Future Coaching?

[BearLover]

Mike has already stated publicly that he tried new systems and they just didn't work.

I think this is more an argument against Mike than against the new systems.

[LynahFaithful]

Mike has already stated publicly that he tried new systems and they just didn't work.  Hopefully he goes back to what he knows to be successful and we see a return to being in the hunt for league titles and NCAA berths.

But in general, will going back to old ways will change much?  I'm not sure how much of an impact the changes he made had.  For a few years leading up to this past year (when "old ways" were present), the program was progressively on a decline.  What will it take to return the program to where it was when Schafer took over around the late 90's?  Has recruiting declined and other ECAC schools are getting good players?

[Jim Hyla]

Here's one coach we won't have. :-D

I like this quote: "He is a proven teacher of the game who has been a part of developing successful NHL players."

[LynahFaithful]

Has anyone ever considered Joe Nieuwendyk?  He doesn't have coaching experience but I don't think it would hurt to give him a shot.  Would he take the job if it were offered to him?

[Trotsky]

Has anyone ever considered Joe Nieuwendyk?  He doesn't have coaching experience but I don't think it would hurt to give him a shot.  Would he take the job if it were offered to him?

Absent any inside knowledge, I can't imagine he'd want the job.  Ithaca's pretty and Mike's a friend, but we're small potatoes compared to what Joe has been doing.

[LynahFaithful]

Absent any inside knowledge, I can't imagine he'd want the job.  Ithaca's pretty and Mike's a friend, but we're small potatoes compared to what Joe has been doing.

Very true.  However, I like to think though the head coaching position (at Cornell) is a pretty big title that many would like to have, potentially including NHL/Cornell alums like Nieuwendyk.  

Is it likely that the athletic director will want to have an alum at the helm of the program?  If not, is Rick Bennett (Union HC) a worthy option?

[06Cowboy13]

There shouldn't be a question whether Mike's contract is renewed. He has built this program up over the last 15 years to be a force, year after year. Our goaltending(Gillam, Iles, Scrivens, McKee and Leneveau etc.) has been top notch year after year and our defense is extremely solid. Our lack of offense is a bit of an issue this past season but it will come around with a new stock of young blood. It's a shame many of you armchair quarterbacks have taken one of the best coaches in the country for granted and are itching for a change. The grass is always greener on the other side, but sometimes its painted green. He has maintained and built a foundation for consistent winning tradition for the Big Red and should be given a 5 year extension. If Mike and his staff get us a few snipers and a Brian Ferlin type forward with this years class or next, we are taking the ECAC's in March and maybe even going to the frozen four. I guess its so easy to recruit to an IVY League School these days according to some of y'all. Keep up the good work Mike, just a fluke last year!

[Towerroad]

There shouldn't be a question whether Mike's contract is renewed. He has built this program up over the last 15 years to be a force, year after year. Our goaltending(Gillam, Iles, Scrivens, McKee and Leneveau etc.) has been top notch year after year and our defense is extremely solid. Our lack of offense is a bit of an issue this past season but it will come around with a new stock of young blood. It's a shame many of you armchair quarterbacks have taken one of the best coaches in the country for granted and are itching for a change. The grass is always greener on the other side, but sometimes its painted green. He has maintained and built a foundation for consistent winning tradition for the Big Red and should be given a 5 year extension. If Mike and his staff get us a few snipers and a Brian Ferlin type forward with this years class or next, we are taking the ECAC's in March and maybe even going to the frozen four. I guess its so easy to recruit to an IVY League School these days according to some of y'all. Keep up the good work Mike, just a fluke last year!

To suggest that this is a question that should not be asked is to deny the very foundations that our University was built on. Of course the question should be asked. You can take the position, like many, that his long term record justifies a substantial extension but there is a reasonable and cogent question about the current trend and performance.

The head coach is neither pope nor potentate with life tenure. He is an employee and like all employees there are performance expectations. A sizable portion of the posters here (not a majority) think that their performance expectations are not being met. While their opinions, as well supporters count for little there is room for healthy questioning.

[LynahFaithful]

It's a shame many of you armchair quarterbacks have taken one of the best coaches in the country for granted and are itching for a change. The grass is always greener on the other side, but sometimes its painted green. He has maintained and built a foundation for consistent winning tradition for the Big Red and should be given a 5 year extension.

I appreciate you being optimistic (even going as far to call many of us armchair quaterbacks) but this is not realistic.  I am not going to diagree that he is a great coach, but the last four years have been continuously downhill and to continue that for another 5 years would potentially be disastrous.  

If Mike and his staff get us a few snipers and a Brian Ferlin type forward with this years class or next, we are taking the ECAC's in March and maybe even going to the frozen four. I guess its so easy to recruit to an IVY League School these days according to some of y'all. Keep up the good work Mike, just a fluke last year!

This or next year's recruiting class will maybe lead us to the frozen four?  Call me crazy, but I'll believe it when I see it.  When's the last time we made it that far...?  (13 years ago)

You can take the position, like many, that his long term record justifies a substantial extension but there is a reasonable and cogent question about the current trend and performance. The head coach is neither pope nor potentate with life tenure. He is an employee and like all employees there are performance expectations. A sizable portion of the posters here (not a majority) think that their performance expectations are not being met. While their opinions, as well supporters count for little there is room for healthy questioning.

I agree with this and while I want to keep Schafer and honor what he's done for the program, I question the latest trend of the teams he's produced the last few years.  Honestly, part of me fears getting a new coach because for all I know, the team could fall apart even worse than things have been with him.  That's why I have posted asking who it would be if we do choose to sign someone new and aside from Nieuwendyk, I dont have a solid answer to who might be able to work.

[underskill]

why Nieuwendyk? I get he's a big name, but he's got no coaching experience, and I don't want a Ted Donato situation, with a famous alum you can't fire if need be.

[Trotsky]

why Nieuwendyk? I get he's a big name, but he's got no coaching experience, and I don't want a Ted Donato situation, with a famous alum you can't fire if need be.

Nieuwy is also an asset to Cornell simply by being a big name out there in the NHL (and one who, AFAIK, is very highly thought of and well liked).

The list of program alumni who have had success somewhere as coach / assistant coach is pretty short: Casey Jones, Shaun Hannah, Topher Scott, maybe Karl Williams.

Among ex-Schafer assistants are Scott Garrow (assistant at Princeton), Brent Brekke (Miami associate coach), Jamie Russell (Elmira head coach), and Mark Taylor (Hobart head coach).

[LynahFaithful]

why Nieuwendyk? I get he's a big name, but he's got no coaching experience, and I don't want a Ted Donato situation, with a famous alum you can't fire if need be.

Valid point.  However, I believe within a couple years he would be able to attract very good assistant coaches and also players via recruiting just because of his big name.  You do pose a good point about not being able to fire notable alumni though, and I'm not sure I have something to address that concern.  The only thing that could work is signing him for a year or two at first and continually sign him for years to come, contingent on the team's performance...

Nieuwy is also an asset to Cornell simply by being a big name out there in the NHL (and one who, AFAIK, is very highly thought of and well liked).

The list of program alumni who have had success somewhere as coach / assistant coach is pretty short: Casey Jones, Shaun Hannah, Topher Scott, maybe Karl Williams.

Among ex-Schafer assistants are Scott Garrow (assistant at Princeton), Brent Brekke (Miami associate coach), Jamie Russell (Elmira head coach), and Mark Taylor (Hobart head coach).

Yes, there are not many names that come to my mind that I would want at the helm of our program...some of these assistant coaches I would be weary of naming head coach right off the bat.  If we were to look laterally, who would we consider from other ECAC (or Hockey East) programs?  Is it critical that the coach is a Cornell alum?  If so, is Ken Dryden another option or is he invested enough in Canadian politics that he's out of the question?  I also mentioned Rick Bennett (Union HC) and I didn't get much of a reaction back...

[Trotsky]

If we were to look laterally, who would we consider from other ECAC (or Hockey East) programs?  Is it critical that the coach is a Cornell alum?  If so, is Ken Dryden another option or is he invested enough in Canadian politics that he's out of the question?  I also mentioned Rick Bennett (Union HC) and I didn't get much of a reaction back...

I think Bennett's just fine where he is.  I don't know why he'd take the job.  (Much like Leaman at Providence).  Even though Union is more exclusive than most schools, it's still easier to get a guy in there than at an Ivy.

I do not think it is important to be a Cornell alum.  It certainly helps to be familiar with the Ivy League's sensitivities and mission.  Bringing in a guy from say Minnesota or even Michigan would not work here.

If we ever make a change I kind of hope it's a radical change, otherwise I don't see the logic of moving on from Mike.

[LynahFaithful]

If we were to look laterally, who would we consider from other ECAC (or Hockey East) programs?  Is it critical that the coach is a Cornell alum?  If so, is Ken Dryden another option or is he invested enough in Canadian politics that he's out of the question?  I also mentioned Rick Bennett (Union HC) and I didn't get much of a reaction back...

I think Bennett's just fine where he is.  I don't know why he'd take the job.  (Much like Leaman at Providence).  Even though Union is more exclusive than most schools, it's still easier to get a guy in there than at an Ivy.

I do not think it is important to be a Cornell alum.  It certainly helps to be familiar with the Ivy League's sensitivities and mission.  Bringing in a guy from say Minnesota or even Michigan would not work here.

If we ever make a change I kind of hope it's a radical change, otherwise I don't see the logic of moving on from Mike.

Very true.  I forgot about recruiting restrictions the Ivy league has that I'm sure Bennett is doing fine without having to deal with.  And personally, I agree regarding alumni - it's nice but not critical and in the grand scheme of things, I don't believe it matters all that much...

And when you say radical change, what do you have in mind?  Maybe give an example of a coach that would mean a radical change and explain how?

[TimV]

If we were to look laterally, who would we consider from other ECAC (or Hockey East) programs?  Is it critical that the coach is a Cornell alum?  If so, is Ken Dryden another option or is he invested enough in Canadian politics that he's out of the question?  I also mentioned Rick Bennett (Union HC) and I didn't get much of a reaction back...

I think Bennett's just fine where he is.  I don't know why he'd take the job.  (Much like Leaman at Providence).  Even though Union is more exclusive than most schools, it's still easier to get a guy in there than at an Ivy.

I like Bennett.  I like his intensity, I like his style of play, I like his recruits, who have been great academically.  I love it that RPI foams at the mouth at the mere mention of his name.  He'd do fine here- and would come if the price was right because of the fan support, donor support, bigger rink, and better brand. I'd love  to see him here.  Don't know if he could live with Andy Noel, though.

I do not think it is important to be a Cornell alum.  It certainly helps to be familiar with the Ivy League's sensitivities and mission.  Bringing in a guy from say Minnesota or even Michigan would not work here.

If we ever make a change I kind of hope it's a radical change, otherwise I don't see the logic of moving on from Mike.

Agree.