Quote:May 30, 2012 @ 12:00 AM

GRANT TRAYLOR

The Herald-Dispatch


HUNTINGTON -- Nearly 17 years ago, Matt Daniel stepped onto the campus of Marshall University as then-head coach Billy Donovan's first scholarship offer with the Thundering Herd.

Daniel, the 1994-95 Arkansas high school player of the year and McDonald's All-America nominee, opted for the University of Colorado instead of playing with the Herd, but that recruiting connection has always kept Marshall in the back of Daniel's mind.

Now, Marshall is at the forefront of Daniel's basketball career.

Daniel, 35, left the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark., after posting a 72-50 record in four seasons, including 66-27 in the last three seasons. He was the Southland Conference coach of the year in 2012 and 2010.

Matt Daniel Takes Over Women's Basketball

I really like this hire. He took over UCA and went 6-23 his first season. The next 3 seasons he was 66-27, including a 24-3 record at home. There are a few things that I really like what he said in his press conference. He said that he would keep home talent where it belongs, at home. Unless you are a national power I think this is a key to having fans in the stands with W. Basketball. And his coaching style sounds almost like Herrion's, hard lockdown D- with a fast paced wide open O-.

Saw where hes going to make $180,000 + incentives. Thats not going to make the posters on HH, HN, & HF, who wanted to pay bare bones and move much of the WBB coaching salaries to football, happy.

I'm one of the people kind of disappointed that we spent this much on our WBB coach. Could have given Jajuan Seider a pay raise.

(05-31-2012 10:25 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  Saw where hes going to make $180,000 + incentives. Thats not going to make the posters on HH, HN, & HF, who wanted to pay bare bones and move much of the WBB coaching salaries to football, happy.

I think its 160 and still less than Royce. Im not to worried about the salary. If we ever want to have a chance to be included in a more cometitive conference we have to have all of our ducks in a row with every sport, including our women's sports.

If neither of Daniel's asst. get the head coaching job at UCA I hope he brings them here.

Sometimes to get ahead of the curve you have to spend in ways you may not think is nessasry at the time. This is one of those times, I think.

That didn't take long at all, Central Arkansas expected to hire Delta State HC Sandra Rushing. Matt Daniel hasn't even been gone 3 days before a new hire. It probably wasn't that hard of a choice, the AD at UCA was the AD at Delta State when Rushing was hired there.

Sandra Rushing Press Conferece at 3 to announce to be new HC at UCA

This will give Daniel a chance to offer a job to Tony Kemper and Caronica Randle as a part of his staff at Marshall.

Tony Kemper Bio

Caronica Randle Bio

(05-31-2012 10:57 AM)lmckay92 Wrote:  I'm one of the people kind of disappointed that we spent this much on our WBB coach. Could have given Jajuan Seider a pay raise.

I don't think that would have been viewed very favorably by anyone involved in womens athletics at marshall.

Edit- what was insane was the people suggesting that we only pay $30,000 and hire a local HS coach.

(05-31-2012 01:05 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  Edit- what was insane was the people suggesting that we only pay $30,000 and hire a local HS coach.

Those who were suggesting that have no concept on how college athletics work. There is no way you would get a DI coach for 30K. Mark Downey at UC makes around 50K per year. And he is a DII head coach.

I don't understand some of our fan and alumni base sometimes. Alot of them want everything for nothing. Ive had many people tell me everything Marshall needs and when I ask how much the actually donate to the university they say, nothing. I just look at them and tell them nothing will be done without money and stop telling me what needs to be done until you actually give the university something.

Im not that well off, but I give the university what I think is comfortable for me to give.

In addition to getting more donations from the average Joe or Jane, the school really needs to reach out to the wealthier alumni and bring them more into the fold. Some of the wealthiest people in WV or from WV went to Marshall.

(06-01-2012 10:56 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  In addition to getting more donations from the average Joe or Jane, the school really needs to reach out to the wealthier alumni and bring them more into the fold. Some of the wealthiest people in WV or from WV went to Marshall.

I agree with that. I think Hamrick and Kopp both have started doing that. We don't have a T. Boone Pickens, not every school does. But we do have a Jim Justice, Verna Gibson and Chris Cline.

But back to the topic at hand. I really think Daniel will help our program. He has done a great job at UCA with a lot less than he will have at Marshall.

He was also on The Stampede with Dave Wilson the other day. And when ask if Marshall contacted him or he contacted Marshall about the job, he was eager to say that he had contacted Marshall. So that tells me that he really wanted to be here.

(06-01-2012 11:50 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(06-01-2012 10:56 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  In addition to getting more donations from the average Joe or Jane, the school really needs to reach out to the wealthier alumni and bring them more into the fold. Some of the wealthiest people in WV or from WV went to Marshall.

I agree with that. I think Hamrick and Kopp both have started doing that. We don't have a T. Boone Pickens, not every school does. But we do have a Jim Justice, Verna Gibson and Chris Cline.

But back to the topic at hand. I really think Daniel will help our program. He has done a great job at UCA with a lot less than he will have at Marshall.

He was also on The Stampede with Dave Wilson the other day. And when ask if Marshall contacted him or he contacted Marshall about the job, he was eager to say that he had contacted Marshall. So that tells me that he really wanted to be here.

thats great. I hope we can get away from the yearly turnover that seemed to occur under Chadwick.

(06-01-2012 11:52 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  thats great. I hope we can get away from the yearly turnover that seemed to occur under Chadwick.

I really liked RC. The man was always really eager to talk about anything, esp Marshall sports. I hope he does great at TAMCC.

One thing that struck me as odd though was Roxanne White wasn't even ask if she wanted to interview for the job. White had been with Chadwick for 16 years, 11 at Marshall and 5 at Steven F Austin. Not that I would have wanted White to take over, just funny she wasn't even ask to interview.

(06-01-2012 12:16 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(06-01-2012 11:52 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  thats great. I hope we can get away from the yearly turnover that seemed to occur under Chadwick.

I really liked RC. The man was always really eager to talk about anything, esp Marshall sports. I hope he does great at TAMCC.

One thing that struck me as odd though was Roxanne White wasn't even ask if she wanted to interview for the job. White had been with Chadwick for 16 years, 11 at Marshall and 5 at Steven F Austin. Not that I would have wanted White to take over, just funny she wasn't even ask to interview.

was she from Texas also? That may have played a role.

(06-01-2012 12:27 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  was she from Texas also? That may have played a role.

Shes actually a Cajun, She is from Zwolle, Louisuana. About an hour north of Lake Charles, Louisiana. But she did go to Steven F Austin. She was a player at SFA when Chadwick took over there. She's been a player, GA and coach with Chadwick, she's been with him for 21 years really, 3 as a player, 2 as a GA and 16 as a coach.

Hmmm... just judging by that; she may have not wanted to stay in the area after Chadwick left. Or Hamrick might have wanted a fresh start.

(06-01-2012 12:56 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  Hmmm... just judging by that; she may have not wanted to stay in the area after Chadwick left. Or Hamrick might have wanted a fresh start.

Could be but she actually recruited many of Chadwick's best players like Sakeetha Shepard-Hall, Tynikki Crook, Madepe Iashola.