Radford Univ Coaching Search?

quote:

Originally posted by JT:
Is it so bad there that nobody wants the job?

ding! ding! ding!

redbird at his best.

quote:

Originally posted by threeup threedown:
redbird at his best.

Why do you care?

OK, OK. We'll move this along. I really want the job, and I know I'm qualified. If I get it, I'll even change my screen name ... but the money better be right for that one.

Folks on this board can start putting in a good word for me. If a groundswell of public opinion happens, who knows?

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:

quote:

Originally posted by JT:
Is it so bad there that nobody wants the job?

ding! ding! ding!

A big part of it probably being a garbage job is the lack administrative support and funding.

quote:

Originally posted by JT:
A big part of it probably being a garbage job is the lack administrative support and funding.

Correct again, my man.

Perhaps on all of this, but I can tell you for sure that some very highly respected coaches have applied. Support or no support, it is a D1 job and there just aren't very many of those around. I must say I am a bit surprised at the intensity of feelings on this one.

I work at a Big South school...and the lack of support or direction from the admin is pretty well known in conference circles...
...I wonder why the heck they are dragging their feet, with prime evaluation time going on during the summer? My guess is that they do not want to be paying two coaches at the same time...and will wait until July 1 or later to make the hire.

Actually, just last week my family went to orientation at Radford and the president came over to intoduce herself to the table. Needless to say, my husband asked the pres some of those questions. She said that they received 105 applications and that the same AD (from another school) that helped with the basketball coach search was also helping with baseball. The decision should be made shortly and I would have to agree that the announcement will be after the July 1 mark.
She was very nice and even answered my questions about recruiting and graduation rates with junior college transfers. Apparently, Radford has a very high graduation rate among athletes.
The only way to get support is to win. Hopefully the "chosen one" will turn the program around.

Lynn Metheny

I would say that it is very wise not to pay two coaches at the same time. I also would say that whomever is hired will have a pretty good sense of who the players are and who might be available for Radford and will have great connections into those who have done the evaluating over the summer. Remember, the objective will be for the long term, not necessarily next year. Also, the new coach will have a lot to do in ultimately determining support from the administration. But, keep in mind, too. It remains Radford, which probably will never be a sustained power in anything. If they hire the right guy who does a great job, it will soon enough be off the bigger and better things for him.

quote:

Originally posted by 1943 yankees:
She said that they received 105 applications and that the same AD (from another school) that helped with the basketball coach search was also helping with baseball.

What? The real AD have to much on the table? Or is he a powerless minion while the faculty (I recall their is a Fine Arts. Theater, or English faculty member that wields a great deal of POWER over athletics) tip-toes around academia. This drives home the point that the entire RU athletic administration hierarchy is a fustercluck. I am amazed Coach Kent remained there as long as he did.

lynn puts her name on all of posts. redbird put your name to your post.

quote:

Originally posted by threeup threedown:
lynn puts her name on all of posts. redbird put your name to your post.

50% of the people on this board know my name (including Lynn). They are the ones who need to know.

Isn't threeup a weird first name?

threeup threedown...

redbird5 is a respected member of the hsbbweb since nearly the beginning of this very popular web site which began a few years ago. Thanks to "Bob Howdeshell"... and now..."MN-Mom", for continuing the legacy of the hsbbweb.

There are MANY very important baseball folks and others on this site whom choose to remain anonymous for various reasons.

It's not important for someone to put their real name on these posts IF that webster chooses not to do so. If YOU want to post your real name... fine... and if you don't... fine also.

Can we agree to disagree here and move on from the flair posts causing one to flair back.

The hsbbweb is the #1 baseball site in the world today and it takes people like you and me to help continue this reputation.

quote:

Originally posted by jemaz:
I would say that it is very wise not to pay two coaches at the same time.

A little confused on this one. Why not pay both, you are talking maybe a months salary and you would have a coach in place?

If the Radford adminstration had any brains, they would hire a young, enegetic coach with something to prove.

I don't believe in the whole funds/adminstrative support excuse.

The hard work of a dedicated coach is the only thing that is going to turn the program around regardless of money or popularity.

quote:

Originally posted by cucbaseball2007:
If the Radford adminstration had any brains,

You made my point.

some friends have Radford on their short list

quote:

by yankee: The only way to get support is to win.

w/all due respect, that thinking is irrational & backasswords

the pres. assigns key tasks to employees of another school

quote:

by jemaz: I would say that it is very wise not to pay two coaches at the same time

quite the opposite is true ... there should be a trasition period where they overlap, and whenever the new coach was taking the reigns, his hiring could be announced weeks/months in advance to assure those affected that things are under control

good luck

Mr. Bee,

Wow! Make a shot like that and say all due respect. Maybe I made the mistake by not explaining support.
Support comes in many ways and is not exclusive to the administration. Try to recruit players to a losing program, try to get alumni to financially support a losing program, try to get local businesses to donate or contribute, try to get scouts to come watch a player. I could go on and on but hopefully you get my point.
It will take the right kind of coach with a great reputation to produce the "support" necessary with only the HOPE of success in the future. I may be just a woman, but I would have to believe that during the hiring process the administration is promising some type of accelerated support to the new coach. If not, the program will not get any better.
So, Mr. Bee, take it for what it is, maybe irrational and backwards, but I would be curious to know if you would be willing to send your son to play ball at a college with a losing track record, just because the administration has a great support system for a program?
The team still has to win!

Lynn Metheny

quote:

by yankee: Support comes in many ways and is not exclusive to the administration... I could go on and on but hopefully you get my point.

I did get your point, & was just pointing out that you were wrong

support starts at the top - you are correct in that it's a tough sell to get the community, alum, & business to write checks when they see no admin support -
and that goes for recruiting as well

quote:

by yankee: Bee>, I would be curious to know if you would be willing to send your son to play ball at a college with a losing track record, just because the administration has a great support system for a program?

you've fallen into the trap of buying into ...
"build the house, THEN we'll buy you wood & a hammer"
- or -
"win, THEN we'll support" ...
it just doesn't work that way. programs with "good" admin support have down yrs, not down decades.

and yes, many recruits DO choose programs that are in an "off cycle" with promises of their impact & playing time helping turn things around ...

seldom would a recruit chose a down program for a chance to patch unis, mow grass, rake, repair fence, fix dugouts AND buy their own tools to do it.
then raise funds for their travel costs and baseball equipment.

then fork over a hefty tuition bill

sounds more like the peace corps

Bee,
I was not aware that Radford made the players raise money for travel and equipment. Nor was I aware that they were responsible for fundraising and buying their own tools to maintain the field.
If that is true, then it is simple, it might just be that admin does not care about baseball what so ever. This is true in many schools, not just Radford. Baseball is not usually a revenue producing sport.
Once again, the "chosen coach" has to find people to buy into his program. (That includes many areas)
I am not familiar with the past decades of history with Radford baseball. I am only familiar with watching some of their games in the last few years and the articles I have read from this seasons turmoil.
Obviously, Mr. Bee, something about the program at Radford is very personal.
All that I tried to do was offer some first hand knowledge after speaking with the president.
You may have no problem saying that I am irrational and backwards and just wrong, but your little metaphors overlook the issue.
The team still has to win!!!


Driller, do not worry, I go back to work on Monday.

the colleges/universities/and PRESIDENTS who realize that students are "CUSTOMERS" are thriving
they hav'ta hire others the help count the buckets of $$$$
who cares about the cost, we will just charge students/parents more $$$ to cover it!

others are closing/struggling
as it should be ....
the Prez sounds like a loser

I gotta wonder if she could run a business in the real world????



btw, sorry ... I did think Radford was WVA?

no offense intended to WVA

Radford is a fine university with a fine president. The university does an outstanding job in fulfilling its mission of educating at a higher level many of he citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Perhaps the new coach -- when hired -- will build a successful baseball program, perhaps not. There will be plenty of time to get the job done. But either way, the university will flourish.

The university MAY flourish...as an academic entity. But it was not long ago that they began cutting classes and sections to save money. The problem we are discussing is how pathetic the ATHLETIC operation is run...especially baseball.

We went way beyond that long ago. However, an interesting parallel can be found with the basketball program, where Radford just hired Brad Greenberg, the brother of Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg. Brad will give Radford a more than reasonable chance to be competitive in its league. I would look for something similar in baseball.

However, keep in mind, Radford is not a top tier university, it battles a weather issue and baseball not only is not a money maker, it is a money loser. Radford will never be a consistent power, but it can be respectable and probably will do its best to be just that, but only within the context of the overall mission of the university.

It is not the end of the world if Radford is not good or even competitive in baseball. Nor is it a black mark on the university or the university president, which is where this thread quickly descended. Fortunately, the Commonwealth has plenty of outstanding baseball programs, as you and others here know better than I. Arizona should be so fortunate, because outside of two state univertities that recruit on a nation scale, there are zero Division I options. A place like Radford would be very, very welcome here.

quote:

by JT: The university MAY flourish...as an academic entity. But it was not long ago that they began cutting classes and sections to save money.

maybe flourish, or maybe not ... education is a business ..
students & parents are customers - and with today's info technology they are more educated and selective in making choices

for example - these folks align with Jemez thinking

AP:
"Antioch College founded in 1852 in Yellow springs Oh, once a nationaly renowned liberal arts college will close next summer to regroup.

The closing, will (hopefully) allow trustees to seek money so it can reopen to meet
"the needs of today's students," according to a statement released late Tuesday afternoon.

Calls to the campus were not returned."

oops, they forgot to take care of their customers

Bee:

Obviously you don't know much about Radford, but it is indeed a flourishing university that is part of the state system of flourishing universities. When the state cuts budgets, the universities likewise make cuts. But they are not businesses, they do not operate like businesses and they have no reason to act like a business. They are schools, and Radford has done a fine, fine job of service to its students (customers) for at least most of a century. That is not likely to change any time soon. Antioch is a small liberal arts college that could hardly be more different from Radford.

quote:

by jemaz: When the state cuts budgets, the universities likewise make cuts. But they are not businesses, they do not operate like businesses and they have no reason to act like a business. They are schools,

you're all wet there my friend sorry ..
technicly you are correct, any business would kill to get the deal they have.
tax exempt & continuosly raising fees and increasing revenue well beyond the pace of inflation.
it would serve you to familiarize yourself on how our college & university system works
money-wise

their tax exempt status does NOT require them to "break even", quite the contrary they can make all the profit they want .. tho it is NOT profit because they don't distribute it to shareholders (which they don't have) - it just piles up till they spend it on operating expense (they do minimize that, unless Pres. salary), or capital improvements (25 mil $$ stadiums, fieldhouses, elite dorms & such).

a healthy university will drive local governments crazy by expanding & buying/taking property that was formerly (or future capable of) producing tax revenue & making it tax exempt

and, that bottom line of well run (tax exempt) universities put top corporations to shame


ps -
you note that Virgina colleges & universities are flourishing, but then state funding has been cut

do you mean the "yearly increase" in state funding has been reduced, or they get less each year?
some #'s would make it clearer... as their $$ would still be piling up, but at a slower rate.

regarding Antioch, money difficulty was the result, not the problem

problem, their product was inferior when compared to competitors,
hence their student/customers went elsewhere

tho 4 was a pretty cool class size while it lasted

Bee:

At this point, I have no idea what you are talking about. I can say this, though: The tuition at Radford is less than $6,000 per year. Nearly 9,000 students per year are enrolled for their undergraduate education. The vast majority graduate with degrees respected across the Commonwealth and become very productive citizens. Perhaps 35 per year play baseball there. From my standpoint, Radford and the rest of the state system provides a resource that has value essential to the continued success of the state. When I lived in Virginia, I supported funding increases and would do so today if I still lived there. I really don't understand what the debate here is about in regard to Radford simply because the baseball program is not the strongest.

From the outside looking in...

a University can support and have expectations of competitiveness in athletics without breaking the bank. I'm not sure what came 1st lack of support or lack of desire to compete by the former coach. There are so many issues too many for here.

If the University is not interested in competing (key word competing) at the D1 level than disband the program and have a club team.

With July 1 here (not that anyone needs to commit that early at Radford) the longer the hire takes the longer it will take to build a program.

My son plays at Radford university. They do not fund raise for anything as I saw in a comment above.They get all meals,hotels and equipment furnished to them like any other d1 program. The one problem is that they are not a fully funded program for basebal1 scholarships. They get a little over 6 per year. Lets not bash the program because its not a top level d1 program.Its a good school in a good area with good education program. A coach with some fire and drive could do the program well.

Thanks for the first-hand input, Kss8890. The funding and administrative support (or lack thereof) I think is the big issue over at RU.

Can't go wrong with a VMI education, either.

Heard that the AD at Radford has resigned?

The AD situation is confirmed by the front page of the Radford website

I told you guys it was screwy there.

What is the latest feel for the Radford Baseball program? My son has received a few letters from Coach Raccuia and we are planning a campus visit next month. My son is excited because we moved to Virginia from Alabama where he was a fan of the Crimson Tide and their baseball program. He really wants to play for Alabama, but is not quite that caliber of ballplayer, so playing for Coach Raccuia makes the Radford program attractive to him. Of course as a parent I'm not concerned about the education at Radford, but I don't want to get involved with a baseball program that my son will be dissapointed in playing for or that is not competitive. Any thought/feedback?

From what I hear they are getting $$$$ to support them.

One of my "buds" is an assistant there and he is truly excited


I would watch them