[Softball Fan]

Shaw set the course for this decline by neglecting to pull in top-tier coordinators and assistants.  A program is only ever as good as the people who run it.  Harbaugh understood that and assembled a crack staff of top lieutenants, which included Shaw.  Somehow, that lesson was lost on Shaw: he looked for comfortable staffing solutions and never went outside his zone of familiarity.  When things become comfortable, they become soft; and, over time, the once-fabled intellectual brutality of the program has become intellectual frailty.  This is a sad spectacle, but has been developing now for years.

I've never met Shaw.  He seems like a really nice guy who will try to avoid any confrontation with his coaches at all costs.  He seems like the personality type where he wants to be comfortable around everyone with no disagreements about strategy.

I would also guess he likes to be friends with his players.  While a head coach should have a positive relationship with his players he should also make it clear he's the boss.   I learned back in the days long ago of wvb coaching I couldn't be a friend to any of my players.  To be effective I had to have the attitude, "I'm in charge.  You do what I tell you to do."

[Softball Fan]

Shaw set the course for this decline by neglecting to pull in top-tier coordinators and assistants.  A program is only ever as good as the people who run it.  Harbaugh understood that and assembled a crack staff of top lieutenants, which included Shaw.  Somehow, that lesson was lost on Shaw: he looked for comfortable staffing solutions and never went outside his zone of familiarity.  When things become comfortable, they become soft; and, over time, the once-fabled intellectual brutality of the program has become intellectual frailty.  This is a sad spectacle, but has been developing now for years.

I've never met Shaw.  He seems like a really nice guy who will try to avoid any confrontation with his coaches at all costs.  He seems like the personality type where he wants to be comfortable around everyone with no disagreements about strategy.

I would also guess he likes to be friends with his players.  While a head coach should have a positive relationship with his players he should also make it clear he's the boss.   I learned back in the days long ago of wvb coaching I couldn't be a friend to any of my players.  To be effective I had to have the attitude, "I'm in charge.  You do what I tell you to do."