Manhattan Coach Is Denied South Florida Job After Résumé Check
Talks broke down between Manhattan Coach Steve Masiello and South Florida late Tuesday after South Florida officials discovered an inaccuracy on his résumé, which lists him as having graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2000.
A spokesman at Kentucky said Masiello attended the college from 1996 to 2000 but did not receive a degree. His biography on Manhattan’s website said he held a degree in communications from Kentucky. The website was updated Wednesday to delete the reference to his degree.
In a statement, South Florida said that it had reached an “agreement in principle” with Masiello, but that his “credentials could not be substantiated.” University policy requires a head coach to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Manhattan officials said in a written statement that Masiello had been put on leave while “reviewing his degree status with the University of Kentucky.”
I do background checks and let me just say this: don't ever lie on your application or résumé because it will almost certainly bite you in the ass. Lying about education and criminal history are the biggest issues.
EDIT: I had one earlier this week. This guy claimed a BA and MA from Harvard. The BA was verified, but the school confirmed that he never earned the MA. I don't know what happens to applicants after I send the reports to my clients, but I'm pretty sure this guy won't get the job.
He must've attended The Dave Bing School for Basketballers Who Can't Write Resumes Good or Do Other Things Good Too.
Would a background check confirm that I lied on my resume about Best Male Newcomer Performance for my role in Gang Bangs of New York?
My current employer had a third party do a background check on me (not yours I'm sure) and they were awful. They couldn't verify any of my former employers or even my very real bachelor's from a local brick and mortar university.
Fortunately, they allowed me to provide my own proof of my credentials.
The coach is a representative of the institution. If the coach doesn't have a degree or can't be honest about not having one (keep in mind I don't know all the details of this particular situation), then that brings into question just how well he can represent your college.
The bottom line is that the vast majority of players in Division I basketball aren't going to the NBA, and most won't play professionally even in Europe, Asia, etc. At least half of your message (go to class and get an education!) disappears if you don't hold your coach to that standard.
I agree, but the real bottom line is the dude lied on his resume'. That alone should stop the hiring process, whether they have an education rule in place or not.
March 27th, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^
can't we at least pretend that academics matter and that those teaching our students and student athletes have degrees?
You may not have finished college for a myriad of reasons--and good for you in your accomplishments. But when you don't finish college, it has consequences--in college coaching opportunities and in the real world.
In our abstract thoughts, we can imagine how it could possibly be harder for a man without a 4 year degree to convince his players of the importance of a 4 year degree. I would accept it as a possibility, but I think there's so much more to keeping players in college than having a coach who is able to say 'you know, I finished college, look at me now!'
Ultimately, we don't need to sit and wonder if hypothetically one type of degree means this or that and another would mean the other. If someone has real experience, we can look at a man's actual record and interview him to decide if his record meets our standards.
I don't think these colleges made the BA requirement because they thought it was critical or even slightly important to someone being a good college basketball coach and all that it entails. It's a requirement because they don't think it reflects well on the school to have one of their most recognizable figures without a college degree. That's embarrassing to them. It's elitism. Some might argue then that this is a part of the job. Ok, but recognize the requirement for what it is.
P.S. The guy lied, soooo not making an argument that USF should've still hired him. Just hate blanket requirement.
I like the requirement and I like the decision. Now if they could only get an on campus stadium. Though the new practice facilities were a good start.
I am more intelligent and hard working than have the people with 4 year ones.Hard to argue with that.
Typos happen, so I don't think it's a big deal...but insisting you're intelligent but can't figure out how to type proper English because you're "on mobile" doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Just admit you made a typo and move on. If you don't want those types of cheap criticisms, then proofread your posts.
If you had a 4 year one you would know how to over-ride auto correct.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
I have Auto Correct. Yet somehow I usually manage to spell things correctly.
Maybe when you're researching for the Auto Correct thread, you'll come across some ways to correct Auto Correct.
Thanks, though.
March 27th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
Well you could certainly recruit well by convincing them to go pro after 2 years. Also, according to recent developments they're basically employees anyway, so you've got that going for you.
that you're more intelligent than me. Maybe have of me....
Meh, I personally think the whole needing a degree at all for a lot of jobs is a bit much. However, when you are in a position in direct contact with students at a university, for them to be able to look up to you as someone who paid your dues through 4+ years of school and completed your degree is an important and valuable thing to have (especially at a school like USF where their education is that much more important, seeing as the NBA or even overseas ball most likely isn't in the cards for those players).
It's not the degee or lack thereof. It's the integrity issue. No college? Fine. Associates? Great. But, don't claim something you didn't do. Uncredentialed and trustworthy we can handle. Untrustworthy is a problem.
We really don't even know if it's true that USF requires their coach to have a 4-year degree. What we do know is that they don't want to hire someone who lies about having one.
March 27th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
I think it's pretty standard for colleges to expect coaches to have a degree.
What a COMPLETE idiot.... seriously.....
Could be as a celebrity chef on Food Network, but only if his resume also lists "personal chef to the Royal Family".
The degree vs no degree issue is one thing, but the fact that he's willing to lie on a resume probably means he's willing to do shady stuff to get ahead with his basketball program too. So I wouldn't be pleased about that.
In terms of Beilein, if he was a new hire then definitely would not accept him. It's definitely harder to make the call if he has already been a successful coach at your school for a number of years. Basically if I'm USF I definitely wouldn't take the guy but if I'm Manhattan I might try to reach a compromise where he finishes out his degree this summer before the next season starts (if he really attended UK for 4 years he must be close to finishing his degree).
If it were confirmed that he lied on his resume about a degree or some other important element of his background I'd be comfortable firing him. I don't think you can tolerate a lack of integrity.
March 27th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
The whole hypothetical of Beilein lying on his resumé is too hard for me to wrap my mind around. I mean, it's John Beilein we're talking about here.
and he never corrected it when given the chance; it's reasonably possible he for some reason thought he did get his degree, or just went wtih that idea for so long he started to believe it.
ESPN reported the other day that he's working wtih Kentucky to get it sorted out, and almost made it sound like he thought he fulfilled all the requirements but was maybe a credit or two short in one area.
Wouldn't you be wondering something was up if you never received your diploma?
A friend of mine found out years after his college education that his degree had never been officially conferred, even though he walked at graduation, because he was a couple of credits short. He had taken the classes but there was a bookkeeping error and the credits were never posted. It took him years to get it straightened out.
Well - I never attended my graduation ceremonies at Michigan, and if I hadn't sent the university $30 they would have never sent me a diploma.
I DID order a dimploma, so I have one - but just because you graduated doesn't mean they GIVE you a diploma.