Gary Parrish of CBS Sports published an article today detailing coaches on the "hot seat" in college basketball. The article prompted us to think about Ivy coaches on the hot seat heading into the 2009-2010 season.While we are not entirely comfortable posting on this topic, after all, it is never pleasant discussing a person losing his or her job, the subject is very relevant and a part of college basketball's reality. Here is our take on the job security (or lack thereof) for the Ivy's eight head coaches:
Your Job is Safe
Steve Donahue (Cornell)-Two straight Ivy titles and Cornell is ready to name some buildings after him, or at least a class in the American Studies Department, perhaps Studies in Steve Donahue 204.
Sydney Johnson (Princeton)-Not only is he relatively new to the job and a Princeton legend, but he has the Tigers heading in the right direction. His job is as secure as the Eggo Waffle roof on Jadwin Gym.
Jesse Agel (Brown)-He's only entering his second season as the program's head coach. He gets time to build his team.
This Chair is Getting Warm
Tommy Amaker (Harvard)-Alright, so he is only entering his third season and he did guide the Crimson to bragging rights wins over Michigan and Boston College. But Harvard has received a whole lot of national negative publicity and was investigated by the Ivy League Office due to his recruiting tactics. Additionally, the Crimson have yet to finish in the Ivy League's upper half despite the recent downfall of traditional powers-- Penn and Princeton. He needs to show some substantial improvement this season in the conference.
Joe Jones (Columbia)-There may not be a nicer guy out there. He also has good kids that represent the conference well as student-athletes. But c'mon man, the Lions have been mediocre forever. He was hired during the '03-'04 season and has yet to take any of his teams to the postseason. The seat is getting warmer.
James Jones (Yale)-Talk about riding the coat tail of one season. Yale's three-way share of the conference title during 2001-2002, which earned the 'dogs an NIT bid, is a distant memory. Since that time, Yale and Jones have not taken the next step and earned an NCAA bid. Sure, Yale has been an upper division team for the last several years, but the Yalies want a little bit of what Cornell has achieved.
Joe Jones (Columbia)-There may not be a nicer guy out there. He also has good kids that represent the conference well as student-athletes. But c'mon man, the Lions have been mediocre forever. He was hired during the '03-'04 season and has yet to take any of his teams to the postseason. The seat is getting warmer.
James Jones (Yale)-Talk about riding the coat tail of one season. Yale's three-way share of the conference title during 2001-2002, which earned the 'dogs an NIT bid, is a distant memory. Since that time, Yale and Jones have not taken the next step and earned an NCAA bid. Sure, Yale has been an upper division team for the last several years, but the Yalies want a little bit of what Cornell has achieved.
On the Hot Seat
Terry Dunn (Dartmouth)-Lately the Big Green have been synonymous with "RPI in the 300s" and there is little sign of change. Then there was the mysterious overhaul in Dunn's coaching staff during the summer. This team appears more misguided than the Washington Redskins. Alex Barnett may have saved his job a year ago.
Glen Miller (Penn)-Turmoil in West Philadelphia ya think? There was a website called, "Fire Glen Miller," the fans in the Palestra were booing Miller at home games, several players quit the program and at least one player bad mouthed Miller in the media, and the Quakers suffered their first losing league record in more than a decade. Penn alumni expect excellence from their program and they have not received it from the current coaching staff. Unless the Quakers show substantial improvement this season, it may become time for another coaching change at Penn.
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