Del State Seeks New Head Coach

[stovepipe]

^^^According to the Delaware State Athletic Site, head wrestling coach Reggie Wright has resigned and the Hornets are seeking a new head coach. -Stove Pipe

[ltwtlooker]

Can you believe it Reggie left without even emailing his squad? Originally I had doubts about him that I wrote of on some message boards but had them assuaged by folks whose kids had wrestled for him and from my son who had met him on his visit to Indiana during the reruiting season. In an effort to support the program we had him as the presenter at our conference championship and many here upon meeting and talking to him were convinced he was here to stay.
I think that DSU wrestling is the only D1 program in DE. It is definitely the only wrestling program. The U has recently fired the Pres. and the AD but claim that they wish to continue wrestling and are actively searching for a head coach. I sure hope a aggressive young man steps forward to take the job. There are not many D1 jobs and even if the school buttheads again the credential would be good.

DSU has one NCAA qualifier and I think 8 returning starters plus several very good entering Freshmen who could be very respectable in the conference with proper training. Particularly good attitude guys. Jacque Scott even has gone so far as to solicit all the team members to organize and start practices in anticipation of a new coach arriving and several have signed on to join him.

Last season the team had a few FF weights and this year they will be able to field a full team. During last season they actually won most of their matches but lost meets due to giving 12-18 in FFs

[JB]

Is there a theme developing with coaches leaving DSU, but why nothing about how crappy the administration is? Reggie had alluded to DSU reneging on scholarship money, said it wasn't available, strung things along, wasn't truthful, and then has to work with new administration almost every year?

Even good coaches meet their wits end. We've heard this before from DSU, but no one in their right mind wants to take this job because of the line of coaches coming in, getting NO support from the school, and then leaving/getting fired.

Great people are pushed towards the job, but no one has the patience to work with such an inept and clueless athletic administration. The last two coaches basically have been hit with "bait and switch" by the school.

I want DSU to succeed, I've pushed some kids in that direction because of the coaching situations (Earl and Reggie), but when the admins string along underpaid staffs who have no place to practice, you start to wonder what's truth and what's the old coaches part.

Ltwt, I know you weren't a RW fan to start with and I was, but how many coaches in how many years -- all told the same thing, all left or relieved, and none have actually seen the "resources" the school has. Reggie encountered the same type of resistance Earl did, and Darren before him. The last three coaches have tried to win and have been met with nothing but lip-service from DSU admins.

[setonhallpirate]

JB-One wonders, sometimes, if Delaware State's administration actually WANTS the wrestling team to be unsuccessful.

[concord87]

You obviously make a good point JB. It has been rumored that the admin was not as generous with Reggie as everyone let on. A friend who is a reliable source has told me that the new admin is onboard with wrestling, so only time will tell. I know in the past, they have made it quite clear that they do not want wrestling to outshine football or basketball. That may have been part of their problem with Earl because he was starting to get quality wrestlers prior to being let go.

[JB]

Every admin is going to say they're on board with wrestling. Let's not take that as gospel, because we've learned with Oregon, Fresno State and Eastern Illinois, AD's like that don't keep their word and spin-doctor things to suit them, not the teams.

Reggie wasn't getting the support promised.

[ltwtlooker]

I guess none of are privy to the fact that the Pres Dr. Sessoms and the AD are both gone. One of the local wrestling family is on staff at DSU and, on wrestling issues, has never been a fan of those two. He claims the new school officials are truly on board. I hope it is so but having gone out to support Dwanye, Darren, Earl and Reggie only to have the limb sawed off, for once in my life I will try being circumspect. Still many of the kids on the team are friends of ours and I really want to support them.

In the end DSU program is better than Fresno , Oregon, Notre Dame and every D1 college and universtiy in Texas, Arkansas, Louisianna, Missippi and a whole host of others. I know this may not be funny tomorrow but maybe that's why the weather is so bad down there.

[jfs]

I hope it will go in a positive direction. We need the men in wrestling, the country needs them, they will stand when others will flee. McCain was a wrestler. I know now I am a Whipping post. Have at it!

[ltwtlooker]

Good comments J. Remember most on here are or were wrestlers so you probably won't be a whipping boy. Most of us admire success through hard, smart, focused, strategic work and rugged individualism all the while starving and thirsting.

[concord87]

Aug 30, 2008 15:53:46 GMT -5 JB said:

Reggie wasn't getting the support promised.

That is what I was told when I had a few emails back and forth with Reggie last week. New admin, so we can only wait and see. Like johnny mac, I am not going to hold my breath, but for now I am hearing some positives about the new regime. We will be able to tell alot after they hire a new coach.....hopefully soon!