Traits for new head coach to be successful?

[MikeC]

In this new landscape of College Hoops, wondering what sort of traits Siena should be looking for in a new head coach?

Off top of my head:

- People person: First, needs to navigate the fact that kids can come and go on a yearly basis. Some will chase the money, but I bet for some kids if they like the head coach, are comfortable with their role on the team, like the school, etc. they would even stay for lesser money. Head coach also needs to deal with their assistants, with the admin, media, fans, etc. Being good with people seems to be imperative if you want any sort of sustained success.

Quick to adapt: Would be great to have someone who is flexible enough to adapt when inevitably guys leave.

Recruiter: Good recruiter, or at least smart enough to pair with assistant coaches who are good recruiters, and you can come in as the closer.

Good X's and O's: Obviously need someone who is good at strategizing and adjusting in game, or at least who is smart enough to hire an assistant or 2 who is.

Not a climber: I think we want someone who is not looking to jump at the first offer of a moderate increase in salary. I mean, if Duke or UNC comes calling, Siena will likely never be able to compete with that. But at least give me someone who isn't looking to jump to like another mid-major or lower level high major in a year or 2.

My personal preference: Someone with ties to Siena or at least the area in some way. Not required, but personally since Siena is such a family atmosphere at it's best, I always like guys who have some sort of ties here (and this also goes back to not being a climber).

Thoughts?

[$cott]

I'd love someone that checks all those boxes but first and foremost I want a relentless recruiter. I want someone that is going to be out there building relationships every single day of the year. And not just with realistic targets, try and get your foot in the door with the unrealistic ones as well. At the absolute worst, you've built a relationship that can work in your favor down the road if the kids decides to transfer down. Don't be the jilted lover type that burns bridges when a kid picks another school over you and declare that you only want players that want to be at Siena, we saw how that plays out already.

I also want someone that builds the program as a family and not as a bunch of mercenaries. Your own family is going to have to make sacrifices in order to successfully be the relentless recruiter that is required for the job. So make up for that by having the team over once a week for a family dinner, invite any kids that aren't local over for the holidays. And sure as hell have every injured kid at practice every day and on the bench for games. Build up that sense of camaraderie and you are going to at the very least make these kids second guess whether they really want to jump into the portal.

[bigsaintg]

I would think he would have to want to be at Siena. We don’t want any coach who doesn’t want to be here.

[hardwood]

Mar 22, 2024 11:15:14 GMT -5 bigsaintg said:

I would think he would have to want to be at Siena. We don’t want any coach who doesn’t want to be here.

I see what you did there. 

[MTS]

JUST WIN BABY

[billmurray]

Mar 22, 2024 11:26:21 GMT -5 MTS said:

JUST WIN BABY

That is the only "trait" that really matters. But recruiting high basketball IQ, athletic players who can score from anywhere on the floor and play uptempo and defend with energy makes it much more enjoyable to watch.

[OneIndian]

A work ethic is paramount as is an ability to communicate and lead. The last two guys here had conflicting priorities. This is a round the clock and calendar profession. It’s not an easy life.

[blockhead43]

I have to eat crow. I honestly didn't think Carm would be canned this year. I know have a ton of respect for Chuck after he overruled D'Argenio and dismissed Carm. Whereas the past few presidents relied on D'Arg for sports decisions, it seems as if Chuck has his hands in everything at the school. Thank God!!! The AD has held the program back for almost 2 decades. I am hoping D'Arg is nothing more than a spectator/scheduler in this search.

I would like the next coach to be a solid recruiter who can attract difference-maker athletes who can run the floor. Long, lean, solid handle with the ball, can play 94 feet at a fast pace. No more 3-man weave at the top of the key for most of a possession. We need a coach who wants to play fast and free. A coach who doesn't change recruiting philosophy each year. A coach who lets his assistants recruit, but it is the head coach who offers and closes the deal. A solid X and O guy who will throw 4 or 5 different defenses at an opponent throughout 40 minutes; a coach who wants to play free and fast, but also can create points when needed in the half court. Someone who knows how to game plan game-to-game. rather than play the same defense and offense for 32 games. Finally, someone who embraces the portal. Use it to fill holes on the roster with D-1 players who were over recruited to play in the Big East/A10, etc., or were under recruited and excelled on the D-2 level. Oakland showed last night those types of players are available.

[gorvy]

Agree with everything although I'm not sure ties to Siena is necessary. It hasn't helped. I will add that before they even think about doing a search they should go back and look at what style made Siena successful and insist they hire a coach who does that style. The coaches cannand will change, but the style won't. One small but important way to build continuity within the program.

[musicman]

I think Siena now has just the right guy!!

[sienasoup]

Someone that would rather be in a gym recruiting instead of being at Urban Air for one of his kids' birthday parties.

[bigsaintg]

Mar 25, 2024 20:50:02 GMT -5 sienasoup said:

Someone that would rather be in a gym recruiting instead of being at Urban Air for one of his kids' birthday parties.

He thought he had a job for life here and could do what he wanted , work life balance only works when your successful

[pspa]

Stay in the MAAC and recruit an A10 roster. Absolutely doable with the arena, large fanbase, plenty of media exposure and a decent collective.

[OneIndian]

Mar 25, 2024 20:54:30 GMT -5 bigsaintg said:

Mar 25, 2024 20:50:02 GMT -5 sienasoup said:

Someone that would rather be in a gym recruiting instead of being at Urban Air for one of his kids' birthday parties.

He thought he had a job for life here and could do what he wanted , work life balance only works when your successful

Patsos thought the same, different antics same result. I’m not sure how anyone looked at that and thought part time was going to cut it.

[arc76]

I have had the luck to know all of the Siena Coaches through the Division I years. Based on this experience some traits, skills and characteristics seem to be consistent among the successful coaches at Siena and I thought I would share them for the Board's comments and reflections. Remember Griffin, Deane, Hewitt, Orr, McCaffery and Christian never had a losing season while Beyer, Lanier, Buonaguro and Patsos combined records were 3 winning seasons (and Patsos's first year was sub .500 w/o the CBI run) and 12 losing seasons (actually one year was .500).

Here are my observations:
1) This is the most important! When the good coaches tell you something about the team, you see it on the floor. A seemingly small thing, but a great example was when we still had the Coach's Club lunches Paul Hewitt told the group that he had been working with the team on multiple ways to keep the upcoming game against Fairfield up tempo including first half full court passes by Scott Knapp even at the high risk of turnovers. Sure enough Scott attempts three first half long passes that all lend to turnovers and many negative comments from fans around me. But as Paul had predicted with five minutes to go Fairfield's legs were heavy, shots came up short and we sprinted to a win. Be wary of off-season quotes that "this team is built to run" followed by a season full of 50 point games.
2) Quality of the Assistant Coaches, Matt Kilcullen, Howie Tucker, Tim Capstraw, Robert Burke, Ciiff Warren, Bob Beyer, Mitch Buonaguro, you see the pattern, enough said.
3) The team spreads the floor, creates space and can shoot the ball. Some how when the successful coaches have their offense in cynic it appears to even a casual fan that the other team only has four defenders. One other point, to have those special "up" wins a mid-major most often shoots the ball well and plays with conviction to its style.
4) When the coach is quoted in the press, the comments make sense, no excuses, no moral victories, no requests for patience.
5) There is at least one recruit, in his first class that has the "Wow" factor even to a casual fan; Corey Easley, Marc Brown, Scott Knapp (and don't forget the one year contributions of Kolin Weaver), Kenny Hasbrouck and Jalen Pickett. Obviously the current state of recruiting is very different than in the past due to NIL and the Portal. The new talents needed to successfully recruit are being re-written daily.
6) Their teams are in shape and players get better during the year.

There are more, but these six were present in all our successful coaches