I’ll preface this by saying Pike has earned a down year. So there is no way he gets fired (even for a few more years prob). So this is purely hypothetical. Would Willard accept the RU job for $3M and would you take Willard?
Would you take Willard?
- Thread starter ouchmyknee
- Start date
yes I would because he would get talent here, no it wouldnt guarantee NCAAs but Id rather see talent and potential rather than relying on coaching up a bunch of MAAC level players...to be bluntly honest
RECRUITING HAS BEEN ABYSMAL...Pikiell is NOT recruiting at a Big 10 level, this isnt the Seawolves
RECRUITING HAS BEEN ABYSMAL...Pikiell is NOT recruiting at a Big 10 level, this isnt the Seawolves
Lol I would honestly have taken either Hurley brother, I think the Hurley's are the ultimate key to sustained RU success given their connections and ability, but we always scoff at hiring either brotherSo then that would be a “no” for Danny Hurley too?
He‘d not be the guy for Rutgers, but this comment makes me wonder if you’ve ever watched SHU play. He’s not very animated at all on the sideline.
Can we make him head of Athletic Department hiring?
Don't need him to coach.
Let him identify the assistant coach "candidates" (who are coincidentally are connected to high level recruits) and fill staff vacancies.
Don't need him to coach.
Let him identify the assistant coach "candidates" (who are coincidentally are connected to high level recruits) and fill staff vacancies.
Absolutely. 5 20-win seasons in a row prior to last year and on his way to another one. No brainer.
No. Pikiell's team has beaten SHU twice and both games were going away. Willard only beat RU twice and both games at the PRU Center came down to the last 2 minutes. Steve inherited a team that was # 279 in the country and in the first game he had SHU on the ropes. His personality I feel is so much better. Willard is a decent coach but he got his huge recruiting class of Whitehead, Delgado & Rodriguez by hiring Tiny Morton who coached Whitehead and Rodriguez and Antigua who coached Delgado in the summer. This past off season he got several guys from the portal but he has not gotten guys out of NJ whereas Steve has gotten Harper, Mulcahy and Cliff and has added Simpson for next season and all four have been All State in New Jersey.
I’m not a big fan of him. He can recruit, but have never been impressed with his coaching tbh.
I want both. I want Pitino.
I want both. I want Pitino.
You might want to check some of those scoreboards again...
He has the same number of NCAA wins that Pike does. If we made the tournament as much as he does and won as little as he does, 90% of you would want him fired.
Willard is already north of $2MM and doesn't have to take the BS that you guys cast on your coach/coaches - HELL NO - he wouldn't be interested.
You probably don't want Willard as he is low key and doesn't recruit the way you guys expect a RU coach should be able to.
Maryland fans didn't appreciate Turgeon because they thought they were an elite team, I kind of get the same feeling from reading this forum.
You probably don't want Willard as he is low key and doesn't recruit the way you guys expect a RU coach should be able to.
Maryland fans didn't appreciate Turgeon because they thought they were an elite team, I kind of get the same feeling from reading this forum.
For one, I think Willard recruits exactly how a RU coach should:
Hire assistant coaches who are connected to high profile recruits.
Which is why a program like ours should expect a bit of baggage if we want to hire an elite level coach.
We’re willing to accept the baggage for the elite coach.
They’re willing to accept the program for the opportunity to coach again in an elite league.
Certainly faults but ur description of him is not based in facts.
That’s a weary trope about him. Maybe in the past but not in the last 5-6 years. Although he does complain about the league schedule. Danny Hurley is in constant complaint mode.
Since when? I think you have a good one now. But not unlike Willard his resume before is not exciting. No big name Coach is coming to either of our schools. Get behind who you have. You’re better than it’s shown to date.
What are you watching? The guy has his faults and RU could do better, but what you describe is not part of his MO. You just described either of the Hurley’s but not Willard.
He wouldn't be my choice. But if Pike is on his way out spring '24 and Willard was the best we could do. I'd definitely take him over a number of coaches
Read again. I said RU could do better ….. but you were off in talking about a non-existent smart *** attitude and smirks. That’s all.
I wasn't off. He has an attitude which I don't care for which I see on his face many times during games. He's not my cup of tea and he can languish in South Orange for the rest of his life for all I care. Decent coach and if you want to be competitive each year - he's a good candidate - however if you want to win in March - look elsewhere. I prefer the latter.
Let’s hire Willard and have him take us to 2 NCAAs and then fire him after he starts year 3 4-4
I haven't seen seton hall play in person since like 2015 ish. I remember him whining but like you said that could have just been how was years ago
I wouldn’t want Willard but agree on the recruiting issue. I’d rather have talent that doesn’t always reach its potential than a bunch of scrappers trying to win rock fight games every week.
I don’t know why many here are crediting Willard’s recruiting. At the high school level he is worse than pikiell. He’s fortunate that the transfer market opened because his last few classes were questionable.
That’s how it works now. Recruiting means getting players - not getting HS players only.