A Sea Of Red

Any thoughts on the Coach Green retirement? Quite the legacy.
Will AS be retained as HC after this year? I look forward to seeing what he can do. Certainly makes the season more interesting!

Purple Haize wrote:Any thoughts on the Coach Green retirement? Quite the legacy.
Will AS be retained as HC after this year? I look forward to seeing what he can do. Certainly makes the season more interesting!

That was a surprise, mostly due to the timing. He truly is a legacy, and the impact he made on and for LU athletics will always be appreciated. A hole has been left in the heart of WBB, but at the same time, I think it is a good move -not factoring in there may be health or other issues that precipitated the decision. I think it’s fair to acknowledge that the WBB game changed a lot during CG's tenure. We've talked on this board about how he didn't adapt stylistically in the way some other programs did...and yet — he still won. That’s part of the paradox of his career: a system that sometimes felt outdated and slow, but continued to produce championships and postseason berths.

As for Coach Sherard, this feels like the most natural transition Liberty could make. He knows the program’s DNA as well as anyone, but if you've been to games, you've seen that he's been the one lately that the girls go to when they have questions or need help from the floor. Remember when he stepped in as acting HC? There seemed to be a different team that looked more relaxed, steady, confident and while the offensive schemes were the same, they seemed different. That kind of trust doesn’t happen unless the players are fully bought in.

Will he be retained long term? I think this year will be the proving ground. I believe the roster’s talented enough to compete in CUSA again, and if CS has the support of the retained staff and continues to lead recruiting well in this new NIL/portal era while keeping Liberty’s foundation intact, he will. We, the fans, will be watching closely to see whether he leans into continuity or decides to tweak the system a bit, and how that fares. He might be a disappointment to some as we are not in the sweet sixteen every year, but he will continue to champion LU as a competitive team who challenges players to excel in the game and grow in their faith!

Either way, this news makes this season more compelling. It will not be the same without CG, but I believe we have a good roster and good leadership (put in place by CG) that will keep LU successful.

Thank you CG for your service for our Lord and to your teams and to LU.

EDIT:Baybird beat me to it and said it better than I could

Well for starters I'm curious what really happened

The timing is odd considering i figured the team has already been practicing

It's been an amazing run and I'm sure history will reflect just how very good he was. But eventually everybody moves on and it's probably time for a fresh approach going forward. Esp given all the changes to DI athletics

Much thanks to Carey tho

PAmedic wrote: ↑August 28th, 2025, 11:44 am EDIT:Baybird beat me to it and said it better than I could

Well for starters I'm curious what really happened

The timing is odd considering i figured the team has already been practicing

It's been an amazing run and I'm sure history will reflect just how very good he was. But eventually everybody moves on and it's probably time for a fresh approach going forward. Esp given all the changes to DI athletics

Much thanks to Carey tho

Practice won't be starting for a few weeks, but I do agree the timing is odd. Why not this Summer? It's almost like he was waiting for a sign from God or something.

A lot will not like what I have to say but I have been saying about Green’s retirement for a couple of years now. The team needs a more energetic coach and hopefully brings in better athletic players. I am still scratching my head how the team lost players like Boone and Moore. I can understand Boone moving on to a higher team/conference, but Moore is questionable. I’m willing to guess that Green favoring Aegislotter over Moore may contribute to her decision. Moore has a higher ceiling than Aegislotter. As I always said, Green had a good career as a coach in the levels of Big South and ASUN. But if the program is to compete at a higher level, it’s time for a new coach.

Timing was likely to make sure Alexis would 100% be the pick

ECC29 wrote: ↑August 28th, 2025, 4:42 pm A lot will not like what I have to say but I have been saying about Green’s retirement for a couple of years now. The team needs a more energetic coach and hopefully brings in better athletic players. I am still scratching my head how the team lost players like Boone and Moore. I can understand Boone moving on to a higher team/conference, but Moore is questionable. I’m willing to guess that Green favoring Aegislotter over Moore may contribute to her decision. Moore has a higher ceiling than Aegislotter. As I always said, Green had a good career as a coach in the levels of Big South and ASUN. But if the program is to compete at a higher level, it’s time for a new coach.

It's a small sample size, but he has done pretty well in C-USA too.

I love Alexis Sherrod. Talk about loyalty? He was an established D1 MBB assistant and literally changed careers to become an assistant for our WBB team so he and his family could stay at Liberty. Over his 19 years under Green, he has passed on HC offers once that I know of, and likely more.

As far as the timing is concerned, I'm sure Manson is right, but I can't say I'm a fan of it. We have maybe the best AD in the country, and choosing the next WBB HC should be Ian McCaw's decision. The timing of this really left him no option but to promote Sherrod. The only question was whether to give him the "interim" label, which would have no doubt been considered a slight. Odds are he would have chosen Alexis regardless, but he should have had the option to consider what would have surely been a long list of excellent candidates who would have applied.

I really don't think Ian would have passed up looking for someone in a nationwide search if he weren't convinced Sherrod was ready and more than capable for the job. Liberty is an attractive job and, bad timing or not, we could have had a pretty good pool of candidates to choose from.

flamehunter wrote: ↑August 29th, 2025, 4:06 pm I really don't think Ian would have passed up looking for someone in a nationwide search if he weren't convinced Sherrod was ready and more than capable for the job. Liberty is an attractive job and, bad timing or not, we could have had a pretty good pool of candidates to choose from.

Your search would be limited to coaches who are out of work, or would be willing to leave their current program in a very bad situation to accept this job. I'm sure I will take some flack for this, but IMHO this move by Green takes a bit of the shine off a tenure that overall has been marked by class. It's been stated here many times that coach Green has earned the right to leave on his own terms, and I essentially concur, but that does not mean he gets to hand pick his successor. It's possible there was a pre arranged agreement with Ian that Alexis would be the guy, but I somehow don't think so. If that were the case, why didn't he announce his retirement back in March and give Alexis more time to establish himself?

olldflame wrote: ↑August 29th, 2025, 9:21 am

ECC29 wrote: ↑August 28th, 2025, 4:42 pm A lot will not like what I have to say but I have been saying about Green’s retirement for a couple of years now. The team needs a more energetic coach and hopefully brings in better athletic players. I am still scratching my head how the team lost players like Boone and Moore. I can understand Boone moving on to a higher team/conference, but Moore is questionable. I’m willing to guess that Green favoring Aegislotter over Moore may contribute to her decision. Moore has a higher ceiling than Aegislotter. As I always said, Green had a good career as a coach in the levels of Big South and ASUN. But if the program is to compete at a higher level, it’s time for a new coach.

It's a small sample size, but he has done pretty well in C-USA too.

I love Alexis Sherrod. Talk about loyalty? He was an established D1 MBB assistant and literally changed careers to become an assistant for our WBB team so he and his family could stay at Liberty. Over his 19 years under Green, he has passed on HC offers once that I know of, and likely more.

As far as the timing is concerned, I'm sure Manson is right, but I can't say I'm a fan of it. We have maybe the best AD in the country, and choosing the next WBB HC should be Ian McCaw's decision. The timing of this really left him no option but to promote Sherrod. The only question was whether to give him the "interim" label, which would have no doubt been considered a slight. Odds are he would have chosen Alexis regardless, but he should have had the option to consider what would have surely been a long list of excellent candidates who would have applied.

Green has earned the right to put one of his assistants in position to show what they can do. I don’t have a problem with it.
I think there will be a ton of quality candidates vying for the job. Alexis has the benefit of putting a full season leading the team on his resume
I’m going to worry about next year…next year. I do bet he wished he had some of those transfers back though.

Unless I'm missing something, there will not be ANY candidates vying for the job, because the job is taken. No interim label, which means even if there is a huge drop-off this season, he will almost certainly have the job for at least 1 more year, and likely 2. To be clear, I believe coach Sherard will do a great job, and expect him to have a long and successful tenure as our HC.

I’m sure this coach has very good basketball knowledge and knows how to coach. But the question is, can he draw the top rated players to LU? A good example was Hugh Freeze when he was hired. HF was able to get Malik Willis.

olldflame wrote: ↑August 30th, 2025, 6:55 am Unless I'm missing something, there will not be ANY candidates vying for the job, because the job is taken. No interim label, which means even if there is a huge drop-off this season, he will almost certainly have the job for at least 1 more year, and likely 2. To be clear, I believe coach Sherard will do a great job, and expect him to have a long and successful tenure as our HC.

I’m absolutely rooting for Alexis. I hope he does great. I hope he keeps the job.
I also know how College Athletics work. He may not have the tag, but unless they sign him to a multi year deal before/during the season …he’s Interim.

ECC29 wrote: ↑August 30th, 2025, 9:16 am I’m sure this coach has very good basketball knowledge and knows how to coach. But the question is, can he draw the top rated players to LU? A good example was Hugh Freeze when he was hired. HF was able to get Malik Willis.

Alexis was key in recruiting several players in the rosters over the years. He won’t have a problem attracting top caliber players. Unfortunately, due to timing, he will have to play with the hand he’s been dealt.

If we had made a hire after conducting a national search, anything short of a total disaster on the court and/or something improper off court and that coach gets 3 years. Why would it be different for Alexis? I can's imagine Ian is happy about this situation. I suppose it's possible he tells coach Sherard that because he was not able to go through his normal hiring process, he will be on a "short leash", without going with the interim label, which i feel pretty sure would have been considered an insult by some of our WBB fan base.

And yet considered entirely appropriate by other members of the fan base.

JK37 wrote: ↑August 30th, 2025, 7:13 pm And yet considered entirely appropriate by other members of the fan base.

And I would be among them, in spite of how much I respect Sherard.

My guess is the decision on the timing was 100% Green. I really hope the team can have a great year and put any controversy to rest.

olldflame wrote: ↑August 30th, 2025, 12:13 pm If we had made a hire after conducting a national search, anything short of a total disaster on the court and/or something improper off court and that coach gets 3 years. Why would it be different for Alexis? I can's imagine Ian is happy about this situation. I suppose it's possible he tells coach Sherard that because he was not able to go through his normal hiring process, he will be on a "short leash", without going with the interim label, which i feel pretty sure would have been considered an insult by some of our WBB fan base.

It’s different simply because no search was conducted. I think Ian will call it ‘due diligence’ but I’d bet the farm there’s going to be a search for the next WBB coach. I search that will include Alexis. I want the ladies to rally around him and put facts on and off the floor that make it absolutely apparent that Alexis should be the next coach. I hope they offer him a 3 year contract before the end of the season I just don’t see that happening

You may have a personal tie with Alexis or you may like the guy. I’m sure he is a good guy, but it does not mean he is the future coach for the WBB that will take the program to a new heights. You said he is responsible for the recruiting of players. The players that have come are good decent players but not top tier players. We need a coach that can bring a couple of 4-stars players to help the team. There is a coach out there that has those connections.

ECC29 wrote: ↑September 2nd, 2025, 9:23 pm You may have a personal tie with Alexis or you may like the guy. I’m sure he is a good guy, but it does not mean he is the future coach for the WBB that will take the program to a new heights. You said he is responsible for the recruiting of players. The players that have come are good decent players but not top tier players. We need a coach that can bring a couple of 4-stars players to help the team. There is a coach out there that has those connections.

He was responsible for recruiting a lot of the players The ones he was primary recruiter on were/are very good.