Ronny Thompson/Bill Howze

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

That's kind of the thread. I want to see what others impressions are. We should have signs at the arena directed at these two who masterminded the Ball State debacle and have yet to be affiliated with a successful program in the college ranks.

[1427hoya]

"Our basketball team is not your failed family business."

That's the best sign I can think of.

[hoyas315]

Did anyone listen?

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

Jan 24, 2023 10:16:09 GMT -5 hoyas315 said:

Did anyone listen?

About to.

[guru]

Jan 24, 2023 8:53:12 GMT -5 1427hoya said:

"Our basketball team is not your failed family business."

That's the best sign I can think of.

Take out the “not” and it’s pretty perfect actually.

[trillesthoya]

The latest dawgtalk episode was excellent. They clearly have way more they could say about RT but bit their tongue. Braswell did a good job selling an alum for a spot on the staff.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Jan 24, 2023 13:06:08 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

The latest dawgtalk episode was excellent. They clearly have way more they could say about RT but bit their tongue. Braswell did a good job selling an alum for a spot on the staff.

I will have to listen. When Braswell was first on HoyaTalk he was kind of shamelessly plugging himself for a job at Georgetown, and made some fantastical claims about being able to recruit tons of 5 star guys. It's been a common refrain that they want younger alumni involved. This is surely why they want Mike Jones or someone of that ilk.

I have no problem brining in a qualified recent alumnus. That might be someone like Austin Freeman in a few years, but it's not where we are today. And whoever the new head coach is, who likely will have no Georgetown affiliation by default, should have free reign to pick their own assistants.

That said, Ronny and Howze have no business around Georgetown's program and need to go no matter what.

[1427hoya]

Jan 24, 2023 12:00:58 GMT -5 guru said:

Jan 24, 2023 8:53:12 GMT -5 1427hoya said:

"Our basketball team is not your failed family business."

That's the best sign I can think of.

Take out the “not” and it’s pretty perfect actually.

Yeah... I can see it both ways.

the "not" is how it should be

without the "not" is how it is

either way, someone should make that sign.

[hoyaguy]

Jan 24, 2023 13:10:26 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Jan 24, 2023 13:06:08 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

The latest dawgtalk episode was excellent. They clearly have way more they could say about RT but bit their tongue. Braswell did a good job selling an alum for a spot on the staff.

I will have to listen. When Braswell was first on HoyaTalk he was kind of shamelessly plugging himself for a job at Georgetown, and made some fantastical claims about being able to recruit tons of 5 star guys. It's been a common refrain that they want younger alumni involved. This is surely why they want Mike Jones or someone of that ilk.

I have no problem brining in a qualified recent alumnus. That might be someone like Austin Freeman in a few years, but it's not where we are today. And whoever the new head coach is, who likely will have no Georgetown affiliation by default, should have free reign to pick their own assistants.

That said, Ronny and Howze have no business around Georgetown's program and need to go no matter what.

Exactly like I don’t want jones for multiple reasons but the fact that people push him for their own ulterior motives (or random Twitter people who are obsessed with the dmv) makes him a worse candidate imo. Someone like Austin needs experience assisting at a decent level of CBB before giving him a job. And this is all why an outsider is the best shot because they won’t be influenced by all of this extra noise about the dmv and neglected alumni (which is a problem tbh but not one that should be fixed with hiring friends of friends). Overall I would just trust the new coach’s process for assembling a new staff and their determination if a bunch of local assistants are needed or not (and in the case of someone like pitino I definitely trust his coaching judgement on the matter more than randos on Twitter lol)

[TC]

Giving bad reviews on Georgetown players to pro scouts is pretty low.

Saying Chris "Heart of a Champion" Wright doesn't try hard enough is just crazy.

[trillesthoya]

Most schools use the DOBO roll exactly for this. Hiring youngish alumnis that want a head start into coaching so that they can play a role on the bench and hopefully angle that to an assistant coach job somewhere. Free and Tyler Adams are now already beyond this point most likely, but it should’ve been one of their jobs to start with instead of Howze. There also is the fundamental issue that we use the DOBO role as a glorified secretary to the Chief of Staff and they aren’t involved in the actual coaching or development side of things whatsoever. There is no reason the day to day stuff can’t be handled by the admin and the DOBO role can’t be used for another talent developer/recruiter. With recent NCAA changes the number of staff members that can now contact recruits has expanded so it’s yet another opportunity that we’re wasting. I hope this is something the next guy prioritizes.

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

Jan 24, 2023 13:27:53 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

Most schools use the DOBO roll exactly for this. Hiring youngish alumnis that want a head start into coaching so that they can play a role on the bench and hopefully angle that to an assistant coach job somewhere. Free and Tyler Adams are now already beyond this point most likely, but it should’ve been one of their jobs to start with instead of Howze. There also is the fundamental issue that we use the DOBO role as a glorified secretary to the Chief of Staff and they aren’t involved in the actual coaching or development side of things whatsoever. There is no reason the day to day stuff can’t be handled by the admin and the DOBO role can’t be used for another talent developer/recruiter. With recent NCAA changes the number of staff members that can now contact recruits has expanded so it’s yet another opportunity that we’re wasting. I hope this is something the next guy prioritizes.

I would just like as much pressure as possible applied because Patrick leaving isn't enough. On some level I feel like his trust in Ronny and others on how to run a program is a big part of his undoing. They let him down and should be ashamed. I don't think Ronny has ever looked in the mirror and said, "what can I do to make those around me better". The Braswell interview just confirms that to me.

[DanMcQ]

Some thread drift here:

You're welcome.

[DFW HOYA]

Jan 24, 2023 13:27:53 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

Most schools use the DOBO roll exactly for this. Hiring youngish alumnis that want a head start into coaching so that they can play a role on the bench and hopefully angle that to an assistant coach job somewhere. Free and Tyler Adams are now already beyond this point most likely, but it should’ve been one of their jobs to start with instead of Howze. There also is the fundamental issue that we use the DOBO role as a glorified secretary to the Chief of Staff and they aren’t involved in the actual coaching or development side of things whatsoever. There is no reason the day to day stuff can’t be handled by the admin and the DOBO role can’t be used for another talent developer/recruiter. With recent NCAA changes the number of staff members that can now contact recruits has expanded so it’s yet another opportunity that we’re wasting. I hope this is something the next guy prioritizes.

Were he to continue past this season, Bill Howze will be the longest serving director of basketball in school history and is seen by some in the media as having this job solely because he was friends in high school with Ronny Thompson. Given his age (54), his lack of prior college coaching experience (one year, under Ronny), and the lack of any alumni hired in the basketball office since RT arrived, he is a source of friction with some local alumni and coaches.

[trillesthoya]

Jan 24, 2023 14:15:34 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Jan 24, 2023 13:27:53 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

Most schools use the DOBO roll exactly for this. Hiring youngish alumnis that want a head start into coaching so that they can play a role on the bench and hopefully angle that to an assistant coach job somewhere. Free and Tyler Adams are now already beyond this point most likely, but it should’ve been one of their jobs to start with instead of Howze. There also is the fundamental issue that we use the DOBO role as a glorified secretary to the Chief of Staff and they aren’t involved in the actual coaching or development side of things whatsoever. There is no reason the day to day stuff can’t be handled by the admin and the DOBO role can’t be used for another talent developer/recruiter. With recent NCAA changes the number of staff members that can now contact recruits has expanded so it’s yet another opportunity that we’re wasting. I hope this is something the next guy prioritizes.

Were he to continue past this season, Bill Howze will be the longest serving director of basketball in school history and is seen by some in the media as having this job solely because he was friends in high school with Ronny Thompson. Given his age (54), his lack of prior college coaching experience (one year, under Ronny), and the lack of any alumni hired in the basketball office since RT arrived, he is a source of friction with some local alumni and coaches.

I wouldn’t mind if he were in a different role in the program. From my understanding of what he does, he does it well based on what we can tell as fans. He suffers from guilt by association with Ronny, but by all accounts Howze is a standup guy that is well liked which I feel like folks sometimes miss that when his name is brought up when discussing what’s wrong with the program. I just strongly believe that the DOBO role is being wasted by not using it the way most colleges do. Speaking to his credentials and experience is one thing, but his role and work doesn’t exactly require a HOF pedigree. 

[RBHoya]

Jan 24, 2023 13:27:53 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

Most schools use the DOBO roll exactly for this. Hiring youngish alumnis that want a head start into coaching so that they can play a role on the bench and hopefully angle that to an assistant coach job somewhere. Free and Tyler Adams are now already beyond this point most likely, but it should’ve been one of their jobs to start with instead of Howze. There also is the fundamental issue that we use the DOBO role as a glorified secretary to the Chief of Staff and they aren’t involved in the actual coaching or development side of things whatsoever. There is no reason the day to day stuff can’t be handled by the admin and the DOBO role can’t be used for another talent developer/recruiter. With recent NCAA changes the number of staff members that can now contact recruits has expanded so it’s yet another opportunity that we’re wasting. I hope this is something the next guy prioritizes.

Well said. The DoBO role SHOULD be for either a) a young alum type or b) someone who can give you a recruiting advantage. A lot of schools use that position to put an AAU guy on payroll, he helps pull some talent for a couple years, and then graduates to a full assistant position (at that school or elsewhere) once he has learned the ropes.

But at Georgetown we have not done that. Bill Howze doesn't have connections and isn't helping to recruit anyone. He is just supporting our Chief of Staff aka his best buddy. Likewise the Assistant DoBO is a position that could be used to help a young alum start to build a resume, but we have given that position to Pat Ewing Jr's best friend. And whatever the misc. support role that we had Ewing Jr.'s little brother in is something that could have been used for a young alum too. At times I think the Dawg Talk guys get a little too carried away with "keeping it in the family" rhetoric, because you need to assemble the strongest management team possible and that may or may not involve alumni in every role. But we could definitely be using some of these roles better than we are currently.

The silver lining, if you want to see it, is that we do have a good sized basketball staff. A head coach, 3 recruiting assistants, one non-recruiting special assistant (the role that Orr was in prior to health issues/passing), a Director of Player Development (now Vernon Hamilton, was Crouch previously) a "Chief of Staff", a Director of Basketball Operations, an Assistant Director of Basketball Operations, an Operations Manager (was Elijah Staley), possibly a video coordinator and/or analytics director (they used to have these positions, not sure if they still do).... There's clearly plenty of budget and head count, if we ever get the right leadership in here and they clean house of inner circle cronies and install strong candidates, we could be formidable.

[hoyaboya]

Jan 24, 2023 13:42:28 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

Jan 24, 2023 13:27:53 GMT -5 trillesthoya said:

Most schools use the DOBO roll exactly for this. Hiring youngish alumnis that want a head start into coaching so that they can play a role on the bench and hopefully angle that to an assistant coach job somewhere. Free and Tyler Adams are now already beyond this point most likely, but it should’ve been one of their jobs to start with instead of Howze. There also is the fundamental issue that we use the DOBO role as a glorified secretary to the Chief of Staff and they aren’t involved in the actual coaching or development side of things whatsoever. There is no reason the day to day stuff can’t be handled by the admin and the DOBO role can’t be used for another talent developer/recruiter. With recent NCAA changes the number of staff members that can now contact recruits has expanded so it’s yet another opportunity that we’re wasting. I hope this is something the next guy prioritizes.

I would just like as much pressure as possible applied because Patrick leaving isn't enough. On some level I feel like his trust in Ronny and others on how to run a program is a big part of his undoing. They let him down and should be ashamed. I don't think Ronny has ever looked in the mirror and said, "what can I do to make those around me better". The Braswell interview just confirms that to me.

Why would Ronny look in the mirror and try to be better? He's been lousy at everything he's done his whole life and has still been able to make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year because he's his dad's son. Why change anything?

[hoyasaxa2003]

I haven't listened to all of it, but Braswell directly says that Ronny doesn't have Georgetown's interest primarily in mind, or at least did not when Braswell was a student. It's around the 38-39 minute mark.

Wright also says that Ronny did workouts with Hibbert because he knew he would be a first round pick. Then Ronny told Wright he wasn't sure Wright wasn't ready himself to take over for Wallace. (41-42 minute mark or so.)

Braswell is open about the fact that he was trying to get on staff. (At the 46-47 mark or so.) He said Big John said he wasn't sure Ewing would want Braswell on staff because Braswell was already a head coach. I think they are implying that someone they call "1 and a half" wouldn't let certain things get through. Not sure who that would be other than Ronny?

Braswell and Wright say that college and European basketball are very similar. That Ewing was in NBA basketall for a long time, groomed to be an NBA head coach, not college. He had to put people around him with energy, knowledge, who could relate to kids. Wright says now we need to look at Ewing as "best player but worst coach" (with about 16-17 minutes left).

Braswell is critical of playing offense in such a manner that is antiquated (with about 15 minutes left). He's right on that. Wright then says there's a major issue on defense, "some screws ain't tight." Amen. Braswell says you need to drill this.

Braswell emphasizes shot selection. If players don't know where their players should be from, that's a problem.

The blunt fact is that it's clear from Ronny's own record and these accounts that Ronny is utterly unqualified and incompetent to have a role in Division 1 program. I appreciate Wright and others talking about it.

[TC]

I didn't get the sense that Braswell had watched this year's team a ton (he was ready to give them a pass on team defense).

I did get the sense that LJ Hoes had watched them.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Jan 24, 2023 14:27:51 GMT -5 RBHoya said:

But at Georgetown we have not done that. Bill Howze doesn't have connections and isn't helping to recruit anyone. He is just supporting our Chief of Staff aka his best buddy. Likewise the Assistant DoBO is a position that could be used to help a young alum start to build a resume, but we have given that position to Pat Ewing Jr's best friend. And whatever the misc. support role that we had Ewing Jr.'s little brother in is something that could have been used for a young alum too. At times I think the Dawg Talk guys get a little too carried away with "keeping it in the family" rhetoric, because you need to assemble the strongest management team possible and that may or may not involve alumni in every role. But we could definitely be using some of these roles better than we are currently.

Exactly. While I think the next coach must come from outside any relation to the Thompsons or Ronny (there simply is nobody qualified who fits that bill, but also because we need a changed outlook), and I think the new coach will likely need to select three assistants with no connection, too, jobs like DOBO are really meant to cultivate former players and get people involved. While not crucial jobs (in the same way the assistant and head coaching position are), they are good ways to keep people involved. This is how you develop a coaching tree.

To his credit, John Thompson III began doing this a little bit, getting Ewing Jr. and Wallace involved. But that has really disappeared with Ewing. For what it's worth, I don't know Howze, and so I cannot speak to his character or integrity. But, that's really not the issue. The bigger issue is that without Ronny--who is definitely not qualified to be chief of staff of a program of our caliber after his failures at Ball State--Howze would have never gotten the job. It's more about Ronny, than Howze.

The Dawg Talk guys definitely get carried away sometimes in ways that seem self-serving (especially Braswell, though I appreciate his continued passion for the university), but I get where they are coming from too, so I don't fully blame them. I just don't think that the answer is to fill the staff with Georgetown alumni from the Esherick and JT3 era. And frankly, we are getting to the point where even Wright and especially Braswell aren't recent alumni...(even if Braswell finished his degree recently!).