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Topic:  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!

Topic:  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
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OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 10:40:47 AM 
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

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OU_Country
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 11:12:17 AM 
Kevin Finnegan wrote:
I'm only one fan, but I canceled my ESPN+ subscription this year, which I kept only to watch OHIO football and basketball games. I never missed a basketball game. Now, I forget they're even scheduled as I've become less attached to college sports when I can't build any allegiance to players over a sustained time. When you hear players like Carson Beck at Miami talking about how they don't go to class and the injunction allowing a G-League player to immediately return to play for Alabama, it really blurs what the student part of the game is anymore. I want the players compensated fairly for their skills, but I don't want that to mean that they don't have to be active students.


It's way off the thread topic, but I totally agree. I watched three complete college football games all year, only one by choice really. NIL and the portal, as it's managed now, have completely ruined the sport. The NCAA revenue sports are the worst operated sports I've ever seen. Carson Beck is the perfect example - a guy still in college while fellow top recruits from his freshman year in Bryce Young and CJ Stroud have been in the league for 3-4 years and are playoff starting QB's. College football has become a complete joke.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 11:36:18 AM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I feel like this ship has sailed, but I imagine he’d get an interview. Ford is a double edge sword. Him also being an alumni could ease the moving on from Boals but also creates some hesitancy of another OU hire.

I like Ford, always have. I was a student during the Boals year and always thought it was a mistake to not give him a trial year back then with a loaded and experienced roster.

That said, I’d cast a wide net beyond Ohio. Top D2 coaches should be considered. I’d also reach out to Jamie Quarles. He was on Oats Buffalo staff during those impressive 18-19 seasons. Those were incredible teams. He’s at USF with Hodgsen, but knows the MAC (and how to recruit it) and has coached at the D2 level.
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OU_Country
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 11:39:17 AM 
FJC31 wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I feel like this ship has sailed, but I imagine he’d get an interview. Ford is a double edge sword. Him also being an alumni could ease the moving on from Boals but also creates some hesitancy of another OU hire.

I like Ford, always have. I was a student during the Boals year and always thought it was a mistake to not give him a trial year back then with a loaded and experienced roster.

That said, I’d cast a wide net beyond Ohio. Top D2 coaches should be considered. I’d also reach out to Jamie Quarles. He was on Oats Buffalo staff during those impressive 18-19 seasons. Those were incredible teams. He’s at USF with Hodgsen, but knows the MAC (and how to recruit it) and has coached at the D2 level.


Serious question on this topic: How much do we really believe that those people making decisions about head coaching openings at Ohio care about winning? That's something I'm starting to question that I never questioned 10-12 years ago.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 12:02:29 PM 
OU_Country wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I feel like this ship has sailed, but I imagine he’d get an interview. Ford is a double edge sword. Him also being an alumni could ease the moving on from Boals but also creates some hesitancy of another OU hire.

I like Ford, always have. I was a student during the Boals year and always thought it was a mistake to not give him a trial year back then with a loaded and experienced roster.

That said, I’d cast a wide net beyond Ohio. Top D2 coaches should be considered. I’d also reach out to Jamie Quarles. He was on Oats Buffalo staff during those impressive 18-19 seasons. Those were incredible teams. He’s at USF with Hodgsen, but knows the MAC (and how to recruit it) and has coached at the D2 level.


Serious question on this topic: How much do we really believe that those people making decisions about head coaching openings at Ohio care about winning? That's something I'm starting to question that I never questioned 10-12 years ago.



I suppose it comes down to how much those individual believes their HC hires allow them to keep their current jobs and eventually land bigger (P5) ones.

I think most AD’s are egotistical enough to not allow someone who isn’t their hire to create a smudge on their resume.
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GoCats105
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 12:28:39 PM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


In short, no. If he hasn't gotten a head job elsewhere at this point, I think that says a lot about him. But even if he was a candidate, I wouldn't want him. We had our chance to hand him the keys after Groce left and we didn't. I think that tells you all you need to know. Unless he turned down the job that I don't know about.
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GoCats105
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 12:49:54 PM 
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)

O'Shea 7-year resume
120-95 (66-57 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 0 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd - note these are division finishes since the conference was split then, his overall finishes are much worse)

Hunter 7-year resume
125-83 (73-47 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NIT appearance, 2 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th)


Last Edited: 1/28/2026 12:50:59 PM by GoCats105
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M.D.W.S.T
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 1:27:28 PM 
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)



*Two 20-win seasons
*1 MAC Championship

FJC31 wrote:
OU_Country wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I feel like this ship has sailed, but I imagine he’d get an interview. Ford is a double edge sword. Him also being an alumni could ease the moving on from Boals but also creates some hesitancy of another OU hire.

I like Ford, always have. I was a student during the Boals year and always thought it was a mistake to not give him a trial year back then with a loaded and experienced roster.

That said, I’d cast a wide net beyond Ohio. Top D2 coaches should be considered. I’d also reach out to Jamie Quarles. He was on Oats Buffalo staff during those impressive 18-19 seasons. Those were incredible teams. He’s at USF with Hodgsen, but knows the MAC (and how to recruit it) and has coached at the D2 level.


Serious question on this topic: How much do we really believe that those people making decisions about head coaching openings at Ohio care about winning? That's something I'm starting to question that I never questioned 10-12 years ago.



I suppose it comes down to how much those individual believes their HC hires allow them to keep their current jobs and eventually land bigger (P5) ones.

I think most AD’s are egotistical enough to not allow someone who isn’t their hire to create a smudge on their resume.


AD's are tied to winning and the success of their coaches. If Lars comes here and the football and basketball programs collapse around him, he's gonna be selling Jackrabbit nachos at the South Dakota State Fair. If he has success, he'll head to Texas Tech, or Miami, or LSU or lead a conference, like the folks before him. This is a cushy spot if you have success.

Lori also knows what it means to have a winning program here. Shit, she was the one at the campus football celebration when the bus came back without Albin. Sports, even our little engine that could, drive pride and engagement throughout the alumni and students. We're not Ohio State, but we don't need to be. We love our little teams. They know that.
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GoCats105
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 1:56:27 PM 
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)



*Two 20-win seasons
*1 MAC Championship



One 20-win regular season. Yay he got to 20 wins in '24 because we beat a dog poo WMU team in Cleveland. Whoopie. I listed regular season for a reason. And the MAC championship is presumed with the NCAA Tournament appearance, just like it was for O'Shea and Hunter.

Last Edited: 1/28/2026 1:57:20 PM by GoCats105
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FearLeon
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 1:58:12 PM 
OUs LONG Driver wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
oubobcatjohn wrote:
I see them parting ways with Boals. He get out coached by most MAC schools. Players poorly coach. Lack of attention to detail. Boals like a top coach, but hasn't beaten the top the MAC.


I bet if you caught him on an off day, no one hates this team more than him. They're maddening to the 10th degree. Of course, a lot of that falls to him, but outside of Sheldon playing Kobe minutes with his wife's skill... what do you do with this roster? This is just a bad team in so many facets. He needs to empty the bench and see what we have (likely it's pretty bad), but we can't allow a team full of seniors to play with the bare minimum of effort. .


If Boals hates his team, that he built, and is bad on so many facets as you say — then yes, I think that warrants consideration for removal if this team continues to lose.

He was .500 a year ago. If he dips below .500 this year and if most of his bad on so many facets roster returns, doesn’t that indicate he finishes below .500 again with the team, that you think he hates? When does that come to an end?

I’m not trying to be snarky, just repeating back your post.


Often you don't know youre on a sinking ship until your feet get wet.


I'm just saying, I'm certain he's at a loss too. He tried to extend the bench minutes - and they went 4/17. We're sitting here dissecting it like he doesn't see it too. Sometimes it's not all about X's and O's, it's about putting the ball in the hole. And they're not. No one is. I'm just not sure what you do in this situation. Certainly he's to blame for the construction of the roster. Certainly he's to blame for rotations. Certainly hes to blame for many things. But the team shooting 20%... what do you even do? Line them up and make them shoot free throws for three hours?

I don't disagree for a single moment that his seat is hot.

Certainly, his removal will be considered and likely talked about this offseason.

I've just reached a point of what do you do? What do you want him to do? What do you want him to do when his team takes 30 three pointers and gets lucky a handful of times? Tell them to stop shooting? (Honestly a good start). Just have better players? I mean that sounds great. Are they around? Do we have a better players tree out back?


I think we've reached the point where if Boals doesn't go this offseason, the AD has to force changes to the assistant staff. I don't have any suggestion for who amongst the group but that seems like a standard page out of most AD playbooks.




Been banging this drum for the last month as well. Everything is stale. If Boals gets a lame duck year...it should be mandated he looks to make changes to his staff. Then again, who is going to come to Athens as an assistant for a lame duck season?



#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio #11Months
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FearLeon
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 2:01:30 PM 
OUs LONG Driver wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
oubobcatjohn wrote:
I see them parting ways with Boals. He get out coached by most MAC schools. Players poorly coach. Lack of attention to detail. Boals like a top coach, but hasn't beaten the top the MAC.


I bet if you caught him on an off day, no one hates this team more than him. They're maddening to the 10th degree. Of course, a lot of that falls to him, but outside of Sheldon playing Kobe minutes with his wife's skill... what do you do with this roster? This is just a bad team in so many facets. He needs to empty the bench and see what we have (likely it's pretty bad), but we can't allow a team full of seniors to play with the bare minimum of effort. .


If Boals hates his team, that he built, and is bad on so many facets as you say — then yes, I think that warrants consideration for removal if this team continues to lose.

He was .500 a year ago. If he dips below .500 this year and if most of his bad on so many facets roster returns, doesn’t that indicate he finishes below .500 again with the team, that you think he hates? When does that come to an end?

I’m not trying to be snarky, just repeating back your post.


Often you don't know youre on a sinking ship until your feet get wet.


I'm just saying, I'm certain he's at a loss too. He tried to extend the bench minutes - and they went 4/17. We're sitting here dissecting it like he doesn't see it too. Sometimes it's not all about X's and O's, it's about putting the ball in the hole. And they're not. No one is. I'm just not sure what you do in this situation. Certainly he's to blame for the construction of the roster. Certainly he's to blame for rotations. Certainly hes to blame for many things. But the team shooting 20%... what do you even do? Line them up and make them shoot free throws for three hours?

I don't disagree for a single moment that his seat is hot.

Certainly, his removal will be considered and likely talked about this offseason.

I've just reached a point of what do you do? What do you want him to do? What do you want him to do when his team takes 30 three pointers and gets lucky a handful of times? Tell them to stop shooting? (Honestly a good start). Just have better players? I mean that sounds great. Are they around? Do we have a better players tree out back?




Does anyone remember what it felt like when Tommy Freeman, Jordan Dartis or Nick Kellogg pulled up from deep? I was excited. Now....a feeling of dread when most of our guys shoot the ball. If we do nothing else for next year, we have to find guys who can shoot the 3.


I actually saw Freeman, Dartis and Kellog-like players recently.

They were seen playing on ESPN last night in front of 9K fans.

The team was Miami.


#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio #11Months
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greencat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 2:19:49 PM 
FearLeon wrote:
OUs LONG Driver wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
oubobcatjohn wrote:
I see them parting ways with Boals. He get out coached by most MAC schools. Players poorly coach. Lack of attention to detail. Boals like a top coach, but hasn't beaten the top the MAC.


I bet if you caught him on an off day, no one hates this team more than him. They're maddening to the 10th degree. Of course, a lot of that falls to him, but outside of Sheldon playing Kobe minutes with his wife's skill... what do you do with this roster? This is just a bad team in so many facets. He needs to empty the bench and see what we have (likely it's pretty bad), but we can't allow a team full of seniors to play with the bare minimum of effort. .


If Boals hates his team, that he built, and is bad on so many facets as you say — then yes, I think that warrants consideration for removal if this team continues to lose.

He was .500 a year ago. If he dips below .500 this year and if most of his bad on so many facets roster returns, doesn’t that indicate he finishes below .500 again with the team, that you think he hates? When does that come to an end?

I’m not trying to be snarky, just repeating back your post.


Often you don't know youre on a sinking ship until your feet get wet.


I'm just saying, I'm certain he's at a loss too. He tried to extend the bench minutes - and they went 4/17. We're sitting here dissecting it like he doesn't see it too. Sometimes it's not all about X's and O's, it's about putting the ball in the hole. And they're not. No one is. I'm just not sure what you do in this situation. Certainly he's to blame for the construction of the roster. Certainly he's to blame for rotations. Certainly hes to blame for many things. But the team shooting 20%... what do you even do? Line them up and make them shoot free throws for three hours?

I don't disagree for a single moment that his seat is hot.

Certainly, his removal will be considered and likely talked about this offseason.

I've just reached a point of what do you do? What do you want him to do? What do you want him to do when his team takes 30 three pointers and gets lucky a handful of times? Tell them to stop shooting? (Honestly a good start). Just have better players? I mean that sounds great. Are they around? Do we have a better players tree out back?




Does anyone remember what it felt like when Tommy Freeman, Jordan Dartis or Nick Kellogg pulled up from deep? I was excited. Now....a feeling of dread when most of our guys shoot the ball. If we do nothing else for next year, we have to find guys who can shoot the 3.


I actually saw Freeman, Dartis and Kellog-like players recently.

They were seen playing on ESPN last night in front of 9K fans.

The team was Miami.




Or instead of signing the three Reynoldsburg guys from an hour away, our coaching staff could have gone to Florida to check out some guys shooting 50% from three in high level juco ball. Or maybe check out some of the 7-footers from the Serbian junior national team. Not as convenient though. But you know what the TGI Friday's manager in Office Space said about doing the bare minimum.

Last Edited: 1/28/2026 2:23:59 PM by greencat
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 3:08:55 PM 
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)

O'Shea 7-year resume
120-95 (66-57 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 0 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd - note these are division finishes since the conference was split then, his overall finishes are much worse)

Hunter 7-year resume
125-83 (73-47 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NIT appearance, 2 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th)




That question was tied to the last four years and the downward trend that he’s been on, in comparison to Saul’s final four seasons in Athens. Saul also went in the wrong direction in consecutive seasons after posting 20 wins. He was then let go by the guy who actually hired him.

The first three seasons of Boals were great. Not so much since. He’s .500 in his last 54 games. If Boals drops to 14-18 this season after going 16-16, is there anything else besides his ties that’s keeping him here?
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GraffZ06
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 3:27:53 PM 
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)

O'Shea 7-year resume
120-95 (66-57 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 0 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd - note these are division finishes since the conference was split then, his overall finishes are much worse)

Hunter 7-year resume
125-83 (73-47 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NIT appearance, 2 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th)



I've posted this before - but I'll gladly take the opportunity to post it again since it was brought up above.

Ohio HC All-Time Wins
1. Jim Snyder - 355 (25 seasons)
2. Larry Hunter - 204 (12 seasons)
3. Butch Grover - 192 (16 seasons)
4. Dutch Trautwein - 136 (11 seasons)
5. Jeff Boals - 125 (6+ seasons)
6. Tim O'Shea - 120 (7 seasons)
7. Danny Nee - 107 (6 seasons)
8. John Groce - 85 (4 seasons)
9. Saul Phillips - 81 (5 seasons)
10. Dale Bandy - 69 (6 seasons)

But - they played different quantities of games per year you say. Sure. Let's look at pct.

Ohio HC All-Time Winning Pct
1. RW Finsterwald: 34-6 .850 (2 seasons)
2. Jim Christian: 49-22 .690 (2 seasons)
3. Danny Nee: 107-67 .615 (6 seasons)
4. John Groce: 85-56 .603 (4 seasons)
5. Dutch Trautwein: 136-90 .602 (11 seasons)
6. Butch Grover: 192-129 .598 (16 seasons)
7. Jim Snyder: 355-245 .592 (25 seasons)
8. Jeff Boals: 125-87 .590 (6+ seasons) (fell below Snyder with the Kent loss)
9. Larry Hunter: 204-148 .580 (12 seasons)
10. Tim O'Shea: 120-95 .558 (7 seasons)

How about winning in March in Cleveland/NCAA when it really matters (Yes, NOTHING MATTERS BUT MARCH).

Ohio HC All-Time MAC Tournament Winning Pct
1. John Groce: 9-2 .818 (2 titles)
2. Jeff Boals: 7-4 .636 (1 title)
3. Tim O'Shea: 9-6 .600 (1 title)
4. Danny Nee: 6-4 .600 (2 titles)
5. Jim Christian: 3-2 .600 (0 titles)
6. Billy Hahn: 3-3 .500 (0 titles)
7. Larry Hunter: 9-10 .474 (1 title)
8. Saul Phillips: 2-5 .286 (0 titles)
9. Dale Bandy: 0-0 .000 (0 titles) (Didn't qualify in his last season)

What about before the MAC tournament? Look at total NCAA appearances (or NIT prior to NCAA being main tournament).

Ohio HC All-Time Tournament/League Champ Appearances
1. John Groce: 2 trips in 4 seasons (2.0 seasons/champ)
2. RW Finsterwald: 1 championship in 2 seasons (2.0 seasons/champ)
3. Danny Nee: 2 trips in 6 seasons (3.0 seasons/champ)
4. Jim Snyder: 7 trips in 25 seasons (3.57 seasons/champ)
5. Butch Grover: 3 championships in 16 seasons (5.33 seasons/champ)
6. Jeff Boals: 1 trip in 6+ seasons (6.00 seasons/champ)
7. Tim O'Shea: 1 trip in 7 seasons (7.00 seasons/champ)
8. Dutch Trautwein: 1 NIT in 11 seasons (11.00 seasons/champ)
9. Larry Hunter: 1 trip in 12 seasons (12.00 seasons/champ)
10. All Remaining coaches: 0 trips in 29 seasons

Ohio total: 19 trips (14 NCAA, 1 NIT (when it was main tourney) and 4 "league championships) in 118 seasons - averaging one trip every 6.21 seasons historically.
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Bobcat1996
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 3:30:45 PM 
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)

O'Shea 7-year resume
120-95 (66-57 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 0 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd - note these are division finishes since the conference was split then, his overall finishes are much worse)

Hunter 7-year resume
125-83 (73-47 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NIT appearance, 2 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th)




Not that it makes much difference but in 2023-24 season Ohio was a three seed, since they lost the tiebreaker to Akron that season. Akron and Ohio split, but Ohio lost to top seed Toledo and the Zips beat the Rockets once. So, Boals has two three seed finishes to go along with a few fifth seed finishes because last season they were a five seed going into the league tourney.
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GraffZ06
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Member Since: 1/5/2005
Location: Dayton, OH
Post Count: 2,436

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 3:52:13 PM 
FJC31 wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I feel like this ship has sailed, but I imagine he’d get an interview. Ford is a double edge sword. Him also being an alumni could ease the moving on from Boals but also creates some hesitancy of another OU hire.

I like Ford, always have. I was a student during the Boals year and always thought it was a mistake to not give him a trial year back then with a loaded and experienced roster.

That said, I’d cast a wide net beyond Ohio. Top D2 coaches should be considered. I’d also reach out to Jamie Quarles. He was on Oats Buffalo staff during those impressive 18-19 seasons. Those were incredible teams. He’s at USF with Hodgsen, but knows the MAC (and how to recruit it) and has coached at the D2 level.


The landscape has changed. College athletics is no longer about building a "team" but rather building a 1 year collection of 5-8 guys who compliment each other. It's not about developing talent, it's about renting guys for a year. It's no longer about culture and systems (X's and O's), it's about how much $$$ you can offer.

Given that landscape shift - the coaches that are going to be the most successful moving forward, for all teams that don't have huge donor coffers already - are the guys who can fund-raise the best. The guys who can make the most lucrative business deals. And those who can most efficiently spend their limiting money pool on finding diamonds in the rough by casting world-wide nets. It also means investing just as much (if not more) time and money on recruiting current D1 players to try and poach them as it does on lowly freshmen HS kids who are likely not impact guys in year 1 anyway. Let them go somewhere else and prove their abilities then come steal them after they've proven it rather than determining that on your bench.

MOST of those traits sounds awful to uninteresting to traditional basketball coaches. Thus the mass exodus of many of the old-timers and greats (Izzo and Cal about to jump ship soon as well IMO).

I'd go hire a team of international scouts, NBA scouts, fund-raisers, promoters, an analytics department and a GM and call it a day.

Last Edited: 1/28/2026 3:53:40 PM by GraffZ06
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GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 7,823

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 3:55:44 PM 
FJC31 wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)

O'Shea 7-year resume
120-95 (66-57 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 0 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd - note these are division finishes since the conference was split then, his overall finishes are much worse)

Hunter 7-year resume
125-83 (73-47 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NIT appearance, 2 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th)




That question was tied to the last four years and the downward trend that he’s been on, in comparison to Saul’s final four seasons in Athens. Saul also went in the wrong direction in consecutive seasons after posting 20 wins. He was then let go by the guy who actually hired him.

The first three seasons of Boals were great. Not so much since. He’s .500 in his last 54 games. If Boals drops to 14-18 this season after going 16-16, is there anything else besides his ties that’s keeping him here?


I think to answer your question is that if he wasn't an alum his seat would absolutely be hotter than it probably is in reality.
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BillyTheCat
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Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,803

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 4:07:18 PM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I know about 5-6 here who would lose the freaking mind!
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greencat
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Member Since: 3/12/2005
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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 4:12:59 PM 
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:


If we remove the Bobcat alum title from Boals resume, are we really giving him that much grace at this point?


This is an excellent question. Made me want to do a comparison using coaches who have lasted this long.

Boals 7-year resume
125-87 (69-48 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NCAA Tournament win, 1 20-win regular season
MAC regular season finishes (7th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 4th)

O'Shea 7-year resume
120-95 (66-57 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 0 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (3rd, 5th, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd - note these are division finishes since the conference was split then, his overall finishes are much worse)

Hunter 7-year resume
125-83 (73-47 MAC)
1 NCAA Tournament appearance, 1 NIT appearance, 2 20-win regular seasons
MAC regular season finishes (8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 4th)




That question was tied to the last four years and the downward trend that he’s been on, in comparison to Saul’s final four seasons in Athens. Saul also went in the wrong direction in consecutive seasons after posting 20 wins. He was then let go by the guy who actually hired him.

The first three seasons of Boals were great. Not so much since. He’s .500 in his last 54 games. If Boals drops to 14-18 this season after going 16-16, is there anything else besides his ties that’s keeping him here?


I think to answer your question is that if he wasn't an alum his seat would absolutely be hotter than it probably is in reality.


The recruiting trajectory has gone straight in the toilet. (except JJ Kelly)

Evans and Kuany are nowhere near what they should be by now and there is a "prized recruit" glued to the bench and has played a total of 23 minutes the entire season.

Boals is not enough of a "system" coach to win with nonathletic scrub players.
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FJC31
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Member Since: 3/31/2022
Post Count: 2,304

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 4:47:34 PM 
GraffZ06 wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
What would you folks think if we replaced one alumnus with another and hired Dustin Ford? He has no head coaching experience, except at Jackson High School, but he's done very well as an assistant. I'm not advocating this, just asking the question.


I feel like this ship has sailed, but I imagine he’d get an interview. Ford is a double edge sword. Him also being an alumni could ease the moving on from Boals but also creates some hesitancy of another OU hire.

I like Ford, always have. I was a student during the Boals year and always thought it was a mistake to not give him a trial year back then with a loaded and experienced roster.

That said, I’d cast a wide net beyond Ohio. Top D2 coaches should be considered. I’d also reach out to Jamie Quarles. He was on Oats Buffalo staff during those impressive 18-19 seasons. Those were incredible teams. He’s at USF with Hodgsen, but knows the MAC (and how to recruit it) and has coached at the D2 level.


The landscape has changed. College athletics is no longer about building a "team" but rather building a 1 year collection of 5-8 guys who compliment each other. It's not about developing talent, it's about renting guys for a year. It's no longer about culture and systems (X's and O's), it's about how much $$$ you can offer.

Given that landscape shift - the coaches that are going to be the most successful moving forward, for all teams that don't have huge donor coffers already - are the guys who can fund-raise the best. The guys who can make the most lucrative business deals. And those who can most efficiently spend their limiting money pool on finding diamonds in the rough by casting world-wide nets. It also means investing just as much (if not more) time and money on recruiting current D1 players to try and poach them as it does on lowly freshmen HS kids who are likely not impact guys in year 1 anyway. Let them go somewhere else and prove their abilities then come steal them after they've proven it rather than determining that on your bench.

MOST of those traits sounds awful to uninteresting to traditional basketball coaches. Thus the mass exodus of many of the old-timers and greats (Izzo and Cal about to jump ship soon as well IMO).

I'd go hire a team of international scouts, NBA scouts, fund-raisers, promoters, an analytics department and a GM and call it a day.


Yes and no. Culture and systems are still valid in spite of potential roster turnover. The best coaches can have guys leave their systems and successfully be able to identify other system fits -- portal, overseas, etc. to replenish continuity.

Groce and Senderoff have proven that, it's why Kent and Akron are perennial MAC title contenders each season during this era and we are not. We don't have a system. Combine that with poor recruiting and development and you have Boals' results.
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bobcatsquared
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Post Count: 5,849

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 7:01:34 PM 
greencat wrote:
The recruiting trajectory has gone straight in the toilet. (except JJ Kelly)

Evans and Kuany are nowhere near what they should be by now and there is a "prized recruit" glued to the bench and has played a total of 23 minutes the entire season.

Boals is not enough of a "system" coach to win with nonathletic scrub players.



Yeah, but what are your thoughts on the two Reynoldsburg HS seniors coming in next year?
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Bobcat1996
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Member Since: 1/2/2017
Post Count: 1,222

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 7:25:15 PM 
Ohio University will not dismiss Coach Boals in 2026. The buyout, thanks to the former AD is more than they want to pay. I hope Coach Boals turns things around because he is a good guy. Shouldn’t Bobcat fans expect more from Boals because of his top salary in the league? Be prepared for another fifth seed finish this season. Coach Boals has been in Athens 11-12 years including his under grad degree at Ohio University. Coach Albin spent 20 years in Athens and was awarded
the conference coach of the year twice. He also led the football program to a league title for the first time in over five decades. Albin and the football program achieved three consecutive ten win seasons and wonderful success, but for some reason the former AD ignored those achievements. Albin out performed Boals, but yet the former AD rewarded Boals. And SBH and others, like I have told you many times before, I’m not related to Coach Albin. I’m just a fan who appreciated unprecedented success for the Bobcat football program unlike many of you and the former AD!


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greencat
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Post Count: 2,835

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 7:46:38 PM 
bobcatsquared wrote:
greencat wrote:
The recruiting trajectory has gone straight in the toilet. (except JJ Kelly)

Evans and Kuany are nowhere near what they should be by now and there is a "prized recruit" glued to the bench and has played a total of 23 minutes the entire season.

Boals is not enough of a "system" coach to win with nonathletic scrub players.



Yeah, but what are your thoughts on the two Reynoldsburg HS seniors coming in next year?


Well, 247 rates them zero stars and that team is currently ranked #64 in the state of Ohio by MaxPreps. One of their losses this season was by like 40 points.
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uagamer
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Member Since: 2/28/2012
Post Count: 65

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  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 7:50:21 PM 
greencat wrote:
FearLeon wrote:
OUs LONG Driver wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
M.D.W.S.T wrote:
oubobcatjohn wrote:
I see them parting ways with Boals. He get out coached by most MAC schools. Players poorly coach. Lack of attention to detail. Boals like a top coach, but hasn't beaten the top the MAC.


I bet if you caught him on an off day, no one hates this team more than him. They're maddening to the 10th degree. Of course, a lot of that falls to him, but outside of Sheldon playing Kobe minutes with his wife's skill... what do you do with this roster? This is just a bad team in so many facets. He needs to empty the bench and see what we have (likely it's pretty bad), but we can't allow a team full of seniors to play with the bare minimum of effort. .


If Boals hates his team, that he built, and is bad on so many facets as you say — then yes, I think that warrants consideration for removal if this team continues to lose.

He was .500 a year ago. If he dips below .500 this year and if most of his bad on so many facets roster returns, doesn’t that indicate he finishes below .500 again with the team, that you think he hates? When does that come to an end?

I’m not trying to be snarky, just repeating back your post.


Often you don't know youre on a sinking ship until your feet get wet.


I'm just saying, I'm certain he's at a loss too. He tried to extend the bench minutes - and they went 4/17. We're sitting here dissecting it like he doesn't see it too. Sometimes it's not all about X's and O's, it's about putting the ball in the hole. And they're not. No one is. I'm just not sure what you do in this situation. Certainly he's to blame for the construction of the roster. Certainly he's to blame for rotations. Certainly hes to blame for many things. But the team shooting 20%... what do you even do? Line them up and make them shoot free throws for three hours?

I don't disagree for a single moment that his seat is hot.

Certainly, his removal will be considered and likely talked about this offseason.

I've just reached a point of what do you do? What do you want him to do? What do you want him to do when his team takes 30 three pointers and gets lucky a handful of times? Tell them to stop shooting? (Honestly a good start). Just have better players? I mean that sounds great. Are they around? Do we have a better players tree out back?




Does anyone remember what it felt like when Tommy Freeman, Jordan Dartis or Nick Kellogg pulled up from deep? I was excited. Now....a feeling of dread when most of our guys shoot the ball. If we do nothing else for next year, we have to find guys who can shoot the 3.


I actually saw Freeman, Dartis and Kellog-like players recently.

They were seen playing on ESPN last night in front of 9K fans.

The team was Miami.




But you know what the TGI Friday's manager in Office Space said about doing the bare minimum.


Dude, it was a Chotchkie's! Get it right!
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FearLeon
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Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 5,136

Status: Offline
  Message Not Read  RE: Fire Jeff Boals!
   Posted: 1/28/2026 7:50:48 PM 
Bobcat1996 wrote:
Shouldn’t Bobcat fans expect more from Boals because of his top salary in the league? Be prepared for another fifth seed finish this season.




5th seed? Sign me up for that today with this team.

We are looking at the 8th seed and if we get lucky maybe the 7th seed.

And if EMU didn’t suck so bad, we had a good chance at missing Cleveland altogether.

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio #11Months
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