After making the CAA semifinals, which they werent supposed to make, the Tigers are certainly keeping up with George Mason at the half, only down 29-26. Calvin Lee and Josh Thornton are locked in and leading the way, and the fast break has been run with great efficiency by Troy Franklin and Rocky Coleman. Defensively, you never know what team is going to show up, but Pat Kennedy seems to have his team motivated and they are really sticking with a CAA power.

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

Be it Bob Caret or Mike Hermann making the calls, it appears Towson athletics is (finally) on track. Recently, it’s been bantered about that their no excuses philosophy could cost either men’s basketball coach Pat Kennedy or men’s lax coach Tony Seaman his. Here’s what the Towerlight has learned. The athletic department just doesn’t have the money to buyout both coaches, as each have one year left on their current contracts. Throw in the fact that the department is already on the hook for Gordy Combs remaining years plus Rob Ambrose’s new deal (estimated between $1.5-2 million) and at most the athletic department can afford to buyout one of either Kennedy or Seaman. Not both. It’s also been rumored, though we cannot confirm this, that Seaman has been told he will be fired if his team does not make the NCAA Tournament. If that is the case, Kennedy will finish out the remainder of his contract and then not be signed to a new deal, because Seaman also has one year remaining on his deal following this season and he’s cheaper to buyout than Kennedy.

If this truly is the case, the athletic department–to me–is heading in the right direction. Finally, they are no longer settling to be middle of the pack. With the new arena compromise reached, along with the great facilities at Unitas and the potential new coaches coming through in the next couple of seasons, they if nothing else are trying to put the best potential product on the field. And as a student/sports fan/journalist, it’s nice to know the administration and AD are trying their best to further the progress of the athletic program.

Caret and Hermann just aren’t settling for mediocrity, the 12-14 win seasons in basketball, the lackluster lacrosse seasons. It’s now what have you done for me lately, and that means progress for the athletic department. 

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

I’ve been covering this team for two years now, and I have to say, I’ve never seen them in a slump quite like this before. This team was poised to jump to the top third of the CAA coming into the season, but close losses (four of their five losses have been by a total of five points) have been the kiss of death to this, nearly the midpoint of the season. On paper, this team has NCAA Tournament type talent. Yeah, I said it. They do, even at the mid-major level.

But they’ve now dropped four of their last six games, and slumps like that are a killer when you are trying to build a postseason resume, especially when they are playing a schedule that is anything but challenging. One point losses, and losing games like last night at Hofstra are just flatout mind-blowing.

A couple of things to keep in mind here as they try and get back on track. Shanae Baker-Brice is playing at an all-CAA level, and she’s a virtual lock, in my opinion for first team honors. She’s finally healthy, and she’s playing off the ball, which was a primary goal for head coach Joe Mathews so she could become more of a scorer, a role she’s embraced with open arms. But she can’t do it all by herself. Soph guard Simona Petronyte has been very good and is making the most of her expanded playing time this season, averaging just over seven points in only 21 minutes a game. But the frontline of Katrina Wheeler and Kandace Davis must stay out of foul trouble and provide more scoring in the paint. They are both supreme talents, but have yet to really click to this point. And sophomore forward Dovile Miliauskaite, a high school teammate of Petronyte in Lithuania, has regressed and has zero offensive polish. She’s extremely raw as a scorer and really is nothing more than a rebounder right now. The best finishers on the team are all guards (Omara Parker, Baker-Brice, and freshman Krystin Fields) and that has to concern Mathews and his staff. Speaking of Parker, it’s clear she’s nailed down a starting spot, but she’s a streaky shooter and when she’s off, it really limits the team’s offensive potential. She’s had great games, but has then been invisible for others.

Finally, this team is terrific defensively. I never worry about their “lack” of size anymore, and Wheeler has really lived up to her billing as a defensive stopper and rebounder by providing toughness on the interior. Baker-Brice is also the catalyst in the team’s number one goal of producing turnovers, averaging an absolutely stellar 3.1 steals per game. However, the team just cannot settle for poor FT shooting any longer. It was a minor issue last year, and Mathews nonchalantly brushed it aside, but this year the weakness has expounded to new heights and has cost the team at least three victories. I mean, they are shooting 61.8 percent from the line as a team, and that is simply pathetic. Maybe the cool attitude of the coaching staff is the issue, and maybe they should start cracking the whip a little more on a FUNDAMENTAL part of basketball. Just a thought.

I not going to say I’m been impressed with where the team is at right now, but I can’t say with a straight face that I’m worried either. This team just has way too much talent. Slumps happen. But hopefully, the team can put together a stretch that we all know they are capable of. 

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

Whew, it’s been a buzzing past few days, but the process of naming the new head coach appears to finally be coming to a close. Here’s what I know. They have interviewed four candidates (Mike Groh, Rob Ambrose, Greg Gattuso, Kenny Carter) and plan on interviewing Jeff Durden, the OC at JMU, later today (the 24th).

Apparently, Ambrose was as good as advertised and “blew their socks off” according to a colleague of mine. He’s still the leader in the clubhouse and did nothing to diminish that title in the interview.

Greg Gattuso appears to be the darkhorse, however. Pitt’s d-line coach, he coached Duquesne University from ‘93-04 and was extremely successful, leading the team to eight MAAC championships and a .752 winning percentage. His resume is unmatched by any other candidate and would be a great choice if named.

Carter and Groh seem to be on the outside looking in. Groh is commanding major dollars because of his family name and Carter (currently an assistant at the University of Florida) just doesn’t have the experience needed to fit what Towson wants. 

Then there is Durden, an up and comer who is drawing serious interest from the Tigers and for good reason. His offense at JMU is the class of the CAA and he has the look of a dynamite head coach in waiting. But it may be a year or two early for him to step up to the plate and handle the duties of a head coach. He’s bright and energetic, but he’s never been anything more than an assistant. That scares me.

The top three now appear Ambrose, Gattuso and Durden in that order.

One other thing that is the key sticking point of naming the new coach is money. I will not release the financial terms, but I have confirmed that Towson’s coaching staff was the lowest paid in the conference. Rumors have stated Hermann wanted to hire a coach among the four candidates previously mentioned, who all interviewed on the same day, but they couldn’t strike a deal because Towson was offering a significantly lower financial package than expected.  The new head coach will likely be paid between 220-300k when hired, at they very minimum, but that’s just a guess. The point is, TU appears strapped for funds and will be getting the new coach around those figures, but it is to be said that it will be significantly more than what Combs salary was. I do know what Combs made, but again, I feel it isn’t appropriate to mention. It’s certainly not in the 220-300 thousand dollar range, that’s for darn sure.  So Towson will be raising the new coach’s salary, though it will still likely be on the low end of the CAA. 

Finally, December 29 is the date to remember. Hermann has openly stated he wants a new head coach BEFORE Jan. 1, and the 29th is the Monday following Christmas. It makes a lot of sense when thinking about it, so it will either be that Monday or Tuesday, and that seems fairly certain when you consider the interviewing process will most likely come to a close following Durden’s chance later today (Wednesday).

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

UConn offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose was scheduled to interview with AD Mike Hermann today, according to The New Haven (CT) Register. Ambrose, widely regarded as the top candidate to replace the bought-out Gordy Combs, is competing with ex-Virginia OC Mike Groh for the Towson position. All others interested appear to be longshots, including Joe Vitt, the linebackers coach with the New Orleans Saints. An announcement naming the new head coach of the Tigers could come as early as Christmas. 

The players clearly seem to favor the addition of Ambrose if that is indeed the call. I spoke with a prominent member of the team who told me he had heard “nothing but negative things” about Groh. I did not push and ask if he would be transferring if Groh were to be named, but I will say if the seasoned player does leave, it could be a major blow to fixing the team’s biggest problem.

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

I gotta say, I’m getting nervous now. What is up with the Administration and Athl. Dept.? It appears the interviewing process is over. So what’s taking so long? Beats me. But some things to consider…

1. The candidates. It’s Rob Ambrose, Joe Vitt and Mike Groh (former OC at UVA) who appear to be the final three. Everyone else that was mentioned earlier appear to be pure banter at this point. Now, if it really is down to those three, why wait to make a decision? It is who they can hire/negotiate with first? If that’s the case, Groh races to the head of the line. If they can afford to wait, then it’s Ambrose, who will coach in a bowl game for UConn Jan. 3rd.  And if it’s who’ll work for the money they offer, Vitt’s the guy, cause he sure as heck doesn’t need the money and it’ll most likely be his last stop in his coaching career. 

But again, it seems a curveball has been thrown in all this in the way that the coaching search is being handled. No one knows anything really, and with no annoucement being made about anything going on, everything speculated is becoming a shot in the dark. I have no clue what is going to happen. I just hope it’s awfully soon.

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

I left two voicemails on Ambrose’s cell phone, and while they were not returned by Ambrose, Dennis Cordell, his agent and founder of coachesinc.com, returned my call and said they could not comment at this time. Typical. One thing we now know, Clawson is out after taking the BG job, and Beathard remains in the picture, but probably as an assistant to Ambrose. Beathard has zero head coaching experience anyway. 

We’ve heard they kicked the tires on Chris Cosh about the job, but has he really done anything to warrant consideration? Color me not thrilled at his prospects. Wasn’t he terrible as the Maryland DC? I don’t know, just seems unlikely. 

Right now the prime candidates appear to be Joe Vitt and Ambrose. Thing about Vitt is, would he leave the New Orleans Saints midseason? Meaning Hermann would have to wait to announce the hiring until after the Saints season comes to a close. Can he afford to wait? 

All things considered, Vitt and Ambrose are the two most likely candidates at this point, and while we don’t know when Hermann will announce anything, if Ambrose is the target, it could be anytime. Something to consider on that front is when Cordell told me they could not comment, does that mean they were already in negotiations with Towson?  Were they trying to get at Hermann before speaking to me? Who knows, but one thing seems likely—if Ambrose wants it as bad as my sources say he does—I’m pretty sure Hermann wouldnt be able to get the contract typed up fast enough. Should be an interesting few days.

Kevin Hess

Associate Sports Editor

Sources that I have spoken with have indeed confirmed the interest for the coaching job that Rob Ambrose has. The source I spoke with characterized Ambrose as “very interested” in the Tigers head coaching position, so much so that he turned down newly hired New Mexico head coach Ron Locksley, another former TU grad, when Locksley offered him the offensive coordinator position at his new post because he wants to see where the Towson search goes. Ambrose has spoken with Hermann over the phone and has been granted permission by UConn to seek other potential coaching positions. Voicemails left on Ambrose’s cellphone have yet to be returned, though he is “in the area on a recruiting trip” the source confirmed.

The source also offered that Joe Vitt, an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints and former head coach of the St. Louis Rams, is interested in the position, as is Kurt Beathard, who I spoke of previously. The preferential order of Hermann appears to be Ambrose, Vitt, Beathard. It is possible Ambrose and Beathard could be a package deal, one as head coach and the other as offensive coordinator.

More as soon as Ambrose returns my call….

There are few things sweeter than an open jumper when Josh Thornton has time to set his feet. His three with 2:30 left in the half cut the lead to three points. There are few things nastier than watching 6-foot Thornton try to stop Nivins on the inside. Here’s a synopsis, a lot of contact, a loud smacking sound a whistles and two free throws for Nivins.

Score check: St Joes 34, Towson 29

Kiel

Towson’s greatest weakness is clearly depth when it comes to handling the ball. When Troy Franklin or Brian Morris don’t have the ball in their hands, it spells trouble. the Hawks are pressuring the ball wherever it is on the court. The guards are just too quick to let Towson set up it’s offense.

Also, remember what I said about slowing down Ahmad Nivins? I take that back. Phil Martelli is a smart coach. He knows how to get his man the ball and Nivins is following suit. Whether it’s a quick entry pass from the wing or hustling in transition. He’s getting looks at the hoop and Towson can’t do anything but foul.

Score check: St. Joes 30, Towson 24 (4:51 left in the first)

– Kiel