Ranking Big East Coaching Jobs

[jbreeds1]

Ms. Dana O'Neil doesn't think too highly of our program.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...-jobs-big-east

[CincyEngGrad02]

Well UC is known nationally as a program that fired a top 10 coach and pretty much demolished the bball program. I'd doubt that sounds very enticing to many bball coaches.

[GoUC11]

I'm a UC homer and I fully acknowledge that. But her opinion is typical East Coast ignorance. Whenever I am traveling and I have a UC shirt on people usually have high praise for our athletic program. Granted, football helped this immensely over the last five years by the football.

Saying Cincinnati is an afterthought in the Big East is somewhat ridiculous. Especially now with all the turmoil. If us, Louisville, or UConn bolts it is over for the conference. As a leader in football the last five years as well as finally regaining its footing in basketball we are far from an afterthought. We are replacing Syracuse & Pitt and are at the forefront.

Also, more people struggle naming St. John's, and Marquette as a member of the Big East than Cincinnati.

Never been a fan of Dana O'Neil as I believe she gives opinions on matters that she is relatively clueless on.

As a whole I've become somewhat fed up with the mothership, but as an avid sports fan it's about the only traditional television option.

[Binturong05]

It comes down to athletic budget. Many of those schools at the top of the list including UConn and Louisville outspend UC 3-to-1. That sort of spending - which is driven by fan support - can make a coach's life a lot easier or at least make his job a lot more appealing (e.g. salary & benefits).

[London 'Cat]

Based on the named criteria - facilities, expectation level, athletic budget, wins and losses, recruiting base, fan support/pressure - I must agree with UC's ranking here. FTA is in need of a facelift, at best, and probably needs replaced. UC fans have very high expectations for the program every year. The budget is pracically laughable when compared to all other BEast programs. Wins and losses are good. Recruiting base is decent, but look at all the schools you have to compete with - X, tO$U, Indiana, Kentucky, UL, Pitt, WVa, Michigan, Michigan State - all within 200-300 miles of UC. Fan support is generally weak and UC must compete for support with X, Bengals and Reds in its own city, and other regional programs as well. The article asks "If you were an agent and every single job was open in a particular conference, where would you direct your client?" Given the criteria listed above, I think the article fairly ranks UC about where it should be.

[Pruke]

LOL what a horrible article

[GoUC11]

Originally Posted by London 'Cat

Based on the named criteria - facilities, expectation level, athletic budget, wins and losses, recruiting base, fan support/pressure - I must agree with UC's ranking here. FTA is in need of a facelift, at best, and probably needs replaced. UC fans have very high expectations for the program every year. The budget is pracically laughable when compared to all other BEast programs. Wins and losses are good. Recruiting base is decent, but look at all the schools you have to compete with - X, tO$U, Indiana, Kentucky, UL, Pitt, WVa, Michigan, Michigan State - all within 200-300 miles of UC. Fan support is generally weak and UC must compete for support with X, Bengals and Reds in its own city, and other regional programs as well. The article asks "If you were an agent and every single job was open in a particular conference, where would you direct your client?" Given the criteria listed above, I think the article fairly ranks UC about where it should be.

I don't argue your points. However FTA is on the high priority list to get redone (hopefully within 5 yrs) and fan support is coming back. The last two seasons once the dreadful nonconference line up ends we usually draw well in BE play. If you were there for Louisville, Syracuse and even 'low key' games such as St. John's you'd see fan support is returning and beginning to surge back. The program was gutted and on life support for four years. It was going to take some time.

The part that got me was that we don't scream 'Big East'. Thats where the ignorance begins for Dana O'neil. Boeheim, Pitino, Dixon, and any other BE coach would strongly disagree. I think Pitino is the one that said he wishes his fans were more like us.

O'Neil is someone who I'm not sure got a job at ESPN. Having a controversial opinion is required for that kind of job. But I didn't know having an ignorant one was required as well.

[London 'Cat]

Originally Posted by GoUC11

I don't argue your points. However FTA is on the high priority list to get redone (hopefully within 5 yrs) and fan support is coming back. The last two seasons once the dreadful nonconference line up ends we usually draw well in BE play. If you were there for Louisville, Syracuse and even 'low key' games such as St. John's you'd see fan support is returning and beginning to surge back. The program was gutted and on life support for four years. It was going to take some time.

The part that got me was that we don't scream 'Big East'. Thats where the ignorance begins for Dana O'neil. Boeheim, Pitino, Dixon, and any other BE coach would strongly disagree. I think Pitino is the one that said he wishes his fans were more like us.

O'Neil is someone who I'm not sure got a job at ESPN. Having a controversial opinion is required for that kind of job. But I didn't know having an ignorant one was required as well.

I believe UC is on an upward trend in this analysis, for many of the reasons you listed. If this were revisited 2-3 years from now, I think UC would finish higher. But, as of now, it's a pretty fair assessment. The program is growing, gaining value and we will see the return on the efforts of the athletic department and the coaching staff in the next few years. And, as we know, once momentum builds in a program, it tends to snowball.

[Bearcat_DF]

Terrible analysis - the only real weakness UC has is the size of its budget (which means an outdated FTA). The rationale in the blurb is lame.

UC is definitely in the top 8 above - Villanova, MU, St John. Except for the money UC would be ahead of ND.

I don't know how you ignore that SU and Pitt are heading to the ACC. Following the premise - would you want to take a job with a program that is transitioning to a conference ruled by UNC and Duke, is out of your geographic footprint, and reduces your ability to recruit NYC?