UMASS Basketball Fans...

[Cobblestone]

This blurb is from the Providence Journal and it's in reference to possible candidates for the HC position at Providence College. Travis Ford is (understandably) on their list and pretty close to the top. Any idea what his contract at UMASS looks like? Any thoughts on what he'll do if PC comes knocking?
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TRAVIS FORD

The young Massachusetts coach and Rick Pitino disciple has emerged as one of the hottest names on the coaching circuit.

He has his Minuteman team in the NIT finals and has done it using a fast-paced, entertaining style of play. Another guy who enjoys being the public face of the program by often attending public functions, he is likely to go somewhere after three years at UMass. His first team went 13-15. His squad went 24-9 and tied for the regular-season title in the Atlantic 10 last season.

A Kentucky native, Ford, 38, has made it clear he enjoys his southern roots — he played for Pitino at Kentucky — and might prefer a job south of the Mason-Dixon line. The allure of a Big East job like Providence, though, could change that.

[bandl]

This blurb is from the Providence Journal and it's in reference to possible candidates for the HC position at Providence College. Travis Ford is (understandably) on their list and pretty close to the top. Any idea what his contract at UMASS looks like? Any thoughts on what he'll do if PC comes knocking?
================================================== =

TRAVIS FORD

The young Massachusetts coach and Rick Pitino disciple has emerged as one of the hottest names on the coaching circuit.

He has his Minuteman team in the NIT finals and has done it using a fast-paced, entertaining style of play. Another guy who enjoys being the public face of the program by often attending public functions, he is likely to go somewhere after three years at UMass. His first team went 13-15. His squad went 24-9 and tied for the regular-season title in the Atlantic 10 last season.

A Kentucky native, Ford, 38, has made it clear he enjoys his southern roots — he played for Pitino at Kentucky — and might prefer a job south of the Mason-Dixon line. The allure of a Big East job like Providence, though, could change that.

Larranaga (sp?) from George Mason was reportedly in discussions with Providence, but apparently was too comfortable at GMU to leave. I think it would have been a good step up for him.

[gmoney55]

I don't know how much interest the Providence job will get from top coaches....you are in the Big East, but also face expectations to win when you are probably the 10th or 11th program in a 16-team league. I can't see Providence ever being a year-in, year-out top team in the league.

[andy7171]

Yeah Larranaga turned down PC, his alma mater. So he's not going ANYWHERE anytime soon.

[Cobblestone]

I don't know how much interest the Providence job will get from top coaches....you are in the Big East, but also face expectations to win when you are probably the 10th or 11th program in a 16-team league. I can't see Providence ever being a year-in, year-out top team in the league.

Not me dude. I'm a huge PC hater. I think Travis Ford is very good coach and I don't want to see him end up at PC. Yes he's at UMASS and we play them twice every year, but in R.I. the PC vs. URI rivalry is our version of the Red Sox vs. Yankees or Cowboys vs. Redskins.

Right about now I'm ready to ship Baron over to PC. But he's got too many years left on his contract and URI could never afford to buy him out of it.

I wouldn't be shocked in Ford took the PC job just to jump into the Big East which plays on a bigger stage than the A-10.

[gmoney55]

Sorry for any confusion, but that was just the general "you" to refer to any coach that takes the job. I figured as a Rhody fan you wouldn't be much of a PC supporter.

[gmoney55]

As a Bona grad I'm disappointed to hear that about Baron....but we'd take him back in a heartbeat!

[Cobblestone]

As a Bona grad I'm disappointed to hear that about Baron....but we'd take him back in a heartbeat!

PLEASE DO! Don't get me wrong he's a great human being and not a bad coach but he's a career .500 coach as well. After this season many Rhody fans want him out. We just don't see ourselves ever getting to the Big Dance with him as our coach. This looked to be the season which we would finally break out with him but instead we had a total collapse. Anyway, we've got Baron for a few more years at least. I'm just still feeling the disappointment of this season, especially after spending some time in the top 25.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Providence was also trying to contact Phil Marteli but i don't think that went anywhere. I really don't see Providence as a step up from a place like St. Joe's or UMASS. The Friers don't have the resources to compete yearly with the best in the Big East, same with Seton Hall, and to some extent DePaul and St. John's.

[Col Hogan]

All I know is Coach Ford make in the high 200K range (I think I read 280K but don't have the article handy to confirm...)

He just beat Florida where Coach Donovan is making 1M plus...

That's a big difference...one UMass cannot address IMHO...

So, the question is not if, but when we lose Coach Ford...I wish it wasn't true...but it is...

[UMass922]

Providence was also trying to contact Phil Marteli but i don't think that went anywhere. I really don't see Providence as a step up from a place like St. Joe's or UMASS. The Friers don't have the resources to compete yearly with the best in the Big East, same with Seton Hall, and to some extent DePaul and St. John's.

I'd like to think that UMass (or any top-tier A-10 team) is a better job than Providence (or any bottom-tier Big East team). I hope Ford feels the same way, but who knows.

[Cocky]

Tim Maloney, UMASS asst, is in the final four for the JSU head coaching position.

[minuteman65]

I'm more worried about Lombardi luring him down to LSU.

[EmeryZach]

Travis makes $550,000 a year. And he announced he is staying at UMass