+- CSNbbs (https://csnbbs.com)
+-- Forum: Active Boards (/forum-769.html)
+--- Forum: WACbbs (/forum-376.html)
+---- Forum: WAC West Division (/forum-1008.html)
+----- Forum: Grand Canyon (/forum-988.html)
+----- Thread: May out as women's coach (/thread-811665.html)
May out as women's coach - Brillio - 03-07-2017 10:41 PM
Just saw that the Lopes let May go as the coach. He was doing alright wasn't he? I was kind of surprised by this.
RE: May out as women's coach - ThunderDan49 - 03-07-2017 10:57 PM
Not really. The team finished fifth in the WAC and took steps back this year and this should have been his best team.
RE: May out as women's coach - gleadley - 03-07-2017 11:59 PM
I'm not sure there was a nicer guy coaching in D1. I got to interview May as a part of media day a couple years ago and he was great. I have friends who coach girls HS teams in the Valley and he has invited them in to observe practices and pick his brain about coaching. It really is a bummer to see him go.
That said, I'm not sure I found it a shock. Our athletic department has a stated mission/goal of Top 25 in everything, and basketball is the marquee sport in that department. If the athletics and/or university administrators didn't see progress toward that goal in recruiting or record from May, pursuing another option makes sense.
The two words they used in the announcement referring to the search for a new HC were "comprehensive" and "national". As much as my initial thought is that GCU would try to get a splashy name, a proven winner is more valuable now that the program is tourney eligible.
I could see them targeting a top assistant from a power school/conference. I wouldn't be shocked if it was someone who has coached and/or played in the WNBA. I could also see Mike Vaught picking up the phone and calling a Rhonda Rompola, who coached at SMU when he was AD & actually won a WAC championship during their time in the conference. We'll see!
RE: May out as women's coach - Brillio - 03-08-2017 01:14 PM
If that's the case, then the volleyball coach's seat must be pretty warm then yeah? Didn't they only win 5 matches or something this year? With a split with Chicago state?
RE: May out as women's coach - gleadley - 03-08-2017 01:41 PM
Nollan's seat probably isn't warm yet. He was just hired last Spring, after being in USC's program as an assistant and associate HC for 9 seasons. Given the pedigree of Nollan & staff, plus low-profile nature of volleyball at GCU, I think he gets at least another 2-3 seasons to have the program up and running.
RE: May out as women's coach - ThunderDan49 - 03-08-2017 03:15 PM
If the Women's Volleyball coach doesn't get it going in about 3 years, no way he lasts. However, the one thing that hasn't changed under the new guy is the number of wins. I think we had six the season before we brought him in and had that same number this past season.
RE: May out as women's coach - gleadley - 03-08-2017 04:00 PM
Nollan had 7 holdovers from Nader and the 6 new players he brought in were freshmen. I'm not sure how reasonable it was to expect a huge difference in Year 1. I'm guessing there will be more roster turnover between Year 1 and 2, as Nollan identifies and signs more of "his" athletes.
I agree that if there is no marked progress in Years 2 & 3, things will heat up a bit. For now, he's good.