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While Coach Powell may not be wearing a suit, he oozes swagger. He connects with the current generation of college-age folks. He's got style & substance. ML, despite his age, came off stuffy. A Stanford boy, if you will. Roger is real. He's rooted. He's relevant. I've said it before and will again; I'm all in. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But ... I'm ready to embrace this new chapter. I haven't been more excited about VU hoops since the Drew era. Oh, and I'd be *Shocked* if we don't see a high-energy approach on the court. Fewer set plays and more high-tempo. A more fun product on the court!!! Letting guys play.

I agree with the sentiments expressed concerning the seating. Honestly, the chairbacks are far from comfortable. I've yet to make the move paying quite a btit extra for the chairback season tickets comparative to bleacher seating. Why? I bring cushions and, quite honestly, it makes it more comfortable than the chairbacks in general. Granted, it's crammed in the bleachers. Even walking up and down the stairs of the chairback section, they're rickety & wobbly. Not quite sure how they're deemed safe, tbh.

That said, there's really not many seats/sections that are super ADA compliant in my humble opinion (at least for him). I have a parent who would like to come but has a very difficult time doing so given the overall "meh" arrangement.

Here's what I'm thinking ...

You know you go to a hotel and turn the bathroom vanity light on and are like, "Woah!!!! Is this seriously what I look like on the daily?!?"

Once the shock factor wears off, you're like: "I didn't even know I had a mole there or a scratch here, etc. And, boy oh boy are these wrinkles getting deep!"

The point being: The new lights will cause the powers-that-be to make some low-cost, high-aesthetic impact decisions in the short term that make the ARC a bit more exhilarating—Ex: Some fresh paint ... etc.

If anyone can make the Brown & Gold color scheme look good, it's Roger Powell. The man has some serious style! As shown by his social media posts, there's no denying he will bring a different vibe to the program. I've said it before and will say it again - this is BY FAR the most excited I've been about Valpo Basketball in ~7-10 years.

New lights + screens? I'll take it. Beggers can't be choosers; it's long been said. These are two much-needed improvements and a step in the right direction.

The Rev isn't going to hold back - nor will he make excuses. He's grinding and knows he'll keep leveraging the networks he's established and will be systematic in his approach, no doubt.

This area is quite honestly a low cost with potentially high reward / low-hanging fruit opportunity to take advantage of. Why? Because you have current students, who are immersed in social media. They are brand ambassadors, social media influencers, or (at a minimum) digital media consumers. Not to mention the fact there are students with majors in marketing who are focused on social media platforms. No excuses here not to be active on this front. You do not need donors for this, like building a new venue.

[Colors, mascots, & crappy arenas aside - let's go!!!]

Personally, I'm at the point where I've moved beyond the mascots, arena, etc. as (for me) they were displaced by frustrations with the overall decline & state of affairs of the VU MBB program.

After they made the move, cut ties with Lottich, & brought in the Rev - I'm all in. Yes, it could be a bumpy road as the flight takes off, and we may hit some turbulence. But, I'm here for the ride. I'm back on the donor list and will renew my season tickets. Get some good merch out there in the fall & I'll buy it. Put some NIL things out there for alum, donors, & fans - I'll invest.

Colors, mascots, & crappy arenas aside - let's go!!!

[Horrible, by definition per Merriam Webster, is as follows:]

Horrible, by definition per Merriam Webster, is as follows:


Marked by or arousing painful and intense fear, dread, dismay, or aversion: marked by or arousing horror
a horrible accident.

Extremely bad or unpleasant, a horrible mistake

I cannot think of anything that would denote a "horrible" first season for the Rev. Not happening. Plain & Simple.

I've flapped my gums enough to put my $ where my mouth has been. So, I donated. Why?
1. They made the necessary move by letting ML go.
2. They made a really, really strong hire.
3. Dr. Small & President Padilla made it clear they *are* committed to the Valpo MBB program - I especially respected the clear sentiments expressed concerning the new facility.

I'll also be renewing my season tickets.

In short, they are doing more than I thought they'd do - so, I'm pleasantly surprised & willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I'd love to see Buggs back in the brown & gold.

Way to go, Ben!!! I will be rooting for this young man. I love the thought of Ben's game in the B10 Ten. It will benefit him to learn from a veteran coach in Fran McCaffery.

As pointed out, entering the transfer portal does not automatically equate to players leaving. Why not enter the transfer portal? What's the worst that can happen from the player's perspective? If they're of any D-1 caliber, they'll get some options on the table to leave and could end up somewhere that's a better fit (or one with more certainty). Additionally, there will be a new VU coach hired. It'll happen if he/she wants to re-recruit the players to his/her program.

It's a win-win as I see it (from the player's perspective). From a fan's perspective, this is the LEAST involved I've been in many years. I do not know these players as I have in seasons past. I have no ties and relatively no investment. I watched games out of a sense of pride. Out of a sense of obligation to the program as an alum & lifelong fan. But I won't be upset if any/all of the players leave if that's what's best for them in their judgment.

I'm ready for a new era. No offense to any current players or fans. That is just my opinion. I'm looking forward to a reset & getting to know the new players For those who stay; I'm honestly excited to get to know them as well because I honestly don't know them. Cheers to a new chapter!!!

I'm looking forward to donating again for the first time in several years. I'm looking forward to renewing my season tickets! I'm looking forward to purchasing Valpo gear (I last purchased it several years ago).

Let's go!

Looking at the language:

Out: Matt Lottich
A late firing in the process, but one that came after the buyout dropped, I was told. This is a small-time program with a big-time name at that level. A few early candidates have turned Valpo down, but be on the lookout for this job to close in the coming days.

-- Like others, I take "a big-time name at that level" to mean it's a small school with a relatively big brand.

Also, I don't discredit Valpo for having stretch goals. Ex: Why not extend an offer to a coach that could be considered "out of reach"? Good for Dr. Small & Co. to put themselves out there. The worst case = is being turned down. Who cares? At least they can leave the process knowing they did their due diligence and didn't restrict themselves with unnecessary boundaries.

While he's likely not ready to be a head coach, I'd love to see Erik Buggs back in the brown & gold. He's currently an assistant coach and the lead recruiting coordinator at the University of Tennessee Martin. He coached in the high school ranks and worked his way up to UTM. I know he's in Houston right now for the championship. At a bare minimum, I'm hoping he can meet Dr. Small and so forth.

https://utmsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/erik-buggs/524

In my opinion, the sentiments regarding Greg Tonagel's Christianity and the expressed fears about his ideological beliefs are a testament to his integrity. If his Christianity is cause for concern, he wouldn't want to be here anyhow.

Yes, he's a Christian. Yes, he's passionate about his faith. Yes, he lives with intentionality. Yes, he lives with integrity. As a Christian, he has a love for God, no doubt. And, he has a love for others. That said, do folks honestly believe he doesn't also love basketball?

He's a basketball coach. He doesn't have to be one - he chooses to be one. Guess what - he was a basketball player. Was his playing career defined by his beliefs? Yes, he led bible studies. And, he was a leader on the court. What if it didn't have to be this OR that? What if someone could be an all-in-Christ follower AND a successful basketball coach?

Thank you for putting this thread together. It's incredible how coaching trees work - success breeds success. In the football world, consider how many coaches are products of the Nick Saban coaching tree. Up & coming coaches and former head coaches who need a fresh start go off to earn their doctorate in football/coaching while serving under Nick Saban for a couple of years.

Thankful for the Drew family and how God uses them to serve through the sport of basketball.

Powell, Diebler, & Tonagel are all (3) hires that I'd be 100% supportive of if Dr. Small were to land one of them. I don't see it happening with Diebler, however. He's an Ohio guy & has built up a reputation that far exceeds Valpo. Why take a pay cut to come back & rebuild this program? He's young & has a family he & his wife are raising.

Mark Few is 60 & has been at Gonzaga since 1999. He reportedly makes around $2,000,000 a year. He's from Oregon & a UO grad.- he's a West Coast guy. When he's ready to retire, I see him getting an opportunity at Gonzaga to take over in some athletic administrative role.

Roger Powell is 40 - aka 20 years younger than Few. I see him riding it out and taking over the reins.

Tonagel, however, is the guy I see as being most probable from these three options. I've been vying for him since Bryce left. The Tonagel family is absolutely amazing. They, like the Drews, are a family that Valparaiso would generationally embrace for years to come. Greg, like Homer, is pursuing his doctorate. He's a cerebral, level-headed, family-oriented man of faith. He's been the HC at Wesleyan since 2005.

And, he's a proven coach - I don't care that it's NAIA:

IWU COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
3: NAIA Div. II National Championships (2014, 2016, and 2018)
25: NAIA Div. II NAIA All-Americans
12: Crossroads League Regular Season Championships
5: Crossroads League Tournament Championships (2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020)
2: NAIA National Player of the Year (2020 & 21: Kyle Mangas)
1: Small College Basketball Player of the Year (2020: Kyle Mangas)
4: Finished Seasons as the No. 1-ranked team in NAIA Division II.
Winningest Coach in Program History
Highest Winning Percentage (.795)
Most Wins (420)
Most NAIA National Tournament Victories (32)
Most National Tournament appearances (13)
Most Crossroads League Regular Season Championships (11)
Most Crossroads League Tournament Championships (5)

As a player, by the way, here's some stats:

AS A PLAYER:
Led Valparaiso to 4 NCAA Tournaments
Won 20 games each of the Four Years as a Starter
Compaq National Play of the Week
Set Single Season Free Throw Record
Academic All-Conference
Two-time Team Captain
Team Chaplain and Bible Study Leader

VUGrad1314 - such a solid take! Couldn't say it better myself.

When Dr. Small was hired, I was hopeful he could leverage his P5 collegiate basketball experience + coaching experience to help right the ship. Understandably, Mark LaBarbera was the one who made the hire. Lottich's coaching tenure - for better or worse - would be on him. Perceptually - from a fan's perspective, firing Lottich, in turn, would be an indictment on his decision to hire him. He knew his retirement was coming. He wasn't going to make that call.

Now, Dr. Small has an opportunity to truly be a leader & start his legacy here at VU. When he met with Bryce & Homer and went so far as to post on social media about it, there was a glimmer of hope that he recognized what VU MBB once was and how it had lost its luster.

As the past few weeks went by, many of us (myself included) grew weary that we'd be held back by financial restraints and thus be unable to make the decision that needed to be made. Then, a beacon of hope prevailed. Alas, this news.

Without a doubt, Dr. Small - like any AD - will be judged by the decision made here. He knows that the facilities, lack of NIL exposure, & relative salary allotment will limit the scope of his search. No doubt, however, that he's also aware these factors will be considered excuses down the road. There will be folks (myself included) who aspire for better-than-mediocre and don't accept excuses. It's an exciting day for the VU community. Let's go.

The most excited I've been about this program since 2016. Seriously. I've said it before, but season tickets, donations, & my promotion of this program are all back in play. At the same time, that may not mean much in the big scheme of things if many others renew their excitement & commitment to this program - who knows what could transpire after that! It's multiplication 101. Let's do this. "We need a fresh start!" Yes, Dr. Small - yes, we do!!! Head coaches ARE critical to our success.

I would love to see Ben land @ Notre Dame. They have a BIG TIME overhaul that'll be taking place. Given the academic requirements at UND, they cannot fill roster spots with JUCO players. Nor can they fill spots with undergraduate transfers unless they are perhaps rising sophomores with gen eds in place that afford them a clear plan of study whereby they'd be on track to graduate.

Thus, I see UND going with some rentals in the form of grad transfers. Ben would be a perfect fit!

@JD24 - I'd say FD is progressing more than nicely 

Though I have not personally reached out to express my desire to help pay for the buy-out of ML, I have tried contacting the AD as a donor & alum to express my thoughts & concerns. My email was sent back in January. No response.

When receiving the mail asking for donations etc. - I read through the literature and thought about it for a few days. Then, I ended up recycling it. I will not financially support the institution unless/until it's apparent that the concerns are being heard.

I would, however, support specific NIL-related deals that I'm confident directly support the athletes if they were made known. I am not in a position to make decisions concerning the direction of the program. I'm just a fan, VU grad, & resident. All conjecture on my behalf concerning what should be done is purely subjective and carries no weight. But, I can only do my part to try and voice such concerns.

We live in a much different world than the one that existed a few years ago, let alone when I attended VU. More than ever, the ease of access to entertainment is at a finger length's distance. So, it's relatively easy to find entertainment when needed with or without VU. I'd prefer to allocate my time & monies to VU for such entertainment. When it's no longer entertaining, however, it's hard to justify doing so.

Well, I for one have my mind changed now! We're for sure progressing nicely with this BIG TIME news.