Vacarro on Lavin: Mostly Fair and balanced and accurate

One decision St. John’s must make before deciding Lavin’s fate

http://nypost.com/2015/03/18/one-decision-st-johns-must-make-before-deciding-lavins-fate/

That is a fair article.   

he hit the nail on the head. it's not about Lavin, it's about what the school aspires to be.

he hit the nail on the head. it's not about Lavin, it's about what the school aspires to be.

Holy Shit ---- BINGO

Spot on.

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

What does the staffs payroll look like?

Quote from: sju89tr on March 18, 2015, 10:58:50 AM

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

What does the staffs payroll look like?

I would think around 3 million for everyone but I could be wrong

Quote from: sju89tr on March 18, 2015, 10:58:50 AM

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

What does the staffs payroll look like?

If the proper investment into the program is being made at all levels then why aren't high level coaches interested in the job?  Why are we talking about Hurley's and Masiello's or Pitino Jr.?  Something must be amiss.

Quote from: Marco Baldi on March 18, 2015, 11:00:31 AM

Quote from: sju89tr on March 18, 2015, 10:58:50 AM

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

What does the staffs payroll look like?

I would think around 3 million for everyone but I could be wrong

Lavin makes over 2. So let's say it is 3 mil, is that not good enough investment? Serious question

Quote from: Marco Baldi on March 18, 2015, 11:00:31 AM

Quote from: sju89tr on March 18, 2015, 10:58:50 AM

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

What does the staffs payroll look like?

If the proper investment into the program is being made at all levels then why aren't high level coaches interested in the job?  Why are we talking about Hurley's and Masiello's or Pitino Jr.?  Something must be amiss.

School is broke and trying to buyout employees

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

i think the school with the Lavin hire and the budget he's been given for staff and overall resources, is at or very near max.  i can't see them spending more than they are now.  spending 2mill+ on a head coach is not sustainable.

Understand where the article is coming from and it makes a lot of sense.  The problem is, if they do decide to fire Lavin, is that Gempesaw is a COST CUTTER.  Vaccaro believes if we fire Lavin then the school will need to “uprgrade the accross the board”, pour more money into the program and become the “hammer”.  However Gempesaw’s  growing reputation would suggest that the complete opposite would happen.  Its even been suggested on one of these boards that one of gempesaw’s main problems with the staff is their salary is too high………yet were supposed to anticipate that theyll fire lavin, hire a top flight coach and make facility upgrades and invest more money into the program??  Unfortunately I dont believe that’s in the budget for the new pres.

Negotiations with others where he (the Pres.) is looking to be tough on finances could be a reason why they haven't announced and/or completed Coach's extension.....they could think it sends the wrong message financially to the rest of the university.

The president has been in for less than 6 months.  He has had a lot to review and become familiar with.  He has a lot to do in terms of managing the school's budgetary concerns.  Many of those decisions are more pressing that the status of Lavin's contract, which still has a year on it.  I don't know how much negotiating that goes on during the season but I'm sure Lavin's focus on the task at hand, along with frequenting sports bars in Soho while looking over his shoulder for the Maven, have also slowed things down.  Patience, all.  A decision, one way or another, will be made in due time.

Understand where the article is coming from and it makes a lot of sense.  The problem is, if they do decide to fire Lavin, is that Gempesaw is a COST CUTTER.  Vaccaro believes if we fire Lavin then the school will need to “uprgrade the accross the board”, pour more money into the program and become the “hammer”.  However Gempesaw’s  growing reputation would suggest that the complete opposite would happen.  Its even been suggested on one of these boards that one of gempesaw’s main problems with the staff is their salary is too high………yet were supposed to anticipate that theyll fire lavin, hire a top flight coach and make facility upgrades and invest more money into the program??  Unfortunately I dont believe that’s in the budget for the new pres.

he may be a 'cost-cutter' but also has to be a revenue generator. it's a fine line balancing act for sure.  in 2012 the bball team generated $7.4mill in revenue, the most in 10 years. don't know how much it's been since then, but i imagine with the the UA and Fox Deal, this NCAA appearance, and the 2 NIT appearances, that revenue has likely stayed relatively flat.  so lavin is essentially taking half the revenue for he and staff.  question is, can someone else bring at least that amount at a lower cost to the school?

the other thing i'll add, if i were lavin's people, i would've hired a PR consultant to quantify all the free positive press he and the team generate for the school. he is a celebrity, with national reach.  since he started, i'm sure all his appearances likely add up to the $100's of millions in free publicity for the school.

I recall reading at one point that Lavin had been a big boost to fundraising, particularly in year 1.  Any truth to that (I recall a WSJ article to that effect)?

Overall Harrington left a mess across the school the Gempenshaw has to fix...There is a definite link to SJUBB being bad for 20years and Harrington being the President for 25 years...Louie was able to keep the program intact whe he was still there.

Will Gempenshaw upgrade all infrastructure to support SJU basketball, no and the school probably can't afford to.

I think Gempenshaw will be involve, care, and will target and invest in the program where he thinks he can get the biggest bang for his buck.

The main reason why Lavin is in this situation is because of Lavin and the quirky way he has run the program. The article is fair, but targeted spending on the program can be just as effective as throwing money and facilities at the program. Great talent has come hear, leaser talent has gone farther in the tournament recently then SJU. The issue is having great leadership to make the tough choices, right decisions, and correct the mistakes when they happen. That's where I trust Dr. Gempenshaw.

Quote from: sju89tr on March 18, 2015, 10:58:50 AM

The article is fair and accurate

The school needs to aspire to be at the top of the Big East.

We are a NYC team in the biggest market, that is what the new Big East needs and what UA signed up for.

I never understood why we don't make the investment into the program in a bigger way. St. John's has always had the ability to be a cash cow if the investments were made into the program. 

i think the school with the Lavin hire and the budget he's been given for staff and overall resources, is at or very near max.  i can't see them spending more than they are now.  spending 2mill+ on a head coach is not sustainable.

If it's not sustainable then we need to move to the MAAC. 1.5-2 mil is the going rate for an established coach at a high major program. Either that, or bring back Norm and be happy cheering the team toward mediocrity.  You can pay an up and comer 800K a year, but if he is successful, he will leave for better opportunity. Shakka is able to turn down other schools and hold out for his dream job because he isn't making peanuts at VCU. You have to pay to compete.   

Lets say hypothetically the school hires Rick Pitino for 5 million a year for 5 years, and pays his staff another 1 million a year.  6 million total per year

Lets say current staff gets 3 million a year

Do you not think Pitino would more than make the 3 million dollar difference a year in overall revenue to the school?

Say attendance improves by a 1/3 and more merchandise is bought etc. How about the extra tourney money to the conference?

Just wondering