Photo courtesy of gobonnies.com
BY: SEAN WALLACE; SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Former St. Bonaventure University president Sister Margaret Carney shared her thoughts on men’s basketball head coach Mark Schmidt’s retirement during halftime of the Bonnies’ first-round Atlantic 10 Tournament matchup with La Salle University.
“There comes a time for all of us where you realize I’ve done as much as I can do, and it’s better to move on and allow new skills and talents to come forward,” said Carney. “It will be hard to match Mark’s skill and leadership. However, I want the Schmidts to have some years where they can enjoy family, do some traveling, or take on other kinds of projects.”
Carney outlined the traits she hopes the next head coach will have.
“One thing is always critical,” said Carney. “We never let go of our own ethical standards. No compromises. In this environment, name, image and likeness has created so much financial competition. It’s getting harder and harder. I have no love lost for the NCAA and what it’s done, and I hope the next generation of coaches and Division I administrators can find a path forward to move us away from what has become a Darwinian competition that’s created all kinds of problems.”
Carney also highlighted Schmidt’s role in turning around the men’s basketball program.
“Mark poured himself into what was going to become a winning program,” said Carney. “He was never boastful and never a bragger. He always rolled up his sleeves and went to work. I remember the exact date, March 9, 2010, when we beat Duquesne, and that was the path forward toward championship status. That night you could feel it in the arena. People knew we were back.”
Schmidt thanked Carney for the opportunity following Bonaventure’s loss to Davidson College in its regular-season finale on Saturday.
“I give Steve Watson and Sister Margaret Carney all the credit in the world that they took a chance on me 19 years ago,” said Schmidt. “A guy who was 82-90 at Robert Morris and they allowed me to coach, they allowed us to build a program, and I think it was a pretty good one.”
No. 13 Bonaventure faces No. 5 George Mason University in the second round of the A-10 tournament on Thursday at 2 p.m.
