Mack

[JTG]

Could it be that Mack's prick personality is the reason many bball fans think of X as a bunch of jerks ? I got that vibe watching us play road games during his tenure. I don't think this was an issue with our previous coaches, nor do I think it is an issue with Steele. As X fans it was a matter of, yeah Mack seems like a prick, but he's our prick so ok. Kind of like IU fans and Knight.

[Juice]

Could it be that Mack's prick personality is the reason many bball fans think of X as a bunch of jerks ? I got that vibe watching us play road games during his tenure. I don't think this was an issue with our previous coaches, nor do I think it is an issue with Steele. As X fans it was a matter of, yeah Mack seems like a prick, but he's our prick so ok. Kind of like IU fans and Knight.

I don't think Mack was a prick, I just think he didn't give a shit about the dumb crap that "traditionalist" basketball fans/coaches care about.

[GoMuskies]

No, I think it was JP Macura coming on the heels of the fallout from the fight.

[cutterX]

I think Mack was and still is a prick. Some guys own it and quite frankly I think he gets off on it a little bit.
Doesn't mean you can't like him as your coach though, just means unlike Prosser or Gillen or hell even Miller I would never have had a beer with the guy.

[Xuperman]

Who cares, he's their prick now. I only hope that they have the nuts to schedule us.

[IM4X]

Yeah... as I touched on in another thread... some coaches do not care if they come across as pricks (Knight, Boeheim, Mack, etc). It is kind of just part of who they are. Some deeply value being approachable and pleasant (Wright, Wooden, Coach K, Steele, etc.). For them it is always important to show respect, be classy and be kind. I do not care for the former, no matter how many games that particular coach may have won.

[GoMuskies]

Coach K values being approachable and pleasant?!? Coach K? The one that coaches at Dook?

[paulxu]

Rat Face...beloved by all in Chapel Hill?

[sirthought]

In no way do I see Mack ever acting like a prick. Just crazy that anyone brings it up.

Did I like every decision? NO
Was he no nonsense in responding to interviews? Often.

But when you had a conversation of any length with the guy it was obvious that he cared about this program and his players. He cared about the community. It's always tough to have a guy with a lot of success go because he perceived a greener pasture.


Yeah, I bet players like JP had more to do with any other fan base hating on X. But who cares? That's high school stuff. Just watch the game!

[Xavier]

He was certainly pretty arrogant

[MHettel]

(Wright, Wooden, Coach K, Steele, etc.).

I had a quick vision of the Mt. Rushmore of coaches. I mean, hey, they have like 20 NCAA Championships between them!

[American X]

No. Mack is not a prick. Mack is a douche.

[drudy23]

I think you are looking at this from the perspective of a Xavier fan that lost its coach.

Mack is widely respected in his field, and recruits love his swagger. I doubt he cares what anyone thinks.

And I have news for you, all D1 coaches are arrogant. You have to be. They're selling more than anything.

[D-West & PO-Z]

No. Mack is not a prick. Mack is a douche.

This has been covered.

[GetUp5]

Must be 2019 if you're now a prick because you don't give a $h1t what other people think of you.

Chris Mack is the man.

[Nigel Tufnel]

No. Mack is not a prick. Mack is a douche.

My best contribution to this site was either that thread or the post about my 2 year old giving my wife a Dirty Sanchez....

[nuts4xu]

I had nothing but positive interactions with Chris Mack, and don't understand why people think he is a "prick". Outside the Cincinnati area, do people really think of him that way? If so, why?

That was not the narrative of his coaching tenure, and he is a Great American. I don't like the fact he is now coaching some other school, but I also don't think that makes him a prick.

I can buy the case for him being a douche, I have no argument against that assessment. I felt the recent article in the Louisville Courier Journal showing off his house in Louisville painted him in a very douchey light.

[Backyard Champ]

I don't think Mack is a prick at all. I think he answered questions in interviews honestly and it was a breath of fresh air. I think too many caoches are predictable with the media. I prefer to hear a coach tell us how he really feels, and I don't think he was a jerk about it.

I know he had that halftime interview this year where he was overly frustrated, but he apologized and has since been able to joke about it with the interviewee.

I don't think he had poor demeanor on the court. It's insane watching coaches like Mick and Hurley. That behavior is straight up embarrassing.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

So ridiculous. Winningest coach in Xavier's history, elite eight, a one seed, a Big East regular season title, and a thread is developed (and, amazingly, contributed to) simply to run him through the mud? Unreal. If you met him and didn't like him, okay I guess, but I'm a little surprised. If you never met him and are just name-calling because of some perception you've made, I think that says a lot more about you than him.

[MHettel]

Mack was a douche in college. Like a first rate douche. He came onto campus as transfer that had to sit out and (I was a freshman) and he had this attitude like he was better that EVERYONE!!!! And then he basically never amounted to shit.

As a coach, I took my kid (he was about 7-8 years old) to the game AT Gonzaga about 10 years ago and we were literally the only XU fans in Spokane on a cold night around Christmas. When leaving, we stumbled into the team bus to cheer them on (although they got throttled), and the players were all super cool talking to my kid and posing for pics. Mack was the last guy to arrive and spent maybe 5 minutes chatting it up with me. Which i though was pretty dang cool, since it was about 20 degrees and they just got their asses kicked....

So, he's less of a douche now (maybe) than he was as a player (maybe)

[MHettel]

So ridiculous. Winningest coach in Xavier's history, elite eight, a one seed, a Big East regular season title, and a thread is developed (and, amazingly, contributed to) simply to run him through the mud? Unreal. If you met him and didn't like him, okay I guess, but I'm a little surprised. If you never met him and are just name-calling because of some perception you've made, I think that says a lot more about you than him.

See above. And coming on here to bash is not different than coming on here to defend him....right? if you dont like it, dont perpetuate it. it is a college basketball message board, afterall.....

[xufan2020]

He’s going to eventually be in the Xavier HOF, no? All time winning coach, led transition from A10 to BE, solid tournament success, and a BE championship.

Look I’d rather not have to defend Mack. Hopefully by next year we won’t have threads regarding our former head coach. Hopefully we just won’t care because of all the success we’ll be enjoying.

[Xville]

Hes a super douche for several reasons and just because he did well as a coach here doesnt mean he is any less of a douche.

Hes a douche for:

Leaving his alma mater and the city he grew up in giving the perception that xavier wssnt good enough for him.

He essentially didnt recruit the last year here because he knew the louisville job was open and he was the best option available.

He met with louisville during the BE tournament and had essentially accepted the job. This is during a time when his full attention should have been on the task at hand with a one seed team capable of playing in its first final four.

Hes a we do what we do type of coach who refuses to make in game adjustments based on what is occurring in the game...see providence, florida state (twice now), nova 10 times etc.

F him.

[paulxu]

Hopefully by next year we won’t have threads regarding our former head coach.

Don't hold your breath.

[GetUp5]

Hes a super douche for several reasons and just because he did well as a coach here doesnt mean he is any less of a douche.

Hes a douche for:

Leaving his alma mater and the city he grew up in giving the perception that xavier wssnt good enough for him.

He essentially didnt recruit the last year here because he knew the louisville job was open and he was the best option available.

He met with louisville during the BE tournament and had essentially accepted the job. This is during a time when his full attention should have been on the task at hand with a one seed team capable of playing in its first final four.

Hes a we do what we do type of coach who refuses to make in game adjustments based on what is occurring in the game...see providence, florida state (twice now), nova 10 times etc.

F him.

You would accept a new job if it was paying you twice what your current job was paying you.

You would probably not do your job as well if you knew you were leaving said job.

If you had an important meeting coming up with your current company but had a job offer for twice your current salary, you'd postpone an interview?

Arguing that he's a bad basketball coach is, well, bad.

Coaches are normal people, too. He wakes up every morning and puts his pants on one leg at a time like you do. Why isn't he allowed to better his situation? I hate that he left but how can you blame him? Be grateful for what he gave to X and move on.

[GoMuskies]

He wakes up every morning and puts his pants on one leg at a time like you do.

It's just that when he puts on those pants, he's Chris Fucking Mack! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35jXfsO37kE

I think it's fine that he left, but I wish him nothing but professional misery and personal happiness.

[Xville]

You would accept a new job if it was paying you twice what your current job was paying you.

You would probably not do your job as well if you knew you were leaving said job.

If you had an important meeting coming up with your current company but had a job offer for twice your current salary, you'd postpone an interview?

Arguing that he's a bad basketball coach is, well, bad.

Coaches are normal people, too. He wakes up every morning and puts his pants on one leg at a time like you do. Why isn't he allowed to better his situation? I hate that he left but how can you blame him? Be grateful for what he gave to X and move on.

My wife tried the same argument with me because I have done most of the above a few times in my career. However, I didnt bend over my alma mater. Excusing him for interviewing during the season while he has a current job I dont understand...he owed it to the kids he recruited to finish the job he was supposed to. Corporate world doesnt apply here.

[UCGRAD4X]

You would accept a new job if it was paying you twice what your current job was paying you.

You would probably not do your job as well if you knew you were leaving said job.

If you had an important meeting coming up with your current company but had a job offer for twice your current salary, you'd postpone an interview?

Arguing that he's a bad basketball coach is, well, bad.

Coaches are normal people, too. He wakes up every morning and puts his pants on one leg at a time like you do. Why isn't he allowed to better his situation? I hate that he left but how can you blame him? Be grateful for what he gave to X and move on.

When I accepted another teaching position and my former employer wanted me to assure I would not stop teaching my current students I was incredibly insulted and considered it unprofessional to even consider otherwise.

[vee4xu]

If Mack is on your sideline,you love him.
If Mack is on the opposing sideline, you hate him.

Pretty much same can be said for JP.