A really good read. I like the job the GW coach is doing despite his lack of seasoning.  The two names that stick out are the Villanova Assistant and the Miami Assistant.

Above and beyond everything, President Gormley and Mr. Harper have to address the reputational aspect in a big way. I really hope there is a plan for this. I would support a good plan, any way possible.

The writer gives a 90% probability that Ferry will be fired. I think I would have to agree at this point.  If the speculation is true that DU is about to lay out $40MM for major improvements to Palumbo and related facilities I don't see Harper hitching a mule to that wagon, but rather a point for making a clean start.  This will be a major selling point demonstrating the Schools commitment.  DU would have one last chance to get it right and will need to offer a competitive salary in getting the right coach.

Last edited by CLK (2/24/2017 10:17 am)

Keep the fire Ferry ammunition coming. A national publication pointing out Ferrys shortcomings should only help achieve the outcome we all desire.

duq81 wrote:

Mulder wrote:

Notice that the article offers no potential coaches.  None.  Why?  No one wants this job.  No one.   Only someone damaged in some way looking to rebuild their rep would consider it (e.g.. Mike Rice) short of some kind of MAJOR commitment publicized by the administration and it would have to be huge. 

Even then it will be difficult because coaches here fail and/or we do not keep them which is likely why Ferry has the contract that he does and any successor will want the same or better.  Or like Rice Sr. and Everhart they succeed but not to the level that someone expects.  Satalin has the longest tenure since Red Manning.

Note that I do not say the Ferry should be kept or fired nor do I say that Rice should be hired.  And I still maintain that Ferry will not be fired. 

Again, textbook case on how to ensure failure.  Should be studied in schools of business and management.  You couldn't do a better job of producing failure leading to bankruptcy unless you want to talk politics (and I don't).   It is easier now to disband Div 1 basketball at Duquesne, move to a lower division, or move to a lower level conference than ever before.

Moving to a low level conference wouldn't help. We can't beat RMU with supposed A10 talent. Even Ron took regular beatings from RMU. How would we do in the NEC with the garbage we would recruit playing at that level?

Absolutely not my point.  Typical

Last edited by Mulder (2/24/2017 8:54 pm)

Mulder wrote:

CLK wrote:

The writer gives a 90% probability that Ferry will be fired. I think I would have to agree at this point.  If the speculation is true that DU is about to lay out $40MM for major improvements to Palumbo and related facilities I don't see Harper hitching a mule to that wagon, but rather a point for making a clean start.  This will be a major selling point demonstrating the Schools commitment.  DU would have one last chance to get it right and will need to offer a competitive salary in getting the right coach.

Depends on what exactly they are spending $40 m. on if that is the correct amount.  When will this be announced?  How much better will AJP be after its finished?  Not an insider just have a lot of questions.

Mulder, you are asking the wrong guy.  There have been several post on this board about the proposed renovations, and some have even indicated that they have seen plans giving hints at what it will look like. There is a long way from plans to finished product.  That is why I couched my post in the predicate: "If the speculation is true". 
 

indygjm wrote:

Did anyone understand the comment about the 'scariest non-St. Bonaventure job'?  Why the shot at the Bonnies??

I think that was just a statement related to program assets. St Bonnie's has to be on the low end of the conference in categories like location, facilities, local market (three biggies), and growth potential. It's gotta be hard to pull guys from anywhere up to the middle of nowhere in upstate New York. Probably a testament to Schmidt as a coach and how lucky Bonnie's was to get him.

I agree, in terms of attractiveness to a potential coaching candidate, Bonnie's is probably down at the bottom with us. Most other A10 schools have better facilities, and basically all have better locations.

Last edited by Duques102 (2/24/2017 1:03 pm)

Nice to see an objective outside opinion.  he sums it up quite succinctly thus:

The Dukes have lost 10 of 11  True Dat
 and coach Jim Ferry is staring at his fifth straight year without an NCAA bid. Not even a sniff of the NIT ever and not even a .500 record for the tertiary toilet tournaments
This is a ridiculously difficult job, Can't argue with that.
and Ferry went 17–17 last year. We're supposed to laud a .500 record in a coach's fourth season!  Reallyl!!!!!!
But at 10–18 and not being competitive in the league, Remember this is Year #5!, and as someone pointed out, the reason Pittsburgh is hosting this year, is because Ferry was supposed to have us, at bare minimum in the top half of the league for a little home town pride.  Nope, we're probably going to get laughed off the floor by Fordham.
this could end up being Ferry’s last go-round in Pittsburgh.  Putting it this way, in objective terms how in the hell can Gormly and Harper even remotely put forth the delusion that this guy is a Division I upper echelon coach?

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

You are so correct, ED.  It's a fallacy that you can't win at Duquesne.  Ron won here, in spite of limited support and resources, combined with a boss/AD who did not provide him support/guidance (and we will never know if Ron could have taken us to the next level with more support and guidance).

From all indications, the new coach will have unprecedented support from President Gormley and AD Harper, along with a facilities upgrade. As you said, it's all about finding the right match, and I think Harper has had almost 2 years to look for that match.

I believe that the only conceivable way that Ferry stays another year is if Harper hasn't found/attracted that right match for our next coach.

It's always about getting the right coach. When Carolina hired the wrong guy, they quickly fell into the toilet, despite all of their advantages. Indiana has had good, but not great coaches since Knight left. They now have a good, but not great program. St. John's had a great program, as did the University of Houston. What happened? The coach retired, and the replacements weren't up to the job. Get the right coach in here, and we can win. Ron was a solid coach, and we became a solid program. Hire an excellent coach, and we can become an excellent program. Let's hope Harper is the equivalent of a great scout in baseball who can look at an 18 year old, and see future greatness. Davidson was flying high under Lefty Driesell before Maryland snatched him up. Then they vanished for 40 years. Bob McKillop shows up, and suddenly they're flying high again. Let's find our Bob McKillop.