Amanda Knapp
Will Russell Davis be returning to coach Holy Cross' girls' basketball team? That's what fans are wondering after Holy Cross fired Russell Davis in 2010, just two weeks before the start of practice. In his five years as coach, Davis led the team to victory in the WCAC and City Title championships in 2007 and amassed a 111-43 record. Since then, Holy Cross has struggled to find a replacement for Davis, cycling through coaches Eddie Simpson, Jazz Perazic, and Jonathan Scruggs. In 2024, Holy Cross faced Iowa in the NCAA Tournament First Round, where Iowa's guard, Molly Davis, was sidelined due to a knee injury.
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What You'll Learn
- Dave Paulsen becomes the 19th head coach of Holy Cross men's basketball team
- HC players are excited to play under new coach Dave Paulsen
- Russell Davis fired as Holy Cross girls' basketball coach
- Eddie Simpson hired as Holy Cross girls' basketball coach
- HC's projected starting five for the 2023-24 season
Dave Paulsen becomes the 19th head coach of Holy Cross men's basketball team
Dave Paulsen has been named the new head coach of the Holy Cross men's basketball team, taking the helm of the Crusaders' program as its 19th coach. With 27 years of collegiate head coaching experience, Paulsen brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to the team.
Before joining Holy Cross, Paulsen spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Fordham. However, it was his time at Bucknell that truly showcased his abilities as a coach. During his seven years there, he led the team to two Patriot League titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Additionally, he guided Williams to an NCAA Division 3 championship, further highlighting his ability to build winning teams.
The hiring process for Holy Cross prioritised finding someone with head coaching experience, a connection to the area and the Patriot League, and a deep understanding of the values and traditions of the college. Paulsen's enthusiasm, passion, and success made him stand out as the ideal candidate.
Upon his introduction as head coach, Paulsen expressed his honour and eagerness to be a part of the Holy Cross basketball programme, stating, "We’re going to restore the joy. We’re going to restore the winning." He also emphasised the importance of educating the players on winning behaviours and instilling a mindset focused on consistency and attention to detail to achieve success at the Division 1 level.
With a talented group of returning players, including the likes of Kenney, Octave, Bo Montgomery, Will Batchelder, and Joe Nugent, Paulsen anticipates a significant contribution from the freshmen and a strong start to the 2023-24 season. The team is excited to play under Paulsen, and with his guidance, they aim to rebuild the championship tradition at Holy Cross.
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HC players are excited to play under new coach Dave Paulsen
The Holy Cross men's basketball team is excited to play under new coach Dave Paulsen, who was hired in March 2023. Paulsen, a veteran coach, is tasked with rebuilding HC's championship tradition, as the Crusaders have not finished above .500 since the 2013-14 season.
Paulsen, who served as an assistant at Fordham for the last two years, is known for his enthusiasm, passion, and successful track record. He led Bucknell to four Patriot League regular-season titles, two PL tournament titles, and four national postseason appearances from 2008-2015. In six seasons at George Mason, his teams went 95-91.
Paulsen's sports analogies and baseball metaphors are resonating with his HC players. "He's big with baseball metaphors," said Kenney, one of HC's projected starting five. "In terms of us 'hitting singles.' You won't always get it back on a home run play, but if you just keep making the right play every time down the court, keep making stops, making the right passes every time and keep hitting those singles, then at the end of the game, it's going to add up, and you look up, and you've won the game."
Paulsen's focus on consistency and a winning mindset has the team feeling more connected and determined. "The buy-in is not in doubt, and the work ethic is really good," Paulsen said. "Big picture, we're definitely getting better. Sometimes it's the classic two steps forward, one step, sometimes one and a half steps back."
HC players are eager to seize the new opportunity that Paulsen brings and are looking forward to the 2023-24 season. "Guys are looking forward to this season," said junior Caleb Kenney. "We all realize we have a new opportunity at hand, a great opportunity ahead of us, and we want to seize it day by day."
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Russell Davis fired as Holy Cross girls' basketball coach
Russell Davis has been dismissed as the Holy Cross girls' basketball coach. The news comes less than two weeks before the start of practice for the upcoming season. Davis's lawyer is negotiating a financial settlement with the school, and he declined to comment further on the matter.
During his five-year tenure, Davis's teams achieved a record of 111-43. They won the WCAC and City Title championships in 2007 and reached the league final in 2009. The Tartans had a strong middle to their last season, winning seven straight games, but they dropped five of their last seven, including a loss to Paul VI Catholic in the conference quarterfinals, to finish 19-9.
Despite this, the Holy Cross community is reportedly upset about the change. The top four scorers from last year's team, including guard Akilah Bethel, a West Virginia commit, and juniors Pandora Wilson, Lanay Montgomery, and Dominique Johnson, are all set to return.
Eddie Simpson, the former St. John's girls' coach, has been named as Davis's replacement. Simpson is no stranger to the WCAC, having served as an assistant and head coach at St. John's for a total of 12 years. During his time there, the Cadets reached the WCAC championship 11 times.
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Eddie Simpson hired as Holy Cross girls' basketball coach
Holy Cross has hired Eddie Simpson as its new girls' basketball coach, replacing Russell Davis less than two weeks before the start of practice for the season. Simpson has an impressive basketball coaching resume, having spent 12 years at St. John's as an assistant and head coach. During his time there, the Cadets reached the WCAC championship 11 times, and Simpson compiled a 213-51 record.
Simpson's appointment comes after Davis was dismissed from his position as Holy Cross girls' basketball coach. Davis's teams had a successful five-year tenure, going 111-43 and winning the WCAC and City Title championships in 2007. They also reached the league final in 2009 and won seven straight games in the middle of last season, but ultimately finished 19-9.
Holy Cross's top four scorers from Davis's team are set to return for the upcoming season, including guard Akilah Bethel, a West Virginia commit, and juniors Pandora Wilson, Lanay Montgomery, and Dominique Johnson. Simpson will be looking to build on the team's success and make the most of the talent he has observed within the program.
This coaching change comes amidst a period of transition for the WCAC's top girls' basketball programs, with three of the conference's top teams having changed coaches since late August. Holy Cross will be hoping that Simpson's experience and track record of success will help the team build on its recent achievements and contend for more championships in the future.
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HC's projected starting five for the 2023-24 season
Paulsen's appointment came after a thorough search process, with HC basketball alumni Lorn Davis (Class of 1990) and Ronnie Perry (Class of 1980) assisting in the selection. According to Perry, Paulsen's "enthusiasm, passion, and successful track record" made him stand out.
Paulsen has expressed his eagerness to restore the winning culture at Holy Cross, stating, "We're going to restore the joy. We're going to restore the winning." He has emphasized the importance of cultivating consistency within the team and developing a strong mindset for Division 1 basketball.
HC's projected starting five features a mix of experienced players and talented newcomers. Sophomore Will Batchelder, who averaged 12.2 points last season, earned Patriot League all-rookie honors. Joe Octave, a transfer from Air Force, and Bo Montgomery also averaged double figures, with 11.9 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
With a talented roster and a seasoned coach, HC's basketball team looks to improve on their previous season's performance and compete at a higher level in the 2023-24 season.
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