Fire Gene Stephenson

[PlaneShocker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ2HcRl4wSk

Deserved bump

[rrshock]

Is there anyone that doesn't think this will happen now?

[WSUwatcher]

Is there anyone that doesn't think this will happen now?

Yes.

[BostonWu]

Listen Gene should have been sent to pasture several seasons ago. But with one season remaining on the contract does it make sense to fire him at this point? We've come this far enduring mediocrity, can't we wait one more season and at least give him the opportunity to leave gracefully? Now whether he chooses to accept the plan that next season will be his last is up to him but I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to fire a legend with one stinking year left on his contract.

[Ta town]

Listen Gene should have been sent to pasture several seasons ago. But with one season remaining on the contract does it make sense to fire him at this point? We've come this far enduring mediocrity, can't we wait one more season and at least give him the opportunity to leave gracefully? Now whether he chooses to accept the plan that next season will be his last is up to him but I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to fire a legend with one stinking year left on his contract.

Does it make sense to sign a binding NLI with a coach you know won't be there your freshman year? If not extended he needs to go before next year.

[SHOCKvalue]

Listen Gene should have been sent to pasture several seasons ago. But with one season remaining on the contract does it make sense to fire him at this point? We've come this far enduring mediocrity, can't we wait one more season and at least give him the opportunity to leave gracefully? Now whether he chooses to accept the plan that next season will be his last is up to him but I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to fire a legend with one stinking year left on his contract.

I'm not so sure that getting fired is that much worse than not having your contract renewed, for a coach that's basically a cornerstone of college baseball. Neither is graceful from a PR standpoint. Unless Gene swallows his pride, this transition is not going to be a pretty or painless thing for any involved.

[rrshock]

I'm not so sure that getting fired is that much worse than not having your contract renewed, for a coach that's basically a cornerstone of college baseball. Neither is graceful from a PR standpoint. Unless Gene swallows his pride, this transition is not going to be a pretty or painless thing for any involved.

Agreed. This is why I feel they should just get the inevitable over with.

[rrshock]

Yes.

I Would hope that number is shrinking daily. It can't be that many to begin with.

[rrshock]

Does it make sense to sign a binding NLI with a coach you know won't be there your freshman year? If not extended he needs to go before next year.

everyone knows he is a lame duck. That only hurts.

[choida]

just ask him whether he rather retire or be canned...pretty simple...gives him a chance to leave with dignity or humiliation

[TheReal3G]

Does it make sense to sign a binding NLI with a coach you know won't be there your freshman year? If not extended he needs to go before next year.

I know the Sluggers Academy coaches are informing kids that are getting recruited by WSU of the option to sign Financial Aid Agreements similar to those you see high level prospects sign in college basketball if they want to play for Gene, Brent or JT. They are non-binding and if a coaching change happens they are not stuck if they do not like the new coach. Staniford, McBratney, Baty and Sanagorksi are all coaching there. Mcbratney coaches 2013 guys and so does Staniford seperatly, Baty and Sanagorksi coach the 2014 guys together. My son plays for Stanifords team.

[shockmonster]

I'm not certain of the reliability of my source, but I know he's very well-connected in the economic strata that keeps WSU athletics in the black.

Word is that a baseball coach has been selected and has agreed to take over the program. That might explain the reported communications breakdown between the athletic department and the baseball coaching staff.

Where this bit of info breaks down is that a date for that happening isn't included - just that a replacement has been found.

I heard the same rumor and that Hooper is the replacement at the end of this season.

[BostonWu]

just ask him whether he rather retire or be canned...pretty simple...gives him a chance to leave with dignity or humiliation

Thanks. You summed it up better than I. How hard is it to name Hooper as the coach in waiting after Gene's farewell tour next season? If Mean Gene doesn't like that plan then fire him on the spot.

[Veritas]

I heard the same rumor and that Hooper is the replacement at the end of this season.

I will support Hooper if indeed the reports from WuDrWu, Aargh and shockmonster are correct.
This whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Hopefully, HCGS was/is an obstinate, non-communicative sob, and ADES had to pull a Truman/MacArthur move for the benefit of the program. However, if afterwards, we find out that ADES simply never approached GS and was a wimpy little punk that used his position to fire HCGS rather than help him, I will never forgive the guy.
Additionally, if HCGS is not retained, the stadium and field should be named after him.

[Rlh04d]

I'm not so sure that getting fired is that much worse than not having your contract renewed, for a coach that's basically a cornerstone of college baseball. Neither is graceful from a PR standpoint. Unless Gene swallows his pride, this transition is not going to be a pretty or painless thing for any involved.

Saw the same thing at FSU.

Bobby Bowden never chose to leave gracefully. It seems like HCGS is extremely similar, unfortunately.

It's an incredibly ugly situation. The end question is: Does the guy that built the program have the right to destroy it as well? I think it should absolutely buy them time to turn it around, but the program has to be bigger than the coach.

If the hope is if eventually he'll step down gracefully ... in my experience, no. And the longer the wait the bigger the hole to dig out of.