Comments on: Esmay Named Interim Head Coach At ASU http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2009/12/esmay-named-interim-coach-at-asu/ Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:39:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: TheDoggie http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2009/12/esmay-named-interim-coach-at-asu/comment-page-1/#comment-33669 TheDoggie Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:08:15 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=2629#comment-33669 I said when the original story about Murph's resignation broke on BA that I thought that Esmay would make a great replacement. He is a phenomenal coach, and really can be a great replacement for 42. A true reflection on his coaching resume shouldn't be his record at Utah, where the baseball team is a second class citizen in the sports program, but instead the juggernaut that the Devils were the years Murph gave the offensive reigns to Esmay (one year the team ave was around .400). The Devils will have a solid year with a good group of guys. Esmay can hopefully turn this season-long tryout into a longterm deal. My hope is that Murphy walks away amicably and doesn't end up hurting the program he lead for so long. I said when the original story about Murph’s resignation broke on BA that I thought that Esmay would make a great replacement. He is a phenomenal coach, and really can be a great replacement for 42. A true reflection on his coaching resume shouldn’t be his record at Utah, where the baseball team is a second class citizen in the sports program, but instead the juggernaut that the Devils were the years Murph gave the offensive reigns to Esmay (one year the team ave was around .400).

The Devils will have a solid year with a good group of guys. Esmay can hopefully turn this season-long tryout into a longterm deal. My hope is that Murphy walks away amicably and doesn’t end up hurting the program he lead for so long.

]]> By: Aaron Fitt http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2009/12/esmay-named-interim-coach-at-asu/comment-page-1/#comment-33658 Aaron Fitt Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:11:59 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=2629#comment-33658 Your speculation is dead-on, Mark. If he took another paid job in 2010, Knutson would have left money on the table at Washington. He could have taken the ASU interim job -- his contract at Washington did not preclude him from doing so -- but he probably would have taken a loss on the transaction, from what I understand. Expect the results of the NCAA's investigation to be released sometime between April and June. I think it would be quite surprising if the investigation turns up nothing, but I don't expect anything that would result in a postseason ban or any penalties serious enough to prevent a top candidate from taking the job. Your speculation is dead-on, Mark. If he took another paid job in 2010, Knutson would have left money on the table at Washington. He could have taken the ASU interim job — his contract at Washington did not preclude him from doing so — but he probably would have taken a loss on the transaction, from what I understand.

Expect the results of the NCAA’s investigation to be released sometime between April and June. I think it would be quite surprising if the investigation turns up nothing, but I don’t expect anything that would result in a postseason ban or any penalties serious enough to prevent a top candidate from taking the job.

]]> By: Mark http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2009/12/esmay-named-interim-coach-at-asu/comment-page-1/#comment-33654 Mark Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:35:59 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=2629#comment-33654 So will Knutson stay on as a volunteer assistant or has he left the program entirely? I would imagine there were some issues leftover from him leaving UW where he couldn't take over another paid job for awhile, certainly not in conference. I think most ASU fans are satisfied with Esmay as the interim coach, but it'll be interesting to see who gets the head job and when more information comes out about the circumstances surrounding Murphy's departure. Do you have a gut feeling about whether there is something to the NCAA investigation, or was it simply the long simmering personality conflict between Murphy and AD Lisa Love? So will Knutson stay on as a volunteer assistant or has he left the program entirely? I would imagine there were some issues leftover from him leaving UW where he couldn’t take over another paid job for awhile, certainly not in conference.

I think most ASU fans are satisfied with Esmay as the interim coach, but it’ll be interesting to see who gets the head job and when more information comes out about the circumstances surrounding Murphy’s departure. Do you have a gut feeling about whether there is something to the NCAA investigation, or was it simply the long simmering personality conflict between Murphy and AD Lisa Love?

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