MBB: NESCAC

[ThumannsOwn]

The accolades keep rolling in for Coach Hixon.  Amherst has announced that Coach Hixon will receive an honorary degree during Commencement on May 25.  This will also mark the 50th anniversary of Hixon's own graduation from Amherst. Very fitting indeed!

https://www.amherst.edu/news/news_releases/2025/march/internet-pioneer-hall-of-fame-basketball-coach-and-four-others-to-be-honored-at-amherst-college-s-commencement-on-may-25

Well deserved and probably long overdue. And more accolades/accomplishments coming in for Coach Hixon's former players/assistants. Matt Goldsmith to Middlebury is apparently a done deal according to several trusted hoop gurus - no bologna here.

Anyone hearing Marlon Sears to NYU?
 

[Middfan]

Matt Goldsmith named Head Coach at Middlebury

https://athletics.middlebury.edu/news/2025/5/8/mens-basketball-matt-goldsmith-named-russell-l-reilly-head-coach-of-mens-basketball.aspx?utm_medium=sidearm-email&utm_source=athletics.middlebury.edu&utm_campaign=Matt+Goldsmith+Named+Russell+L.+Reilly+Head+Coach+of+Men%27s+Basketball&utm_content=311f88be-2b8f-4ee5-b5e0-8ba806f040a2

[nescac1]

Great hire for Midd (and would have been a great hire for his alma mater ...). 

Speaking of which is the Sears to NYU thing an actual rumor, because why the heck would NYU, probably a top five D3 job at this point, do that??

[ThumannsOwn]

Great hire for Midd (and would have been a great hire for his alma mater ...). 

Speaking of which is the Sears to NYU thing an actual rumor, because why the heck would NYU, probably a top five D3 job at this point, do that??

Apparently, Sears put his name in the hat and was in the mix for the NYU job back in the spring of 2022 - ultimately, NYU made a really good choice with Dave Klatsky.

[WUPHF]

Speaking of which is the Sears to NYU thing an actual rumor, because why the heck would NYU, probably a top five D3 job at this point, do that??

This would be in the running for the craziest hire since Dagan Nelson, ironically.

[SpringSt7]

Repeating a little but Middlebury made a great hire and will really enjoy watching the irony unfold when one of the 2-3 best candidates for the Amherst job immediately outperforms his alma mater. Really great hire by Midd

[y_jack_lok]

Middlebury seems to be in a bit of turmoil: https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2025/05/hundreds-attend-faculty-staff-led-walkout-to-protest-budget-cuts

https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2025/05/let-them-eat-cake

[ThumannsOwn]

Repeating a little but Middlebury made a great hire and will really enjoy watching the irony unfold when one of the 2-3 best candidates for the Amherst job immediately outperforms his alma mater. Really great hire by Midd

Wouldn't be surprised if a few of these candidates ultimately find their way back into the NESCAC, including the Amherst job if and when it is available next. Also hearing from a few New England hoops gurus that another NESCAC HC job might be available as early as next week.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Middlebury seems to be in a bit of turmoil: https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2025/05/hundreds-attend-faculty-staff-led-walkout-to-protest-budget-cuts

https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2025/05/let-them-eat-cake

This has been ongoing for several years now.  I was on campus there a year and a half ago, maybe - most of the student newspaper was devoted to faculty/staff/housing issues on campus - I had a lot of conversations that weekend.  Definitely doesn't seem like the kind of existential financial issue troubling other schools - much more about how resources are being allocated and different visions of priority.

Not that it isn't a thing.  I know the percentage they're pulling from endowment affects academic rankings and such, which is, of course, very important in NESCAC world.

The housing piece seems to be adjacent, but separate, too.  They've been over-enrolling for a while on a campus and in a town with a HUGE housing crunch, which isn't going to get better with the current economic climate.

I do wonder if it's a similar kind of issue to things schools deal with on a regular basis (especially with staff and junior faculty concerns), but the Middlebury folks have done a better job with media coverage.  I'm curious to see how it plays out.