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

[el_jefe_90]

Colby Men's Ice Hockey won a NESCAC Championship in 2018. Colby Women's Lacrosse won a NESCAC Championship in 2017. The Women's Ice Hockey team did reach the conference championship game this past season. As you see though, they don't win conference championships often.

[nescac1]

Thanks el jefe.  It's no shame not to win NESCAC team championships, it's the toughest D3 league in the country and some schools that used to care relatively little about athletics a few decades back (Tufts, Wesleyan) are now nationally dominant in various sports, so it's tougher now than ever.  It's just that you'd think with ALL that money poured into facilities, all the big coaching hires, etc., Colby would have seen more notable results by now.

Speaking of facilities, Williams is FINALLY taking tangible steps to improve its indoor athletic facility deficit.  First, by opening the (really nice) temporary field house / all-purpose indoor athletics facility in January.  Now the school is attempting to secure land in town to move its B&G facilities to (can't believe it's taken this long, frankly), which was always going to have to happen to realize the ultimate plan of building a huge new gym / fieldhouse / hockey arena complex right across the street from the football complex.  Still a few years away from that breaking ground on that massive project, but progress ... the Ephs should go from worst to first (or at least close to worst / close to first) in indoor athletics facilities by the time this process is completed.

[lumbercat]

Big project at Bates in '27 is a go. Expanding fitness and Athletics facilities pretty significantly.
Alumni Gym to be renovated with additional seating and teamspaces but the original iconic design and feel will be unchanged. Football infrastructure including offices, team areas and varsity weight room will be renovated and expanded as well.

[Stickthe3]

Not NESCAC related but St Anselm is dropping from D2 to D3 and joining the NEWMAC for 2027-28 and will be fulltime D3 in 2029-30.  They went 25-8 last year and historically are a pretty solid program at the D2 level.  It will be interesting to see the ripple effect of this change.

[NEhoops]

Will Davies (NE10 player of the year) from Saint Anselm is rumored to be transferring to Vermont ($100K+) and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He would have had D1 interest regardless of the upcoming transition from D2 to D3. I'm sure a handful of other players on the roster will be on the move too - with some potentially making moves to D3 schools in New England.

Tough break for Colby regarding Civello transferring out (now that it is official). Regarding Ames, I could see that situation happening more often (regardless of a coaching change), where a D2 gets a high level D3 player late in the cycle because they may have recently lost one of their players to a D1 school. Regarding the Colby coaching conversation, it seems like the search is taking longer than usual.

Any update on the Conn College transfers? 

[Stickthe3]

Hoopdirt reported on campus interviews were happening this week at Colby. Hopefully a decision is made soon.

James LaFrance tweeted 4 days ago he was still in the portal. Another tweet said these schools have expressed interest:

"AIC
Barton
Cedarville
Ky. Wesleyan
Loyola New Orleans (NAIA)
Malone
Missouri S&T
STAC

NESCAC & UAA programs also in the mix."


Not sure about any of the others.

[nescac1]

Interesting that Nescac teams in the mix for LaFrance.  It's been a long time since the last intra Nescac transfer. He'd be interesting for Trinity which really could use another shooter, and has not been shy about bringing transfers in ... and adding him would prob make them the pre-season league fave. 

[lumbercat]

Based on the rumored list of suitors my advice to the young man would be to stay where you are and don't lose sight of your educational goals. A 16 ppg NESCAC scoring average will serve you well for exactly 2 more years. Beyond that it means nothing on Wall Street or wherever you are headed.

Who is mentoring these kids?

He's a rising junior, not a senior looking to play another year at a school with a Graduate program.

I think you will see a collusive stance here within the NESCAC.   Inter conference transfers among underclassmen in the NESCAC creates a huge issue for NESCAC programs. I don't think you will see any takers on this kid within the conference. Creates a totally unwanted precedent.

For the kids sake I hope I'm wrong, maybe he lands at Trinity and made a great move.

Don't rule out Babson for this player.