Is Steve Lavin leading power shift in Big East Coaches?

With the exception of Ed Cooley taking over for the fired Keno Davis at Providence, the whirlwind of the spring college coaching carousel missed the Big East in 2011.

That same invisible hand that was passed over with no effect this season shook the conference last season and has set the stage for a major power shift in the Big East.

The league is following the natural ebb and flow of teams dominating and rebuilding and, now, as the dust finally settles from the shakeout last season, the bigger picture is beginning to take shape.

From this dust, there are three distinct, relevant groups of coaches taking form in the Big East. First are the Legends, including Jim Calhoun at UConn and Jim Boeheim at Syracuse, who have been with their respective programs for long enough to cement their legacy as perennial powerhouses.

There is the established “Upper Middle Class” coaches, who have had success and are well-regarded, but not yet at Calhoun or Boeheim status. Among these are coaches like Mike Brey at Notre Dame, Jamie Dixon at Pittsburgh, and Jay Wright at Villanova.

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http://johnnyjungle.com/columns/over-the-airwaves/red-storm-watch-is-steve-lavin-leading-a-power-shift-in-the-big-east/

Very good write up mr. Martin

I agree, nice piece.  Only thing is that I'm not sure Mick Cronin is part of any upper middle class just yet, even though he had a good season last year.

I really think we need to see how they do first before we say they can have what it takes or not. Cooley could be a star, we'll see.

I really think we need to see how they do first before we say they can have what it takes or not. Cooley could be a star, we'll see.

Cooley is good, but will be difficult to be a star in this conference considering the competition.  We all know what Lavin is bringing to the table.  Seems Mr. Lavin picked up where he left off at UCLA.  We're bringing in nearly the same level of talent at this point at SJU and I have no doubt we'll be competing at that level soon enough.

I know Lavin is the goods, but the guys who are new, or who haven't won anything yet, like Rice, still have to prove that they can coach a winner as well as they can recruit one.

I think the Friars have always had trouble staying good for more than a year or two. Then again, so have we.

I know Lavin is the goods, but the guys who are new, or who haven't won anything yet, like Rice, still have to prove that they can coach a winner as well as they can recruit one.

I think the Friars have always had trouble staying good for more than a year or two. Then again, so have we.

I totally agree Poison.  Cooley from what I've heard, is good and I think he'll connect with the kids. Providence seems to be a tough draw at times though.  Mike Rice has done a great job recruiting and is a solid coach.  I'm worried that he may ge a bit too aggressive for many kids, and I wonder how he'll do if his DC Assault connection Cox moves on.  Can he sustain his current recruiting success?  Hard to say.  He's doing a great job thus far.  Best part about Lavin for us is that HE is the big gun recruiter, and as we know talent wins ball games.  I love guys like Dunlap and hate to lose him down the road, but quality X's and O's help can be found.  A lead guy with the sheer charisma and recruiting ability that Lavin has is harder to come by.  He picked a great staff as well, and we now have the resources committed moving forward to keep a top notch staff regardless of whether some guys move on.

IMO Jay Wright was approaching that "top tier" a few years ago when Nova made the Final Four but his teams have disappointed and probably, under-performed the last two years. they seem to have a solid (but not great) recruiting class for 2011 but may have a top 10 class in 2012.

I know Lavin is the goods, but the guys who are new, or who haven't won anything yet, like Rice, still have to prove that they can coach a winner as well as they can recruit one.

I think the Friars have always had trouble staying good for more than a year or two. Then again, so have we.

What Rice got out of that group of misfits last year was pretty remarkable. He certainly can coach I think that's been proven at Robert Morris and now Rutgers.

Quote from: Poison on June 03, 2011, 09:41:38 AM

I know Lavin is the goods, but the guys who are new, or who haven't won anything yet, like Rice, still have to prove that they can coach a winner as well as they can recruit one.

I think the Friars have always had trouble staying good for more than a year or two. Then again, so have we.

What Rice got out of that group of misfits last year was pretty remarkable. He certainly can coach I think that's been proven at Robert Morris and now Rutgers.

Agree 100%. If he continues to recruit like he did last year he should be able to move Rutgers into the top half of the conference. He has such a volatile personality you just wonder if he'll implode alla Bobby G. at some point.

Rice stepped into a big bucket of do do. He can ride Lavin's coattails and make a good living recruiting NYC kids who want to stay home, who can't fit on our roster, who don't want to sit on our bench, or who play a position where we are stacked. And have a top 15 - 20 class every year.

I notice a lot of posters who mention Rice potentially imploding like Booby G., but is Rice a dick outside the arena? If not, he's nothing like BG. Plus I think he's already recruited better. Rice isn't going anywhere.

Rice isn't volatile. He's intense, passionate, and a great person. He coaches 9/10 yr old girls AAU team in the summer which is classic to see. His players would run through a brick wall for him.

Go back to the Big East tournament when Rutgers got screwed by the refs...how did Rice handle that? Did he whine or cry? Not at all.