A Jersey Guy: BC Coaching Search More Than a W-L Issue
If simply finding an X's and O's type of coach with some recruiting ability were the only criteria needed for his men's basketball coach, Boston College athletic director Pat Kraft could choose from a wide range of qualified candidates.
It is far more complicated than that.
Jim Christian spent seven seasons trying to solve the puzzle and never did--producing only one winning season.
His dismissal on Monday was only a surprise in that BC made the announcement with a handful of games remaining--a move that BC NEVER makes
When asked about the timing, a source in the BC athletic department said other issues were involved as well.
So be it.
The issue is simple
To succeed at BC, a coach must understand the culture of the school, of the alumni base, of the city in its relationship with college athletics which can be described as indifferent at best.
Academic restrictions, athletic facilities which are still below grade among Atlantic Coast Conference schools, as well as a mind set on campus which seems to start with, "We can't do that, rather than Yes, we can'' and you have challenges that other new coaches don't face.
And then there is a much more ominous issue, involving implicit racism at BC which again came to the forefront this week with a Boston Globe story detailing a campus that is hardly progressive in its attitude toward racial matters.
Factor in the sparsity of minorities in the sports administration all the way up to the Board of Trustees and the the odds are increasing that BC's next coach will be a minority hire.
With that in mind, a few candidates emerge.
The most obvious and best qualified is Harvard coach Tommy Amaker.
He has won at Harvard--Ivy League titles, NCAA bids and tournament wins, knows the academic and athletic culture from across the river at BC, has an ACC pedigre (Duke). Has won (although not enough) at Michigan and Seton Hall.
But here's the tie breaker. Along with his wife, Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, who is an Associate Professor Psychology at the Harvard Medical School, the Amaker's are one of the most culturally diverse couples in Boston, which would be an amazing asset for BC.
Michigan Assistant Head coach Howard Eisley.
Eisley is a former BC player, so he knows the culture. He is also a former NBA player and coach, who is in his second season as a college head coach for the Wolverines and regarded as a strong recruiter.
Potential game breaker: No head coaching experience.
Dennis Gates, Head coach Cleveland State
Strong basketball pedigree with stops at FSU, Marquette, California, Northern Illinois and Nevada before becoming the head coach at Cleveland State last year. His wife os a associate athletic director at BC.
Potential game breaker: Does not really know the culture at BC and has coached at schools for the most part far removed from BC's academic profile.
Jason Williford, Associate Head Coach at Virginia
Spent five years as an assistant at Boston University, so he is familiar with the city and to some extent BC. Has an ACC pedigree and has been part of a national championship staff at a strong academic ACC school and has been elevated in status to Associate Head Coach.
Potential Game-breaker: No head coaching experience.
If a minority hire is not a priority, than the search could go in an number of different directions.
.