Did we really just fire Gene Stephenson?

[ShockTalk]

It has to be Mark or Hoop to heal the fractured fan base. Hooper lives in San Diego, maybe he doesn't want the gig anymore. My guess is Mark would be the lead candidate considering his connection in the recruiting scene and actual college head coach experience. The new guy has to be more than a salesman though as that is basically what we have now. Butler is a stand up guy, the kind of coach you want your kids to play for and can recruit well. He just can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag and pull the right string on a player to bring out his full potential. Love it or hate it, Gene was an average coach that had an exceptional talent for pushing guys to the limit and sometimes beyond. Unfortunately, that technique doesn't work with the soft hearted millennial set.

Word has always been that Hoop kept his home here, and his family has stayed around. He just currently has the lifestyle similar to say a congressman.

I think your correct that both Mark and/or Kevin would bring back the fans and rejuvenate the program.

Frankly, I'm surprised Mark is still where he is and must really want to stay in the area. Kevin decided to explore other avenues, but apparently has not closed the door as yet.

The problem is that WSU is going to dick around and lose both. Mark has to be getting offers, just not the right one to make him move on it. Kevin may get a bump up in the big leagues. For their sake, I hope neither is waiting on WSU to act as it may be 3 years off and who knows how bad the situation would be by then.

[1972Shocker]

Kevin decided to explore other avenues, but apparently has not closed the door as yet.

Personally, I don't read too much into Kevin maintaining his home in Wichita one way or the other. His job involves travelling to all of San Diego's minor league affiliatess around the U.S. and the Domican Republic and he is never in one sport more that a week at a time. I think he said he is on the road for 20 days and home for 10 most months. Doesn't make a lot of difference where he lives. He likes Wichita, has a ton of friends in Wichita and it really doesn't make sense to uproot his Family only to perhaps take a more stationary job someplace else in the future as he progresses up the ladder in MLB. I think he would take the WSU job if offered but I don't know that for sure. The possibility of getting the WSU job might have something to do with his decision to stay in Wichita but that also could be well down the list of his reasons to do so. If Kevin is offered a Double A managerial postion somewhere in the next couple of years that attracted him then I think you would see him relocate his family to where he is coaching.

[Shox1979]

Kevin lives in Valley Center. I see him a lot. Kids go to school in Valley. He shows no signs of wanting to be anywhere else. I really hope the job is his someday.

[Shox1979]

Kevin lives in Valley Center. I see him a lot. Kids go to school in Valley. He shows no signs of wanting to be anywhere else. I really hope the job is his someday.

[JayPak]

On the bright side, if the Shockers get their stuff together in baseball you'll have every opportunity to host regionals and super-regionals regularly with the RPI you'll be able to attain with winning big in the AAC.

[XManCometh]

Kevin lives in Valley Center. I see him a lot. Kids go to school in Valley. He shows no signs of wanting to be anywhere else. I really hope the job is his someday.

Hoop is my choice. Guy is a tremendously nice person, but has the fire to pump up college kids. If I was back in high school looking for a coach to play for again it wouldn't have been that difficult for me to pick Hoop.