Copeland to the Hall?

hallmatt

Redshirt
Dec 1, 2018
18
14
3
Copeland is being strongly considered to be in staff, per Zags.

This would be a swing and miss with what he did at Wagner.
 

Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
185,717
8,680
113
Copeland is being strongly considered to be in staff, per Zags.

This would be a swing and miss with what he did at Wagner.
This has been discussed on the Trove as far back as a month ago.

It's no secret.
 

NIL BAD

Junior
Aug 15, 2025
402
354
63
If the former football coach at Northwestern can become the new head football coach at Michigan State nothing surprises me these days.
 

Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
185,717
8,680
113
Very good friends? Sha almost beat him up in the post game hand shake line the last time they went head to head lol. But yes best friends
Ever see brothers have a heated dispute then shortly after it's all over? I was in the post game and both coaches not only felt bad but each took full blame.

If there were any true issues why would Holloway schedule Wagner again the next season? The two are very close.
 

Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
185,717
8,680
113
Both Holloway and Copeland got the very most of their talent. Neither had size and neither was considered an exceptional athlete, although Sha was exceptionally quick.

That's usually the kind of coaches that succeed. Get 100% of your potential and play as hard as you can. Those qualifies when passed on to your players are very important. Especially at Seton Hall with their limited financial situations.

I like you would absolutely love to this this happen.
 
Last edited:

NYShoreGuy

All-Conference
Jan 7, 2006
2,478
1,127
113
Both Holloway and Copeland got the very most of their talent. Neither had size and neither was considered an exceptional athlete, although Sha was exceptionally quick.

That's usually the kind of coaches that succeed. Get 100% of your potential and play as hard as you can. Those qualifies when passed on to your players are very important. Especially at Seton Hall with their limited financial situations.

I like you would absolutely love to this this happen.
LMAO...sha was mvp of McDonald's game with arguably the best raw talent 24 person roster in last 40 years. Sha doesn't f*ck up his ankle vs temple at the very least he is on an nba training camp roster in position to make a roster and/or plays top division in Italy France Spain etc until age 30.

Copeland was a legitimate fundamental player not flashy and one of best guards in the state his.hs senior year. He was a good role player (big 3 vs arizona in 2nd half comeback) and blossomed his senior season.

If this wasn't the sweetheart alumni buddy system and his name was Mike rice he would not be getting this soft landing
 
  • Like
Reactions: shu09

Seton75

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
36,935
3,373
113
Donald Copeland was also never a star. His career stats are 7ppg, 2.2apg and 37% fg. He sucked for 3 years and had a good senior year.
He was a good player. He played on a team with Dre in charge. When he got his chance, he killed it, way over the expectations of any of us. His Sr yr was terrific, but for me, he is the guy shooting us, with Barrett, past zona in round 1 yrs ago. (Er..., I just found the box score, Cope only made 1 3, but that was the first play I heard when I finally put on SOU. JR Morris also a big part of this win.) Game was on TV, we were getting killed, so TV put on a competitive game, and as America watched that other game, and as I whined and moaned and forgot for a few minutes to turn on the radio, SHU showed all what competitiveness is, came back and beat zona, and as he left the court Lute Olsen muttered "we just got beat by Seton F'ing Hall AGAIN" (this my have only happened in my imagination).

Cope didnt make a 2 pt shot in his first 2 yrs plus as I remember. Welcome Donald.
 
Last edited:

Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
185,717
8,680
113
LMAO...sha was mvp of McDonald's game with arguably the best raw talent 24 person roster in last 40 years. Sha doesn't f*ck up his ankle vs temple at the very least he is on an nba training camp roster in position to make a roster and/or plays top division in Italy France Spain etc until age 30.

Copeland was a legitimate fundamental player not flashy and one of best guards in the state his.hs senior year. He was a good role player (big 3 vs arizona in 2nd half comeback) and blossomed his senior season.

If this wasn't the sweetheart alumni buddy system and his name was Mike rice he would not be getting this soft landing
To compare what Copeland did to what Mike Rice did is ridiculous. Both screwed up and each deserved to be fired. But there are degrees to screwing up. Rice, who I believe is an excellent coach had a reputation that preceded him and it's not only his actions at Rutgers that kept him from getting a second chance but also his past actions elsewhere.

There was no such pattern with Copeland and thus he deserves a second chance. Especially if given that second chance at his alma mater with his good friend being the head coach.

This will be a win/win for all concerned.
 
Last edited:

NCAAsorBust

Senior
Jan 14, 2026
587
471
63
I don't care about what Copeland did at Wagner. Is he the best possible hire., that's all that matters. I think too many people get caught up with the stupid he's an alum talk. Great to have a former pirate back but I would take Quincy Douby as an assistant coach if it meant getting back to the NCAA's as a team this year. It doesn't matter where the coach went to school. This just screams typical Seton Hall not going out looking for the best candidate, whether that's true or not it's a perception. National searches that always end up as there was nobody better than a Seton Hall alum. Crazy how that always happens here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: shu09

NCAAsorBust

Senior
Jan 14, 2026
587
471
63
With the nature of recruiting and developing players at a place resource-challenged like Seton Hall, having people in place who lived the dynamics and care passionately about its success to go the extra mile is an asset.
Nobody has lived this wild west dynamic. Hire someone who is close to some billionaire is a bigger asset and let Sha go the extra mile with passion.
 

NYShoreGuy

All-Conference
Jan 7, 2006
2,478
1,127
113
I don't care about what Copeland did at Wagner. Is he the best possible hire., that's all that matters. I think too many people get caught up with the stupid he's an alum talk. Great to have a former pirate back but I would take Quincy Douby as an assistant coach if it meant getting back to the NCAA's as a team this year. It doesn't matter where the coach went to school. This just screams typical Seton Hall not going out looking for the best candidate, whether that's true or not it's a perception. National searches that always end up as there was nobody better than a Seton Hall alum. Crazy how that always happens here.
Societal problem...there should be care and concern for how someone's behavior, conduct and character shaped their employment or causal lack thereof prior. Yes, if he shows contrition and steps to remedy what he has done he should have to ability to have future opportunity. However, I do want to point out this was at Wagner. Clearly, he is a great young coaching mind young in his coaching career. I feel it says a lot that Wagner decided there was no remedy to the scenario with retaining him.
 
Last edited:

Seton75

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
36,935
3,373
113
I don't care about what Copeland did at Wagner. Is he the best possible hire., that's all that matters. I think too many people get caught up with the stupid he's an alum talk. Great to have a former pirate back but I would take Quincy Douby as an assistant coach if it meant getting back to the NCAA's as a team this year. It doesn't matter where the coach went to school. This just screams typical Seton Hall not going out looking for the best candidate, whether that's true or not it's a perception. National searches that always end up as there was nobody better than a Seton Hall alum. Crazy how that always happens here.
Maybe Sha thinks Cope is the best guy for the job? Isnt that enough and how assts are always hired?

As an added bonus, I love the SHU factor.
 

Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
185,717
8,680
113

Donald Copeland Returns to The Hall as Assistant Coach​





South Orange, N.J. – Seton Hall men's basketball has announced the hiring of Donald Copeland as assistant coach. Copeland joins the staff at his alma mater for the second time, having previously served as an assistant coach during the 2021-22 season.

Copeland most recently spent three seasons as the head coach at Wagner, compiling a 46-45 record over that span. During the 2023-24 season, he helped guide the Seahawks to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 21 years and earned the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win. Copeland's Wagner team was the first to ever win the NEC Championship by winning three consecutive road games.

Copeland was a former point guard for the Pirates from 2002-06, scoring 754 points and doling out 234 assists across 108 games played. During his time with Seton Hall, Copeland helped the program reach the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and 2006. Copeland had a monster senior season at The Hall in 2006, more than doubling his scoring output from the previous season by averaging 16.1 points to go along with 4.5 assists. In 2006, Copeland graduated Seton Hall with a degree in communications and media studies, was a second-team All-BIG EAST and All-Met Writers selection and was voted Seton Hall's Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

Before accepting a full scholarship at Seton Hall, Copeland played for legendary head coach Bob Hurley, Sr. at St. Anthony, helping lead the Friars to New Jersey State Championships in 2001 and 2002, with the latter team ranking No. 2 in the nation. He earned first-team All-State and first-team All-Tri-State honors following his senior season of 2001-02.

This marks Copeland's third stint within the Seton Hall men's basketball program. In addition to his playing days as a Pirate, Copeland served as an assistant coach under Kevin Willard during the 2021-22 season. That year, the Pirates went 21-11 overall, defeated a pair of top-10 opponents and earned the program's most recent NCAA Tournament berth.
 

HallLine69

Heisman
Aug 24, 2001
10,582
10,836
112
I am concerned about harsh coaching. I am concerned with the internet and social media making a mountain out of a mole hill.

I am comfortable that shu did its homework.
Me too. And I echo Halldan's comment that Rice and Copeland situations are apples and oranges
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ann_S

shupat08

Senior
Mar 28, 2006
369
574
93
Donald Copeland was also never a star. His career stats are 7ppg, 2.2apg and 37% fg. He sucked for 3 years and had a good senior year.

He played behind Andre Barrett for 2 years aka seeing mop up minutes as a frosh and soph. Played more his junior where he averaged 7, 2, 2. And his senior year he was one of the stars with Nutter, and Whitney where he averaged 16ppg, 4.5ast, 1.5 steals per game, 2.5 rpg, shot .39 from 3. And led the team to the NCAAT.
 

hallwins

Senior
Sep 7, 2001
601
865
93
I don't care about what Copeland did at Wagner. Is he the best possible hire., that's all that matters. I think too many people get caught up with the stupid he's an alum talk. Great to have a former pirate back but I would take Quincy Douby as an assistant coach if it meant getting back to the NCAA's as a team this year. It doesn't matter where the coach went to school. This just screams typical Seton Hall not going out looking for the best candidate, whether that's true or not it's a perception. National searches that always end up as there was nobody better than a Seton Hall alum. Crazy how that always happens here.
Didn't Willard have him on staff?
Does that change your view?
 

NCAAsorBust

Senior
Jan 14, 2026
587
471
63
Didn't Willard have him on staff?
Does that change your view?
Not one bit. I'm not saying this is a good or bad hire. I just think it's wild that at Seton Hall we have this knack of producing the greatest coaches ever because half of the time there's a search for one, we go for an alum. Sometimes you have to wonder how much work goes into really searching for someone.
 
Seton Hall Pirates

Latest

  1. 01 Rivals Basketball Recruiting 4-star PG Javion Tyndale down to 6 schools
  2. 02 Women's Sports Highly-recruited 2027 prospect Ava Womack breaks down recruitment
  3. 03 Women's Sports Highly-recruited 2027 prospect Eni Oyedeji breaks down recruitment
  4. 04 On3 Basketball LMU transfer guard Rodney Brown Jr. commits to Seton Hall
  5. 05 On3 Basketball NCAA Tournament expansion: What 2026 March Madness bracket could have looked like with 76 teams