What happened to the women's program

[Mr. Nielsen]

One would think Ginny Boggess would get a call.

[SonOfWarrior]

Two terrible high major programs...

Again, not even in the discussion if he doesn't have a prior MU connection.

So you’re saying his consideration doesn’t have much…merit

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

So you’re saying his consideration doesn’t have much…merit

You are scott-on with that comment.

[BrewCity83]

So if MU selects its next coach on the basis of meritocracy, you're saying Merritt won't have enough merit?

[brewcity77]

https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2024/4/4/24121289/marquette-golden-eagles-womens-basketball-coaching-search-candidates

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Unlike Neptune, Merritt has experience working at high major programs beyond just MU (Illinois and Bucky). I'm not too concerned about one year at Gardner-Webb where he had to bring in a whole new roster.  I'm not saying Merritt is the only guy who should be considered but he would be an excellent hire, IMO, if MU went that direction. He's a guy who knows Milwaukee, MU and the issues the program faces, and the Big East.

I think hiring someone whose biggest selling point on his resume is his alumni status is a poor strategy. Maybe it works out,  but I'd go with someone with better qualifications

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

You have to make Dawn Staley say no. At least have to make the call.

[Scoop Snoop]

Saw Duffy on a Roanoke VA station a bit ago. Rattled on quite a while and seemed pumped. She said that she was impressed with the NIL in place at VT.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Is Sister Maria available?

[Viper]

I think hiring someone whose biggest selling point on his resume is his alumni status is a poor strategy. Maybe it works out,  but I'd go with someone with better qualifications

Is MU considered a good job…able to attract top coaches? I ask not knowing. As for Scott, can’t hurt to talk. Scott  knows women’s basketball, the intricacies of the women’s game. And, I think he brings significant credibility having played at a high level. Different game, but regardless, he’s done it. Unless he has zero personality or just has no clue on management of a women’s program, how to recruit, how to work with administrators, alums, boosters…which I doubt, can’t hurt to have a conversation.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Is MU considered a good job…able to attract top coaches? I ask not knowing. As for Scott, can’t hurt to talk. Scott  knows women’s basketball, the intricacies of the women’s game. And, I think he brings significant credibility having played at a high level. Different game, but regardless, he’s done it. Unless he has zero personality or just has no clue on management of a women’s program, how to recruit, how to work with administrators, alums, boosters…which I doubt, can’t hurt to have a conversation.

Oh he'll for sure be interviewed as a courtesy.

[oldwarrior81]

The state of Wisconsin also has produced a top ten recruit each of the last two seasons.  Not really surprising, they both chose UConn.
Although even a great program at MU probably would not have landed KK Arnold over UConn.

They did land the poy from 2022 in La Chappell, but she transferred to Belmont after one year.

[cheebs09]

Saw Duffy on a Roanoke VA station a bit ago. Rattled on quite a while and seemed pumped. She said that she was impressed with the NIL in place at VT.

They didn't use the blonde, female version of Scott Monarch for a photo did they?

[Marquette Fan]

One would think Ginny Boggess would get a call.

It has been reported that MU has contacted her.

[Marquette Fan]

The state of Wisconsin also has produced a top ten recruit each of the last two seasons.  Not really surprising, they both chose UConn.
Although even a great program at MU probably would not have landed KK Arnold over UConn.

They did land the poy from 2022 in La Chappell, but she transferred to Belmont after one year.

And there was something very odd about La Chappell's departure.  By the time she entered the portal, she wasn't immediately eligible to play this season.  She did end up playing part way through this season for Belmont after the lawsuit ruling against the NCAA.

[Marquette Fan]

Is MU considered a good job…able to attract top coaches? I ask not knowing. As for Scott, can’t hurt to talk. Scott  knows women’s basketball, the intricacies of the women’s game. And, I think he brings significant credibility having played at a high level. Different game, but regardless, he’s done it. Unless he has zero personality or just has no clue on management of a women’s program, how to recruit, how to work with administrators, alums, boosters…which I doubt, can’t hurt to have a conversation.

It's a decent job I'd say but not a premier job in my opinion.  The Big East in Women's Basketball is a lot weaker than it is for men's basketball.  And the BE for women's basketball is basically UCONN at the top and everyone else battling for second place.  Even with injuries decimating UCONN's team this season, no one came close to them in BE play and they easily went undefeated in conference play again and won the BET very easily.  The BE women switched to an unblalanced schedule this season with 18 games and playing two opponents only once - one on the road and one at home.  And this seems to have been done so UCONN could play two more non-conference games to get tougher opponents - they played Xavier and Butler once which made sense especially Xavier who hasn't won a league game in over two years.

I don't really know salary figures but know that Kieger and Duffy both got decent pay increases when they left for P5 schools.  But I'm with the others in this thread who have said VT bailed us out.  She left MU with not much of a roster unfortunately and this is going to be one heck of a rebuild job .

The Al is 20 years old now so not sure what the facilities are thought of at MU.

As for Scott Merritt, I would rather not see him considered.  Ginny Boggess who was an assistant at MU when Kieger was here and Alison Pohlman from Drake are two coaches that seem like possible good fits and I've heard MU has contacted both.  Carly Thibault-Didonis is a young promising coach at 32 and have heard they've reached out to her also.  Some other names I've heard don't excite me as much.  But I have nothing to do with the coaching search of course .

[Marquette Fan]

And Duffy's highest rated recruit signed was due to play here this fall - she announced she was reopening her recruitment shortly after it was announced Duffy was going to VT - https://x.com/kayl_petersen/status/1775632414485696807

[Don_Kojis]

I would think Mu should name a coach soon.  The roster is bare and perhaps a number of transfers are needed.  The longer they wait, the less
players are available.

[Marquette Fan]

I would think Mu should name a coach soon.  The roster is bare and perhaps a number of transfers are needed.  The longer they wait, the less
players are available.

They moved quickly last year and named Duffy the head coach officially one week after Kieger left.  Kieger was announced as the head coach at Penn State on Wed April 3, 2019 and Duffy was named MU coach Wed April 10, 2019.  I remember hearing that Scholl went to the Women's Final 4 that was April 5th and 7th that year just like this year to do interviews.  I think the focus was probably on Duffy right away - not sure if he interviewed anyone besides her. 

Duffy left MU 5 years to the day Kieger left MU and if the pattern follows again a new coach will be named on Wed April 10th .  I doubt it will end up being that day but I expect them to move quickly again as Scholl is very aware of the state of the roster of course.

[TedBaxter]

It has been reported that MU has contacted her.

I also hope they contact another name on the Anonymous Eagle list, Carly Thibault-Dudonis.  Was recruiting coordinator and assistant at Florida State, Mississippi State and Minnesota and her assistant husband was the head womens coach for 3 years at UW-River Falls while she was Minnesota.  Her dad Mike was an assistant for the Bucks from 1998-2002 when she was 7-11 years old, so she probably lived in the Milwaukee area at that time and the Thibault name is a big name in the WNBA.

Sorry, didn't see the post above that she may have been contacted.

[Marquette Fan]

I also hope they contact another name on the Anonymous Eagle list, Carly Thibault-Dudonis.  Was recruiting coordinator and assistant at Florida State, Mississippi State and Minnesota and her assistant husband was the head womens coach for 3 years at UW-River Falls while she was Minnesota.  Her dad Mike was an assistant for the Bucks from 1998-2002 when she was 7-11 years old, so she probably lived in the Milwaukee area at that time and the Thibault name is a big name in the WNBA.

Her brother is also the Mystics coach now - took over for her Dad when he retired.  According to a poster on the MU Women's Bball thread on the superbar, MU did contact her.

Her husband is also the one who broke the news on twitter in 2019 that ESPN had leaked the Women's bracket accidentally a few hours ahead of the selection show - https://x.com/BlakeDuDonis/status/1107728155182284801

[Marquette Fan]

2 of the 3 signees for 2024 have reopened their recruitment and there are 6 returning players on the roster for now as far as I know.  There's also a 2025 verbal commit who reopened her recruitment after Duffy left.