Search for a New Head Coach

[siouxkid12]

Just now, rochsioux said:

Berry’s letter

That's a link with a paywall.....

[1972]

42 minutes ago, siouxweet said:

Is Sasha staying because Jax will be coach, Berry is gone or both?

from what i heard, he was going to bolt when BB got fired, unless Dane got the job

[geaux_sioux]

2 hours ago, siouxweet said:

UND hockey has become like Notre Dame football.    It isn't viewed highly anymore except amongst it's fan base.

Nice timing on this analogy lol

[gfhockey]

He says thanks to kem but she bought him per this website?

[gfhockey]

Very classy letter from a very classy guy

[crb1]

I just read the letter. First thing that stands out. No mention of Jax, KG or Simpson. Did they somehow throw BB under the bus and now there is some ill will?  

[Goon]

8 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

Link?

To the current and past players (and there are a lot of you): You are the lifeblood and face of UND Hockey. I want to thank you all in so many ways. Thank you for representing North Dakota Hockey at the very highest level on the ice, in the classroom and in the community. You all worked so hard in all of these areas each and every day. At UND Hockey, we are measured by wins and championships — and that is absolutely the way it should be for an elite program that we are. We all know that as players and coaches. (Link) 

[tnt]

32 minutes ago, TNF said:

In all seriousness, Jax is not Berry (nor is he Hak) so we really have no idea how he’ll lead this team. I’ll convince myself by next fall to give him the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully he makes a few statements between now and then that makes it clear he wants to return to a much more exciting brand of hockey and embrace the new age of NIL.

It is a tough spot for him however because his leash will be very short with the baggage he brings from the last few years. Here’s to hoping we are pleasantly surprised which is certainly within the realm of possibility. We do know he is loyal. 

I think I will know if anything has changed when I see the level of aggressive play.  If I see us up by one goal and not pressing hard to make it two and not forechecking, it will be disappointing.  Hopefully aggressive play will help with recruiting those high end guys when they see them putting up numbers. 

[Dustin]

“There will be many outstanding and very qualified applicants that would die for this job. This position is looked at as the NHL of college hockey. My hope is that the current administration proceeds in this hiring process with open minds and with an absolute strong conviction to hire the best leader from all the great candidates that apply for this important position. The program is owed this.”

That doesn’t sound like no one’s interested.  

[SIOUXFAN97]

10 hours ago, Cratter said:

You put your tinny hat on 

UND was approached to be in another superconference.

Armacost needed big $$$

Had to call KEM

She said "Not with Berry. He can't even beat Augustana or even U18 at home!"

"I just text Berry to clean out his office!"

best of hockey east and best of nchc? notre dame?

[F'n Hawks]

13 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:

Nice timing on this analogy lol

2 or 3 years ago it may have been more applicable haha. UND hockey could really use a Marcus Freeman type hire…

[SIOUXFAN97]

10 hours ago, cberkas said:

I saw something about a super conference today

saw it where?

[Langster019]

10 hours ago, Cratter said:

Bad teams and years are forgotten, nattys live forever.

Cancelled seasons get remembered. 5OT losses get remembered. I’m new to this fandom compared to everyone here but in the 13 seasons I’ve been around it’s 1 natty, and a lot of heartbreak even when the team was a juggernaut some years from 2019-2022

[BIGSIOUX]

Why no one talking about Sandelin?

[Sioux-]

1 minute ago, BIGSIOUX said:

Why no one talking about Sandelin?

IMO - it is because he is old and has not adapted to the new era of NIL. His Duluth teams have been terrible recently, and he may not be able to coach effectively in the "new age" of college hockey. 

[UND1983]

23 minutes ago, 1972 said:

from what i heard, he was going to bolt when BB got fired, unless Dane got the job

not this again.  Players need to be told "thanks for your input, we will take it into consideration".  Then be forgot about immediately

[ChadR]

20 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

Very classy letter from a very classy guy

You tracking tail numbers today?

[nodakgirl93]

25 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

That's a link with a paywall.....

Just go into airplane mode after it loads.

[Greenbayguy87]

56 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

No but he was an assistant before he got the HC job. 

Blais was a golden rodent.

[UND1983]

18 minutes ago, Goon said:

To the current and past players (and there are a lot of you): You are the lifeblood and face of UND Hockey. I want to thank you all in so many ways. Thank you for representing North Dakota Hockey at the very highest level on the ice, in the classroom and in the community. You all worked so hard in all of these areas each and every day. At UND Hockey, we are measured by wins and championships — and that is absolutely the way it should be for an elite program that we are. We all know that as players and coaches. (Link) 

Sure didn't seem like it until Monday.  That program has underachieved to say the least.

[gfhockey]

Just now, ChadR said:

You tracking tail numbers today?

No hires done. 

[Langster019]

2 hours ago, gfhockey said:

Per source sounds like everyone was blindsided including the playas Ralph staff and alumni association 

Maybe this season and its blunders speak more on player leadership than coaching leadership. 

[siouxkid12]

1 minute ago, Greenbayguy87 said:

Blais was a golden rodent.

everyone is fully aware of this.

[sioux24/7]

26 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

That's a link with a paywall.....

You got an iPhone? Maybe works for androids too, idk. Anyways, if you know how to view something in Reader mode, it bypasses the paywall. 

[fightingsioux4life]

1 hour ago, SJHovey said:

We should expect our coaches to run a clean program, to work hard to recruit the best possible players (who are also good people) to come play for the program, and to teach them.  That's the job of a coach is to teach.

This sounds like a description of a high school program. If we wanted this, we could have just kept Berry.

1 hour ago, SJHovey said:

And finally, I think that a reality check is needed.  College athletics are changing, and changing dramatically.  UND (and a lot of others) are going to be at a significant disadvantage.  That doesn't mean that we should give up, or do nothing, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking that whatever collective we can put together is going to compete with the likes of the Michigans, Penn States, Arizona States, etc..., of the world.  We just can't.  They can find way more NIL money in the cushions of their football coach's couch than we could ever raise.

More of this mid-major talk. More overreaction to NIL.

Denver is not a big-time, Power 4 school (not even close). But they have won three NCAA titles in the last seven years (minus the COVID year). There are only nine Power 4 schools that sponsor Division I hockey: The seven B1G schools, plus Arizona State and Boston College. I honestly don't think the future of the NCAA tournament will feature those schools taking turns winning Natty's while everyone else settles for being their stepping stones.

The 1883 Collective should have been started earlier and we need to build it up substantially. I want that card in our deck. But Division I hockey is not FB, MBB or even WBB. Most NIL money will go to FB, with basketball being second. All other sports will be way down the list and not even noticed by most people.

Our current problems can be boiled down to three things:

1) An athletic department with rudderless leadership that is very slow to react to changing circumstances in college athletics. I honestly don't think a true national search was ever conducted here. Chaves did what he always does, push the easy button. It's disappointing and it's why I have been calling for his dismissal for about a year now. Hopefully Jackson is up to the task.

2) Having a head coach who is a nice guy, but simply wasn't head coaching material and was much better as an assistant. Berry is a great human being, but simply does not have the skill set to be an effective head coach at the Division I level. I do wish him well in whatever he does next.

3) Having that previously described coach stay too long. I think Blais had it right: 10 years in one place is long enough. Berry was here 10 years. The last 8 of those years were very underwhelming when it came to national level success, which Denver has had no problem achieving during that time frame.

Let's not push the panic button and assume that our best days are behind us. They don't have to be. Success is a choice. So is mediocrity. Let's make the right choice.