UD Coaching Extensions

[GVHen87]

Most of us this message board are painfully aware that the UD administration chose to give the current men's BB coach a five year extension through the 2028-2029 season after the team finished with a mediocre 10-8 conference record in 2022 but somehow caught lightening in a bottle and won the conference tournemant. After his first six years in 2022, his teams had a conference record of 45-54 (which is now an awful 73-105). I believe many of us disagreed with that extension and are now feeling the agony of that unwise choice. I am also aware that many football fans questioned the extension given to Ryan Carty as well.

Well it was announced this morning by the current AD that UD is giving the men's soccer coach a five year extension. His record:

2025 10–2–6
2024 6–7–6
2023 6–7–6
2022 2–11–5

Yes, they had a great year in 2025 in what is regarded a pretty good league - the Summit League (C-USA does not sponser men's soccer). Because of time constraints, I do not get to go to soccer games so I really cannot opine on Tommy McMenemy. However, that record and one good year does not seem to warrant a five year extension to me. I certainly question the urgency of giving him another five years. Why now and why that long?

This five year extension at least "rhymes" with the one given to MI. So does this mean that the new AD had a lot to do with the MI extension? And does it mean that Skolnick is tied to him?

[ktres]

Uh, actually UD men's soccer was 12-2-3 in 2025, 7-7-2 in 2024, 9-4-6 in 2023 and 4-11-2 in 2022

[Udforever1]

Yeah, your numbers are off GV. Zero problem with JS giving the soccer coach an extension. He has them completely headed in the right direction it appears and had them ranked in the top 25 this year for the first time in a decade.

I imagine he signed a 5 year deal when he signed here. You don’t leave a coach like him as a lame duck coach heading into next year. I’d be more worried about him leaving for a bigger job.

[frmrbluehen]

He has the team no doubt going in the right direction and has a really good grasp on recruiting overseas. If he has another season like this year, I too would be worried about him being poached by a larger program. Makes sense to try and make it worth his while to stay by extending him.

[DaveB]

One of the things in the past IMO that were important for extensions was recruiting . Coaches needed to show a recruit they would be around .

That script has flipped with players now being able to leave and play right away elsewhere so it does not matter if a coach has 1 or 5 years left. I could be wrong but at least for recruiting, it’s not a deal breaker anymore IMO

[Heeper]

I am ok with the Soccer coach and Carty's extensions and I think MI has done an admirable job with the hand he's been dealt this year but there aren't many other schools out there where you can have that kind of conference record over 10 years and still have your job.

[CaliHen98]

Yeah, your numbers are off GV. Zero problem with JS giving the soccer coach an extension. He has them completely headed in the right direction it appears and had them ranked in the top 25 this year for the first time in a decade.

I imagine he signed a 5 year deal when he signed here. You don’t leave a coach like him as a lame duck coach heading into next year. I’d be more worried about him leaving for a bigger job.

+1

[GVHen87]

Mea culpa. The critically aclaimed Gemini 3 AI bot provided me that information. I suppose that is why all those AIs bots give those disclaimers. Lesson learned - need to fact check those AI bots!

Havaing said, while I agree if he is entering the last year of his contract - or even with two years left, - that an extension is likely warranted. However, I stand by my belief that a five year extension is a stretch and unnecessary. And I strongly believe that the track record of the UD administration giving contract extensions is not a good one.

[UD '01 grad]

AI EXAMPLE NO. 1

Tell me the positives about the University of Delaware men's basketball program


Here are some positives and strengths of the University of Delaware men's basketball program — things that fans, alumni, and recruits can point to with pride:

Strong Historical Tradition

Delaware has a long history in Division I basketball dating back to 1905–06. The team has competed at the top level of college basketball for decades, showing staying power and commitment to the sport.

The Blue Hens have made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances (six times), including in 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2014, and 2022, demonstrating periods of real competitive success.

The program has won conference championships in different leagues over the years, including America East/NAC and the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Big Moments & Memorable Runs

In 2025, Delaware became a March-story highlight by making a remarkable run from a low seed in the CAA Championship, winning four straight games — including an upset over a top-seeded team — and nearly capturing the title. That run captured national attention and energized the fanbase.

Individual players have earned recognition too — such as John Camden being named Mid-Major Madness Player of the Week for his leadership during that run.

Player Development & Honors

Over the years, the program has produced conference award winners (e.g., All-Conference and Rookie of the Year selections) and All-America honorees, showing that Delaware develops high-level talent.

Many players have earned academic honors, showing a commitment to excellence on and off the court.

Supportive Fanbase & Community Engagement

The Blue Hens enjoy strong fan support, with a dedicated crowd at home games that creates a lively and spirited atmosphere.

There are community and alumni support efforts (like fundraising campaigns and fan engagement groups) that help strengthen the program’s foundation and give student-athletes support beyond the court.

Competitive Opportunities & Conference Growth

The Blue Hens transitioned to Conference USA, a league with different competition and visibility, offering new opportunities for growth and recruiting in the future.

Even with ups and downs in win-loss records, the team has shown resilience, spirited performances, and the ability to pull off upsets — qualities that can build confidence and momentum moving forward.

Holistic Development Focus

The program emphasizes student-athlete success beyond basketball — including academics, leadership, and life skills — which is a significant positive for players thinking about their futures.

In summary, UD’s men’s basketball program combines historical success, standout performances, player development, and community support — all of which contribute to a strong identity and promising future. If there’s a particular season, player, or aspect you want to explore deeper, just let me know!

[UD '01 grad]

AI EXAMPLE NO. 2

Tell me the negative aspects of the University of Delaware men's basketball program

Here’s a balanced look at some of the negative aspects and criticisms that have been associated with the University of Delaware men’s basketball program in recent years — mainly focused on performance, consistency, and perception. Most of these points reflect common critiques from fans and media, and they’re not meant to diminish achievements but to highlight areas where the program has struggled or faced challenges:

1. Inconsistent On-Court Performance

The team has had ups and downs in win–loss records, including seasons with more losses than wins and early exits from key games. For example, Delaware finished a season 16-20 and fell just short of an NCAA tournament berth despite a strong tournament run in the CAA.

They’ve occasionally lost winnable games late in halves or been unable to close out leads, which can signal issues with consistency or late-game execution.

2. Struggles in Key Matchups

Losses in critical non-conference and rivalry games (like an OT loss at Delaware State or defeats to teams like Bucknell) highlight challenges in performing consistently against a range of competition.

Some seasons see the team underperforming in mid-season stretches or in games they start well but fail to sustain momentum — a critique often highlighted by fans.

3. Fan Base Concerns and Expectations

Among parts of the fan base, there’s a perception that expectations can be unrealistically low or that fans have become too tolerant of mediocrity because big wins are infrequent relative to other programs. This can impact attendance, engagement, and momentum around the team.

In some fan forums, there’s criticism directed at coaching or roster management when results don’t improve, though these are informal opinions rather than official assessments.

4. Conference and Tournament Challenges

While the program occasionally makes strong tournament runs, it has often struggled to secure consistent NCAA Tournament appearances or advance deep when it does — a common measure of success in college basketball.

The move to a new conference (Conference USA) brings fresh competitive challenges and uncertainty about future performance levels.

5. Rough Patches Against Stronger Teams

In some matchups against traditionally stronger opponents, Delaware has struggled offensively and defensively — which is a typical challenge for mid-major programs but still a negative aspect in terms of national perception.

[UD '01 grad]

AI CONCLUSION

If you replace a handful of stats and mascot/conference names above, the two examples can be used for almost every program in the country, both positive and negative.

[Cluck U]

AI math is still a ways off...and I am talking about pretty simple questions.

A few months ago, November 7th, to be exact, I asked Google how much 20 pounds of nickels was worth. Hoo-boy...I still have the screen shot, which I transcribed verbatim below:

"AI Overview

20 pounds of nickels are worth approximately $400 in face value, based on 20 nickels making $1 and 20 nickels per pound. If you are talking about the scrap metal value of the nickel alloy, the value would be much lower, around $50 for 20 pounds at a scrap price of about $2.50 per pound.

Face value calculation

A single nickel is worth 0.05.
It takes 20 nickels to make one dollar (20 X $0.05 = $1.00)
A pound of nickels contains 20 nickels, so 1 pound equals $1.00.
Therefore, 20 pounds of nickels is worth $20.00 X 20 = $400.00."



Holy smokes!

A bit later, I asked again and it came up with a different answer ($160-some dollars).

FWIW, I just typed in the exact same question just now and it came up $90.70...a much better calculation (it used 5 grams per nickel), and it followed up by saying a standard $100 box of nickels weighs approximately 22.2 pounds.

Yea...it appears to be learning.

Regardless, at this point, we can't rely on AI to get us the right answers.