Memo to ETSU: HIRE JASON SHAY ALREADY!

Frankly, the fact he hasn’t been made the full-time head coach yet makes the university look bad and jeopardizes the continued success of the basketball program.

If East Tennessee State can’t have Steve Forbes be their basketball coach, who better than his top lieutenant, Jason Shay?

After a 30–4 record with a talented roster returning and five promising recruits coming in, doesn’t it make sense someone who has already coached them would keep the team together, rather than suffer the transfers a new coach from outside the program would almost assuredly experience.

So why is Shay being asked to squirm by his current employer? Conducting a national search for a coach makes Shay look as if he’s not ready. Ignoring Forbes’ full endorsement makes the administration look as if they are unappreciative of both Forbes and Shay’s contributions.

Granted, everyone’s personality is different and Shay cannot be expected to be someone else. But does this look like a man who is NOT going to continue the positive vibe surrounding the program?

Frankly, it compromises Shay’s ability to lead. It is inevitable the next ETSU coach will be met with cynical “he’s not as good as Forbes was” comments, but they’d be less prevalent with Shay than someone coming in from the outside would have.

Wouldn’t Shay be the best person to finalize the schedule Forbes hinted at two weeks ago to Joe Avento in the Johnson City Press, reportedly featuring two games against SEC opponents and a home-and-home…