Syracuse chancellor on Mike Hopkins: Now is not the time to say whether he'll succeed Jim Boeheim

[PhatOrange]

Everybody thinks that a new AD will fire Shafer and the football staff for his guy, yet on the flip side Syracuse U – absent of the new AD – should name Hopkins head coach of an ELITE basketball program three’s years from now? What?

No slight on Hopkins but I hope the next coach of Syracuse U is the best coach we can find/get/hire.

 

[AlaskaSU]

"This is not the time to answer that question," Syverud told Syracuse.com in a phone interview.

If not now, WHEN???

This is the time to announce Hopkins. It assure continuity in the face of uncdertainty. A Chancellor outranks an athletic director.

 

[Madbiker]

I feel like I have always been in the minority when it comes to Coach B's successor. Hop has absolutely no head coaching experience. If he is the next head coach, great. If not, who cares? We will then be able to hire a proven commodity.

Sure just like the football team did. It might be helpful to read what a couple of major AAU coaches had to say about succession. If it's Hop the pipelines keep flowing because they know him and his values. It maintains all the equity that JB and SU have built up over the last 30 years. A new guy...all bets are off. And you can be sure that they are not going to spend the money it would take to get a big name coach. Reneging on Hop, aside from being a disgrace, would also be playing Russian roulette with the program. Very sad to see this development.

 

[phil77]

Everybody thinks that a new AD will/should fire Shafer and the football staff for his guy, yet on the flip side Syracuse U – absent of the new AD – should name Hopkins head coach of an ELITE basketball program three’s years from now? What?

No slight on Hopkins but I hope the next coach of Syracuse U is the best coach we can find/get/hire.

I agree...I thought they let the football side down with the quick promotion of Shafer without interviewing or talking with other people. I hope whenever JB hangs them up they interview a good qualified group of people and pick the best person. I don't mind if HOP is the leader going into those interviews but at least due your due diligence and get the best coach going forward for the program. Hiring someone without head coaching experience to run a top 10 program in the country with a national brand is a huge risk and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. I would not hand the keys over to HOP without interviewing other coaches and determining who the best coach for Syracuse is going forward.

 

[rrlbees]

I'm calm, but again, just after meeting with the academic side, Chancellor Egghead starts swinging the axe. The latest to go, Joe Giansante. Whacked today. Who is next? If I were a staffer in the athletic department I'd be polishing my resume today.

Plenty of those people should go. Syverud is pushing all the right buttons.

 

[RF2044]

Everybody thinks that a new AD will fire Shafer and the football staff for his guy, yet on the flip side Syracuse U – absent of the new AD – should name Hopkins head coach of an ELITE basketball program three’s years from now? What?

No slight on Hopkins but I hope the next coach of Syracuse U is the best coach we can find/get/hire.

Agreed. And if Hopkins is that guy--cool. But we should be swinging for the fences on the next hire.

 

[Madbiker]

FWIW all the chancellor said was that now is not the time to discuss JBs successor. He's right, we are about to appeal the ruling of the COI, telling them we are going with a successor that was a part of the program during the infractions is not smart. I believe hiring Hop is the right thing to do and I think they will. So far the school has done everything right in dealing with the fallout, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt

The quote finishes by saying that NO DECISION has been made as to Hopkins being the next coach. That's a big change from Hopkins is the coach-in-waiting. Now there will be recruiting turmoil since the next round of recruits have no certainty who they will be playing for. Nobody is signing up for not knowing who the coach will be.

 

[tbonezone]

i have no problem going in an entirely different direction. syracuse basketball HC job would attract the best of the best .there is no lineage so to speak.

 

[PhatOrange]

Sure just like the football team did. It might be helpful to read what a couple of major AAU coaches had to say about succession. If it's Hop the pipelines keep flowing because they know him and his values. It maintains all the equity that JB and SU have built up over the last 30 years. A new guy...all bets are off. And you can be sure that they are not going to spend the money it would take to get a big name coach. Reneging on Hop, aside from being a disgrace, would also be playing Russian roulette with the program. Very sad to see this development.

come on. If we hired (insert big name coach here) he would suddenly not be able to recruit because of some AAU coaches? He'd have his own AAU coaches.

Syracuse will absolutely spend what the market dictates on a big name basketball coach. Syracuse recognizes their basketball brand and worth.

 

[Finwad32]

We are in the wake of a nationally recognized story involving improprieties within our Athletic Department. Syverud has acted swiftly and responded in a professional manner throughout. The same goes for the rest of the employees involved.

All of the firings and demotions were released yesterday. Boeheim's speech today. Maximum coverage prior to tip off of the NCAA tournament. You literally could not calculate it or orchestrate the release of this information any better.

What's he supposed to say? The Asst. Coach, who was right there throughout all of the allegations, is still in position to lead the program that's currently under this scrutiny?

Who knows how the conversation went behind closed doors. I'd imagine it would be something along the lines of do as good a job as you can and you'll be in a good position.

What's delivered to the media is seldom the entire picture. I don't believe for one second that these discussions haven't taken place internally well in advance of their release. MIke Hopkins, I'm sure, knows exactly where he stands.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Agreed. And if Hopkins is that guy--cool. But we should be swinging for the fences on the next hire.

Like USC? How many of those "sexy" hires actually work out? So many big splashes followed by quiet drownings.

 

[RF2044]

Like USC? How many of those "s e xy" hires actually work out? So many big splashes followed by quiet drownings.

I didn't say "big splash" -- I want us to bring in the best candidate we can. We are one of the premier brands in college basketball, we need to do our due diligence and evaluate all options, and select the best one.

 

[orange79]

I'm calm, but again, just after meeting with the academic side, Chancellor Egghead starts swinging the axe. The latest to go, Joe Giansante. Whacked today. Who is next? If I were a staffer in the athletic department I'd be polishing my resume today.

"...just after meeting with the academic side..." You do know that he has been Chancellor for over a year and two months, right?

And show a little respect. Enough with the egghead bullspit. Everything he has done so far is exactly what should have been done, the way it should have been done.

 

[Toga]

Month 2 after a new AD is hired - or 2 months following the end of the NCAA appeal process (whichever is later) - the new AD announces / confirms Hop as coach in waiting. That's my guess.

 

[44PRIDE]

he gone

Agreed

Mike was essentially anointed the coach in waiting and has passed on other opportunities waiting for B to retire. Now that anointment is on shaky footing. If a reasonable D1 position comes up for him, I fully expect him to leave.

If SU won't commit to him, why should he commit to SU?

 

[OrangePA]

he gone

I think that's right.

If I'm Mike Hopkins I start looking in earnest for a HC position.

It could very well be that the Chancellor intends to clean house - to eliminate all who had some level of authority in the BB program during the infraction period.

That seems to be the message right now.

 

[OrangePA]

I agree...I thought they let the football side down with the quick promotion of Shafer without interviewing or talking with other people. I hope whenever JB hangs them up they interview a good qualified group of people and pick the best person. I don't mind if HOP is the leader going into those interviews but at least due your due diligence and get the best coach going forward for the program. Hiring someone without head coaching experience to run a top 10 program in the country with a national brand is a huge risk and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. I would not hand the keys over to HOP without interviewing other coaches and determining who the best coach for Syracuse is going forward.

Can't argue with this post.

 

[pfister1]

I think that's right.

If I'm Mike Hopkins I start looking in earnest for a HC position.

It could very well be that the Chancellor intends to clean house - to eliminate all who had some level of authority in the BB program during the infraction period.

That seems to be the message right now.

That isn't the message at all. JB is staying on for another 3 years and clearly told us he'll leave only when he is ready. They aren't cleaning house of people in some level of authority in the BB program, they are cleaning house of people they believe were directly involved in wrongdoing or who are ineffectual.

 

[OrangePA]

I'm calm, but again, just after meeting with the academic side, Chancellor Egghead starts swinging the axe. The latest to go, Joe Giansante. Whacked today. Who is next? If I were a staffer in the athletic department I'd be polishing my resume today.

Has that been reported?

Giasante has been let go?

Or is that your presumption?

 

[TheCusian]

Has that been reported? Giasante has been let go? Or is that your presumption?

It was reported.

 

[texascpa]

I'm calm, but again, just after meeting with the academic side, Chancellor Egghead starts swinging the axe. The latest to go, Joe Giansante. Whacked today. Who is next? If I were a staffer in the athletic department I'd be polishing my resume today.

Giasante was a no-brainer. He should have been let go regardless of any findings.

 

[OrangePA]

That isn't the message at all. JB is staying on for another 3 years and clearly told us he'll leave only when he is ready. They aren't cleaning house of people in some level of authority in the BB program, they are cleaning house of people they believe were directly involved in wrongdoing or who are ineffectual.

So, it's merely a coincidence that Boeheim announces his retirement?

Gosh, I don't think so.

It seems to me that he was whacked but was given a public extension - and I would not be surprised if the coach leaves before the three year period is up.

And with respect to Mike Hopkins, it seems that a similar action has taken place. He is allowed to stay, but he won't be the next head coach.

Obviously this is all speculation, but I sense an iron fist with velvet glove is being applied by the Chancellor.

 

[cusetown1]

Has that been reported?

Giasante has been let go?

Or is that your presumption?

That should be announced today or tomorrow. Edit it was reported this morning,

 

[orange79]

Has that been reported?

Giasante has been let go?

Or is that your presumption?

http://syracusefan.com/threads/joe-...-man-no-longer-employed-by-syracuse-ps.88875/

 

[JimBoston]

By announcing that Boeheim will retire in 3 years, Syverud made the job much more attractive to a potential AD. Why? Who would want to come to Syracuse with the potential task of having to fire a HOF coach who is beloved by the fans? And the new AD will be in charge of deciding who will be the next head coach after he gets the lay of the land. You have to allow the new AD to hire who they think is the right guy for the job.

As for Hopkins, the situation has changed at Syracuse due to the penalties (deserved or not) and the Chancellor and AD may want to go in a different direction now. It's tough for him, but that is what they may decide. It may be best for him to keep interviewing for HC jobs.