softball 2014

78crusader · July 07, 2014, 07:36:32 PM

My guess is the VU found out that he was interviewing for the North Dakota job while the season was still going on. VU probably took a page out of the University of Michigan playbook -- you may recall that years ago the Michigan basketball coach interviewed or accepted a job just before the NCAA tournament. The athletic director, who I think at that time was Bo Schembechler, let the coach go and went with an interim head coach for the tournament, explaining "Michigan basketball will be coached by a Michigan guy."

Paul

vu72 · July 07, 2014, 07:42:28 PM

Total BS. What an unprofessional thing to do. Take a "leave" right before the most important part of the year, and then end up taking a new Head Coaching job.

There has to be more to the story. Was he caught with his hand in the cookie jar and then allowed to take a "leave of absence" to not embarrass the University or Stevens? We will never know, I'm sure.

78crusader · July 07, 2014, 07:47:55 PM

No, my take is the administration found out he was looking for another job during the season, and the administration told him he was going to take a "leave of absence" as a penalty for looking for another job during the season.

Paul

historyman · July 07, 2014, 10:38:52 PM

Quote from: vu72 on July 07, 2014, 07:42:28 PMWas he caught with his hand in the cookie jar and then allowed to take a "leave of absence" to not embarrass the University or Stevens?

Exactly which "cookie jar" are you referring to? Are you saying he was misappropriating funds or is this a euphemism for something else?

valpotx · July 08, 2014, 12:46:07 AM

Guys, the University of North Dakota is not a step up in regards to softball. We were fine before Stevens, and will be fine afterwards, especially since we have continued our winning ways. I have to guess with 90% certainty that it had nothing to do with seeking another job while still employed at VU. My guess is that he did something against program/school rules, and to save face for both sides, we reached agreement not to publicize what truly happened, and let him seek another job.

To the person who sent me a PM when it was first noticed that Stevens wasn't coaching, do you want to say any more now, or are you being held to secrecy as well?

vu72 · July 08, 2014, 05:23:05 AM

Quote from: historyman on July 07, 2014, 10:38:52 PM
Quote from: vu72 on July 07, 2014, 07:42:28 PMWas he caught with his hand in the cookie jar and then allowed to take a "leave of absence" to not embarrass the University or Stevens?

Exactly which "cookie jar" are you referring to? Are you saying he was misappropriating funds or is this a euphemism for something else?

I have no idea and certainly think valpotx described it better. Given the way it was handled it wouldn't surprise me if it had something to do with inappropriate interaction with a student or other coach. I doubt we will ever know.

valpogal · July 08, 2014, 02:19:01 PM

It WASN'T because he was looking for another job. That came later.

covufan · July 08, 2014, 03:18:24 PM

Quote from: 78crusader on July 07, 2014, 07:36:32 PMMy guess is the VU found out that he was interviewing for the North Dakota job while the season was still going on. VU probably took a page out of the University of Michigan playbook -- you may recall that years ago the Michigan basketball coach interviewed or accepted a job just before the NCAA tournament. The athletic director, who I think at that time was Bo Schembechler, let the coach go and went with an interim head coach for the tournament, explaining "Michigan basketball will be coached by a Michigan guy."

While plausible in the hypothetical sense, the UND job did not become "open" until 22 May, with Stevens "leave" around 3 May. It also doesn't feel right in the sense that since the 1989 Michigan tournament run with Fisher as coach (taking over for Bill Frieder), most schools and coaches have intermediaries working on their behalf, so the schools don't come off as "tamporing", and the coaches can deny any direct contact. While the softball world and major college football and basketball are greatly different, most coaches will not actively pursue on their own a position with another school while the season is finishing. They might have a lawyer, agent, or friend inquire in the sense "I have a client that might be interested in your opening..." and begin the due diligence process.

Quote from: valpotx on July 08, 2014, 12:46:07 AMI have to guess with 90% certainty that it had nothing to do with seeking another job while still employed at VU. My guess is that he did something against program/school rules, and to save face for both sides, we reached agreement not to publicize what truly happened, and let him seek another job.

This is the most likely scenario.

Quote from: valpogal on July 08, 2014, 02:19:01 PMIt WASN'T because he was looking for another job. That came later.

Sounds like someone with some knowledge, however unable to elaborate at this time.

Quote from: vu72 on July 07, 2014, 07:42:28 PMWe will never know, I'm sure.

Most likely outcome with information provided by VU Athletics Department, and maybe rightfully so.

I think most here would like some info on the current state of the coaching search, as we are now a week into the new fiscal/school year.

wh · July 08, 2014, 03:24:48 PM

Here's a wild guess, but it could be as simple as this. Coach and player enter into consensual romantic relationship. Another player becomes aware, tells someone, who tells someone, who tells someone, who tells someone, who tells someone, who "dutifully" tells ml (typical hen house modus operandi). ml puts coach on administrative LOA while he investigates. Player involved admits to it, but says it's strictly consensual. ml and coach agree that coach will quietly resign. End of story.

This kind of stuff will happen as long as people have hormones, and it doesn't mean it was necessarily initiated by the coach.

LaPorteAveApostle · July 08, 2014, 07:49:29 PM

Quote from: wh on July 08, 2014, 03:24:48 PMit doesn't mean it was necessarily initiated by the coach

going to call you out in a friendly way on this statement, as you appear to be citing it as mitigating, if not expiating circumstance. (if not, sorry for assuming so; but that's how it reads.)

since the power dynamic between a coach and player is always and inherently uneven, it doesn't matter if the player makes the first advances. the person in the position of power is more responsible for the state of the relationship, regardless of whether they were 'acting like they wanted it', etc.

i also don't think we're mere slaves to our hormones, either, but half of that sentence is enough for today.

wh · July 08, 2014, 10:29:17 PM

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on July 08, 2014, 07:49:29 PM
Quote from: wh on July 08, 2014, 03:24:48 PMit doesn't mean it was necessarily initiated by the coach
going to call you out in a friendly way on this statement, as you appear to be citing it as mitigating, if not expiating circumstance. (if not, sorry for assuming so; but that's how it reads.)

since the power dynamic between a coach and player is always and inherently uneven, it doesn't matter if the player makes the first advances. the person in the position of power is more responsible for the state of the relationship, regardless of whether they were 'acting like they wanted it', etc.

i also don't think we're mere slaves to our hormones, either, but half of that sentence is enough for today.

I don't disagree with anything you said. I'm simply pointing out that in today's promiscuous society consenting adults routinely engage in all sorts of casual sexual encounters. It shouldn't be surprising to think that's what could have happened here. It's also not unrealistic to think it could have just as easily been initiated by a female player as the male coach. I'm not inferring that would excuse the coach, but that's a different scenario than an authority figure using his power distance advantage to prey on an innocent young girl.

LaPorteAveApostle · July 08, 2014, 10:39:00 PM

While I'm glad you're not absolving this hypothetical coach of any blame, I also feel that no matter how unchaste our culture is these days, nothing of this sort has been implied by anything other than us throwing ideas against the wall. we should probably be wary lest someone read these "well, why do coaches get asked to leave?"-type ideas and believe them to be rumors, and then someone ELSE reads rumors and reports them as fact.

(For example, just google search "Craig James killed five hookers". Not that that's what happened here, either on scale of rumor or murder.)

okinawatyphoon · July 13, 2014, 03:41:42 PM

Nearly 60 applications for the new head coach position.
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/28533699-556/on-campus-valparaiso-flooded-with-softball-applications.html#.U8LuVRZKfHg

valpotx · July 14, 2014, 01:13:22 PM

Good to see. As they continue to not address why he took a 'leave of absence,' it just leads to the conclusion that it probably wasn't anything illegal, but just against school/program rules. He probably had a relationship with a player, as some have theorized.

valpotx · July 22, 2014, 05:32:35 PM

For a reference point regarding Stevens' new school of North Dakota:

2014 season: 6-39
2013 season: 10-30

He obviously did something wrong at Valpo, and had to a take a crappier HC position with the Sioux...

historyman · July 22, 2014, 06:51:54 PM

Quote from: valpotx on July 22, 2014, 05:32:35 PMthe Sioux...

FYI, they are not the Fighting Sioux anymore and their state legislature voted they couldn't choose a new nickname until 2015.

If I were them I would sue..................

If that didn't work I would name themselves the "Casino Operators."