Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-21-23 08:56 PM - Post#354875
A few posts have mentioned this, but I thought it might be good to have a separate thread. Please post any ideas/names that occur to you.
Mr. Phillie raised a good question as to whether Griff should consider an older experienced associate head coach. Someone like Pat Flannery would be ideal, but I'm sure he's not coming back. Certainly wouldn't want Paul Harrison. Any ideas?
Here are some names that I'll throw out there with no research or vetting. Most are unlikely but some might be feasible.
Without a lot of research and with no vetting, here are some names. A lot are unlikely but some might be viable.
FAMILY:
• Matt Griffin, John’s younger brother, was an assistant for Pat Chambers at FGCU this year – where they had a mediocre year - after working as an assistant at Albany last year. Previously he was highly successful as head coach at Roman Catholic HS in Philly. Played for both Rider and Boston U and captained them both. Don’t know if he would have any interest working for his brother and returning to PA.
BUCKNELL CONNECTIONS:
• Kevin Bettencourt – Would he leave a D3 head coaching position to become Bucknell’s associate head coach? The Bucknell job might be a little better, but I’m not sure he wants to leave Mass.
• Cam Ayers – One year at Lafayette and the coach who hired him in still suspended pending the result of an investigation. I doubt he would leave, but if a new regime comes in, who knows.
• Bryson Johnson – Has served as an assistant at Vermont the past two years after working in various roles at GMU and also one year as an assistant coach at Brown. Would he want to leave the successful Vermont program? I doubt the pay there is high – but Bucknell is not that high either.
• Ryan Frazier – Was a grad assistant for DP at GMU and is now an assistant in the NBA for the New Orléans Pelicans. Has also served as a video assistant etc with the Bucks and the Suns. Not sure what the pay is for the lower-level assistant jobs in the NBA. Pelicans have ten coaches plus four video coordinators and player development specialists.
• DJ MacLeay – Has been a low-level coach for the Celtics for almost two years after serving as video coordinator for 76ers for several years.
• Jonathan Brown – Might he return as DOBO? Griff played with his brother for three years and knew Jonathan when he was a kid.
• Dom Hoffman – Played one year at Bucknell with Griff as an assistant and then returned as DOBO just after Griff left. Wasn’t happy with the job with ND as coach, but would he be interested with a different head coach? Last I heard, he had an insurance-related job outside of Philly.
• Kimbal Mackenzie – still playing pro ball in Canada. Would make a great coach, but has no experience. DOBO candidate?
• Jesse Flannery – Was an assistant at Army this year, but Jimmy Allen, their head coach, was surprisingly fired. Prior to that, he was an assistant for a year at Amherst and a grad assistant for two years at VCU. Played PG at Johns Hopkins.
COACHES HE HAS WORKED WITH:
• Mike Witcoskie – was an assistant coach and associate head coach at Rider for over a decade, including when Griff coached there. Then followed Donyell Marshall to CCSU, where the program was a disaster. Played at Susquehanna and coached both there and at Wilkes before going to Rider. Currently not coaching.
• Justin Scott – assistant at St. Joes for past four year after being head coach at D3 Arcadia for seven years. Doubt he would leave his native Philly and St. Joes – but if he isn’t promoted up to the now-vacant associate head coach role then maybe ?
• Mike Jolaoso – Served two years as grad assistant at St. Joes and last two years as assistant coach at D2 University of the Sciences. Was a good player and student at West Chester.
• Joe Meehan – Any interest in returning to coaching in a different program? Played for Griff’s alma mater, St. Joseph’s Prep and was a teammate of Matt Griffin. Now working as a IT recruiter for Booz Allen near Reading, as well as part-time scouting for Euro basketball.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-22-23 01:14 AM - Post#354882
In response to Bison137
Pat Flannery, as you say is not coming back, but he is on the scene and will obviously be available to consult with Griff. The Flannery / Griffin connection makes the idea of JessecFlannery an intriguing to say the least.
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bison75
Masters Student
Posts: 487
Reg: 01-26-06
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03-22-23 10:25 AM - Post#354888
In response to bison63
Jay Wright would be a valuable source for advice, and I’m sure he’d be happy to take John’s call.
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NoMoney89
Freshman
Posts: 89
Age: 57
Reg: 01-17-18
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03-22-23 01:52 PM - Post#354896
In response to bison75
Jay Wright would be a valuable source for advice, and I’m sure he’d be happy to take John’s call.
Right you are. He's already congratulated him on Twitter, and other than being a little occupied over the next few weeks, I'm sure Jay will be a willing advisor if asked.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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Re: Possibilities for Griffin's Staff
03-22-23 08:15 PM - Post#354911
In response to Bison137
• Matt Griffin, John’s younger brother, was an assistant for Pat Chambers at FGCU this year – where they had a mediocre year - after working as an assistant at Albany last year. Previously he was highly successful as head coach at Roman Catholic HS in Philly. Played for both Rider and Boston U and captained them both. Don’t know if he would have any interest working for his brother and returning to PA.
Matt's also likely to be considered as John's replacement at St Joe's. In addition to the Griffin pedigree, note the Hawks have two players arriving in the fall from Roman Catholic who played for Matt while he coached there.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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03-22-23 11:18 PM - Post#354919
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Jesse Flannery is extremely sharp, studies the game very closely and has a great personality. Total class act.
He's going places and it would be neat to see Lewisburg as his next stop.
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