Bob DeCarolis Announces Craig Robinson To Return

Oregon St. Athletic Director Bob DeCarolis might have also announced that its raining today in Corvallis, another given.

With men's basketball coach Craig Robinson under contract through 2017, and more importantly, due $4 million over the next 3 seasons, there was zero doubt that Robinson would return, despite the fact that the Beavers went 3-8 down the stretch, including going 1 and out in both the Pac-12 Tournament and the CBI Tournaments.

Oregon St. gradually dropped back to .500 for the season, finishing 16-16.

Any unfounded expectations that disgruntled fans that stayed away from Gill more than ever (the 2013-14 season saw the lowest attendance in the 65 year history of the oldest building in the conference) might have had about conditions being placed on next season were also dispelled by a statement DeCarolis released tonight, acknowledging that Robinson presented a plan that "Will move the Oregon State men's basketball program forward to achieve the goals that this university supports. Our goals in every sport are to win a conference title; to play in NCAA postseason events; to compete with character and integrity; and to help guide our student-athletes to graduate and succeed in life."

Goals 3 and 4 are clearly in Robinson's wheelhouse, but with 3 of the best players on the team graduating off what was a 10th place team, with possibly a 4th top talent leaving, and no one except Hallice Cooke returning that appear to be of Pac-12 upper tier caliber, the first 2 goals are likely going to have to be deferred until a later date.

Here's the complete text of DeCarolis' statement:I want to thank you for your continued support of Oregon State Athletics.

"Many of you have recently sent your thoughts to me about the OSU men's basketball program. No one is more disappointed in our inability to reach our goals than head coach Craig Robinson and myself."

"Coach Robinson and I have met multiple times in the past two weeks, and he has presented me with a plan that will move the Oregon State men's basketball program forward to achieve the goals that this university supports. Our goals in every sport are to win a conference title; to play in NCAA postseason events; to compete with character and integrity; and to help guide our student-athletes to graduate and succeed in life."

"I'm looking forward to watching Coach Robinson continue to build our program. He is a man of great character and someone who represents Oregon State University with integrity. I ask for your continued support of Beaver basketball."

"I close with a few facts about Coach Robinson's OSU career:"

He is the fourth-winningest coach in Oregon State history with 94 victories and trails only Hall of Famers Slats Gill, Ralph Miller and Bob Hager.

Oregon State has been .500 or better four times since 1991 and he has coached his teams to three of those seasons.

Oregon State has won eight conference games three times since 1993 of which he has had two of those seasons.

Oregon State had four wins against top-50 and six against top-100 NCAA basketball programs this past season, including wins over two teams that advanced to the Sweet 16.

Five Oregon State players have received All-Pac-12 recognition.

Nine Oregon State student-athletes have received Pac-12 All-Academic recognition.

Eight Oregon State players have been named Pac-12 Player of the Week.

Three of his players are in the top 15 on Oregon State's all-time scoring list (Roberto Nelson is fourth, Devon Collier is seventh and Jared Cunningham is 15th).

He will be the head coach of a Pac-12 All-Star team that will compete in China in August.

Optimism is all well and good, but it would sure have been nice if DeCarolis had shared some of the details of coach Robinson's plan with the investors in the program.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com