Opinion ID: 1302107
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Brennan's Reports

Text: In March 2004, after the conclusion of the 2003-2004 season, Brennan was asked as Director of Athletics by Liguori and the Iona Board of Trustees to prepare a written report evaluating the men's basketball program, and to make recommendations for reform. Brennan submitted two reports: a preliminary report, and a final report. In the course of preparing the reports, Brennan consulted Petriccione on several occasions. Brennan presented each of his reports to the four people who ultimately made the termination decision. These four were: (1) the college President, Brother Liguori; and his three vice Presidents: (2) Petriccione (Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Affairs), (3) Sister Marie Thornton (Vice President for Finance), and (4) Dr. Warren Rosenberg (the college's Provost). Brennan's reports noted a [l]ack of team motivation, and stated that the Gaels were [c]onsistently outperformed by teams with less talent. He found that there was [p]oor team and individual academic performance. The [n]umber one problem with the men's basketball program was [f]undamental lack of discipline. Initially, Brennan suggested three possible courses of action to shake up the team and get it back on track. First, the college might fire the entire coaching staff, including Ruland. Given the size of Ruland's contract, however, this would have cost the college a very large amount of money, and no-one seems to have seriously considered the possibility. Brennan `presented a second option: firing all three assistant coaches. Third, the College could keep the current coaching staff in place. In late March 2004, Brennan submitted a new report, offering final proposals for consideration. This final report ultimately counseled against firing the assistant coaches; to do so, Brennan stated, would be akin to only . . . cutting off appendages to the issue while the core remains. In addition to the three options mentioned above, Brennan added what he said was his preferred option: leave the coaching staff intact, place them on notice that there might be personnel changes as early as July if the situation did not improve, and impose as a condition of continued employment a twenty-five-point strategic plan to improve the program both on and off the court. Brennan's reports made no specific criticisms of Holcomb, but did criticize the coaching staff as a whole, saying that they [c]an't get along, that they were [p]oor politically, and that they [d]o not work as hard as they need to make this program successful. The one assistant coach who was mentioned specifically in Brennan's reports was O'Driscoll, of whom Brennan wrote, Rob O'Driscoll works very well with others across campus.