I'd like to think it was my blog that lit a fire under Siena. That would be ridiculous, as there are only a handful in this business who think they are important enough to have that happen., and they know who they are.
I am not one of those.
Besides, Fran McCaffery and Siena Athletic Director John D'Argenio both said this was a deal that's been in the works since right after the NCAA's. In fact, McCaffery said they could have had the deal done a week ago, if not for the Final Four.
In any event, it's done. Well, it's as done as any college basketball agreement can me. There is a buyout that would let McCaffery go to another school. This is pretty standard in the business, especially a business as transient as college basketball.
As I said in a previous entry, Fran has been rock solid consistant on his message that he wants to be at Siena and that it is one of the best jobs in the country. It is that because that is what he's made it. McCaffery, his assistants, the administration and the business leaders in the area who will be ponying up more cash to help pay for the deal have combined to make it a most desireable job.
This is a huge leap of faith from D'Argenio, Fr. Mullen and Siena and I applaud them for it. While Siena is competitive in many sports at the division I level, it is basketball that has put them on the map. Keeping McCaffery and his assistants around will only help that grown into something even bigger. If nothing else, it'll make it so people around the country spell Siena with only one "N".
