Coaching changes

[skaterparent]

A couple years ago, there was a thread on the Women's Hockey forum entitled "Coaching Changes," which involved a discussion of coaching changes in women's ice hockey that posters either though were being contemplated or should be contemplated.

At the time, several posters thought that the University of Southern Maine AD Al Bean ought to reconsider his decision to hire Amanda Adams as coach of the USM women's team, but defenders of Ms. Adams said she should be given a chance to recruit her own players. Now, she's had enough time to develop a record of her own, and the results are pretty clear. Instead of having a team that's in the second tier of ECAC D-III, which is competitive against the top teams and a regular contender for the ECAC D-III tournament, USM now has a team that is competitive only against the bottom group of ECAC D-III teams, such as MIT, Salve Regina, and Castleton State.

Ms. Adams record is now 9-33-2 at USM and 12-60-4 overall. How much longer should USM women be consigned to the ECAC D-III cellar? When will Al Bean decide that USM woman hockey players should receive the same competitive help as UMS women basketball players?

[dhmn]

On the subject of coaching changes.. and not to take away from your post..

Saturday night as the UMD/Mankato State men's game.. 2 people asked me a question I hadn't heard even a rumor about.. They've heard that Shannon Miller is considering a move to coach at University of Vermont. This was news to me since I havent' heard ANY word of it.

Who knows.. since you're talkin about U of Maine, if that might be an option also.. but I myself would rather keep her right where she is here in Duluth.

[ARM]

dhmn, skaterparent is talking about Southern Maine, a D-III school. I'm pretty sure we can discount the possibility of Coach Miller moving there. IF she were to leave Duluth (and at this point, I'd consider that to be just at the wild rumor stage), one big impact would be the loss of name recognition for recruiting. You said in another thread that to you, Coach Miller was UMD hockey. I'm sure many recruits feel the same way.

[dave1381]

2 people asked me a question I hadn't heard even a rumor about.. They've heard that Shannon Miller is considering a move to coach at University of Vermont. This was news to me since I havent' heard ANY word of it.
Are you sure they weren't confused? Miller is already coaching at the University of Vermont -- Dennis Miller that is.

Given how supportive UMD has been of its women's hockey program to date, and how totally nonsupportive Vermont has been, I can't imagine that Vermont would be capable of pulling off that hire.

[PuckChaser]

Keep in mind that the current UVM AD used to be SHANNON Miller's boss at UMD. SHANNON Miller also has very personal reasons to be on the east coast now.

[binnyrus]

SHANNON Miller also has very personal reasons to be on the east coast now.

You're probably really, really, REALLY wrong about this.

[dhmn]

Are you sure they weren't confused? Miller is already coaching at the University of Vermont -- Dennis Miller that is.

Given how supportive UMD has been of its women's hockey program to date, and how totally nonsupportive Vermont has been, I can't imagine that Vermont would be capable of pulling off that hire.

People were asking/talking about it at the UMD Men's game Saturday night. The only thing I know for sure is that the people who were talking about it, might attend one women's game a year.

Anyway back to the D-III subject for this thread.

A coach is usually given enough time to have a senior class of her own, rather than the previous coach's senior class before being totally judges. While they're not neccessarily lighting the lamp that much, her own recruits (from their team stats page) are the ones scoring, while those who were recruited by their former coach aren't scoring much.

I looked at that roster and there are going to be 8 seniors next season. Let the current coach replace them and maybe see what happens when the team is completely her choices. Their previous coach, btw, is having another winning season (9-6, but winning), what happened that he left Southern Maine?

[nut_case]

I would not think that a new coach would be considered to have received a fair shot based on one year of recruiting, particularly when the team she inherited lost significant talent through graduation and transfers. Obviously there could be other factors to consider, and I am not too familiar with the circumstances(beyond the apparent initial displeasure of some players and parents).

[PuckChaser]

I am quite CERTAIN I am not.

I am not trying to flame anyone here or pick a fight.

[binnyrus]

I am quite CERTAIN I am not.

I am not trying to flame anyone here or pick a fight.
I'm just saying you are likely going from out-dated information.

[uvmcats]

Keep in mind that the current UVM AD used to be SHANNON Miller's boss at UMD. SHANNON Miller also has very personal reasons to be on the east coast now.

I wouldn't be surprised IF (and that is a big if because I haven't heard any rumors here in VT yet) UVM was trying to upgrade the women's program that they would make an overture to Shannon Miller. Given the past working relationships, why not? What would UVM have to lose? The current UVM AD when working at UMD obviously gave her the resources to build the UMD program.

[binnyrus]

I wouldn't be surprised IF (and that is a big if because I haven't heard any rumors here in VT yet) UVM was trying to upgrade the women's program that they would make an overture to Shannon Miller. Given the past working relationships, why not? What would UVM have to lose? The current UVM AD when working at UMD obviously gave her the resources to build the UMD program.

Well, the UMD AD did because it was a priority for the Chancellor. I'd think Shannon would consider leaving if the situation were similar - I can't picture her leaving unless there's full support from the top down . . . truthfully though, I'd be surprised if she left UMD for another coaching job . . . I'd think she may be more interested in a different career path. Promoting women's athletics in general maybe . . .

[kustomice]

.
A coach is usually given enough time to have a senior class of her own, rather than the previous coach's senior class before being totally judges.


So that means five years? That seems an awful long time for a program to tolerate a less than successful coach.

I don't quite understand the "not his/her own players" theory. A good coach is able to produce a quality product no matter whom recruited the players.

.
While they're not neccessarily lighting the lamp that much, her own recruits (from their team stats page) are the ones scoring, while those who were recruited by their former coach aren't scoring much.


That is a tough thing to base an evaluation on since the coach controls ice time and team systems. What you may be seeing in the stats is the coach’s preference for "her" players rather than the player’s actual abilities.

Bottom line is the team is not winning, and if that is a priority I don't think a school needs five seasons to evaluate a coach?

[uvmcats]

Well, the UMD AD did because it was a priority for the Chancellor. I'd think Shannon would consider leaving if the situation were similar - I can't picture her leaving unless there's full support from the top down . . . truthfully though, I'd be surprised if she left UMD for another coaching job . . . I'd think she may be more interested in a different career path. Promoting women's athletics in general maybe . . .

I know at UVM, the new president has as a priority building certain athletic programs to a national competitve level and others to a regional competitive level. I don't know what his specific plans are for women's hockey. He has moved both hockey programs to Hockey East and allotted the full number of scholarships to the men's program and may be in the process of doing the same for the women. So it may be that UVM will be willing to make the commitment. I know UVM wants badly to upgrade their athletic facilities and what better way to attract money than having competitive programs to generate buzz and fill the seats.

I haven't paid much attention but isn't Ben Smith leaving the national program after this olympics? Could that be another option if she were thinking about leaving?

[binnyrus]

I haven't paid much attention but isn't Ben Smith leaving the national program after this olympics? Could that be another option if she were thinking about leaving?

Shannon's Canadian.

[Justamom]

She was the Head Coach of the 1998 CDN womens team.

[uvmcats]

Shannon's Canadian.
my bad. :rolleyes:

[EdSasha]

...2 people asked me a question I hadn't heard even a rumor about.. They've heard that Shannon Miller is considering a move to coach at University of Vermont. This was news to me since I havent' heard ANY word of it...

I heard this EXACT same rumor, identical in every respect, almost a year and a half ago, during a tournament game in Gutterson Fieldhouse. Amusing to read that it's still doing the rounds, obviously still nothing but a rumor.

[uvmcats]

Does ones have to be a citizen to coach a national team?

[BKDad]

Does ones have to be a citizen to coach a national team?

Maybe in hockey, but not in other sports. Many of the Olympic level sports have citizens of other countries in coaching positions.