per a tweet from Chicago Sun-Times Prep Sports Editor

https://twitter.com/michaelsobrien/statu...6049171457

Michael O'Brien
‏
Chicago State has asked two prominent Public League coaches to apply for the head basketball coach job, according to a source.

Both are frustrated that things aren't moving along quickly. CSU has no AD right now, first live recruiting weekend just ended.
9:49 AM - 23 Apr 2018

(04-23-2018 06:56 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  per a tweet from Chicago Sun-Times Prep Sports Editor

https://twitter.com/michaelsobrien/statu...6049171457

Michael O'Brien
‏
Chicago State has asked two prominent Public League coaches to apply for the head basketball coach job, according to a source.

Both are frustrated that things aren't moving along quickly. CSU has no AD right now, first live recruiting weekend just ended.
9:49 AM - 23 Apr 2018

Interesting....

Who are these coaches they are talking about?

(04-24-2018 02:38 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Who are these coaches they are talking about?

One guess may be Nick Irvin, Coach at Morgan Park. South side school. Four state championships in last six years. If they’re wanting a public league coach on the south side.. seems like an obvious one. Not sure if there’s interest on his end though.

The public school tournament is the only time people ever go to the JCC. If the State ever gets smart and closes Chicago State, they should just turn the JCC over to the City Parks and Rec, as there would be far more traffic with HS and JC games there. It's a horrible waste of $35M with the CSU, who really don't want to use it because it costs far more money to operate and heat than a gym, and is emptier than empty.

Why doesn't Chicago State just use the Dickens Center for basketball? It sits 2500 people. You guys look like you have 50 people in the stands in the 6500 seat arena. IMO use the smaller arena until people actually start attending games. Probably requires smaller staff to operate and less costly to heat and/or cool it.

JCC is a gem that still looks brand new with chairback seating. Ton of character. There are people who attend because of the arena.

Dickens is old with only bleacher seating. Lot of Bradley fans bailed on attending our throwback game specifically because the game was switched from Jones to Dickens.

Gameday operations staff can’t get any smaller than it already is. There’s 3 people up front selling tickets and merchandise, no ushers in stands, and often no concessions. Rest are the mandatory gameday stuff.

I know nothing about the JCC and wanted to see some pics. The first link that came up was the official link to the JCC. I clicked on it and these are the first 2 sentences under Venue Information:

"Here at CSU we value our customers. That is why it is important for you to understand that the University is not closing...."

http://www.csu.edu/convocationcenter/

Wow! I really feel for you guys. I hope Chicago State can right the ship.

BTW, the arena looks beautiful.

Chicago State has their new AD.

Former NFL player and Prairie State Community College (Chicago) AD, Chris Zorich, will be the new AD.

Quote:One of Notre Dame’ all-time greats, Zorich played for the Bears for seven seasons. The College Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 2007.

Around that time Zorich got divorced, ran into financial problems, and the Illinois attorney general’s office launched an investigation into the Chris Zorich Foundation. In 2012, he agreed to pay back about $350,000 in unaccounted funds and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of failing to file income taxes from 2006-09. Zorich also paid a fine and completed community service.

Not much experience. We will see how it goes. He has a very big task ahead of him

Best of luck to Chicago St and Zorich.
Odd... article, IMO. Half of it was about his personal issues and buying a new home. I'd have liked to see the reporter ask him whyu hes taking on this and what vision and ideas he has for fixing CSU athletics.
Regardless, I hope he and the school do well.

Chicago State does not have a new basketball coach, but they have a new President:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-me...story.html

Chicago State, the WAC needs you. Even though we beat you down like baby seals every year; we need warm bodies. I’m happy for your AD and happy for your presidente!! Now go get a coach and some recruits.

(05-03-2018 09:35 AM)RunnerBall Wrote:  Best of luck to Chicago St and Zorich.
Odd... article, IMO. Half of it was about his personal issues and buying a new home. I'd have liked to see the reporter ask him whyu hes taking on this and what vision and ideas he has for fixing CSU athletics.
Regardless, I hope he and the school do well.

I feel like I've read other strange articles on his hire, too. Wasn't there one where Zorich says he didn't go into the position blindly, but almost the next sentence says the only things he knows about their challenges is what he has read in the media? I have a lot of respect for the profession of journalism, but if all you know is what you've seen on the news or read in a paper/Online, I would lean toward thinking he went into it more blind than not.

(05-11-2018 10:34 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(05-03-2018 09:35 AM)RunnerBall Wrote:  Best of luck to Chicago St and Zorich.
Odd... article, IMO. Half of it was about his personal issues and buying a new home. I'd have liked to see the reporter ask him whyu hes taking on this and what vision and ideas he has for fixing CSU athletics.
Regardless, I hope he and the school do well.

I feel like I've read other strange articles on his hire, too. Wasn't there one where Zorich says he didn't go into the position blindly, but almost the next sentence says the only things he knows about their challenges is what he has read in the media? I have a lot of respect for the profession of journalism, but if all you know is what you've seen on the news or read in a paper/Online, I would lean toward thinking he went into it more blind than not.

I posted that article in CST's forum.

(05-12-2018 11:21 AM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

(05-11-2018 10:34 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(05-03-2018 09:35 AM)RunnerBall Wrote:  Best of luck to Chicago St and Zorich.
Odd... article, IMO. Half of it was about his personal issues and buying a new home. I'd have liked to see the reporter ask him whyu hes taking on this and what vision and ideas he has for fixing CSU athletics.
Regardless, I hope he and the school do well.

I feel like I've read other strange articles on his hire, too. Wasn't there one where Zorich says he didn't go into the position blindly, but almost the next sentence says the only things he knows about their challenges is what he has read in the media? I have a lot of respect for the profession of journalism, but if all you know is what you've seen on the news or read in a paper/Online, I would lean toward thinking he went into it more blind than not.

I posted that article in CST's forum.

Knew i saw it somewhere. Thanks, CP.

CSU’s 3* recruit that decommited post-Dildy:

(05-12-2018 02:22 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  CSU’s 3* recruit that decommited post-Dildy:

Too bad they couldn't get them to play at JCC

Chicago State finally selected a new President, Zaldwaynaka "Z" Scott. Basically she is an activist and tax lawyer with zero fund raising background, and no real higher educational expertise. She was a board member and one who wanted to fire Watson in 2013. Beyond that I really do not think she is qualified, Here is here background/public resume:

https://www.foley.com/zaldwaynaka-scott/

I think the board passed on a much more qualified candidate in Patricia P. Ramsey, the Provost at Lincoln University. She has undergrad and advanced degrees in Botany/Biology from Norfolk State, Howard, Harvard, and Ph.D. from Georgetown. She also has a track record in fund raising. But I guess holding a senior position at a University, having academic credentials and a fund raising track record (note Chicago State's lack of donations) is less important than being from the South side.

As for the new AD, Zorich needs the job more than is qualified. All the stuff about a house and debt issues probably are in the mess of an article because off the record he was saying he took the job because he desperately needs money.

Well paying Zorich takes money off the table for the other coaches. The women's coach was paid something like $99,960 (public record). It prompted jokes that the school did not want to pay her $40 more for fear of topping 6 figures. If anything hiring an AD from a JuCo, and some HS pay level coaches (from HS programs!) would allow them to cut salaries even more. There simply isn't any new pool of money coming in.

As for why Angela Henderson dumped Dildy is anyone's guess. The only reason I can guess is cutting salaries further, as the Athletic Department was already cut to the bone, and the decline of 15% in enrollment means they have to cut athletic spending almost as much. They will be hard pressed to fill the compliance work Dildy did (and did a fair job at) with inexperienced staff.

Anyway, good luck to both of them. They face monumental administrative tasks which neither seems remotely qualified to tackle. But you never know, the odds may be extremely low for success, but one of them might be the diamond in the pile of dung.

Stu,

Zorich didn't need the job. He wanted the job. The financial problems he had were covered by the contract he signed with the Chicago Bears in 1995. Below are the contract details from an article in 1995:

The deal calls for Zorich to be paid $4.85 million. The breakdown: $450,000 to sign, $150,000 to report to camp this year and $1.45 million in 1995 salary; $100,000 to report in 1996 and $1.4 million in 1996 salary and $1.3 million in 1997 salary.

But much of the money - about 70 percent - is deferred. The deferments begin in 1999, and continue at six figures per year through 2019, when Zorich will be 50 years old.


That was talked about in this article as well:

https://www.ndinsider.com/football/notre...f9685.html

Zorich is using the deferred payments from his Bears salary to pay off his debts of about $350,000. Overall, Zorich seems like a good guy, someone that wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others. He owns a home in the South Side of Chicago. He has a law degree from Notre Dame. He just seems like an impressive guy and a good hire at AD for Chicago State.

In the case of Zaldwaynaka 'Z' Scott, she was a unanimous pick for President. She served on the Chicago State board from 2009 to 2013, so she is familiar with their issues. She is a former federal prosecutor, with strong ties to the business community. As she stated: “The challenges Chicago State faces right now are operational; they are funding, fiscal and branding. Those are business challenges."
She seems like a good selection for Chicago State.

As to your statement about funds for a basketball coach, in 2015-2016 Chicago State had two basketball coaches and an athletic director. Dildy was making 140,000 and the AD was making $125,000. When the AD resigned at the end of the 2016 season, Dildy took the AD job. That was during the state budget crisis when the athletic department had to cut out about a $1 million from the budget. With the end of the state budget crisis, that is no longer an issue.

Any other D1 schools not have a coach? Seems like it's getting really late in the process. Even for CSU