Woj says he has a plan to save St. Bonaventure basketball. Why don’t locals believe him?
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Adrian Wojnarowski, former ESPN NBA insider, became St. Bonaventure basketball's general manager in 2024, aiming to transform the program amid new challenges like NIL and player compensation.
- Wojnarowski's tenure has been marked by controversy, including friction with longtime coach Mark Schmidt, who retired after 19 seasons amid disagreements over program direction and salary structure.
- The school replaced Schmidt with Mike MacDonald, a Division II coach, as part of a strategy to reduce coaching salaries and increase player compensation, reflecting shifts in college basketball economics.
- Wojnarowski's high-profile involvement in recruiting and management has divided the local Olean community, with some locals skeptical of his approach and his perceived distance from the town's culture and politics.
- Wojnarowski remains focused on the program's future success, emphasizing that the head coach will have control over basketball decisions while he handles fundraising and NIL-related matters, though community acceptance remains uncertain.
