Billy Fennelly new WBB assistant coach

[Dryburn]

It's obviously legal or they wouldn't allow would they?

Do you think JP would allow illegal hiring practices to KNOWINGLY take place? As someone else said, if you are so worried about what you perceive to be illegal hiring, you should contact the Iowa State HR department.

HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES 515-294-9525 | 294-0104

NAME POSITION OFFICE EMAIL (@iastate.edu) Ruba, Kari Director of Human Resources 4-9525 kruba

If the hiring decision takes place above Bill (and I think it does), then they're in the clear.

Iowa Regents' policy:

4.11 Employment and Supervision of Immediate Family Members
No employee of a Regent institution or the Board Office may participate in the decision to hire, retain, promote, grant tenure to or determine the salary of an immediate family member.
Each institution shall implement this policy with appropriate disclosure requirements and management plans for situations in which an immediate family member would be in a supervisory role or otherwise expected to participate in major employment decisions.

Being against University policy does not mean it is illegal. No one necessarily gets arrested or goes to jail for violating University policy.

I think we deserve to know what the procedures were in this, and other hires. Some of you apparently don't care. At the U of I, all kinds of hell is being raised about the fact that the spouse of the President there is a paid employee of the University, and is partially paid by the foundation.

We need to know how the supervision is set up. How do they get around the requirement that one family member is not to be directly supervised by another? I know from personal experience this was not allowed in other departments. I just want to know how the Athletic Department gets by this. Guess I will have to talk to some old Personnel people I know at ISU, and some old Regents I know.

[EHdakota]

I think as long as he wins, he can do what ever he wants, and those close enough will smile and look away or block the view.

[cydney]

Chris, I don't think the major issue is with Billy per se, as he is probably ready for a entry level assistant coach position.

That being said, the main issue I have, and is the elephant in the room is understanding this from the perspective of the recruit/customer.

This is Wbb, with a W. Young girls today are not looking for father figures, but female role models. While Jodi is an amazing coach, and Latoya is a good bigs coach from what I have heard, they are not near in age to our players.

This for me is what I see as the disconnect that we do not have a young role model leader on staff. This is a sport where male coaches are finding it harder and harder to operate. Look at Geno's staff. All women. One, a formal player and national championship team member.....

This is a female sport. Not that men cannot be coaches, but I know for a fact that they is a healthy percentage of girls that will not play for a man, period. There are others that this is a gray area.

So, this is what I am sensitive to. Not is Billy qualified, nor is Billy going to work his butt off, but what does this say to recruits.

I will be much more secure in my confidence if we did add an Ezell, or Lacey to staff in Billy's old position, which it hasn't been lost on many of us, was created just for Billy at ISU. Has it been eliminated now?

Again, time will tell.

You are assuming some things that may not be true. Look at rbingley's post. A former WBB player does not necessarily hold more favor with recruits. It's about respect and relationships. ISU WBB has two excellent women on its coaching staff. Gender/age should have no bearing on this coaching hire. Those who are complaining about university policy (in which there are well defined procedures for family members), should be equally concerned about the potential for giving preferential treatment based on gender or age. While women role models are invaluable, it often happens in real life that a man fills the mentor role very well.

Ironically, as a few posters have repeatedly put forth arguments against the hire, I have grown to like the hire more.

[kcdc4isu]

Being against University policy does not mean it is illegal. No one necessarily gets arrested or goes to jail for violating University policy.

I think we deserve to know what the procedures were in this, and other hires. Some of you apparently don't care. At the U of I, all kinds of hell is being raised about the fact that the spouse of the President there is a paid employee of the University, and is partially paid by the foundation.

We need to know how the supervision is set up. How do they get around the requirement that one family member is not to be directly supervised by another? I know from personal experience this was not allowed in other departments. I just want to know how the Athletic Department gets by this. Guess I will have to talk to some old Personnel people I know at ISU, and some old Regents I know.

OK so we know you do not agree with this hire and do not feel it is legal so why not do what we (and even you) have suggested you do and get the answer . Then if you are correct and it is not per the rules you can crow about how you are right but if it is legal then just let it go because even if you don't agree, if it follows policy it is a legal hire.

[jbhtexas]

OK so we know you do not agree with this hire and do not feel it is legal so why not do what we (and even you) have suggested you do and get the answer . Then if you are correct and it is not per the rules you can crow about how you are right but if it is legal then just let it go because even if you don't agree, if it follows policy it is a legal hire.

Why are you so defensive about this? He's asking legitimate questions, as has pretty much everybody in this thread who has questioned the hire. I don't get the impression that he or anybody else want to "crow" about being right or wrong.

When a head coach hires his kid as an assistant, questions are going to be asked. In the Big 12, we've seen some attempts at a head coach grooming a family member to take over, and it hasn't exactly been a rousing success, despite some very successful head coaches giving it a try (i.e. Sutton and Knight). Is hiring Billy the first step down this path? If so, why does the staff think it can be successful at ISU, when it hasn't been elsewhere in our conference?

[Cyclone90]

I'd say 155 posts in a WBB thread = uproar. Relatively speaking of course.

[jaretac]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. This is far from an "uproar" in my opinion. It's like 5-10 vocal people on a message board who are voicing their opinion, which they have a right to do.

We've seen UPROARS on this site...That's thread after thread popping up about the same topic. Angry folks...You get the picture.

Just my opinion here but I think if you'd poll women's basketball season ticket holders, the majority would be happy with Bill's decision. Again - That's just my opinion. Everybody has one.

I think BF has earned some leway with fans. I bet if we had a poll like this:

Billy was a great addition
I trust BF
Billy needs to be replaced now

About 90% of fans would pick the middle choice. About 4% would pick the top one and about 6% would pick the bottom. I wouldn't say that is overwhelming support one way are another. I think BF will be allowed this experiment by the fans just because he has earned our trust. If this was McDermott or Chizik the majority would pick the bottom. The fact that most fans wouldn't pick the top one is evidence of how little people actually care for the hire.

[Three4Cy]

It's obviously legal or they wouldn't allow would they?Do you think JP would allow illegal hiring practices to KNOWINGLY take place? As someone else said, if you are so worried about what you perceive to be illegal hiring, you should contact the Iowa State HR department.HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES 515-294-9525 | 294-0104 NAME POSITION OFFICE EMAIL (@iastate.edu) Ruba, Kari Director of Human Resources 4-9525 kruba

If the hiring decision takes place above Bill (and I think it does), then they're in the clear.Iowa Regents' policy:4.11 Employment and Supervision of Immediate Family Members No employee of a Regent institution or the Board Office may participate in the decision to hire, retain, promote, grant tenure to or determine the salary of an immediate family member. Each institution shall implement this policy with appropriate disclosure requirements and management plans for situations in which an immediate family member would be in a supervisory role or otherwise expected to participate in major employment decisions.

Being against University policy does not mean it is illegal. No one necessarily gets arrested or goes to jail for violating University policy.I think we deserve to know what the procedures were in this, and other hires. Some of you apparently don't care. At the U of I, all kinds of hell is being raised about the fact that the spouse of the President there is a paid employee of the University, and is partially paid by the foundation. We need to know how the supervision is set up. How do they get around the requirement that one family member is not to be directly supervised by another? I know from personal experience this was not allowed in other departments. I just want to know how the Athletic Department gets by this. Guess I will have to talk to some old Personnel people I know at ISU, and some old Regents I know.

So you are saying JP knowingly violated the hiring policies of the university and Board of Regents with this hire?

[jaretac]

So you are saying JP knowingly violated the hiring policies of the university and Board of Regents with this hire?

And look up the definition of policy. The first definition I came across doing a Google search was described as "a principle or rule to guide decisions".

A definition of business policy is: "defines the scope or spheres within which decisions can be taken by the subordinates in an organization. It permits the lower level management to deal with the problems and issues without consulting top level management every time for decisions. Business policies are the guidelines developed by an organization to govern its actions. They define the limits within which decisions must be made."

An other words policies are there to help you in making decisions, not there to make the decision for you. You can violate just about any "policy" and legally get by with it as long as you have a responsible explanation as to why it was necessary or the approval of those above you.

An other words, even if it is a violation of university policy, that doesn't mean the hire was a bad hire. JP himself as a department head may have the authorization to override such a policy. If not he may have got permission from the president. I believe the only time someone would have to seek BOR approval would be if the president was looking to hire department heads and that hire violated policy. Other than that it is simply chain of command.

[kcdc4isu]

Why are you so defensive about this? He's asking legitimate questions, as has pretty much everybody in this thread who has questioned the hire. I don't get the impression that he or anybody else want to "crow" about being right or wrong.

When a head coach hires his kid as an assistant, questions are going to be asked. In the Big 12, we've seen some attempts at a head coach grooming a family member to take over, and it hasn't exactly been a rousing success, despite some very successful head coaches giving it a try (i.e. Sutton and Knight). Is hiring Billy the first step down this path? If so, why does the staff think it can be successful at ISU, when it hasn't been elsewhere in our conference?

Sorry you feel I am defensive, I am just pointing out that this poster has numeruos times stated this hiring must be a violation and all I said was for him to get proof. If this was illegal (and I do not believe it was) and they finds proof you can bet they will let everyone know they were correct and those who felt otherwise were wrong. As far as grooming Billy for the head coach I believe he will have to go be a head coach at another school first to prove himself as you are correct the two cases on the mens side did not work out at all.

[Clones85']

Bumping.

2nd in the Big 12. In the title game in the conference tourney. What the hell was Bill Fennelly doing hiring Billy? Man, if only Bill knew as much about coaching and building a program as some in this thread did back in June.

[mwwbbfan]

You cannot overlook the impact the elevation of Jodi Steyer to Assoc. Head Coach had. Billy is primarily involved in recruiting and is not as involved in the day to day coaching as the others. JS has assumed a lot of the responsibility for the game prep especially on the defensive end, along with BF. There was a lot of hand wringing about JE's departure but JS has more than made up for his leaving.