MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

At this point you just kind of have to feel bad for the kids at Colby. I've always been impressed by their team chemistry and the way they interact with each other and carry themselves. Part of the appeal to a NESCAC school or most/all D3s really is knowing that you are going to play 4 years with your teammates and with the coach who recruited you and get to come back and feel that sort of tradition and connection. Instead of playing for 3 coaches in 4 years

[Stickthe3]

It's especially tough considering how stable that position had been prior to Rutigliano being hired - only 2 coaches over 55 years!!

Further highlights how much of a colossal f-up the AD made when unceremoniously firing Strahorn and replacing him with someone who viewed the job as a steppingstone. But I digress...

[lumbercat]

There is no question the new Colby AD may have been a bit hasty in the move to fire Coach Strahorn. However, I believe it reflects a pattern in Colby athletics that has emerged from the top.

A deeper look at the recent history of Colby Athletics relative to coaching hires reveals a consistent hiring philosophy which began with the 2014 arrival of President David Greene.
President Greene has been the common denominator in the culture and composition of the Colby Athletics Staff and the Mule hiring philosophy for the past 12 years. He has worked with 3 ADs during his tenure. At the end of the day he has been the driving factor in Colby sports. He is a self professed advocate of Athletics who places specific emphasis on winning. I think he has done a great job with Athletics at Colby and has guided the ship very well.

The pattern in coaching hires which emerged following his arrival in 2014 is pretty clear. Hire D1 coaches or coaches with established D1 experience. I can't recall any significant Men's coaching hires on Mayflower Hill in Greene's tenure that did not involve D1 coaching experience.

Football: Jack Cosgrove UMaine
Mens Hockey: Blaise McDonald UMass Lowell
Men's Lacrosse: Guy Van Arsdale Jacksonville U; Jake Bernhardt Maryland, UVM
Baseball: Jesse Woods Notre Dame
Basketball: Sean Rutgliano Belmont

Maybe the Mules will break their streak and bring in a non D1`coach for the Basketball job but I tend to doubt it.

[nescac1]

For all the coaching turnover, and with certainly the best athletic facilities now in the conference, and I imagine more flexibilty in recruiting than most, when was the last time Colby won a NESCAC team sport championship?  I realize it is not always east to recruit to rural Maine, but it doesn't seem like the current approach has turned Colby into an athletic powerhouse (even if stronger than they were a decade ago for sure).

[lumbercat]

N1- No doubt about it. Other than a Hockey Championship I can't think of any other recent titles in any of the sports I referenced though the overall program has shown profound improvement during Greene's tenure.

[ImTold]

Hoopdirt is reporting the following coaches are associated with the opening at Colby:
former Dartmouth head coach David McLaughlin, Army associate head coach Jarren Dyson, Hampden-Sydney associate head coach Bryson Gibson and a current head coach in the Liberty League.  I don't know anything about Dyson and Gibson but a quick search showed no ties to Colby/New England/NESCAC, which is a big concern for me as an alum.  We saw what happened in the short time Rutigliano was there. 

The anonymous head coach in the Liberty League is interesting - wondering if it's RPI's Mark Gilbride?  Bowdoin '02 alum, assistant coach at Amherst when they won the title in '07, and son of former longtime Bowdoin coach Tim Gilbride.

Needless to say, very curious to see what direction the AD goes with this hire.

I'm Told this list is inaccurate