Odds that Donahue stays?

[ugarte]

Oh St. Joe's, how quickly they forget...

#3 for St. Joe's (good catch, Jeff). One great run with Jameer Nelson and Delonte West doesn't surpass what Cheney did over decades while at Temple, just like Cornell won't be the plum Ivy job if Donahue leaves.

I'd go with Pitt above St. Joe's; they've had a run of pretty good success in the last decade or so, including an Elite Eight last year. Also they play in the Big East and get the attendant media exposure.

Goddammit. I only said "Pennsylvania" so I could make fun of Penn State basketball. You're right, of course.

[ugarte]

All I'm saying is it's big conference experience, even if it is Northwestern.  OSU wasn't exactly a great job either.  3 other coaches turned it down before Robinson.  So yea, being Michelle's brother probably helped, but it's not as if he's completely unqualified.

Well I guess this whole time we agreed, I am not saying he was completely unqualified just that he would not have gotten the job if he wasnt Michelle's brother

And just how is it that you know this?  What insider information do you have on the situation?  Whom have you spoken to that was privy to Oregon State's decision-making process?

I think you guys are really missing what I am saying and we are sort of arguing about the same thing. All I am saying is that being related to Obama got Robinson much more attention than the average coach would after making the CBI in 2 years at Brown. And at that point Oregon St decided to take a look at him. Do you really think this played no factor in their decision to hire him?

But I don't think you stated it well. My assumption after reading it was that you 'knew" some input that someone from Michelle Obama's circle had on the process. Not just that his name was now better known.

I guess I wasnt clear then, I dont think anyone from Michelle Obama's circle said to Oregon St you should hire this guy, I am just saying he had more exposure than the average Ivy league coach as a result of his family and so he was able to make the Ivy to Big 6 conference jump

Ah, so ... totally unfounded speculation instead of TeaPartyish conspiracy. That's better, I guess.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Oh St. Joe's, how quickly they forget...

#3 for St. Joe's (good catch, Jeff). One great run with Jameer Nelson and Delonte West doesn't surpass what Cheney did over decades while at Temple, just like Cornell won't be the plum Ivy job if Donahue leaves.

I'd go with Pitt above St. Joe's; they've had a run of pretty good success in the last decade or so, including an Elite Eight last year. Also they play in the Big East and get the attendant media exposure.

Goddammit. I only said "Pennsylvania" so I could make fun of Penn State basketball. You're right, of course.

It does point out the irrelevance of Penn State basketball that 1) nobody thought you were joking or teasing and 2) Nobody cares that you were joking or teasing.

[phillysportsfan]

Speaking of Penn St basketball, we are playing them next year at Penn St

I guess I should post this in case you didnt notice, looks like another road warrior schedule although South Carolina is coming to play here, wonder how that happened
http://cornellbasketball.blogspot.com/2010/03/scheduling-news-2010-2011.html


at Penn State
at Seton Hall
at Syracuse
vs. South Carolina
at Lehigh
at Albany
at Binghamton
at VCU Tournament (with New Hampshire and Norfolk State)
at Boston University
vs. Bucknell
14 Ivy League Games

[YankeeLobo]

Not sure whether to trust anything the Post or News reports, but at least we now know that Donahue is serious about other jobs but no one is biting.  He seems like a helluva coach but maybe he's just a poor interviewer.  I don't know how the Iona coach got the job over Donahue.  Donahue would've gotten a 5x raise, the ex-Iona guy will be making $1 million per year.  Wow.

[phillysportsfan]

Looks like St Johns will hire Lavin, that makes sense because they need a good recruiter although now there is speculation that BC might fire their coach

http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/st-johns-set-to-hire-lavin-as-its-coach/
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/03/is-al-skinner-on-the-way-out-at-boston-college-/1

[phillysportsfan]

Not sure whether to trust anything the Post or News reports, but at least we now know that Donahue is serious about other jobs but no one is biting.  He seems like a helluva coach but maybe he's just a poor interviewer.  I don't know how the Iona coach got the job over Donahue.  Donahue would've gotten a 5x raise, the ex-Iona guy will be making $1 million per year.  Wow.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20100329/SPORTS03/3290380/1128/Sports/+Home-run++job+offer+isn+t+out+there+for+Donahue
You might be right about the inaccuracy of these reports, in the article Donahue flat out denies them


The 10th-year men's basketball coach is as popular as ever after leading the Big Red to a 29-5 record, including two NCAA tournament wins, and a third straight Ivy League championship. But he denied published reports that he was interested in either the St. John's or Siena jobs, and said he's turned down multiple inquiries.

St. John's cut ties recently with Norm Roberts, and former Siena coach Fran McCaffery accepted the head coaching position at Iowa on Monday.

"As I say to you all the time, really it has to be a flat-out home run," Donahue said. "No matter what you read, there's nothing that I've even entertained that I would even consider leaving Cornell for. Nothing. There's just not. I've said no to every single one of the (calls) that have inquired about me leaving here.

"To beat this situation, in terms of the people I work for, the university I represent, the family loving the area as much as they do, all those things, it would have to be an incredible situation for me to leave Cornell.

Donahue said a job opening in one of the country's major conferences (determined by the average athletic budget size of member schools) does not necessarily equate into a "home run" position.

"No, no," he said. "It does not. No. That's not why I coach. So many other reasons go into decision-making professionally."

Donahue has said repeatedly this season that people may not realize "how good I have it" at Cornell.

"All the things I just talked about: people, institution, culture, those things-- they are really important to me," he said.

[finchphil]

According to Boston Globe, BC has fired Al Skinner and Donohue is high on the list there...

Globe

[phillysportsfan]

That would be a win-win if they hire Amaker

[Trotsky]

It does point out the irrelevance of Penn State basketball that 1) nobody thought you were joking or teasing and 2) Nobody cares that you were joking or teasing.

There's a fanatical Penn State football fan at my job.  He said he's met more supporters of the Penn State club hockey team than of their basketball team.

[srg1]

It does point out the irrelevance of Penn State basketball that 1) nobody thought you were joking or teasing and 2) Nobody cares that you were joking or teasing.

There's a fanatical Penn State football fan at my job.  He said he's met more supporters of the Penn State club hockey team than of their basketball team.

The fact that Penn State is keeping DeChellis is a joke.  They are keeping him because he is an inexpensive solution and the team has not caused controversy.  That program is awful right now.

Would Zach Spiker return to Cornell if Donahue left?

[dbilmes]

I just heard on WFAN in NYC that Donahue is reportedly in the running for the BC job, which has just opened up. That would be an excellent step up for him, going into the ACC.

[phillysportsfan]

It does point out the irrelevance of Penn State basketball that 1) nobody thought you were joking or teasing and 2) Nobody cares that you were joking or teasing.

There's a fanatical Penn State football fan at my job.  He said he's met more supporters of the Penn State club hockey team than of their basketball team.

The fact that Penn State is keeping DeChellis is a joke.  They are keeping him because he is an inexpensive solution and the team has not caused controversy.  That program is awful right now.

Would Zach Spiker return to Cornell if Donahue left?

Rutgers keeping Fred Hill is another joke, both Rutgers and Penn St are just pathetic programs.

I dont see Spiker returning, he just took the job at Army 1 year ago.

I dont think BC is really a better job than St Johns or Seton Hall, Big East = ACC and all three of those programs are in bad shape. Plus at least basketball is #1 at Seton Hall or St Johns, basketball is not the #1 sport at BC. Donahue has already denied interest in Seton Hall,St Johns why would he want to go to BC. I think Amaker is their choice, Harvard student papers are already reporting that Amaker would leave Harvard for BC. Amaker has beaten BC the last 2 years, he has recruited at that level, he already lives in Boston.

[ugarte]

I dont think BC is really a better job than St Johns or Seton Hall, Big East = ACC and all three of those programs are in bad shape. Plus at least basketball is #1 at Seton Hall or St Johns, basketball is not the #1 sport at BC. Donahue has already denied interest in Seton Hall,St Johns why would he want to go to BC. I think Amaker is their choice, Harvard student papers are already reporting that Amaker would leave Harvard for BC. Amaker has beaten BC the last 2 years, he has recruited at that level, he already lives in Boston.

BC is in bad shape after missing the tournament? They were a tournament team 7 times in the aughts and a Sweet 16 team in '06 (and should have been in '05). BC also probably has more to spend on a coach than either SJU or SHU. Unless Amaker is related to Sarah Palin (our next President), I have no idea why his record at Harvard, Michigan or SHU would earn him the BC job.

[phillysportsfan]

I dont think BC is really a better job than St Johns or Seton Hall, Big East = ACC and all three of those programs are in bad shape. Plus at least basketball is #1 at Seton Hall or St Johns, basketball is not the #1 sport at BC. Donahue has already denied interest in Seton Hall,St Johns why would he want to go to BC. I think Amaker is their choice, Harvard student papers are already reporting that Amaker would leave Harvard for BC. Amaker has beaten BC the last 2 years, he has recruited at that level, he already lives in Boston.

BC is in bad shape after missing the tournament? They were a tournament team 7 times in the aughts and a Sweet 16 team in '06 (and should have been in '05). BC also probably has more to spend on a coach than either SJU or SHU. Unless Amaker is related to Sarah Palin (our next President), I have no idea why his record at Harvard, Michigan or SHU would earn him the BC job.

Ok, BC is not in bad shape but BC had the worst year of the 3. Seton Hall was only a few wins out of the tournament. All three programs are probably roughly at the same point at this time, they are not Rutgers/Depaul bad but they are not good either. Not sure what BC was paying Skinner but St Johns offered Billy Donovan $3-$3.5 mil. Plus BC is so screwed up being in the ACC, every game is a plane flight away

I am not saying Amaker is a better candidate, I am just guessing that they would rather hire Amaker over Donahue because Amaker has been at that level before. Seton Hall and St Johns were not that interested in Donahue. Seton Hall hired Kevin Willard who turned Iona around in a short time but still never made the tournament. St Johns hired Lavin who was great at UCLA but hasnt coached in 7 years. Donahue is probably comparable in coaching ability at least to Willard but those schools didnt want him because he hasnt recruited at near that level before.