Fire Gene Stephenson

[1972Shocker]

It's time for Dr. Beggs to get involved. This is unacceptable.

From Gene's contract:

WSU-ICAA reserves the right to terminate Stephenson at any time prior to the expiration of this Agreement for good cause shown. The term "good cause" shall include, but not be limited to: (1) violation of Stephenson's duties as set forth in paragraph (3) heereof; (2) any conduct which results in final conviction of any criminal statute (excluding traffic violations which do not result in diversion or incarceration); (3) conduct which is prejudicial to the best interests of The Wichita State University or its athletic program. The determination of such conduct shall be the unanimous decision of the President of the Wichita State University, the Athletic Director and each member of the Board of Directors of WSU-ICAA.

Paragraph 3 essentially says Gene must comply with NCAA, MVC and WSU rules and regulations.

I'm no legal expert but not sure how much wiggle room the Adminsitration has to bust this contract. As far as dismissal for prejudicial conduct Gene only needs Beggs, Sexton or one member of the WSU-ICAA Board in his corner. Not sure if lousy coaching and poor on-the-field results would qualify as "good cause" or not, but it might be a stretch. I suppose you could try to negotiate a termination settlement with Gene which would no doubt be presented as Gene electing to retire. How much of a buyout are we willing to part with? The current contract expires June 30, 2014.

[XManCometh]

Re: Silliness

I'm not pleased with this season either. But I'm not sure how it's Stephenson's fault that Cale Elam, who has been nails in pretty much every appearance, couldn't get anyone out tonight. This sort of thing happens in the major leagues to closers making millions of dollars, too -- not often, but it hasn't happened often to Elam either.

It's called baseball, and sometimes in baseball excrement happens.

Gene got lucky in 2007-2008. Take those 2 years out and we're basically very average nationally the past 15 years. He's lost it. But he'll be here until 2014 unless he commits a felony.

[DUShock]

"I'll take care of this..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTbAS...yer_detailpage

[Veritas]

Is there something holding the program back besides our speculation on Gene's lack of focus and JT's bafoonery? Has Gene lost a bit of focus and drive because of some athletic department issues?
Maybe Gene doesn't have the fire in his belly to drive thousands of miles to look at a recruit and his recruiting budget is so low that gas money is all he has (with the price of gas going up, this means he only can visit northern Oklahoma and northern Kansas).

Maybe Sully can do an article on what plagues the program and what Gene thinks he needs in order to right the ship, give it to him, and then hold him accountable.

ADES needs to get involved and figure this problem out. It's not good for the overall athletic program.

WSU gave up football for this??? If the Shox don't have football, they damn well better have other athletic programs that are relevant on a national level and the baseball relevancy is starting to sink - quickly.

[XManCometh]

WSU gave up football for this??? If the Shox don't have football, they damn well better have other athletic programs that are relevant on a national level and the baseball relevancy is starting to sink - quickly.

WSU gave up football because it was purging money, nobody was showing up and it was getting punished by the NCAA left and right for violations. If we had football the past 25 years, the baseball team doesn't have what it has today and we're not even discussion firing Gene because it would have happened in the mid-90s.

[KC Shox]

Didn't Title IX have something to do with it as well? Creating an equal amount of scholarships for non-revenue women sports plus facility, coaching salaries, equipment, etc. would have sucked this athletic program dry.

[Ashockalypse]

We have sucked the last couple seasons but Gene isn't going anywhere and we would be a pretty unattractive job if we ran off the guy that is responsible for almost all of the success. In college baseball, no coach is going to be a sure thing and I will still take the guy who has done it most of his career. I also crack up at some of you hitting coaches who are so damn sure that Jim Thomas is the problem. We were good long before Jim Thomas was a coach and Gene was teaching the hitting. There has been nothing stopping him the last few years from stepping in. We have probably fell short somewhat in the recruiting area the last few years and that probably has gotten a bit harder despite our facilities. A lot of you guys were talking like this right before we made the Super Regional run and came one game from the series two years ago. We are "stuck" with Gene but there are worse alternatives. Maybe Mike Cohen could coach the baseball team. Or maybe you all could handle the job. There are no shortage of opinions, ideas and experts here.

[Veritas]

We have sucked the last couple seasons but Gene isn't going anywhere and we would be a pretty unattractive job if we ran off the guy that is responsible for almost all of the success. In college baseball, no coach is going to be a sure thing and I will still take the guy who has done it most of his career. I also crack up at some of you hitting coaches who are so damn sure that Jim Thomas is the problem. We were good long before Jim Thomas was a coach and Gene was teaching the hitting. There has been nothing stopping him the last few years from stepping in. We have probably fell short somewhat in the recruiting area the last few years and that probably has gotten a bit harder despite our facilities. A lot of you guys were talking like this right before we made the Super Regional run and came one game from the series two years ago. We are "stuck" with Gene but there are worse alternatives. Maybe Mike Cohen could coach the baseball team. Or maybe you all could handle the job. There are no shortage of opinions, ideas and experts here.

JT is a joke... and you're right - - we were good long before Jim Thomas was a coach.

[SB Shock]

We have sucked the last couple seasons but Gene isn't going anywhere

He went to OU a couple years, what is there to say that he will feel "unwanted" with declining attendance and him being completely overshadowed by Basketball. He not married now so he might just decide he want's to South for a new start.

and we would be a pretty unattractive job if we ran off the guy that is responsible for almost all of the success.

Why? Coaches know their jobs are dependent on being successful.

There has been nothing stopping him the last few years from stepping in.

Probably the distraction of knee injury on a private ski trip with his personal trainer, the sexual harassment fiasco and eventual divorce probably preoccupied him.

We have probably fell short somewhat in the recruiting area the last few years

Probably?

We are "stuck" with Gene

No we are not "stuck". A move could be made at any time, now there may not be any "courage" from the AD.

but there are worse alternatives.

Sure I guess WSU could hire former Evansville Brownlee as coach. But there also better alternatives. Energetic alternatives.

Maybe Mike Cohen could coach the baseball team.

There is a difference. Mike Cohen took over a winning program and runned it into the ground. Gene Stephenson has become the baseball "Mike Cohen". So maybe the next coach will be the Turgeon or Marshall.

[shockfan89_]

Mike Cohen took over a winning program and runned it into the ground. Gene Stephenson has become the baseball "Mike Cohen". So maybe the next coach will be the Turgeon or Marshall.

I understand what you're trying to say but the only problem with that analogy is Gene has more Valley Championships, NCAA post season wins and "Sweet 16" appearances in the last 4 years than Turgeon and Marshall combined over the past decade. Just a few thoughts on the other points: Gene very well could be distracted by his off the field issues in the past few years. As far as recruiting, WSU had the 24th best recruiting class last year with only 2 Big 12 teams having better recruiting classes than WSU. Not sure it is fair to say the recruiting has fallen?

We need to get things turned around quickly and the trend since our back to back super regionals is disturbing, but we also have to keep in perspective that this team has endured major injuries (Kelley, Harbutz, Bayliff). I'm not saying for a minute that these three being healthy would have cured this team's issues, but you can't dismiss it either. It is a factor.

The Grimes thing probably bothers me more than anything else at this time except maybe pitching (Are we capable of winning if we don't score 10 runs or if Lowell isn't on the mound). I know we need his bat in the lineup but with some of the increased production we have had lately at the bottom of the order I would like to see someone else get a chance. Don't we always pride ourselves on pitching and defense? Those are two areas that have not been strong points for this team. To me this is an example of Gene not trying something new and being set in his ways. What do we really have to lose at this point?

I also think we need a younger coach/successor on the staff starting next season. Gene and JT are virtually the same style of coach. I'm not sure what benefit there is to have both. That being said, many have questioned the fire of the coaches which I don't see as an issue. I heard Brent on a radio show a few weeks ago and it sounded like there was plenty of desire and drive in his voice. According to Chris Wimmer Gene delivered a very passionate, motivating speech to the team that should have moved anyone who has ever worn the black and gold in any sport. I view the issue more of the coaches not being able to relate to 18-21 yr olds. That is something that should be able to be fixed with a younger assistant coach that can be groomed to take over when Gene retires.

I also want to bring up an issue that was briefly mentioned that has bothered me for years. Why does it seem ANY player that gets drafted leaves WSU? We have draft eligable Sophomores that get selected in the 8th to 12th round and are gone. Texas has Juniors drafted in the 2nd round that return for their Senior season. I know the shot at winning a National Championship is greater at Texas than WSU but there has to be more to this story...

[Shirley Schmidt]

I also want to bring up an issue that was briefly mentioned that has bothered me for years. Why does it seem ANY player that gets drafted leaves WSU? We have draft eligable Sophomores that get selected in the 8th to 12th round and are gone. Texas has Juniors drafted in the 2nd round that return for their Senior season. I know the shot at winning a National Championship is greater at Texas than WSU but there has to be more to this story...

I have also wondered that and think the reason is that in the recruiting process they, the coaching staff, focus on getting the kid ready for pro ball while he is in college. It is stressed so much that they are ready and jump at the first chance they get.

[XManCometh]

I also want to bring up an issue that was briefly mentioned that has bothered me for years. Why does it seem ANY player that gets drafted leaves WSU? We have draft eligable Sophomores that get selected in the 8th to 12th round and are gone. Texas has Juniors drafted in the 2nd round that return for their Senior season. I know the shot at winning a National Championship is greater at Texas than WSU but there has to be more to this story...

I have also wondered that and think the reason is that in the recruiting process they, the coaching staff, focus on getting the kid ready for pro ball while he is in college. It is stressed so much that they are ready and jump at the first chance they get.

Maybe they don't want to be the next Ryan Jones. Offered money in the top 10 rounds, but you decline thinking you're worth more. Only to come back to school and have your stock drop so far that you're not selected until the 39th round the following year.

[SB Shock]

Mike Cohen took over a winning program and runned it into the ground. Gene Stephenson has become the baseball "Mike Cohen". So maybe the next coach will be the Turgeon or Marshall.

I understand what you're trying to say but the only problem with that analogy is Gene has more Valley Championships, NCAA post season wins and "Sweet 16" appearances in the last 4 years than Turgeon and Marshall combined over the past decade.

I didn't bring the Mike Cohen analogy in the argument, but I'm not going to be afraid of change. If something doesn't change then the program is going to fail whether Gene is here or not. You know what I would rather see Gene here and the program succeeding, but if not - it is time for him to go.

As far as recruiting, WSU had the 24th best recruiting class last year with only 2 Big 12 teams having better recruiting classes than WSU. Not sure it is fair to say the recruiting has fallen?

Rankings mean nothing if they are not realized on the field.

We need to get things turned around quickly and the trend since our back to back super regionals is disturbing, but we also have to keep in perspective that this team has endured major injuries (Kelley, Harbutz, Bayliff). I'm not saying for a minute that these three being healthy would have cured this team's issues, but you can't dismiss it either. It is a factor.

Injuries are opportunities for other step in. How many injuries did the 1989 team have? Did hey use it as an excuse?

One might ask if some of the injuries to the pitching staff is because lack of depth and having to overuse some pitchers.

I heard Brent on a radio show a few weeks ago and it sounded like there was plenty of desire and drive in his voice.

I'm sure Gene, Kemnitz and JT want to win, but I don't think they want to or able to work as hard as they used to in the past to achieve that level of success. That is why OU would have been probably a good move for them because they could put it on cruise control and succeed. But your not going to do that at WSU due to a variety of factors (location, conference affiliation, etc).

I also want to bring up an issue that was briefly mentioned that has bothered me for years. Why does it seem ANY player that gets drafted leaves WSU? We have draft eligable Sophomores that get selected in the 8th to 12th round and are gone. Texas has Juniors drafted in the 2nd round that return for their Senior season. I know the shot at winning a National Championship is greater at Texas than WSU but there has to be more to this story...

This has bother me also. I have come to a conclusion it is Selfishness and overall lack of leadership. I have had this feeling that the type of players Gene has transitioned to recruiting were more concerned with their ERA, BA and getting drafted than actual success on the field.

What they don't realize is if they take care of business and do what it takes to win, all that other stuff will take care of itself.

[shoxlax]

Bump just in case the score holds

[WuDrWu]

Bump just in case the score holds

Don't care what the score is. The damage is done, it's time to stop any further damage.


Hey, what do you know, another base hit when a hitter is in the hole 0-2....haven't seen that oh, more than 30-40 times this year.