http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/k...-illinois/


http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/kunigonis.html

Looks like he dealt with the offensive side while at Virginia Tech. Definitely could use his help after last year's performance.

Young guy. VT isn't anything special as a program but he has worked in an elite league and has roots coaching in the north. Hard not to like it on paper

Interesting to pick a guy from the east coast who has no relationships with high school coaches around here. He may end up being a great choice but he's got a lot of work to do on the recruiting front.

Going from VA to IL weather will be brutal.

(01-04-2015 07:03 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Interesting to pick a guy from the east coast who has no relationships with high school coaches around here. He may end up being a great choice but he's got a lot of work to do on the recruiting front.

I'm sure that he's retaining the current coaching staff who have already recruited locally and are from this area.

(01-04-2015 07:03 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Interesting to pick a guy from the east coast who has no relationships with high school coaches around here. He may end up being a great choice but he's got a lot of work to do on the recruiting front.

Quotes from the new coach. The athletic department continues to push toward a national presence and it doesn't sound he will only be focusing on local talent.

"After meeting with Sean (Frazier) and members of the administration, and knowing the national attention the football program has drawn, the chance to be part of this athletic department was very intriguing."

"[Former] coach [Ed] Mathey did a great job revitalizing the program when he took over. We're looking to take the program a step further, being a consistent force in the MAC but also in the region, and eventually on the national stage."

(01-04-2015 07:03 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Interesting to pick a guy from the east coast who has no relationships with high school coaches around here. He may end up being a great choice but he's got a lot of work to do on the recruiting front.

He was the VT recruiting coordinator and says he has recruited Chicago.

On paper this seems like a great hire. We will see in 2 seasons what the teams schedule looks like.

Getting a new field in the master plan likely helped our options.

Just some more quotes from our new Manager:

RE: Sean Fraizer - “He’s definitely the type of person, personality-wise, he just gets stuff done,” Kunigonis said Monday. “You look at his track record, where he’s been, the road he’s taken, it’s the type of guy where everywhere he’s been he’s been successful. Obviously, him climbing the ranks, they just don’t hand positions like that to everybody.”

“Sean is somebody who, he’s going to lay it all out there for me, he’s not going to lie,” Kunigonis said. “He’s like, ‘Hey, listen, we’re going to have to get out there and work,’ and I said, ‘You tell me what you need me to do, how we get this thing going.’ ”

RE: Recruiting - “I’ve been all throughout the midwest, it’s just a hotbed. There’s a reason why every SEC and ACC and Big 12 program recruits the Chicago area,” Kunigonis said. “It’s because of the amount of talent that’s in our immediate area. I’ve been saying I want to get in here and own the state of Chicago, because that’s where I think we’re going to do some great work.”

RE: NIU - “I’d be lying if I told you football wasn’t a factor,” Kunigonis said. “They were in the Orange Bowl (in 2012), they won the MAC this year. That’s the type of place that’s going to continue to rise.”

(01-05-2015 10:02 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  Just some more quotes from our new Manager:

RE: Sean Fraizer - “He’s definitely the type of person, personality-wise, he just gets stuff done,” Kunigonis said Monday. “You look at his track record, where he’s been, the road he’s taken, it’s the type of guy where everywhere he’s been he’s been successful. Obviously, him climbing the ranks, they just don’t hand positions like that to everybody.”

“Sean is somebody who, he’s going to lay it all out there for me, he’s not going to lie,” Kunigonis said. “He’s like, ‘Hey, listen, we’re going to have to get out there and work,’ and I said, ‘You tell me what you need me to do, how we get this thing going.’ ”

RE: Recruiting - “I’ve been all throughout the midwest, it’s just a hotbed. There’s a reason why every SEC and ACC and Big 12 program recruits the Chicago area,” Kunigonis said. “It’s because of the amount of talent that’s in our immediate area. I’ve been saying I want to get in here and own the state of Chicago, because that’s where I think we’re going to do some great work.”

RE: NIU - “I’d be lying if I told you football wasn’t a factor,” Kunigonis said. “They were in the Orange Bowl (in 2012), they won the MAC this year. That’s the type of place that’s going to continue to rise.”

Someone may want to give him a map.

I think it's a reference to Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" concept.

Given my recent move from ~50 miles from Chicago to Southern Illinois (Carbondale) I would definitely say he's justified in that comment too lol.