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Willard and a slew of other coaches are linked to the Pitt job. I know Willard seat was blazing hot before the season but, coming off a BEast championship would you prefer him to bolt for the Pitt job and pursue Hurley? Or do you feel Willard has hit his stride and has everything lined up for great things to come?

Opinions welcome

Kevin Willard. He did an excellent job this season and really looked like a new coach who's now ready to lead a major cbb program. The SHU administration knew when they hired him that it was going to be a work in progress/learning on the job situation and gave him an appropriately long leash and I'd like to think that even if Pitt does come calling, Willard will show Seton Hall the same loyalty that they showed him. After the past revolving door of coaches every 4 years, it's nice to see some consistency at Seton Hall, especially with results finally starting to arrive.

If Willard were to leave, Dan Hurley would be my personal top choice for a replacement atm, but it's far from a given that he would come. He has a potential top 25 team at Rhode Island next year and seems committed to staying, as evidenced by giving next to no consideration to taking the Rutgers job (yes,the Seton Hall job is significantly better than RU in every aspect but $$$, but by no means elite and Hurley could probably do better in a year or 2 by staying patient).

And finally, I think Willard leaving would all but assure Whitehead stays in the NBA draft and does not return to school. Plus, who knows what other members of the sophomore class may follow him out the door via transfer or looking to turn pro. These kids came to play for coach Willard and I would hope he at least stays the remainder of their 4 years.

Hall2012 wrote:Kevin Willard. He did an excellent job this season and really looked like a new coach who's now ready to lead a major cbb program. The SHU administration knew when they hired him that it was going to be a work in progress/learning on the job situation and gave him an appropriately long leash and I'd like to think that even if Pitt does come calling, Willard will show Seton Hall the same loyalty that they showed him. After the past revolving door of coaches every 4 years, it's nice to see some consistency at Seton Hall, especially with results finally starting to arrive.

If Willard were to leave, Dan Hurley would be my personal top choice for a replacement atm, but it's far from a given that he would come. He has a potential top 25 team at Rhode Island next year and seems committed to staying, as evidenced by giving next to no consideration to taking the Rutgers job (yes,the Seton Hall job is significantly better than RU in every aspect but $$$, but by no means elite and Hurley could probably do better in a year or 2 by staying patient).

And finally, I think Willard leaving would all but assure Whitehead stays in the NBA draft and does not return to school. Plus, who knows what other members of the sophomore class may follow him out the door via transfer or looking to turn pro. These kids came to play for coach Willard and I would hope he at least stays the remainder of their 4 years.

Great post. My thoughts also, I of course deferred to others closer to the situation. Like you said I also believe he is directly linked to the 2018 class

Willard. I want all of our successful coaches to stay long term. The best way for this league to become elite is stability in coaching. The best way to continue attracting top talent is for them to see that the coaches in our league are not looking for the first flight out of town. Granted, there are a handful of jobs around the country that almost no coach would turn down, and of course every coach has his alma matter or another bucket list program that he might leave a school for. But, to be an elite conference, we can't have our coaches leaving to go to some middle to bottom of the pack teams from a P5 football conference ala Buzz. If money is the issue, we need to have our schools willing to spend the money. If kids know that if he comes to a BE school and the team is successful then his coach isn't going anywhere, more kids will consider BE schools, IMO.

I think there might be some bad blood between hurley and seton hall.

HugeFan wrote:I think there might be some bad blood between hurley and seton hall.

What makes you say that Novaball?

hoops22 wrote:

HugeFan wrote:I think there might be some bad blood between hurley and seton hall.

What makes you say that Novaball?

Dan Hurley heard his share of boos and jeers from the crowd during his playing days at Seton Hall- to the point where he even temporarily quit the team. I'm a bit young to know the whole story of what went on, but he didn't have a great relationship with the fans, at least at first.

Yeah, no idea but have heard rumblings on RI based boards that Hurley didn't have the best of times at SH. I think expectations of being Danny's brother made it difficult.

Just found the below articles.

Having watched, and attended, a few URI games I can say that Hurley is a really intense guy on the sidelines. I was at the PC/URI game a few years ago at URI and Hurley spent half the game in a defensive stance on the court.

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150226/NEWS/150229415

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/20/sports/a-little-brother-grows-up.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/12/12/danny-hurley-takes-leave-from-seton-hall-basketball/c23b5ca9-2f0e-4539-95da-3c43013032a5/

Just in the past during Seton Hall coach discussion threads on their rivals board many people would say that Danny didn't have a good relationship with Seton Hall, and that's why Rutgers always seemed like the more probable destination. No clue if it is true or not.