Donigan out
- Thread starter snowboarder
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Day 367, the Donigan hostage crisis is over!!
2018: 4-13-1
2017: 4-13-1
2016: 1-14-2
2015: 12-7-2
2014: 6-12-1
2013: 7-11-2
2012: 7-7-1
2011: 10-7-4
Overall: 51-84-10
2018: 4-13-1
2017: 4-13-1
2016: 1-14-2
2015: 12-7-2
2014: 6-12-1
2013: 7-11-2
2012: 7-7-1
2011: 10-7-4
Overall: 51-84-10
Hobbs will land an ace mens soccer coach. I'd bet on it. Either a top G5 coach like UConn's coach or maybe an assistant from MLS somewhere.
"After an evaluation of the program's performance, a change of leadership is appropriate at this time," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "We are very thankful for Dan's dedicated service to Rutgers and its student-athletes. He contributed to our rich history of soccer success. Moving forward, we are committed to securing a head coach who will help our student-athletes compete and succeed at a Big Ten and national level."
A national search will begin immediately.
https://scarletknights.com/news/2018/11/6/rutgers-announces-leadership-change-in-mens-soccer.aspx
A national search will begin immediately.
https://scarletknights.com/news/2018/11/6/rutgers-announces-leadership-change-in-mens-soccer.aspx
I’ve said all along I figured it would happen at the end of the season, and it had to be done, but it hurts nonetheless to be honest. As you guys know Danny and I go a very, very long way back, practically our entire lives, so I wish him nothing but the best in the future!
9-40-4 in the last three seasons. We had to make a change.
Throwing in Jamie Franks. Highly doubt he’d come here (no inside knowledge) but he’s an NJ native and doing great at Denver.
I've mentioned the UConn Associate head coach, Mike Miller before. Jersey roots, very strong ties to jersey recruiting (and a top recruiter in general), top associate head coach to watch in 2018, etc. Would not be surprised to see his name in the mix, although he's supposedly lined up to be the next Head Coach at UConn.
But not the football one. Mens soccer.
https://scarletknights.com/news/2018/11/6/rutgers-announces-leadership-change-in-mens-soccer.aspx
https://scarletknights.com/news/2018/11/6/rutgers-announces-leadership-change-in-mens-soccer.aspx
They left out the following quote from Hobbs:
“I just want to also point out that without the consistent critical insights posted on the Knight Report forum threads focused on MSOC and Coach Donigan, it might have taken another few seasons of losing for this situation to really get on my radar. It’s sad to lose a real stand up guy like Dan, but once we realized that the program had a 9-40-4 record over the past three seasons, I knew it was time to make a change.”
All the more reason to flex some B1G muscles and poach him away from our old BE/AAC friends from Storrs.
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In my opinion, Hobbs gets no credit for choosing the obvious although his predecessor should have corrected this in her term.
There were signs as far back as 2013. Donigan lost control of the program 6 years ago. Prior to the loss of Corboz, the Athletic Administration was aware of issues within the program. They did nothing even though many on the team were also considering transfers. Donigan was lucky that much of the team was close and wanted to stay with each other.
Donigan had one good year in the last 6 and it was because the players took things into their own hands and played to their own style.
Donigan did a good job to get Correa early and Corboz but was fortunate to have an unusual number of impact kids that virtually fell into his lap.
Tainter was the grandson of his former coach at UConn, R Tetro had family issues that kept him close, Hambleton's sister played soccer for RU and Sa's middle name was Rutger.
Despite the the abundance of talent in the program, Donigan mismanaged things so badly that Corboz chose to leave ruining what could have been one of the best midfields in the country. Bruccoleri, Sa and Corboz should have been as good a midfield as there was in the country.
Tainter should have been kept at center back where he would have been an all american
Guzmon was the starting center back on a national championship PDA team and was played as a right mid when he got here
Hambleton was one of the best defenders in the country and was moved to center mid, a position he had never played before.
Sa a natural center mid was moved to the outside in his freshman year and replaced by Hambleton in the middle leaving Corboz frustrated without another natural center mid to play off of.
Tainter, a physically superior athlete with good skills was played at right back
Accomplished players came into the program and moved to unfamiliar positions in alarming numbers
There was no commitment to any particular style of play
Defensive structure was never addressed
Donigan often scouted high school games instead of Academy games.
He invited the top academy goal scorer in the country to visit and forgot to go out and find him after the Rutgers game had finished.
The player and his father were then asked to leave by security.
This was a kid that could have turned the program into a winner on his own that wanted to go to RU and Dan forgot that he was there.
The incompetence was almost unimaginable and it went totally unnoticed by the administration here at our RU for over 5 years
There were signs as far back as 2013. Donigan lost control of the program 6 years ago. Prior to the loss of Corboz, the Athletic Administration was aware of issues within the program. They did nothing even though many on the team were also considering transfers. Donigan was lucky that much of the team was close and wanted to stay with each other.
Donigan had one good year in the last 6 and it was because the players took things into their own hands and played to their own style.
Donigan did a good job to get Correa early and Corboz but was fortunate to have an unusual number of impact kids that virtually fell into his lap.
Tainter was the grandson of his former coach at UConn, R Tetro had family issues that kept him close, Hambleton's sister played soccer for RU and Sa's middle name was Rutger.
Despite the the abundance of talent in the program, Donigan mismanaged things so badly that Corboz chose to leave ruining what could have been one of the best midfields in the country. Bruccoleri, Sa and Corboz should have been as good a midfield as there was in the country.
Tainter should have been kept at center back where he would have been an all american
Guzmon was the starting center back on a national championship PDA team and was played as a right mid when he got here
Hambleton was one of the best defenders in the country and was moved to center mid, a position he had never played before.
Sa a natural center mid was moved to the outside in his freshman year and replaced by Hambleton in the middle leaving Corboz frustrated without another natural center mid to play off of.
Tainter, a physically superior athlete with good skills was played at right back
Accomplished players came into the program and moved to unfamiliar positions in alarming numbers
There was no commitment to any particular style of play
Defensive structure was never addressed
Donigan often scouted high school games instead of Academy games.
He invited the top academy goal scorer in the country to visit and forgot to go out and find him after the Rutgers game had finished.
The player and his father were then asked to leave by security.
This was a kid that could have turned the program into a winner on his own that wanted to go to RU and Dan forgot that he was there.
The incompetence was almost unimaginable and it went totally unnoticed by the administration here at our RU for over 5 years
Well said. Excellent points all around. I’ll add that the Jason Wright situation was not a good look. The lack of a quality defense has also been alarming. Washington is currently a very good defender with athleticism and great feet, but no real physicality. I don’t think we have a defender who is particularly tough/intimidating. I also find it kind of outrageous that there hasn’t been an effective central playmaker in the midfield for the past several seasons.
I would be interested in your thoughts about potential replacements. I would prefer someone who has had success as a HC at another college program. Does not necessarily have to be at this level. I am not sure what we need to pay for the HC and two assistants whose importance should not be overlooked in this process. Some are advocating guys affiliated with the MLS who might not have a proven track record. Do you think there is a lot of potential HC's there? Do they get paid well? Seems like bringing in someone as either HC or assistant who has a strong relationship with the major academies would be a major plus. Thanks
Rutgers has to be a pretty attractive program for a Men's Soccer coach no? Great recruiting grounds, good history, nice stadium and soon to be state of the art facilities. Hobbs needs to make a big time hire.
Why are there 21 games played some years, and only 15 in others? (And everything in between)
Shocking. He definitely should have been let go earlier.
The soccer alums really need to come together and support the program under the next guy.
So who is on your list of top 5 realistic candidates?
I wonder who will have a big hand in, and more or less run this search for Hobbs. I know he will be quite involved but who will be putting together the short list? Who is Hobbs’s soccer right hand person?
I doubt he has one person. Likely to take input from several sources, most of whom would be reaching as an advocate for a particular candidate. He along with whomever he trusts, needs to navigate through this "advice and counsel" and find the best candidate that fits within whatever budgetary constraints he is working with.
I highly doubt that Alexi would want to stop what he's doing now to coach Rutgers. He's got a good thing going. And, the fact is, he's never been a college coach. He'd go mad dealing with all the stuff you need to do as a college coach.
There are some outstanding coaches all over the country. Jersey ties are nice, but there are plenty who can get it done all over the place.
Not necessarily saying call him to coach.
He’s about as connected to the soccer scene, including college soccer scene, as they come. He would be a HUGE asset to Hobbs.
Totally agree with you. They should go with a solid candidate who has experience at college level as either head or assistant coach. I’d look at associate coaches at top programs nationally, and perhaps receuitable head coaches who currently are coaching at college level in the region with maybe not the national acclaim but who have good track records. Just off top of my head, places like Monmouth, LIU, Lehigh, Manhattan ...
I don't know how connected to the college scene he actually is. the US, international, and pro circuits, yes. College? I just don't know.
I like the UConn guy and the idea of a big-name hire. Also like the coach from Montclair as a dark horse candidate...I know he's unknown and they are Div III but he certainly can coach and knows NJ soccer. Love Lalas but he's never coached and he's getting PAID and making a name for himself with his current gig.
Sounds reasonable. Snowboarder seems to have pulse of landscape too (others like you may have it too). Given that was wondering what an ideal top 5 that also is realistic may look like and why.
Ray Reid ain't leaving the Nutmeg State. He's got a good thing going there and has lived in CT forever and a day. I'd steer clear of a D3 hire. Nothing against the level of competition, but the move from D3 to D1 is a tough one.
