UofU Opening

[onpoint]

I could be wrong, but in Club Sports, isn't the burden of "developing and overacheiving" on the players themselves? The proverbial "you" can't blame the coach because you don't feel you played up to your potential. If the coach isn't up to snuff on game planning or he abuses his players or he is woefully inept, that's another thing. The best programs the MCLA have stable coaching. It's a shame to lose one that seemed prepared and dedicated. Hopefully the U can find someone who can live up to their lofty standards.

[lollygagger]

I would argue that the burden of a players development and achieving their potential as an athlete is both on the shoulders of the player and the coach. For any player to get better they have to work, and often times work very hard. But that player needs effective guidance, motivation, and needless to say, coaching.

The Utes may have lofty goals, but you can't blame them for wanting to be successful. Like I said, the current state of lacrosse in Utah is sink or swim with the success of BYU's and Westminster's programs. The search will not be easy...unless they give Destin a monorail and give me a jet (no, we would be terribly unethical coaches and also probably spend way too much time on clever names for plays and formations).

My opinoins just might be a little skewed and fueled by my desire to see them succeed...and by succeed I mean beat BYU...and by beat BYU I mean give me a jet.

[lollygagger]

The best programs the MCLA have stable coaching.

Stable coaching does not equal success, however success does generally lead to a coaches increased job security.

[Dan Wishengrad]

I agree with Alex. This growing trend of MCLA programs firing coaches who fail to win their conference's title is reaching epic proportions. Coaches need time to develop a program with their own system and, hopefully, with the opportunity to recruit some of their "own" players.

How many MCLA DI programs will have a new coach next season (tons), and how many of the fired ex-coaches got more than one or two seasons to build a winner (few)? I guess as long as the players are calling the shots this will continue and will probably escalate. I don't intend this to be an attack on UofU specifically, it's just one of the many unfortunate examples out there from this 2008 season.

Best of luck to Coach Levi, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few years ago at our HIT. Good luck to the Utes in their quest to hire a coach that will win the RMLC next year.

[x1dschm]

The two commonalities that BYU and Westmini have is school support (i.e. funding and field space) and a commitment to the Head Coach and his staff. The Utes have to solve both those problems as quickly as possible. I said they had Kobe esk egos because there was a lot of chest pounding when they beat CU and CSU and alot of finger pointing when they struggled. No coach is perfect and I'm sure Rich has second guessed some of his decisions, but did he do such a bad job that it warranted him being let go? Maybe, us on the outside will never really know. Or, maybe we all need to share in the accountability and say "you know what, I could have done A, B, or C better."

I hope the Utes get the guy they want this time around. If they don't, they should make whomever takes the reigns the Interim HC and continue to search for the right person. Otherwise we will just be having the same conversation in 2 years.

Stefan if you do get the Jet, where's the 1st place you are going?

[lollygagger]

I agree with Alex. This growing trend of MCLA programs firing coaches who fail to win their conference's title is reaching epic proportions.

I only made it to a couple of games last year and wasn't at the practices, but in defense of Utah's decision, and from what I have diffused out of the ether, their (difficult) decision had many more variables than wins and losses.

I guess as long as the players are calling the shots this will continue and will probably escalate.

To note, and another item from the rumor mill, is that Utah will be establishing a board of trustees, if you will, that will consist of the major annual donors to the program and they will handle all hiring/firing/staffing duties from here on out. This sort of plan may be the best way for teams with limited support from their schools to create a more objective decision maker for exactly this sort of situation.

[lollygagger]

Stefan if you do get the Jet, where's the 1st place you are going?

Dubai. Where else do people with their own jets go?

[ME]

Maybe, us on the outside will never really know.

Thank you for saying that Dan. Everybody is giving these guys a hard time because they assume the team just decided to do it all of a sudden but I can assure you it wasn't like that at all. It was a long hard thought out decision. People can speculate all they want. All these people weren't at team functions or practices and they don't know the entire situation. I think everybody just needs to give the team a break because they analyzed the situation and they made the move they thought was best for the program. The sports world is a cutthroat world. Coaches are hired and fired everyday that is the way it is. Why should the MCLA be different, especially, when the players are paying the coaches salary themselves?

[Rob McQuade]

I haven't been a Ute for about 3 years, but when I was I remember having a difficult time even getting into the Athletic Department, let alone having a productive conversation. What is the state of relations with the club and the school? And this might be a little nosey, but is it even feasible for the team to hire a full time coach?

[Phantanimal]

I think everybody just needs to give the team a break because they analyzed the situation and they made the move they thought was best for the program. The sports world is a cutthroat world. Coaches are hired and fired everyday that is the way it is. Why should the MCLA be different, especially, when the players are paying the coaches salary themselves?

It's true that others can't understand why things happened the way they did, and that the team leaders made a choice that suits the direction they see the team going. In a letter Rich sent to friends and family of the team, he seemed heartbroken and dejected by the descision the team had made. The team literally dropped a bomb on him.
Rich was a good guy who stepped up when no one else did. It's inaccurate to call it a "cut-thoat" decision when it's actually a perfect example of disrespect. Rich took responsibility as a player and a coach. It just seems wrong to compare a business world technique to an association that is unique in the fact that it isn't all business. It's about friendship and mutual respect. Obviously, that was lost in translation somewhere along the line.

[ME]

It's inaccurate to call it a "cut-thoat" decision when it's actually a perfect example of disrespect.

I never called it a cut-throat decision. If you read my statement again I was saying, "the sports world is a cutthroat world". That doesn't mean any disrespect it just means that is how it is. Secondly, I was referring to a few comments made earlier about the increase of coaching releases/changes. No matter what happens the more serious this league becomes the more "business like" we will see it. When players are paying thousands of dollars to play, compete, and win, this can be expected (this comment was regarding the entire MCLA and not just this situation).

Obvisously, you aren't very close with any of the players or else you would know they weren't trying to disrespect Rich. The players all have said they thought Rich was a good guy and did many good things for the program on an adminstrative level. But this was about coaching and they thought they needed to change paths. No one said Rich isn't a good guy or irresponsible.

[ineedmorecowbell]

(no, we would be terribly unethical coaches and also probably spend way too much time on clever names for plays and formations).
.

it's true. i'd spend all the money on hookers and blow and we'd have plays named "spicy mayonnaise" and formations called "get in a circle."

[bullhighutewoozgriffclam]

(God is #1 and Jason Lamb is #3, both working for the Cougs)

- Maybe the best line in Cougar lacrosse history! It will definitely make todays season wrap-up podcast!

k. first off, it's a UofU opening thread not a byu thread. go away cougar lovers.

second Rich is a great coach. it's just really hard (dang near impossible) to follow Mase. I know the Utes will miss Rich and they will miss Debbie just as much. She was the behind the scene coach/do it aller. I'm sure I'll see you guys (deb and rich) real soon. I guess we (clams) play PC
on the 31st of july.

I've heard there are some coaches back east inquiring. However the team looks I'll be wearin red, or black, or white whatever.

CLAMS WHAT

[BigheadTodd]

[quote="bullhighutewoozgriffclam
second Rich is a great coach. it's just really hard (dang near impossible) to follow Mase. [/quote]

Truer words have never been spoken. Ultimately, Rich was the rebound guy. Kind of like Jake Plummer. Or Aaron Rogers will be. You never want to replace "THE GUY", you want to replace the guy who replaces "THE GUY"

[ineedmorecowbell]

k. first off, it's a UofU opening thread not a byu thread. go away cougar lovers.

park, are you serious? who cares? we all know that the cool cougars bleed baby blue and black anyways.