The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(11-01-2018 08:17 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 08:15 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 07:49 PM)tayles mullet Wrote:  Sadly, I agree. Hawkins might make a good AD after the basketball disaster season is over and Saddi Washington can take over that program. As far as who takes over the football program, any ideas?

I know that's a whole other discussion, but as much respect I have for Hawkins and what he's put into the university, that program is getting stale as well.

What has Saddi done which would indicate he'd be a good college basketball coach? Does he have any record of success at that level? Sounds to me like the basketball equivalent to the Tim Lester program. Being a good college player does NOT necessarily indicate you'd be a good college coach.

Saddi has been the lead recruiter for Coach Belein. He spent ten years as Associate Head Coach at Oakland University under Greg Kampe. He’ll land a better job than WMU.

(11-01-2018 08:32 PM)tayles mullet Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 08:17 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 08:15 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 07:49 PM)tayles mullet Wrote:  Sadly, I agree. Hawkins might make a good AD after the basketball disaster season is over and Saddi Washington can take over that program. As far as who takes over the football program, any ideas?

I know that's a whole other discussion, but as much respect I have for Hawkins and what he's put into the university, that program is getting stale as well.

What has Saddi done which would indicate he'd be a good college basketball coach? Does he have any record of success at that level? Sounds to me like the basketball equivalent to the Tim Lester program. Being a good college player does NOT necessarily indicate you'd be a good college coach.

Well, Michigan, a Final Four program, thought enough of him to make him their head coach while Beilein was out. Saddi is highly-regarded and a hot coaching candidate right now and it's only a matter of time before he's running his own program. I'm hoping it's at his alma mater, and hopefully provides better results than our current legacy hire.

Saddi is known to be a good recruiter. It became apparent when Beilein had to take a leave recently for bypass surgery that Washington is his top assistant. OU’s program was stronger when Saddi was there. Any coincidence that Kampe’s program has experienced a downturn since Saddi left? I think Saddi has a bright future and Beilein’s scheme translates very well to the next level as demonstrated by Levert, Robinson, Robinson, Burke, Hardaway & Stauskas. Beilein is starting to generate a coaching tree having had several assistants move on to take on their own programs in recent years.

Unfortunately this thread got turned into a discussion of Saddi Washinton and his coaching ability.

Kathy Beauregard needs to hear from everyone, right now. Her email address is:

kathy.beauregard@wmich.edu

I'd say copy President Montgomery on your email, but I don't have his email addy. Put their feet to the fire, let them know the folks who give a damn about this program are not happy.

(11-01-2018 11:12 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Unfortunately this thread got turned into a discussion of Saddi Washinton and his coaching ability.

Kathy Beauregard needs to hear from everyone, right now. Her email address is:

kathy.beauregard@wmich.edu

I'd say copy President Montgomery on your email, but I don't have his email addy. Put their feet to the fire, let them know the folks who give a damn about this program are not happy.

Montgomery was at the game... met him in the suites. He's a jovial guy... and full of energy... I wasn't ashamed to say things like "this is why we don't have people in the seats!" and such... he didn't seem comfortable with the situation... but his gracious smile always is hard to read! Guy was a great hire... UNLIKE LESTER! I digress.

(11-01-2018 11:18 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 11:12 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Unfortunately this thread got turned into a discussion of Saddi Washinton and his coaching ability.

Kathy Beauregard needs to hear from everyone, right now. Her email address is:

kathy.beauregard@wmich.edu

I'd say copy President Montgomery on your email, but I don't have his email addy. Put their feet to the fire, let them know the folks who give a damn about this program are not happy.

Montgomery was at the game... met him in the suites. He's a jovial guy... and full of energy... I wasn't ashamed to say things like "this is why we don't have people in the seats!" and such... he didn't seem comfortable with the situation... but his gracious smile always is hard to read! Guy was a great hire... UNLIKE LESTER! I digress.

Your candor was great, we need more of it.

I emailed Kathy, I expect a typical form-letter response from her but we'll see.

Maybe Montgomery got in her face after the game and in private? Upset fans to not donate to their university.

Saddi also recruited Isaiah Livers. Can you imagine what might have happened to the basketball program if we'd been landing the best K-Central guys? Anderson, Oliver, Buchanan, and then maybe, just maybe, Livers. UA would have been packed regularly, and we might have built a culture that would have lasted.

(11-01-2018 11:30 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 11:18 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 11:12 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Unfortunately this thread got turned into a discussion of Saddi Washinton and his coaching ability.

Kathy Beauregard needs to hear from everyone, right now. Her email address is:

kathy.beauregard@wmich.edu

I'd say copy President Montgomery on your email, but I don't have his email addy. Put their feet to the fire, let them know the folks who give a damn about this program are not happy.

Montgomery was at the game... met him in the suites. He's a jovial guy... and full of energy... I wasn't ashamed to say things like "this is why we don't have people in the seats!" and such... he didn't seem comfortable with the situation... but his gracious smile always is hard to read! Guy was a great hire... UNLIKE LESTER! I digress.

Maybe Montgomery got in her face after the game and in private? Upset fans to not donate to their university.

doubt it

Remains to be seen if Montgomery will put a strong emphasis on athletics...

As the primary revenue-generating sport at WMU, the football program has an implicit responsibility to be successful. Big money games keep the other sports afloat.

Usually I'd say no, she's done great and is doing great, and things could be a LOT worse. (Googling the team with the best offense and hiring their coordinator as your new coach to replace one that had just won the MAC ala Bowling Green St)

But you're right: she can't hide behind hockey like she could in 2012 and 2013. Hockey has regressed significantly. Basketball is average as ever. Football is spiraling downward.

Maybe getting in some new blood would benefit Bronco athletics?

(11-02-2018 08:40 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Remains to be seen if Montgomery will put a strong emphasis on athletics...

I highly doubt he does.

From what I hear/see, I think he'll be alright. He might not be as hands-on as Dunn, but we're definitely not entering a Bailey era here.

Personally I am a huge fan of Montgomery and trust him wholly. What I have learned is that he is a "students first" kinda guy, then numbers and budget next. I have a feeling he understands the impact athletics has on a university as a whole very well. But I think he's going to put a much larger concentration on students before anything else. Read into that what you may.

(11-04-2018 12:44 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Personally I am a huge fan of Montgomery and trust him wholly. What I have learned is that he is a "students first" kinda guy, then numbers and budget next. I have a feeling he understands the impact athletics has on a university as a whole very well. But I think he's going to put a much larger concentration on students before anything else. Read into that what you may.

Make no mistake, he is a budget/numbers guy first and foremost. It's why he was brought in. The next decade of higher ed in Michigan will see a ton of changes, and he will lead the charge at WMU. Programs will be cut/modified. Tough choices will be made. He is an economist.

How that relates to athletics remains to be seen. He has shown already that if people aren't doing the job, he removes them.

(11-01-2018 07:29 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Lester is HER choice. She can't even claim PJ Fleck as she wanted Tim Lester when PJ was hired over her initial choice.

Time for a new AD. She owns this disaster-and unlike previous years she won't have the basketball teams or the hockey team to cover up her mistake. All the notes come due this year, Kathy. Adios.

The PJ Fleck claim you make is hilariously false.

You gotta be high if you think KB is going anywhere.

(11-04-2018 01:55 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  

(11-04-2018 12:44 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Personally I am a huge fan of Montgomery and trust him wholly. What I have learned is that he is a "students first" kinda guy, then numbers and budget next. I have a feeling he understands the impact athletics has on a university as a whole very well. But I think he's going to put a much larger concentration on students before anything else. Read into that what you may.

Make no mistake, he is a budget/numbers guy first and foremost. It's why he was brought in. The next decade of higher ed in Michigan will see a ton of changes, and he will lead the charge at WMU. Programs will be cut/modified. Tough choices will be made. He is an economist.

How that relates to athletics remains to be seen. He has shown already that if people aren't doing the job, he removes them.

Who did he remove? The one VP in charge of Marketing 'resigned' after confronted with Western's investigation results on the allegations against him. Hardly dynamic Leadership from the President. Unless I missed something the class is still out on President Montgomery.

(11-04-2018 02:06 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 07:29 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Lester is HER choice. She can't even claim PJ Fleck as she wanted Tim Lester when PJ was hired over her initial choice.

Time for a new AD. She owns this disaster-and unlike previous years she won't have the basketball teams or the hockey team to cover up her mistake. All the notes come due this year, Kathy. Adios.

The PJ Fleck claim you make is hilariously false.

That runs counter to what I have heard from MANY people of various degrees of connection. We will never know for 100% certain what exactly happened but I believe Philly's statement is generally true.

(11-04-2018 03:42 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(11-04-2018 02:06 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 07:29 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Lester is HER choice. She can't even claim PJ Fleck as she wanted Tim Lester when PJ was hired over her initial choice.

Time for a new AD. She owns this disaster-and unlike previous years she won't have the basketball teams or the hockey team to cover up her mistake. All the notes come due this year, Kathy. Adios.

The PJ Fleck claim you make is hilariously false.

That runs counter to what I have heard from MANY people of various degrees of connection. We will never know for 100% certain what exactly happened but I believe Philly's statement is generally true.

Nope.

(11-04-2018 06:50 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  

(11-04-2018 03:42 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(11-04-2018 02:06 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  

(11-01-2018 07:29 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Lester is HER choice. She can't even claim PJ Fleck as she wanted Tim Lester when PJ was hired over her initial choice.

Time for a new AD. She owns this disaster-and unlike previous years she won't have the basketball teams or the hockey team to cover up her mistake. All the notes come due this year, Kathy. Adios.

The PJ Fleck claim you make is hilariously false.

That runs counter to what I have heard from MANY people of various degrees of connection. We will never know for 100% certain what exactly happened but I believe Philly's statement is generally true.

Nope.

She took Lester's name to Dunn. Dunn said no. He wanted someone new and not formerly affiliated with Cubit. She has all but confirmed this with several donors. To the point where nobody really questions this anymore.

(11-04-2018 02:57 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(11-04-2018 01:55 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  

(11-04-2018 12:44 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Personally I am a huge fan of Montgomery and trust him wholly. What I have learned is that he is a "students first" kinda guy, then numbers and budget next. I have a feeling he understands the impact athletics has on a university as a whole very well. But I think he's going to put a much larger concentration on students before anything else. Read into that what you may.

Make no mistake, he is a budget/numbers guy first and foremost. It's why he was brought in. The next decade of higher ed in Michigan will see a ton of changes, and he will lead the charge at WMU. Programs will be cut/modified. Tough choices will be made. He is an economist.

How that relates to athletics remains to be seen. He has shown already that if people aren't doing the job, he removes them.

Who did he remove? The one VP in charge of Marketing 'resigned' after confronted with Western's investigation results on the allegations against him. Hardly dynamic Leadership from the President. Unless I missed something the class is still out on President Montgomery.

That VP was given a choice - resign or get canned. Montgomery made it happen within 48 hours of learning the allegation. He flew back from vacation to meet him and take care of it. That's leadership. Resignation is preferred because legal doesn't have to get involved and it's over quickly.

He pushed out the old director of University Relations, and moved quick to create the VP of Marketing and Communication position. He also forced out the Provost (not uncommon for a new Pres to do), and pushed for quick resolution on the deans' search with HCOB. He has already told at least one other dean that they are not going to get their contract renewed. He's also in the middle of restructuring the entire University budget model. I'd say he's been busy, and showing good leadership.

Especially in comparison with his predecessor, Montgomery is wrangling the budget under control.