Hey fellas been away a bit for the holidays.  SmedIndy- Don'
t quite understand your logic on Koehler....the former long-time Head Coach who built the Wartburg program is the AD! Koehler has been the Head Coach for 2 years and took over AFTER they had gone to the playoffs 2 straight years!  He brought virtually nothing to the table as far as implementing his own program.  The Wabash situation is a whole differnt animal.  Besides, looking at his resume, before he went to Wartburg he didn't have a single standout season as an assistant.  This guy seems to be the furthest thing from coming in and implementing his own program, he got in the drivers seat after the same car was already rolling.  Come on Smed, think creatively,your a Wabash Man.  Look at Jeff McMartin from Central!  Do you think he created that program?  Heck no, he got hammered the 3 years he was offensive coordinator at DePauw, then he goes back to his alma mater, takes over a progam that was already rolling...and now he is the king of the hill in that conference!  Wabash needs to go get the best guy, and that doesn't mean it is the best resume.  Sometimes its the place that makes the coach, and I think Wabash has that quality to a higher degree than most places.

Hery Smed, are you implying that Ward isn't a great footbal l"Coach" along with recruiter?  His resume as an assistant, and as one of those Coordinators  you mention under Creighton would suggest he is nothing but an equally impressive "on the field" coach.  However, you bring up a point I would like to touch on.  I think it will be important that they bring in some type of consultant to prove how knowledgeable a candidate is.  Wabash has many knwledgeable alums that are coaching, why not bring in Metzleaars to be part of the search committee?? That would ensure that Wabash would bring in a god x's and o's guy.
Hacklin? Why bring in an administrator to coach a football team??So what ifhe coached RB's at a terrible football school?

I agree with you Smed, I think it is going to be someone that is completely under the radar though.  I think  because of my loyalty and reasoning that Ward would be awesome, but I think it will work out like it did last time. Everyone expected Mohr, or Sirianni., or a name guy. Those guys interviewed, flopped or weren't a good fit, and Wabash got the guy no one heard of.  Which turned out to be perfect!

1. Mike Leonard (Franklin) has IN recruiting/coaching/playing ties
2. Chris Wiesehan (OL Syracuse) he is a Wabash Man
3. Jim Collins (Capital) proven he can beat Wittenburg, would probably like to get alway from Mount Union
4. Greg Debeljak (Case) coming off an 11-1 year with his only loss to Wabash
5. Eric Koehler (Wartburg) 16-4 in his 1st 2 season as a HC has IN recruiting/Coaching/Playing ties
6. Mike Sirianni (W&J) has done a great job, is young, and a D3 guy!
7. Brain Ward (McPherson) Strong Wabash tied under CC and a GREAT Recruiter
8. Jim Zebrowski (OC UW Whitewater) Has been a Head Coach at Lakeland with a 24-4 record in League Play
9. Pedro Arruza (Randy- Mac) Played at Wheaton coach at Wash U so has mid-west ties
10. B.J. Hammer (Whitter) a little too young but a Wabash Man

This is my first post ever....so here it goes.  It is in reference to the top-10 posted by Short. It was very intriguing to me, and since I am invested in the Wabash Football program (former player), I have to give my two cents worth.

First off, I will preference that I think Ward is the best candidate, and I will share my opinions about this strong list of potentials.  In my less than expert opinion, I don't think we'll get any of them, but here it goes:

1. Leonard- My thoughts in a minute....
2. Weisehan- Would be an excellent choice, however he has spent his whole career at the D-I level, why would he leave that level?? The Wabash job will be open again, he'll always have that option.
3. Collins- Already gone.
4. Debeljak- Went 5-5, 3-7 and 5-5 in his first 3 years as a head coach.  If he started like that at Wabash, he would be fired. One great year and 3 bad/mediocre years, and no 'Bash ties doesn't make you a canidate, I don't care who you are.
5. Koehler- Another excellent choice, however Taphorn used to Coach there, and said the place was awesome.  It may be a lateral move that doesn't make sense.
6. Sirianni- Interviewed  when Creighton got the job.  People didn't like him, and the players didn't either. Also, W&J is one of the best D3 jobs in the country.  Lateral move.
7. Ward- I'll share my thoughts in a minute.....
8. Zebrowki- Curious candidate.  Has strong D3 ties and has done well as a Head Coach. Is a potential strong candidate, but it does seem strange to me that he would leave UWW after one year after leaving a successful Head Coaching position.
9.Arruza- Kind of in the same boat as Deeljak.  Was only like 2-8, 2-8, 4-6 in his first 3 years before a break-out year this year.  See #4.
10. Hammer- Die hard Carlson guy, and not a fan of Mummert. Would be a reverse to teh Carlson way of doing things.  Thats not wrong, but It may not be the RIGHT time for BJ, (the sultan of Sack). BJ will do well as a Head Coach in the future, because he is all football. 

I think it will boil down to Leonard and Ward.  Both have strong Indiana ties. Leonard has more experience as a HC and has had more success.  But don't forget Leonard was 2-8 and 5-5 in his first two years.  Ward was 4-6 in his first season, and from looking at thier website, thier history of football may be the most pathetic I have ever seen. (My apologies Coach Dub)Also, Ward owned Southern Indiana when he recruited it.  That is the same time that Leonard was at hanover AND Franklin. Ward beat him on the likes of Harbaugh, Millikan, Russell, Lange.  All were All-Americans from Southern Indiana.  Head-to-Head it seemed to me that Ward beat him on the best players. Maybe I am wrong, but thats my perception. Leonard has done a great job at Franklin,and Ward was a big part of whats happened at Wabash, even after he left.

However, I really think we won't get either one of them.  Leonard, if he is smart won't want to follow a guy like Creighton, and I have a hard time believing Ward will leave his alma mater after only one season. I am scared that we'll end up with a left-over, or a guy that has failed at some other college as a Head Coach.  I am saying my prayers.