Why not Steve Donahue?

[Seattleapp]

I'm reading some of these suggestions and honestly, are we really trying to go after a 33 year old assistant coach from Richmond because he's black? Is that really what we are reduced to? He will relate to the kids? I thought we just had that? We need to get a guy who is going to come in with a real agenda and some actual experience and tighten this ship up. We don't need anymore training grounds for guys who want to give coaching a try. Donahue did well at Cornell and did struggle a bit at BC this year, but money talks and he's a proven winner.

[moehler]

In 4 seasons Donahue was 22 games under 500, and only won 8 games this year before he was fired, granted, BC isn't exactly a mecca for collage basketball, and it's tough to recruit there, but still, it didn't look like things were turning around anytime soon, not sure he is the guy to "put out the dumpster fire" that is our men's basketball program.

[EastHallApp]

Who said we're only looking at Brunt because he's black? His experience is not even remotely comparable to Capel's. Not all black coaches' resumes look alike.

[EastHallApp]

As for Donahue, he's had nine losing seasons in 14 years as a HC. He's had more years winning fewer than 10 games than winning more than 20. And he's spent his entire career in the Northeast, with virtually no experience recruiting in App's main footprint.

[hapapp]

Who said we're only looking at Brunt because he's black? His experience is not even remotely comparable to Capel's. Not all black coaches' resumes look alike.

Agreed! All one has to do is look at his resume compared to Capel's. I don't think he would be our best choice of those mentioned but being the associate coach at a higher profile school is not the same as one year as the third assistant at App State.

[GoApps70]

Get a head coach at a D2 school if we have to. More proven when they have guided their
own ship, and shows their recruiting abilities.

[24AppState]

I may have missed it, but I keep reading Brunt is the leading candidate. Has this been "confirmed" or just people talking? I really hope not. I would really hate to see McMahon passed up again.

[Seattleapp]

Why do we minimize our program? Im not saying donahue is the answer, but I'd feel a whole lot better with a proven head coach than some kid, yes 33 is a kid, who has never had a head coaching gig. I strongly disagree with hiring an assistant because he was a good high school coach and has assisted at Richmond for a couple years. That is not what we need. And while Donahue struggled at BC, against the Dukes and UNCs of the world. He has actually had success as a HEAD COACH! There are others like him out there. But we need to hire someone who actually has a plan. i.e. discipline, expectations, fundamentals. I know those are wild ideas. We don't need to get a guy who can "recruit." And I know in this crazy p.c. world we live in I'll be labeled a racist. But no one has even heard of that Richmond coach and the first thing describing him was he was a 'Young African American" who could relate to the kids. Is that not racist in and of itself? I don't care what color our head coach is. But I want him to know what he is doing. I'd really believe we need to get a guy who has experience. Fancher wasn't great and neither was Capel. We are going to another conference. Why not throw some money and try to get someone who has done it before, even at the D2 level, than some obscure assistant and hoping he will be a good coach. WE JUST DID THAT!

[Seattleapp]

Who said we're only looking at Brunt because he's black? His experience is not even remotely comparable to Capel's. Not all black coaches' resumes look alike.

Obviously Brunt is your guy, but your argument is pretty weak. You are the one who said he was a young African American who could relate to the kids. That isn't the direction we need to go. We need a guy who has experience and will come in and instill a respected system. This ain't an after school special.

[EastHallApp]

We don't need to get a guy who can "recruit." And I know in this crazy p.c. world we live in I'll be labeled a racist. But no one has even heard of that Richmond coach and the first thing describing him was he was a 'Young African American" who could relate to the kids. Is that not racist in and of itself?

That was not "the first thing describing him." It was one of several potential positives I listed for him, along with several negatives, as I've done for several other coaches who have been said to be candidates.

If you don't think that having a coach who can recruit good talent is a positive, you're entitled to that opinion. I do think it's a good trait to have.

Obviously Brunt is your guy, but your argument is pretty weak. You are the one who said he was a young African American who could relate to the kids. That isn't the direction we need to go. We need a guy who has experience and will come in and instill a respected system. This ain't an after school special.

Wrong. I never said Brunt would be my first choice. In fact, I'd never heard of him until a couple days ago. I simply think you are mischaracterizing his resume by implying that it's comparable to Capel's. If you think we need someone with previous HC experience, that's fine. I have no qualms with that view, even if I personally don't agree with it.

And I didn't say he can "relate to the kids." That sounds like I'm saying we need a coach who can just be a buddy with college kids. Not at all. I said he could potentially use the fact that he comes from a similar background as many recruits to help convince them to come to a school that has a 3% black student population, in a rural setting with a similar makeup.

If you don't think that's a potential positive factor, again, you're entitled to that view. But never did I say we shouldn't hire a coach with "a plan" to rebuild the program. Obviously that's a must. I just don't see how we can evaluate or compare the various candidates' plans, without being able to sit in on their job interviews.

[asu66]

I say a resounding "NO" to Donahue. I have nothing against him except that he's never coached a day in his life at a school south of Philly. I think that'd be a serious "catch-up" problem for him.

If we're going to hire an Irish Catholic Yankee from the corridor from Philly through NYC to Boston, gimme Davidson's Jim Fox. He actually knows where North Carolina is; and has been on our campus numerous times. And has recruited against us.

We've had two guys with his background (Cremins and Cantwell) and I'm not opposed at all to another. Just not Donahue. It would take him a year to adjust to the culture shock. Fox is ready to roll. And I'd bet he's been in 75% of the public high schools in NC, Va, SC, Ga, Fl, MD, PA, NYC, Long Island, CONN, RI, NH, DEL, D.C, and all of the parochial schools and prep schools along the east coast.

[eggers76]

I agree with this comment. I have no particular favorites but Donahue is not one of them. CP, I think they could/should have used you on the "committee."

[asu66]

I agree with this comment. I have no particular favorites but Donahue is not one of them. CP, I think they could/should have used you on the "committee."

I appreciate that. I've served several times in the past, but my reputation for saying what I think, in a pretty direct way, has probably sealed my fate. If called, I'll serve. That's right after recovering from the shock. They'd probably want an easier "rubber stamp" than I'd be willing to give.

[Yosef10]

Who said we're only looking at Brunt because he's black? His experience is not even remotely comparable to Capel's. Not all black coaches' resumes look alike.

Obviously Brunt is your guy, but your argument is pretty weak. You are the one who said he was a young African American who could relate to the kids. That isn't the direction we need to go. We need a guy who has experience and will come in and instill a respected system. This ain't an after school special.

There is no strong argument for Donahue because, well, his record speaks for itself. And yeah I'd saying being a good recruiter is a very important aspect of App States coaching search seeing as you're trying to lure black kids (for the most part) to an area and culture completely unfamiliar and probably not that welcoming to the naked eye if you're an African American.