10 months into the job, is Larry Williams doing a good job?

[Blackhat]

go marquette

[Skatastrophy]

I'd vote no, but there's an obvious answer up there with regards to my current income.

[Tugg Speedman]

Incomplete

Nothing has happened ... Yet.  The suspension is Buzz's doing, not LW

[Silkk the Shaka]

Impossible to know for at least 5 years. But from what I've seen and heard from my west coast satellite tv contacts: squirm.

[GGGG]

It really is too early to tell. 

Honestly I am worried because I really think Buzz has the makings of a great head basketball coach and I want him to stay and have a prosperous career here.  OTOH, I thought Cottingham was the wrong choice at the time and was in over his head.  They needed a more seasoned AD.

And as I have said before, the AD is only one issue here.  He is doing what those above him want him to do and seemingly his job is very secure.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

It really is too early to tell. 

This.

Also, I know hoops is king at MU, but the AD is in charge of the whole department.

We'll see how Lacrosse goes this spring. I don't think Larry can impact wins and losses, but the gameday operations are certainly in his wheelhouse.

[bilsu]

I voted that MU does not care what I think. I like that it appears that Larry Williams is trying to eliminate problems. However, I think MU's biggest problem is their relations with the press and I think he is not doing a good job with this.

[Goose]

Incomplete. Cannot make decision based off the little I have seen or read about him. Easy to bash him but truthfully could not give him a grade at this point.

[Dawson Rental]

Buzz is still here, so I'd have to say that LW's been slow getting out of the gate.

[NersEllenson]

Whether it is Larry's doing or those above him - to have the relationship with the number 1 asset in the athletic department deteriorate - I'm not sure how anyone could vote yes.

[Lennys Tap]

In a "snapshot" we're better off than we were 10 months ago. Sweet 16, a 2013 recruiting class that will be one of MU's best ever and a solid team returning.

Too soon to make a call on Larry. A very,very large part of his success/failure will hinge on his relationship with the athletic department's #1 asset (Buzz) going forward. That may be unfair because, as Sultan points out, LW may just be following orders. But fair or not, if things go south between Buzz and MU the fingers will point at him.

[BubbaWilliams]

What Marquette needs to win is a criminal element, and we won't have that until LW resigns.

[bamamarquettefan]

I voted yes because I believe Larry Williams is a good AD who brings stature in a time when MU needs to stay on top.

My caveat is that I believe Buzz Williams is a GREAT coach already and if there is a rift - which I have no way of knowing outside of speculation - and Buzz were to move on eventually because of it, then I would change and say the good work Larry is doing is not worth the even more important work Buzz is doing on the court.  Hopefully that is never the issue and with experience Larry goes from good to great AD, and then we have two greats in the two most important spots for the program.

[T-Bone]

Not knowing the reasons why he was hired, we can't really be sure.

Making up criteria...
1. He has taken on the disciplinary issues. Good/bad/indifferent about it as we may be, he has and is handling it.  
2. I haven't seen any information on what the University or LW thinks about the direction of the program.  3-5 yr plan for all of MU's athletic programs is what I'm talking about.  I'd like to see that from him.  
3. Tumultuous BigEast - TV contract, expansion, and all the headaches of being a part of a major conference.  We have no idea what he is doing behind the scenes here (at least I know I don't).  
4. Maintain and grow all athletic programs.  (this would include relations with all coaches)

1. As much as I don't like seeing suspensions, violations, etc.  These things needed to be handled.  The tone has been set going forward.  B+  
2. Incomplete  Haven't seen anything like this - am I missing something?
3. Incomplete  We'll see how all this shakes out in the coming months.
4. Overall, MU seems like they're succeeding across all programs - soccer, volleyball, golf, future of the lacrosse program.  Pretty good.  A lot of this was obviously built on Cottingham's watch, but it looks good.  We haven't had one head coach leave since he's been AD.  Relationship with Buzz (which is why we're reading this thread) is pretty unknown.  There has been speculation that they don't get along, but that's speculation (unless anyone has any definitive knowledge about their relationship).  So, incomplete.  

Overall - incomplete.  

Resume:
http://www.marquette.edu/omc/newscenter/documents/williams-larry-resume.pdf
- Achievements at Portland are what I would like for MU's AD.  

Him firing the Portland coach:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2382890
- Sh!tty record warranted that firing.

From Pilotnation.net
http://www.pilotnation.net/t4344-larry-williams

We should not overlook that fact that not only did the Athletic Department move notably forward under LW's guidance, we have preserved the high ethical & moral standards instilled by Joe Etzel and the University Administration. We do things the "right" way, which takes discipline particularly when trying to grow the programs.

I couldn't find ANYTHING on their message board indicating suspension of any of their players.

I'm optimistic about what LW will do.  He's ambitious.  And if he wants to parlay this job into a job at a top football program, then he needs to do a stellar job here first.  Shrinking the budget and confining the program is not what top football programs are about (nor basketball either).  

So, no vote for me.  I think it's incomplete.

[swoopem]

I think he's done great with all the other sports but so far hasn't handled his prize possession, bball, the way we would all like. That said if Buzz stays for the next 5, 10, 15 years I would say LW was the perfect guy for the job.

However if he runs Buzz outta town I will lead the charge to run him outta town. Also I've said it before and will say it again I want a hockey team.

[Benny B]

Also I've said it before and will say it again I want a hockey team.

Field hockey?  Absolutely.  Start by recruiting members of the Dutch Olympic Team.

[madtownwarrior]

and again, you know the nature of Buzz and LW's current working relationship how?   

Whether it is Larry's doing or those above him - to have the relationship with the number 1 asset in the athletic department deteriorate - I'm not sure how anyone could vote yes.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Pluses: Carrier game, just awarded the BET for volleyball again, focus on winning in the Olympic sports, focus on filling seats in all sports (cheaper hoops ticket plans, nice promotional schedules added and published for all sports), consistent oversight with discipline within the university administration (hired hand by those above), season ticket surveys.

Negatives:  Persona with press, donors, and within department.  No real stated vision (early), but over focus on the negatives, especially in public (comments about other BE teams, lacrosse, future of BE and Buzz),  too much bull in the china shop out of the gate, allowed university to allot seats for end of season games to high donors over B&G points (which is fine if stated prior vs. causing alienating havoc at the games...B&G donors are the AD donors that he needs to represent~~Personal note:  I was not impacted but I saw the upset fans).

Incomplete:  a lot yet...but relationships are one important area, public image is another and overall vision.  He also has to learn to play with the Milwaukee Marquette Mafia.  Olympic sport capital investments and growth seem to have stalled with Cottingham gone.  BE future and MU's role as a national university.  Media strategy.  Don't ruin the golden goose in basketball.  Athletics vision and goals vs. just being Pilarz's policeman.

B&G banquet upcoming...some good stories should come out of that.

[79Warrior]

The determining factor on that question will be answered next April or May. If Buzz leaves then the board will be in full meltdown demanding Larry's head.
With the recruiting class coming in next year, things would have to be really bad for Buzz to go.

[NersEllenson]

and again, you know the nature of Buzz and LW's current working relationship how?   

Umm...you can find out the answer in other threads.  Not going to rehash what's already been explained, especially not to you, a leading member of the head in the sand club.

[Benny B]

Negatives:  Persona with press, donors, and within department.  No real stated vision (early), but over focus on the negatives, especially in public (comments about other BE teams, lacrosse, future of BE and Buzz),  too much bull in the china shop out of the gate, allowed university to allot seats for end of season games to high donors over B&G points (which is fine if stated prior vs. causing alienating havoc at the games...B&G donors are the AD donors that he needs to represent~~Personal note:  I was not impacted but I saw the upset fans).

Sorry to be late or ignorant here, but WTF??  If this is true, then whoever signed off on this could have put a class-action lawsuit target square on the B&G Fund.

For those of you wanting to run LW out of town, this might be your chance (if you're a B&G donor).  Call your local ambulance chaser and ask him/her what he/she knows about the IRS 80-20 rule (and what happens when purported benefits are not conveyed).

[madtownwarrior]

I guess I can catch up quickly by reading the single, incomplete, now quite dated, JS article you basis your knowledge of LW and BW relationship on...

Umm...you can find out the answer in other threads.  Not going to rehash what's already been explained, especially not to you, a leading member of the head in the sand club.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Sorry to be late or ignorant here, but WTF??  If this is true, then whoever signed off on this could have put a class-action lawsuit target square on the B&G Fund.

For those of you wanting to run LW out of town, this might be your chance (if you're a B&G donor).  Call your local ambulance chaser and ask him/her what he/she knows about the IRS 80-20 rule (and what happens when purported benefits are not conveyed).

I don't think it is that serious of a deal.  But, for BET or NCAA games, there is always a conflict between season ticket holders with points based upon donations to the B&G fund and for big dollar donors to the university that MU is courting, in this case Pilarz.  In the past, B&G donor points were weighted for seat location allotment, and that changed in NYC and long time point holders got moved upstairs only to note the hobnobbers in suits in the VIP sections. 

Supposedly, the AD was MIA during the rift, and B&G donors weren't feeling represented by LW.  It was rather odd to see Pilarz and LW enter and leave these games with pretty much of a cold shoulder reaction.  I think this has changed for the better, though, as the new folks settle in.  Minor but not a great first impression.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The determining factor on that question will be answered next April or May. If Buzz leaves then the board will be in full meltdown demanding Larry's head.
With the recruiting class coming in next year, things would have to be really bad for Buzz to go.

Actually, this begs the question:

If Buzz leaves for an equivalent program closer to TX, or a clear blueblood program, does Larry still take the heat?

For some, LW is clearly the wrong guy for the job, and nothing is really going to change that.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Umm...you can find out the answer in other threads.  Not going to rehash what's already been explained, especially not to you, a leading member of the head in the sand club.

Are you suggesting that you currently correspond with Buzz on a regular basis?  How else would would you know the current status of their relationship?  From an email from 5 months ago?