Head Coach Bob Richey

[DungeonRealm]

This is the time that I hold my breath hoping we don't lose Coach Richey to one of the P5 schools. I know that will happen at some point, but selfishly I want him to stay at Furman a few more years. There is a lot of talk that our coach is on the short list for James Madison. Seems like a lateral move to me. The SoCon is rated higher than the CAA in the RPI. https://www.dnronline.com/dnronline/jmu ... 35f71.html
https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/six-po ... e1cb0.html

Considering the stacked team we have coming back and the fact that JMU has not had a winning season in 5 years I would call that a move down. And absolutely you are correct, the SoCon is much better than CAA, which if funny because CofC now travels all over the map to play in a worse conference

[fufanatic]

If he did leave, how bad was Furman basketball that two elite coaches got promotions before even making the NCAAs?

Maybe this is my heart talking, but I really think BR wants to finish the job here first. And next year’s team looks like they will be league favorites and a candidate for an at-large spot.

[Davemeister]

So there is indeed a Silver Lining to the cancellation of the NIT. It may help extend BR's time at Furman.

[DungeonRealm]

Sounds like JMU is now going after Radford coach, they probably wanted Richey first but hopefully leaving Furman will require a better landing spot than a bad CAA team

[furpop16]

I don't know CBR any better than the rest of you - and considerably less than some of you - but unless his talk about values, life-skills, & the like has all been hot air, Coach strikes me as someone who wouldn't be satisfied without making a real mark. Leaving a legacy. As miffed as I was at Niko's departure, none of us can say he didn't leave FU a whole lot better than he found it. The remarkable turnaround will always be Niko's legacy.

Can Coach Richey say the same? Yes, he's led the team to two 25+ win seasons and the NIT - better than Niko's record - but without having reached the NCAA or even advancing in the NIT, does that fulfill the status of a legacy? My guess is that CBR wouldn't think so. With his eye for stats & trends, my guess is that Coach would say he's just maintained a trend that Niko had already set in motion.

My expectation is that Coach has high goals for himself here, and it would take an astounding offer to divert his focus. The Drakes & JMU's should just look elsewhere and not waste their time.

[DungeonRealm]

Is Matt Rafferty still planning to play in Europe? Anyone heard how that is looking?
Would be great to get him here on the coaching staff at Furman one day

[CharlieFU]

Is Matt Rafferty still planning to play in Europe? Anyone heard how that is looking?
Would be great to get him here on the coaching staff at Furman one day

Matt was playing in Europe before re-injuring his back. Last I heard, his playing days are over. And he is interested in coaching.

[DungeonRealm]

Is Matt Rafferty still planning to play in Europe? Anyone heard how that is looking?
Would be great to get him here on the coaching staff at Furman one day

Matt was playing in Europe before re-injuring his back. Last I heard, his playing days are over. And he is interested in coaching.

Hope to see him at Furman on the staff if we get any openings

[soconjohn]

I have a feeling BR knows that next season Furman has a shot to do some things never done before in the program, as well as accomplish some goals that haven't happened here in some time....Plus, there will be a lot more local openings after next year that are much more attractive than say a JMU...Could be wrong, but I would assume this to be the case.

[fufanatic]

I have a feeling BR knows that next season Furman has a shot to do some things never done before in the program, as well as accomplish some goals that haven't happened here in some time....Plus, there will be a lot more local openings after next year that are much more attractive than say a JMU...Could be wrong, but I would assume this to be the case.

He has to be eyeing Clemson, right? Has spent extended time hanging around Dabo and wouldn't even have to move.

[Paul C]

Knowing Bob a little, I believe that when he DOES move on (it’s inevitable) it will be for a P5/high-major program and a 7-figure salary...even if it takes him a little longer to build a resume for that kind of job. I’d be shocked if he left us for another mid-major for another 100k or so....

[youwouldno]

Going to a subpar mid-major for a little more short-term money would be an unbelievably dumb move, which makes me doubt Richey would do it. He already has the ball rolling at Furman . . . he keeps it up a while longer and he's rich. I'd be shocked if he approached his own career without the strategy that he applies to his basketball program.

[MNORM]

Going to a subpar mid-major for a little more short-term money would be an unbelievably dumb move, which makes me doubt Richey would do it. He already has the ball rolling at Furman . . . he keeps it up a while longer and he's rich. I'd be shocked if he approached his own career without the strategy that he applies to his basketball program.

How Furman responds to this success plays a huge part. If the administration and fans don't support the program in a way that makes him believe he can achieve his goals, he will leave. We all play a part in keeping this from happening.

[Roundball]

Read a post on the ETSU post about their coach leaving that makes sense. Coaches in conferences like the SoCon have the added pressure of winning every game in order to have a better chance to make it to March Madness. It has to be discouraging to win 25+ games every year, but have your fate determined in a silly tournament played at the end of the year. The regular season really means very little for most mid-major teams.

[CharlieFU]

Sort of like the early days when only conference champs got invited. At one point there were only 16 teams in the whole thing I think. NC State beat Maryland in an epic ACC championship game in mid 70’s. Md was probably the second best team in the whole country but they were left out.

Incredible the change since then.