Whenever a coach is hired to take over a struggling program, the familiar refrain is to give him three-to-four years. John Micheletto got a five-year deal that was paying him more than $200,000 per in his fourth season. The line on his conference win totals were 9-4-5-2 — from nine Hockey East wins his first season to a school record-low two wins this season.

It cost him his job. Micheletto was set up to fail by former athletic director John McCutcheon, who didn’t know a hockey puck on the ice from a tarball on the beach. No one with a decent hockey pedigree and a hint of self-worth wanted to work for a school that would pay him only a quarter of the salary it pays its basketball coach.

I wrote communications director Molly O’Mara asking for a one-on-one interview with athletic director Ryan Bamford to discuss these issue. She informed me he would be busy in the coming weeks with the hiring process. 

Micheletto had been McCutcheon’s fifth choice. “Hope they get it right on their first try this time,” wrote Leverett’s Jay Frost, who like others has boycotted UMass hockey for its ineptitude.

Firing Micheletto was a no-brainer. Axing basketball coach Derek Kellogg would be a bolder, more signficant move that proves Bamford’s in to win at all costs. He comes from Georgia Tech where he was an associate athletic director. Neither the Ramblin’ Wrecks nor its fans would tolerate a coach with an eight-year conference record of 70-74.

But this is UMass-Amherst, and teams like the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics all overshadow the importance of winning and losing out here in the hicks. Let’s face it, nobody cares. The Mullins Center echoes with the sounds of silence. The hockey team was 10th in conference attendance and the basketball team was 12th.

The 2015-16 recruiting class is being touted as one of the best in years. Fans can’t wait for shooting guard DeJon Jarreau to be running up and down the Mullins Center hardwood. He’s an ESPN 100 player who chose UMass over Florida, LSU, USC and a dozen other schools.

Tyrn Flowers has also committed but sources say the 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward from Waterbury, Conn., is all hoops and no homework.

Former hockey coach Don “Toot” Cahoon was a great one for his “Wait’ll ya see what we’ve next year …” assurances, so don’t put credence in what might be over what already is — two losing programs this season.

Kellogg deserves a chance to bounce back from his fourth losing season in the A-10. He does have two 20-win seasons and an NCAA appearance, but his coaching body of work exudes mediocrity.

The focus now is on hockey. What few fans remain are tired of hearing that UMass can’t compete with Boston College and Boston University for good players. That’s hogwash. If schools like Union, Quinnipiac and yes, UMass-Lowell can do it, so can UMass.

It’s hard work, but like Bill Parcells said, “I don’t want to hear about the pain, just show me the baby.”

Similar to Micheletto’s plight was Eddie Jordan’s at Rutgers. Jordan was fired after three seasons and the Asbury Park Press reports that Rutgers owes him $2 million for the final two years of his contract. Jordan was Rutgers’ point guard on the ’76 team that went to the Final Four, but rebuilding was too much for the first-time coach. The Scarlet Knights lost 17 straight games this season. Purdue was favored by 20 and beat them by 50 on Rutgers’ home court.

Mark Leibovich’s story in the New York Times Sunday Magazine characterized NFL commisioner Roger Goodell and his cartel of billionaire owners as ego-driven and unapproachable. The lone exception was Mark Davis who inherited the Oakland Raiders from his father Al Davis. Leibovich wrote that Davis’s “bowl cut” reminded him of Captain Kangaroo. “He wears a fanny pack, drives a 1997 Dodge Caravan and used to frequent Hooters for its all-you-can-eat wings.”

Under the grandstand an 80-year-old Westborough native wearing a U.S. Marines baseball cap pulled out his ticket stub. He laid the bleacher seat to the Feb. 29 Red Sox doubleheader against Boston College and Northeastern on the table. “Ten dollars, see? Then a $3 service charge and $7 for handling. That’s $20 for a $10 seat. I’m tired. I’m an old man. I’m sick of being pushed around. I’m gonna push back. I’m voting for Trump!”

How odd that the anti-establishment candidate is a billionaire. As Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer summed up: “The essence of Trump’s appeal is: ‘I’m tough. I will protect you.’”

Indeed, Trump represents the protest vote of people who are tired of being ripped off by corporations, insurance companies and two-faced politicians who raise taxes.

(Note to angry letter writers in Happy Valley: I voted absentee for Hillary.)

Squibbers: SXM’s Pat Kirwan caught up to Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry at the NFL combine and asked “Who’s the big hitters?” The Alabama running back replied, “Morrison from Florida. That boy can hit.” … Kentucky Derby contender Zulu is part-owned by Chicago news anchor  John Magnier. … The New York Post reports that the Steinbrenners are selling one percent of the Yankees for $24 million. The perks include free parking, a World Series ring and all-you-can-eat lobster in the Steinbrenner suite. … John Sterling (aka John Sloss) will be calling his 5,000th consecutive Yankees game this season. … A Penguins fan tweeted a clip of goaltender Theo Fleury kissing the crossbar before a recent game. … Jaromir Jagr turned 44 on Feb. 15. Three years ago he filmed his workout regimen in his native Czech Republic and in his native tongue. “Trust me if I had a kid, a small Jagr, I wouldn’t tell these to anyone, to him only. But I don’t, so you are all my kids. I’m happy to share with you.” … They great thing about baseball, said Bill Veeck, “If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can’t get you off.”