Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

[bcfan131]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

Seeing that UMass is "lacking institutional support" at this time, of all times for their hockey program, is mind-boggling to me. Does anyone in that athletic department realize what they could have with Jonathan Quick as a recruiting tool, not only for hockey, but for their entire athletic department?! Quick absolutely shattered certain playoff goaltending records and became only the 3rd American born player (and also 3rd college hockey product) to win a Conn Smythe. I mean, outside of anything Dr. J has done, his playoff performance has to be the biggest moment for a UMass alum in pro sports ever. And at the ripe age of 26 (meaning he's a relatively recent product of the UMass hockey program), he could very well become one of the league's next big goaltending stars. You would think seeing how Quick has done would give the school some hope with the hockey program, or say "gee we should fund it more, maybe we could get some more Jonathan Quicks" but apparently they just think he's a flash in the pan for UMass, which is kind of sad. Or maybe the athletic department there is just incompetent and doesn't know how to properly leverage his success, who knows.

All that aside, as a BC fan I'm sad to see Toot Cahoon go, cause we always seemed to have UMass's number under his regime, especially at Conte. As a college hockey fan or a fan of seeing stronger competition in Hockey East, it's probably a good thing - assuming they find a better coach. We saw coaching changes really inject new life into UML and PC last year (though not so much NU), so I wonder if it will have a similar effect on UMass.

[FRICKER]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

J.D. - of course, UMass can do better than Toots, but they also can do a lot worse. UMass isn't established enough as a D1 destination for an established coach to go to to end his career, but it's
not a "starter D1 coaching job" either. In that light, you won't attract a coach like Jerry York, ending up at BC after stops at Bowling Green & Clarkson, but you might get a Jerry York type on his way to his BC assignment.

[REDMEN2002]

Another quality hockey guy gets fired fighting for support from his Administration. Toot was a class act at Princeton, he continued at UMass, and will likely land another D1. A Kimall Union grad, I
got to know Toot when my son, Matt, attendedd KUA, and also when I was working with Andy Weidenbach and the Compuware Junior "A" club, although I worked more with Lenny Grennele (sp???)
Could he be a candidate? Where is he now. From the names being pingponged about, I like Mark Dennehy. Wasn't he an assistant at UMASS before?

Dennehy isnt going to UMass. A lateral move with lack of support for hockey.

[J.D.]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

Fricker, point being that I don't think UMass was wrong to move on from Cahoon. The timing was just terrible. In the long-run, they can do better than what they did under him. That's just my opinion.

[Drew S.]

Fricker, point being that I don't think UMass was wrong to move on from Cahoon. The timing was just terrible. In the long-run, they can do better than what they did under him. That's just my opinion.

I would love to hear how. Best case for them is sixth or seventh place, especially with Notre Dame joining the league.

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

Fricker, point being that I don't think UMass was wrong to move on from Cahoon. The timing was just terrible. In the long-run, they can do better than what they did under him. That's just my opinion.

The timing is really awful -- what are we, 7, 8 weeks tops from having players back on campus? Even if they hurry up and hire someone, that person will have MAYBE 6-7 weeks to do damage control with players. Just imagine what the incoming freshman are thinking right about now... not good. If this was a flat out firing, it would've/should've been done in April. Makes me think it was the result of Toots pressing the Admin for more love.

[J.D.]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

I would love to hear how. Best case for them is sixth or seventh place, especially with Notre Dame joining the league.

Ya, you're right. I mean, Norm Bazin had zero success in his FIRST year at a much smaller/lower budget UMass school. Mark Dennehy hasn't been able to accomplish anything at Merrimack. It simply can't be done...there is no hope for UMass.

It's all about the coach.

[ericredaxe]

Ya, you're right. I mean, Norm Bazin had zero success in his FIRST year at a much smaller/lower budget UMass school. Mark Dennehy hasn't been able to accomplish anything at Merrimack. It simply can't be done...there is no hope for UMass.

It's all about the coach.

Don't forget... Umass had a success blip too with an NCAA year under cahoon. Will be interesting to see if Mack and Lowell continue their recent success or if they come down a bit again.

[Hokydad]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

Dennehys job.
To say he hasn't accomplished anything at Merrimack must be a joke, unless you have been living in Kuwait since 2004.

[J.D.]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

Don't forget... Umass had a success blip too with an NCAA year under cahoon. Will be interesting to see if Mack and Lowell continue their recent success or if they come down a bit again.

1 NCAA year in how many years? Mixed in with many terrible finishes in Hockey East. So, I'll ask you...can UMass do better than that?

Dennehys job.
To say he hasn't accomplished anything at Merrimack must be a joke, unless you have been living in Kuwait since 2004.

Dear God hoky, read it again...

[ericredaxe]

1 NCAA year in how many years? Mixed in with many terrible finishes in Hockey East. So, I'll ask you...can UMass do better than

No idea. But the examples you gave of Lowell and Merrimack have had one NCAA as well. Will they make it back within the next few years? Who knows, the jury is still out.

[Drew S.]

Don't forget... Umass had a success blip too with an NCAA year under cahoon. Will be interesting to see if Mack and Lowell continue their recent success or if they come down a bit again.

Exactly. Schools like UMA, UML, Providence, and Merrimack are going to be in the top four once in awhile but I really can't see any of them doing it consistently with how competitive hockey east is.

[Hokydad]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

1 NCAA year in how many years? Mixed in with many terrible finishes in Hockey East. So, I'll ask you...can UMass do better than that?



Dear God hoky, read it again...

duh

[4four4]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

They likely hire an interim coach currently on the staff.

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach

Exactly. Schools like UMA, UML, Providence, and Merrimack are going to be in the top four once in awhile but I really can't see any of them doing it consistently with how competitive hockey east is.

Bingo.