Mike Schafer retiring 2025

Overall 542–289–111 (.634)	
ECAC    337–174–83  (.637)
6 ECAC championships (96 97 03 05 10 24)
1 NCAA Frozen Four, no title games

In his 28 seasons behind the Big Red bench, Schafer has led the program to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2003 Frozen Four – its first appearance in the NCAA semifinals since 1980. The 2002-03 Big Red established a school record for wins (30), one more than the 1969-70 national championship squad (29-0-0), which remains the lone Division I men’s program to win a national title while finishing undefeated and untied.

14 seasons with 20 wins
17 with at least a .600 winning percentage
13 Ivy League titles
 6 ECAC tournament championships (Whitelaw Cup) 
 6 Cleary Cups (best ECAC RS record) (established 2001) 

 1 Spencer Penrose Award, top coach, 2019-20
 5 ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year five 5X (2002, 2003, 2005, 2018, 2020)
 4 Ivy League Coach of the Year (2018, 2019, 2020, 2024) out of 9 tries (award began 2016)

Under Schafer, Cornell has claimed six Whitelaw Cups (ECAC Hockey tournament titles), surpassing the legendary Ned Harkness for most in Big Red history. He has also guided Cornell to six Cleary Cups as the conference’s regular-season champion, including three over the past seven years, and 13 Ivy League titles.


Casey Jones: 
1991–1993	Cornell (assistant)
1993–1995	Clarkson (assistant)
1995–2008	Ohio State (assistant)
2008–2011	Cornell (assistant)
2011–present	Clarkson 
Head coaching record: 
Overall 234–185–56 (.552)	
ECAC    116– 88–35 (.559)

MikeSchafer-2024-0613.jpg

billhoward
Schafer's record:

3 ECAC championships 

AD NIcki Moore
“I wanted you to be among the first to know of Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach Mike Schafer’s planned retirement following the 2024-2025 season. Simultaneously, we are excited to announce the hiring of Casey Jones, ‘90 as Associate Head Coach and the new Jay R. Bloom ‘77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey following the 2024-25 season.

Since taking over as head coach at his alma mater during the summer of 1995, Schafer has led Cornell to great heights. His career record of 542-229-111 ranks in the top 25 in college hockey history and top six among active head coaches entering the 2024-25 campaign in both victories and winning percentage. His teams have collected 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including advancing to the 2003 Frozen Four — the program's first appearance in the national semifinals since the 1979-80 campaign. Schafer’s teams have won six ECAC Hockey regu“lar season and tournament titles and have been crowned Ivy League champions on 13 occasions.

As both Coach Schafer and Coach Jones, along with the staff, are fully focused on coaching and supporting the 2024-25 team and recruiting future Cornellians, there will be no immediate public recognition of Coach Schafer’s planned May 2025 retirement, or of Coach Jones’ projected succession. At the appropriate times, both of these momentous events will be aptly celebrated with Lynah Faithful and all who love Big Red Hockey.

The return of Coach Jones after a successful 13-year run as head coach at Clarkson is a unique opportunity to pair two of the nation’s top collegiate coaches for the upcoming season. The two coaches have worked together on the bench, are friends going back more than three decades and are philosophically aligned about running a hockey program and how to treat student-athletes in their care. We couldn’t be more excited for the upcoming season!”

Scersk '97

billhoward
Schafer's record:

3 ECAC championships 

Ummmmm, 6 ECAC Championships.

Swampy

Scersk '97

billhoward
Schafer's record:

3 ECAC championships 

Ummmmm, 6 ECAC Championships.

The database isn't working, so I can't check which one of you is right. But I suspect Scersk is.

billhoward
Mike Schafer retiring at the end of 2024-25 season. Hiring Casey Jones to be associate HC, and future head coach. AD Nicki Moore says "We will have one head coach this year." Still, an unusual, probably good, model, transitioning to a new HC over the course of the year.
-- 6/13/2024 via Zoom meeting with friends, sponsors, hockey boosters.

Schafer's record:

Overall 542–289–111 (.634)	
ECAC    337–174–83  (.637)
3 ECAC championships 
1 NCAA Frozen Four 

Casey Jones: 
1991–1993	Cornell (assistant)
1993–1995	Clarkson (assistant)
1995–2008	Ohio State (assistant)
2008–2011	Cornell (assistant)
2011–present	Clarkson 
Head coaching record: 
Overall 234–185–56 (.552)	
ECAC    116– 88–35 (.559)

BearLover
So I think this is the best we could have hoped for.

Ben Rocky '04

BearLover
So I think this is the best we could have hoped for.

Absolutely correct. This seems very cautious, well-considered and yet again I continue to be optimistic about our new AD.

BearLover
I’m not sure what to make of this situation. Casey is only 5 years younger than Mike, so it’s not like this change is infusing the program with young blood...

I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left?

BearLover
...

I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left? I still think he’s the most likely next-next head coach (after Jones, who, again, is 56).

Scersk '97

billhoward
Schafer's record:

3 ECAC championships 

Ummmmm, 6 ECAC Championships.

ugarte

BearLover
I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left?

He wasn't the only one who understood this!

BearLover

ugarte

BearLover
I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left?

He wasn't the only one who understood this!

This hypothetical person you’re thinking of who posted Syer wouldn’t be the next head coach—such a person would have more credibility if he didn’t, in that very same post, also say Casey wouldn’t be the next head coach!

BearLover

ugarte

BearLover
I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left?

He wasn't the only one who understood this!

This hypothetical person you’re thinking of who posted Syer wouldn’t be the next head coach—such a person would have more credibility if he didn’t, in that very same post, also say Casey wouldn’t be the next head coach!

There is no one better to take over Cornell than Casey Jones. Not even close. But since he's only 6 years younger than Mike Schafer and I thought Schafe had 5 more years in him, I didn't think it would work out that way. Happy for Casey. And a bit sad that this is it for Schafe

— Adam Wodon (@CHN_AdamWodon) June 13, 2024

abmarks
here's some more insight on the process from AD Moore, via the Cornell Chronicle. Clearly Syer knew he wasn't the answer.

[news.cornell.edu]

“When Coach Schafer approached me this past spring about his desire to retire, his focus was to support the current student-athletes and to make sure he left the program in the best possible position,” Moore said. “I think, in every way, we are doing that. After agreeing to stay on as head coach for one more season, and with the understanding of my commitment that Mike’s successor would be a successful sitting Division I head coach with an uncommon passion for Cornell hockey, Mike and I worked together to develop an impressive list of candidates.”

“Casey emerged as the right successor for this esteemed program,” Moore said. “This creative succession solution allows us to seamlessly compete to win in the present and plan for the future with our current and future student-athletes top of mind. To have a coach of Casey’s caliber be supportive of this approach, and to have a person with his character and deep ties to Cornell be fully enthusiastic about the unique opportunity our plan offers is extraordinary. I am so excited for Mike, for Casey and for our student-athletes and staff.”

David Harding
Can someone help me come up with"an impressive list" of "successful sitting Division I head coach[es] with an uncommon passion for Cornell hockey"?

David Harding

Can someone help me come up with"an impressive list" of "successful sitting Division I head coach[es] with an uncommon passion for Cornell hockey"?

pfibiger

BearLover

ugarte

BearLover
I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left?

He wasn't the only one who understood this!

This hypothetical person you’re thinking of who posted Syer wouldn’t be the next head coach—such a person would have more credibility if he didn’t, in that very same post, also say Casey wouldn’t be the next head coach!

There is no one better to take over Cornell than Casey Jones. Not even close. But since he's only 6 years younger than Mike Schafer and I thought Schafe had 5 more years in him, I didn't think it would work out that way. Happy for Casey. And a bit sad that this is it for Schafe

— Adam Wodon (@CHN_AdamWodon) June 13, 2024

Swampy
I thought of making this a new thread, but decided against it to prevent thread glut.

With Casey coming in after having been Clarkson's head coach for 13 years, I'd like to know what mistakes he thinks he made at Clarkson and what he would do at Cornell to avoid repeating them.

Similarly, with Mike, I'd like to know the most important things he wants to make sure Casey learns and masters this coming year.

At the end of the season, I'd like Casey to tell us what he learned from working alongside Mike this year. And vice versa.

During this upcoming year, I'd like both coaches to evaluate every aspect of Cornell Men's Hockey -- including recruiting, training, tactics, scheduling, ticketing, etc. -- and come up with a plan to improve it in coming years under Casey.

Perhaps part of the above, they should identify the next Associate Head Coach, after Mike steps down from HC and Casey ascends to be HC.

The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

What other ways of using the knowledge of both men while we have both of them, and of honoring Mike, would you like to see?

Dafatone
Casey's done a lot with a team that I can't imagine is easy to recruit for.

And good for Coach Schafer.

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

BearLover

ugarte

BearLover
I guess Syer understood he wasn’t going to be the next head coach, and so he left?

He wasn't the only one who understood this!

This hypothetical person you’re thinking of who posted Syer wouldn’t be the next head coach—such a person would have more credibility if he didn’t, in that very same post, also say Casey wouldn’t be the next head coach!

David Harding

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number. They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Troyfan

Dafatone
Casey's done a lot with a team that I can't imagine is easy to recruit for.

And good for Coach Schafer.

When Jones went to Clarkson some kids he had recruited for Cornell must have gone with him. The following year, maybe 2, must have Mike's worst. I saw them play RIT, I believe, in a Christmas tournament in Albany and get shut out, 4-0. They were awful.

Clarkson's had good players. I think Jones is a good recruiter,too. Clarkson academics are up there with RPI. Hockey there fights the same academic headwinds Cornell does, if not stronger ones.

Some words from Mike on the situation. I don't know another like it in all the college hockey coaching changes I've ever heard about.

[www.youtube.com]

David Harding

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number. They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Troyfan
Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.

RichH

David Harding

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number. They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Un-retire the numbers and create a "Ring of Honor" (Wall of Honor? Rafter of Honor?) instead. Then we'd be able to honor people like Ned and Teet.

I'll die on this hill.

BearLover
I think Sean Flanagan will be the next associate head coach. He will have been assistant coach for nine years by that point.

I agree they should retire Mike’s number.

abmarks

I wouldn't assume so quickly on next assoc. HC. That's ultimately up to Casey, not Mike. Who knows how Casey and Flanagan get along or what Casey thinks of him. Plus Casey may have someone from outside that he decides to bring in this time next year.

marty

Troyfan
Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI. I could be wrong. Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

Troyfan

marty

Troyfan
Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI. I could be wrong. Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

My comments are based on a small sample: my own work experience, which doesn't include any lawyering or doctoring. But the Clarkson engineers were as good as any, Which included RPI and Cornell products. Included is experience before Shirley wrought her woe.

Anyway, the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully. Constraints not only on recruiting, but on hockey budgets and the conflict for time between school work and athletics. He is much better prepared for Cornell than a candidate from one of hockey factory schools.

Troyfan

marty

Troyfan
Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI. I could be wrong. Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

My comments are based on a small sample: my own work experience, which doesn't include any lawyering or doctoring. But the Clarkson engineers were as good as any, Which included RPI and Cornell products. Included is experience before Shirley wrought her woe.

Anyway, the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully. Constraints not only on recruiting, but on hockey budgets and the conflict for time between school work and athletics. He is much better prepared for Cornell than a candidate from one of hockey factory schools.

RichH

David Harding

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number. They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Un-retire the numbers and create a "Ring of Honor" (Wall of Honor? Rafter of Honor?) instead. Then we'd be able to honor people like Ned and Teet.

I'll die on this hill.

VIEWfromK
The first thing my youngster asked me after I told him the news was, “what song will they play after a win?”.

• Johnny Cash
• Grateful Dead (Cornell 77, if we can find it)

• Engineer Charlie

Al DeFlorio

Troyfan

marty

Troyfan
Clarkson academics are up there with RPI.

This is almost as silly a what used to be thrown about in Troy. "RPI is right up there with MIT."

I don't buy Clarkson being overall near RPI academically - even after Shirley Jackson jacked off and pissed off the majority of the RPI faculty.

I can't say there aren't excellent programs at Clarkson and there are some clinkers at RPI. I could be wrong. Yet I think they aren't really close in academic stature.

My comments are based on a small sample: my own work experience, which doesn't include any lawyering or doctoring. But the Clarkson engineers were as good as any, Which included RPI and Cornell products. Included is experience before Shirley wrought her woe.

Anyway, the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully. Constraints not only on recruiting, but on hockey budgets and the conflict for time between school work and athletics. He is much better prepared for Cornell than a candidate from one of hockey factory schools.

RPI admits 65%, Clarkson 78%. Some difference. SAT score range is higher at RPI. Key factor for hockey coach is how supportive are admissions office and administration.

Swampy

VIEWfromK
The first thing my youngster asked me after I told him the news was, “what song will they play after a win?”.

Two possibilies:

• Johnny Cash
• Grateful Dead (Cornell 77, if we can find it)

Only problem is they're both somewhat pessimistic. Then there's this takeoff, which uses the toon, but with the wrong name.

• Engineer Charlie

Trotsky

RichH

David Harding

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number. They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Un-retire the numbers and create a "Ring of Honor" (Wall of Honor? Rafter of Honor?) instead. Then we'd be able to honor people like Ned and Teet.

I'll die on this hill.

You won't be alone.

adamw

Casey Jones is a home run in this scenario - everyone knows it - and I assure you, I would never say or think otherwise. Casey is the best candidate for the job by a factor of 10 million.

The Rancor


Also, Casey Jones by the Dead is perfect (and still room for the Schafer's Beer Song forever)

billhoward
>>> With Casey coming in after having been Clarkson's head coach for 13 years, I'd like to know what mistakes he thinks he made at Clarkson and what he would do at Cornell to avoid repeating them.

This is attack journalism. Works good on TV if you don't plan to ask the person on again.

marty

billhoward
>>> With Casey coming in after having been Clarkson's head coach for 13 years, I'd like to know what mistakes he thinks he made at Clarkson and what he would do at Cornell to avoid repeating them.

This is attack journalism. Works good on TV if you don't plan to ask the person on again.

Too bad no one asked him in the tunnel after Clarkson's season ending loss during the ECAC playoffs. All you would need is a hidden camera or a buddy with a cell phone to produce a viral video. Though you might also need an ambulance.

Troyfan
Leaving Mike and Casey aside for the moment, all I can say is it's straight out of Bizzaro World that Clarkson and RPI admit well over half of their applicants. Things have obviously progressed much worse than I ever could have imagined!

marty

Troyfan
Leaving Mike and Casey aside for the moment, all I can say is it's straight out of Bizzaro World that Clarkson and RPI admit well over half of their applicants. Things have obviously progressed much worse than I ever could have imagined!

One issue at RPI is that like many financially successful schools -including Cornell- class size increased over the past 30 years to boost revenue. I guess that the number of applicants hasn't increased in proportion to the incoming class size.

I don't know if Clarkson bulked up their incoming class size.

In an attempt to drift this thread even further I'll note there was a recent article in the Albany Times Union regarding Union College. Their finances have been recognized as negative because the financial aid doled out to support their students has caused years of deficit spending. The school has stated they aren't the next Wells College yet are going to attempt to improve finances by changing the mix of students. If successful the change will decrease the percentage of financial support across the tuition budget. One aim is to keep total faculty size at the current level. For this their legacy might better be served by Houdini than Edison.

Times Union on UC - hopefully with no paywall

TroyFan
the point is that Casey has dealt with academic constraints of the most stringent kind successfully.

BearLover
Most hockey recruits don’t care about academic prestige,

BearLover
With that said, academic prestige is obviously a major recruiting selling point for all the Ivies

marty

billhoward
>>> With Casey coming in after having been Clarkson's head coach for 13 years, I'd like to know what mistakes he thinks he made at Clarkson and what he would do at Cornell to avoid repeating them.

This is attack journalism. Works good on TV if you don't plan to ask the person on again.

Too bad no one asked him in the tunnel after Clarkson's season ending loss during the ECAC playoffs. All you would need is a hidden camera or a buddy with a cell phone to produce a viral video. Though you might also need an ambulance.

BearLover
Most hockey recruits don’t care about academic prestige,

BearLover
With that said, academic prestige is obviously a major recruiting selling point for all the Ivies

RichH

David Harding

Swampy


The university should consider retiring Mike's jersey number, not because of his HOF achievements in the NHL but because of his extraordinary, lifelong contribution to Cornell Hockey.

Totally agree on retiring his jersey number. They probably ought to let Jack O'Brien play his last two years trying to live up to the Schafer standard, then retire #3.

Un-retire the numbers and create a "Ring of Honor" (Wall of Honor? Rafter of Honor?) instead. Then we'd be able to honor people like Ned and Teet.

I'll die on this hill.

ursusminor
Since I am not a Cornell alum/fan, I did not realize that when Schafer retires in a year, he will have been Cornell's head coach for 30 years counting the COVID year. What surprised me was that I recall reading here posts showing that people were dissatisfied with Brian McCutcheon. That means the I must have been reading this forum before that. So I checked my profile which shows I have been a member since 2004. Many others have that year at about the same date as me. Was the board reset back then? I do recall having taken the user name ursaminor first and someone pointed out that was the female form. They don't teach Latin at RPI although I did know that alumnus is the male form and alumna the female form. I can hear my mother saying that not requiring eight years of Latin is what is wrong about the American school system.

Sorry about the thread drift.

Swampy
I didn't want to start a new thread, but this article probably should be on a thread entitled, "Casey Jones: Cornell Men's Hockey's next coach."

Cornell players return to campus at the end of July, because on Aug. 2, the team leaves for a European tour, five exhibition games against foreign teams.

adamw

Swampy
I didn't want to start a new thread, but this article probably should be on a thread entitled, "Casey Jones: Cornell Men's Hockey's next coach."

No love for my Coach Schafer hagiography?

[www.collegehockeynews.com]

And while that may be good for some individuals, it won't be for most.

adamw

Swampy
I didn't want to start a new thread, but this article probably should be on a thread entitled, "Casey Jones: Cornell Men's Hockey's next coach."

No love for my Coach Schafer hagiography?

[www.collegehockeynews.com]

adamw

Swampy
I didn't want to start a new thread, but this article probably should be on a thread entitled, "Casey Jones: Cornell Men's Hockey's next coach."

No love for my Coach Schafer hagiography?

[www.collegehockeynews.com]

Trotsky

Cornell players return to campus at the end of July, because on Aug. 2, the team leaves for a European tour, five exhibition games against foreign teams.

Huh.

Trotsky

Cornell players return to campus at the end of July, because on Aug. 2, the team leaves for a European tour, five exhibition games against foreign teams.

Huh.

marty


Yes. What is this? When did this touring begin? Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

dbilmes

marty


Yes. What is this? When did this touring begin? Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

NCAA teams have been allowed to go on one foreign tour every four years for a long time (they can go anywhere overseas). Last year, for example, 61 men's basketball teams went on foreign tours. The UConn women's basketball team has done so on multiple occasions.

adamw

Swampy
I didn't want to start a new thread, but this article probably should be on a thread entitled, "Casey Jones: Cornell Men's Hockey's next coach."

No love for my Coach Schafer hagiography?

[www.collegehockeynews.com]

David Harding

dbilmes

marty


Yes. What is this? When did this touring begin? Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

NCAA teams have been allowed to go on one foreign tour every four years for a long time (they can go anywhere overseas). Last year, for example, 61 men's basketball teams went on foreign tours. The UConn women's basketball team has done so on multiple occasions.

Join the party! Registration has been open since January 1.

Here's an account of the 2014 tour.

Trotsky

adamw

Swampy
I didn't want to start a new thread, but this article probably should be on a thread entitled, "Casey Jones: Cornell Men's Hockey's next coach."

No love for my Coach Schafer hagiography?

[www.collegehockeynews.com]

Excellent job, Adam. I loved it.

I did enjoy the fact that you managed to slip in a superfluous and utterly wrong opinion, just as a gift to me.

And while that may be good for some individuals, it won't be for most.

That's my Adam!

Trotsky

Cornell players return to campus at the end of July, because on Aug. 2, the team leaves for a European tour, five exhibition games against foreign teams.

Huh.

David Harding

dbilmes

marty


Yes. What is this? When did this touring begin? Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

NCAA teams have been allowed to go on one foreign tour every four years for a long time (they can go anywhere overseas). Last year, for example, 61 men's basketball teams went on foreign tours. The UConn women's basketball team has done so on multiple occasions.

Join the party! Registration has been open since January 1.

Here's an account of the 2014 tour.

Beeeej

David Harding

dbilmes

marty


Yes. What is this? When did this touring begin? Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

NCAA teams have been allowed to go on one foreign tour every four years for a long time (they can go anywhere overseas). Last year, for example, 61 men's basketball teams went on foreign tours. The UConn women's basketball team has done so on multiple occasions.

Join the party! Registration has been open since January 1.

Here's an account of the 2014 tour.

Anybody yet go deep enough into the process to share a rough price estimate?

BearLover
Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it’s still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn’t require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ’s contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

marty

BearLover
Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it’s still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn’t require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ’s contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

Maybe watch it again. He explained what happened in sequence. Ben was offered the position, then b then c. He was as clear as he could be without airing the laundry.

BearLover

marty

BearLover
Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it’s still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn’t require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ’s contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

Maybe watch it again. He explained what happened in sequence. Ben was offered the position, then b then c. He was as clear as he could be without airing the laundry.

He did not say Ben was offered the position. I watched it multiple times. Where does he say that? Maybe I couldn’t make it out.

BearLover
Watched it again. Here’s what he said:
“I was thinking of retiring last spring. I confided in some people…Brekke, CJ, Don Vaughan…at the end of the season, I was pretty much retired. I was thinking about it, I was on my way out probably. And then Benny Syer got the job at Princeton. And I think he kind of hesitated a little bit, wondering what Cornell was gonna do. ***Knowing at that particular moment that it wasn’t just going to be a handoff to Ben, I advised Ben, I said ‘you’ve wanted this your whole life, go for it, go get the job.’*** And he did. But then I was like, ‘now what am I gonna do?’ I didn’t wanna leave our team in a lurch. Ben has been such a big part of our program…”

Having now watched this again, I think the implication is that Syer was NOT offered the job. Rather, Schafer told him to take the Princeton job because he would not be handing the Cornell job off to Ben.

The part at the end about not wanting to leave the team in a lurch was a reference to not wanting the team to lose both its head coach and top assistant at the same time.

marty

BearLover
Watched it again. Here’s what he said:
“I was thinking of retiring last spring. I confided in some people…Brekke, CJ, Don Vaughan…at the end of the season, I was pretty much retired. I was thinking about it, I was on my way out probably. And then Benny Syer got the job at Princeton. And I think he kind of hesitated a little bit, wondering what Cornell was gonna do. ***Knowing at that particular moment that it wasn’t just going to be a handoff to Ben, I advised Ben, I said ‘you’ve wanted this your whole life, go for it, go get the job.’*** And he did. But then I was like, ‘now what am I gonna do?’ I didn’t wanna leave our team in a lurch. Ben has been such a big part of our program…”

Having now watched this again, I think the implication is that Syer was NOT offered the job. Rather, Schafer told him to take the Princeton job because he would not be handing the Cornell job off to Ben.

The part at the end about not wanting to leave the team in a lurch was a reference to not wanting the team to lose both its head coach and top assistant at the same time.

Sorry I didn't read your note as carefully as I listened to Coach Mike. What I meant was that Ben was offerred the Princeton job not the Cornell has coaching position. That along with the decision to retire is what began the process. Always a process in this sport.