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Saturday, July 21, 2007

Billet to CBA?? - Latest rumors - yes and no - in high gear

Those long bandied about rumors about Geoff returning to CBA have reached a peak this weekend..below are blog entries from NJ Gannett Seton Hall men's basketball beat writer Jerry Carino and writer J.P.Pelzman of the Record who is departing the SHU beat to take over the Jets.... and a late entry I found from Adam Zogaria (Herald News)....


First - from me -

As of this morning (Saturday) I called CBA athletic director AD John Przygocki and left a message which so far has not been returned. I did speak to John yesterday (Friday) and he said there was "nothing to report."John has been very good about all this and - he probably cannot speak without approval from his bosses and I under stand that..

This morning (Saturday) I talked with former coach Ed Wicelinski who basically said he has not been part of the hiring processs.

As for those camps everyone speaks of - which he owns - not CBA - he said - "since no head coach has beeen announced I haven't made arrangements with any one.''


Oh yes - I also called Billet and he has not returned my call as we speak



From Carino's blog -It's circulated from the message boards to the blogosphere and, now, into common knowledge: Seton Hall assistant Geoff Billet is leaving the college coaching ranks to take over the varsity program at his alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy.This has been the subject of speculation for several weeks, during which time Billet brushed aside the rumors, but it appears as though a change in circumstances over the last 72 hours prompted him to pull the trigger. I refer you to fellow scribe J.P. Pelzman of The Record, who is leaving the Seton Hall beat to take over New York Jets coverage for his paper and goes out with a bang here: http://njmg.typepad.com/pelz/.....As for Billet, this is a big loss for Seton Hall. Geoff was the program's New Jersey recruiter and he was starting to build up some big-time momentum, as evidenced by his successful courtship of Mike Davis and Jordan Theodore. He's also a good guy who is well-liked by everyone who deals with him. Best of luck to Geoff as he returns to his roots


.This from the blog of J.P. Pelzman of the Bergen Record:Seton Hall men's basketball assistant coach Geoff Billet is leaving the program, according to sources close to the situation. Billet will become the boys basketball coach at his alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft.People in the know had talked of this potential move by Billet since early June, yet through sources, Billet had issued repeated denials. But from what I understand, a deal for him to also run CBA's basketball camp was constructed, making the job more feasible for Billet from a monetary standpoint..

Billet NOT to CBA latest rumor (isn't this fun??)
Below from Adam Zagoria blog (Herald News)

Billet to CBA Update
Seton Hall assistant Geoff Billet denies he has taken the head coaching job at Christian Brothers Academy, despite Internet reports to the contrary.
Various sources indicated that Billet will soon leave South Orange to take the head coaching position at his alma mater in Lincroft. If he were to leave, it would mark the second assistant to depart the program in the last couple months. Former Seton Hall standout Shaheen Holloway left recently to take a position at Iona under new coach Kevin Willard, a former Rick Pitino assistant at Louisville.
Billet, who left Saturday for the AAU tourneys in Las Vegas, helped recruit Mike Davis and Jordan Theodore, and the players had yet to hear anything as of Friday night.
Seton Hall is mum on the situation and we'll update when we hear anything further.

.Billet back ground from me::The former CBA star played his college ball at Rutgers, later served as an assistant coach for one year at Rutgers, for five years at Monmouth, and spent last season as an assistant at Seton Hall.There has been wide spread speculation since Wicelinski retired in April that Billet would land the CBA job if he decided to leave the college ranks.At Monmouth, under Dave Calloway, Billet helped guide the Hawks to two Northeast Conference championships, and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2006. A 1999 graduate of Rutgers, the sharp shooting guard finished his career with the Scarlet Knights ranked in the Top 10 in scoring with 1,480 career points.Billet was an all-state selection while playing for CBA and Billet would step into big shoes at CBA....Wicelinski's run that began in 1980-81 marked a career record of 625-116, one of the highest totals compiled by a Shore Conference coach at one high school.He won 14 Shore Conference Tournaments and appeared in 20 of 25 championship games. CBA was also also prominent in NJSIAA Non-Public A competition. It won state championships in 1984, '85 and '95 and nine South Non-Public A sectional titles.



My personal though certainly unofficial take - in sorting though all these rumors - while this is still rumor and speculation - I believe it is going to happen. That's my opinion.

Too many people have too many sources which are leading them to these conclusions.If CBA was going to appoint a coach other than Geoff it certainly would have done so by now.

That's s only common sense. I believe there are some contractual obligations involving Billet and SHU which must be resolved before any announcement is made....


This is getting more ink than the Florida job did for goodness sake!!

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