FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

Recent articles: 

"Now or Neathery" - http://www.journalreview.com/articles/2007/12/21/sports/03neathery.txt

"Little Giants will miss coach's heart & soul" -  http://www.thepaper24-7.com/main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=23&ArticleID=13584

[smedindy]

Wow. They're not giving NN much time, are they?

[smedindy]

As for the poll question, I think it's fair. Yes, GC had some success, but there were also some mediocre teams in there and the program was a bit stagnant right before CC took over. Though it was nothing like the doldrums in the era before Frank Navarro.

Navarro, Parrish, Carlson, Creighton...that's a pretty good foursome to follow.

[wally_wabash]

Wow. They're not giving NN much time, are they?

This seems to be how coaching decisions are made these days...quickly.  Certainly I think Wabash would like to have a new head coach place before the start of the spring semester and if Coach Neathery declines the offer, then Wabash will need to launch their search ASAP. 

[rookie11]

so is the prediction here that Neathery will go to Drake also?

[D3_DPUFan]

If Wabash goes outside to find its next coach, what about former Warren Central H.S. (Indianapolis) Coach Kevin Wright? He's currently at Western Kentucky as OC and QB Coach...has had incredible success at several high profile h.s. programs and comes from a legendary Indiana coaching family....have no idea if it is something that would even interest him...

[wally_wabash]

so is the prediction here that Neathery will go to Drake also?

I don't think it's fair to speculate on what Coach Neathery will do.  Really, he's in a great position right now.  If he wants to be a head coach, this is about as good an opportunity as a guy could have for his first HC job.  And if he wants to continue on with CC, there's certainly nothing wrong with that.  It's a tough decision for sure, but I'd hope that Coach Neathery would be eased by the fact that there really isn't a wrong choice here. 

If Wabash goes outside to find its next coach, what about former Warren Central H.S. (Indianapolis) Coach Kevin Wright? He's currently at Western Kentucky as OC and QB Coach...has had incredible success at several high profile h.s. programs and comes from a legendary Indiana coaching family....have no idea if it is something that would even interest him...

That's an interesting name for sure.  Wright runs a spread offense which he could probably implement at Wabash without much trouble.  I think pulling an OC from a FBS school might be a bit much though, especially factoring in that he's at his alma mater.  I certainly wouldn't shake my head at this, I'm just not sure how realistic it would be to draw Wright away from WKU. 

[short]

Pat,
I felt your front page poll was missing a the .700-.750 winning % for Wabash, which IMHO is where the new Head Coach will take Wabash over the next few season.  Wabash will fall back to 2nd or 3rd in the NCAC and looking at what Witt has coming back over the next 2-3 season you have got to believe they are about to make another run not only through the NCAC but into the playoffs.  Add that to the fact the DePauw now has a Young Good Head Coach and they beat them with a So QB and young team and Wabash looks to be 8-2 (although both are game they can win just don't think they will be favored), Plus Wash U, Wooster, Alleghany,  and OWU.  I think CC looked at Witt and DePauw's young teams and said now is the time to move, but Wabash will still be a very good team, just not 10-0 in the next 3 season and not likely 9-1.

[wally_wabash]

Pat...
I felt your front page poll was missing a the .700-.750 winning % for Wabash, which IMHO is where the new Head Coach will take Wabash over the next few season.  Wabash will fall back to 2nd or 3rd in the NCAC and looking at what Witt has coming back over the next 2-3 season you have got to believe they are about to make another run not only through the NCAC but into the playoffs.  Add that to the fact the DePauw now has a Young Good Head Coach and they beat them with a So QB and young team and Wabash looks to be 8-2 (although both are game they can win just don't think they will be favored), Plus Wash U, Wooster, Alleghany,  and OWU.  I think CC looked at Witt and DePauw's young teams and said now is the time to move, but Wabash will still be a very good team, just not 10-0 in the next 3 season and not likely 9-1.

Fleeing from Witt and DePauw....right.  It's so much like CC to duck a challenge.    Show some respect. 

[wabashcpa]

WabashCPA,

Are you freaking kidding me??  Chris Creighton swapped for Derek Moyers?  Nothing against Coach Moyers but you think that would be a good hire?  Is he your brother or something?  He was the head coach at CASCADE H.S............ Indiana Class 2A school in Hendricks County - CASCADE H.S...........and then has 1 great year at 5A Pike but c'mon.  They were such a powerhouse that they sent their stud QB to Ferris State!  Plus he is a Hanover grad, why didn't they hire him?  I don't think there is any doubt that Wabash could get a guy on a much higher level.

Apparently the press conference has been moved to tomorrow at 2 P.M.  Bad weather was stated as the reason.  Maybe he's having second thoughts?   

NN is the pivotal figure here.  If he stays, we need a stud Offensive Coordinator.  If NN leaves...yikes...we need a D-coordinator & an Offensive Coordinator.

Easy there - it was just a suggestion.  Also, at last check, Hanover hasn't filled their coaching vacancy yet, so who knows, maybe he'll get the call.

Someone else mentioned Kevin Wright - not sure about that one, after going out to OK and getting run out of Tulsa.

If we can get someone on a "much higher level", then great.  Not sure Neathery is that guy - we don't really know what kind of head coach he would be.  There are numerous examples of DC's who moved up to head coach and didn't fare so well.  My guess is he knows he's onto something good with Creighton, and he'll follow him as far as he can.

[wabashcpa]

Assuming Neathery doesn't accept the position, would B.J. Hammer get consideration?

[short]

Hanover has filled their Head Coaching spot with the 28 year old former OC from IIAC "Power House" Debuque, Joe Austin.  Coach Austin will reportedly arrive at Hanover Jan 2nd.  Blair Hammer would be a good fit, his Whitter team has show improvement every year and they finished 4-5 this past season.  You would think that Wabash is Blair's "Dream Job" and would do a great job. 
If NN turns down the job I would think that Wabash would try to get Mike Leonard from Franklin or Jeff Ramsay from Oberlin.  I also believe the Seth Duerr is a good up and coming coach the Wabash should consider.

[D3_DPUFan]

That's an interesting name for sure.  Wright runs a spread offense which he could probably implement at Wabash without much trouble.  I think pulling an OC from a FBS school might be a bit much though, especially factoring in that he's at his alma mater.  I certainly wouldn't shake my head at this, I'm just not sure how realistic it would be to draw Wright away from WKU. 

Agreed...I was just thinking from a career perspective if he goes to a strong DIII program as head coach, recruits like a mad man and wins he's a pretty marketable  coach...

[smedindy]

Assuming Neathery doesn't accept the position, would B.J. Hammer get consideration?

I don't know about BJ being ready. There's a big difference between Whittier and Wabash. We don't necessarily have to stay 'in the family'. We didn't with CC and it worked out great. I'd like a coach with a proven winning track record, not a builder, since Wabash doesn't need building. BJ will get his due.

Neathery would be my first choice though.

[formerd3db]

How about Mike Dietzel, Western Kentucky University assistant coach?  He is an DIII alum/former player at Otterbein ('85) and former Defensive Coordinater at Army, Defensive Secondary coach at Kent State, the NY/NJ franchise in the defunct XFL, and since then, has been a WKU.  Before going to WKU, it is my understanding that he was interested in becoming a head coach for some program someday.  However, I have no idea if this is still "in play" - he may be happy at WKU as they have had good success in recent years - he may want to stay at WKU as they been playing a very upgraded and tough schedule (if you check their website, they will be playing some very good DI teams in the next few years - FAU, FI, Miami, Alabama, Army, Navy, etc.).  But since Wright of WKU was brought up, I thought I would throw this in for discussion.  

Whoever Wabash ends up choosing, I think there are a lot of good, qualifited assistants around the country (including some of those 'Bash alums and NN) as has been mentioned/discussed already.