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Mike Bohn
- Thread starter rynobuff
- Start date
buffs04
Well-Known Member
I think the Hawkins hire alone makes it impossible for me to consider his time here to be super successful. All the other stuff -- pr, conference change, etc. -- is auxiliary. I don't think I am in the minority in that I care much more about the football team winning games than I do about any other facet of the athletic program.
Unleash Hell
Well-Known Member
To be fair, at the time of the hire, Hawkins was one of the hottest things around. He could have gone to a lot of schools. We had national people saying we hit a homerun. Lets see how the Embo hire goes, and of course he hired Tad Boyle. What a turnaround there!
I don't blame him for the Hawkins hire. As you correctly point out, he was one of the hot names out there at the time and could have gone to a number of BCS schools. He was rumored to be the runner up to Urban Meyer at Florida. However, I do blame him for an ill advised contract extension for Hawk when he had yet to produce a winning season and had some pretty miserable blowout losses. Even if he felt a contract extension was needed, the buyout clause was terrible.
On the flip side, I think the Boyle hire looks good so far, but maybe to early to tell yet. The expansion of the Keg has been good. The entrance to the Pac 12 is a true home run for the school. Overall, I would give him a 3 for now, but I believe he will raise that grade in a few years when Embree starts winning, the basketball team is consistently good, and the athletic department is on better financial footing.
dyemeduke
Well-Known Member
sure Hawk was a really hot candidate back when he was hired...but that's the point of an AD - look through the bull**** and determine if he's a really a good coach or if his o.coordinator is actually the brains behind the mission. It was his job to look into what assistants he would bring as well - Bandison, Riddle, Collins, and Pitt were all jokes. Bohn failed...even if national media thought it was a good hire...Bohn failed. And then the extension...
Bohn also hired KMac, and from the sound of things, she was an atrocious hire. Her players hated her, and her product on the court was horrible.
Bohn got Bzdelik, which I thought was a good step for the program. However, in my opinion, I thought there were other better candidates at the time.
Bohn has done some good things, but he has done a piss poor job in other areas. Hempen wasn't really Bohn's doing, and the jury is out on Embree and Boyle (one year with Bz's players doesn't tell a complete story).
Bohn also hired KMac, and from the sound of things, she was an atrocious hire. Her players hated her, and her product on the court was horrible.
Bohn got Bzdelik, which I thought was a good step for the program. However, in my opinion, I thought there were other better candidates at the time.
Bohn has done some good things, but he has done a piss poor job in other areas. Hempen wasn't really Bohn's doing, and the jury is out on Embree and Boyle (one year with Bz's players doesn't tell a complete story).
Mick Ronson
Well-Known Member
one thing about Hawkins: while he was the "right" hire at the time (turns out he wasn't a "good" hire), we were also one of very few BCS schools in the hiring process that year so Bohn had a very strong hand to play--and we were a program, despite "the scandal", that hadn't even sniffed the futility we saw the next 5 years--we had to look like a quick retool in the eyes of the nation). so, that one goes both ways vis a vis Mike B.
BehindEnemyLines
beware the habu
I'm presuming your "ranking" system is such that 1 is best..... I ranked him a 3 (was leaning towards 4).
All the really good things he's done are kinda overshadowed by the inglorious hirings -- KMM, Bz, and IntraMuralsBoy.
Is that fair? Prolly not, but those three failures have to be overcome for future success, particularly in the "bread-winner" sport.
All the really good things he's done are kinda overshadowed by the inglorious hirings -- KMM, Bz, and IntraMuralsBoy.
Is that fair? Prolly not, but those three failures have to be overcome for future success, particularly in the "bread-winner" sport.
The Hawkins debacle is the only true blemish as far as I'm concerned. Boyle is looking like a brilliant hire. Bz was a solid hire as well, regardless of what some around here would say. Facilities are improved, fan relations are improved, revenues are up, donations are up, attendance is up. We have three national championships since he got here - two in cross country and one in skiing. I'd say that's a pretty solid track record. He might have gotten a "5" from me had he ****canned Hawkins in 2009 like he should have. We can speculate all we want about whether his hands were tied, but waiting a year to cut that cancer from the program probably set us back another 2-3 years.
I think Bohn has done a great job, but not for building winning teams right away, but setting the foundation for a winning program (with the exception of extending Hawkins). He hasnt been perfect in doing so, but overall has done a pretty good job. A couple of points
1. Financially responsible, Bohn has been in the minority of schools running the books in the black, and I think that will work out well for us when all those other schools collapse on themselves simular to the housing bust a few years back.
2. Pac-12, Big 12 was dieing, and I think the hottest conference in a few years will be the Pac-12, Larry Scott is really positioning the conference to be the top conference in the US, sold worldwide. Its also a really good fit for CU
3. He doesnt ingnore Basketball, I am a huge basketball fan, but not much of a football fan. He realizes that basketball can bring in money and prestege, it can also be a major part of the Athletic department, others have failed to realize this. The transformation of the whole basketball program in the past few years has been absolutly amazing, and even more so when you figure we really werent winning that much.
4. His hires; Hawkins was hot but turned out to be a dud, KMM was considered a solid hire for the time and I dont think many saw us keeping her for long unless she started winning (the womans coaches pool was rather small at the time if I remember correctly), and Bzz I think was actually a very good hire, we all knew he would leave when he got a "better" offer, but he did a great job of building a great foundation for the basketball team. His current hires, Boyle, Embree, and Lappe all seem to be legit great coaches, and all "under the radar" cheap hires. But only time will tell
5. Fundraising, Bohn has done a great job of fundraising even when the product on the field/court has been crap. Just imagine what he can do with some winning programs.
Has he been a perfect hire? no, but I think it has been pretty good
1. Financially responsible, Bohn has been in the minority of schools running the books in the black, and I think that will work out well for us when all those other schools collapse on themselves simular to the housing bust a few years back.
2. Pac-12, Big 12 was dieing, and I think the hottest conference in a few years will be the Pac-12, Larry Scott is really positioning the conference to be the top conference in the US, sold worldwide. Its also a really good fit for CU
3. He doesnt ingnore Basketball, I am a huge basketball fan, but not much of a football fan. He realizes that basketball can bring in money and prestege, it can also be a major part of the Athletic department, others have failed to realize this. The transformation of the whole basketball program in the past few years has been absolutly amazing, and even more so when you figure we really werent winning that much.
4. His hires; Hawkins was hot but turned out to be a dud, KMM was considered a solid hire for the time and I dont think many saw us keeping her for long unless she started winning (the womans coaches pool was rather small at the time if I remember correctly), and Bzz I think was actually a very good hire, we all knew he would leave when he got a "better" offer, but he did a great job of building a great foundation for the basketball team. His current hires, Boyle, Embree, and Lappe all seem to be legit great coaches, and all "under the radar" cheap hires. But only time will tell
5. Fundraising, Bohn has done a great job of fundraising even when the product on the field/court has been crap. Just imagine what he can do with some winning programs.
Has he been a perfect hire? no, but I think it has been pretty good
NashBuff
CSU Knob-Slobberer
I gave him a 5 because we were able to fill most of the seats at Folsom Field during five years of Hawkins coached football teams. Plus he was able to get the adminstration to support that new practice facility that will be soon done at the CEC.
What Bohn will have to do is continue to ride the conference switch momentum with fundraising and get that year around indoor practice facility built...that should come FIRST before CU brings back baseball so baseball can use that facility during those winter months.
What Bohn will have to do is continue to ride the conference switch momentum with fundraising and get that year around indoor practice facility built...that should come FIRST before CU brings back baseball so baseball can use that facility during those winter months.
NashBuff
CSU Knob-Slobberer
As long as we are in a new conference, it was worth hanging onto Hawkins...got to think long term.
I hope they take note of that. How awesome would a "multi purpose" stadium be? used primarly for Football practice facility, but also used for Baseball. I believe it would be the only indoor college baseball stadium in the country.
NashBuff
CSU Knob-Slobberer
I know that Oklahoma uses their indoor practice facility for their baseball and softball teams when the weather in Norman is pretty bad. The baseball/softball teams at CU can still practice on the football field turf.
An indoor baseball facility would be too expensive.
An indoor baseball facility would be too expensive.
TBA good lean
Reasons:
He's done a good job in renewing public interest in school athletics. Hawk was a blunder as previously stated, but it is a mistake I probably also would have made as I approved of the hire when it was made and he was following the recommendation of a guru, expert the university had hired to assist with the process.
My biggest strike against - even if he had to get on his knees and beg for permission and the money he should have fired DH a year before it actually happened. (That Kansas game will stand as one of the biggest insults to the program ever)
The main reason the jury is still out is while both Bball programs had nice finishes to the season the coaches are both recent hires and I want to see what they do over the next couple of years. By then we will also see how the Embree hire is working out.
Just a bit early for me to pass final judgment on MB
Reasons:
He's done a good job in renewing public interest in school athletics. Hawk was a blunder as previously stated, but it is a mistake I probably also would have made as I approved of the hire when it was made and he was following the recommendation of a guru, expert the university had hired to assist with the process.
My biggest strike against - even if he had to get on his knees and beg for permission and the money he should have fired DH a year before it actually happened. (That Kansas game will stand as one of the biggest insults to the program ever)
The main reason the jury is still out is while both Bball programs had nice finishes to the season the coaches are both recent hires and I want to see what they do over the next couple of years. By then we will also see how the Embree hire is working out.
Just a bit early for me to pass final judgment on MB
CUFan
Welcome back
The Hawkins debacle and sticking with him too long is just burned in my brain. All those years of me telling people we will be better soon makes me so damn angry. I do believe Bohn has done a nice job otherwise, but the fact of the matter is his biggest asset has deteriorated substantially since he took over. The reasons for that may or may not be his fault but it was under his watch. Let's see how he does from here on out without the con artist. Gave him a 3.
3. only thing holding him back is wins on the football field. If Embree builds a powerhouse, its a 5. Also, unsure on Boyle yet. I LOVE what hes done so far, but how is he gonna do without Bzz's kids? other than that, he's had miscues beyond the extension. The football game parking fiasco comes to mind. He also handled the blue out pretty well (POWDER BLUE BOHN!), but what has impressed me with him is how he learns from every mistake. He learned from his coaching hire mistakes (it appears) and he learns when he ****s up with fans.
Now, gimme an indoor practice facility!
Now, gimme an indoor practice facility!
FlatironsBuff
Well-Known Member
On the other hand, if he had done that, would Embree and EB have made it here? I think EB is pretty key to doing this is a big way again, and without the probable lockout this season maybe he would not have left the Vikings last year. ANd if Bohn had hired Butch Davis like so many wanted instead ofDIIDanny, maybe we would just be a average team for many more years. I love armchair quarterbacking. We can second guess all day and there is no proof that whatever we say would work would actually work. I think the worst thing that happened with MB is the crappy buyout in the extension. I also like the pressure he had from players and George Karl and he still went with who he wanted. Sink or swim, MB does what MB thinks is best. I like that. Or at least, I respect that.
SuperiorBuff
Well-Known Member
If Butch Davis were here we would be suffering through borderline death penalty rather the pimp slap for training table violations. The NCAA loves to hit CU and Davis would have made the target unbearable.
MB is good at PR, fund raising and his work in getting CU to the Pac 12 demand kudos. OTOH, extending D II and keeping that corn studded turd of a coach for 2010 are such momumentally stupid moves, I view MB's tenure as the occasional stellar performance, marred by the occasional soiling of the drawers. I don't blame him for hiring D II, but to mismanage the flagship revenue sport the way he did ALMOST negates all the good he did.
somebody
Well-Known Member
I also gave a 3. I completely hold him responsible for the Hawkins hire, but I admittedly care a lot more about football than the other sports. The thing with Hawkins is that yes, he was considered "hot," but that turned out to be all on the surface. He was a guy I would expect me to pick from my arm chair. However, Bohn gets paid a lot of money to look under the surface, and he should have found the smoke and mirrors IMHO. While so far I like Embree, hiring a guy without top job or even coordinator experience is a big risk and if it backfires, everyone will be pointing out the obvious flaw in the hire. Like others, I'm waiting for results to give the guy a better grade.
Unleash Hell
Well-Known Member
SINKRATZ
PhD in Analogy
Keeping the budget in the black despite the lack of on-field success is a minor miracle. That along with the Pac 12 move, basketball facility, increased fundraising and attendance are all feathers in his cap. I don't care how many football tickets he gave away - to get that many people out to Folsom to watch a tire fire is impressive.
The whole Hawk thing was a mess and he has deservedly taken plenty of heat for that, but I still have no idea how much the dynamics of the decision went down - was it really his call, or did politics at CU and the state budget situation play into it as has been speculated. With millions of dollars on the line, my gut tells me he did not have unilateral rights to can the coach, but we'll never know the whole story.
I will say one of the things that I most admire about Bohn is his willingness to face his critics and answer tough questions about the AD. When the Hawk ship was sinking and fans were furious at the AD, Bohn was out there in the paper, on the radio, meeting fans and boosters and answering the tough questions. He must have been as disappointed as anyone about the product on the field, but he owned it and I appreciate that in an AD.
The whole Hawk thing was a mess and he has deservedly taken plenty of heat for that, but I still have no idea how much the dynamics of the decision went down - was it really his call, or did politics at CU and the state budget situation play into it as has been speculated. With millions of dollars on the line, my gut tells me he did not have unilateral rights to can the coach, but we'll never know the whole story.
I will say one of the things that I most admire about Bohn is his willingness to face his critics and answer tough questions about the AD. When the Hawk ship was sinking and fans were furious at the AD, Bohn was out there in the paper, on the radio, meeting fans and boosters and answering the tough questions. He must have been as disappointed as anyone about the product on the field, but he owned it and I appreciate that in an AD.
I give Bohn high scores for this. He didn't duck any interviews. He responded to fan emails. He was accountable when many would have hid and/or deflected. The way he handled that made me really want him to succeed (on a personal level and beyond the obvious reasons of it being good for CU).
I also agree on the approach MB took as far as not ducking when the SHTF. You have to respect that.