St. Bonaventure men’s basketball coach Mark Schmidt interviewed for the vacant Pitt job Thursday, according to multiple reports. Days after learning Pitt offered Dan Hurley $3 million for the job, fans were underwhelmed — to say the least — that Pitt is considering Schmidt.
Mark Schmidt interviewed with Pitt yesterday, source says.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 23, 2018
@pitt_lykeAD pic.twitter.com/L8Q1GhJWsJ
— Andy (@PittAndy412) March 23, 2018
— Bravo Echo November (@fnihost) March 23, 2018
Do you want Pitt to hire Mark Schmidt? @Pitt_LykeAD
— Chris Dokish (@ChrisDokish) March 23, 2018
Schmidt posted a 192-152 record at St. Bonaventure, a A-10 school located in rural New York. Before leading the Bonnies, he racked up a 82–90 record at Robert Morris University. For an ACC program like Pitt, his resume is underwhelming for fans and media.
By far the most embarrassing thing about Pitt hiring Mark Schmidt would be that Duquesne hired a more accomplished coach one year ago.
— Dan Sostek (@dan_sostek) March 23, 2018
the only thing I can say with certainty about the Pitt search — if it ends with Mark Schmidt, people are gonna go Level 10 insane. there will be fans who have rage strokes.
— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) March 22, 2018
Cancelling all plans to watch Pitt Twitter meltdown if this Mark Schmidt hire goes through
— larry (@larrylaw17) March 23, 2018
So Pitt is going to hire Mark Schmidt who had a losing record at RMU when they could hire literally anyone else
— Jordy Faux (@Jordy_football) March 23, 2018
@Pitt_LykeAD if you hire Mark Schmidt, I’ll never attend another basketball game. Hire @nate_oats and be done with it!
— Pitt_Is_It (@Pitt_Is_It) March 23, 2018
Pitt fired Kevin Stallings March 8 after a winless season in the ACC and a 24-41 record. Pitt will reportedly have to pay Stallings a near $10 million buyout, though the school is attempting to fire him with cause to avoid the buyout.
— John R. Phillips (@jrphillips0677) March 23, 2018
Some fans came to the defense of Schmidt, who helped turn around the struggling Bonnies.
Atlantic 10 fans and pretty much anyone who pays attention are laughing at Pitt fans who are scoffing at Mark Schmidt's candidacy for their opening. If you can win in Olean after what he inherited, you can win anywhere
— Matt Vautour (@MattVautour424) March 23, 2018
But the immediate reaction indicates that hiring Schmidt would anger fans — just like when Pitt hired Stallings, another coach with a subpar resume.
Please no. This would be a total disaster. They have to realize that this is Kevin Stallings 2.0. Good luck getting the fans to come back with this trash.
— Whithorn_ (@Whithorn_) March 23, 2018
I like the Bonnies having lived in NW Pa., but Schmidt kinda seems like Kevin Stallings with a full head of hair. 😑
— Nick Cammuso (@npc210) March 23, 2018
I never thought I’d say this in my life: this would be worse than Kevin Stallings https://t.co/67Z8Gjv9sh
— Ryan Harkleroad (@_ryanharks) March 23, 2018
So you pay $10 million to fire Kevin Stallings to hire a less successful version of Kevin Stallings. Makes sense to me……. 🙄 https://t.co/wpLCSEe5OA
— Paul Zeise (@PaulZeise) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/stevelimfor3/status/977225903020396544
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