Report of Jim Les firing

[amckillip]

--the way the president selected her last choice for head basketball coach is detailed here...
she simply closed her office door, made a few phone calls, then announced that she, as a "one-person search committee" made the choice.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2005-04-11-neubauer-eastern-kentucky_x.htm

--her selection at EKU, Jeff Neubauer, who had no head coaching experience at any level, inherited an NCAA team with four talented returning starters and seniors and was only 14-16 with that group. He has been nothing more than mediocre since against SOS that rank about 320 -- and they were bounced in the first round again this year.

--the new selection at Bradley will not be able to hire all his own assistants - per info I have learned, so how will that fly?

--no statement whatsoever from the university -- sad and lacking class....that the news hits the rumor wire first....

All very valid a true points. And people still don't believe she is a control freak...

[thefish7]

Well, if that's true I'm interested to see who they hire and how many recruits and current players we retain. I have a major fear that we're going to hire a first time coach or someone from the network out east who doesn't have the chops for <$250K a year. If that's the case, buckle down for Bravesmageddon-- it'll be 2011 x 36664 for a couple of years. But, if they make a great hire, we could come out of it fine. Will have to see.

For this fan, this wasn't the right year to do it, but I'll be watching what develops. Either way, I remain a BU fan.

And to Jim Les, if it's true, thanks for your service and a wild ride in 2006 (and a pretty sweet ride in 2007). Once a Brave Always a Brave.

[Bravesfan]

My conversation with this person said this is all about HER and HER ego. Wants to make Bradley the Berkley of the Midwest.

WOW! I take a nap for an hour and all heck breaks loose!

So she wants to make Bradley "the Berkley of the Midwest", eh? Well then drop us down to Division III right now and deemphasize the athletic department!

Amazing!

[BSSFan#1]

289...the 320 day we had a lot of guest from Indiana on here to see what we knew! LOL

Absolutely busted!

[BradleyBrave]

--the way the president selected her last choice for head basketball coach is detailed here...
she simply closed her office door, made a few phone calls, then announced that she, as a "one-person search committee" made the choice.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2005-04-11-neubauer-eastern-kentucky_x.htm

--her selection at EKU, Jeff Neubauer, who had no head coaching experience at any level, inherited an NCAA team with four talented returning starters and seniors and was only 14-16 with that group. He has been nothing more than mediocre since against SOS that rank about 320 -- and they were bounced in the first round again this year.

--the new selection at Bradley will not be able to hire all his own assistants - per info I have learned, so how will that fly?

--no statement whatsoever from the university -- sad and lacking class....that the news hits the rumor wire first....

You were sitting right next to the 'Fundraiser from Towson' all weekend, I am sure she would have have loved to hear your take on things.

[BradleyJD]

I fully support Bradley University and always will. I believe the President and/or the A.D. will make the best decision for BU's future.

[patrick_o'brian]

--no statement whatsoever from the university -- sad and lacking class....that the news hits the rumor wire first....[/QUOTE]


This is what makes me the most upset about the whole thing!

[BUfan14]

Is this for sure?

I am incredibly mad/sad right now. If we lose all those players this year will look great compared to what next year will be. We had a chance to be something great next year, now we will probably finish at the bottom again....

[amckillip]

WOW! I take a nap for an hour and all heck breaks loose!

So she wants to make Bradley "the Berkley of the Midwest", eh? Well then drop us down to Division III right now and deemphasize the athletic department!

Amazing!

Berkeley competes in the Pac-10...

[TheAsianSensation]

To be fair about the timing...it's very likely BU wanted to sit on the decision until after the MVC tournament ended, and the news broke before what I'm sure will be an official announcement tomorrow.

[houstonbrave]

JL thank you for all of your efforts, a great sweet 16 run and mostly the outstanding young men you have brought to the university.

I am extremely disapointed. I think he should have been given another year.

Given the President's track record with athletic hires I am extremely concerned. If she fouls this up she does extreme damage to the university given the importance of basketball to fundraising.

I will support whoever is the new coach-they deserve that but I am now extremely concerned for the direction of the program.

[BradleyBrave]

This is what makes me the most upset about the whole thing!

Oh please. Things like this get leaked all the time. BU is no different. Would it be 'classless' if good news gets leaked?
Was it lacking class when Jim Les being hired over Wayne McClain was 'leaked'? Wayne is an alum too, ya know.

[Bravesfan]

Let's face it this will be her biggest hire and anything short of a winner and I can see a huge backlash from the alums and community.

You got it! I WILL be the first one to start the "fire Glasser" poll if this does not work out!

[Big Mike]

306 and rising

[srw]

Yes. I am sure BP will have a statement out soon...Remember someone on JL's side tipped off foxsports.com

As Da Coach said JL is going to be fine. Best Wishes to him and I hope he and Jodi and the family take a great vacation and relax...

This has been stressful for all lately.