Chris Mack

[bleedXblue]

With the recent verbals of Macura and London and the pending 2013-2014 season right around the corner, I'd like to get some opinion around the longevity of Mack at X.

I think personally he's here to stay for at least 5 more years.

He's in a great league, with a great facility and coaching for his Alma Mater.

Vote away

[Titanxman04]

If we were still in the A-10, then I think I'd give him five years tops. But this guy is in his hometown. He's at his Alma Mater. He's getting paid a bunch of money that will presumably go up pretty soon should he prove successful. Unless it's Duke, UK, Kansas, or North Carolina, I don't think he'd really give it too much thought.

We always knew Sean Miller would leave, though we thought it'd be to Pitt when that opened up. Dustin Dow even spoke about his eventual departure in his pieces. Mack is not Miller though.

Then again, I don't know the guy.

[joe titan]

Coach Mack is looking forward to his next job being Director of Basketball Ops for UD Women's team after Christie becomes UD women's coach.

[nuts4xu]

The only way I see him changing jobs is if things would sour between Mack and our AD or administration. The relationship between Mack and the Xavier administration needs to be solid, or I can see that being something that causes Mack to look elsewhere.

As long as he can get along with the powers that be, he will be here a very, very long time.

[boozehound]

I have heard that Chris's family really likes the Cincinnati area. As his girls get older his family's desire to stay in the area will probably increase. I'm sure he would leave in a heartbeat if he got a shot at Louisville, UK, or IU. Barring top level jobs, I think he will stay for a while. He is still relatively young and pretty ambitious, so I wouldn't count on him being a lifer. Ambition often causes people to become restless though, so who knows.

[paulxu]

Well, the Shockers just punched Marshall up to $1.75 million. So I hope our new BE $ keep salary for being the main reason to think about leaving.

[GoMuskies]

Well, the Shockers just punched Marshall up to $1.75 million.

We're big money out here in the 'Ta.

[THRILLHOUSE]

If Wake Forrest ever wises up and dumps Bzdelik, I assume they would make Mack one of their top targets. If we were still in the A10, I'd worry about Mack leaving for that job. But right now I don't see Mack leaving for Wake. I agree with others, with him being a Cincy native and X alum, I feel pretty good about him staying long term. Until a top level job like Booze was talking about opens up anyway.

[Milhouse]

Hope he stays 20 years and then we get Dante Jackson as head coach

[Masterofreality]

Well, the Shockers just punched Marshall up to $1.75 million. So I hope our new BE $ keep salary for being the main reason to think about leaving.

This.

While some may think differently, Chris Mack is severely underpaid based upon salary comparisons and level of accomplishment.

I'm telling you. While we have a fine alumni base, there needs to be a step up in level of giving. We've desired to be Big Time for a while, well, it's here. That means bigger time money. We'll see if enough folks step it up.

Not bragging, but I have.

[boozehound]

Well, the Shockers just punched Marshall up to $1.75 million. So I hope our new BE $ keep salary for being the main reason to think about leaving.

Wow. Yeah. We need to start paying Chris. Now.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Last season wasn't fantastic, I would bet that if the ship gets righted this year the money will flow. Nobody but Chris+family knows what is in his mind. He could be a Brady Hoke type who takes a bit less so he can pay assistants more.

[PMI]

This.

While some may think differently, Chris Mack is severely underpaid based upon salary comparisons and level of accomplishment.

I'm telling you. While we have a fine alumni base, there needs to be a step up in level of giving. We've desired to be Big Time for a while, well, it's here. That means bigger time money. We'll see if enough folks step it up.

Not bragging, but I have.

This is very true. Especially now that we're in the Big East, we are on the very low end of what we pay our coaches, and no matter how much Chris loves Xavier and Cincinnati, we can't ignore that.

[waggy]

Yeah, but the programs profitability is thru the roof!

[blueblob06]

As was said in another thread, the only conference with more top-100 commits for next yr is the ACC. And the ACC has way more teams than the BE. So, the BE is firmly in the mix as one of the top conferences in hoops. That's big.

Hope we have a great year and give all the coaches a raise.

[Kahns Krazy]

The real answer is, he is here until he gets a better offer. It might be more money, it might be an assload more money, it might be where he wants to live, it might be where he wants to retire, who knows. Or he might think this is the best job he can have.

As much as we like to as fans attach some sort of higher level of required loyalty to our coach, at the end of the day, it's a job for him. He has no obligation to stay here beyond what any of us feel in our jobs. If some other company comes along offering a 50% pay increase for the same job, I'd leave, and I wouldn't blame Mack for doing the same. I think to be competitive in our league, X should be prepared to offer competitive pay. Beyond that, if Mack leaves, we will attract another coach for our competitive pay, so I won't worry about it until it happens.

I like Mack and hope he stays a long time, though.

[blobfan]

He's a pretty young guy to stay here for his entire head coaching career. I think he's here until we get tired of a lack of success or we have a lot of success and he gets lured away to the type of job he'd be crazy to turn down. I think that's the 5-10 year range. I don't think he'll be leaving us for Wake Forest or similar caliber team. As long as he doesn't stab X fans in the back on his way out, I'll applaud whatever decision he thinks is best for him and the family.

[PMI]

The real answer is, he is here until he gets a better offer. It might be more money, it might be an assload more money, it might be where he wants to live, it might be where he wants to retire, who knows. Or he might think this is the best job he can have.

As much as we like to as fans attach some sort of higher level of integrity to our coach, at the end of the day, it's a job for him. He has no obligation to stay here beyond what any of us feel in our jobs. If some other company comes along offering a 50% pay increase for the same job, I'd leave, and I wouldn't blame Mack for doing the same. I think to be competitive in our league, X should be prepared to offer competitive pay. Beyond that, if Mack leaves, we will attract another coach for our competitive pay, so I won't worry about it until it happens.

I like Mack and hope he stays a long time, though.

Careful, Kahns. That kind of rational thinking is not always what Xavier fans choose to use when it comes to coaches. I am a huge Chris Mack fan and would love for him to be our lifer. But I fear the day, awhile from now, when Xavier fans have some juvenile nickname for him and consider him a traitor because he got an elite job somewhere else.

[Milhouse]

With the current state of the ACC I really can't imagine trying to rebuild Wake. Man that would take forever.

[PMI]

With the current state of the ACC I really can't imagine trying to rebuild Wake. Man that would take forever.

Yea, that's going to be a long process. Although I'd venture to guess most people on this board could get it going in the right direction before Jeff Bzdelik. Truly one of the lousiest coaches our great game has to offer.

[THRILLHOUSE]

With the current state of the ACC I really can't imagine trying to rebuild Wake. Man that would take forever.

Oh it would definitely be a tough job. I just threw that one out there since Mack coached there under Skip.

[SpectorJersey]

Yea, that's going to be a long process. Although I'd venture to guess most people on this board could get it going in the right direction before Jeff Bzdelik. Truly one of the lousiest coaches our great game has to offer.

Unfounded opinion

[PMI]

Unfounded opinion

Glad you think so. Believe me I wasn't counting you among the "most people on this board."

[LA Muskie]

I voted 10+. Obviously you never know what makes someone tick, but he comes as close to a "lifer" as I think you can find. He's from here, he's an alum, he's a family guy, and his family seems pretty tightly glued to the area. The only threats I see to a long-term tenure are (i) $$$ and (ii) the working relationship with the administration. I don't see him getting the "dream job" offer (Duke, UNC, UK, etc.) so I just don't see that being a realistic fear. That's not to say that I couldn't see him leaving. Both (i) and (ii) above have already reared their ugly heads to some extent.

[GIMMFD]

I voted 10+. Obviously you never know what makes someone tick, but he comes as close to a "lifer" as I think you can find. He's from here, he's an alum, he's a family guy, and his family seems pretty tightly glued to the area. The only threats I see to a long-term tenure are (i) $$$ and (ii) the working relationship with the administration. I don't see him getting the "dream job" offer (Duke, UNC, UK, etc.) so I just don't see that being a realistic fear. That's not to say that I couldn't see him leaving. Both (i) and (ii) above have already reared their ugly heads to some extent.

I wouldn't be surprised to seeing a Duke, UNC, UK offer to be honest. Mack's still young, he's a good recruiter, and though at times you sit there and yell at your TV what the hell are you thinking? Or sometimes time management isn't there, that's something that can improve with experience. Also, he has passion which can get you far.. IMO

[Juice]

With the current state of the ACC I really can't imagine trying to rebuild Wake. Man that would take forever.

Plus their AD is a moron.

[LA Muskie]

I wouldn't be surprised to seeing a Duke, UNC, UK offer to be honest. Mack's still young, he's a good recruiter, and though at times you sit there and yell at your TV what the hell are you thinking? Or sometimes time management isn't there, that's something that can improve with experience. Also, he has passion which can get you far.. IMO
I just don't see it. I like Mack (a lot). But I had lunch with a basketball coaching agent (quite a niche, huh?) a few months ago, and he confirmed what I always thought. Mack is well-regarded, but he is not seen as the type of candidate that the likes of Matta, Miller, Stevens and Smart (among others) are considered (and, with respect to Matta and Miller, were considered at this point in their careers). That's not to say that things can't change -- a FF and some deep runs would probably change things drastically. And I'm sure he'll get plenty of "just short of dream job" offers. But Duke, UK, UNC? I'm sorry...I just don't see it.

[Milhouse]

I'm with LA Muskie can't see Mack getting any offers from blue blood programs any time soon. He's shown he wasn't interested in Minnesota/Tennesse which would be more money but lesser programs so I don't think he's chasing the dollar.

Regardless If he were to leave within next 5 years or so I could see Pat Kelsey taking the job. Fits the profile, granted he has to prove himself as a HC....not sure how much he can truly do at Winthrop though.

[sweet16]

I could see UofL as a serious contender as Mack's wife is from Louisville.

[GoMuskies]

not sure how much he can truly do at Winthrop though.

Take a look at what Gregg Marshall did at Winthrop. If Kelsey can coach, he'll win at Winthrop. If he doesn't win at Winthrop, he can't coach.

[LA Muskie]

I could see UofL as a serious contender as Mack's wife is from Louisville.

I would be shocked if that job didn't go to a Pitino protege (possibly with the name Pitino) when it's next open.

[Milhouse]

I would be shocked if that job didn't go to a Pitino protege (possibly with the name Pitino) when it's next open.

I've always thought that's probably where Cronin will head.

[SM#24]

I've always thought that's probably where Cronin will head.
To be an asst. ?

[GoMuskies]

There's no way in hell Cronin is getting the Louisville job.

[bleedXblue]

NFW

Louisville will want expect more than Cronin

He would have to be a highly regarded Pitino assistant

Louisville is a Top 10 job...they're going to get a highly successful guy with a proven track record (ala Pitino)

[GIMMFD]

I'm with LA Muskie can't see Mack getting any offers from blue blood programs any time soon. He's shown he wasn't interested in Minnesota/Tennesse which would be more money but lesser programs so I don't think he's chasing the dollar.

Regardless If he were to leave within next 5 years or so I could see Pat Kelsey taking the job. Fits the profile, granted he has to prove himself as a HC....not sure how much he can truly do at Winthrop though.

I wasn't saying soon, I would say within 15 years or so, just really depends what he can do with the program as far as advancing in the tournament, but I do think that Xavier is going to progress as a program, I think a Final Four is a realistic possibility within the next 5 years or so, plus as people said earlier, he did make Jordan Crawford look more interested in defense...

[Muskie in dayton]

I say he leaves in 1-2 years because he gets sick of idiots like the MM crew who constantly bash him.

[Milhouse]

Oh by no means do I think he'll get it but I imagine Louisville is Cronin's dream job.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

You are all being unfair with Bzdelik here. There was kind of a perfect storm happening there that forced them to make a hire like him. The program was a total mess with some rape accusations and I believe other criminal misgivings and maybe some . Bzdelik has a quiet reputation in the college basketball world of being great at cleaning up a troubled program. What baffles me is how long he has been at Wake Forest. I would imagine now that he has cleaned up the program and moved past it's negative image that Wake would have fired him for a better coach.

[Kahns Krazy]

I've always thought that's probably where Cronin will head.

I think this is hilarious. It was meant to be funny, right? The guy with the losing record in Big East play after 7 years? I think there's a thread somewhere where I mentioned once or twice my opinion of Mick. It's not Louisville.

[Masterofreality]

Careful, Kahns. That kind of rational thinking is not always what Xavier fans choose to use when it comes to coaches. I am a huge Chris Mack fan and would love for him to be our lifer. But I fear the day, awhile from now, when Xavier fans have some juvenile nickname for him and consider him a traitor because he got an elite job somewhere else.

Depends on how he leaves. There are no juvenile nicknames for Mike Bobinski....only respect and thanks.

[vee4xu]

Wow, X hasn't even played game 1 in the BE and already a thread about how long before Coach Mack leaves X. I understand the fun aspect of such a poll, but at some point we fans have to get beyond the neurosis and jilted-lover syndrome based on other coaches who've left. X is in the big time now and I suppose that the program could lose Coach Mack for one reason or another. However, unlike past times when coaches have left, the program will not be seeking that diamond-in-the-rough, young up-and-comer. Instead, established coaches will be knocking on the AD's door about the job.

Have fun with this poll, but let's not seriously start a Coach Mack death watch already. Hell, who knows, the AD may think Coach Mack isn't the guy to take X to the next level and cans him because of it before he has a chance to leave on his own.

[bleedXblue]

Wow, X hasn't even played game 1 in the BE and already a thread about how long before Coach Mack leaves X. I understand the fun aspect of such a poll, but at some point we fans have to get beyond the neurosis and jilted-lover syndrome based on other coaches who've left. X is in the big time now and I suppose that the program could lose Coach Mack for one reason or another. However, unlike past times when coaches have left, the program will not be seeking that diamond-in-the-rough, young up-and-comer. Instead, established coaches will be knocking on the AD's door about the job.

Have fun with this poll, but let's not seriously start a Coach Mack death watch already. Hell, who knows, the AD may think Coach Mack isn't the guy to take X to the next level and cans him because of it before he has a chance to leave on his own.

Have you read any of the responses at all ? Come on, almost everyone thinks Mack will be around for many years to come. It's reality, coaches come and go. It's part of the business. No one is posting anything negative or that impending doom is near. Relax

[vee4xu]

Have you read any of the responses at all ? Come on, almost everyone thinks Mack will be around for many years to come. It's reality, coaches come and go. It's part of the business. No one is posting anything negative or that impending doom is near. Relax

Overreact much? You're the one who seems like they need to chill. I actually can care less and find the whole thread humorous.

[LadyMuskie]

The real answer is, he is here until he gets a better offer. It might be more money, it might be an assload more money, it might be where he wants to live, it might be where he wants to retire, who knows. Or he might think this is the best job he can have.

As much as we like to as fans attach some sort of higher level of required loyalty to our coach, at the end of the day, it's a job for him. He has no obligation to stay here beyond what any of us feel in our jobs. If some other company comes along offering a 50% pay increase for the same job, I'd leave, and I wouldn't blame Mack for doing the same. I think to be competitive in our league, X should be prepared to offer competitive pay. Beyond that, if Mack leaves, we will attract another coach for our competitive pay, so I won't worry about it until it happens.

I like Mack and hope he stays a long time, though.

Could not agree more.

The sky was falling when Matta left - and we survived. The sky was falling when Miller left - and we survived. If Mack leaves, he leaves. We'll be fine. If he stays, awesome! That sounds great. Either way, worrying about it until it happens seems silly. My only hope/concern is that if he leaves, I hope he leaves more like Bobinski and less like Miller or Matta.

[RealDeal]

I thought it was over when Gillen left.

[waggy]

The program is in a completely different place now though. As far as a conference of peers is concerned, it has reached its goal.

[SM#24]

Oh by no means do I think he'll get it but I imagine Louisville is Cronin's dream job.

He also dreams of being taller.

[nuts4xu]

but at some point we fans have to get beyond the neurosis and jilted-lover syndrome based on other coaches who've left.

Aren't you one of the people that that refers to Thad Matta as "Beaknose"? I agree with your statement above, just wanted to point out the irony.

These guys are all human and are only doing the best they can for their families. If they find a better situation than Xavier, I wish them well and thank them for their time here. Every coach we have had since 1979 has left this program in a better position than when he arrived. If Coach Mack does this, no one should hold it against him. He may not handle it the way we want, or think he should, but it isn't personal. He would be doing the same thin all of us would be doing if we were in his position.

Coach is as close as we can get to a lifer, but at the same time, there are very very few programs that have a lifer for a coach. I think he will be here for a while, but it would not surprise me in the least if he finished his career at another school.

[wkrq59]

I'm beginning to feel like Sgt. Hulka, "I'm getting too old for this shit." Still, I believe threads of this nature are helpful to the general mental and even physical health of the Xavier nation and I haven't looked at MM yet. Sigh!
When I read threads like this my first reaction is : Why would Chris leave in the next few years? He's making enough money to be comfortable and take very good care of his future with proper and productive investments. His girls are still yound and so are he and his wife so even if his family expands, he has it pretty good here.
I don't know much about his personal situation but I assume he has a better than average house which he and Christie have made a home, I'm sure he has no transportation needs and has a personal expense account and the bulk of his travels financed. I've spoken often of the University of Alabama football assistant who stayed there after Bear and three other head coaches and retired. He told me, "It's not what you make but what you have to spend that makes a difference."
Look Mack has little to worry about except his teams' records and keeping the team competitive in a new league which will be more highly regarded than the A10. His girls can receive excellent educations, have free college tuition anywhere he coaches, his family is here, her familyt is nearby, they can move about in relative anonymity and the stress of having to answer to really lunatic fans on a constant basis is minor compared to some unniversities and fan bases.
And he has had a rather constant margin of success with one hiccup, part of which was not exactly his fault.
Now, having said all that, I'd say without fear his situation is nowhere near that of Cronin. Mack can coach and he definitely can recruit.
I find it almost silly to compare the two men or coaches
I hope I don't see the day when Chris leaves because I believe Xavier will be the lesser for it. Just remember, 76-53, and Go Muskies.

[Milhouse]

I think a big part of it will be the relationship with Christopher. Does he like his new boss essentially? I don't think we have any reason to worry but at the same time I think everyone loved Bobinski and he had a great track record. Our AD does seem very conscious of all the changes that need to be made with our move to the Big East. It's not just a keep doing what you're doing type of situation, its investing in our future as we grow as a program.

We are slowly starting to see with recruiting in its inaugural season that being in a Basketball only conference does mean something. With more Top 100 recruits going to the Big East than B10, SEC, B12, PAC12. Clearly there is something very desirable about this. Can't help but imagine this will be the same for up and coming coaches. You will get your ADs full attention ALL THE TIME. You will be the most recognized face on campus. You're not 2nd fiddle to mediocre football teams.

However seeing as how I have a poster/picture thing of Gillen/Prosser/Mack hanging in my living room I hope he stays for a while. I have no idea how I'd go about changing that.

[muskienick]

My older boy went to grade school with Chris and played both basketball and baseball with him. I coached Chris for a year or two in AA baseball. I also served on the Recreation Commission in a suburb of Cincy with Chris's Dad and got to speak to his Mom on a few occasions in those capacities and others. I believe he has strong family ties here and likes the Greater Cincinnati region. I haven't spoken to Chris in years and do not really know him at all as an adult. I can only say that if he is using his Mom and Dad as role models for his adulthood, he's a smart person for doing so. They are smart, productive people with good senses of humor. They still live in the area and, as far as I know, are fully dedicated to their kids, to the Cincy way of life, and to Muskie basketball. (I often see them rooting the team on from my more humble seats in the lower bowl.)

Whatever Chris decides to do, it will be after careful consideration of his family ties and, because of that, I think we have a great chance to see Chris finally become Xavier's first version of a Lou Carnesecca or Denny Crum as far as loyalty and coaching quality is concerned. But only time will tell if Xavier will be as loyal to him!