Men's Basketball Excellence Fund

[MaxPower]

A new fund is set up. Goal is $150,000. Just made a donation online. So far only 7 donors. Sorry maybe someone with more "tech" skills could post the link.

Go UMass!

[5150]

Found it and donated.

[NilesGold]

https://minutefund.umass.edu/project/6160

[InnervisionsUMASS]

9 donors at $17k. Not bad.

[MaxPower]

Thanks for the link Niles!

[uz2b-len]

I'm gonna donate but it might not move the needle.

[MJatUM]

For those wondering, here is the "cause" for the Men's Basketball Excellence Fund:

Hello, UMass Men’s Basketball Supporters:

As we look to the future of the Massachusetts men’s basketball program, now is the time for us to unite our alumni, friends and family in support of head coach Pat Kelsey and our student-athletes. We have a state-of-the-art basketball facility in the John Francis Kennedy Champions Center that positions us in the upper echelon of the Atlantic 10 Conference and among national competition.

Further contributions are vital to enhance academic support, recruiting, travel, equipment and the essential tools for the day-to-day experiences of our coaches and student-athletes. Investing in our program by way of the newly-created Excellence Fund will provide the resources necessary to further strengthen the experience of our men’s basketball student-athletes in their continued pursuit of academic and athletic achievement.

Our goal is to raise a minimum of $150,000 in support of Coach Kelsey and the men’s basketball program by June 1, 2017.

Some areas where your investment can make an immediate impact:

- Completing the branding in the John Francis Kennedy Champions Center
- Team travel accommodations
- Updated computer software to assist with film study and recruiting

With Coach Kelsey at the helm, we’re asking for your support as we look to recruit the most talented student-athletes, equip them with the resources necessary to achieve academic excellence, grow them athletically to succeed in the highly-competitive A-10 and compete annually for postseason play. If you are a current donor to the program, please consider making an additional gift today. We also welcome those new supporters who are willing to join the effort and make a difference.

Go UMass!

Ryan Bamford - Director of Athletics

[MJatUM]

What would be the better investment of a few hundred dollars to support the program? Buying a couple season tickets or taking that money and putting it into this fund?

[rsox1221]

9 donors at $17k. Not bad.

Always nice when someone can throw a cool $10K at it to get the ball rolling...

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Always nice when someone can throw a cool $10K at it to get the ball rolling...

We appreciate your donation!

[JoleonLescottsHair]

I hope there is a refund mechanism in place.

[TheChamp]

Welp. This is a big egg on the face for Bamford. Sure he can just replace Kelsey with whoever the new coach is when the time comes, but wow, hyping it up and asking people for money before the contract is signed.... AMATEUR.

[78]

Welp. This is a big egg on the face for Bamford. Sure he can just replace Kelsey with whoever the new coach is when the time comes, but wow, hyping it up and asking people for money before the contract is signed.... AMATEUR.

From everything I have read and heard, the contract was signed.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

Contract signed on Tuesday and this fund was a great idea to go with all the excitement. I think Bamford has done everything right and just got burned by this dude. Not sure what else he could have done. Fragile Pat called him thirty minutes before the press conference, after a morning of meetings and lunch with the department staff.

[78]

Contract signed on Tuesday and this fund was a great idea to go with all the excitement. I think Bamford has done everything right and just got burned by this dude. Not sure what else he could have done. Fragile Pat called him thirty minutes before the press conference, after a morning of meetings and lunch with the department staff.

Fragile Pat also had dinner with the entire team last night. I know people are saying to go easy on the guy, but this is a total dick move. Had a guy do this to me in business once. Our company was expanding and I hired him for a critical senior job that needed to be filled immediately. Less than a week before he was supposed to start he calls me and says he was changing his mind. I was pissed, as the guy was a friend and former co-worker. Turns out he took the offer and parlayed it into a position in London with his current employer. Fuck him. Have not spoken to him in more than 20 years.