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New assistant: Tony Pujol

JimmyDimes said:
This will made some people happy. Good hire.
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Why? Who is this guy? Anybody explain him please? What group of "some people" is this hire pleasing?

I'm excited about anything positive for the program. Just curious about this and couldn't find info on this guy as fast as one of you will eventually give. Thank you
 
http://trib.com/sports/college/wyoming/mbb/sources-former-alabama-assistant-tony-pujol-to-join-wyoming-men/article_87b92d6f-e2b7-56aa-982f-cc2bc957f13f.html

Here is a link to the article from CST.
 
Coeur d' Alene said:
JimmyDimes said:
This will made some people happy. Good hire.
Click to expand...
Why? Who is this guy? Anybody explain him please? What group of "some people" is this hire pleasing?

I'm excited about anything positive for the program. Just curious about this and couldn't find info on this guy as fast as one of you will eventually give. Thank you
Click to expand...


It is pleasing me for one. :lol:

This guy is head of an AAU program in NYC and was an assistant coach at VCU with coach Edwards and was an assistant at Alabama.

Here is some of his bio:

"During his first three seasons as an assistant coach, Pujol played a pivotal role in assisting the Crimson Tide to three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1990, 1991 and 1992 campaigns - a span of just over 20 years. In 2012-13, Pujol helped lead Alabama to a 23-13 overall record (12-6 SEC) as the squad reached the quarterfinals of the NIT and finished second in the SEC. It marked the third consecutive season the Tide has reached the postseason. During Pujol's second year as an assistant, the Crimson Tide was selected to participate in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, its first trip to the NCAAs since 2006, after winning 21 games overall and nine against Southeastern Conference opponents. Alabama played one of the toughest schedules in the league and the nation, ranking third and 29th, respectively. The Tide's signature gritty defense was ever present as its opponents shot only 38.9 percent from the floor while averaging 58.1 points per game.

In his first season as an assistant for the Tide, Pujol helped guide the 2010-11 squad to a 25-12 record, an SEC Western Division championship and an appearance in the NIT title game. His work with the Tide's defense helped produce one of the toughest defenses in the nation, as the Tide surrendered only 59.4 points per game, the eighth-lowest average in the nation.

That 2010-11 defensive effort also ranked as one of the best in the history of the Southeastern Conference, as the 10th-lowest average in SEC history and lowest since 1984. Alabama's tenacious defense helped make Coleman Coliseum one of the toughest places in the nation to play, as the Tide posted a 19-0 home record in 2010-11.

On the recruiting trail, Pujol has helped turn Alabama into a national presence. His efforts helped the Tide land a 2011 recruiting class that rivals.com ranked as the fifth-best in the nation, with four prospects ranked in the top 100 nationally.

Pujol and Crimson Tide head coach Anthony Grant have a long and dynamic relationship, as Pujol served on Grant's staff at VCU for three seasons. The pair also both hail from Miami and began their coaching careers as high school coaches in south Florida.

While at VCU, Pujol and Grant coached the Rams to three straight conference titles and postseason appearances, including a pair of NCAA berths. He worked with 12 all-Colonial Athletic Association selections, two-time CAA Player of the Year Eric Maynor, and helped recruit a class that was ranked No. 5 among mid-major programs.

Pujol's ties to his native South Florida also helped attract future NBA lottery pick Larry Sanders to VCU, along with a host of other talented players from the Sunshine State."

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/pujol_tony00.html

I think this is a great pick up for an assistant for what we pay.
 
Our article on the hiring on Tony Pujol: http://www.wyonation.com/2016/04/edwards-adds-tony-pujol-basketball-staff/
 
I don't know much about him but it looks like a good hire. Has lots of coaching experience. both at HC and AC at multiple levels. That experience is also good with our other coaches being on the younger side. Looks like he should have some good conections within AAU as well.
 
But you always wonder - where did he screw up in the previous job(s) to make him switch, especially to a Poke program that would appear to not be in the high salary tiers of the SEC.
 
I just looked at Shaka smarts wiki, it freaking crazy how many inter-connections are going on between the shyatts, vcu, Florida, and now Wyoming. One things for sure, good coaching either happened, or is currently happening.

This guy is a fit for us, and can recruit.

And Allen is the right head coach. Did u see the article about Edwards saying he wants to press more? If u read Shaka smarts wiki, it explains his havoc defense.

There could be a sleeping giant of a coaching staff in Wyoming.
 
Adv8RU12 said:
But you always wonder - where did he screw up in the previous job(s) to make him switch, especially to a Poke program that would appear to not be in the high salary tiers of the SEC.
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Who knows....but there is a lot of history between the coaches. Maybe that is all it takes.
 
Adv8RU12 said:
But you always wonder - where did he screw up in the previous job(s) to make him switch, especially to a Poke program that would appear to not be in the high salary tiers of the SEC.
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The staff he was part of at Alabama got canned. In six seasons, the program went 117-85 including three 20-win seasons and five seasons with a winning record.

I don't know why he decided to go the AAU route, but I'm sure it was his connection with Edwards and Shyatt from their VCU days that brought him here.
 
I think Larry Shyatt can be given a lot of credit for our ability to attract quality assistant coaches. He raised the coaching salary pool to a point where it's competitive for our league.
 
The staff he was a part of did get fired from Alabama but I think Pujol was let go a year before that. From what I saw around the interwebs it sounded like he was let go to shake up the staff and attempt to save the coaches job but it didn't work. It said he went the AAU route to spend more time with his family. Im sure the connections with this staff brought him back to college basketball. I saw a tweet from SC bball coach Frank Martin that said something along the lines of "college basketball just got better now that Tony Pujol is back involved in it" That's a pretty good endorsement.
 
He ran some great defenses at Alabama.. looks like we'll be continuing the strong defensive effort going forward that Shyatt brought to the program.
 
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