Did we really just fire Gene Stephenson?

[Play Angry]

Here are WSU's RPI numbers following the super-regional loss at FSU:

2009 - 106
2010 - 60
2011 - 76
2012 - 45
2013 - 103
----------
2014 - 78
2015 - 123
2016 - 183
2017 (YTD) - 146

The degree to which we've struggled recently is embarrassing, however the trend of (severe) deterioration spans a decade. I doubt things would have been nearly this bad (on the field) with Gene at the helm but there is zero reason to believe his performance would not have continued its declining trendline.

Paying a top 5% salary for Top ~80 performance over half a decade is dumb and will get the recipient fired.

Paying a top 25% salary for Top ~150 performance over half a decade is also really dumb and will get the recipient fired.

We are due for someone to perform at a level commensurate with their compensation in baseball after a decade of pathetic ROI. Let's hope next year kicks off a reversal of this trend.

[Play Angry]

I guess the trendline is not really apparent without a prior timeframe for reference purposes. Below is the 5 year period ending with the super regional loss at FSU:

2004 - 38
2005 - 37
2006 - 47
2007 - 23
2008 - 21


RPI Averages:

2004 - 08: 33.2
2009 - 13: 78.0
2014 - Present: 132.5

In sum, no bueno.

[1972Shocker]

I doubt things would have been nearly this bad (on the field) with Gene at the helm but there is zero reason to believe his performance would not have continued its declining trendline.

A reasonable speculation but no way of knowing for sure. At least in Gene's case you could argue that he was to some degree being compensated for past successes and efforts. In Todd's case that argument can't be made. In fact, it seems like what WSU did with Todd was to reward him for future successes that unfortunately have not materialized and it doesn't seem like there was any thought or consideration given to the possibility that Todd Butler might not be a success and the program might need to make a change.

Clearly we can and should expect to do better then the peformance under HCTB. Things aren't going to get any easier in the AAC for sure. Not sure what we should reasonably expect going forward but it is better than what we are getting. I would think you typically would want to be a Top 100 team with regular trips into the Top 50 and regional appearances on a relatively regular basis.

[OregonShocker]

IF FHCGS was angry, it should be with any combination of 1.former AD administrators 2. former university administrators 3. unsupportive boosters. A couple of these still exist; maybe a while before he heads back to WSU with a smile. I'm thinking he's more like Bobby Knight in this regard than not.

[OregonShocker]

Gene is WSU baseball and should always have a place. I think many forget what he started with this program. We didn't have our own field to practice or play on. He built everything we have from nothing. Did he have some flaws...most definitely. But we shouldn't forget what he accomplished as a coach and as one of the best of all time!

Agreed. But if my wife told me she were leaving me for a better man, can't do more in the relationship, thought the new guy would take her farther, etc. then came back later and said she made a mistake NOT because of what she discovered about me after she left but because of what she discovered about the new guy, AND I took her back....she would HAVE to know that the ice was thin.
Gene seemed to believe his past greatness would allow the same kind of arrogant relationship as before, and that simply wasn't true. He failed to adjust.

[shockmonster]

My focus and AD Boatright's focus should not be on GS. It should be on getting rid of TB and winning. I still want Hooper to come back.

[shockfan89_]

Clearly we can and should expect to do better then the peformance under HCTB. Things aren't going to get any easier in the AAC for sure. Not sure what we should reasonably expect going forward but it is better than what we are getting. I would think you typically would want to be a Top 100 team with regular trips into the Top 50 and regional appearances on a relatively regular basis.

I am not sure how the AAC will impact things, it should help our RPI considerably, but we are going to lose a lot more conference games if we don't step things up fast. I do agree with your reasonable expectations going forward. The problem is we fired a coach that was very close to meeting those requirements. The missing ingredient was one more regional appearance (which we probably should have had in 2012) and one more top 50 team. The real issue, as Play Angry stated, is that we were paying for 33.2 RPI (2004 - 2008 average) and we were getting the average RPI of 78.

I think the 2008 draft was a bigger killer than any of us understood at the time. I think that impacted us for several years (partly due to the recruiting philosophy of the previous coaching staff) and then the off the field distractions were the coup de gras.

2010 - 60
2011 - 76
2012 - 45
2013 - 103
----------
2014 - 78

[Cdizzle]

2010 - 60
2011 - 76
2012 - 45
2013 - 103
----------
2014 - 78

2017 - 6,001,459

[1972Shocker]

My focus and AD Boatright's focus should not be on GS. It should be on getting rid of TB and winning. I still want Hooper to come back.

True, but the two things are not mutually exlusive. I assume multitasking is a something AD's are quite used to. Obvioulsy priority 1 is to fix the baseball program going forward.

Hooper would be my favorite also. Did Mark Standiford participate in the Legend Weekend activities? I don't think I heard his name mentioned. Not that his absence would necessarily tell us anything.

[shockfan89_]

Did Mark Standiford participated in the Legend Weekend activities? I don't think I heard his name mentioned. Not that his absence would necessarily tell us anything.

I am pretty sure Mark was coaching this weekend.

[OregonShocker]

True, but the two things are not mutually exlusive. I assume multitasking is a something AD's are quite used to. Obvioulsy priority 1 is to fix the baseball program going forward.

Hooper would be my favorite also. Did Mark Standiford participated in the Legend Weekend activities? I don't think I heard his name mentioned. Not that his absence would necessarily tell us anything.

I agree; getting the winning tradition back is key to winning in the future, and FHCGS is key to that tradition.

[jazztrane]

I wondered if former players wouldn't have wanted to succeed Gene, but that should not be an issue now and I hope they do pursue Hooper or Standiford to resurrect the program.

[1972Shocker]

I wondered if former players wouldn't have wanted to succeed Gene, but that should not be an issue now and I hope they do pursue Hooper or Standiford to resurrect the program.

I think Kevin Hooper was on record as saying he was definitely interested in the Wichita State job when Gene was fired.

[shockfan89_]

I hope they do pursue Hooper or Standiford to resurrect the program.

I know this has been said many times when discussing this topic, but I like to repeat it just for ADDB's sake (not that he's reading...). WHY NOT BOTH?!?!

[1972Shocker]

I know this has been said many times when discussing this topic, but I like to repeat it just for ADDB's sake (not that he's reading...). WHY NOT BOTH?!?!

I question whether either Hoop or Mark would be interested in playing second fiddle. Hire whoever you think is the best guy to lead the program than give him the freedom to build his staff they way he wants to. We don't need any more AD's picking the assistants for our head coaches.