Mark Rosen will not return as our volleyball coach
Below is the link to the press release
https://mgoblue.com/news/2022/12/20/michigan-announces-leadership-change-in-volleyball.aspx
December 21st, 2022 at 2:16 PM ^
hmmm, seemed like he was doing a good job, not sure why they would fire him.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:23 PM ^
Going 1-4 in the tournament in the last five non covid years and missing the tournament this year is a rough stretch. Especially when only one of the opening round games was a loss you couldn't fault them for (#5 Texas in 2018). It'd be different if it was more like softball when the north is tilted against with regional talent, volleyball that is hardly the case.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
Nah. Leaders and best my ass. We never once actually competed for a B1G title with him as head coach. Our BEST FINISH was tied for 4th, and that was 12 years ago. There's a reason the his section on the Michigan volleyball Wikipedia hasn't been updated in a decade: He hasn't accomplished jack shit since then.
Michigan athletics has more money that God, and should be trying to compete for national titles in every sport. Rosen elevated the program from "bad" to "okay", but was never going to take the next step.
December 21st, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
I'm a little surprised that he lasted as long as he has. Ten or so years ago several of the top volleyball prospects left the state because of his reputation at the time. Needless to say, the team has done well enough anyway to keep him here. Looking forward to an upgrade.
December 21st, 2022 at 4:04 PM ^
I remember at least one player leaving the program with some very, very negative things to say about Rosen and his wife (who was one of the assistants), and not necessarily playing time stuff. I was surprised nothing really ever came of it.
With that said, I think it's a little crass to dump on the guy across the board. In the end, he got this program to a certain level of success. The B1G is not an easy conference in terms of punching through for WVB championships when you've got programs like PSU, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Pumping one's chest and saying "Michigan should win championships!" is entitled fan talk. Really doing it is another thing.
December 21st, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
Pumping one's chest and saying "Michigan should win championships!" is entitled fan talk. Really doing it is another thing.
Yeah, and it was clear that Rosen wasn't going to do it. He peaked 12 years ago as a "decent Big Ten program." The expectation here should be higher. Other than something like baseball where there's weather deficiencies Michigan should be trying to be competing for championships in every sport, and you can't convince me otherwise. They have the money to do it.
December 21st, 2022 at 4:27 PM ^
Being middle of the pack in the Big Ten for like 15 years with one nice NCAA run is being stagnant and not stagnantly great.
December 21st, 2022 at 5:57 PM ^
Any idea who it was/where those comments can be read? Very curious to know where they felt comfortable sharing that.
December 21st, 2022 at 4:27 PM ^
He never could get Michigan over the hump and I feel like a lot of our recent talent (Paige Jones, May Pertofsky, Jess Robinson, Jess Mruzek, etc.) has been a bit wasted. I feel we really should have had a better result this season, but we fell apart at bad times (losing to IU at the end of the season was brutal and inexcusable) and could never compete with the big dogs of the league (random straight set win in Happy Valley notwithstanding).
OSU built a national title contender in a few years. There is no reason Michigan can't do the same.
The Big Ten is easily the best conference in the country, top to bottom, with Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, Minnesota, Purdue, and Ohio State being really strong, but falling to 9th is just not where we should be. Even a solid 7th place finish would've landed us in the NCAA tournament.
After seeing Michigan be so inconsistent this season, make so many unforced errors, and change up their whole scheme mid-season, it now becomes clear that Rosen knew he was fighting for his job and that this was a last-ditch effort by going to a 6-2. Not sure Michigan had the personnel for it or the familiarity with it to really be successful.
Thankful that he shepherded the team for the last 24 years, but it's time for a change.
December 21st, 2022 at 8:21 PM ^
While I agree with most all the comments above, this reminds me of the men's basketball program a few years ago before they made the major updates and upgrades to the Crisler center. We were a middling program and Beilen got it going, but those facility upgrades made us look much more presentable and professional and that we CARED about the direction of the program.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the state of the Women's volleyball program and Cliff keen arena. It looks like a DUMP! Having had season tickets the last 10+ years, I look forward to the games at Crisler. How do you bring in top 50 recruits and say we are behind this program, you can't. Harper Murray, #1 high school recruit in the country from Ann Arbor Skyline, passed on playing with her sister at Michigan and chose Nebraska.
Thanks Coach Rosen for all you have done.
December 22nd, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
The top vball recruit in the state this year went to Ann Arbor Skyline. And committed to.... Nebraska.
December 29th, 2022 at 10:22 PM ^
She's the top recruit in the country not just the state.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^
Good move by Warde. We need to be more competitive on the national stage. 9th place in the conference is unacceptable.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:23 PM ^
The first two comments are now the official takes. Everyone pick a side.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
wait so the first comment and its reply?
or the first two discrete comments?
i can't pick a side 'til i know
*gnaws fingernails
December 21st, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
I just made a quick comment based on his overall record, I did not put much into my analysis. It seems like it is not holding up well.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^
Did he put his fingers somewhere egregious?
December 21st, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
He missed the last six games of the season for health reasons. I have no idea if this is related to his departure.
December 21st, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^
Daily article says no, he returned from his leave of absence before being fired.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
Though he had recruited some solid talent, it certainly felt like they've underperformed the last couple of years.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
Does anyone know if he’s related to Dr. Rosenpenis or Dr. Rosenrosen?
December 21st, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^
Beat me to it! See below
December 21st, 2022 at 10:02 PM ^
Same way MSU fans are saying about Tuck's acomin' contract:
Drop your shorts and bend over, Mr. Babar (MSU fans)
December 21st, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
Sources are saying they're going to hire his brother Josh
December 21st, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
damn p*nis breath! good riddance!
December 21st, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^
He could always just be a doctor
December 21st, 2022 at 3:17 PM ^
In Warde we - probably have to trust since we don't know much at all about VBall and/or available coaches.
December 21st, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
I say go after Lloy Ball. He's a former Olympic Gold Medalist living about 100 miles from Ann Arbor. He runs a volleyball clinic in northern Indiana for the better players in the area. He's got Midwest roots growing up in Indiana and attended IPFW, now PFW, who used to be good at volleyball back in the day. His dad was the coach at IPFW when he was there. I'm sure he has picked up a few things over the years from him.
December 21st, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
Seems like a sport Michigan should dominate with their resources.
December 21st, 2022 at 8:24 PM ^
Go visit Cliff Keen arena and you will change your mind.
December 21st, 2022 at 9:03 PM ^
Yep
IIRC, every other program has been upgraded except for volleyball, men’s gymnastics and wrestling. The common theme is that they all play in Cliff Keen.
I like going to Crisler but wouldn’t want it to be the permanent home for volleyball.
December 22nd, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
WHy don't you want Crisler to be the permanent home? It NEEDS to be. We want a program that would NEED that facility for games (i.e. Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, etc). Spiffy up the practice facility all you want, but we should want a program that can sell out the lower bowl (minimally) of Crisler.
December 22nd, 2022 at 6:51 PM ^
Only reason is you are too far from the action, that's all. If they decide to stay in Crisler, I won't bitch and be upset. Some games I go to the ends of the arena are empty.
I would love volleyball to get so good that they have to play games at Crisler
December 21st, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
Michigan was in the final 4 of the NCAA tournament but that was 10 years ago. The B1G keeps getting more competitive and we are at best somewhere in the middle.
I think a large part of our problem is that the facilities at Cliff Keen are antiquated - the building was converted from a swimming pool and there are other schools where volleyball has a following closer to the basketball team.
I don't think the change in coaching staff will hurt us and perhaps the new energy will help but it will probably take more than a new coaching staff to reach championship levels.
December 21st, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
Was quite the miraculous run too, beating #10, getting a break with MSU in the sweet 16, and then beating #2 Stanford at their home. Only needed a fifth set in the opening round too. Really good run for a team outside the top 16, especially when top seeds typically do a good job holding serve.
December 21st, 2022 at 6:17 PM ^
Lost to Texas in 5 sets in the semis also. Texas went on to dominate in the championship. Michigan was on fire that tournament and truly came close to winning it all, but there's been no success since then. What about the Kentucky coach? They won it all a couple years ago. I would have to imagine Michigan could top whatever their paying.
December 21st, 2022 at 7:14 PM ^
Incredibly they pay 2x what Michigan paid Rosen, and Kentucky's coach makes 450K. Could Michigan could pay it, but they would have to pay top tier money to do so.
December 21st, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
Good. Olympic sport coaches need to be held accountable as well. Who else might be on the hot seat?
December 21st, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
Panic
December 21st, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^
Fire Bakich! or Hire Backich!
Whichever works for you.
December 21st, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
In the words of Joe Maddon, "Try not to suck."
December 21st, 2022 at 6:06 PM ^
It was time.
Michigan never improved. When was the last time they were in the hunt for a B1G championship?
Michigan has 3 sports inside Cliff Keen, it's time to upgrade. As bad a Dave Brandon was, he wanted to upgrade it, but it never happened.
And I don't want all the games played at Crisler.
December 21st, 2022 at 6:54 PM ^
Too much highlighter yellow
December 22nd, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
Why don't you want all the games played at Crisler?