth or seventh season (a la Thompson)? NOT!!!!!

[HoyaAlbany]

I don't think there was an attemp to directly compare Esherick to JT - Craig just seemed to think that he wasn't given a full chance to see what his own players could do ( the lament of every coach fired within the first 4 or 5 years, I suspect). And although it was hearsay, I have absolutely no doubt about the source, he was one of Esh's best friends in law school, and has remained a friend for more than 20 years.

[prhoya]

I agree that it's the lament of 4 to 5-year coaches, but how much longer did he want?

Most importantly, I don't doubt your source because the comments attributed to Esh seem as things he would say. I just wanted to make the distinction that we didn't hear it from the horse's mouth (like when he was interviewed and said something like "I would be great for that position").

[KHoyaNYC]

JohnJacquesLayup said:

I'm not familiar with the "Ronnie Rumors." Can someone give me a quick briefing?

I'm really not either. would appreciate the info.

[prhoya]

[Edited.]

[hoya4ever]

Esh is really good with people he would fit into a business situation. I mean, look at the recruiting he did. That and he was on many New Student Orientation events when I was a freshman. He connected with the kids very well. If there is a field where he can succeed, it has to have a lot of person to person contact.

[Joe Hoya]

KHoyaNYC said:

I'm really not either. would appreciate the info.

Basically, the story is just what the original poster said - Ronny was undermining Craig with the (at the time) current players. His recruiting clearly wasn't up to snuff, either. I guess he was more concerned with advancing his own agenda/career than the success of the team. And from what I've been told, "rumor" isn't the right word for it.

[RDF]

hoya4ever said:

Esh is really good with people he would fit into a business situation. I mean, look at the recruiting he did. That and he was on many New Student Orientation events when I was a freshman. He connected with the kids very well. If there is a field where he can succeed, it has to have a lot of person to person contact.

I don't understand this--"look at the recruiting he did" and then the poster who starts this thread says Esh felt he didn't get to get "his own recruits"?? What am I missing here?

It's great that so many support Esherick and want him to land on his feet. He's got the right to do what he wants and as I've said before, he can apply for any coaching opening there is and go through same process as everyone else. I laugh a bit at the notion he was "Tulane's 2nd choice" not because it couldn't be true, but finishing "second" in a job interview is worthless and the need to broadcast this speaks more to his inflated ego than anything else I've heard/read about Esherick.

As for the view on "his recruits", didn't Esherick have input on the plethora of guys who transferred?? You'd like to think the Head Coach wanted the players who signed with the school. To mention Esherick in same breath with JT--the early years--is laughable. The program Esherick took over was in much better shape and JT actually recruited quite well to give him plenty of material to work with--but then again we've always been led to believe he was responsible for the recruiting, so it was his OWN players, correct??

All I know is this guy is gone, he sure has issues with Ronny Thompson who is also a former Hoya, and nobody seems to go ballistic about the fact that Ronny as a former Hoya shouldn't get blamed for accusations, why is that?

I consider all Hoyas to be FAMILY but like all families, there are some you consider close and others you just are related by association. I consider Esh to be a distant, distant, DISTANT cousin. Good luck to him but can't say I'm sad to see him gone. He'll be welcome to come back to the Family Reunion when Hoyas are back among elite, which hopefully will take less time then his return to bench at a D1 school.

[jerseyhoya34]

Joe said:

Basically, the story is just what the original poster said - Ronny was undermining Craig with the (at the time) current players. His recruiting clearly wasn't up to snuff, either. I guess he was more concerned with advancing his own agenda/career than the success of the team. And from what I've been told, "rumor" isn't the right word for it.

I've heard the same rumors, but I'd take issue with your comment about RT's recruiting. Compare our recruiting class before he left and Esh's first recruiting class without RT. Also, there are two sides to every story. While RT may not have played team ball, what did Esh do to integrate his assistants into the overall program? (Not necessarily targeted at Esh-RT relations but just in general) In my mind, his assistants were the least of his concerns and only a minor contributor to his ultimate failure (and it was a failure).

[Big Dog]

YB said:

I hope Craig is happy with whatever post he winds up with. It may not have worked out here but he's a stand-up guy.

How is Esherick "a stand-up guy" when he tosses blame on Ronny and "points out" that his record was better than JT in spots? There's nothing "stand-up" about that.

[jerseyhoya34]

I think there is a general movement on here to give CE the benefit of the doubt as a person, Big Dog. I am not sure yet whether I agree with YB's point (and I've come down on different sides before on the question), but I think it is fair to say that getting canned probably brings the worst out in people. However, these comments, if true, do come across as sour grapes on CE's part.

[SFHoya99]

JerseyHoya34 said:

I've heard the same rumors, but I'd take issue with your comment about RT's recruiting. Compare our recruiting class before he left and Esh's first recruiting class without RT. Also, there are two sides to every story. While RT may not have played team ball, what did Esh do to integrate his assistants into the overall program? (Not necessarily targeted at Esh-RT relations but just in general) In my mind, his assistants were the least of his concerns and only a minor contributor to his ultimate failure (and it was a failure).

a) Regarding RT and Esh. I don't know, but I see no reason to pile on either. They obviously had disagreements, and RT obviously expressed his disagreement to those other than Esh. Your call on whether he was disloyal to Esh or loyal to his ultimate superior -- the University. It's not like Esh was infalliable, here.

b) Compare recruiting classes? Okay, I will. Esh recruited Jeff and Tyler without RT. With Rt, our previous was Ray, Sead and Matt. Hmmm.

Who cares, anyway?