Evening everyone, couldn’t sleep and had some thoughts and wanted to share. Immediate thoughts:
Thanks for the memories coach, last year’s run was magical. Will always be appreciative of him helping put Loyola back on the basketball landscape. He took over a stagnant program and rebuilt it into a likely mid major contender.
That being said, the timing couldn’t be worse and the program is being left somewhat in a lurch. Can’t help but feel a little jaded with him leaving late in the game, while timing is not his fault the coaching carousel is slowing down and will leave the Athletic Department scrambling for a replacement. Can’t blame the man for taking a likely big pay increase and a “promotion” to a bigger conference, spotlight, etc. but it’s times like these that make you realize the Mark Few’s and Gregg Marshal’s of the world are a rare breed. Was hoping he would turn down St. John’s and return back to Loyola, but he has every right to pursue whatever position he chooses, he has earned it and we should wish him Good luck, except when you play the Ramblers, hopefully we win by 30.
On to the future, Losing Mullins is massive as he likely would have been heir apparent, and now additional coaches are heading south to Carbondale. Hopefully Watson can entice Drew or Yaklich to come to Rogers Park, those would be homerun hires. Biggest concern right now is the incoming freshman, hopefully they want to stay at Loyola, and not fulfill Swella’s prediction of asking for releases and becoming salukis. Second biggest concern, transfer portal. Let’s all hope Williamson, Kaifes, Frank, and Krutwig are not hoping to find greener pastures now that the coaching staff has left, and finish out their careers as the most successful Ramblers in program history.
Sorry for the long post and jumping around, disappointing day overall.
|