Flyers Land Grant After Archie Takes
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Tuesday April, 4, 2017 NEWS //Fighting Flyers celebrate 100 A&E // Roesch offers impressive stream- OPINIONS // Re-examining America’s SPORTS // Women’s basketball looks VOL.64 NO. 12 years, pg. 5 ing service, pg. 10 drug epidemic, pg. 13 ahead to 2018, pg. 14 FLYERTuesday April 4, 2017| ISSUE 12 NEWS| The University of Dayton Goodbye Archie ANDREW KRAMER Flyers Land Grant After Archie Takes Junior Exercise Physiology STEVE MILLER There is a saying, “timing is everything.” Sports Editor For the more tenured Flyer fan, there were visible signs the time was right for the Archie’s Domination. Dayton’s brand new departure. When a broadcaster opined that men’s basketball coach Anthony Archie would not leave for NC State, he said, Grant did not mince words at his “It is not a top three job in the conference. If introductory press conference he leaves, he should leave for a top three job Saturday afternoon. in a power conference.” So when Tom Crean “When I met with the team to- was fired, I got nervous. When UD fell to the day, I told them my vision,” Grant Shockers, Archie had seen the most winning said. “To dominate, continue to class through to the end, the bittersweet end. play for championships, and to He could have come back and started anew dominate in the A-10.” with another talented group, but I think we all A week before, Flyer Nation know how frustrating freshmen can be- espe- ached at the uncertain future of cially for Archie. As long as Dayton remains in UD men’s basketball when news the Atlantic 10 with games like “at Fordham” broke that Archie Miller had re- on their schedule, Dayton will be a stepping signed to take the head coaching stone, albeit an attractive one, for coaches as position at Indiana University. talented, and those less talented (I see you, Bri- “Some people were asking an Gregory) to lift off to power conferences. whether the sun would come up Anthony Grant will replace Archie Miller as the head basketball coach of the Flyers. Photo courtesy of Christian So now what? Well, to be honest, it looks again,” said University President Cubacub/Multimedia Editor grim. This new class- Naziah Carter, McKine- Eric Spina at the press confer- ly Wright, Jordan Pierce, Jordan Davis, Matej ence. “It has, seven times. The engineering major and a member Since then, he served as an as- said. “The leadership is going to Svoboda, added with Kostas Antetokoumpo, sun today is shining brighter than of the UD cheerleading squad. sistant coach for 10 years at the be different, but we think Coach has the potential to bring the program to deep ever.” “We won the A-10 regular season University of Florida, where he Grant will bring the same success into the dance not just in the future, but sooner Now officially under new lead- championship and had a great re- won a national championship in here and build off the tradition than most would think. But it seems unlikely ership, the Flyers will turn their cruiting class coming in. It was set 2006. He was the head coach at we have today and go out and that they will all arrive in the Gem City. Already attention to building something up to be a well-established pro- Virginia Commonwealth for three win the A-10 championship and rumors swirl about Wright, and that he wait- new, using the foundation that gram for a few more years.” years, where he led the Rams to advance in the NCAA Tourna- ed for a new hire. Remember, when we hired Miller, his staff and his players After Miller’s decision, though, two NCAA Tournament appear- ment.” Archie, the two recruits committed to Brian laid since 2011. there was no time for nostalgia in ances, and later took over as head Another point of concern is the Gregory, fresh off a first round NIT exit, bolt- “[I] congratulate Coach Miller Dayton’s athletic department. coach at the University of Ala- status of Miller’s recruiting class, ed. What will happen with our new hire? and his staff for doing an out- “We like Archie, and we’re glad bama for six years. Most recently, set to enter UD in the fall. That brings us to the next front man for standing job here,” Grant said. Archie was our coach for the last he served as an assistant coach for Guard McKinley Wright, the the Flyers: Anthony Grant. To be honest, he “To me, for us to not only meet six years, and we’re certainly sad the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thun- most coveted recruit of the class, was a safe hire. The alumni in sweaters will re- that standard but to go ahead and to see him go,” said Vice Presi- der. was the center of much specula- member him fondly from his playing days, and excel, and go beyond that, I truly dent and Director of Athletics Sullivan elaborated on the deci- tion following Miller’s decision. young fans and recruits will be intrigued by his believe that this place is special.” Neil Sullivan at a press confer- sion to hire Grant. But Miller himself came out and time with Russell Westbrook and Billy Dono- Miller, the 2017 Atlantic 10 ence hours after the news broke. “In our meetings he delivered spoke on the subject. van in Oklahoma City. But it is always unset- Coach of the Year, won 139 “But at the end of the day the a clear and convincing message “McKinley is [obviously] signed tling to hire someone who was fired from their games in his six seasons as head University of Dayton has been to about long-term success, and how with Dayton and he’s a fantastic previous NCAA job. coach of the Flyers, including at I think 18 NCAA Tournaments, bad he wants to be here and how player,” Miller said last Tues- Over six years at Alabama, Grant made least 24 in each of the past four been there under many coaches, badly he wants to succeed not day on the Dan Dakich show one NCAA appearance. Concerning, to say the seasons. In those four seasons, the and plan to be there again.” just in the short-term, but in the “I hope he goes to Dayton. He least. Grant’s first, and most important, task is to team reached the NCAA Tourna- Five days later, after a search long-term, which is very import- went to Dayton for the right rea- retain as much Miller momentum as possible. ment each year, including a run to that surfaced many candidates, ant to us,” he said. “Our meet- sons. And I’ll probably leave it That means reassuring the returning players the Elite Eight in 2014 and two Sullivan hired Grant. ings focused on what the future at that because my job isn’t to and preventing transfers. It means retaining as tournament victories in 2015. In “The best way I can describe would hold around graduating recruit him anywhere else.” much of the current staff as possible (assistant 2016 and 2017, the Flyers won the him is a proven winner,” Sullivan student athletes, in a meaningful When the dust settles, regard- coaches Kevin Kuwik, Tom Ostrom and Allen Atlantic 10 regular season title. said on Saturday. “He has won way. Not just that they leave here less of the players Grant will Griffin), and convincing the new recruits they Dayton never had a losing season basketball games at the highest with a degree, but they leave here actually coach here at Dayton, can succeed under him just as well as they could under his leadership. level, he’s coached at the highest with a meaningful degree, better his focus is constant. have under Archie. These are all difficult tasks, Miller’s success made his level, and he’s played at the high- people than when they came in.” “This program is about this and how well Grant does could be indicative of departure for a power confer- est level. And he’s going to bring In a major coaching transition community, about the city of his ultimate legacy at UD. ence school foreseeable, but no the highest level here to the Uni- like this, there is always doubt and Dayton, it’s about you guys,” In the end though, we are reminded of less disappointing for the Flyer versity of Dayton.” speculation as to whether the cur- he said, speaking to the men’s UD’s place in the basketball world. Dayton is faithful. Grant, a 1987 graduate of UD, rent players will buy into the new basketball players in atten- a city with tremendous basketball knowledge “I wasn’t necessarily surprised., played for four seasons under coach or look to transfer. Rising dance. “And I’m here to make and fervor for its players. A place steeped in I was more so surprised that it the leadership of legendary Flyer junior forward Ryan Mikesell sure that we continue to elevate history. A place recognized as a hotspot for happened so soon...given the cir- coach Don Donoher. He played hinted towards the former. this program.” college basketball. And, unfortunately, a place cumstances of this season,” said in two NCAA Tournaments in his “We’re grateful for [Archie Story continued on pg. 4 where, if all goes right, we will be searching Brandon Payne, a junior electrical time as a Flyer on the court. Miller], but we’re also excited,” he for another coach in 5 years.