"Atticus Finch @wbballhoopscoop 3h3 hours ago
UMASS: Tory Verdi will be named UMASS coach tomorrow. This is 100% confirmed"
EDIT: It has been confirmed by UMass:
http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/w-b...16aaa.html
Verdi is going back home.
Seems his career has been spent in N.E, Kansas/Nebraska, and MI.
Can't blame him...
I mean unless you took his commitment to staying until 2020, or whenever it was, seriously.
(04-08-2016 10:55 PM)KPJ Wrote: [ -> ]Check out @ToryVerdi1's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ToryVerdi1/status/61...90432?s=09
Two rules of thumb in college sports:
1). (in recruiting) a verbal commitment isn't worth the paper it is written on (Hint: it isn't written so it isn't worth anything).
2). Contracts aren't covenants. Coaches leave and coaches are fired. Contracts determine the terms while the coaches are employed by a university and the terms for terminating the contract by either side (i.e., employee and university). In many case, if not most, it is EXPECTED that the contract will not be 'until death do us part' (er, until the coach retires). Coach Izzo, Coach K, etc. are the exceptions, not the rule.
For those into recruiting, here is the posted 2016/17 roster:
http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball
I count a total of eight players. Scholarship limits in WBB is 15. The 2016/17 roster is the 2015/16 roster minus 4 seniors and minus redshirt frosh Tiggs.
I'd have to check to see how many scholarships were given out in November and how many remain. Needless to say, this could be interesting...
Best wishes to the assistant coaches. Carly has roots in N.E. so maybe she can go home. Others have roots here so we'll see what happens.
Being an assistant coach is NOT a dream job. "Here today, gone tomorrow..."
Dear Friends,
It will be interesting to see if Athletic Director Lyke will be looking for a head coach, or an assistant that looks promising.
(04-09-2016 10:33 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Friends,
It will be interesting to see if Athletic Director Lyke will be looking for a head coach, or an assistant that looks promising.
Something I have been thinking:
When Dr. Gragg, an African-American, was at EMU some talked that we had mostly African-American head coaches in the major sports, i.e, FB (English), men's hoops (Murphy), women's hoops (Gilbert), and baseball (Alexander).
Now Murphy is the only African-American HC at EMU in these sports. If he leaves or whatever, we have none.
We would be completely devoid of African-Americans at the highest levels of EMU athletics.
Here's to hoping the hire Wendale Farrow!!!!!!
(04-09-2016 11:00 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ] (04-09-2016 10:33 AM)Ken Barna Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Friends,
It will be interesting to see if Athletic Director Lyke will be looking for a head coach, or an assistant that looks promising.
Something I have been thinking:
When Dr. Gragg, an African-American, was at EMU some talked that we had mostly African-American head coaches in the major sports, i.e, FB (English), men's hoops (Murphy), women's hoops (Gilbert), and baseball (Alexander).
Now Murphy is the only African-American HC at EMU in these sports. If he leaves or whatever, we have none.
We would be completely devoid of African-Americans at the highest levels of EMU athletics.
I'm for the best hire regardless of race.
Apparently UMass doubled Verdi's EMU salary.
(04-09-2016 08:35 AM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]For those into recruiting, here is the posted 2016/17 roster:
http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball
I count a total of eight players. Scholarship limits in WBB is 15. The 2016/17 roster is the 2015/16 roster minus 4 seniors and minus redshirt frosh Tiggs.
I'd have to check to see how many scholarships were given out in November and how many remain. Needless to say, this could be interesting...
Best wishes to the assistant coaches. Carly has roots in N.E. so maybe she can go home. Others have roots here so we'll see what happens.
Being an assistant coach is NOT a dream job. "Here today, gone tomorrow..."
Unless my math failed me, 8 returnees + 4 signed recruits in November.
One of the recruits is a FROSH center so unless we get experienced centers, e.g., JUCO or graduate eligible transfers, center is a huge problem on the team. Baldwin was a very effective center for her one season at EMU. Kehoe was the other center so we effectively return ZERO minutes at center.
http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/11/12...ath=wbball
With the change of staffs during the middle of spring recruiting, God knows what will happen.
Unless the new staff can get say two more centers, at least one with good experience, this team will be the 'donut team' - whole at center (position).
This team has talent but 2016/17 could still be dicey. Could win or could lose... Coaching changes are always risky propositions.
(04-09-2016 05:57 PM)emu79 Wrote: [ -> ]Apparently UMass doubled Verdi's EMU salary.
Here is some reference data from an article which has the previous coach's salary:
The quote is 213K. The data is presumably for the 2013/14 school year.
"The highest paid women’s coach is the UMass women’s basketball coach who earns $213,000 a year."
http://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics...r-million/
I'll try to find Verdi's EMU salary. I seem to think it was around 175K but quite frankly not a number I'd keep in my head...
The salary has been in print some time ago, I just never saw the need to save it.
And it makes sense that an A-10 women's head coach would be paid say more than a MAC women's head coach. UMass is a flagship university.
I'll try to track the story when Verdi is introduced Wednesday and see if a salary is cited. Based on the 213K. I'll guess say 240 - 250K or about 110% of what the previous coach received.
Okay, boys and girls, here is the article from our friend, Michael Niziolek (now down in Alabama with Auburn):
http://www.mlive.com/eagles/index.ssf/20...roves.html
Verdi got bumped last year from 165 --> 185K. He succeeds a coach at UMass who a couple years ago was making $213K.
If someone thinks Verdi doubled his salary, I want some of what they are drinking (and know if the proof is over/under 90).
I'm sure a salary increase is nice and Massachusetts is very nice (and UMass is even nicer: "in 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked Amherst among the Top 10 Great College Towns in America." (Wikipedia) but Verdi didn't hit the lottery.
EDIT: Here is the entire Wikipedia quote: "In a 2009 article for MSN.com, Amherst was ranked first in Best College Towns in the United States.[11] In 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked Amherst among the Top 10 Great College Towns in America.[12] It is also a member of the Five College Consortium."
(04-09-2016 06:16 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ] (04-09-2016 05:57 PM)emu79 Wrote: [ -> ]Apparently UMass doubled Verdi's EMU salary.
Source?
He takes on a tough job. UMass' last coach was 46 - 133.
http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/el...79aa1.html
Our last AD, who was encouraged to look for another job made a number of bad hires: Charley Molnar - Football, Micheletto - Hockey, and Dawley - Women's Basketball.
Like EMU we do have nice facilities and a new 29 million dollar women and men practice facility that opened this fall.
Troy Verdi sounds like a good coach hire.
Quote:Verdi is the program's 11th head coach and its first full-time male coach. He'll be formally introduced at a press conference Wednesday.
"This is a truly exciting time for our women's basketball program with the addition of Tory Verdi as our head coach," said UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford, who ceded primary responsibilities of the search to senior associated AD Darrice Griffin.
"Tory has a tremendous track record of success that will be a real asset for our program as we compete for Atlantic 10 Championships. His enthusiasm for building a winning culture that promotes success in the classroom, in competition and in the community makes him a great fit for the University of Massachusetts."
Said Verdi in the press release: "I am thrilled to be the head coach at UMass. I knew the day that I stepped on campus that the University of Massachusetts was a special place. UMass women's basketball has all of the elements to build a championship-caliber program and provide an outstanding student-athlete experience. I am excited to take this program to the next level."
Verdi, who after going 8-22 in his first season at EMU led the Eagles to two women's NIT appearances and the Mid-American Conference championship game in 2015, also released a statement via his now-former team.
"This was an extremely difficult decision. I was blessed to work with such a great staff and an outstanding group of student-athletes. In addition, I need to thank (athletic director) Heather Lyke, (senior associate AD) Erin Kido and the entire EMU community for their support during my time here. Hard work and dedication were instrumental to changing the culture and expectations and we were able to do some very special things here at EMU."
Troy Verdi hire article
From our current AD, Ryan Bamford's twitter page:
![[Image: CftxsLoWcAA-4ks.jpg]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CftxsLoWcAA-4ks.jpg)
Ryan Bamford @UMassADBamford 4h4 hours ago
Looking forward to our BIG event at the UMass Club on Thrs. All are welcome! @CoachKellogg @CoachCarvelUM @ctagIV @ToryVerdi1 will be there!
(04-10-2016 06:20 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]Okay, boys and girls, here is the article from our friend, Michael Niziolek (now down in Alabama with Auburn):
http://www.mlive.com/eagles/index.ssf/20...roves.html
Verdi got bumped last year from 165 --> 185K. He succeeds a coach at UMass who a couple years ago was making $213K.
If someone thinks Verdi doubled his salary, I want some of what they are drinking (and know if the proof is over/under 90).
I'm sure a salary increase is nice and Massachusetts is very nice (and UMass is even nicer: "in 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked Amherst among the Top 10 Great College Towns in America." (Wikipedia) but Verdi didn't hit the lottery.
EDIT: Here is the entire Wikipedia quote: "In a 2009 article for MSN.com, Amherst was ranked first in Best College Towns in the United States.[11] In 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked Amherst among the Top 10 Great College Towns in America.[12] It is also a member of the Five College Consortium."
Then why didn't EMU match it or exceed UMass offer to keep him? I don't think we have the entire story here there's straight salary and then are bonuses, etc.
(04-11-2016 02:20 AM)emu79 Wrote: [ -> ] (04-10-2016 06:20 PM)emu steve Wrote: [ -> ]Okay, boys and girls, here is the article from our friend, Michael Niziolek (now down in Alabama with Auburn):
http://www.mlive.com/eagles/index.ssf/20...roves.html
Verdi got bumped last year from 165 --> 185K. He succeeds a coach at UMass who a couple years ago was making $213K.
If someone thinks Verdi doubled his salary, I want some of what they are drinking (and know if the proof is over/under 90).
I'm sure a salary increase is nice and Massachusetts is very nice (and UMass is even nicer: "in 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked Amherst among the Top 10 Great College Towns in America." (Wikipedia) but Verdi didn't hit the lottery.
EDIT: Here is the entire Wikipedia quote: "In a 2009 article for MSN.com, Amherst was ranked first in Best College Towns in the United States.[11] In 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked Amherst among the Top 10 Great College Towns in America.[12] It is also a member of the Five College Consortium."
Then why didn't EMU match it or exceed UMass offer to keep him? I don't think we have the entire story here there's straight salary and then are bonuses, etc.
I don't disagree although I'd think going home MAY have been important. Verdi was born 50 miles from the UMass campus.
It may have been: More money, better conference, better school and better area (also home), etc. VS. a tough, total rebuilt job. (I doubt it was purely financial).
I think it is a 'high risk / high reward' type decision.
IF Verdi is as good as many think, he could be in the Big East in say five years.
IF Verdi made a mistake... he could be at Central Connecticut State in say five years (and I apologize to Central Ct. State students, alums, etc. for using their school as an example).
Such is the nature of D-I coaching. It isn't ANYTHING like having a 'good government job.'