This is from the Boston Herald. The article talks about how Jim Larranaga (HC at
George
Mason) was overlooked by Bob Marcum while at UMASS... "And then they transported
me
out to Amherst, and then I had dinner with (former UMass athletic director) Bob
Marcum."
Larranaga also remembered his phone ringing at around 9:30 that night, and from
there,
the process completely changed.
"I later found out that the call was Steve Lappas, or at least about him," said
Larranaga,
who recalled a complete change in Marcum's demeanor. "His whole train of thought
from
then on was different.
"It was like, `Boy, would I love to hire a Big East coach.' "

UMass' downward spiral from Division 1 prominence is well documented.