Seton Hall Is Not Firing Bobby Gonzalez

At least not this week. Probably not this season.

Still it's never good when the school feels a need to issue a press release saying they have not fired their coach.

Seton Hall University President Monsignor Robert Sheeran issued the following statement on Monday regarding men's basketball head coach Bobby Gonzalez.
"Bobby Gonzalez is Seton Hall's Coach and will continue to be our coach as we move ahead.

"I can assure you all that Coach Gonzalez will continue to strengthen our men's basketball program and will be successful in all those areas that matter to the University, the student-athletes and the fans. He has the full support of my administration in doing this."

Well isn't that reassuring? There were rumors swirling of an imminent firing, that ostensibly prompted the need to comment.

This sort of thing always comes off like the NBC press conference in the 90s to announce Jay Leno was still the host of the Tonight Show after Letterman headed to CBS.

All this comes about after Seton Hall suspended Gonzalez for the first Big East game of the 2008-09 season. A sophomore guard who played in all 61 games in the two years of Gonzalez (and one of Gonzalez's first recruits) has decided to transfer. The AD and the coach seem to be at odds.

It's also a lousy time for this with the jockeying for the late signing period for 2008 recruits is underway. Gonzalez addressed the issues in an interview with MSG.

It is noticeable that Seton Hall Athletic Directer Joe Quinlan is not mentioned as someone who supports him.

The interview is part of why the Seton Hall fans love the guy. He's cocky, arrogant, more than a little bit of a jerk, but he also seems determined to win.

He also comes off as more than a little paranoid. Of course, I might be paranoid too if there were tons of rumors and stories swirling of my demise.