DiStanislao to Leave MU

[MUBasketball]

Just blows my mind. Broeker was all over the place mingling with everybody, Larry looked completely disinterested. Maybe just trying to stay out of spotlight similar to Cords? (Trying to see it from his perspective and cut him some slack...trying)

[warriorfan4life]

Just blows my mind. Broeker was all over the place mingling with everybody, Larry looked completely disinterested. Maybe just trying to stay out of spotlight similar to Cords? (Trying to see it from his perspective and cut him some slack...trying)

I think the former will be our AD in fairly short order.

[unclejohn]

but I am going to give Larry a little bit of the benefit of the doubt. I do not think he is solely responsible with any tension with Buzz, as some speculate, and I think he might have done a far better job than some of you suspect.

I do not know what his situation is right now. Some here and elsewhere have suggested that his days might be numbered. If the guy who hired him, and who was his rabbi, as it were, just left, he might well be looking elsewhere. If that is the case, one could hardly blame him for avoiding the spotlight right now. Personally, he has never struck me as being arrogant or stand-offish. I met him in the press room shortly after he was hired, and he smiled, shook my hand, and said, "Hi, I'm Larry." Not exactly a guy who refuses to meet with or talk to people. He is not the back-slapping type, but I have usually seen him as polite and friendly.

For all the criticism he and Pilarz have taken around here, it appears that they were fairly active in the decision of the C-7 to split off and become the NBE. To anybody who watched their press conference, and watched Larry cheering for Butler to knock off Ix4 on national TV that day, it was clear that he was a lot more than a spectator in the process. I do not doubt he had a fair amount to do with how the conference wound up. If that was all he did during his tenure, that wouldn't be so bad.

Personnel decisions are tricky things. It appears that Larry was Pilarz' boy, and carried out his orders. That might make it difficult for him to get along now with Buzz and whoever the next president is, and it would not be unusual for the next president to want his own team in place. But I think many people view the guy as the devil, and I think that is unfair.

[Phantom Warrior]

UJ,

I have no idea what has gone on behind the scenes. However, I do know that LW definitely threw Buzz under the bus a couple of times publicly when there was no need for it, almost as if he were going out of his way to chastise Buzz.

The West Virginia two-step comes to mind immediately. LW's public comments were ridiculous and served no purpose other than to put Buzz in a bad light.

He also rubbed me the wrong way when his first public comments after getting the job included his statement that he hoped to make Buzz a better coach. I know one or two posters have tried to justify those remarks, but I think they were way, way out of line.

Over my professional career I worked for a few principals and head of schools (headmasters) who came into the position new. It would be like one of them coming into a faculty meeting for the first time and saying, "I hope I can help make (so and so) a better department chair person."

Then there was Buzz's suspension. I have no problem with his being suspended for a game, meaning you can't be on the sideline engaged in coaching. But to keep him from any contact with his players or coaches for 48 hours? Please! That was overkill and served no constructive purpose other than to "put Buzz in his place." (My quotation marks.) In fact, coming at the very start of the conference season, not having the head coach work with his players or coaches is detrimental to the development of the team.

The impression LW gave in these - and a few other instances - was "I'm the boss, and I'm going to keep you in line."

LW deserved the scorn and animosity expressed on this board by numerous posters. He earned it. I wish him a speedy journey out of town.

[TulsaWarrior]

I have been pretty negative about Father Pilarz and Larry Williams. It was not personal but a sense that their actions were damaging Marquette -- perhaps in a permanent way. Fundraising was down -- that helps drive resources for academics and the general health of the school. The emerging public split between Coach Buzz and the AD was becoming a national story. As an outsider it appeared Pilarz was a bad fit for Marquette and the new AD was stuck with a boss whose intentions were good but didn't know how to manage people. The AD needed a mentor who could help him make the transition. Both men are clearly extremely bright but as top administrators lack people and management skills. Working in higher ed I have seen more than my share of that -- administrators who have a long list of degrees but no real management/people skills. Perhaps Pilarz realized that he was much better suited to teach? There are different skills needed for that role and in my opinion a higher calling than being an administrator. Larry Williams still can be a top notch AD with the right mentoring and a ability to grow. The question is can he and others he has supervised make a new beginning?

[Gato78]

I recently spoke at length and quite candidly with two Jesuits--one was really dishing. There is no question that the issue with Fr. P. was his approach to fund raising. I also got the very strong impression that there wasn't a strong bond between Fr. P. and the "Wisconsin Province" Jesuits. They are men of faith and love, mind you, and I am sure they would have preferred to see Fr. P. successful. They will not personally criticize him. However, the professional criticism was that one needs to "work the room" and enjoy meeting and talking to people and that Fr. P. did not enjoy this. I say this because this is exactly what seems to be lacking with Larry. I am certain the Jesuits have taken notice.

[TheSultan]

he was looking at his phobe duribg the Otule part.I hate to quote espn but C'mon man. that was the highlight of madness. even if you have sonething against Buzz (might be going too far) at least give your full attention to a kid who has given everything to your program for six years

It seems fairly evident that this wasn't the job that LW thought he was signing up for. Good guy, but a bad fit.