I was as shocked as anyone when I found out Wyoming men’s basketball coach Heath Schroyer’s name was associated with Toldeo’s search for a new coach.
Toledo hired Tod Kowalczyk on Tuesday.
Schroyer denied interest in the job, and told other media outlets he wants to finish the job of rebuilding the program at UW.
This is no slam on Schroyer’s coaching abilities, but I find it hard to believe Toledo could have sold its fans on hiring a coach who is 76-100 as a college head coach at Portland State and Wyoming, and with only two winning seasons.
Schroyer is 41-53 at UW and played in the play-in game twice in three seasons at the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
Records don’t always tell how good or bad a coach is, but even so that would have been a hard sell for Toledo if it had gone with Schroyer.
And, Toldeo would have had to come up with some money to buy out four years of Schroyer’s contract, or at least come up with a nice settlement to UW.
What does this do for Schroyer? Well, his critics now has more ammunition to use against him. Then again, his critics probably would have liked to have seen him go.
Anytime a coach or high-ranking at UW is up or rumored for other jobs its news, but I found this one almost laughable.
Stranger things have happened in sports, but if this would have went down I think it would have ranked right up there.
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I agree this makes no sense on many levels. Is it an April Fools joke or has the report truly been confirmed. Heath needs to put his nose to the grindstone and get this thing turned around. I have not lived in Laramie for 25 years so it is hard for me to know what the overall feeling about Heath is but reading the GWG message board the natives appear to be restless and can not wait for him to be fired. I have my doubts about his ability as a H.C. but I thought he deserved another year. I know a lot of things will have to go perfect for him but if Afam is healthy along with an improved Dez, Wadell, Mbaye, Thaim and the newcomers can actually shoot and rebound we will get a chance to see if Heath can actually coach. If they don’t finish .500 or above in the MWC Mr. Burman should pull the trigger and go in a different direction.
Laughable, I would say unbeliveable. What good reason would they take him unless he’s good friends with the AD. With spring nearing is the Cowboy Joe Club going to take Schroyer around the state to the annual golf tournaments? If the intent is to recruit new members and say thanks to CJC members the powers to be might want to have him stay home and bring Legerski or Christenson. Just a thought.
Good point DMC,
But with the way things are right now in men’s basketball, the worst thing Burman could do is hide Schroyer from these events.
There is a definite distance, if you will, from the fans and the program right now. That was the case before Schroyer was hired and it’s too bad that gap hasn’t been closed.
And more often than not the every-day fan does not attend these Cowboy Joe Club functions, but many do. If Heath is out there he can talk to fans and tell them where he is coming from. Hiding, I think, would just further increase the speculation and bad blood. But you might be right, too.
Either way, you can bet Legerski and Christensen will be at these events.
Good comment! Thanks and Happy Easter.
RG
Robert,
I get the impression that you feel as I do that Coach Schroyer may be a little over his head. His teams appear to be disorganized and not well prepared. Also, there appears that his recruits don’t seem to mesh with each other. Tom Burman might want to insist that Schroyer get a strong x’s and o’s teacher and a mentor to Schroyer to be his Assistant Head Coach.
Hi Richard,
I think Heath is a pretty good x’s and o’s coach. I say that never have been a coach myself so perhaps I’m not the best authority.
The loss of recruits in recent years is a valid concern. I like your idea of a mentor on the staff but it doesn’t appear that will happen. He and Fred Langley are tight. Maybe they are each other’s mentor but I wouldn’t describe their relationship as mentor/pupil. Heath has a lot of faith in Fred and vice versa, and Fred is listed as the Associate Head Coach.
Burman told me earlier this year he isn’t the kind of AD that tells or insists his coaches on what to do or how to run their programs so I wouldn’t think he would step in and do what you are saying. But no matter what happens, I think we all know things must improve considerably next season for this team or some big-time changes will come.
Thanks Richard, and Happy Easter!
RG