In my last post I mentioned that it was rumored that Kyle Cieplicki had left Vermont to take a job at Pitt. Today that move was made official as Cieplicki was announced as the Chief of Staff for the Pitt basketball program. It sounds like he will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing much of the recruiting process at Pitt. At Vermont he had developed a strong reputation as a recruiter so it is no surprise to see him remaining in that role. The coaching staff has seen significant turnover this offseason and it will certainly be a a new look program when the season begins. The Vermont staff had been together for a very long time and the turnover is both a reflection of the current job climate around the country and one of the results of a difficult time for the Vermont program. Between COVID, the sexual assault scandal, budgets cuts, and the arena getting delayed once again, the trajectory of the Vermont program has definitely stagnated. The last time the coaching staff experienced this much turnover it coincided with Vermont going after a different level of player and reshaping its roster to begin the recent run of success. There is often a geographic shift in recruiting as each assistant coach brings with them their own connections. Whoever the replacement ends up being they will have a steep learning curve with the move being made so close to the beginning of the season. This season feels more and more like the beginning of a new era in Catamount country.
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