2017 Hot Seat

Discussion in 'Women's College' started by StevenLa, Mar 10, 2017.

  1. MAGA DTS!

    MAGA DTS! New Member

    Jan 12, 2017
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Jason Dowiak Named University of Massachusetts Women’s Soccer Head Coach
     
  2. Kazoo

    Kazoo Member

    Nov 1, 2015
    Wow, this seems quite the coup for Pitt. Not a great look for the NWSL to lose one of its coaches to a college program that has been woeful for years. I assume the pay isn't great in the women's pro league--or maybe Waldrum was just eager to get back to the college ranks.
     
  3. mamalia

    mamalia Member

    Apr 26, 2001
    Cincinnati OH US
    He was fired by the Dash in May so, not a current NWSL coach.
     
  4. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re Waldrum, many do not recognize that at the time he left, Notre Dame had been in something of a decline. And, it had transitioned to the ACC -- he left after they had been there for one year. As is the case for some other hires, this looks like it could be a good one, but we'll need to let some time pass -- maybe 5+ years -- before giving it a good evaluation.
     
  5. Collegewhispers

    Collegewhispers Member+

    Oct 27, 2011
    Club:
    Columbus Crew

    Basically any hire would have been an improvement on Miller but man that is a game changer for Pitt. Not sure about national prominence or anything of that nature but having a competitive ACC program that is respectable should be achievable as Waldrum does his thing. I think that’s an amazing hire.
     
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  6. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #931 MRAD12, Dec 19, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2017
    They were in somewhat of a decline. Everything is relative though. A decline for Notre Dame would have been an improvement for many teams. But, IMO Waldrum lost his focus there. Maybe him and his wife wanted to get back to Texas and their new born granddaughter at the time?

    As some may remember, I used to post quite a bit here for many years as a ND fan. I haven't done so recently as I shamefully admit I lost some interest in the ND women's program after Randy left. I used to be at Alumni Field old and new every Sunday from 1995 until a few years ago, religiously. One reason was because I was confident in Waldrum's recruiting and that Notre Dame will make it to the College Cup or have a good chance of making it under Waldrum every year. Chris Petrucelli brought the UND women's soccer program to the top with a National Championship in 1995 and Waldrum continued it without missing a beat for 14 years. I can still rattle off the names of former Irish players during those grand years. Man they were fun!

    My only question is, why Pitt? If you're going to come back to the cold north, why didn't you just stay at ND? Why not wait for a Texas school job to open up? I personally was hoping he would somehow end up back at ND.

    Maybe Randy Waldrum wants to get back into the ACC and renew his rivalry with Anson Dorrance which during the 2000's in my opinion the Notre Dame vs North Carolina women's soccer rivalry was the best in the Nation.

    Anyway, good luck Randy Waldrum in your new job. I will keep a closer eye on the ACC than I have been in the last few years. I will try to be at the game when you return to Alumni Field in South Bend, but it will be weird seeing you on the other bench.
     
  7. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Question. If you were the AD of Portland and had the choice of Waldrum or French, who would you hire?
     
  8. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006
    #933 Cliveworshipper, Dec 19, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2017
    Moot point.

    . He didn’t apply.

    And have you ever asked yourself why no Texas team has hired him? Maybe it’s his insistence on having his son as assistant again.
     
  9. Socalsoccercoach

    Dec 1, 2013
    Waldrum to Pitt is the best hire of the off season so far. He has won at every college job he has had...May take time but he has the experience to do it.
     
  10. outsiderview

    outsiderview Member

    Oct 1, 2013
    Charlotte
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Randy also tried to get Houston & Kentucky last year, ECU this year, and I'm sure he called others. I do not think it was the case of Pitt begging him as their first choice to please come save them.

    On another note, this will be an interesting year to follow coaches that were hired with 4 hires being hired from outside the college game. Just with the changes in NCAA rules in the last 4 years it won't be as easy as just jumping in to things.

    I give ECU and UMASS the notch on best hires so far for immediate impact. M&W I think will end up being a great hire once she adjusts. Pitt and Portland TBD.
     
  11. Eddie K

    Eddie K Member+

    May 5, 2007
    Why Pitt - what desperate p5 program had the money he wanted and was willing to give him whatever control he negotiated (choice and salary for assts?). There's only 1 option this cycle.
    Waldrum is a good coach and Pitt should be happy...but he complained when he left ND that he was tired of recruiting 15 year olds and sucking up to club coaches. Well, have fun with that Randy...
    (Easy prediction he'll go strong for internationals right away and is making calls right now.)

    As far as best hire, maybe we should reserve judgement until they are all in. I'd like to sort that list again by 'most likely to make the NCAAs in 3 years" after we see all the names filled in. It might take Pitt 3 years to get to .500 and that's close to a bid in the ACC. W&M might be my pick but lets see who others get.

    No one took my question on Tab Ramos? Zero college experience who would be celebrated as a fantastic hire at a school like Portland.
     
  12. TheBigDawg

    TheBigDawg New Member

    Dec 13, 2017

    I don’t think recruiting has ever been her issue. Her demeanor and on field coaching are the areas where she underwhelms. She has managed to take a top 5 program and turn it into a top 25 program in just a few years. That is no easy ask of someone. She will be gone in another year or two, as the expectations at ND are much higher than irrelevancy.
     
  13. TheBigDawg

    TheBigDawg New Member

    Dec 13, 2017
    W&M made a terrible hire. Did you see my post about her track record at Princeton? If she struggled to find consistent success at a school people are falling over to get into, how do you think she will succeed at W&M?
     
  14. jimhalpert

    jimhalpert Member

    Jan 9, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's worked out ok in South Carolina
     
  15. theguru

    theguru Member

    May 7, 2008
    Uconn What say you
     
  16. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Just a friendly question, that's all. Not trying to argue.
     
  17. kickithard

    kickithard Member

    Jan 14, 2004
    Nailed it!
     
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  18. calcio1919

    calcio1919 New Member

    Juventus
    Italy
    Nov 11, 2017
    Sahaydak husband and wife at UCF have a very good program. One of most competitive mid majors.
     
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  19. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think this is a good question. If I were the AD and had a choice, it would be French, easily. The Waldrum problem is that he seems to have been at loose ends for a while about what he really wants to do. I'd feel like I couldn't rely on him to be making a long-term full commitment. And, I'd be wary of his results with the Dash, although I'd not put too much emphasis on that.

    On the other hand, I'm not the AD. But, if I'd made recommendations to him they would have been Lauren Orlandos Hansen, Shannon MacMillan, or Michelle French, each for different reasons.
     
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  20. Holmes12

    Holmes12 Member

    May 15, 2016
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Nailed what?
     
  21. Holmes12

    Holmes12 Member

    May 15, 2016
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    #946 Holmes12, Dec 20, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2017
    What's the deal with Waldrum's accent? This hire is short term, 61 year old unemployed man. see if he can establish ~anything~ to bring in better candidates in a few years. I'd guess he applied (rather than been contacted) and it was either him or Dr. Ted Flogaites.
     
  22. Collegewhispers

    Collegewhispers Member+

    Oct 27, 2011
    Club:
    Columbus Crew

    Waldrum’s name alone will make the Pitt program more attractive this is an awesome hire. He’s a big name in college Soccer so I don’t see a negative to this appointment. I don’t see how the assistant can be compared with someone of Randy’s history. Pitt has been a train wreck for years; Miller took over from a really bad coach and did the impossible by making a terrible program even worse. Finally having a competent head coach will help that program take several steps in the right direction. Looking from the outside in is there really a bigger hire Pitt could have made from people who would have been interested?
     
  23. cpthomas

    cpthomas BigSoccer Supporter

    Portland Thorns
    United States
    Jan 10, 2008
    Portland, Oregon
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I should say, I agree generally with this. If Waldrum really is ready to be back, it's great for Pitt.

    Aside: There must be something about the name "Pittsburgh" that has a magnetic attraction for Waldrum.
     
  24. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    61, well, IMO not that old yet. Waldrum still has a few years left in him as a coach.
     
  25. MRAD12

    MRAD12 Member+

    Jun 10, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Is his son coming with him?
     

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