Coaching Staff

[Shawn Bradley Guy]

Ryan James‏@RyanJamesMN

I'm told the 3 finalists for the Hamline job are Joe Esposito of Minnesota, Jim Hayes of St Thomas, and Rob Babcock of the Timberwolves.

Came across this on twitter today. Has our DOBO thrown his name in the proverbial hat for other open coaching jobs? Just curious on whether this is normal or that they see the writing on the wall from Teague. Plus, I understand Taylor trying to get his own D1 gig, but this seems like a step down for the DOBO of a D1 program.

I attended Hamline...so, I have no idea why this job would appeal to him (Hamline is kind of Minnesota-ish in the MIAC by being middle to bottom tier in all sports except of course our outstanding women's gymnastics team).

 

[BleedGopher]

I believe Esposito interviewed and was a finalist for the Minnesota-Duluth job last a year or two years ago and was also in the running for another local area job.

Jirsa was a finalist for a lower level HC job in Wisconsin this past year, and obviously Taylor has been unsuccessful so far in a few attempts at a D1 job.

Go Gophers!!

 

[From the Barn]

Of course we would lose the one competetent member of the staff.

 

[dpodoll68]

It seems you have an inflated opinion of what a DBO is. They're basically a glorified administrative assistant. If he ever wants to coach at the DI level, he needs to get some coaching experience at the lower levels first. I have no idea what Hamline would pay their head basketball coach, but he makes $90 k at the U. For comparison, Jirsa makes about $160 k and Taylor about $150 k. Saul, surprisingly, only makes about $90 k as well.

 

[Shawn Bradley Guy]

Unless he O'Leary'd his resume, it states he already has college coaching experience at the D2 level (something called Angelo State) for eight years. But, I get your point because going to Hamline would put him on the fast track...

 

[GophersInIowa]

Unless he O'Leary'd his resume, it states he already has college coaching experience at the D2 level (something called Angelo State) for eight years. But, I get your point because going to Hamline would put him on the fast track...

The only thing I can think of is that it has been a few years since he was a head coach. Who knows though, maybe he just likes being a head coach a lot more regardless of the level.

 

[dpodoll68]

Unless he O'Leary'd his resume, it states he already has college coaching experience at the D2 level (something called Angelo State) for eight years. But, I get your point because going to Hamline would put him on the fast track...

Good call. I thought he only had previous assistant experience, not previous head coaching experience. It does seem to be a strange move given that prior experience.

 

[Winnipegopher]

It might be a quality of life move. If you recognize that you aren't likely to advance, the idea of a stable coaching gig in a great city might be appealing. Very little travel, extremely reduced recruiting, less stress etc.* He is 47 with four kids, probably wants to be around to watch them grow up.

*This assumes that coaching in the MIAC is less stressful. I don't follow MIAC at all but I am assuming coaches don't get fired very often.

 

[Ope3]

Dan Kosmoski (former Gopher Asst under Haskins) has been at St Olaf for 19 seasons now with a record of 162-218 in the MIAC. They haver never been really bad, but never really good either. His best finish was 3rd last year and they were promptly dumped in the first round of the play-offs.

Nice gig if you can get it.

 

[From the Barn]

Coach Koz is good people. His fitness walking class has always been popular.

 

[From the Barn]

It might be a quality of life move. If you recognize that you aren't likely to advance, the idea of a stable coaching gig in a great city might be appealing. Very little travel, extremely reduced recruiting, less stress etc.* He is 47 with four kids, probably wants to be around to watch them grow up.

*This assumes that coaching in the MIAC is less stressful. I don't follow MIAC at all but I am assuming coaches don't get fired very often.

Totally quality of life move. Gets to stay in the area, maybe make a little extra money, less stress, less travel.

The bigger question goes to whether the writing is on the wall re: the staff's future.

 

[Ope3]

Coach Koz is good people. His fitness walking class has always been popular.

I agree Coach Koz is salt of the earth. He's the 2nd best men's MIAC basketball coach in Rice County.