Let's get this point out of the way immediately: no coach, beyond issues of committing NCAA or other legal infractions or demonstrating the temperament of someone who should not be allowed to supervise or work around other individuals, should be let go after two seasons. It's not going to happen to Coach Wojcik, nor should it even be seriously considered by any fair-minded Spartan fan (who has no power in the situation anyway other than expressing sentiment).
However, the feeling for jettisoning is to a degree understandable. Some of that fervor is based on what has happened during Wojcik's tenure but it's mostly because of a compilation of disastrous decades of Spartan basketball fueled by nepotistic hirings and personalities not conducive to engendering enthusiasm -- greater loyalty to friends and buddies than the university, program and the student-athletes.
This short-rope reaction is a by-product of fan burnout. Promises are made anew, the calls for donations ramp up. 'we're gonna turn this around' again becomes the latest mantra. Yet nothing changes vis-a-vis the perennial on-court failures. Call it Groundhog Day redux with a side of serial Little Mary Sunshine-ism. Fool me four, five, six times and...damn, I must be the sap.
Yet the coaches and ADs involved are not so-called bad individuals. Some had serious personal issues, others major blind spots and deficiencies -- sort of like us (but we don't head a now Mountain West Conference basketball program).
Yes, there are current issues with staff and player turnover within the past two seasons -- the recent departure of Chuck Driesell being the latest. Driesell wasn't long for SJSU hoops anyway but this set a record (if such Washington Square coaching statistics are kept).
Any athletic director of sound mind and reason is going to be concerned and you can bet Gene Bleymeier is troubled. You can also wager that this unease has been discussed. Coach Wojcik has, in hindsight and overall, made some poor assistant selections. The bottom line though is no money is available to make any head coaching change even if such was desired. So the front-and-center question remains has Wojcik learned from these poor choices?
I would argue that the addition of Driesell wasn't what was most needed for this program. Yes, Wojcik surely felt burned by some of his former hires and both knew and, most importantly, trusted the former head coach of The Citadel -- there would be no surprises in behavior and judgment.
SJSU must begin making inroads into northern and southern California prep circles. A roster full of out-of-state signees is no longer a financial reality given that dollar amount plus the funding that is now needed for the newly implemented cost of living outlays for scholarship student-athletes.
Winning some games will do wonders for the reputation of Spartan basketball but how about also hiring an assistant possessing authentic credibility with some of the most bountiful high school and travel team programs in the Golden State?
The next assistant hire will be telling. What is most comfortable for Coach Wojcik may not be best for the program. Which prevails?
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