Pitino as transitional hire to raise SU's profile

[Bulldog04]

I wish Greg Paulus was killing it at Niagara. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is unlike anyone I’ve ever been around. Known Greg since I was 8 years old and if he was having more success there, I would be fully on board.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I wish Greg Paulus was killing it at Niagara. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is unlike anyone I’ve ever been around. Known Greg since I was 8 years old and if he was having more success there, I would be fully on board.

Bring in Pitino and Paulus, name Paulus HCIW, Pitino retires after 3 successful seasons, Paulus takes over and is the second local boy to make good.

 

[City of Cuse]

Paulus HCIW

 

[JaySU22]

If we want to do a big name transitional hire it should be Beilein. Great coach and a class act

 

[Col. Bleep]

So...the reality is that the AD may be wondering why he ever took the job.
He's got head coaches in both football and basketball who aren't getting it done.
And does anyone really care about anything else?
Academics?
Piffle...after all it's Syracuse.

Rick Pitino is a great baskeball coach.
No one gets more out of the talent he has.

But the beleagured AD is supposed to somehow ease out the coach of 46 years and hand the keys to a guy who - his on court success aside - allegedly was involved in funneling benefits to players at Hawaii, banged some woman on a pool table in a restaurant, became the target of her extortion attempt, had hookers coming in to "entertain" recruits and allegedly had an underling get a recruit $100k in the Adidas pay to play scandal.

Somehow this became irrelevant for Iona's distinguished leadership.
But is the SU chancellor going to sign off on this?
Even Dean Wormer wouldn't.

 

[cali315phan]

So...the reality is that the AD may be wondering why he ever took the job.
He's got head coaches in both football and basketball who aren't getting it done.
And does anyone really care about anything else?
Academics?
Piffle...after all it's Syracuse.

Rick Pitino is a great baskeball coach.
No one gets more out of the talent he has.

But the beleagured AD is supposed to somehow ease out the coach of 46 years and hand the keys to a guy who - his on court success aside - allegedly was involved in funneling benefits to players at Hawaii, banged some woman on a pool table in a restaurant, became the target of her extortion attempt, had hookers coming in to "entertain" recruits and allegedly had an underling get a recruit $100k in the Adidas pay to play scandal.

Somehow this became irrelevant for Iona's distinguished leadership.
But is the SU chancellor going to sign off on this?
Even Dean Wormer wouldn't.

i fail to see anything wrong with any of that

 

[two3zone]

I wish Greg Paulus was killing it at Niagara. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is unlike anyone I’ve ever been around. Known Greg since I was 8 years old and if he was having more success there, I would be fully on board.

Great energy, if he was killing it I’d be all in.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Bring in Pitino as a transitional coach to do, what, exactly? Invite an NCAA searchlight shining on every aspect of our program?

As has been mentioned, there are plenty of bright young coaches who would fit well here. If JB is gone after this year, and he should be, conduct a search, do it right, and hire someone who could be a long-term successor.

Yeah. We can’t risk probation

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Yeah. We can’t risk probation

If we can’t figure out how to navigate the program and take significant advantage of NIL, we might as well shut the whole athletic department down. How or why would a school ever get into the position where they could even remotely risk an NCAA investigation?

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

After much meditation, I think the Christ-like thing to do is forgive Rick and then carpet-bomb the media about his redemption story and SU giving him a chance to ride off into the sunset on a high note.

And hiring a staffer to keep him away from the local waitstaff at restaurants.

 

[DoctorBombay]

So…the reality is that the AD may be wondering why he ever took the job.
He's got head coaches in both football and basketball who aren't getting it done.
And does anyone really care about anything else?
Academics?
Piffle...after all it's Syracuse.

Rick Pitino is a great baskeball coach.
No one gets more out of the talent he has.

But the beleagured AD is supposed to somehow ease out the coach of 46 years and hand the keys to a guy who - his on court success aside - allegedly was involved in funneling benefits to players at Hawaii, banged some woman on a pool table in a restaurant, became the target of her extortion attempt, had hookers coming in to "entertain" recruits and allegedly had an underling get a recruit $100k in the Adidas pay to play scandal.

Somehow this became irrelevant for Iona's distinguished leadership.
But is the SU chancellor going to sign off on this?
Even Dean Wormer wouldn't.

Ooh, ooh, ooh….
(raises hand like Arnold Horshack on "Welcome Back Kotter")-
“Because he’s an alum”, for $500 Alex”?
If I could go back to my alma mater and run the AD, I’d sign on in a heartbeat, as would most folks.

 

[Grbac]

If we want an elite recruiter we have to deal with unscrupulous behavior. None of these schools getting top recruits are doing it morally or fair and if you think differently you are just naive.
Now we can try and find a guy who can get 2 or 3 star recruits and coach them up but in the ACC that may not work.
I’m saying we can’t really turn our noses up at anyone who has been tagged in the past for recruiting violations. Everyone does it just some get caught.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I wish Greg Paulus was killing it at Niagara. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is unlike anyone I’ve ever been around. Known Greg since I was 8 years old and if he was having more success there, I would be fully on board.

He’s a SU alum too.

 

[hoopsupstate]

So...the reality is that the AD may be wondering why he ever took the job.
He's got head coaches in both football and basketball who aren't getting it done.
And does anyone really care about anything else?
Academics?
Piffle...after all it's Syracuse.

Rick Pitino is a great baskeball coach.
No one gets more out of the talent he has.

But the beleagured AD is supposed to somehow ease out the coach of 46 years and hand the keys to a guy who - his on court success aside - allegedly was involved in funneling benefits to players at Hawaii, banged some woman on a pool table in a restaurant, became the target of her extortion attempt, had hookers coming in to "entertain" recruits and allegedly had an underling get a recruit $100k in the Adidas pay to play scandal.

Somehow this became irrelevant for Iona's distinguished leadership.
But is the SU chancellor going to sign off on this?
Even Dean Wormer wouldn't.

Sounds like he more than qualified to coach in the SEC. He’s met all the requirements.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

i fail to see anything wrong with any of that

I think the "pool table in a restaurant" part is wrong. I mean, what kind of restaurant also has a pool table? And why would someone making $7m a year frequent such an establishment? This can't be correct (i.e., just the pool table part).

 

[Dinkyspond]

The Iona Gaels of the MAAC would take our lunch money on a neutral court if we played tomorrow and he’s been there for like 18 months haha

I understand why it won’t happen but imagine how much gd fun it would be if it did

It could happen next November. We are playing in that Empire Classic in MSG with St. John's and some other team I can't remember. There is a 4th team to be named. I'll bet MSG will get Iona as the 4th team.

 

[kcsu]

After much meditation, I think the Christ-like thing to do is forgive Rick and then carpet-bomb the media about his redemption story and SU giving him a chance to ride off into the sunset on a high note.

And hiring a staffer to keep him away from the local waitstaff at restaurants.

He does look good in white

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

He does look good in white

 

[BillSU]

I want Oats.

Slick Rick is a little too old I'm not surprised hes winning at Siena but I don't think hes a lock to do well if he gets a return to the big time.

I think a lot of guys can have success here. We don't need Pitino. And I mean real success not this bubble crap we are told we should be happy about.

Pitino shouldn't be suggested hes a Syracuse villain just like Calhoun or Thompson Jr. No way.

Frankiefan, It’s Iona not Siena. I agree with you, (see below), we don’t need him here. I believe what he’s done personally as a coach, the sex scandal, bribes, and other things no SUAD would look at him. He’s a great coach but that’s all he’s got going for him. How in hell his wife is still with him I have no idea unless they both believe he’s totally innocent of all the extracurricular crap. I think people believe he’s guilty and adding all the cons to some of our own is not nessessary.

Pros

Pitino led Kentucky to an NCAA championship in 1996. He is the only coach to lead three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville) to a Final Four.[5] In 2013, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Iona Gaels (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (2020–present)​
2020–21	Iona	12–6	6–3	9th	NCAA Division I Round of 64
2021–22	Iona	11–2	3–0
Iona:​	23–8 (.742)	9–3 (.750)
Total:​	666–279 (.705)

Total includes Hawaii, Boston U., Providence, Kentucky, Louisville with sanctions/vacated games

Cons

In June 2017, the NCAA suspended Pitino for five games of the 2017–18 season for his lack of oversight in an escort sex scandal at the University of Louisville involving recruits. Louisville's national championship from 2013 was eventually vacated as well. In September, Pitino was implicated in a federal investigation involving bribes to recruits, which resulted in Louisville firing him for cause.

On April 18, 2009, Pitino announced that he was the target of an extortion attempt.[70] On April 24, Karen Cunagin Sypher, the wife of Louisville equipment manager Tim Sypher, was arraigned and charged in US District Court with extortion and lying to federal agents. The federal government alleged that Cunagin demanded vehicles and tuition money for her children from Pitino and later demanded $10 million from him. According to the federal complaint, the demands arose from an unspecified encounter between Sypher and Pitino.[71][72]

On August 11, Pitino admitted that he had sexual relations with Cunagin on August 1, 2003, at Porcini, a Louisville restaurant. Several weeks later, Cunagin told Pitino that she was pregnant and wanted to have an abortion, but added she did not have health insurance. Pitino paid her $3,000 for the abortion.[73] During the trial, Pitino downplayed the pair's sexual escapade, testifying that the entire act did not take more than 15 seconds.[74] Cunagin claimed that her estranged husband, Tim Sypher, was paid to marry her.[75]

 

[OrangeDW]

I’m going to continue to beat the “Jason Hart should be considered” drum.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Bring in Pitino and Paulus, name Paulus HCIW, Pitino retires after 3 successful seasons, Paulus takes over and is the second local boy to make good.

People can say what they want about Paulus, but he handled Colgate. That this is a means of comparison indicates how urgent things have become.

 

[Cuse69]

I don't think they are going to fire JB for one terrible year. On the other hand we haven't been legit national title contenders in 8 seasons so that might be what does him in.

The stat that stands out to me is from the 08-09 season to the 13-14 season we won 81% of games. After that from the 14-15 season and including this season we have won 58% of all games.

 

[Cuse69]

I’m going to continue to beat the “Jason Hart should be considered” drum.

It would be similar to Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame, young coach who is a good recruiter who has never been a HC before. Taking a risk with substantial upside though.

 

[OrangeDW]

It would be similar to Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame, young coach who is a good recruiter who has never been a HC before. Taking a risk with substantial upside though.

He’s a head coach in the G-League right now.

Not the same as college HC, but it counts for something IMO.

 

[Cuse69]

Forget about Syracuse which I think is a Ferrari in terms of college jobs. Only one guy having it for 50 years doesn't mean no one else can win here.

Focus on Alabama. They are Duke Football or Kentucky Football. Period. Make a Sweet 16 and the fanbase is happy but cares more about the spring game and football recruiting.

I think hes peaking at that job and might want to make a move to a better one ASAP. Hows he going to elevate them to Kentucky level when the fans won't even care if he wins more? At best hes just Tennessee or Florida. Wade and Pearl make that conference kind of tough at the top unless he wins the entire NCAA tournament hes just another LSU or AUburn. They won't fire him if he slips but then his stock will drop and he won't be a guy in the running for every big job.

UB>Bama>Cuse is a good progression. He probably has a personality that won't give a that JB is still looming around. (I think JB will work for ESPN and be a great commentator after he retires FWIW.)

Nate Oats is one of the highest paid coaches in the country. Is syracuse willing to pay him 4 million to even start a conversation. He has it made there and comparing the state of each program why would he kill himself to resurrect this program after already doing it twice before.