Ditto; Poppa you tend to be spot on typically, but I feel you might be a bit off on this one and i'm going to try and explain the reasoning as best as possible.
Disclaimer: This is not intended to come off as an insult to Verdugo or any other program in the MIAC.
I've got another coach in mind that has very similar credentials (eerily similar if you look at the past 6 years). And although he seems to be a great coach I never hear his name as the best coach in the MIAC. Just to put these things into perspective here is what it looks like. Both have a .500 MIAC record over the past 6 years, both are "handcuffed" by the resources (below average facility, no field, etc.) both have taken their team to 2-3 MIAC playoffs, and both share a co-coach of the MIAC award. Kinda weird to hear one guy is "best coach of the MIAC" label and the other isn't?
Keep in mind that it doesn't matter how many school records you set, when you are beating up on the lower tier schools every March in the Metrodome and not setting the bar up to play the Wisco schools and Scholastica your program isn't going to go St. Olaf, UST levels. Same goes for the spring break trips (although I do understand much of that is timing but I've played Oshkosh 3 times in a 4 day span down in Florida so I know maximizing the competition is possible).
A few things to keep in mind. If we are just going off of established credentials McDonald should have deserved the "best coach in the MIAC" comment but knowing Olean I have no doubt he'll get to that level. As much as I respect Dennis, people have to realize that he had great people behind his success and considering what Olean did last year (no practice facility, late interm coach notice) that should have takin the "public relations" and "handed to him" b.s. out the door. I definately believe he was the best man for the job, no questions asked.
If anything i'd be kinda disappointed if i'm a Hamline guy or future recruit. You bust your ass all year to find out two weeks before the season starts that according to that UST article "he'd like a (different) challenge."
Disclaimer: This is not intended to come off as an insult to Verdugo or any other program in the MIAC.
I've got another coach in mind that has very similar credentials (eerily similar if you look at the past 6 years). And although he seems to be a great coach I never hear his name as the best coach in the MIAC. Just to put these things into perspective here is what it looks like. Both have a .500 MIAC record over the past 6 years, both are "handcuffed" by the resources (below average facility, no field, etc.) both have taken their team to 2-3 MIAC playoffs, and both share a co-coach of the MIAC award. Kinda weird to hear one guy is "best coach of the MIAC" label and the other isn't?
Keep in mind that it doesn't matter how many school records you set, when you are beating up on the lower tier schools every March in the Metrodome and not setting the bar up to play the Wisco schools and Scholastica your program isn't going to go St. Olaf, UST levels. Same goes for the spring break trips (although I do understand much of that is timing but I've played Oshkosh 3 times in a 4 day span down in Florida so I know maximizing the competition is possible).
A few things to keep in mind. If we are just going off of established credentials McDonald should have deserved the "best coach in the MIAC" comment but knowing Olean I have no doubt he'll get to that level. As much as I respect Dennis, people have to realize that he had great people behind his success and considering what Olean did last year (no practice facility, late interm coach notice) that should have takin the "public relations" and "handed to him" b.s. out the door. I definately believe he was the best man for the job, no questions asked.
If anything i'd be kinda disappointed if i'm a Hamline guy or future recruit. You bust your ass all year to find out two weeks before the season starts that according to that UST article "he'd like a (different) challenge."