Just spoke with #QUHockey associate head coach Bill Riga, who was a finalist for #RPIHockey job. Said he wasn't offered job. #ECACHockey
— Ken Schott (@slapschotts) April 3, 2017
Think he wants you to do it again tomorrow.
Personally, I need an explanation on this. I was OK with firing Appert after the season we just went through, but how in the world do you do that, then make a hire that makes everyone scratch their heads on how the team begins improving from here? And if he's only being had on the cheap... wouldn't it have just been cheaper to pay one guy instead of two?
Keep an open mind. Just don't be so open-minded that your brain falls out.
Just spoke with #QUHockey associate head coach Bill Riga, who was a finalist for #RPIHockey job. Said he wasn't offered job. #ECACHockey
— Ken Schott (@slapschotts) April 3, 2017
Just got off the phone with Canisius hockey coach Dave Smith. Asked if he is the new #RPIHockey coach, and he said no comment. #ECACHockey
— Ken Schott (@slapschotts) April 3, 2017
My $0.02:
This whole thing has been bungled from start to finish by RPI's administration. It's clear that RPI Hockey isn't really a priority for the administration. I worried about this when McElroy was hired in the first place-- someone with no hockey experience who has built their career around football, basketball, and lacrosse. The rumor was (when I was a student ~6 years ago) that Shirley didn't really "get" hockey, and wanted football to be the #1 sport. Hence the massive expansion that became ECAV, with very few renovations to the HFH-- it's clear where her priorities lie.
And from the RPI administration's perspective, successful D1 Hockey is not really necessary to raise the school's profile. It's still seen as a bit of a niche sport by most of the US, unfortunately. And I haven't seen anywhere that Union's national championship win did anything for their application/admittance rates. Meanwhile, RPI just had the biggest freshman class and the lowest acceptance rate EVER, even with a failing flagship athletics program. I'm sure RPI's administration would rather funnel money towards academics, or research, or straight up advertising campaigns-- anything else, really. There's not really an incentive for putting money towards hockey.
I can't help but think that if the program was D1 basketball, they'd be funneling tons of money into the program. Has anyone actually heard of Gonzaga for anything other than basketball?
Season ticket holder since 2007. I BELIEVE IN SETH APPERT.
And for a little bit of levity on the subject:
ACTUAL QUOTE FROM PARKER EXECUTIVE SEARCH: “WHO IS ADAM OATES? DIDNT HE COWRITE 'MANEATER'?”
— ANGRY DRUNK PUCKMAN (@DRUNK_PUCKMAN) April 3, 2017
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: ANGRY DRUNK PUCKMAN NAMED RPI'S NEW COACH
— ANGRY DRUNK PUCKMAN (@DRUNK_PUCKMAN) April 3, 2017
“I WILL BRING THIS PROGRAM BACK TO ITS FORMER GLORY, AND FORMER DRUNKENESS. WE WILL WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AND A CASE OF 99 BANANAS “
— ANGRY DRUNK PUCKMAN (@DRUNK_PUCKMAN) April 3, 2017
MY FIRST ACT WILL BE TO HIRE A NEW STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH, THE SAME ONE WHO STRENGTHENED AND CONDITIONED SETH APPERT'S HAIR
— ANGRY DRUNK PUCKMAN (@DRUNK_PUCKMAN) April 3, 2017
Season ticket holder since 2007. I BELIEVE IN SETH APPERT.
I wonder if Smith called his former boss, Buddy Powers? He was BP's assistant the last 2 years of his Bowling Green tenure.
Pretty strange hire, that leaves a series of questions and resultant answers where almost none of the potential answers put RPI in a good light. Even more so given that Appert was fired practically as the bus rolled up to the HFH from Potsdam.
Class of '93
16 years at Section 9, Row D, Seats 1-4
So the doomsdayer in me can foresee a day when Ben Barr succeeds Bennett at Union and proceeds to exact his revenge....here's hoping he gets hired at UNO😜
....and in other coaching news....... Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, today announced that Larry Courville has been relieved of his duties as the team’s head coach. Kirk MacDonald, who has served as the Royals’ assistant coach since October of 2014, will serve as the team’s interim head coach. http://royalshockey.com/larry-courvi...-royals-coach/
Source tells me Canisius Head Coach Dave Smith will be the next head coach at RPI. It's a five-year contract. pic.twitter.com/0aBlVzY3b4
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) April 3, 2017
5 years
Last edited by Ralph Baer; 04-03-2017 at 05:36 PM.
I'll be at HFH and both games in CT next season, after 40+ years I don't know any better, but this entire process depresses me. Good luck Coach Smith. Please expose my fears as unfounded and bring some excitement back to the program. Even modest success could make you a true hero among a fan base aching for a return to relevance. Let's hope wiser minds than mine brought you to us.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)