Coach Frank Martin

[Berkman]

I can remember seeing someplace that he admitted that he screwed up up making the choice of his recruits and said that he would be more careful this year. We will have to wait and see.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

I don't think there's a reason to fire him/let him go at this point. It's only been year 3, he previously showed signs of program improvement, we know he can win/has a pedigree, and having coaching instability with the conference move going on wouldn't be great. That's all before consideration of the $ it would take, and the further heat it would put on the AD.


With that said, Ryan and Frank probably need to have a Come-to-Jesus chat about the regression from Year 2 to 3, discussion and assessment of Frank's willingness to actually work within the current NIL landscape, and a plan for success moving forward. If something crazy comes out of this that warrants a separation, then so be it. Otherwise, I'm ok with seeing what Frank can do moving forward.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

I can remember seeing someplace that he admitted that he screwed up up making the choice of his recruits and said that he would be more careful this year. We will have to wait and see.

did he recently say this? Prior to the season he was bragging on local radio and on the Just Being Frank podcast that UMass had the #1 rated recruiting class in the A-10 - I mean I know every one of them stunk this year but I'd be surprised if he admitted his class sucked

If you told me he admitted to making mistakes when it came to the portal - that I would believe and agree with.

[Juice Stand]

With that said, Ryan and Frank probably need to have a Come-to-Jesus chat about the regression from Year 2 to 3, discussion and assessment of Frank's willingness to actually work within the current NIL landscape, and a plan for success moving forward. If something crazy comes out of this that warrants a separation, then so be it. Otherwise, I'm ok with seeing what Frank can do moving forward.

Very well said.

I can remember seeing someplace that he admitted that he screwed up up making the choice of his recruits and said that he would be more careful this year. We will have to wait and see.

did he recently say this? Prior to the season he was bragging on local radio and on the Just Being Frank podcast that UMass had the #1 rated recruiting class in the A-10 - I mean I know every one of them stunk this year but I'd be surprised if he admitted his class sucked

If you told me he admitted to making mistakes when it came to the portal - that I would believe and agree with.

Yes, it was in the of the more recent Just Being Frank episodes when they talked about losing Jaylen Curry to the wrist injury. He know they needed more guard depth but made a decision to add pieces elsewhere, which he regretted.

[Quann]

We're not getting a better coach than Frank but if UMass wants another Matt McCall type guy, by all means, let him go I think it would be pretty damn foolish heading into the MAC.

[PreecherJenkins]

We're not getting a better coach than Frank but if UMass wants another Matt McCall type guy, by all means, let him go I think it would be pretty damn foolish heading into the MAC.

Unless Frank is leaving all the money on the table he’ll be back. Bamford cannot afford a 8m firing

[doubledribble]

We're not getting a better coach than Frank but if UMass wants another Matt McCall type guy, by all means, let him go I think it would be pretty damn foolish heading into the MAC.

Unless Frank is leaving all the money on the table he’ll be back. Bamford cannot afford a 8m firing

I’m afraid we are stuck with Frank. Thanks Bam Bam for reupping him!

[PreecherJenkins]

We're not getting a better coach than Frank but if UMass wants another Matt McCall type guy, by all means, let him go I think it would be pretty damn foolish heading into the MAC.

Unless Frank is leaving all the money on the table he’ll be back. Bamford cannot afford a 8m firing

I’m afraid we are stuck with Frank. Thanks Bam Bam for reupping him!

I do not have issue with Frank taking the contract. I have issue with Bambi giving this contract. He made a 750k mistake when he gave McCrap an extension after the first year, which fully guaranteed McCrap's 5th year! He gave Frank a golden parachute as well. Frank is not leaving, there is no way he is going to retire having to pay UMass a bag...

[WillHerndonFan]

Agree that continuity and stability are key, but am definitely concerned about excess player turnover because of his coaching style. I will concede that a players coach like McCall had just as much turnover.

The continuity and stability argument has always been bullsit even before NIL. The decision to hire Bruiser Flint worked well for us as each year the program got worse including the recruits. The movie Jerry Maguire had the best line by fictional receiver Rod Tidwell told Jerry to say “Show me the Money”. That’s what Frank or future coach should be saying during calls or inperson recruit visits! I can see it now as recruits tell Frank or future coach that they can’t hear them as Frank or future coach degrade themselves by yelling at the top of their lungs to a prized recruit to “Show Me the Money”!

[eldonabe]

We're not getting a better coach than Frank but if UMass wants another Matt McCall type guy, by all means, let him go I think it would be pretty damn foolish heading into the MAC.

Unless Frank is leaving all the money on the table he’ll be back. Bamford cannot afford a 8m firing

I’m afraid we are stuck with Frank. Thanks Bam Bam for reupping him!

You cannot Monday morning QB these things - that is simply not fair.

In the moment / at the moment it made some sense to bring him back. As (I think Mike) noted, Umass was coming off it's first 20+ win season in a long time. They knew the MAC thing by then and Frank was still willing to sign on for it. They guy is nuts, but he would be the biggest name known in MAC.

For me, personally, I was not and still am not ok with his body language when it comes to the portal. That was a red flag for me. All of the bitching in the world is not going to change it. STFU, deal with it like everyone else and get over it.


The player turnover is just part of the game now. The tope teams are getting high turnover too. St John's and UConn are expecting to lose 50% of their roster. So is Auburn - you know the #1 seed.

[Juice Stand]

In the moment / at the moment it made some sense to bring him back. As (I think Mike) noted, Umass was coming off it's first 20+ win season in a long time. They knew the MAC thing by then and Frank was still willing to sign on for it. They guy is nuts, but he would be the biggest name known in MAC.

Correct. They made the MAC announcement during the basketball season, Feb 29, and his extension was announced June 20. As he's said many times, the A10 was attractive to him, but he didn't take the job to be an A10 coach, he took the job to be the UMass coach.

https://www.umass.edu/news/article/univ ... ull-member
https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/6/ ... -minutemen

[devildawg3010]

Coach Martin made nother appearance today on the Coach JB Show at the 28 min mark. Was on for around 40 mins.

https://www.youtube.com/live/sVPQK6Uwy0 ... rWzI1d_a-6

Brief summary from what I remember:

- Three players contacted Frank w/in 12 hrs after losing in the A10 tourney last year about transferring

- Cross and father had open line with coach. Matt entered the portal on the last day bc he was loyal. Frank has to tell him that Frank will still be here and he will still be playing bball but with life changing money on his last year.

- Said this team didn't get along on the court in the beginning, figured some things out.

- Admitted this year was on him and a disappointment.

- Said at some point during the season he let off the button with the team meaning intensity.

- Said he is all in on Juco players.

- Same gripes about NIL but let's be honest he is not the only one.

That's all I remember but there was more. I enjoy listening to Frank especially if he's with his buddies shooting the breeze.

[Juice Stand]

Yeah, that was alright. Just a couple of guys complaining about "kids these days"

The interesting bits were his comments on JUCOs and his mea culpa on the season. He definitely knows that this season was largely on him. For those that didn't listen, he says he's all in on JUCO's because they're dogs. Something along the lines of "they'll run through a wall just to get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich".

[NilesGold]

For those that didn't listen, he says he's all in on JUCO's because they're dogs. Something along the lines of "they'll run through a wall just to get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich".

Oh man, I hope I’m wrong but this feels like a disaster waiting to happen. There are for sure some good JUCO players, but they’re not all “dogs”. Most of them couldn’t get a D1 scholarship out of HS due to grades or a perceived lack of ability. Kinda feels like Frank thinks he found a quick solution to his problems, but all he’s going to do is put his focus into a group of kids who by and large aren’t good enough for D1.

[Juice Stand]

Yup. Shahid was a JUCO guy, and while I like Shahid and would love to see him stick around, get stronger, and develop, I wouldn't describe him as a "run through a brick wall" lunch pail type of guy. Rivera, who also went to JUCO for a bit, but not Shahid, and we all know that Rivera has some very clear limitations.

But hey, Frank's in charge and the worst thing he can do is be indecisive, or try to recruit like he's still in the SEC/Big12. That was McCall's downfall in my opinion. He changed his style every year and we ended up with tons of turnover and inconsistency because of it. If Frank needs a certain type of guy to develop and run his system, then I'm willing to see how it plays out.