Thursday, March 27, 2008

Brady's Out....Who's Next

It comes with no surprise that coach Matt Brady is out after his 4 years as Marist head coach. Brady left the Foxes after another disappointing MAAC Tournament exit for James Madison University, where he is expected to see around $300,000 a year.

While Brady saw some success in his tenure with the Red Foxes, his legacy will ultimately be one of disappointment. In his time as head coach Brady failed to get the Red Foxes to a MAAC Championship game (baffling with the talent he had last year) and failed to keep his word. It was no secret that Brady used his position as Red Fox coach to annually shop himself for a new job but after his 4 year contract extension last year you would at least think he would honor his words of:
"I'm excited to have the extension and to be part of the community for the next four years.''

After watching the Red Foxes get bounced again from the MACC Tournament before the championship game this year, one could not help wonder if Brady was so angry because the team lost or because it would give him less leverage for his new job.

Reports s
ay that if Brady had taken his team to the championship game this season he would have received an offer at Providence, a big time D-1 program. Instead Brady settled for JMU which is not much of a step up from the MAAC.

Perhaps the biggest blow of the Brady departure comes with next years recruiting situation as well as the freshman guards Brady brought in last year, most notably Jay Gavin. Brady recruits are now in question if they will come to Marist and Gavin who had a breakout rookie season is in doubt if he will stay of transfer.

If one of t
he Red Fox assistant coaches is promoted then he may be able to save Gavin and some of the recruits. However, it is unlikely that Tim Murray would hand over the Red Fox coaching reigns to a MAAC assistant coach, even if they are the best fit.

Of the coaching replacements swirling around campus, my first choice would be Steve Masiello, who served as Rick Pitino's right hand man at Louisville. Masiello is familiar with the MAAC after spending 4 years with Manhattan in the early 2000's, helping them reach the NCAA Tournament two times and the NIT once.

Masiello played for Pitino at UK as a walk on freshmen in 1996-97 but his relationship goes well beyond that. Masiello's father and Pitino are old friends and Steve was even a ball boy for the Knicks in the late 80's when Pitino was head coach.

The relationship with Masiello and Pitino would be great for the Red Foxes as it will bring a coach who has learned from one of the best in college basketball and also bring instant creditability to the program, further strengthening recruiting.

Whatever happens you hope that the next head coach is one who appreciates the Marist position, is true to his word and lives up to his promises.....something Brady did not.


Wednesday, March 5, 2008

March to Albany

Saturday is the big one, MAAC Tournament time as the Red Foxes will face off against last years MAAC Champ Niagara at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. The game is at 10pm and will be broadcast on MSG.