Brown addresses UAlbany future
ALBANY, N.Y. >> Albany’s season ended in the same way its NCAA Tournament hopes did. By coughing up a nine-point lead in the second half, this time to Saint Peter’s in a 59-55 loss that ended a season and a CIT run unsuccessfully.
The Peacocks played their game, slowing the tempo at their pleasure, turning the ball over just four times, and taking the Great Danes out of any rhythm. It was a disappointment, but on a fraction of the scale that Saturday’s America East title game was to Vermont.
“A couple shots drop here or there, that’s the difference for us,” sophomore guard Joe Cremo said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff to work on.”
The game was unceremonious. But the postgame press conference was not. Albany head coach Will Brown was asked to address an ESPN report that he was a priority candidate for the open head coaching job at Quinnipiac. ESPN reported the job might pay in the range of $800,000.
“It’s like in any profession. I think you’re foolish, if somebody does have an interest in you, this is hypothetical, if someone does have an
interest in you, you’re foolish not to listen,” Brown said. “For your sake. For your family’s sake.”
Brown reiterated that he was happy at Albany, where he’s coached for 16 years. He took over at age 29, and has 259 career wins with the Great Danes. He’s been a candidate for other jobs over the years, but has remained steadfast as Albany’s head coach.
In his time, he’s lead Albany to five NCAA Tournaments. He’s only had six losing seasons, and three in the past 13 years. Brown said none of his players have asked him about the report and that Quinnipiac, or any other school, has yet to reach out to him about a job opening.
He signed a contract extension at Albany in late September that would take him until the end of the 2020-2021 season.
“If somebody calls you, and it’s something of interest, you owe it to your family and yourself to listen,” Brown said.
He argued that it hasn’t impacted him over the past couple of days. He said he’s happy at Albany, that was “in a good situation here.”
“But I’m also not going to lie to you,” Brown said. “Any coach that said they wouldn’t listen is either lying or foolish. I’m not lying and I don’t think I’m a fool.”
There was a sad end to Albany’s season. And with the core of players returning, there’s no reason to think the Great Danes won’t be able to get back to that title game and finish what they couldn’t on Saturday.
The only question is if Brown will be the one leading them when next season rolls around.