Gopher Coaches Will Not Be Back

[Sam Dillon]

Blurb in St. Paul paper this morning indicates that the Bernstein/Standering era at Minnesota has finally came to an end.

I'm sure they're great people but I think it's a change that was WAY overdue.

[Michael Linehan]

They ran some fabulous clinics. My daughter enjoyed and learned more from those coaches in the two clinics she attended over the winter then any other she has been at. I barely knew them I guess but I will miss them. Despite a lot of girls around at the clinics they learned my daughters name and made her feel welcome and appreciated while she was there.

My daughter was signed up to attend their clinic at the stadium in August. No idea what's going to happen with that.

If they were let go because of win/loss record I guess that's the business. I don't agree with it though. It's not like the 3 teams that need to win at the "U" the most are winning and it's not like the University isn't winning in most other minor sports. Minnesota doesn't have any inherent recruiting advantages when it comes to softball and I think the coaches did a great job while they were here. Not sure what the real story is here but Maturi should be spending his time getting a winning football team and getting his Men's Hockey and Basketball teams back to prominence.

Sad to see them go.

[Chris Howells]

Makes you wonder if their lack of success was brought to the forefront by NDSU getting seeded into the post season two years in a row with a new coach.  Hard to point to seasonality or regionality as causes for lack of success when you have someone nearby by in a smaller metro even further north having success.

FYI, I'm just musing not being critical.  I hope someday I'm good enough to get fired from a Div I coaching job!!

[Vince Muehe]

Article (blurb) can be found on TwinCities.com (link)

[Michael Linehan]

Makes you wonder if their lack of success was brought to the forefront by NDSU getting seeded into the post season two years in a row with a new coach.  Hard to point to seasonality or regionality as causes for lack of success when you have someone nearby by in a smaller metro even further north having success.

FYI, I'm just musing not being critical.  I hope someday I'm good enough to get fired from a Div I coaching job!!

I hadn't thought of that but you're right, that probably did it. I saw the NDSU coach speak at the coaches clinic held here in February. I should have remembered how well they've done.

[Tim Husted]

I want to first start by giving tremendous credit to Coach Bernstein and Coach Standering for the successes they did have during their tenure at the University of Minnesota.  Clearly there were some winning seasons and a huge success in the vision of building Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.  I would also give them credit for the camp/clinic program that they created and was quite successful for many years. 

I think many in the youth softball community will struggle to understand the realities of D1 athletics, even in softball.  D1 athletics is big business driven not only by the revenue of those sports (Football, Men's Hoops, Men's Hockey in Minnesota) but also the business of excellence that all Universities use to build up their endowment.  D1 schools, and to some extent all post-secondary institutions, use elite athletics to attract elite students with the hope that those students end up with elite jobs and make large donations to their former school.

Tubby Smith is not only about winning hoops games and selling tickets but is about trying to get alumni to make donations and attract elite business students who want to go to a school where they can root for the basketball team. 

The best view of Head Coaching jobs in softball at the D1 level is the "CEO Coach".  Coaches have to develop and attract elite players, build and support modern stadiums, build strong relationships within the community to increase brand name recognition and ticket sales for all sports and ensure their athletes are a positive representation of the University.  It is part Teacher, part Salesman, part PR and part finance. 

The University of Minnesota's softball team has had limited success in recruiting players from outside MN, had limited success in their on field performance in recent years, some questionable talent evaluations and I believe that the changes are not so much a reflection on the old coaches but probably a desire to make a change to hopefully create a fresh start.  A coaching change can be the best way to get a new excitement about the stale program. 

That said, it would be naive to think that you can simply replace the current coaches with new coaches and the results will change.  The University of Minnesota will need to provide additional support and/or address whatever issues limited the ability for the current coaches to be more successful. 

That said, the MN job is one of many D1 Head Coaching jobs that are/will be open and there is some upside to the job.  Unless something changes, there is in my view an elite pitching recruit who has the ability to be an impact pitcher early for the Gophers joining a staff that had a strong freshman pitcher already. 

There is additional talent in the returning ranks although some major roster turnover is probably appropriate and should be expected.  Additionally, the University of Minnesota has a viable stadium, an early season indoor tournament to help with travel costs yet get early games, limited competition for D1 caliber athletes in MN and a fairly strong fan base in the area. 

We will learn a lot about the direction of the U of M program once we see their decision for the next head coach.  I'm optimistic that they will make an additional commitment to excellence similar to what they did with their other underperforming teams in the past few years. 

TJH

[Michael Linehan]

Tim,

Are you sure the Metrodome thing in February is still on? I had heard that this would be the last year cause the "U"'s contract with the dome was over and the Vikings were not going to renew it. Or did that change? I admit I was puzzled that the baseball team was playing there this year after hearing that this February.

Mike Linehan

[Darren Hansen]

We have many great coaches right in our own area, What are the thoughts on a list of a possible coaches? 

Tschida
Bauman
Mueller

Thoughts?

[Tim Husted]

In the history of the Big Ten, there has been ZERO male head coaches in the sport of Fastpitch softball.  In the Big Ten last year, there was one male assistant coach, Shane Bauman at Iowa. 

I think your list is well established with the names that most people would assume should be on the short list, no doubt. 

That said, if the University of Minnesota hires any of those three names, is partially based on the role gender will play in the hiring decision. 

If I was a betting person, I'd say that the short list will also incude some Major college assistant coaches and some mid major head coaches looking for better facilities, recruiting base etc

TJH

[Josh Buxton]

In other Big Ten news, the Badgers fired their coach:

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/article_a594edba-6f59-11df-bceb-001cc4c002e0.html

[Tim Husted]

Officially, Badgers did not RENEW their coaches contract but yes "fired". This has been rumored for weeks and weeks now; it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

In Wisconsin, there isn't a clear cut favorite for the role. 

Bucky has had the male coach/female sport issue come up in the past and that issue is well played out in the following article from the Milwaukee JS.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=20030509&id=uCwqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hUUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6724,7024824

That said, we still have the issue of male coach/female sport.  I'm not trying to create a "issue" where there is not an issue.  I believe the most qualified coach should be hired regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and/or creed. 

I also think that the people hurt most by the male coach/female sport bias is the many wonderfully qualified and best candidates females who get the job and are questioned unfairly.

Equal Opportunity hiring should be Equal. 

TJH

[Darren Hansen]

When can we expect a new coach to be named for Minnesota? 

I would expect any recruits they had coming in have put there decisions on hold and are probably waiting to see who is going to be named before they make there decisions,

[Tim Husted]

More on the Badger Softball Coaching Opening...

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/article_a594edba-6f59-11df-bceb-001cc4c002e0.html

TJH

[Tim Husted]

The University of Wisconsin has broken the gender gap in women's softball in the Big 10, that is a huge statement and could have an impact now on the Iowa and Minnesota jobs....

Coach Vigness built a strong program in Creighton and did recruit well in Minnesota, I'm sure the HS coaches in Wisconsin are expecting him to build a true "Wisconsin" program but I'd assume he'll focus his recruiting in Chicagoland, Omaha, Twin Cities as well as Wisconsin.  He did have a large Nebraska base at Creighton which is a sign he may be willing to recruit Wisconsin kids. 

Congrats to the Badgers and Coach Vigness.

I wonder if he'll bring his sister as his assistant coach?

TJH

[Michael Linehan]

Wasn't surprised to see that NDSU's Mueller got an interview for the Gopher job. I'd like to know who the other finalists are though.

http://www.fastsports.com/#100706B

[Darren Hansen]

Word has it the new coach will be announced sometime today,

[Sam Dillon]

I guess Vigness had a change of heart-

MADISON, Wis. -- Brent Vigness, the head softball coach at Creighton University who had accepted the same position at the University of Wisconsin recently, has decided to remain at Creighton, UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez announced Wednesday.

[Michael Linehan]

I guess Vigness had a change of heart-

MADISON, Wis. -- Brent Vigness, the head softball coach at Creighton University who had accepted the same position at the University of Wisconsin recently, has decided to remain at Creighton, UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez announced Wednesday.

Sounds like he didn't clear it with his family first.

Now, Alvarez has resumed his search for a head coach. Vigness, who has a wife and three sons, cited personal reasons for changing his mind.

"Family is what is most important to me," Vigness said. "I kind of lost sight of that during this process, and with each passing day, I've realized that more and more."

http://journalstar.com/sports/softball/article_d77c2bc0-8a2c-11df-b242-001cc4c03286.html

Even more detail here.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100707/BLUEJAYS/707089847

[Michael Linehan]

Word has it the new coach will be announced sometime today,

Any scuttle on what the hold up is?

[David Wolvington]

Any scuttle on what the hold up is?

From what I've read, next Friday was the expected announcement. I'm sure it will happen when the U of M is sure.

David

[Michael Linehan]

Any scuttle on what the hold up is?

From what I've read, next Friday was the expected announcement. I'm sure it will happen when the U of M is sure.

David

Of that I have no doubt. Hopefully whoever they choose doesn't have the same bizarre outcome as Wisconsin.

Anyone know who else is on the list? I heard the St. Thomas coach got an interview as well. Not sure if he's a finalist or not or what that even means.

[Michael Linehan]

A little birdie says University of St. Thomas softball coach John Tschida can have the Gophers' softball coaching job if he wants it after a woman from a western U.S. school turned it down. A deal might hinge, though, on whether he has to retain certain assistants.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_15517769

Anyone know who turned it down?

[Tim Husted]

Rumors are that the California Assistant who coached at Bradley and Wisconsin (Lohmann) was considered a candidate and turned it down.  Also heard that Cal Poly Head Coach (Condon) who played at Iowa State also turned the job down.   

No clue if this is true. 

My understanding is the issue is not assistant coaches but players and commitments.  The University of Minnesota wants the next coach to commit to keeping players who are currently on the roster and 2010 and 2011 grads with commitments for their full 4 years. 

Considering the Gophers struggles of late, any coach would want to bring in percieved better players and with some top recruits actually signed, wouldn't want to lose kids to transfer because they know they won't be able to attract top talent with few open roster spots and a requirement to keep players that don't improve the program. 

I'm sure that any potential coach is talking about power and control over money/contract tenure but all are key issues along with university support to consider. 

I see the Gopher job as a positive job IF the coach is allowed to run the program from day 1 without the burden of the past.

One reminder I want to give for all on the board is the hiring of a Gopher's coach is not quite the same as who will coach the 16U Gold Club Team.  For this person it will be their full time job at a salary around $70K and a job they want to hold down as most candiates.  If they are successful, they will keep their job but if they can't turn around the program and probably quickly they will risk losing their job.  Interesting thing about D1 Head Coaching jobs, if you lose the job; your options often are not at the D1 level and the pay decrease is drastic to D1 assistant coach ($45K) or D2/D3 Head Coach. 

Strong Potential Coaches are not gonna "take a chance they can turn around an entire existing roster" in my view. 

[Michael Linehan]

That's confusing to me. The football coaches are given plenty of rope to make their team and get to wait to be assessed when the team is built with their players.

Why the big push to blow the roster up instead of keeping the commitments of the "U" and rebuilding over a period of 4 years and see where the team is at? Why is football given so much rope?

Lisa and Julie didn't leave the cupboard so bare that the team couldn't perform.

[Todd Sogge]

From a college coaching source, I've heard that all 4 of the finalist have now turned down the Gopher job (for the reasons Tim has listed above).  John T. turned it down at the end of last week.