Fee is Gone

[boatcapt]

Coker wasn’t a good program

True...But Lamberti, even with his late start as HC for Coaker, was able to get them to their first 500+ record in 10 years. THAT was no small accomplishment! If he stays there, it will be interesting to see what he is able to do with a full off season to recruit players who better fit the Style.

[boatcapt]

Was just looking at his Coker record and results and hope not.. he's not done much there with this system

Remember, he didn't get to Coaker until LATE. He was able to make them +500 for the first time in 10 years.

[bballfan03]

Would the Gannon job be that attractive at this point given what you have to follow?

I'd have to assume if they can bring someone in that will run this style of play.. they'll be paying a good amount for it

[bballfan03]

Several rumors, including on yahoo Sports, that Fee is expected to join Jakus at FAU.

[Fightingscot82]

This is called a Lustig.

[Chuck Norris]

Being back home is overrated.

[Fightingscot82]

Fee is supposedly headed to FAU as an assistant

It's a similar challenge to football. You can make a good living as a D2 head coach, especially in the PSAC. But there's also a big pay gap between D2 head coach and an assistant at a big D1.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This is called a Lustig.

Correct. He's also young enough that he could easily come back to the bus leagues anytime he'd want.

Fortunately for Gannon, they can hire quickly (unlike the PASSHE schools with all the union obstacles).

Lamberti, my opinion, is the clear target. He's a little different personality than Fee.

The other option is Devin Hoehn but I don't see that happening.

Who knows. Maybe the AD has somebody in mind already and they hire a more traditional coach. There will be sitting HCs in the PSAC and other conferences interested in that job.

If they really want to keep running the same system, they could throw some coin at Ben Howlett and see if he bites. He's not making much at WL despite all his success.

[boatcapt]

Gannon was 3-23 last year, and really hadn't been good in 6-7 years.

The Gannon job will be interesting. Common sense says you continue down the road with a coach well steeped in playing the WLU Style, but who do you get? Not going to get Crutch...Not going to get Ben...and lets assume for a moment you can't get Lamberte. That leaves you picking over the assistants at Nova and WLU. At Nova you have Nic Smith who has two years as Crutch's assistant. At WLU you have Connor Harr who was in his first season as an actual WLU assistant coach this past season, part-time Assistant Dan Monteroso who was in his first year on the bench after playing professionally in Europe...AND then there is Aaron Huffman...13 year assistant to Ben and Crutch before him, he also has HC experience as the former head man at Bethany College from 2002-08 were he won three PAC titles and three had NCAA D3 Tourney bids.

Other possibilities:

Bret Ervin - Current 2 year assistant at Niagara University. Former assistant to Ben at WLU.
Brandon Smith - First year assistant at Aurora College after five years on the bench at Glenville and Fairmont. His WLU Style experience comes from 4 years playing on the Hilltop.
Devin Hoehn - Current Bluefield State HC who was Crutch's assistant at Nova and stared at WLU during his collegiate year

I would imagine there are other former WLU or Nova Assistants/former players that have some experience with the WLU Style but none spring immediately to mind.

SOOO...If Gannon wants to continue playing the WLU Style that brought them record success this past season, their experienced choices truly come down to convincing Lamberte that the frigid shores of Lake Erie is a better choice than the Pee Dee region of Hartsville SC OR convincing Aaron Huffman that it is finally time to take the HC whistle again and step out of the shadow of Crutch and Ben at WLU.

Other than those two, the pickings get a little slim unless you want to dip into the HS ranks.

[Scrub]

No track record as a head coach yet, but Dan Monteroso just spent a year as volunteer assistant to Howlett at WLU to log some time on a bench.

[boatcapt]

No track record as a head coach yet, but Dan Monteroso just spent a year as volunteer assistant to Howlett at WLU to log some time on a bench.

I think Dan could be a solid (outstanding?) HC in the future, but just too far a leap from one season as a part-time Assistant to the HC seat. Keep an eye on him though. He understands what a D1 athletic program looks like from his two years at Perdue, understands what it means to play the WLU Style from his two years on the bb team, and knows what it means to play professionally in Europe.

While I don't want him to leave the Hilltop, he is probably going to have to go elsewhere to gain fulltime Assistant experience...That is unless Huffman heads up to Gannon!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The Gannon job will be interesting. Common sense says you continue down the road with a coach well steeped in playing the WLU Style, but who do you get? Not going to get Crutch...Not going to get Ben...and lets assume for a moment you can't get Lamberte. That leaves you picking over the assistants at Nova and WLU. At Nova you have Nic Smith who has two years as Crutch's assistant. At WLU you have Connor Harr who was in his first season as an actual WLU assistant coach this past season, part-time Assistant Dan Monteroso who was in his first year on the bench after playing professionally in Europe...AND then there is Aaron Huffman...13 year assistant to Ben and Crutch before him, he also has HC experience as the former head man at Bethany College from 2002-08 were he won three PAC titles and three had NCAA D3 Tourney bids.

Other possibilities:

Bret Ervin - Current 2 year assistant at Niagara University. Former assistant to Ben at WLU.
Brandon Smith - First year assistant at Aurora College after five years on the bench at Glenville and Fairmont. His WLU Style experience comes from 4 years playing on the Hilltop.
Devin Hoehn - Current Bluefield State HC who was Crutch's assistant at Nova and stared at WLU during his collegiate year

I would imagine there are other former WLU or Nova Assistants/former players that have some experience with the WLU Style but none spring immediately to mind.

SOOO...If Gannon wants to continue playing the WLU Style that brought them record success this past season, their experienced choices truly come down to convincing Lamberte that the frigid shores of Lake Erie is a better choice than the Pee Dee region of Hartsville SC OR convincing Aaron Huffman that it is finally time to take the HC whistle again and step out of the shadow of Crutch and Ben at WLU.

Other than those two, the pickings get a little slim unless you want to dip into the HS ranks.

If Gannon really wants to keep playing that style they HAVE to go after Ben.

Doesn't hurt to try. Money does a lot of talking.

Worst-case they get told no. Maybe he's ready for something new.

Now, I don't know how much Gannon could toss at him.

That said, Gannon has many advantages that public schools do not.

[IUP24]

If Gannon really wants to keep playing that style they HAVE to go after Ben.

Doesn't hurt to try. Money does a lot of talking.

Worst-case they get told no. Maybe he's ready for something new.

Now, I don't know how much Gannon could toss at him.

That said, Gannon has many advantages that public schools do not.

Real interesting take. But not something I couldn't see happening. I've brought up his salary before. Given the school's basketball track record, he should be making way more. I imagine many on this message board posting are making a higher salary.

[boatcapt]

If Gannon really wants to keep playing that style they HAVE to go after Ben.

Doesn't hurt to try. Money does a lot of talking.

Worst-case they get told no. Maybe he's ready for something new.

Now, I don't know how much Gannon could toss at him.

That said, Gannon has many advantages that public schools do not.

Heck...Make an offer to Crutch too! Offers don't cost you anything to make soooo...SURE...Make an offer to Ben!

But...Back in the real world, getting an assistant experienced in the WLU Style is probably their most likely route. Effectively that comes down to Lamberte or Huffman. Both have about as many reasons NOT to go as they have to go. Beyond those two, you are getting into the inexperienced Assistant/HS HC level.

I wonder if there are any college programs that have seen what WLU, Nova and now Gannon have been able to do and have decided to copy it? The Style is not really hard to emulate but it does take a level of commitment and unique roster building that most HC's are probably not comfortable with. Wonder if there might be some D3 programs that might be doing it under our noses and no one really notices?

From the HS ranks, there is Tim Hausfeld the current head man at Genoa OH. Haus was a four year star player at WLU and has college level assistant experience (WV Wesleyan and Lake Erie College. If you are dipping into the HS ranks, might want to talk to Segar Bonifant who is the AD at Hillard OH. No one played the WLU Style better. Yes he is a HS AD and not a HC, but by all accounts he is very active in the schools basketball practices...kind of an out of left field "pick" but if you are throwing offers around, maybe you could get him for next to nothing!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Heck...Make an offer to Crutch too! Offers don't cost you anything to make soooo...SURE...Make an offer to Ben!

But...Back in the real world, getting an assistant experienced in the WLU Style is probably their most likely route. Effectively that comes down to Lamberte or Huffman. Both have about as many reasons NOT to go as they have to go. Beyond those two, you are getting into the inexperienced Assistant/HS HC level.

I wonder if there are any college programs that have seen what WLU, Nova and now Gannon have been able to do and have decided to copy it? The Style is not really hard to emulate but it does take a level of commitment and unique roster building that most HC's are probably not comfortable with. Wonder if there might be some D3 programs that might be doing it under our noses and no one really notices?

You also said Crutch would never leave.

Ben's salary isn't good. For his success he should be making double. I wouldn't rule it out.