Over the past year, no college basketball team has gotten more negative headlines than the Hartford Hawks. They are coming to San Francisco this week.
The Hawks, who play Thursday night at 6 p.m. against the USF Dons, have never been embroiled in a criminal case or involved a player in a cheating or gambling scandal. The university’s upcoming transition from Division I to Division III, and the fallout surrounding it, has made this school one of the most notorious in the country, he said.
In 2021, Hartford will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program’s 64-year history, drawing national acclaim and admiration for head coach John Gallagher. achieve unprecedented success with a small teamTwo months later, the school announced plans to move from Division I athletics to Division III. Citing budget issues, it said it should move to a level that does not offer track and field scholarships. Tournament trip.
“It’s like a knife in the heart (for Gallagher),” said first-year USF head coach Chris Gerufsen, who was on the Hartford coaching staff from 2006 to 2015 and spent five seasons under Gallagher. It was something,” he said.
Being able to participate in the competition should have been the beginning of something great for the university. As the Florida Gulf Coast showed in 2013, his one weekend in the limelight can have a huge impact on a school. After the FGCU reaches Suite 16, The school launched a $100 million fundraising campaign, and out-of-state applications surged 88% the following year.After winning just two NCAA tournaments, the school established itself as “Dunk City,” a school in sunny Fort Myers where cold-weather students competed in a high-flying basketball team. I was fascinated by the idea of watching.
Wes Cole, who graduated from the University of Hartford in 2015, said, “When athletics does well, so does the rest of school. I am aware of the fact that the current administration believes the exact opposite. I went to Sweet 16, and the environment was a little different than a random Tuesday night match in Hartford, and there’s a clear link between enrollment and a good athletic program. “
As embarrassing as the announcement was in the first place, things got worse for the school afterward. In May, then-vice president of Athletics and Recreation, Sharon Beverly, emailed coaches and players. Inform them that any program that ridicules or boos university president Gregory Woodward upon graduation will be sanctionedThis includes withholding of diplomas, suspension of players, and possible forfeiture of matches. Beverly was subsequently named Executive Vice President of the Athletics and Recreation Division.
Woodward Loudly booed at school’s 2021 graduation ceremony And left the ceremony hall early. In less than a week it became clear He lied on his resume about his previous college sports experiencereflecting the 2019 college admissions scandal that resulted in actress Lori Loughlin’s prison sentence.
“They were not on an exercise program.”
“Executive, or president, or whatever you want to call it […] Parker Wu, a Sacramento native who moved to San Diego State after playing for the Hawks in the 2012-13 season, said: His brother, Drake, played for Hartford in the 2008–09 season.
“I was able to get guidance from coach Gallagher and coach Gerhusen,” Parker said. “They have always been great advocates for the University of Hartford and for putting together a team with the best possible housing, travel, training staff, student section, etc. Hearing that Hartford executives didn’t want to Really sad. Please agree with that.
Wu isn’t the only ex-player to make bad comments about Hartford’s government. Cole graduated from school in 2015, where he played in 121 games in four of his seasons, after which he served as a graduate assistant.
“From the time I arrived as a freshman, there was a definite divide between the academic side of campus and athletics. It wasn’t just basketball, it was all sports,” Cole said. “Only Walter Harrison[whowaspresidentfrom1998until2017]really supported us.”
Following the Hawks’ unexpected tournament appearances, a massive outflow of players occurred after a move to Division III was decided. The 2021-22 team he went 12-20 to the Americas East where he lost in the semi-finals of the conference tournament. On Nov. 7, just 36 hours before the Hawks faced in-state nemesis Sacred Heart in the opener of his 2022-23 season, Gallagher resigns over multiple breaches of contractMost importantly, they claimed the school was unable to provide athletic trainers for scrimmage and had no plans to feed the team for away games.
“I’m not surprised he’s stepped down,” Gerlufsen said. “They didn’t take him for granted. I wish him well. He’ll bounce back and get something.”
The 2022-23 Hawks are currently 4-10, with three of those wins coming against Division III competition. They are ranked 362nd in the NET rankings out of 363 Division I teams.is the tool used by the NCAA to evaluate teams and shape the NCAA tournament field.
So why would the USF play this team? It’s a matter of personal connection. Gerhusen didn’t just serve on the Hartford staff before moving to the West Coast. He grew up with Gallagher in Philadelphia.
“We’ve known each other since we were 11 or 12,” said Gerlufsen. “Ever since I got the job, we have been talking about taking them to the West Coast. I’m very disappointed that I can’t do it.He’s a great friend.”
“I’m happy that Gerlufsen has found a new home at USF, and I’m sure Gallagher will do so soon,” U’u added.
Given what he faced in Hartford, Gallagher should have no trouble succeeding at his next destination. He has reached unprecedented heights in a school with no support from management, burning every possible bridge in recent years.
“I will never set foot on campus again, and I don’t think many other athletes will,” Cole said.
