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Hayford rumors

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seattle-university/seattle-university-hires-mens-basketball-coach-jim-hayford-away-from-eastern-washington/
 
My instant knee jerk reaction:

What is going on in the athletics program that we continue to lose coaches?

I get it, more money, better opportunity for many. Our assistants especially don't make good money and Beau, that was an impossible job to turn down for him. However, our new President has shown ZERO ability to upgrade facilities or keep people around in the athletics department. When was the last time there was ANY upgrade to ANY athletics facility on campus?

As for Hayford, I applaud him for turning the program around. I thank him for his commitment to EWU. But isn't it alarming to anyone that he jumped at the first larger job offered following a run at success here? Seattle U isn't a good program, in fact they lost to EWU twice this season and split last season. Good players aren't going to go to Seattle U in today's basketball world.

Someone talk me off the edge. I'm disappointed.
 
Take this as you will:

From what I heard from some people I know who are big time donors to EWU, they did not like Hayford and said he would bolt at the first chance he got. Again, take it for what it's worth but this news of him going to Seattle U doesn't surprise me.
 
EdubU10 said:
Take this as you will:

From what I heard from some people I know who are big time donors to EWU, they did not like Hayford and said he would bolt at the first chance he got. Again, take it for what it's worth but this news of him going to Seattle U doesn't surprise me.
Click to expand...

:nod:
 
ewueagle2010 said:
My instant knee jerk reaction:

What is going on in the athletics program that we continue to lose coaches?

I get it, more money, better opportunity for many. Our assistants especially don't make good money and Beau, that was an impossible job to turn down for him. However, our new President has shown ZERO ability to upgrade facilities or keep people around in the athletics department. When was the last time there was ANY upgrade to ANY athletics facility on campus?

As for Hayford, I applaud him for turning the program around. I thank him for his commitment to EWU. But isn't it alarming to anyone that he jumped at the first larger job offered following a run at success here? Seattle U isn't a good program, in fact they lost to EWU twice this season and split last season. Good players aren't going to go to Seattle U in today's basketball world.

Someone talk me off the edge. I'm disappointed.
Click to expand...

Seems like a lateral move at best....

That said, you hit the nail on the head about the university needing to get off their ass and upgrade some facilities. I don't think basketball has anywhere near the immediate need of the football program, but things need to get moving. It's really time to see some action.
 
LDopaPDX said:
ewueagle2010 said:
My instant knee jerk reaction:

What is going on in the athletics program that we continue to lose coaches?

I get it, more money, better opportunity for many. Our assistants especially don't make good money and Beau, that was an impossible job to turn down for him. However, our new President has shown ZERO ability to upgrade facilities or keep people around in the athletics department. When was the last time there was ANY upgrade to ANY athletics facility on campus?

As for Hayford, I applaud him for turning the program around. I thank him for his commitment to EWU. But isn't it alarming to anyone that he jumped at the first larger job offered following a run at success here? Seattle U isn't a good program, in fact they lost to EWU twice this season and split last season. Good players aren't going to go to Seattle U in today's basketball world.

Someone talk me off the edge. I'm disappointed.
Click to expand...

Seems like a lateral move at best....
Click to expand...

It's a lateral move... UNLESS Seattle U really does get in to the WCC which has been rumored for years.
 
I'd have to classify the Hayford era as a win win. His tenure at Eastern was good for his career and one of the most successful periods for Eastern Basketball, certainly of recent years.
I wish him well.
 
clawman said:
I'd have to classify the Hayford era as a win win. His tenure at Eastern was good for his career and one of the most successful periods for Eastern Basketball, certainly of recent years.
I wish him well.
Click to expand...
I would agree that he definitely improved the perception of EWU basketball. I would also agree that it is a lateral move. But it was pointed out to me that the WAC had a much better RPI ranking than we did this year, which shocked me. If he is able to turn it around in Seattle (no real competition right now since UW is a hot mess) he could very easily turn that program around and make it to the tourney a few years running and then hit it BIG "$$" at a bigger school. The league on paper really has just New Mexico State as a challenge, but Cameron Dollar was not able to turn the program around in eight years so who knows. I really thought he (Dollar) would be able to get the athletes in there. Hayford needs to just recruit (metro) locally and he should do just fine.
 
Watching press conference:
AD seemed uncomfortable with the the intro. Like she was not used to speaking in front of a audience.
WOW DID NOT NAME EWU AT ALL! I get it that he is moving to another University but at least acknowledge the previous school in some way. Disappointed!
Have to ask........... was it a amicable split?
 
EWU98 said:
Watching press conference:
AD seemed uncomfortable with the the intro. Like she was not used to speaking in front of a audience.
WOW DID NOT NAME EWU AT ALL! I get it that he is moving to another University but at least acknowledge the previous school in some way. Disappointed!
Have to ask........... was it a amicable split?
Click to expand...

I did not see the press conference today, but his tweet yesterday was a bit odd. The only mention of EWU was thanking all his EWU "players." Nothing about the University or anything. I get the feeling this was not a good split.
 
Wonder if Coach Hayford's contract had a resignation penalty? Some coaches have a few good years, and figure it's time to get out of Dodge on an up note. Could be dissatisfaction with facilities or low assistants salaries; I don't think Eastern wants a stepping stone reputation, especially with the highly effective recruiting results we've been enjoying. Go Eags!
 
60s Savage said:
Wonder if Coach Hayford's contract had a resignation penalty? Some coaches have a few good years, and figure it's time to get out of Dodge on an up note. Could be dissatisfaction with facilities or low assistants salaries; I don't think Eastern wants a stepping stone reputation, especially with the highly effective recruiting results we've been enjoying. Go Eags!
Click to expand...

Until/unless you capture lightning in a bottle combined with an administration willing to pursue a serious and long term investment in salaries, media contracts, and facilities, every Big Sky school is a stepping stone.
 
kalm said:
60s Savage said:
Wonder if Coach Hayford's contract had a resignation penalty? Some coaches have a few good years, and figure it's time to get out of Dodge on an up note. Could be dissatisfaction with facilities or low assistants salaries; I don't think Eastern wants a stepping stone reputation, especially with the highly effective recruiting results we've been enjoying. Go Eags!
Click to expand...

Until/unless you capture lightning in a bottle combined with an administration willing to pursue a serious and long term investment in salaries, media contracts, and facilities, every Big Sky school is a stepping stone.
Click to expand...

While all this is true, it doesn't sound like too many people around Cheney were either disappointed or surprised with Hayford leaving. While you'd have to give Hayford a good grade based on his results, he wasn't setting the world on fire. I thought he was fine, but waant leased with his reliance on transfers.
 
EWU98 said:
clawman said:
I'd have to classify the Hayford era as a win win. His tenure at Eastern was good for his career and one of the most successful periods for Eastern Basketball, certainly of recent years.
I wish him well.
Click to expand...
I would agree that he definitely improved the perception of EWU basketball. I would also agree that it is a lateral move. But it was pointed out to me that the WAC had a much better RPI ranking than we did this year, which shocked me. If he is able to turn it around in Seattle (no real competition right now since UW is a hot mess) he could very easily turn that program around and make it to the tourney a few years running and then hit it BIG "$$" at a bigger school. The league on paper really has just New Mexico State as a challenge, but Cameron Dollar was not able to turn the program around in eight years so who knows. I really thought he (Dollar) would be able to get the athletes in there. Hayford needs to just recruit (metro) locally and he should do just fine.
Click to expand...

You really can't say that NMSU is the only challenge in the WAC when CSUB won the league and went to the NIT final four, GCU is who just finished their transition from D2 to D1 who have gone 81-46 during this time who have beat San Diego St UNM Houston and are now are eligible for the NIT/NCAA tournament. I'd say Hayford has a uphill battle in the WAC but he will compete to be that 4th best team in the WAC I think.
 
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