Future Gopher Coach Discussion

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Crosby said:
Highly, highly doubt that this was a departure from his original plan. But yes... no matter what I agree with you. If there is a full interview process, with 4 or more candidates, and then he feels like Larson or Potulny is the best one, then I'll feel a bit better about either one of them.
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this. that we were hearing "finalists" and the job is between from multiple sources, reporters and those around the program alike, without reaching out to painfully obvious guys that you at least do the diligence of talking to, that is concerning (as well is an over reliance on old talking heads and alums like they're in touch with the demands of today which I won't get into). Same as it would've been concerning had he signed Rabs immediately or Barr.

Do the diligence of the full national search. Lucia wasn't from here and was successful. You don't need "ties" here if you can coach and can motivate the base. Make some people tell you no. Do the diligence of interviewing thoroughly. Similarly to having a list of GM candidates at hand that you will interview.

If you end on Larson or Potulny then, fine you've made your choice. Those ones would've put either of them in a really bad place if it felt like you half-assed it but if it feels like you turned over the stones and they are the best candidate, it will help draw people to them rather than just feel provincial or lazy.
 

Seems like Raboin is definitely out so we hope Barr is one of the new candidates (assuming no way on Fersch)
 

I’m willing to give him some grace that maybe he thought Raboin was for sure yes and didn’t think he’d really need backup candidates. Then he panicked when he denied and just put emphasis on Larson but now he is slowing down and running a better search.

It’s just that everything I heard from people close to the program sounded like a shit show at the start. Haste makes waste. Praying Barr or Cashman is being considered finally.
 






I've seen a few names included here so figured I'd post the experience of those shared.
  • Nate Leaman, 418-301-102, 2 Conference Titles, 8 NCAA Tournaments, 2 Frozen Fours, 1 NCAA Title - 22 Seasons, Union and Providence
  • Steve Rollick, 221-177-45, 1 Conference Title, 5 NCAA Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four - 12 Seasons, Ohio State
  • Brett Larson, 137-97-22, 1 Conference Title, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 6 NCAA Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four, 1 NCAA Runner-Up - 7 Seasons, St. Cloud State
  • Grant Potulny, 128-113-17, 0 Conference Titles, 0 NCAA Tournaments - 7 Seasons, Northern Michigan
  • Pat Ferschweiler, 104-50-4, 1 Conference Title, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 4 NCAA Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four, 1 NCAA Title - 4 Seasons, Western Michigan
  • Ben Barr, 68-58-17, 1 Conference Title, 2 NCAA Tournaments - 4 Seasons, Maine
  • Reid Cashman, 43-19-12, 0 Conference Titles, 0 NCAA Tournaments - 4 Seasons, Dartmouth
  • Garrett Raboin, 30-31-8, 0 Conference Titles, 0 NCAA Tournaments - 2 Seasons, Augustana
For comparison, here's what the resume for Motzko and Lucia looked like before they were hired.
  • Don Lucia, 286-175-39, 4 Conference Titles, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 5 NCAA Tournaments, 2 Frozen Fours, 1 NCAA Runner-Up - 12 Seasons, Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado College
  • Bob Motzko, 276-192-49, 3 Conference Titles, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 8 NCAA
  • Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four - 13 Seasons, St. Cloud State
 





cheeseburgerphil26 said:

I don’t know if I actually believe this, but wow if Coyle pulled that off I would very gladly eat so much crow and apologize lol

Also not sure if this link actually works for those of you on here but it’s basically some smoke that Fersch may want to come here
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that's a real hard to know what to make of it tweet.

That would be a major win if they pulled that off. Some gopher fans probably wouldn't like it because i don't think Fersch is going to fuck around thinking he needs to have a 95% MN roster, but the team would absolutely play what fans view as Gopher hockey
 

upnorthkid said:
that's a real hard to know what to make of it tweet.

That would be a major win if they pulled that off. Some gopher fans probably wouldn't like it because i don't think Fersch is going to fuck around thinking he needs to have a 95% MN roster, but the team would absolutely play what fans view as Gopher hockey
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Hmmm... Not sure what to make of that either. But let's see how this plays out.
 

upnorthkid said:
that's a real hard to know what to make of it tweet.

That would be a major win if they pulled that off. Some gopher fans probably wouldn't like it because i don't think Fersch is going to fuck around thinking he needs to have a 95% MN roster, but the team would absolutely play what fans view as Gopher hockey
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With Carle an unrealistic candidate for reasons previously stated, I think a vast majority of us had Ferschweiler at the top of our coaching wish list.

I certainly hope there's truth to that rumor.
 



upnorthkid said:
this. that we were hearing "finalists" and the job is between from multiple sources, reporters and those around the program alike, without reaching out to painfully obvious guys that you at least do the diligence of talking to, that is concerning (as well is an over reliance on old talking heads and alums like they're in touch with the demands of today which I won't get into). Same as it would've been concerning had he signed Rabs immediately or Barr.

Do the diligence of the full national search. Lucia wasn't from here and was successful. You don't need "ties" here if you can coach and can motivate the base. Make some people tell you no. Do the diligence of interviewing thoroughly. Similarly to having a list of GM candidates at hand that you will interview.

If you end on Larson or Potulny then, fine you've made your choice. Those ones would've put either of them in a really bad place if it felt like you half-assed it but if it feels like you turned over the stones and they are the best candidate, it will help draw people to them rather than just feel provincial or lazy.
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Do you mean he wasn't a gopher? Or he wasn't from MN? He was indeed from Grand Rapids, MN.
 

Slim Tubby said:
With Carle an unrealistic candidate for reasons previously stated, I think a vast majority of us had Ferschweiler at the top of our coaching wish list.

I certainly hope there's truth to that rumor.
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he would've been top of my list but felt unrealistic based on WMU alum and that University has been willing to pay him to move him up the salary ranks. Think it would have to be a blow the doors off offer (so likely in the 1.25+mil range; they'll make the salary look like whatever so need the whole comp package) to get WMU to just take the buyout payday.
 

Ferschweiler teams would not have any of the soft BS hockey we've seen for ages. Would be wild...

Again, bald haha
 

Crosby said:
Do you mean he wasn't a gopher? Or he wasn't from MN? He was indeed from Grand Rapids, MN.
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was not a gopher in any capacity (player, coach or otherwise). left the state to play at ND and never was back so by the time he was at MN, he'd spent more time out of the state than in it
 

A Minnesotan coach that played MN HS hockey will always get plenty of points and a "Gopher pass" from the MN loyal fans.
 

upnorthkid said:
was not a gopher in any capacity (player, coach or otherwise). left the state to play at ND and never was back so by the time he was at MN, he'd spent more time out of the state than in it
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Got it. Fair enough.
 


No idea if it’s true but it’s something. No need to rush to hire the other coaches if you can wait for him.
 


From the Parkinglot said:

No idea if it’s true but it’s something. No need to rush to hire the other coaches if you can wait for him.
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My only concern are those two sources are about the last two I'd put much faith in, and one is Bucci just throwing it out there.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
I've seen a few names included here so figured I'd post the experience of those shared.
  • Nate Leaman, 418-301-102, 2 Conference Titles, 8 NCAA Tournaments, 2 Frozen Fours, 1 NCAA Title - 22 Seasons, Union and Providence
  • Steve Rollick, 221-177-45, 1 Conference Title, 5 NCAA Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four - 12 Seasons, Ohio State
  • Brett Larson, 137-97-22, 1 Conference Title, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 6 NCAA Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four, 1 NCAA Runner-Up - 7 Seasons, St. Cloud State
  • Grant Potulny, 128-113-17, 0 Conference Titles, 0 NCAA Tournaments - 7 Seasons, Northern Michigan
  • Pat Ferschweiler, 104-50-4, 1 Conference Title, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 4 NCAA Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four, 1 NCAA Title - 4 Seasons, Western Michigan
  • Ben Barr, 68-58-17, 1 Conference Title, 2 NCAA Tournaments - 4 Seasons, Maine
  • Reid Cashman, 43-19-12, 0 Conference Titles, 0 NCAA Tournaments - 4 Seasons, Dartmouth
  • Garrett Raboin, 30-31-8, 0 Conference Titles, 0 NCAA Tournaments - 2 Seasons, Augustana
For comparison, here's what the resume for Motzko and Lucia looked like before they were hired.
  • Don Lucia, 286-175-39, 4 Conference Titles, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 5 NCAA Tournaments, 2 Frozen Fours, 1 NCAA Runner-Up - 12 Seasons, Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado College
  • Bob Motzko, 276-192-49, 3 Conference Titles, 1 Conference Tournament Title, 8 NCAA
  • Tournaments, 1 Frozen Four - 13 Seasons, St. Cloud State
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Interesting thanks for posting. Not nitpicking...Bob also was an NCAA runner up.
 

From the Parkinglot said:

No idea if it’s true but it’s something. No need to rush to hire the other coaches if you can wait for him.
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Pats probably getting a huge pay increase one way or the other…it would be very profitable for him to have his name associated with the opening.
 

bonin21 said:
My only concern are those two sources are about the last two I'd put much faith in, and one is Bucci just throwing it out there.
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bucci was the one who "broke" bob being fired haha
 



Go4Puck said:
If Coyle really liked what Raboin brought to the table Cashman would be a very logical backup candidate to that type of guy.
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Neither have good career records. Any great younger D1 assistant coaches or D3 HCs worth looking at...just asking.
 

They both have done a lot with what they were given and in a short period of time. I don’t think you can realistically look at the D3 level and really say that’s a viable option for a program like ours, huge difference in what it takes to manage this program. I honestly haven’t looked at or considered D1 assistants simply because I think we have better proven HC options.
 
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