Why Lonergan Passed

[Knight Shift]

http://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2016/03/22/reject-rutgers-mike-lonegan/82109496/

``You know, my dad is 86 years old, we have five kids,’’ he said. ``I love GW. It’s a great place. I’m just trying to improve the program and take it to the next level.’’

``I just think Rutgers has a terrific AD,’’ said Lonergan following his team’s 87-71 win at Monmouth in a second-round NIT game Monday night. ``He’s a great guy. He had interviewed me for the Seton Hall job a long time ago. I just had one phone conversation with him and that was really it.’’

 

[Upstream]

Lonergan sounds like a class act.

 

[PhilaPhans]

I always wonder about guys like Few, Longeran, Smart, Mack, etc., some of which who have moved on to different gigs, while others haven't ...

Is there really a need to jump up to the next level BCS school? I mean, sure, you may get a million or two extra over what you're making, but you're also supposed to win titles every year (conference or NCAA depending on the school). Whereas if you stay at VCU or Gonzaga or whatnot, you're almost guaranteed to be close to the Sweet 16 every year, they'll pay you nicely, and you'll constantly get the recruits necessary to win your conference each year. Way better job security and you're king on your campus. And it's not like you can't schedule those same UNCs, Dukes, UCLAs, and Kansas's every year if you wanted to OOC.

 

[friar10]

I always wonder about guys like Few, Longeran, Smart, Mack, etc., some of which who have moved on to different gigs, while others haven't ...

Is there really a need to jump up to the next level BCS school? I mean, sure, you may get a million or two extra over what you're making, but you're also supposed to win titles every year (conference or NCAA depending on the school). Whereas if you stay at VCU or Gonzaga or whatnot, you're almost guaranteed to be close to the Sweet 16 every year, they'll pay you nicely, and you'll constantly get the recruits necessary to win your conference each year. Way better job security and you're king on your campus. And it's not like you can't schedule those same UNCs, Dukes, UCLAs, and Kansas's every year if you wanted to OOC.

You are right philaphans look at a guy like Tom Cream who has done a great job . But you can be sure if they lose to NC some of those fans will be calling for his head again like every year.

 

[G- RUnit]

Think St Joes coach and now Temple coach of the same ilk. Kudos to them. Classy guys.

On the other hand when you see what Rhode did to Jim Baron after one bad year after a decade of good basketball...

 

[ruman]

Until he takes the Pitt job

 

[albanyknight]

Some people have more important priorities than money and legacy. I believe we avoided a major disaster in hiring Hurley. It reeked too much of a Bannon/Hill/Jordan type of hire. Longeran would of been a great hire but I think we also made a very good hire.

 

[ejgonz]

I mean, sure, you may get a million or two extra over what you're making

You have to repeat that statement to yourself. Even if it was a higher risk job, wouldn't you risk it for "a million or two extra"? These are people with wives, kids, etc. They have dreams of bigger homes, financial security, etc just like all of us.

 

[NBKnight]

You have to repeat that statement to yourself. Even if it was a higher risk job, wouldn't you risk it for "a million or two extra"? These are people with wives, kids, etc. They have dreams of bigger homes, financial security, etc just like all of us.

He is already making a good wage at GW. It is all relative.

 

[TDIrish27]

I think Mike Brey is like that too.

Likes where he is----doesn't go job shopping every 2 years .

 

[PhilaPhans]

You have to repeat that statement to yourself. Even if it was a higher risk job, wouldn't you risk it for "a million or two extra"? These are people with wives, kids, etc. They have dreams of bigger homes, financial security, etc just like all of us.

Of course everybody wants more money. I'm not talking about Pikiell going from $400K to $1.6M. I'm talking about a guy like Smart who goes from being paid $2-3M (top mid-major coach) to making $4M+ for 5 years. It's not like it's chump change, and you'd essentially have a job for life at that mid-major. I'm not saying the money isn't necessarily better.

Of course all top athletes and coaches think they're the best. There's a lot of ego involved. But like Lonergan said, you've got your family set up nicely where you are. You aren't making chump change. You could be set for life, knowing you could get that $2-3M and rising for as long as you want, or risk it for all the big bucks and the Charlie Weis treatment where he's now a nobody collecting a nice chunk of change from different school for failure. In the NCAA, any mid-major can win an NCAA title with a good run. Hell, Butler was in the championship game twice in a row.

 

[megadrone]

The Atlantic 10, American and Big East (and maybe some schools in the WCC) aren't really mid major where basketball is concerned. A job at Villanova, G'Town, Marquette, even Temple, Memphis or Houston, really could be destination jobs or a place where you can be happy spending the rest of your career. Lonergan feels that way about GW.

 

[RAA-1]

I see Lonergan pulling a Larranaga, who turned down many offers to leave George Mason. Jim finally accepted the Miami job at age 61.

Lonergan will stay at GW, most likely, until his kids are grown and living all over the country. As he gets closer to retirement he will accept a P5 offer and cash out for $ millions for his last 5-7 years of coaching. He will then be set for life.

 

[srru86]

I once had a job supporting Wall Street types. I asked a guy in the over seven figure income bracket "After the first couple of million does another one or two really make a difference in your life style?" He said, "No, but it is how we keep score."

 

[G- RUnit]

Brey very quietly does very well.

 

[NBKnight]

I once had a job supporting Wall Street types. I asked a guy in the over seven figure income bracket "After the first couple of million does another one or two really make a difference in your life style?" He said, "No, but it is how we keep score."

Coaches have wins.

 

[RM60]

Doesn't sound like a real consideration from either side although someone will surely tell me I'm wrong.

 

[LevaosLectures]

Power 5 matters a lot less in basketball than football.

 

[Knight Shift]

I once had a job supporting Wall Street types. I asked a guy in the over seven figure income bracket "After the first couple of million does another one or two really make a difference in your life style?" He said, "No, but it is how we keep score."

That's typical of Wall street types. Other types of people may be wired differently. Some people like their current job, their coworkers, their location and their job security. A boss once said to me--you can always find a job making more money-but is it a better job? Sounds like Lonergan thought he had a better job for HIM at THIS TIME than the Rutgers job, even though it would have meant more money.

 

[JQRU91]

Some people make money to keep score. Other people make money so they can live comfortably and do what they want to do. Looks like Lonergan's already living comfortably and doing what he wants to do at George Washington.

 

[sodakboy93]

As someone who's built roots in a community and has raised a family in the same small city for the last decade or so, I can tell you that it's REALLY hard to leave. Even when there's more money on the table and a better job opportunity, it's tough to say "Hey, let's just pack up and leave." Believe me, there are folks who do that and I don't begrudge them that whatsoever, but not everyone's wired that way.

 

[ruman]

Brey very quietly does very well.

like Poppy

 

[NickKnight 1]

Why did Lonergan pass? Ah.........Because he stopped breathing?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Hit by a Mack truck

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Hopefully not syphilis. Apparently an agonizing way to go.

 

[srru86]

That's typical of Wall street types. Other types of people may be wired differently.

Yes, I also told him maybe not after the first year, but if I got a couple of bonuses of such a magnitude, I'd pack it in and do something fun with that nest egg. He agreed with you and said that's the difference between us, or wiring as you say. Of course not real unusual for these guys to retire about 45.

 

[toby83]

would be impressed if he won tonight

 

[imbazza2]

You have to repeat that statement to yourself. Even if it was a higher risk job, wouldn't you risk it for "a million or two extra"? These are people with wives, kids, etc. They have dreams of bigger homes, financial security, etc just like all of us.

Typical quote of a $ wannabe, go read Margret Meade. The man stated flat out I an comfortable at Georgetown and the B10 is no draw as Georgetown can get to the Big Dance easier then Rutgers will be able to in the Power 5 B10.

 

[Knight Shift]

Yes, I also told him maybe not after the first year, but if I got a couple of bonuses of such a magnitude, I'd pack it in and do something fun with that nest egg. He agreed with you and said that's the difference between us, or wiring as you say. Of course not real unusual for these guys to retire about 45.

There are a bunch of them in Rumson who retired before 40. I coached several kids whose parents were in this category. Oddly, many of those parents do not volunteer to coach. Maybe they stay at home and count their money all day.

 

[bac2therac]

I think people are giving him too much credit, it wasnt all that hard to turn down Rutgers even with more money. lets bring this thread up again the next time Lonergan is asked to coach a power 5 team especially one that is reasonably attractive....coaches walk for the right situation, lets face it, this is a job that not alot want, he will wait for a better offer with better timing

 

[RUScrew85]

I guess it depends on if you are in it for money and fame or teaching and the sport (and somewhat less money).

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I think Mike Brey is like that too.

Likes where he is----doesn't go job shopping every 2 years .

.....Uh....OK.....aren't coaches supposed to listen to what the market or interest is out there??

 

[TDIrish27]

That's a personal choice I guess-----certainly nothing in the job spec that says he has to.