Perhaps it was all but a foregone conclusion, it would seem that McDonough is officially out and Gross is officially in as staff coaches. The content below was presented on The Mat.com. Not that this is surprising, but I am surprised that the Badger wrestling program hasn't made official announcements to this end - if it is indeed a done-deal by University standards, why keep the lid on it?
Gross listed as Asst Coach in Wisconsin Directory, no entry for McDonough (Bono and Reader in there as well)
https://www.wisc.edu/directories/person/?q=SETH A GROSS&email=sgross8%40wisc.edu&savedQuery=gross seth&returnPath=%2Fdirectories%2F
https://www.wisc.edu/directories/?q=mcdonough
I agree with you that it seemed like a forgone conclusion, but surprised there isn't an announcement. I was hoping that the Badgers would be able to bring in a volunteer assistant this year. Most other schools fill this spot. Oregon State just added Mike Kosoy to this position.
Perhaps when some of the craziness subsides they will formally announce it.
Quote from: wrastle63 on June 03, 2020, 12:11:27 PM
I agree with you that it seemed like a forgone conclusion, but surprised there isn't an announcement. I was hoping that the Badgers would be able to bring in a volunteer assistant this year. Most other schools fill this spot. Oregon State just added Mike Kosoy to this position.
Volunteer Assistant Coaches are paid by the RTC. Much more support is needed on a monthly basis before we can afford a Volunteer coach!! Please consider donating today!
Quote from: BuckyMatt on June 03, 2020, 10:27:45 PM
Quote from: wrastle63 on June 03, 2020, 12:11:27 PM
I agree with you that it seemed like a forgone conclusion, but surprised there isn't an announcement. I was hoping that the Badgers would be able to bring in a volunteer assistant this year. Most other schools fill this spot. Oregon State just added Mike Kosoy to this position.
Volunteer Assistant Coaches are paid by the RTC. Much more support is needed on a monthly basis before we can afford a Volunteer coach!! Please consider donating today!
Oregon State has a volunteer assistant but we don't have enough money for one?
If the RTC has to decide between paying for a volunteer assistant coach or having Askren as an RTC head coach, I will take having Askren associated with the program.
Quote from: wrastle63 on June 04, 2020, 07:38:22 AM
Quote from: BuckyMatt on June 03, 2020, 10:27:45 PM
Quote from: wrastle63 on June 03, 2020, 12:11:27 PM
I agree with you that it seemed like a forgone conclusion, but surprised there isn't an announcement. I was hoping that the Badgers would be able to bring in a volunteer assistant this year. Most other schools fill this spot. Oregon State just added Mike Kosoy to this position.
Volunteer Assistant Coaches are paid by the RTC. Much more support is needed on a monthly basis before we can afford a Volunteer coach!! Please consider donating today!
Oregon State has a volunteer assistant but we don't have enough money for one?
Yes
Sometimes it feels like we're still in the Barry Davis days with the lack of communication from Bono and company.
I know Bono does the "Jump Around Monday" but it's normally just surface information that we already know. (Regardless I watch every single one of them and rather enjoy them.)
Quote from: Lunatic Fringe on June 04, 2020, 09:45:25 AM
Sometimes it feels like we're still in the Barry Davis days with the lack of communication from Bono and company.
I know Bono does the "Jump Around Monday" but it's normally just surface information that we already know. (Regardless I watch every single one of them and rather enjoy them.)
I understand your sentiment but that said, by comparison to the BD years, I think Bono improved the communication and marketing of the program significantly. I get keeping a lid on injuries and privacy issues...and even some more sensitive issues on occasion. But I just don't see what the issue is here - we are left to scratch our heads. And maybe those in power feel that this is none of our (the fans) business, which is their prerogative. But that kind of attitude does not serve to pull fans closer to the program - fans want to feel like they are part of the program - not treated like disinterested bystanders. As for Luke's suggestion that we compare the UW program to the communication at PSU...I don't know if that is fair...for the UW. I acknowledge up front that I don't know what the internal workings of PSU are like, but repeatedly winning national championships goes a long ways toward cultivating fan buy-in. The UW largely exists in a separate universe.
Talking with a reliable source, Seth Gross as the assistant is a done deal and they are still waiting to cross the T's and dot the I's, but with the covid-19 pandemic, it's slowing that down a bit.
I think UW gave Bono the choice to have a volunteer coach or a RTC coach. Not sure if this accurate or if this is an NCAA rule.
The RTC is not affiliated with the university. The RTC can have a head coach and there can also be a volunteer assistant with the university. This is why donations and support through our legends club and fundraisers is so important!
Quote from: JJones on June 10, 2020, 08:31:27 AM
Quote from: thedecider on June 09, 2020, 10:30:49 AM
Was Gross enticed to transfer with the promise of a job after he finished school?
I thought his girlfriend or maybe it was his fiance was at the RTC?
Her name is Ronna Heaton & she qualified for the Olympic trials so I think she stands on her own.
Having gross on staff does free up money to possibly bring in some one else at the rtc. I would think it would be easier finding an rtc athlete than a college coach that can still compete at the Olympic level.
Who are the current wrestlers that are at the BRTC? Seth and Ronna, who else?
Quote from: leg turk on June 11, 2020, 09:10:53 AM
Who are the current wrestlers that are at the BRTC? Seth and Ronna, who else?
https://www.wisconsinrtc.com/athletes (https://www.wisconsinrtc.com/athletes)
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 04, 2020, 10:14:18 AM
Quote from: Lunatic Fringe on June 04, 2020, 09:45:25 AM
Sometimes it feels like we're still in the Barry Davis days with the lack of communication from Bono and company.
I know Bono does the "Jump Around Monday" but it's normally just surface information that we already know. (Regardless I watch every single one of them and rather enjoy them.)
I don't believe there's a more forthright coach in all of NCAAs than Bono.
I'm not even sure what you're referencing when you say "we're still in the Barry Davis days." If you saw how little info Cael shares with anyone about his program, it would change your prospective, I think.
Forthright LOL... yeah ok we'll go with that
Quote from: Keaton Kluever on June 13, 2020, 01:54:16 AM
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 04, 2020, 10:14:18 AM
Quote from: Lunatic Fringe on June 04, 2020, 09:45:25 AM
Sometimes it feels like we're still in the Barry Davis days with the lack of communication from Bono and company.
I know Bono does the "Jump Around Monday" but it's normally just surface information that we already know. (Regardless I watch every single one of them and rather enjoy them.)
I don't believe there's a more forthright coach in all of NCAAs than Bono.
I'm not even sure what you're referencing when you say "we're still in the Barry Davis days." If you saw how little info Cael shares with anyone about his program, it would change your prospective, I think.
Forthright LOL... yeah ok we'll go with that
Bono is a heck of a marketer for sure.
I certainly get alot more info now with bono then when Davis was the coach. Kind of fun to hear the badgers talking alot more.
Quote from: Keaton Kluever on June 13, 2020, 01:54:16 AM
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 04, 2020, 10:14:18 AM
Quote from: Lunatic Fringe on June 04, 2020, 09:45:25 AM
Sometimes it feels like we're still in the Barry Davis days with the lack of communication from Bono and company.
I know Bono does the "Jump Around Monday" but it's normally just surface information that we already know. (Regardless I watch every single one of them and rather enjoy them.)
I don't believe there's a more forthright coach in all of NCAAs than Bono.
I'm not even sure what you're referencing when you say "we're still in the Barry Davis days." If you saw how little info Cael shares with anyone about his program, it would change your prospective, I think.
Forthright LOL... yeah ok we'll go with that
Sour grapes?
Quote from: wrastle63 on June 14, 2020, 03:22:30 PM
Quote from: Keaton Kluever on June 13, 2020, 01:54:16 AM
Forthright LOL... yeah ok we'll go with that
Sour grapes?
Why? Is there a back-story here that most of us (I mean me) are not aware of?
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 16, 2020, 02:03:22 PM
Quote from: JJones on June 16, 2020, 11:29:06 AM
So Bono had Matt McDonough move his wife and kids to Madison for one year knowing full well he would bring in Gross in 2020? I doubt it.
I don't think it really changes your point, but Bono, Reader and McDonough have been together two seasons.
I could envision a scenario where the plan was for the WRTC to pick him up, but to not have it sufficiently funded to make that happen.
In my opinion, both guys are phenomenal. McDonough is a class act and he will be missed but Gross is going to be a great coach as well. It will be good for McDonough to work on another staff to build that coaching resume and get more experience. Many assistant coaches are looking for bigger and better opportunities and have to move on to new locations to make it happen. I for one will be a fan of McDonough's no matter where he ends up.
+1 Harris I don't see the negatives here. It wasn't announced. Who gives a rip.
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 17, 2020, 08:13:55 AM
Quote from: bigG on June 17, 2020, 06:16:33 AM
+1 Harris I don't see the negatives here. It wasn't announced. Who gives a rip.
Plus, like, it was announced. Vigorously.
Bono - https://twitter.com/ChrisBono/status/1271129157641154561?s=20
Reader - https://twitter.com/Jon_Reader/status/1271144436295241730?s=20
Badger Wrestling #1 - https://twitter.com/BadgerWrestling/status/1271128947246411776?s=20
Badger Wrestling #2 - https://twitter.com/BadgerWrestling/status/1271129400122146816?s=20
Badger Wrestling #3 - https://twitter.com/BadgerWrestling/status/1271176581772271616?s=20
WI Wrestling - https://twitter.com/WI_Wrestling/status/1271238871083290624?s=20
Track - https://twitter.com/trackwrestling/status/1271438778012483586?s=20
USA Wrestling - https://twitter.com/USAWrestling/status/1271137672229269504?s=20
Intermat - https://twitter.com/InterMat/status/1271151349728608257?s=20
The Wrestling Museum - https://twitter.com/wrestlingmuseum/status/1271222314412236801?s=20
Madison.com - https://twitter.com/MadisonSport/status/1271135747056099328?s=20
Channel 3000 - https://twitter.com/Jon_Reader/status/1272849976155164672?s=20
Basically, when we all seemed to know it was a done deal, there was a "t" that still needed crossing. That's all.
I think the point is, the one that precipitated my initial post on the matter a few weeks back, was that the rumors were flying nationally that Gross was coming on board and McD was out, and yet no official announcement by the program had yet been made. You are correct that around the beginning of June there were plenty of official announcements, but prior to that, the UW system publicly posted the opening and yet nothing official was coming out of the UW program. That is the "lack of public" announcement to which I originally referred.
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 17, 2020, 09:51:43 AM
Occam's Razor is that it wasn't *official* until last week, so that's when they announced it. Like it or not, state jobs have red tape galore.
That is true with respect to the
hiring, but not true with respect to the
firing. The school posted the position opening and thus, that spot was open...for whatever reason - quit, fired, resigned, etc. But nothing regarding McD's departure was officially announced (please correct me if I am wrong, but I didn't see it and no one on the forum posted anything more than rumors). Gussy it up any way you want, the UW athletics/wrestling program sat on this information until Gross' hire was official.
And don't get me wrong, I like the idea of Gross being on staff (but I don't like losing McD - wish the Badgers could keep both), but I am simply saying that this whole transaction took place in the "shadows" while still in the light of day for anyone who cared to watch. And let me say, from McD's perspective this whole situation bites...big time. I sympathize with him and his family. Collegiate sports isn't always the nicest of businesses.
As some posters have postulated, this might likely have been part of a longer term plan to get Gross to compete for WI to begin with; use McD as a "seat warmer" for a year or two until Gross graduated and came on staff. Maybe, but that would be pretty cold on Bono's part...although we've all seen worse in the NCAA.
More likely, and I have no evidence whatsoever to support this, I suspect that, given the recent hires by the RTC and the UW coaching staff, there was a loose plan in place to bring Gross in as an assistant coach
at the RTC upon graduation (otherwise McD would have likely bolted a year ago or never signed on with the UW to begin with - I would think he would have smelled the plan to pull Gross on to the staff upon graduation unless some other plan was in the works). However, I also suspect that the fund raising for the RTC fell short in terms of generating enough money to pull in an assistant with Gross' credentials (he would have other options if he chose to pursue them) so the plan had to be reworked a bit and that led to letting McD go and hiring Sebastian (at a relatively lower salary) for the RTC.
Again, all conjecture on my part - absolutely no inside information.
Quote from: npope on June 18, 2020, 07:37:26 AM
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 17, 2020, 09:51:43 AM
Occam's Razor is that it wasn't *official* until last week, so that's when they announced it. Like it or not, state jobs have red tape galore.
That is true with respect to the hiring, but not true with respect to the firing. The school posted the position opening and thus, that spot was open...for whatever reason - quit, fired, resigned, etc. But nothing regarding McD's departure was officially announced (please correct me if I am wrong, but I didn't see it and no one on the forum posted anything more than rumors). Gussy it up any way you want, the UW athletics/wrestling program sat on this information until Gross' hire was official.
And don't get me wrong, I like the idea of Gross being on staff (but I don't like losing McD - wish the Badgers could keep both), but I am simply saying that this whole transaction took place in the "shadows" while still in the light of day for anyone who cared to watch. And let me say, from McD's perspective this whole situation bites...big time. I sympathize with him and his family. Collegiate sports isn't always the nicest of businesses.
As some posters have postulated, this might likely have been part of a longer term plan to get Gross to compete for WI to begin with; use McD as a "seat warmer" for a year or two until Gross graduated and came on staff. Maybe, but that would be pretty cold on Bono's part...although we've all seen worse in the NCAA.
More likely, and I have no evidence whatsoever to support this, I suspect that, given the recent hires by the RTC and the UW coaching staff, there was a loose plan in place to bring Gross in as an assistant coach at the RTC upon graduation (otherwise McD would have likely bolted a year ago or never signed on with the UW to begin with - I would think he would have smelled the plan to pull Gross on to the staff upon graduation unless some other plan was in the works). However, I also suspect that the fund raising for the RTC fell short in terms of generating enough money to pull in an assistant with Gross' credentials (he would have other options if he chose to pursue them) so the plan had to be reworked a bit and that led to letting McD go and hiring Sebastian (at a relatively lower salary) for the RTC.
Again, all conjecture on my part - absolutely no inside information.
Pretty cold to hire a guy who has not had a college coaching position? Pretty cold to add to McDonoughs resume? Pretty cold to make a staff change that they wanted for a better fit/coach(in their opinion)?
There is no rule that you have to sign a guy and plan to keep him forever lol. Things change. Get over it. Wish McDonough the best of luck in whatever he does!
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 18, 2020, 08:44:14 AM
Oh, I see what you're saying. No real announcement of parting ways with McDonough. I get why they might have wanted to announce the release and the hiring as a package deal, but your point, that there was "news" that they sat on, is definitely true. I'm always thirsty for more news, but I guess I'm fine with that.
Could it have been a courtesy to McD, to not make a big announcement that he was fired?
So, the program was being gracious to McD? Okay - I get it now ::)
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 17, 2020, 09:51:43 AM
Occam's Razor is that it wasn't *official* until last week, so that's when they announced it. Like it or not, state jobs have red tape galore.
Yeah, they have to post the job and accept applications and do interviews, etc.
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 18, 2020, 08:44:14 AM
Quote from: npope on June 18, 2020, 07:37:26 AM
Quote from: Luke Louison on June 17, 2020, 09:51:43 AM
Occam's Razor is that it wasn't *official* until last week, so that's when they announced it. Like it or not, state jobs have red tape galore.
That is true with respect to the hiring, but not true with respect to the firing. The school posted the position opening and thus, that spot was open...for whatever reason - quit, fired, resigned, etc. But nothing regarding McD's departure was officially announced (please correct me if I am wrong, but I didn't see it and no one on the forum posted anything more than rumors). Gussy it up any way you want, the UW athletics/wrestling program sat on this information until Gross' hire was official.
Oh, I see what you're saying. No real announcement of parting ways with McDonough. I get why they might have wanted to announce the release and the hiring as a package deal, but your point, that there was "news" that they sat on, is definitely true. I'm always thirsty for more news, but I guess I'm fine with that.
Could it have been a courtesy to McD, to not make a big announcement that he was fired?
I'm also not sure, now, whether the McDonough being let go was contingent on Gross. I think it's possible that this was his last year either way.
But, I did hear that Gross has already started hitting the phones hard toward re-establishing recruiting roots in Minnesota. That's encouraging news, for sure!
Is that the case or did they think there were better options? Was he year to year or did he have a long term deal in place? Does anyone really know?
Is it known if McD was fired or he quit? Seems like there is a lot of speculation and subsequent judgment based on limited to no information.
From what I've been told.
McD was notified from Bono that he would be non-renewed after Big Tens. Only reasoning being that McD was just a fill in coach for 2 years until Bono could bring Seth onto staff.
McD is not happy about the situation at all and is currently looking at being a cop in Iowa City and helping out with the Iowa RTC again.
Where I'm confused is; why couldn't' that have Seth be a volunteer assistant, or just a full time RTC resident? He can still help coach, wrestle with the badger wrestlers; and then you get to have both McD and Seth helping Wisconsin wrestling.
Quote from: Lunatic Fringe on June 21, 2020, 08:58:26 PM
From what I've been told.
McD was notified from Bono that he would be non-renewed after Big Tens. Only reasoning being that McD was just a fill in coach for 2 years until Bono could bring Seth onto staff.
McD is not happy about the situation at all and is currently looking at being a cop in Iowa City and helping out with the Iowa RTC again.
Where I'm confused is; why couldn't' that have Seth be a volunteer assistant, or just a full time RTC resident? He can still help coach, wrestle with the badger wrestlers; and then you get to have both McD and Seth helping Wisconsin wrestling.
I would guess $$$ played a factor ;)
McD is now in Cornell.
Quote from: leg turk on September 23, 2020, 04:02:15 PM
McD is now in Cornell.
Good for Matt! Wish him all the best.