Home Athletics Bob DeCarolis Retires

Bob DeCarolis Retires

176

Now this is newsworthy.

My initial thoughts: Every AD will have bad hires (look at even the best athletic departments). Bob D had a lot, and was slow to react and fire, probably due to the perception that OSU didn’t have the budget to fire coaches, but also based on some reports there was fear of confronting Riley and setting standards. Weird.

But he also hired Rueck, Tinkle, and Andersen and has left all major programs at their highest points (at least in terms of potential) and even some of the minor programs. Even the Craig Robinson hire, while not good, resulted in a new basketball facility. In general, he had a hand in the all of the positives going on.

So while he had a major faceplant for most of his tenure, he did do some great things, especially at the end. I’d say, as a whole, athletics are better now than when he was hired. When Riley left, it was a feeling of relief (don’t let the door hit you on the way out). With Bob D it’s less of that. At least for me.

Good luck and enjoy life, Bob D. His email is: bob.decarolis@oregonstate.edu if anyone wants to write him personally.

176 COMMENTS

  1. Didn’t see that coming, but may as well go out on top. As you stated, Angry, things are certainly better and I wish him well.

  2. When you can go out on your terms and on a positive note, do it.

    Does this mean Mark Massari gets elevated? When he came back, it seemed like there was a deal for him to take over when BDC retired.

    • Also the Parkinson’s has really been affecting him. Earlier this year, I think Canzano reported that DeCarolis was hoping to stay on longer. But I’ve seen BDC recently and the toll that Parkinsons takes is overwhelming.

  3. Thanks, Angry. Thank you and your angry beavers for all of your support over the years. Your passion for and criticisms of my tenure helped me open my eyes and right some wrongs I made along the way. I couldn’t have had the successes I had, without you. Best of luck and treat my successor, Mark with respect please.

    Sincerely,

    Bob

    PS- F@CK YOU

  4. look at all the prayers of Beaver Nation that have been answered in the last year. Fire Craig, Riley and Bobby D. Through one way or another they have all come true and every thing seems to have played out in the best possible way. We have a great HC in Basketball with one of the best recruiting classes in decades. We have a exciting new coach with a drastic change of style in Football bringing in much more excitement than has been seen the last few years. And now Bob gets to leave on his own terms in a positive way leaving the department in pretty “dam” good shape.

  5. I give him credit for Tinkle and Anderson, none for Rueck. Rueck was the only viable candidate to apply for the job. He lucked into that hire.

    • You think Rueck was the only “viable” candidate? He was coaching NCAA D3?? That was a gutsy hire and I give kudos to Bob for making it. He tried the big name, flashy hire with LaVonda and that failed hard.

      • Yes, he was the only viable candidate. BDC himself said that not a single D1 assistant wanted the job. D2 coaches and Rueck were all that were available. So, the options were a D2 coach or a D3 coach with a national championship that graduated from and loves Oregon State. Tough choice?

  6. I think the timing couldn’t be better. He’s leaving on top as far as I’m concerned, and the impending success that is sure to come stems from BDC for the next 5 years. A year ago I’d be like “WHAT A BUM GET EM OUTTA HERE THANK THE HEAVENS HES GONE” but now with Tinkle and Andersen as our Pippen and Jordan, we should be competitive for years to come. Not to mention great hires with Zalesky, Rueck, Berg, Simmons.

    Mark Massari seems like a perfect fit to take the job, and will hopefully continue in the direction of fielding some fine programs that attract high caliber athlete-students.

    • He’s retiring, I believe.* His contract would have been up in June, 2016, but Ed Ray said he wouldn’t renew it, so he’s getting the jump on retirement now.

      * Unless he gets into Parkinson’s fundraising, which I could definitely see happening.

  7. Bob’s AD record will get some inflation due to relatively successful 2nd tier sports – gymnastics, wrestling, and recently volleyball. Baseball has been the strongest program during the time. Credit Bob for managing to keep Pat Casey after 2 CWS titles. Facilities are in strong shape compared to 1998.

  8. Just wait until we hear of the lawsuits and sanctions to come. Stepping out just before the storm hits. Preemptive action all the way.

  9. After all these years he finally transforms into BIG BALLS BOB but then has to leave… At least he’s going out on top :)

    Best wishes to him.

  10. Hmm, maybe that’s one reason why he’s leaving, he’s like “I got everybody what they wanted (sort of)” and there’s no way to go but down from here?

  11. Well, his hiring may have been hit or miss but even with 2 recessions in there, we still made about a quarter of a billion in improvements to athletic facilities. (It’s a quarter if you count the Valley remodel) That’s a pretty strong legacy.

  12. “So while he had a major faceplant for most of his tenure, he did do some great things, especially at the end. I’d say, as a whole, athletics are better now than when he was hired. When Riley left, it was a feeling of relief (don’t let the door hit you on the way out). With Bob D it’s less of that. At least for me.”

    When Riley left, and took Banker with him, it was a feeling way stronger than relief — more like shock, amazement, and excitement rolled into one (as well as sympathy for those poor bastards at Nebraska, who still have no idea what they’ve done).

    With Bob D, at this point, it’s quite different. Yes, BDC has done some very good things lately. But he did some very bad things before that. BDC has been here a long time — too long. It’s time for BDC to go, and for someone younger and more vigorous to take over and push OSU athletics to greater heights. I’m glad BDC has made the transition easy on everyone by resigning, and doing so now, before the next football season gets under way.

    Personally,I see BDC around town quite a bit (and his girls are friends and classmates of my son). I agree that BDC is looking sicker lately. I’m glad he’s leaving for OSU’s sake. But also for his own sake, and that of his family. It’s the right time to leave. I wish BDC well in his retirement. And I’m excited to see who’s next.

  13. Maybe this helps explain why the beavs picked up another 2015 RB yesterday?

    Alan James Hopper
    ?@AlanHopper14

    Glad to hear @G_ezzy6 got out of surgery and all is well!!! Recover fast man! #gobeavs</blockquote

  14. Though my original post typified BDC’s action as a retirement, upon close inspection it is a resignation. The distinction is important, suggesting Bob didn’t really want to leave; at least not now in the short term. And why would he; things are finally getting interesting!. With this domino having fallen, my thesis is that Ed Ray was behind the pressure on Riley move last winter, which Bob had resisted to the end it must be pointed out. Furthermore, it was Ray’s enthusiasm for the Andersen nexus (more pay for coaches and facilities expansion plus the A-game when you come to Reser comment) that now stands out in more stark relief. I wouldn’t be so sure it goes to Masari, though I wouldn’t object to that. On the other hand, if Ray did in fact have his epiphany on the road home from Reser last November, then don’t be surprised if he decides to “go big” for a flashy Andersen-like hire. One guy to look at is Lance Lopes, the Assistant AD at UW who was formerly an executive with the Seahawks. As trite as it sounds, with Ed Ray the paradigm has shifted in Corvallis, and I think Gary Andersen’s outlook and deportment has informed the president’s course of action; to wit: OSU is sleeping giant.

    • Bob D did say in a recent interview (by recent, I mean the past few months) that he wanted to stick around until the Reser West side was finished. He also said in his press release today

      As a next step, I look forward to my upcoming adventures in the world of intercollegiate athletics.

      Certainly doesn’t sound or feel like a retirement.

  15. Does anyone think this is surprise to Gary Andersen or do you think the probablity was discussed during the negotiations? I want GA to be happy with no uncertainty!

  16. Andersen may have been surprised, but I have a hunch he has a special pipeline to Ed Ray. He’s not worried. The coach that’s now “in play” may be Pat Casey. If he ever wanted to move up, now’s the time. It will be interesting to see if Bob actually gets a new job. I have my doubts.

    • quote from Tinkle that Connor tweeted out:

      “I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to taking the program to great heights w/ him right next to us.”— Tinkle on De Carolis’ decision

  17. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

    The first 8 words say it all. Whiskey should love this

    Lindsay SchnellVerified account
    ?@Lindsay_Schnell

    Been in a lunch meeting last couple hrs so just now seeing news about Oregon St AD Bob De Carolis stepping down. WOW. Didn’t see that coming

    • Oh, and I’m waiting for the sure-to-come article about how Bobby D is a once-in-a-generation genius and the best lil’ ole cowvallis will ever do

    • She also said Riley wasn’t going anywhere all last year and in her mind there must have been less than 1% chance Riley wasn’t in Corvallis for atleast another 5 years. She was incredibly out of touch with the rapidly mounting forces within the fanbase and it is a shame she is a “voice” on Talkin’ Beavers who is listened to at all. I take everything she says that is an opinion as a bunch of garbage not worth paying any attention to. I haven’t heard one opinion of hers that has played out yet.

      Excited for the possibilities with the upcoming AD hire. Massari deserves an interview but I hope other intriguing options receive one as well. Let the best candidate elevate OSU Athletics into an aggressive, new era.

      • I’m pretty sure I wrote last year would be Riley’s last, though I said due to retirement (I think. I’d have to search it). Pretty close. But anyone with intuition could sense things…

        LS doesn’t strike me as bright or having any sense for things.

        • She thought only her, Riley, BDC and Momma Machado’s opinions mattered even though 70% of the fanbase was telling her she was WAY off base. Most of us here realize Schnell and Machado have very limited real influence but she refused to accept she wasn’t more important.

          Your blog Angry has always easily carried 10-20 times more weight within Beaver Nation than the likes of Schnell. Real fans listen to you and you have open dialog here amongst other real fans. Schnell stands on her soapbox caring little for the opinions of others and is disregarded by the bulk of fans because of it. She has done nothing to make the Beavers into a stronger national program.

          She gets off on excuses and her stale storylines about the difficulties and not possibilities at Oregon State. Thank goodness Tinkle and Andersen share none of those beliefs and see that winning traditions can be built here. Casey, Rueck, Tinkle, and GA all have the right winner’s attitude.

          • She was lazy and hated Corvallis because “everyone looks the same”…

            She now takes that hatred to the National Media. She’s a threat in that regard. She can smear OSU and people will listen since she’s at SI, even though she’s terrible.

            Also, agree with the comments about the blog and fans here, but the fans on Blitz and Pure Orange fed into the Schnell narrative and split the fanbase. We had a split fanbase for years. Those people jumped on board once Andersen was hired, which makes you wonder why they were so resistant. People don’t like change, I guess, and like comfort. That rarely works out well, and it didn’t for Riley or those fans supporting him. Time will always produce the truth. It’s just how long. In this case it was too long, but it happened.

  18. BDC definitely saved his reputation over the past few years. I agree that OSU seems to be in a great spot athletically.

    Cheers, Bob.

    • More like last year and a few months. Tinkle hire was well into 2014 and before that with Riley tanking and Robinson doing little beside the facility opening, it was not looking good. He made a couple of nice moves and went out with an OK rep having salvaged some retribution for past grave mistakes.

      Riley contract terms were a massive blunder and it was unbelievably fortunate Nebraska got Oregon State out of it with little damge beside a couple down years. Wagner, Jay John and slowness on Robinson and Riley were bad but Tinkle and getting a fresh start with Andersen while Nebraska paid off the remaining time of Riley’s lengthy deal were as about as good as any of us could have hoped for. Odds are that BDC would have had a return to the mean and things would not been as energized as they could be if he stayed.

      I respect him for taking a bow at one of the high points. Riley was almost always was content to be mediocre and it is good that BDC didn’t want to ever drift back towards that. The next hire has a great chance to be the final piece of the puzzle and complete the good momentum building with Tinkle and Andersen.

        • Only the good ones. Rueck also was a good hire so one could say it was a mixed bag prior to BDC’s strong finish over his last 15 months, but the major sports are the biggies and it was good that both those have been put in a much stronger position with fresh starts and good leadership.

    • Just because a blitz source says they’re not the pac 12 team pursuing him, doesn’t mean they’re not trying. It would make sense for the staff to play that close to the vest to avoid unnecessary drama.
      I know for sure keegan Anderson followed Golson briefly on twitter after the transfer news came out. There must have at least been some interest.

    • Open it up. Consider Pat Casey, Dennis Erickson, the associate UW AD and other capable options who want to raise the bar and properly compete with the Ducks in the major sports. We need an AD who won’t shy away from that task which isn’t an easy one.

      Some pure-orangers are trying to organize and effort for 30K for next year’s Spring Game. I think a target like that is awesome. Something to shoot and strive for that clearly raises the bar and builds a higher expectation of support around the program. It is doable and voicing goals matters. Once the 42 million VFC rebuild is complete then it would be great to have much more organized plans for Reser Phase 3 and a plan to help Andersen really build football’s reputation across the Pac-12.

      I love the way Andersen recruits and Lockette has been an absolute stud. Your BeavRecruiting twitter updates have been a very good thing for the program too. I see something almost every day that is exciting and shows all the work Andersen’s team is doing to land talented recruits. Such a change from wondering what Riley and Co. were up to.

      In think Seth Collins is a special player and this thing will progressively get better over the next several years and I think basketball looks like that also will be the case with the strong group coming in and growing together. If the next AD has more public statements about specific goals and rallies Beaver Nation to all come together and also provides some ways for input then it should be a bright future in store for the next 5-6 years.

      Ultimately this likely will culminate in a finished Reser which routinely sells out close to 50K seats under an Andersen team that is exciting and physical and capable of Civil War victories and back in the hunt for a Pac-12 Championship and Rose Bowl. Tinkle making a couple NCAA appearances in that time as well will mean we have elevated the major programs and are serious about our major sports competing at a national level and garnering attention for success.

      • Agree with most of this. However, I hope we go younger for the next AD. Thinking a guy in his mid 40s would be just the right jolt of energy to maximize Oregon State relevancy over the upcoming Tinkle/Andersen eras. Massari probably gets the job but the UW associate AD guy sounds intriguing. A high energy AD is what feels like it would have the most impact. Massari is capable but tempting to look for even more fresh perspective.

        I would be down with a co-AD situation. Would get OSU attention and could maximize program building efforts, ideas and marketing while spreading the responsibilities. Rome always elected two consuls to lead in war. Two leaders both committed to putting Oregon State to the top might get us there quicker.

        • Machado wants them to go after Greg brine down at arizona. Used to work with mitch Barnhart and decarolis back when those guys were starting out at osu. Also has family ties to Oregon since his wife’s family lives here. Not a bad option if he was up for moving back to oregon. Has done good things down in tuscon.

      • Pat Casey or Dennis Erickson – I have a feeling that you don’t quite grasp the scope of responsibilities of an Athletic Director.

        The responsbilities related to Compliance along would eliminate Dennis Erickson. The AD also manages the budget. They’re essentially a CEO of a mid-sized corporation.

        While I like Pat Casey plenty, he isn’t qualified. In the current NCAA envirornment, OSU needs someone with a strong background in business or law – preferably both.

  19. Eggers with more support that Bob is leaving because he’s being forced out, rather than for health reasons.

    http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/259972-131791-beavers-better-after-era-of-bobby-d

    too bad, I was starting to like the guy after he teamed up with Masari. Now that Ed Ray is more focused on athletics than ever before, I have faith he will make a good hire and keep the momentum going. Just hope the coaches weren’t too attached to Bob as their guy.

    • If I had to guess I’d say Dr. Ray has had his eye on a couple candidates and one has become available so it’s time to go, Bob.

  20. I think Pat Casey would be awesome but can he raise funds. He looks so pissed off half the time. Important part of the job is the fund raising. I think a younger in their 40’s type would be good too.

    • that’s just Pat’s game face. For some reason I run into Pat a couple times a year walking to Reser on football game days. He’s always very amiable and willing to chat with a fan for a few minutes.

    • Article looks to be over a year old. Looking at those guys I think Oregon State can get ahead of most of them by going younger. Of all of them I was most impressed by TCU’s Del Conte. Two BCS bowls in 4 years and younger. Also from a school OSU might have a legit shot to poach from if the deal was attractive enough with incentive clauses for high performance/success in the Major sports.

      Go younger and maximize relevance for the next 7 years I say. New era deserves a candidate ready to do his finest work and to make Oregon State a school leading the way forward in the Pac-12.

  21. OSU assistants (former or current) with D1 AD experience:
    Kevin Anderson, Todd Stansbury, Shawn Heilbron, Mark Massari… and Bobby D

    Will never hire:
    Shawn Eichorst, Barry Alvarez, Pat Kilkenny

    Has removed his name from consideration:
    Mike Bellotti

    Deserves a second chance:
    Damon Evans, Daryl Gross

    The D2 AD who deserves a move up (and would confuse our older fans if he wore glasses):
    Tim Selgo

    Will be mysteriously available in late June:
    Terry Tumey

    We should make a run at just for the helluvit:
    Tom Jurich, Jeremy Foley, Tom Izzo

    Will move up as early as tomorrow but no later than next month:
    Scott Barnes, Mark Coyle

    Will be rumored ad nauseum:
    Randy Bennett, Matt Wells

    Since we’re already paying him:
    Craig Robinson

    Who we should probably poach (and would shock the world like we did with Andersen):
    Chris Plonsky

  22. Can someone slap a diaper on angry? With Riley, Banker, and Bobby D gone, I can only imagine how badly he must be peeing himself with joy

          • Parker’s best sport by far is baseball. But if you listen to Jerry Allen for just 5 minutes you’ll actually probably appreciate him more. Here’s my best impersonation of Allen.

            DAT takes the read option in the back field from Mariota, he’s got a lane! He could go! Ohhhhhhh!!! Brought down and he was one defender away from breaking that one. DAT tackled in the backfield for a 2 yard loss.

            Seriously. Listen to him. I am not kidding

          • Jerry Allen and his color man (I think they call him Jorgy?) are terrible.
            The game against CAL a couple years back when it was really rainy and windy, they had sheets of rain pouring down on the field and the wind had it swirling every direction. Maybe 40 mph winds tops. Jorgy says something along the lines of, “It’s so windy down there, I bet it’s close to hurricane force winds!!” This was shortly after a real hurricane, Sandy, had hammered New Jersey, and he was trying to draw comparisons to that.

            Get a life, douche. Oregon was not playing in hurricane conditions you fucking idiot.

            And for the record, I don’t dislike Parker. He does just fine, and I look forward to when he comes unglued. A little crazy isn’t always a bad thing.

          • Jorgy is such a freakin toady. UO is never wrong, refs, in a call against UO are never right….Jim Wilson is SOOO superior its ridiculous….

          • Parker grew up listening to Vin Scully and in some ways tries to emulate him. Which is fine but no one will ever top Scully. It’s why baseball is hands down Parker’s best sport calling. I think Vin is just trying to hold on for one more world championship for the Dodgers. Charlie Steiner did some radio broadcasts and I’d be fine with him taking over when Vin finally retires for good. A couple of summers ago listening to a dodgers/rockies game while fishing on my boat in Central Oregon, the dodgers were down a run late in the game and Adrian Gonzalez hit a double and became the tying run. Since Gonzalez is zero threat to swipe a bag, Steiner referred to him as “a potted plant” on 2nd base. I laughed my ass off over that and have referred to him as potted plant ever since. Thanks Charlie

    • A true freshman quarterback will probably start in the fall. While there will be vast improvements I’m sure there will be things to complain about.

      • What if Kalani fields a good Defense? And GA makes great late game calls regarding time management and play calling? Will Angry retire?

  23. As long as the new AD finishes Reser with a West side double deck by 2019 or 2020 at the very latest and it sits atleast 50K then I’ll be happy. Andersen era will without doubt support it by that point. Football is going to be at a higher level than where Riley was comfortable taking it. Riley liked keeping it status quo. Andersen will elevate OSU’s national perception and there will be almost all sellouts for several years coming. When done Reser will be a gem built by Andersen and the next AD showing we will compete with the best in this conference.

  24. The vetting process must include questions about tartan end zones! This is the major problem with OSU football and the lack of said end zones is what has held the program back. Had this been done several years ago we would certainly be going for a three peat Natty and there would be fund raising for the statue of our gum chewing savant HC to go outside of MIke Riley Stadium. Oh what could have been.

  25. Conspiracy theory after reading Eggers article…

    BDC wanted an extension until 2019, coincidentally, about the time Bike Smiley would be getting canned at Nebraska…

    Step in the prodigal son/bad penny who then takes the reigns at AD and finally leads OSU to the promised land…

    :::cough:::

    I think I just threw up a little, nevermind.

  26. Oregonian reporting a JC RB Tim Cook is committed and enrolling for the fall. Profiles as a power back.

    Hopefully he’s filling a scholarship of one of the transfers and not because an incoming frosh can’t quality.

  27. While he “turned things around” (and that we’re not sure of yet because we have yet to see Andersen or Tinkle take us to the promised land) Bob DeCarolis’ tenure demonstrated a complete disregard for the fans. Nike saved his ass for the Casey re-signing, MIke Riley’s lifetime contract had the possibility of sending us into another football dark ages, Craig Robinson was a huge flop, and the Wagner debacle are too hard for me too ignore.

    He didn’t enhance game experience or expectations, nor did he seem interested in generating a buzz around the department. I’m glad he’s gone and now my X-mas wishlist for athletics is complete.

    I wish he and his family a very happy and successful life but I’m not going to say he totally redeemed himself because all of his successes (save the Tinkle hire) were more a matter of luck than his actual skill.

  28. OT, but always amusing: Uck fan asks Aaron Fitt if whoreton’s swoosh slobs can make it to the NCAA this year! And, in a display of diplomacy, Fitt says, “If they can get to 16-14 in the Pac with an RPI in the 50s, they’ll have a shot.”

    Then again, with Phil in the picture, I suppose anything is possible.

    • Let’s see they’re currently 11-13 in conference play. That would mean they would have to sweep Utah in Salt Lake City (possible but not probable since they’ve swept no one in the Pac-12 this season at home or on the road) and then take 2 out of 3 from UCLA at home. And they still have to come to Goss for another ass kicking before the UCLA series. Can you say not fucking happening?

      • furthermore UCLA has not even lost a series in conference play so they have no chance of taking 2 of 3 from them. UCLA is too good for that shit and likely will be a national seed

  29. I’m betting if Mark M is not named it will be somebody completely out of left field that very few have ever heard of. I presume Ray will use a search firm to identify candidates. He is also pretty tight with Mark Emmert and will probably get some input from him.

    Although not as shocking as MR to Nebraska, this was surely a bolt from the blue.

  30. According to Angie Machado, the new hire won’t be a quick turnaround like the coaching hire was, and Ed Ray promises to go after “the best” AD he can get, with a focus on elevating the athletics program. YOLO!

    • just to save everyone the effort and annoying click-throughs; Riley is 7 (out of 14); the only generally known quantities below him are Ferentz and Chryst and Edsall. Seven is a generous spot in my opinion, more likely 9 or 10

  31. Apparently Notre Dame is being douchebags about what school Gilson can transfer to, and Oregon State is on the black list.

    Not that I thought he had a great chance at landing in Corvallis, but that at least means it was brought up.

      • I always had doubts about Riley’s ability to work for Casey; polar opposites w/respect to being competitive.
        Casey, “I hate losing more than I love winning”……….Riley, “It’s a neat deal if we win, but doesn’t compare to riding the bike to work” Paraphrased, of course!

        My concern with Casey as AD is whether or not he could keep a stable group of coaches or if his competitive nature would lead to excessive turnover as people failed to meet his standards.

      • He’s done a pretty good job improving Goss over the years and it didn’t all come from ex-players. His vision, from getting lights to “Banners” is something needed in an AD.

    • Starting to get the feeling that these major accomplishments in the last year or so, such as under-performing coaches leaving, exciting new hires, and the football facilities upgrades are due to Ray or his pressure on DeCarolis moreso than DeCarolis’s own volition

  32. The one potential downside of all this is the uncertainty that it creates for the new coaches, in particularl Andersen. The guy who sold him on the job is now gone and I sure part of the the pitch was a hands off policy compared to to what he had with Saint Barry peaking over his shoulder in Madison. The carpetbagger concern for GA is now more likely with the change at the top. Given BDC’s long tenure, GA assumed he would have stability with the guy who hired him. It is never a good when the person who hires you gets canned or leaves.

    • He should have tried another Big 5 conference. Five conferences in five years would have been a pretty cool record.

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